| Maternal |
| JENKINS, since c.1730 |
| The following appears in the old book by Everett S. Stackpole, entitled "Old Kittery and Her Families," Lewiston, Me: Press of Lewiston Journal Company, 1903:
The Benjamin Jenkins listed in this last statement is probably the one who removed to Bradford, Vermont. |
Benjamin Jenkins, probably born around 1730, was one of the signers of the Royal Charter of Moore Town, Gloucester Co., New York, on 18 March 1771. The name was changed to Bradford on 23 October 1788 and became part of what is now Orange Co., Vermont. He was one of the first 22 original settlers of that place and the only one by the name Jenkins, thus he is tentatively considered to be the progenitor of all the early Jenkins family groups in that town. The list of probable descendants below is compiled from research by Helen Kinsey, LDS files, and Bradford cemetery and vital records.
Probable Children:
JOSEPH JENKINS,
formerly thought to be a child of Benjamin
Jenkins, has been identified as a child of Joel Jenkins of Andover, Massachusetts.
Research in progress suggests that Benjamin may have been closely related
to that family. Joseph Jenkins, born about April 1761, died 25 September 1844, age 83 years 5 months in Bradford, Orange Co., Vermont; married 2 January 1785 Mary Newhall, born 27 July 1763 in Lynnfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts, died 8 September 1836, age 73 years, in Bradford, Orange Co., Vermont. He is one of the three Jenkins men listed as heads of household in Bradford in 1790. |
(1) Elijah Jenkins,
of Bradford, Orange Co., Vermont, was born between 1760-1770, and died about
1802. It is probable that he was one of the sons of Benjamin Jenkins who
signed the Royal Charter of Moore Town in 18 March 1771, which was later named
Bradford. His wife, Eunice Bliss,
was probably a close relative of Ellis Bliss from Hebron, Connecticut, who had
a large family in Bradford, Vermont, or Peletiah Bliss, of Bolton, Connecticut,
who moved to Bradford, or John Bliss, who was enumerated in the 1790 census
of Bradford.
Elijah is one of the three Jenkins
men listed as heads of household in Bradford in 1790; besides himself, his household
consisted of one male under 16 years of age and two females—it is difficult
to tell from this report whether the household composition represents children
not yet identified, or if the enumeration of Bardford households extended into
the spring of 1791 when Elias,
the first known son, was born.
Elijah does not appear in the
1800 or 1810 censuses of Bradford, Orange Co., Vermont
Since all five of his known children
lived in Stanbridge, Missisquoi Co., Quebec, Canada, it may be that he removed
to there before his death, or that Eunice moved the family there following his
death. No records have yet been found pertaining to Elijah's death, either in
Vermont or Quebec.
Children:
(2) Elias Jenkins,
born 10 May 1791, Bradford, Orange Co., Vermont, died 19 October 1870 in Town
of Stockholm, St. Lawrence Co., New York; married 24 November 1813 in Frelighsburg,
St. Armand East, Missisquoi Co., Quebec, Canada, Sarah
"Sally” Gage,
born 30 June 1796 in Hubbardston, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, died 22 June
1852. Their marriage record indicates they belonged to the Church of England.
Jenkins
Family Bible
(click a page to view larger image)
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Elias Jenkins was one of a large group of people who formed The Stanbridge
Temperance Society on Thursday, 20 January 1831. He was enumerated in county
poll books in
1829 and 1834. Little
else is yet known about the couple's lives in Canada.
Judging from the birthplaces of their children, they removed to St. Lawrence
County sometime between 1836 and 1839 -- a reasonable time for a large family
to move since Canada was in a state of Civil War beginning in 1837. It
is probable that they moved with Sally's brother, Abel Gage,
who lived nearby for many years. A half-penny from the city bank at Montreal,
dated 1837, has been passed down in the Jenkins family and is perhaps indicative
of the year they left for the United States.
