With the help of a mom of a friend (who happens to be a very fine genealogist) I might have some interestly leads in finding out who William's pre-America family was. Acting on a lead that our old, elusive friend Jabez could be William's brother, she offers this interesting tidbit:
In the Mehoopany census of 1850, Jabez was living in Mehoopany at the time. "Age 30, farmer; Susan, age 26 and Samuel age 4".
Some time before that, records show Jabez Wallace Jennings was born in 1819 and his chritening was in 1820 in Wesleyan, Bath, Somerset, England. Parents are listed as Samuel Jennings and Martha. The custom then was to name your first-born after your paternal father.
So, if this all pans out, once we get to look at who Samuel's other children were, if there is a William among them, we may have an idea who William's family in England was. That is, if Jabez was his brother.
Included in this post is an image from the Bath Post Office Directory of 1852. It lists Samuel Jennings as a "boot and shoe maker".
Also, if the Samuel was
