Elizabeth (Woolfolk) Jennings (abt. 1790 - bef. 1862)

Born about 1790 in Tennessee

Wife of Edmund Jennings — married 1 Apr 1807 in Smith, Tennessee, United States

Died before 1 Dec 1862 before about age 72 in Morgan, Alabama, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Ian Leighty [send private message]

Biography

I removed Elizabeth as a daughter of Joseph Woolfolk of Wilkes Co., BC as she was not his daughter.

Elizabeth (Woolfolk) Jennings descendants still own her home land and have a good amount of information on her family from their old records.

Sherida K. Eddleman, Genealogical Abstracts from Tenn Newspapers. issue of May 23, 1807, Vol 2, no. 76:
Married on the 1st of April, 1807, Edmund Jenney (Jennings) to Miss Elizabeth Woodfork, both of Smith Co. Tn.

Smith Co., Tenn Bk E, pg page 137-139...Edmund Jennings sells to Joseph Woolfolk of Montgomery Co., Tenn a tract of land..16 Mar 1815.

Edmund Jennings disappeared to live with the Indians leaving Elizabeth to raise their 5 daughters and 1 son. He had been hauled into court for beating his wife in a drunken rage (Order Book 3)

Elizabeth Woodfolk Jennings was listed on the Smith TN 1820 Census with her children - five daughters, - her son Jonathan Sowell was not born yet. He was born March 7, 1821) at the time of the Census her husband Edmund Jennings was in Ark. Territory ( actually present day, Southwest Mo. where he ended up staying until 1832.)

While her husband was off living in Missouri with the Indians - she began buying land in Morgan Co., Alabama.

1830 - In 1830 Elizabeth Is listed on the Morgan Co. AL
1m 5-10, 1 m 40-50,
1f 10-15, 1f 15-20 and 1f 30-40.
by names they are: Jonathan Sowell Jennings, William W. Woodfolk, Parolee Jennings, Jane Jennings and Elizabeth Woolfolk Jennings.

1833 - her husband Edmund Jennings appears in Owen Co., Ky (where several of his relatives were living) & applies for a pension.

1820 - POW from Sowyell Woolfolk of Woodford Co., Ky to pick up slaves left by his father in Morgan Co., Alabama (page 105, 30 Jun 1820. Woodford Co) Also recorded - Received and Recorded this 30th day of April 1824 Book A. folder--104 & 105; W.O. Huston Clerk County Court of Morgan County Court, Ala

1850 Morgan Co. Al Census page 270A ,House 436/436: Elizabeth Jennings 60f Midwife b. TN

1860 Morgan Co., Alabama. PO: Valhermoso Elisabeth Jennings - 70 NC - midwife - $2,500 - $3,755 Jane Mooney - 23 Tenn

Elizabeth Woodfolk Jennings died before 1 Dec. 1862: because Vol 20, page 367, Morgan Co., Ala. Probate Records: State of Ala. Morgan Co., Probate Court 1st day of Dec. 1862. This day came Sowell Jennings & Benjamin L. Chunn of said County and made Application to the Court to be Appointed Administrators of the Estate.

She is buried in the Jennings Family Cemetery, Valhermoso Springs, Morgan Co, Alabama

ELIZABETH WOOLFOLK was born about 1790.

Ian - WHERE DID YOU COME UP WITH EDMUND JENNINGS OWNING LOTS OF LAND? Do you have deeds? Tax records?

He was pennyless. And much in debt. He left his pregnant wife with a household of daughters to go off to live with the Indians.

______ Young Betsy, barely of the age of seventeen, married Edmund Jennings, somewhere over thirty years her senior, on April 1, 1807 in Smith County, Tennessee. Edmund must have been at least in his late forties, for he was a wealthy and well-respected veteran of the Revolution in Colonial Virginia. He was also a scout and a fierce Indian fighter. Perhaps his greatest claim to fame was his involvement with Boone's Bryan party. He owned much land in Davidson, Sumner, Wilson, Smith, Montgomery and Jackson Counties, no doubt payment for his heroic services.

The union between the two was not always blissful. Edmund once left a short warning in the local newspaper at Carthage which reads: “I want to forewarn the public from trading or dealing with my wife Elizabeth Jinnings. She has left my bed and board without cause or provocation. Edmond Jinnings.”^[1]

She passed away about 1862, presumably at her plantation in Morgan County, Alabama.

Sources

1. ↑ Carthage Gazette Newspaper, June 6 1811. Sherida Eddlemon, Genealogical Abstracts from Tennessee Newspapers 1803-1812.

• Developing research project.