52 Ancestors #46: Discovering My Local Family History Center

Ancestor Name: Powhatan Perrow Jennings (1812-1858)

I am a newbie to genealogy. I took over my father's research in late 2012 and freely admit most of my work is done online. I send away for offline vital records from many sources and obituaries from local libraries that offer them. I go "graving" to photograph ancestors' headstones and conduct research in local genealogy and history societies where my ancestors lived. I spend a lot of time in the Virginia Room of the Fairfax County Library. But when my initial Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) application was rejected by the National Society after being accepted by the local chapter, a very unusual occurrence I'm told. I had to learn a new skill.

My Revolutionary War patriot had already been accepted by DAR through his grandson Patterson Gilliam Jennings (c1824-1899). This was good news. If I could prove my lineage to Benjamin Jennings, I did not have to re-prove his military service.[1]

My lineage to Benjamin Jennings and the lineage already
 accepted by DAR; created using Powerpoint

I submitted my source documents -- birth, marriage and relevant death certificates -- for the most recent three generations. Each birth and death certificate proving the linkage to the previous generation. For my great grandfather, Charles Edward Jennings, the linkage to his father, Powhatan, was his death certificate. For Powhatan's linkage to his father, I used a reference in a book. And that was the problem the National Society had with my application.

I was worried about how I would prove that John William Jennings, Sr., was Powhatan's father as Powhatan died two months before his father and I have not found a will for John, Sr. Land deeds I had retrieved from Amherst County were plentiful but silent on relationships.

So I reviewed the source documents I already had for Powhatan Perrow Jennings, and realized I had a Virginia, Selected Marriages, 1785-140, index record from Ancestry for his second marriage. It included his parents names. It also included a FHL Film Number. I learned how to order the microfilm and had it sent to my local Family History Center, which was not five miles from my house. Who knew!

Virginia, Select Marriages, 1785-1940, index record from Ancestry.com

Powhatan Perrow Jennings and Elizabeth Rhodes marriage registration; image
courtesy of the Family History Center

When it arrived, I got a tutorial on the one microfilm reader that also scanned, and emailed the images to myself.[2] After I returned home, I created the proper source citation added the document to my tree and emailed a copy to DAR. Three weeks later my application was accepted. As of 5 November 2015 I am a member of that organization and look forward to joining my local chapter on various veteran-related volunteer projects.

Now that I know how to order microfilm from the Family History Center, I've become a regular at my local center and have attended a few meetings there when outside speakers are invited. So proving Powhatan Perrow Jennings' linkage to his father taught me yet another resource to use in my genealogy research. And that's a good thing!

This is my entry for Amy Johnson Crow's 52 ancestors in 52 weeks challenge optional theme Changes.

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[1] Benjamin Jennings served twice during the Revolutionary War. Once with the Virginia Militia and once with Col. Morgan's Riflemen. I have thoroughly enjoyed researching the details of his military service and visiting the Saratoga National Historic Park.

[2] There were 14 Jennings marriages in Amherst County, Virginia, on that microfilm reel. I emailed copies of all of them to myself and have added them to my tree.

British Surrender at Saratoga
Revolutionary War Soldier