CAMPBELL COUNTY, VA - HISTORY - Campbell Chronicles and Family Sketches
			Family  Sketches - Jennings
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                   CAMPBELL CHRONICLES and FAMILY SKETCHES

              Embracing the History of CAMPBELL COUNTY, VIRGINIA
                                  1782-1926
                                By R. H. EARLY
                              With Illustrations
                              J. P. BELL COMPANY
                           LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA 1927


Jennings

  In 18OO there was no church building within the town limits of Lynchburg and
Mason's Hall was used for religious services as well as court meetings. Here in
September, 180O, Bishop Asbury preached when Samuel KL. Jennings, then a teacher
at New London, was ordained the first preacher in the community to be so
consecrated. Jennings afterwards became a prominent physician and preacher in
Lynchburg. There are two deeds among county records of his freeing slaves. The
first of these states that under authority of an act of the Virginia Assembly,
passed in December, 1792, granting to individuals the right of emancipating
slaves, Samuel K. Jennings, of New London, "believing that God hath of one blood
made all nations of the earth, and—according to our excellent bill of
rights—that all-are equally entitled to the blessings of liberty," therefore
gave up all right and title, which he then had, to the person of his negro man,
John Charlsson, at the time 39 years old, late the property of the Rev. Stith
Mead, and transferred by deed of sale to Jennings. Therefore, the said John
Charlsson was to be considered a free man from the sealing and delivery 'of
these presents."

  The second deed somewhat differently expressed, yet with similar intent,
records that "under the influence of humane feelings, conscious of the rectitude
of the thing of itself and authorized by the act of assembly, Samuel KL.
Jennings did agree to purchase a man named Toby, then about 40 years old, and a
woman slave named Sally, 35 years old, with the intention of emancipating them,
agreeably to the rules and regulations of the Episcopal church. The purchase was
made in 18O4 but Toby and Sally were to remain in Jenning's service until
January, 1815. The emancipations occurred in 18O6, at which time also William
Brown, a Scotchman (who started the first dry goods store in Lynchburg, was a
banker and agent for nearly the entire county-trading), emancipated a mulatto
girl named Judith, "as far as I have a right to her," he stated.

  It is found that many of Campbell's citizens were opposed to the perpetuation
of slavery. Of efforts to abolish the institution, Jefferson wrote, "There are
many virtuous men who would make any sacrifice for its extinguishment, many
equally virtuous who persuade themselves that it cannot be remedied. The value
of the slave is every day lessening and his burthen on his master increasing,
while suffering from the burthen and responsibility entailed, the settlement of
this vexed problem baffles the penetration of the wise."


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