Jennings/Northrop Genealogy
This was written by Alvin Jennings Northrop
Joshua Jennings, The First came to Greens Farms around 1645, from England, by way of Hartford Connecticut.
Various members of the Jennings families farmed the land from Dennies Point to Frost Point (Westport, CT) from 1645 to about 1910. The original settlers of Greens Farms were called the Bankside Farmers and farmed the land from Burial Hill to Frost Point.
Joshua Jennings, the second, was your great, great, great, great, great, great great grandfather. He was, in 1711, one of the seven founders of the Greens Farms Congregational Church. They left First Church Congregational in Fairfield so that they could have a church closer to their home lands. (I believe one or both Joshuas are buried in the Colonial cemetary in Greens Farms off exit 18. ejn)
A.( Sasco Creek Road and Beachside closest to water} This is where your Great Great Grandfather Wakeman Jennings lived. He was married to Mary Penfield of Fairfield. The Penfield family ran the Sun Tavern (Just west of Town Hall, Fairfield). The Penfield family also ran the Penfield Grist Mill (on Ash Creek) which supplied the Continental Army with flour. Penfield Reef and Penfield Road are named after the Penfield Family.
B. (Sasco Creek Road just behind A.) This is where your Great Grandfather Lewis Burr Jennings lived. His wife was Mary Keeler of Ridgefield. Mary Keeler's father was Jeremiah Keeler of Ridgefield. The second child of Lewis Burr Jennings and Mary Keeler Jennings was Estella Keeler Jennings. She married Georges Ives Northrop (son of George Elmore Northrop) (both George I. and George E. are buried at Oaklawn cemetary, Fairfield, Section A. ejn), and they were the parents of Alvin J., Margaret (I.) and Mary K. Northrop.
C.(other side of Sasco Creek Road behind where marsh is now) This was the home of Andrew Wakeman Jennings, whose father was Wakeman Jennings, and whose brother was Lewis Burr Jennings. This house later became the home of Little Orphan Annie comic strip artist, Harold Gray.
D. (corner of Long Lots Road and Sturges Road) This was where your Great Grandfather Alvin Northrop lived. He married Sarah Wakeman Alvord. Sarah Wakeman Alvord was the daughter of David Alvord and Abigail Jennings. David Alvord lived on the waterfront between Burial Hill and Frost Point. This beach was called Alvord's Beach.
E. Bulkley Avenue between Old Road and the Post Road, West side closer to Old Road)
This is where Mrs. Hannegan lived. Her daughter, Margaret Ellen Hannegan married George Elmore Northrop. He was the son of Alvin Northrop and Sarah Wakeman Alvord. George Elmore Northrop and Margaret Ellen Hannegan were married after his return from the Civil War (he enlisted at age 17) and they made their home on Pequot Avenue in Southport.
George Ives Northrop, your grandfather, was the son of George Elmore Northrop. He married Estella Keeler Jennings, daughter of Lewis Burr Jennings (was Annie Burr Jennings his sister? what about Oliver Burr Jennings). When they were first married they lived a 3 Seymour Street, South Norwalk. Their children were Alvin (Tom and Beth's father), Margaret and Mary.
F.(Beachside Road closer to Dennies point than Frost Point)This is where Wilbur Jennings lived. He was the son of Andrew Wakeman Jennings. This site later became the home of Eugene Henkels.
G. (Greens Farms Road)This was the home of Alphonso Jennings. His children were Florence and Bertram Jennings. When Alvin, Margaret and Mary were quite young, they used to plant corn for Cousin Florence and ride with her on her milk route in a Model T.