Elias and Sally made their home at
what is today 439 Mahoney Road in the Town of Stockholm, St. Lawrence Co., New
York. The
home was a simple frame structure with clapboard siding, and a Greek-revival-style
door, typical of homes built between 1820 and 1840. It is not known whether
the home was already standing when Elias and Sally purchased the property, or
if they built it when they arrived. Land owner maps from 1865 show the home
as occupied by "E. Jenkins", and Elias was enumerated there in the
1870 cenus.
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| Section
of DeBeers 1865 map of landowners in the Town of Stockholm, St. Lawrence
Co., New York, showing Elias Jenkins' home and the Jenkins Neighborhood
Cemetery in Lot #2. The homes of his sons Jotham Jenkins and Edmond Bliss
Jenkins are in Lot #1. The Ellis, Thacher and Tracy families in Lot #12
and the Stickneysand Hogans in Lot # 11 all intermarried with the Jenkinses.
"A. Gage" in Lot # 12 is Abel Gage, brother of Sally (Gage)
Jenkins. |
Elias was one of the original five trustees of the First Wesleyan Society Church
of East Stockholm, which was incorporated 11 October 1852.
When Sally died in the summer of 1852, she was buried in a lot just due west
of the Jenkins house, in what is today called the Jenkins Neighborhood Cemetery.
An inscription on Sally's stone (lot # 54) reads, “Blessed are the dead that
die in the Lord.”
Elias married second Mrs. Taylor
of Malone, St. Lawrence Co., New York, in 1854. They had no known children.
It is not clear whether the picture (above right)
depicts Sally Gage or Mrs. Taylor; it is labeled simply "Mrs. Jenkins"
in the family photo album. In the 1860 census of the Town of Stockholm, she
is named as "Betsey M.," age 55, housewife, born in Vermont. Living
with Elias and Betsey that year were Mary B. Taylor, age 18, schoolteacher,
born in New York, and Henrietta (no surname given), age 17, also born in New
York.
Also in 1860, Elias and Sally's
son Noah
E. Jenkins was enumerated next door to his parents' home, as a 46
year old "W. M. Preacher" (Wesleyan Methodist), born in Canada. He
was living with his wife Charity, age 25, housewife.
When Elias died in the fall
of 1870, he was buried next to Sally in the Jenkins Neighborhood Cemetery. It
is not clear from available documents whether the house stayed within the Jenkins
family or was sold off. Perhaps indicative of the latter is the fact that in
the 1880 census, "Betsy M. Jenkins," widow, born about 1804 in Vermont,
was enumerated at Brasher Falls, St. Lawrence Co., New York, in the household
of Amos R. Bacon and his wife "Ettie" M., as his mother-in-law, with
occupation of "helps in house."
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Mark
Avery Wentling, great-great-great-grandson of Elias & Sally (Gage)
Jenkins, at the Jenkins home at 439 Mahoney Rd., Town of Stockholm, St.
Lawrence Co., New York, on 9 October 2006. |
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View
of the Jenkins home as taken from the Jenkins Neighborhood Cemetery next
door. |
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Children of Elias Jenkins and Sally Gage:
Edmond
Bliss, a farmer, was born 10 April 1814 in Canada, and died 28 April 1893.
He married 29 December 1839, Deraxy Stickney, born 1820 in Vermont, died 30
November 1868. Cemetery records also list Eleanor M. Bolton (1837-1916) as
a wife of Edmond. In the 1850 federal census of the town of Stockholm,
St. Lawrence Co., New York, 16 year old farmer Palusha Stickney was living
with them. They lived two doors away from his brother, Jotham Jenkins,
and near his parents, Elias and Sally Jenkins. The names of their first
five children are taken from the 1850 census, though some names are nearly
illegible. Children:
Elias,
Jr., a farmer, born 11 August 1816 in Canada, died 22 February 1875; married
Carline Thatcher, born 1820, died 16 April 1901, daughter of Harvey and Lucy
Thatcher, who died 20 June 1824 at 28 years of age. They lived next
door to his uncle, Abel Gage.
