Hackney Family Tree

Last Will and Testament of Samuel Jennings

Calendar of New Jersey Wills, Vol. I 1670-1730. Part ICalendar of New Jersey Wills.
Page: 259
Name: Samuel Jennings
Date: 24 Jul 1708
Location: Burlington
merchant; will of. Sister Eliza. Hackney. Daughters--Sarah, Anne and Mercy, who are the wives of Thomas, William and John Stevenson; grandchildren--Isaac, son of Edward Pennington dec'd, Jennings and Elizabeth, son and daughter of William Stevenson, Thomas, son of John Stevenson, Anne and Sarah, daughters of Thomas Stevenson, all under age, and the legacies left to them to be placed in the hands of Samuel Carpenter and Richard Hill of Philadelphia, merchants; cousin Susannah Fox, John Hackney, Samuel Hackney, friend Thomas Ellwood of Hunger Hill near Amersham, Co. of Bucks, England, brother(-in-law?) Isaac Mariot. Real and personal estate. Executors--the three daughters and their husbands. Witnesses--Tho: Gardiner, Thomas Raper, Daniel Smith. Proved 18 Oct 1709.
Lib. 1, p. 226

Samuel Jennings or Samuel Jenings was born in England and died in Burlington, New Jersey, in 1708.
Jennings and his family arrived in West Jersey in September 1680. Governor Edward Byllynge in 1682 appointed Jennings to the position of deputy-governor of West Jersey. At the instigation of William Penn, Jennings allowed himself to be popularly elected as governor, causing a falling out with Byllynge, who believed this to be an illegal usurpation of his authority. In 1684, Byllynge removed him from his position as deputy.[1]
Jennings later became involved in the controversy started by George Keith and Thomas Budd, siding with the Quakers. As a result, he was tried and convicted. In 1694, Jennings was sent to London for his six day trial. He ably defended his position, and published The Case Stated while in London.[2]
After the late 1690s the government of East and West Jersey became increasingly dysfunctional. This ultimately resulted in the surrender by the Proprietors of West Jersey and those of East Jersey of the right of government to Queen Anne. Anne's government united the two colonies as the Province of New Jersey, a royal colony, establishing a new system of government. This reorganization and the period leading up to it saw many New Jersey politicians jockeying for power and influence in the new government. By 1701 he was the Speaker of the West New Jersey General Free Assembly, and was being recommended as a potential member of the New Jersey Provincial Council for the Western Division; he was appointed by The Crown on July 29, 1703. He remained of the council until his resignation in 1706.[3]
After leaving the Council, Jennings was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly for the City of Burlington, and served as Speaker during 1707. He died in 1708.

Samuel Jennings
1st Deputy Governor of West New Jersey
In office
1682–1685
Governor Edward Byllynge
Preceded by Office created
Succeeded by Thomas Olive
Speaker of the West New Jersey General Free assembly
In office
1701–1701
Governor Andrew Hamilton
Member of the New Jersey Provincial Council for the Western Division
In office
July 29, 1703 – 1706 (Resigned)
Preceded by Office created
Succeeded by Peter Sonmans
Speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly
In office
1707���1708
Governor Viscount Cornbury
Preceded by Peter Fretwell
Succeeded by Thomas Gordon
Member of the New Jersey General Assembly
from the City of Burlington district
In office
1707–1708
Serving with Thomas Gardiner
Preceded by Peter Fretwell
Succeeded by Thomas Rapier
Personal details
Born England
Died 1708
Burlington, New Jersey
Religion Quaker

