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At 8:33 PM +0000 1/15/11, Judy Richardson wrote:
Dear Jessica and Jack,
By this e-mail I hope to introduce you to each other. Jack and I met about five years ago through a British genealogy site when Jack posted a question about the location of Clemmonddean Surrey, England as shown in Uncle James book about the Jennings family. I knew that the reference really was to St. Clement Dane's parish. We have corresponded since them mostly focusing on 17th century family history.
In Uncle James book it shows that our ancestor Isaac was born in 1662 in Yorkshire and died in 1758 in Haddonfield. This doesn't seem reasonable. Henry Jennings may or may not have had a son named Isaac ( as in Margaret's will), but that doesn't mean he was the same Isaac who was our ancestor.
Jack and I found Henry's brother Isaac's will on a British website. It was interesting because we learned how to decipher ancient script, but also learned that Isaac in London had four daughters, one of whom was Margaret, married name Hutchinson, to whom Henry left his house in London. Even more interesting Jack obtained a copy of a letter Henry wrote to Isaac. Henry and Margaret were living on a "plantation" in what is now New Jersey; taking care of the land and animals was difficult for just the two of them. Henry wrote to Isaac asking if he could send some of his children to help since "we have none of our own." I can send this to you if you like.
I had been in London in the spring of 2006 and visited the Friends Library. I found the entry for the death of Henry and Margaret's child and their address on Cloth Fair. I saw that there was still a Cloth Fair on the map and so I walked down it. It is a charming street and the oldest house in London is there. What's amazing is that the view that Henry saw on the other side of the street of St. Bartholemew's (built 1127) must be close to the same as we see today. This fall your cousin Dianne also walked on Cloth Fair during her trip to London.
In April 2008 I visited the Philadelphia area and Jack and I met at the Swarthmore College library that has the early Quaker records. Unfortunately we only had an hour there before it closed early on a Saturday. Jack and his wife Sharon invited me to their home in Sicklerville, NJ to spend the afternoon and night on the Sunday. This was lucky because Jack took me to see the house in Glendora on Chew's Landing where my great grandmother Ann Morgan was born. It is really a treat to see it and it's only open on Sundays. Jack did some research for me about Ann Morgan and found the notice in the Rockville, Utah newspaper where two of her sons died of scarlet fever in the same week,
A few days later I spent hours in the deeds/archives department of the City of Philadelphia trying to find the street where Henry lived and died, but couldn't find it.
I'm not sure if you have Uncle James' book. Jack's aunt Ethel Jennings helped James with a lot of the material. I think Jack is descended from Isaac's son Jacob and his second wife Ann Albertson, and their son Mark. On page 76 it gives a contemporary lineage. Jack and I are close to the same age. He also has a daughter named Jessica who lives in Rhode Island, I think. And your son John Christian is nicknamed Jack? This is going to get complicated. In December Jack was researching Ann, a daughter of Isaac, who married a Chew.
One other thing - my father had a "strong box" with family papers in them. Irv said he stole it to give to James when James was writing his book. Then I think Irv said he gave it to David. When I was in the fifth grade my mother took some things from the box for me to do "show and tell" at school. One thing was a continental dollar, and the other was the wedding certificate of Ann Morgan's mother, Elizabeth Tomlinson, for her first marriage to William Clark. If you want I can send you a scanned copy.
Some day I would like to spend another April at Swarthmore reading all the early Quaker meeting records to see if I can find out who is the true parent of our Isaac. On the other hand If he really did live to be 96 then we all have some good longetivity in our genes.
Best,
Judy
Hi Jack,
It's nice to meet you as well! My son's nick name is Jack. Although he is offically John Christian Jennings-Wiest, he dropped his father's name and goes by Jack Jennings.
I spent a very full day at Swarthmore and found two things:
All the files that have are scanned and part of the LDS Genealogocial library. Unfortunately, the scans were done a few years ago and they were not very easy to read.
The Friends collection was divided between Swarthmore and Haverford.
We spent another very full day at Haverford. The collection has a number of items related to our history, including the marriage record of Jacob and Ann Albertson Hopkins. Their respective children signed the certificate - which makes it all the more interesting since there were later marriages among the children.
We also found a deed signed by James and Elizabeth (nee Hopkins) at the Haddonfield Historical Society. He was listed as a saddler on the vellum record. More interesting, is that the Historical society is located in Sarah Norris's store (the grandmother of Jacob Jennings's first wife Mary Norris Smith.) Sarah also owned at one time, the Indian King Tavern in Haddonfield.
There is one book in Gloucester Historicaly Society I think its the Earley Book that states..."The descendents of Richard Chew are divided into nine branches as follows: John's branch probably went to South Jersey in 1697. He married Sarah Jennings, sister of Isaac Jennings of Haddonfield, N. J." This given some credance by the large number of Chews residing in Alloways Creek/Mun Mouth River area in the years that followed.