Jotham
(at right),
a farmer, born 12 February 1825 in Canada, died 1 May 1902, probably in St.
Lawrence Co., New York; married Sophronia French (at
right below) of Stockholm, born 20 January
1826, died 4 April 1894, daughter of John French of Vermont, died 1832, and
Sybil Dewey, died 1841. They lived two doors away from his brother Edmond
bliss Jenkins. They are both buried in Lot 47 of the Jenkins Neighborhood
Cemetery. Children:
Theron
D. Jenkins, M.D., born 1891, died 27 June 1917; married Frances Goodnough.
Theron was murdered while treating an injured man in the home of a young
lady who was being beaten by a hired hand. The crime received widespread
attention in newspapers and is one of the subjects treated by the Stockholm
Historical Museum today. Frances later married Alfred Burke, father
of Mary Alice Burke.
(3) Rev. Noah Elijah Jenkins,
was born 2 January 1834 near Montreal, Canada, and died 18 May 1905 in Mexico,
Oswego County, New York, aged 71 years, 4 months and 16 days. He is enumerated
in the 1850 federal census of the town of Stockholm, St. Lawrence Co., New York,
as a farmer in his parents' household.
The Wesleyan Methodists
broke from the Episcopal Methodist Church in May 1843 at Utica, New York, primarily
due to moral disagreements about the episcopacy and slavery; most Wesleyan Methodists
in New York at the time were vocal abolitionists. From
an early age, Noah was immersed in this morally and politically charged Methodist
culture: his maternal grandfather was a traveling minister, his father was trustee
of the local Wesleyan Church, and his uncle, Abel Gage,
ran a local Sunday school class. It is no wonder, then, that at about the age
of 16, he converted to God in a Methodist prayer meeting. It was around this
time, in December 1849, that his uncle Abel Gage of
Stockholm reported in a letter to his father, Richard
Gage,
in Quebec, Canada:
"We have had very interesting meetings here for a few weeks; several have professed to experience religion. Noah Jenkins is one _ong in number; he seems to be very faithful and substantial for a boy. I pray the Lord to carry on the good work untill all shall be brought into the fold of Christ. The work progresses slow but steady without special excitement or extra mean of Grace. We have from two to three prayer meetings a week. Preaching once in two weeks. The Lord seems to hear the prayers of his Children for the revival of his work. Pray that it may continue."
Soon afterward, under a sense of divine calling, Noah Jenkins began preaching.
He was received into the Champlain conference of the Wesleyan Methodist Connection
in the year 1861, and was ordained an elder at Weybridge, Vermont, in the following
year. He received his first appointment in 1861, being sent to the Macomb charge,
where he served for two years. He was the first pastor to serve at the Second
Wesleyan Methodist Church in North Stockholm, St. Lawrence Co., New York and
he afterwards served as pastor at the following charges, thus rendering to the
church of his choice a pastoral service for the consecutive term of 36 years:
Mooers,
NY, four year; Mendon,
VT, two years; Readsboro,
VT, three years; Brookdale,
NY, two years; returned
to Readsboro, VT for another term of three years; Syracuse,
NY, three years; Pratham,
NY, five years; Morley,
NY, six years; West
Chazy, NY, four years; and
Hague, NY, two years.
He was prominently associated with the management of affairs of the Wesleyan
Methodist Connexion, serving as a member of several of the Connectional incorporated
societies for upwards of twenty years, and as a member of several General Conferences.
He was President of the General Conference at West Chazy, New York, from 1876
to 1878, and again from 1888 to 1897. He also served as President of the Syracuse
Conference, and in April 1885 his sermon “Reciprocal Duties of the Ministry
and People,” which he delivered at the proceedings, was published at the attendees
request.
