The following year he was given leave to go to England a second time, and as in the two previous years, petitioned the House of Burgesses to receive the commissions owed him for issuing appointments as that job required. William Cocke received the royal warrant as the colonial secretary in 1712, but when Cocke died in 1720, Jenings again was appointed the colony's secretary, this time by Lt. Gov. Alexander Spotswood.
The following year after his first trip to England, William Cocke received permission to travel there again and requested the House of Burgesses to grant him commissions for issuing appointments as colonial secretary.  He was appointed colonial secretary in 1712 by the king but died in 1720, prompting Lt. Gov. Alexander Spotswood to appoint Jenings to the position.