I took all the deeds I could find from Henry Jennings and put it in this timeline:
https://sites.google.com/site/jenningsfamilysearch/henry-jennings/henry-jennings-timeline
According to these deeds he purchased about 2,142 acres before he died (he sold about 203 acres). This would have been in addition to the 70 acres emigrates were given as an incentive. See the Chew family record
The cost per acre was 2 pence per acre so this was an investment of about £10 sterling.
This seems like an extraordinary amount of land to be purchased by a presumably a childless tailor. Henry had a personal estate of £53.3.0 at death. His wife's personal estate
was valued at , £109.19.10.
And I also timelined Isaac - but I am still refining it. What is also interesting is I found Isaac Jennings signature on William Penn Jr.s wedding in Bristol and also William Penn's papers mention Isaac Jennings.
It is quite interesting to think that Isaac was riding a circuit as a justice of the peace at an advanced age.
I am looking for some references I found a while back for Ann Blackwood Morgan. It placed her in Ohio with family; I believe a half sister but I need to recheck on that .
Apparently quite a contingent of the Friends and Jennings/Hopkins families moved to Ohio.
I have a record that places Henry and his first wife, before they were married in Nauvoo in Jan/Feb 1846. I am not sure when Ann Braddock passed away. However Ann Morgan and Henry were married 14 May 1848 in St. Louis. The 1850 census shows them back Waynesville Ohio with 10 month old Cyrus.
Six years and 4 more children later they would be on the overland trail with the St. Louis company, captained by John Banks, in 1856. They would arrive in SLC around Oct. 3.
http://lds.org/churchhistory/library/pioneercompany/1,15797,4017-1-60,00.html
I would love to get scans of anything and everything. My son Jack is also very interested in genealogy. He was my research partner on our trips to NYC, NJ and Philadelphia. He completed a fairly rigorous class in genealolgy at University of Texas last fall - so I will include him in our correspondence (with his less confusing email address).
Again, Judy I appreciate the introduction. I am looking forward to a very fruitful collaboration.
Cheers,
Jessica
Hi Jessica,
Rather interesting. My official name is John Evans Jennings Jr. My father never like his first name and went by Evans, so I was called Jack.
We didn't spend enough time at Swarthmore to determine the extent of their holdings. We looked only at the Haddonfield Monthly meeting records. Did you check to see if they also had the Mens' meeting and Womens' meeting records? The reason I ask is that they may be an untapped resource. One of the family mysteries I'd like to solve is to substantiate the birthdate of Ann Jennings, supposed daughter of Isaac, who appears in none of our family records. but from whom at least two families in the area claim they are descended. She was present at marriages where other of Isaac's kids were in attendance but is never mentioned in any of our records. I would like to know if she married out of meeting. I will check out your timeline.
Jack
Hi Jack,
I know of the three daughters, Deborah Burroughs, Sarah Flanningham and Rebecca Price. It appears that Rebecca as she was remembered separately in Judith's willl.
There is a prominent Anne Jennings - the daughter of Samuel Jennings
"Samuel Jennings left three daughters. Sarah Jennings the eldest, in 1699, married Edward Pennington, youngest son of Isaac Pennington the younger, and half brother of Gulielma Springett Penn, wife of William Penn. Edward Pennington was Surveyor General of the province of Penna.; he died in Philadelphia two years after his marriage, leaving one son Isaac Pennington. Anne Jennings married William Stevenson. These sisters appear to have married at the same time. Mercy Jennings, in 1706, married John Stevenson, and in ____(left blank in the original) Thomas Stevenson married Sarah Pennington, widow of Edward Pennington. The three Stevensons were brothers, and emigrated in the same vessel that brought over Samuel Jennings and family. " - From the West Jersey Project.
I found that most of the Women's Meetings and Men's Meetings occurred at the Arch Street Friends at the annual meetings. Apparently the monthly meetings were recorded but less formal. Most of these meetings are now found on microfilm and or are noted in Hinshaw.
Uncle James book has some of the records on official Arch Street stationary, apparently before the collection of records was distributed to the three schools, Bryn Mawr, Haverford and Swarthmore. But at this point most if not all the Arch Street records are on LDS Microfilm.
I have also spent some time with Hinshaw's Encyclopedia - but there is very little there.
While researching at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania - we came across a number of letters with requests to validate heirship to Isaac and by implication Henry. Henry apparently became the "golden" key to the fabled fortune with a fortune spent on proving it.
I beleive that Isaac's children are well documented in his will with one paper found in the Gloucester Historical Society that contends that Isaac's daughters were from a previous marriage and arrived to West Jersey with him. This may account for the significant gap in birth dates between Sarah, Deborah and Jacob.
My biggest issue is the lack of documentation as to Isaac's arrival. He simply shows up. I have also found it difficult to trace the arrivals (and departures) of William Penn Jr. My thoughts is that he may have arrived on one the Penn's private ships with William Jr. - therefore his arrival may not have been recorded.
It's great to discuss this with you!
