Lt. Colonel William Jennings, Jr. commanded the 2nd Regiment of Kentucky Volunteers.
Jennings was born January 1, 1771 in Fauquier Co., Virginia. He moved to Kentucky as a young man.
Prior to the outbreak of the War of 1812, Jennings was involved in the Indian wars in the Northwest Territory. He was present at General Josiah Harmer’s defeat by the Miami at Kekionga (Fort Wayne) in 1790, where he was wounded. He was also present at General St Clair’s defeat at Fort Recovery, were he was also wounded, as a member of Capt. Jesse Richardson’s Company of Mounted Volunteers. By 1791 Jennings had been appointed to the rank of Lieutenant.
It was after this period of service that Jennings married and started a family. Jennings married Miss Nancy Ballinger (Oct 18, 1774 – April 13, 1823) on December 11, 1794. His union with Nancy brought forth a daughter, Josephine, born January 12, 1805.
In 1811, Jennings joined the Kentucky contingent of General William Henry Harrison’s Army that marched to the Prophet’s Town and engaged with the Indians at the Battle of Tippecanoe on November 7th.
With the outbreak of war with Great Britain in June of 1812, Jennings again took up his sword for the Commonwealth and the United States. He and the 2nd Regiment were mustered and taken into federal service in the fall of 1812 and released in March, 1813.
Jennings was promoted to command of the militia in Lincoln, Garrard, and Rock Castle counties at the rank of Brigadier General in 1814. After the War of 1812 ended, he served as a judge and as a sheriff prior to his death in 1831.
Jennings was buried in the Lancaster Cemetery, Lancaster (Garrard County). Sadly, present information indicates his marker has been lost to time.
From Lexington, Ky. –“This morning another fine regiment of volunteers, under colonel Jennings, passed through our town for Harrison’s army, all in high spirits; two members of Congress, McKee and Montgomery, are privates in this regiment of infantry, with their knapsacks, ready to support with their bayonets those principles which McKee advocated as a legislator, and which Montgomery (just released to Congress) is thus prepared to maintain.”
–National Intelligencer, September 22, 1812
“Douglas L. Lusher of Grandview, MO Home Page:Information about William Jennings.” Genealogy.com, http://www.genealogy.com/ftm/l/u/s/Douglas-L-Lusher-Grandview/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-0027.html.
2nd Kentucky Regiment of Volunteers 