He was at least financially involved in establishing the Wesleyan Methodist
seminary in western New York State that came to be known as Houghton
College. At a rededication of the Wesleyan Church in Short Tract, Allegheny
County, in October 1882, Rev. Dennison Smith Kinney, Agent
of the Educational Society of the Wesleyan Methodist Connection, approached
Willard J. Houghton with plans to establish a “first class seminary” to serve
the people of western New York and northern Pennsylvania.
The seminary was founded in 1883 and the ledger in which W.J. Houghton logged
financial contributions to the school contains record of four separate gifts
of $5 each by “Rev. N.E. Jenkins” and one later contribution of $5 by “Sr. N.E.
Jenkins.” The ledger is presently housed in the Willard J. Houghton Memorial
Library Archives in Houghton, New York.
Noah Jenkins
seems to have made life-long friends of several of these colleagues, many of
whom were prominent in affairs of the denomination. Rev. Nathan Wardner, who
served several terms as president of the regional conferences, officiated at
Noah’s second wedding in Mexico, Oswego County, New York. Mr. A.W. Hall, publishing
agent for the denomination from 1890 to 1907, wrote Rev. Jenkins’ obituary.
Wardner, Hall, Jenkins, plus Willard J. Houghton, were pallbearers at the funeral
of their friend Rev. D.S. Kinney and his photograph is
in the Jenkins family photo album of 1880.
Noah
was not alone in his ministerial travels; probably very early in his career
he married Charity A. Peck, (at
right),
his childhood neighbor, and a teacher, born in New York in 1836. A photo album
that belonged to the couple, stamped "Mr. & Mrs. Jenkins, 1880"
on the cover, contains two photographs of young ladies that were gifts to Mrs.
Jenkins, one of which was taken in Syracuse and says "to teacher C. A.
Jenkins"—thus establishing not only Charity's occupation, but also
indicating that Noah and Charity were probably married at least as early as
his appointment to the church at Syracuse from around 1877-1880.
The
1880 census lists Noah and Charity as residing in Mexico, Oswego Co., New York.
In 1885, Noah was appointed
to the Wesleyan Methodist Church at Morley, near Canton, St. Lawrence Co., New
York. Midway through his service he suffered the loss of his companion when
on 4 January 1888 Charity died at age 52. She was interred
in Morley Cemetery.
Very shorty
thereafter, on 9 January 1889 he
married Hattie M. Avery,
(below) born
2 October 1856 in Mexico, Oswego County, New York. Within
the year their first child, a daughter Josephine, was born. Hattie—who
was 22 years his junior and 20 years younger than his first wife—was a
teacher, like Charity had been. Considering Hattie's location, occupation, and
their marriage only a year after Charity's death, one possible conclusion is
that Hattie and Noah had probably become well acquainted during his earlier
period of residence in Mexico, perhaps as part of Charity's circle of professional
associates; in fact, considering the age difference between Charity and Hattie
it is even possible that Hattie was Charity's student or trainee.
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By
1894 the couple was working in West Chazy, Clinton Co., New York, where Hattie
gave birth to their second and last child, a son Noah
Avery. West Chazy is about 40 miles west-southwest of Stanbridge,
Quebec, where Noah was born.
In the year 1897, because
of declining health, he settled upon a farm near the village of Mexico, Oswego
County, according to his obituary. Probably, this was the farm operated by Hattie's
father Merwin
Avery; he had been widowed two years earlier and had no other
children living in the vicinity, so most likely Hattie and Noah moved in to
look after him. Merwin died in the fall of 1904.
For
two years prior to his death, Noah Elijah was in a state of mental and physical
decline, eventually resulting in a stroke of paralysis eight days before his
passing, which occurred on 18 May 1905 on the farm at Mexico.
The funeral services were held at the family home and were attended by his widow,
Hattie, 16 year old daughter, Josie, 11 year old son, Noah,
and a large gathering of friends and colleagues. The text for the sermon was
Numbers 23:10: “Let
me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his.”
