Generation One
1. Robert1 Jennison married Elizabeth (--?--). He married Grace (--?--) after 1638. He died on 4 Jul 1690.
Robert Jenison was the ancestor of the New England Jennison (or "Jenison") family. The name was also sometimes spelled "Genings" in early records. Robert's brother William came to America in 1630, probably on the ship Arbella. It is not known when Robert came, but he was in Watertown, Mass., by April 1637, when his daughter Elizabeth was born. Robert's first wife, Elizabeth, died October 30, 1638, and his second wife Grace died November 26, 1686.
Robert was made a freeman in May 1645. He had a six-acre home lot in Watertown. His brother, Capt. William, returned permanently to England in about 1651, leaving a considerable amount of land to Robert. Robert also purchased land. In 1657 he was fined one shilling for allowing his "porkers" too much freedom.[1]
Robert provided is wife Grace with a nurse maid to assister her. Apparently a child of theirs died, and the nurse, Goody Kendall, was accused of witchcraft by another Nurse, who subsequently died in prison. The circumstances were related by Rev. John Hale of Beverly in his "Modest Inquiry into the Nature of Witchcraft." Hale writes:
"Another suffering in this kind was a Woman of Cambridge, against whom a principal evidence was a Watertown Nurse, who testifyed, that the said Kendal (so was the accused called) did bewitch to Death a Child of Goodman Genings of Watertown; for the said Kendal did make much of the Child, and then the Child was well, but quickly changed its colour and dyed a few hours later.... But after Kendal was Executed (who also denyed her guilt to the Death) Mr. Rich. Brown knowing and hoping better things of Kendal, asked said Genings if they suspected her to bewitch their Child, they answered No. But they judged the true cause of the Childs Death to be thus, viz. The Nurse had the night before carryed out the Child and kept it abroad in the Cold a long time, when the red gum was come out upon it, and the Cold had struck in the red gum, and this they judged the cause of the Childs death. And that said Kendal did come in theat day and make much of the Child, but they apprehended no wrong to come to the Child by her. After this the said Nurse was put into Prison for Adultery, and there delivered of hr base Child, and Mr. Brown went to her and told her, It was just with God to leave her to this wickedness as a Punishment for her Murdering goody Kendal by her false witness bearing. But the Nurse dyed in Prison, and so the matter was not farther inquired into."
Robert's will is dated September 15, 1683, and was proved October 7, 1690.[2] The inventory of his estate was taken July 24, 1690, showing a valuation of over 101, and stated that he died July 4, 1690. The will left his whole estate to his wife, 40 shillings to daughter "Mikell" Warren; 20 shillings to son-in-law George Read; 40 acres of his farm that had formerly belonged to his brother Capt. William Jenison, to his grandchild William (then 7 years old); and made his son Samuel executor and beneficiary after his wife's Grace's death. As Grace died November 26, 1686, Robert added a codicil on April 27, 1687, giving to daughter "Micaell" an additional 5, giving to 2-year old grandson Robert, 30 acres of land; and making void his earlier bequest to son-in-law George Read "for reasons best known to myself."[3]
Children of Robert1 Jennison and Elizabeth (--?--) were:
Children of Robert1 Jennison and Grace (--?--) were as follows:
Generation Two
2. Samuel2 Jennison (Robert1) was born in 1645. He married Judith Macomber on 30 Oct 1666. He died on 15 Oct 1701.
Ensign Samuel Jenison was born December 15, 1642, in Watertown, Mass.[1] He was the son of Robert Jenison. He married Judith Newcomb October 30, 1666. She was born January 16, 1645, the daughter of Francis and Rachel (Brackett) Newcomb. (Judith's surname was mistakenly identified in early sources as "Macomber.")
Samuel Jenison spent his life in Watertown and had for those days a handsome property, chiefly in land. He was a comparatively rich man. He was town clerk in 1691, and was a constable 1693-95. He also performed various other town duties and offices. His will is dated November 30, 1700. He died October 15, 1701, in Watertown. His wife died March 1, 1722/23, in Watertown. She was sick for eight or nine weeks before her death.[2]
Samuel's will gave to his wife Judith the homestead (both house and land) and 60; to eldest son Samuel, one acre of meadow in addition to what he already had; to second son William of Sudbury, 40 acres of land; to son Peter, one half of a farm in Sudbury; to youngest son Robert, the housing and land's after the wife's death, 30 acres of land in Watertown, and 10 of money out of the 60 left to wife Judith. The oldest daughter Judith Barnard was to have 10 paid to her by Samuel; second daughter Rachel Barron to have 8 paid to her by William; daughter Grace Holden to have 8 paid to her by Peter, and also a brass kettle; and daughter Lydia was to have 20 paid to her at age eighteen or when she married. His five living grandchildren were to have 10 shillings each.[3]
Children of Samuel2 Jennison and Judith Macomber were as follows:
Generation Three
3. Peter3 Jennison (Samuel2, Robert1) was born on 1 Oct 1681 at Watertown, Mass. He married Joan (--?--) circa 1708. He died on 17 Jan 1772 at Sudbury at age 90.
Children of Peter3 Jennison and Joan (--?--) were:
Generation Four
4. Robert4 Jennison (Peter3, Samuel2, Robert1) was born on 9 Jul 1715 at Sudbury, Mass. He married Sibilla Brintall, daughter of Phinehas Brintall and Sibilla Rice, on 13 Jan 1738.
Children of Robert4 Jennison and Sibilla Brintall were:
Generation Five
5. Eunice5 Jennison (Robert4, Peter3, Samuel2, Robert1) was born on 23 Oct 1739. She married Issac Baldwin, son of Issac Baldwin and Mary Flagg, on 31 Dec 1761.
Children of Eunice5 Jennison and Issac Baldwin were:
Home Back