Family and Education

b. c.1666, 3rd but 1st surv. s. of Richard Jennens of Long Wittenham by w. Elizabeth. educ. G. Inn 1683. m. lic. 15 June 1696, aged 30, Mary, da. and coh. of Richard Spencer, Vintner and Turkey merchant, of Berry Street, Aldgate, London and Newington, Surr., wid. of Edward Wiseman of East Locking, Berks., 2s. 1da. suc. fa. 1696.1

Offices Held

Freeman, Wallingford Sept. 1688, Woodstock 1703; commr. for assessment, Berks. 1689, j.p. by 1701-d., dep. lt. 1703-?d.2

Biography

Jennens was descended from a Berkshire yeoman family which was established at Harwell by the end of the 16th century, but played no known part in the Civil War. His grandfather, who died in 1667, described himself as a gentleman in his will, though his property at Harwell and Long Wittenham was only leasehold. Jennens was involved in a double return for Wallingford, five miles from his home, at the general election of 1689, and was not seated until after the division on agreeing with the Lords that the throne was not vacant. He left no trace on the records of the Convention, but was undoubtedly a Tory under William III and Anne, refusing the Association in 1696. He died heavily in debt and was buried at Long Wittenham on 9 Feb. 1709, the only member of his family to sit in Parliament.3

Ref Volumes: 1660-1690

Authors: Leonard Naylor / Geoffrey Jaggar

Notes

• 1. Berks. Arch. Jnl. xxxv. 136; PCC 23 Foot, 49 Bond, 259 Box; London Mar. Lic. ed. Foster, 760; Woodhead, Rulers of London, 154; HMC Lords, n.s. viii. 338.
• 2. Berks. RO, Wallingford borough statute bk. 1648-1766, f. 150; Woodstock council acts (27 Sept. 1703).
• 3. VCH Berks, iii. 491; PCC 169 Carr, 77 Lane; CJ, x. 11, 32; Salisbury Dioc. RO, Long Wittenham bishops’ transcripts.