The remains were taken to the village of Morley,
St. Lawrence County, New York, for interment with his first wife Charity,
accompanied by the family.
After
Noah died, Hattie married Mr. Charles H. Brown. They had no known children together.
She died in August 1924 and is buried in Pleasant Lawn Cemetery, Parish, Oswego
Co., New York, with her parents as "wife of C.H. Brown."
Children of Noah Elijah Jenkins and Hattie M. Avery:
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Josephine, ca. 1890 |
 Charlie & Hattie, ca. 1920 |
(4) Noah Avery Jenkins
was born 19 February 1894 in West Chazy, New York, and died 28 June 1969 in
Watertown, Jefferson County, New York. He attended schools in Mexico, Oswego
County, New York. He was employed 17 years by the Citizens National Bank, Adams,
Jefferson County, now Marine Midland Trust Company. From 1929 to 1935 he was
district manager for Equitable Life Insurance Co. He was later employed at Carthage
Machine Company for 27 years. He was a life member and past master of Rising
Sun Lodge, F. & A. Masons, Adams, and a member and past president of the
Businessmen’s group of the Y.M.C.A. Noah was an avid sportsman and outdoorsman.
Photographs from the 1920’s show him hunting bear at his in-laws’ camp at Pleasant
Lake and proudly displaying like trophies the fish he loved to catch -- a passtime
which he enjoyed even on the day of his death. The fishing pole and tackle he
used are still in the possession of his great-grandson, Mark Avery, who was
named in his honor.
On Tuesday, 31 August 1915, he married Ethel
Aljelina Thorp,
born November 20, 1891, died 22 July 1976, of Little Falls, Herkimer
County, New York. Ethel graduated from the high school at Little Falls in 1908
and from Syracuse University in 1913. She was characterized as “an accomplished
young lady and a brilliant scholar.” She went on to become a school teacher
and was district deputy grand matron of Adams OES 156. Ethel applied for membership
in the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution; her research
notes and practice application still exist and have been invaluable in tracing
her heritage back to several notable New England families, including those of
two Mayflower
passengers, and some of documented royal descent.
The wedding ceremony was performed at the Thorp residence at 4 o’clock in the
afternoon, the Rev. Charles M. Starkweather of the Methodist Episcopal Church
officiating. Ethel was given away by her father in the presence of immediate
relatives. She wore a gown of white crepe meteor with pearl trimming and a veil
of tulle, and carried a shower bouquet of bride’s roses and lillies of the valley.
The best man was Ross. P. Miller of Rochester, New York. The bride’s attendant
was Marion Sheldon of Gouverneur, St. Lawrence County, New York. Sheldon wore
a gown of Japanese embroidered chiffon over rose messaline. The house decorations
were pink and white. Julie E. Broughton played the Lohengrin wedding march.
A dinner followed at the home. The honeymoon consisted of “an extended motor
trip” to Lake George, the Berkshires and the Hudson Valley.
The couple returned on October first to make their home at a newly furnished
residence at 19 Wardwell Street, Adams, Jefferson County, New York. On 21 February
1918, their only child, Donald,
was born. They later held residence on RD 1 in Watertown, Jefferson County.
After retirement, the couple lived at Ramsey Shores in the summer and in Englewood,
Florida, in the winter. Both were members of the First Presbyterian Church.
Noah died at 1:30 in the morning, Saturday, 28 June 1969, in the House of the
Good Samaritan, Watertown, where he was admitted at 12:10 a.m. Calling hours
were from 2 to 4 and from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. The funeral
service was at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Cleveland-McCallen Funeral Home with Rev.
John B. Smiley, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, officiating. Burial
was at Brookside Cemetery, Watertown. Contributions in his memory were made
to the Heart Fund.