source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Jennings

ID: I644
Name: Samuel Jennings
Title: Gov.
Sex: M
Birth: 6 DEC 1648 in Coles Hill, Amersham, Buckinghamshire, England
Christening: 26 DEC 1648 Stone, Buckingham, England
Death: 1708 in Burlington, Burlington Co, New Jersey
Occupation: merchant
Religion: Quaker
Note: Samuel Jenings was born in England and emigrated from that part of Coleshill, which lies in Buckinghamshire, the other part of the town lying in Hertfordshire, the adjoining
Note: county. Although considerable research has been made, nothing is known of his parentage. The name, variously spelled, was quite common in England, several families
Note: residing in Buckinghamshire, a number of whom joined the Quakers and emigrated to America.()
Note: () John Jennings was a resident of Hartford, Conn., in 1639; in 1657 he was in Southampton, L. I. Joseph Jennings was in Westchester, New York, in 1640. Henry Jennings came to Burlington, N. J., June 16, 1677.
Note:
Note: Samuel Jenings "was a man of education, standing, influence and prominence, and was a member of the Society of Friends. In 1677 he was a minister in the London
Note:
Monthly Meeting. His coming to America was occasioned by Edward Byllinge claiming the right to govern New Jersey, after having sold a large portion to others. The Friends, who were the actual owners, not caring to cause a contest at that time,
submitted quietly, and Samuel Jenings came out as his deputy from his home in March, 1680, arriving at Burlington in October of that year. He continued to act in that capacity for three years, when, in 1683, he was elected Governor for one
year." Having been elected by the Provincial Assembly, Byllinge denied his right to serve, and attempted to remove him from office,(+) but he seems to have served out his term.
Note:
Note:
Feb 15, 1681/82: survey for Thomas Budd in exchange with Samuel Jenings of 500 acres on Assiscunck Creekat Mattacopeny next to John Butcherand crossing to the Eastside of said creek it stretches to the mouth of a small run and John Shinn's
land.
Note:
Note: March 3, 1681/82: survey for Samuel Jenings of 50 acres along the town bounds , adjoining John Cripps.
Note:
Note: March 30, 1681/82: survey for Samuel Jenings in exchange Thomas Budd 450 acres along the town bounds, the "old head" of Rankokus lots and the partition line between the two Tenths.
Note:
Note: Aug 4, 1682: survey for Jonas Keene of 100 acres (purchased of Samuel Jenings) on Dellaware River, NE a small creek including five acres of meadow.
Note:
Note:
"At the expiration of his term he was sent with Thomas Budd to England to arrange with the proprietors to have the office of governor made elective. Not succeeding, he returned home, and in 1685 was elected a member of the West Jersey
Assembly. In 1687 the 'Council of Proprietors' of West Jersey was organized with eleven members, Samuel Jenings' name heading the list. This association is still in existence.
Note:
Note: West Jersey Commissioners and Trustees on 14 Feb 1687 in Burlington, Burlington Co., NJ. He was Speaker of the House in 1703 in Perth Amboy, Middlesex Co., NJ.
Note:
Note:
In 1689 he removed to Philadelphia, and the next year, 1690, was appointed Receiver General of Pennsylvania. In 1690-3 he was justice of the quorum and judge of the county court. He became involved on the Quaker side in the controversy
provoked by George Keith, Thomas Budd and others. Out of this controversy grew the historic pamphlet, "The Plea of the Innocent," issued by Keith and Budd, in 1692, in which Jenings was charged with "being too high and imperious in worldly
courts," and was called "an impudent, presumptous and insolent man."
Note:
Note:
"A schism having arisen among the Friends, Samuel Jenings and Thomas Duckett were appointed by the yearly meeting in 1694 to visit London and lay the matter before the monthly meeting in that city. The mission being successful, Samuel Jenings
returned to America and took up his residence once more in Burlington (1697-8).
Note:
Note:
"The provinces of East and West Jersey were united into one--New Jersey--in 1702, and Lord Cornbury was appointed Governor. He selected a council of thirteen, one of whom was Samuel Jenings. In 1707 he was elected a member of the New Jersey
Assembly and was chosen its Speaker. Here he distinguisned himself by his firm and successful resistance to the arbitrary measures of Cornbury. The next year he was unable to attend the Assembly on account of illness, which terminated
fatally."
Note:
Note: The inhabitants of the colony of New York, as well as those of New Jersey, became wearied of the misgovernment of Cornbury and accordingly they determined to send an
Note: appeal to Queen Anne for her to remove the Governor. Samuel Jennings had the credit writing the address, which was forwarded to the home government, and by so doing he
Note: incurred the great displeasure of Cornbury, who is reported to have said "Jennings was the most impudent man he ever knew." However it had the desired effect, and Lord
Note: Cornbury was recalled in 1708, the year of Samuel Jenning's death. Proud, the historian, wrote that "Samuel Jennings was worthy of memory, and endowed with both
Note: spiritual and temporal wisdom; was suppressor of vice and encourager of virtue." He was one of those rare individuals in whom was concentrated a variety of qualifications and
Note:
mental endowments, by which, under the sanctifying power of truth, he was made eminently useful to his fellow-men, both in his ministerial and civil capacity. He did more than any of his cotemporaries in organizing the civil government of West
Jersey. At his death he left no sons to perpetuate his name, but three daughters.
Note:
Note:
"His country residence was at Green Hill, a short distance from Burlington." Samuel Jenings was a friend of William Penn, with whom he advised concerning weighty matters. He was a man who vigorously advocated the cause of right as he saw it,
and strongly defended his position upon the prominent questions of the day; thus bringing upon himself the severest denunciations of his opponents as well as the encomiums of his friends. To him is largely to be attributed the dominant politics
of the times, and his influence was on the side of right.
Note:
Note:
"In Nov. 1681, Jennings convened the first legislative Assembly of representatives of men who said Thee and Thou to all the world, and wore their hats in presence of beggar or king." Made Governor in 1683, he continued so till his removal to
Philadelphia in 1692. In 1694 he went to London, and on his return moved back to his old home in Burlington. In 1702, the Crown of England appointed him one of the Provincial Council, and in 1707 he was Speaker of the Assembly.
Note:
Note:
Gov. Jennings was a friend of William Penn. Penn disliked smoking and Gov. Jennings refrained in his presence. On one occasion Jennings was found out and Penn remarked he was glad they had sufficient sense of propriety to be ashamed of the
practice. Jennings, who was rarely at a loss for an answer, rejoined that they were not ashamed, but desired "to avoid hurting a weak brother."
Note:
Note: October 16, 1701: attended the wedding of John Sotcher & Mary Lofty at Pennsbury Manor.
Note:
Note:
Nov 20, 1701: Deed from Nathaniel Pope, yeoman, to Samuel Jenings, merchant, both of Burlington, for a lot of 2 acres at the East end of the town, fronting Assiscunck Creek between Seth Hill and grantee; also a piece of meadow near Yorkshire
Bridge, between Thomas Scattergood and Thomas Singleton.
Note:
Note: Calender of Wills - New Jersey Archives
Note: p. 259. - 1708 July 24. Jennings, Samuel, of Burlington, merchant; mentions Sister Elizabeth Hackney. Daughters - Sarah, Anne and Mercy, who are the wives of Thomas, William and John Stevenson; grandchildren - Isaac, son of
Note: Edward Pennington dec'd, Jennings and Elizabeth, son and daughter of William Stevenson, Thomas, son of John Stevenson, Anne and Sarah, daughters of Thomas
Note:
Stevenson, all under age, and the legacies left to them to be placed in the hands of Samuel Carpenter and Richard Hill of Philadelphia, merchants; cousin Susannah Fox, John Hackney, Samuel Hackney, friend Thomas Ellwood of Hunger Hill, near
Amersham, Co. of Bucks, England, brother (-in law ?) Isaac Mariot. Real and personal estate. Executors - the three daughters and their husbands,
Note: Wits: Thos. Gardiner, Thos. Raper, Daniel Smith. Proved October 18, 1709. Lib. I, p. 226. 1 2 2 2 2 3 4 3 5 6 6 7
Change Date: 7 OCT 2007

