BIRTH: 30 Jul 1789, North Carolina
DEATH: 2 SEP 1875, Shelbyville, Bedford, Tennessee
Robert Cross Jennings
by Linda Shanklin Jackson
Robert Cross Jennings was born July 30,1789 in North Carolina as the second son of William Jennings( son of Robert Jennings who died in Madison Co.,KY and Catherine Sallee).
Robert’s mother was an " unknown" Cross. The William Jennings’ lived in Illinois, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Robert’s siblings were John , William C., James W., Jane, Ashal, Elijah C., and Abner Robert Cross Jennings married in November of 1814 to Mary "Polly" Word, who was the daughter of John Word and Frances Collins. Robert and Mary had the following children: Fannie
(13 May 1815 26 Oct. 1825), Edmond W.( 11 Feb 1818) who married Elizabeth Couch, (daughter of Thomas and Rhoda Couch), and Elizabeth A.( 15 July 1823), who married in 1840 to James Gaither,
and Lockey C. ( 17 Aug. 1826 25 Aug. 1829.)
Robert’s second marriage is known to be in Wilson County, Tennessee on 31 Mar. 1831 to Chaney Word ( 9 Jan. 1807 7 Dec1841), who was his first wife’s niece. Chaney was born in Wilson County to Thomas Word and Tabitha Tribble. The Word and Jennings family of Statesville, Tennessee were active in the Baptist church. He retained a list of names on a Subscription for a United Baptist Meeting House above Statesville at the place called Smiths’s Fork. Perhaps he was the treasurer or part of the committee to raise fund for the building. Robert and Chaney’s first son was William Harrison (13 May 1837 1 Apr. 1862) who married November 8, 1859 to Narcissa Phillips(11 July 1838), the daughter of Garrett Phillips and Charlotte White.( Narcissa Phillips Jennings married second to John Hart). Their second son was Samuel Thomas,(19 Mar. 1841 24 Jan. 1907) who married on Feb.2, 1865to Lou Vicie Phillips.
Robert Cross Jennings married third on Aug. 6, 1843 to Emily Mariah Wheeler(15 Aug. 1800-23 Jan. 1869). To this third wife was born Emmit Cross (19 Sept. 1847. 20 Nov. 1912) who married first to Mary Eglintine Graham (28Nov. 28, 1849 17 Sept. 1873). Emmitt married second Margaret C.Stem who was the daughter of James W. Stem and Margaret Ann Kimmons.
Robert Cross Jennings bought land in Wilson County, Tennessee in 1812 from Elijah Cross, and also some from John Word. He was a farmer in that county. In 1823 he attended the Musters Company in Statesville. In 1824 he issued his one acre "Land Warrant part of Military Warrant" and asked that it be delivered to John Never Return. Possibly he served in the War of 1812. In 1829 Robert bought " one bay mar & fifteen barels of Corn Seven hunerd wait of tobacco one cow at mr. Cafreys one bead and furniture one tabel one chirn one rifel gun...amounting the hole to thirty eight dollers & 92 Sents." One receipt shows he may have been called "Long Bob". We know that his brother was called "Gentleman John". He continued to do business in Stateville until in October of 1838 he bought land in Bedford County from William J. Peacock and Ridley B. Wynn, about "2 1⁄2 miles northwest of Shelbyville containing about 164 acres of land....by the Polk tract, Jacob Mortons east corner, to a stake in the Nashville road, ..the northeast corner of Capt. Purdee’s land."
Robert Cross "R.C." Jennings became neighbors with the Matthew Phillips Family with this move. In account with Jas.C.Strong he was credited to his account for 500 bundles of oats and 2 bushels Rye. In an 1840 account with J&W Eakin he purchased 8 yds. Calico $2, 5 yds. Domestick $.75, one pair small shoes $.75, 2 caks soap $.12, one veil $4, one bead bag $2, one bonnet and Trimmings $9, 6 yards quilling $.60. Other purchases include one reader $.15, one set of cups and saucers $.75, and two boys knives $.20. He was credited $10.00 for boarding titcher, and $8.80 for 22 lbs. of feathers. He paid J.C. Tune form mending hames Iron singel tree $.20, and $1.25 for laying 2 plows.
In 1856, he was granted a tract of land as the assignee of James H. Graham, 104 acres on Hurricane Creek . The grant was signed by Andrew Johnson, governor of Tennessee. In 1857,
R.C. bought 34 acres from Garrett Phillips. A document dated 16 July 1863 H.Q.2 Brigade, st division Reserve Corps, Shelbyville, states " Robert Jennings is a good loyal unconditional Union man. All U.S. officers and Soldiers must respect & protect his person property & families. by order of W.P. Reid Col." By establishing his proof of loyalty he was allowed to keep his shot gun. With the uncertain times he felt it necessary to make a will in which he stated "whereas the circumstances of the present War has so changed my Estate that I cannot now make any Provision Relative to negro property or stock, this being only to be in my land which I want to divide between my two sons Samuel and Emmit, while preserving Emmit’s mother’s life Estate in the same. He further writes "if the negroes either now absent or present should not be made free at the close of the War and can be recovered my Executor must act for himself in that case." He nominated Sons Edmund W. ‘Jennings and Samuel T. Jennings to be executors. He also gave a deed of gift to Narcissa Jennings, the widow of his son William H. Jennings. He gave his son Samuel, two "Deed of Gift" land parcels in 1871.
Robert C. Jennings was a member of the Benevolent Lodge No.122 F.&AM in 1868, according to the records. He attended El Bethel Baptist church.. His estate papers included a receipt for $32 to be paid to Haynes Bros.(Dealers in Metallic and Wood Burial Cases and caskets , and every variety of Coffin Trimmings , Shrouds, ECT) and $26.90 was paid for his burial clothes.
Robert Cross Jennings died September 2, 1875 and is buried in the Reeves Wheeler Cemetery. Information for this article is from the Jennings-Phillips Collection of Early Bedford County, Tennessee. Records by Judy Henley Phillips and Linda Shanklin Jackson)
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