Cheers,
jj
Hi Jessica, Comments inserted:
Love your timelines and have attached details of a Jonathan Bates will Isaac witnessed in 1747.
At 5:59 AM -0600 1/21/11, Jessica Jennings wrote:
Hi Jack,
I know of the three daughters, Deborah Burroughs, Sarah Flanningham and Rebecca Price. It appears that Rebecca as she was remembered separately in Judith's willl.
Yes these are the commonly known daughters (and in Rebecca Bate's case) step daughter of Isaac Jennings.
There is a prominent Anne Jennings - the daughter of Samuel Jennings
Not talking about "Uncle Sam's" daughter (even though if at all related he would have been distant)
"Samuel Jennings left three daughters. Sarah Jennings the eldest, in 1699, married Edward Pennington, youngest son of Isaac Pennington the younger, and half brother of Gulielma Springett Penn, wife of William Penn. Edward Pennington was Surveyor General of the province of Penna.; he died in Philadelphia two years after his marriage, leaving one son Isaac Pennington. Anne Jennings married William Stevenson. These sisters appear to have married at the same time. Mercy Jennings, in 1706, married John Stevenson, and in ____(left blank in the original) Thomas Stevenson married Sarah Pennington, widow of Edward Pennington. The three Stevensons were brothers, and emigrated in the same vessel that brought over Samuel Jennings and family. " - From the West Jersey Project.
I found that most of the Women's Meetings and Men's Meetings occurred at the Arch Street Friends at the annual meetings. Apparently the monthly meetings were recorded but less formal. Most of these meetings are now found on microfilm and or are noted in Hinshaw.
Yes there were women's meeting at the annual meetings in Philadelphia but also at monthly and quarterly meetings around the Country:
The above from "The Quakers on America" by Thomas D Hamm, page 185.(It's on Google Books). It is my hope that perhaps I might find mention of Ann Jennings' birth in the minutes of the Haddonfield Women's meeting but quite frankly I haven't looked for them.
I first encountered a listing of Ann as a daughter of Isaac Jennings in the LDS On-line pedigrees and dismissed them since they were not documented. Then I ran into a mention in a Chew Record found at http://poslfit.homeip.net/cgi-bin/genea2.pl?id=13116 which specifically listed Ann Jennings as being born about 1719 and the "Daughter of Isaac Jennings and Judith Marden Bates." She married John Chew 1739 04 03 and the marriage was recorded ion Archives of the State of New Jersey, Vol. XXII. p. 67. I questioned the birthdate for Ann as 1719 since the date of Isaac and Judith's marriage is generally thought to be 1739 March 3. If this is true, the date for Ann's birth of 1719 would be a bit early. As best I can find out "my" Jacob was born 9-21-1741, which would be a 22 year spread, a rather long child bearing period unless Ann was a very early child! I wrote to John Chew, who compiled that record, in 2007 and he told me he took that data from Robert Levering Chew's book on the Chew Family. I am attaching an e-mail about Isaac and Sarah Jennings that I wrote in 2007. In it you will note that the Sarah Jennings that the Earley manuscript refers to as "sister of Isaac of Haddonfield" also married a Chew. It is not inconceivable that the Jennings and Chew families had regular contact and that is how Ann met John Chew. The Chews were not Quakers, so if they did marry she would have automatically been removed from meeting and no records of her existence would necessarily exist. This isw precisely what happened to my great grandfather Jacob Mark Jennings (I think #5) when he ran off and married the 16 year old Emma Sickler (a Methodist).
Uncle James book has some of the records on official Arch Street stationary, apparently before the collection of records was distributed to the three schools, Bryn Mawr, Haverford and Swarthmore. But at this point most if not all the Arch Street records are on LDS Microfilm.
I have also spent some time with Hinshaw's Encyclopedia - but there is very little there.
While researching at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania - we came across a number of letters with requests to validate heirship to Isaac and by implication Henry. Henry apparently became the "golden" key to the fabled fortune with a fortune spent on proving it.
I beleive that Isaac's children are well documented in his will with one paper found in the Gloucester Historical Society that contends that Isaac's daughters were from a previous marriage and arrived to West Jersey with him. This may account for the significant gap in birth dates between Sarah, Deborah and Jacob.
If Isaac was a devout Quaker (and all indications are that he was) and a son or daughter had badly disgraced the family (perhaps by marrying out of meeting), this errant child may very well NOT be mentioned in a will!
My biggest issue is the lack of documentation as to Isaac's arrival. He simply shows up. I have also found it difficult to trace the arrivals (and departures) of William Penn Jr. My thoughts is that he may have arrived on one the Penn's private ships with William Jr. - therefore his arrival may not have been recorded.
I too have been frustrated by the lack of arrival information. I did some searching to see if I cold find another brother and sister team of Isaac and Sarah over in England but got frustrated by the difficulties encountered.
It's great to discuss this with you!
Likewise
Cheers,
jj
Isaac and Sarah Jennings.pdfJonathan Bates Will witnessed by Isaac Jennings.docPage updated
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