Ethel died Thursday, 22 July 1976 at 5:30 p.m. at the Samaritan Keep Home, Watertown,
where she had been a patient for one and a half years. Calling hours were Saturday
from 2 to 4 and from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Cleveland-Spink Funeral Home. The funeral
service was Sunday at 2 p.m. with the Rev. John B. Smiley officiating. Burial
was Monday at 11 a.m. at Brookside Cemetery in the same plot as her husband
who preceeded her. Parents of:
(5) Donald Thorp Jenkins
was born 21 February 1918 in Adams, Jefferson County, New York. He died 27 December
1985 in Sarasota, Florida. He moved twelve times before graduating from Watertown
High School, of which his great-grandfather Thorp had been principal after the
Civil War. He later attended Canton Agricultural and Technical College.
On 27 February 1942, he married Beulah Ethel
Washburn,
born 2 April 1916, of Camps Mills, Town of Hounsfield, Jefferson County, New
York. She and her siblings, Esther, Marjory and Leon walked every day to Hounsfield
Schoolhouse No. 5 at the intersection of Sulpher Springs Road and Salt Point
Road. Still standing, it is the likely same stone one-room schoolhouse in which
their grandmother, Esther Stoodley,
had taught in the latter half of the 19th-century. Beulah later attended Dexter
High School and graduated from Sackets Harbor High School and Newcomb Beauty
School in Watertown. She was a member of the Sulpher Springs Methodist Church,
and in her earlier years she was active in Youth Fellowship, choir and was ladies
aide of the church.
Donald and Beulah met on a blind date in the driveway of the store that they
would eventually renovate into a house on Salt Point Road, Camps Mills. The
historic property was once owned by Elisha Camp, who held vast tracts of land
in the area during the early 1800’s and whose family was instrumental in the
early political and military development of the region.
The couple was married in the chapel of the First Presbyterian Church, Thursday
afternoon at 1 p.m. Rev. Robert Wells Young, pastor, performed the ceremony.
The attendants were Emily E. Cobb and Leon S. Washburn, both of Sackets Harbor.
A luncheon was held after the 
ceremony
at Gray Gables. Twelve guests were present.
For a time, Donald worked at the Air Brake in Watertown. In the 1940’s, he and
Beulah operated the Holcomb Street Market. During World War II, Donald served
military duty, while Beulah worked in the factory. During the 1950's their two
children were born.
After a brief run with chicken farming, Donald established a TV sales and repair
business in their home, while Beulah kept the business books, raised the children,
and tended house. After David and Ann left home, the couple traveled across
the United States and Canada in their motor home.
Beulah died 12 February 1980, at the House of the Good Samaritan after a long
struggle with lung cancer. The funeral was at 2:30 p.m. Thursday at the Cleveland-Spink
Funeral Home, Sackets Harbor, with Rev. Scott L. Barton officiating. Burial
was in Brookside Cemetery, Watertown. Afterwards, Donald spent winters
at his new home at 218 S. Pasco St., Arcadia, Florida. On 1 January 1983
at St. James Catholic Church, in Carthage, Jefferson County, New York, Don married
Jane Tooker Bowman, current Treasurer of Jefferson County.
Donald died Sunday 27 December 1985 at the Memorial Hospital in Sarasota, Florida,
after a long unidentified illness and complications from diabetes. Calling hours
were Thursday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 at the Cleveland-Spink Funeral Home, where
the funeral service was held at 10:30 a.m. Friday. Burial was at Brookside Cemetery
with Beulah.
Children:
David married second, Janette --. They live in Seward, Alaska. Children:
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2. Ann Elizabeth Jenkins, married Vurlynn Roderick Wentling, son of Barbara Carter of Sackets Harbor, by whom she had two children:
Ann earned her degree for Licensed Practical Nursing 23 March 1984 and worked for Jefferson County Public Health for several years.Ann married second, at her parents’ home, Lawrence Darryl Parks of Watertown.
Children:
- Daniel Lee Parks.
Lawrence Parks & Ann Elizabeth
Jenkins with son Daniel Lee
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