Father: William Jennens b: ABT 1606 in Stone, Buckingham, England c: 18 JAN 1606 in Stone, Buckingham, England
Mother: Sarah Cutler b: ABT 1626 in England

Marriage 1 Ann Oliffe b: in Bierton, Buckingham, England c: 2 NOV 1659 in St James, Bierton, Buckingham, England
Married: 7 JAN 1672/1673 in Coles Hill, Amersham, Buckinghamshire, England
Children
Has No Children William Jennings b: 18 NOV 1675 in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England
Has Children Sarah Jennings b: 10 APR 1679 in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England
Has No Children Joyce Jennings b: 1 DEC 1681 in Burlington, New Jersey
Has Children Ann Jennings b: 25 AUG 1683 in Burlington, New Jersey
Has No Children Elizabeth Jennings b: 12 OCT 1686 in Burlington Co, New Jersey
Has Children Mercy Jennings b: 27 AUG 1687 in Chesterfield, Burlington Co, New Jersey

Sources:
Name: Our Family Ancestors
Name: Author: Thomas Maxwell Potts
Name: Call Number: R929.2 P871.1
Name: Canonsburg, PA
Name: 1895
Name: Patents and Deeds of New Jersey, 1664-1703, Liber A, or Revel's Book of Surveys
Name: Dr. J. R. Stevenson in "The Jerseyman," V. 4, No. 3, p. 19
Name: History and Genealogy of Fenwick's Colony
Name: Author: Thomas Shourds
Name: Call Number: R929.1S559h
Name: Publisher: George F. Nixon. New Jersey. 1876.
Name: Bartow Genealogy Supplement
Name: Author: Rev. Evelyn Bartow
Name: Call Number: R929.2 B29 Suppl.
Name: Baltimore. 1879.
Name: THE HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
Name: from the discovery of the Delaware to the present time by W. W. H. Davis, A.M., 1876 and 1905 editions
Name: Patents and Deeds of New Jersey, 1664-1703, West Jersey Records, Liber B, Part II

source: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=tinzhaven&id=I644

Marriage 1 Ann Oliffe b: in Bierton, Buckingham, England c: 2 NOV 1659 in St James, Bierton, Buckingham, England

Married: 7 JAN 1672/1673 in Coles Hill, Amersham, Buckinghamshire, England

source: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=tinzhaven&id=I644