Jenks (Jenckes)
The first person of the Jenks surname whose identity is documented by contemporary records is from Shropshire, on the Welsh border. This man was John Jenks, a draper or dealer in uncut cloth, who, in 1456 became a freeman of Shrewsbury, a market town and county seat. These records referenced "Jenks, John (alias Sadler) of Shresbury draper, son of William of same issue Agnes, Julianna, 1456" (assumed to mean he and the two girls were children of William).
The next Shropshire reference to a Jenks is in Wolverton, the ancient manor of Eaton, parish of Eaton-under-Haywood, which is a few miles to the southwest of Shrewsbury. Here, in 1521/2 Roland Jeynkys (Rowland Jenks) paid a tax to the priory in Wenlock.
A few years later, in 1524/5, when Henry VIII levied the first great tax that touched the average Englishman, there were seven different Jenks' taxed, one being William, the tax collector.
In that all of the Jenks family in America are descended from this early English family, and in that there has been past confusion of the English chain of ancestry, we here are providing notes, as relevant with each generation. Although references apply different spellings (Jenckes, Jenks, etc.) a common spelling is used.
No records specifically tie the above Rowland, Agnes or Julianna to our William.
Below, we have listed an expanded section of the Jenks Genealogy with reference explanations. Following this section, you may continue to the complete Jenks Genealogy.
*1. William (Gynkes) Jenks born c. 1480, Clun and Clunbury, (son of Roland (Rowland) Jenks and Mary Moore) William was a tax collector, married c. 1508, (?), born c. 1480.
Children:
*2. i Hugh Jenks born c. 1510.
3. ii John Jenks born c. 1511.
Believed to be the progenitor of Jenks families of both Clun and Clunbury. The presumption is based on his being the only one of that name who was taxed in 1524 at Clunbury and Brompton. He is also believed to be the same William Jenks, Tax Collector, of Munslow at an earlier time. The Munslow Jenkses are of the family of the parish of Eaton-under-Haywood, which is nearby. The parishes of Clun and Clunbury are within a few miles of each other, as is Eaton.
Second Generation
*2. Hugh Jenks (1.William1) born c. 1510, Hobendred (Habendryd) near Clun, in Shropshire, married before 1535 to Anne (?) or Agnes (?), born c. 1510, and who died after 1569 at New Chappel, parish of Clun. Hugh died approximately July 10, 1551 which is the date of his will. Anne’s will is dated January 12, 1569.
Children:
4. i Richard Jenks born 1535.
ii John Jenks born c. 1535, died 1571, Bucknell, Shropshire. Will dated May 9, 1571. Jenks family history says he died young with no wife and children.
*5. iii William Jenks born c. 1536.
iv Dorothy Jenks born c. 1538, married by 1571, (?).
Hugh Jenks, the only Jenks of this given name found in the 16th century, was presumably born about 1510/15 (his eldest son was born about 1535). He was taxed at Hobendred ("Habendryd"), a small area near Clun. Hugh's will was dated July 10, 1551, making bequests to sons John and William, naming his wife, Anne (written Annes or misspelled Agnes).
3. John Jenks (1.William1) born c. 1511, married (?). His will was filed July 20, 1549.
Children:
6. i John Jenks.
ii William Jenks.
Third Generation
4. Richard Jenks (2.Hugh2, 1.William1) born 1535, married (?). Richard died c. September 24, 1623.
Children:
i Joan Jenks born c. 1580, married September 9, 1597 to John Middleton, of Riston. Joan died c. 1613.
*5. William Jenks (2.Hugh2, 1.William1) born c. 1536, Clun, England, married Alicia (?), born c. 1540. William died 1611.
Children:
*7. i John Jenks born c.1556.
William Jenks of Clun is suggested as the father of John, backed up by the fact that he had three brothers, who, through their wills, made it possible to determine which sons belonged to each. William was the father of John of St. Annes, grandfather of Joseph of Lynn, MA, possible grandfather of Johns Sr. and Jr. of the Precinct of Tower of London, and grandfather of Jonas of London, and great-grandfather of Jonas who went to Virginia.
The Jonas and Joshua mentioned in his brother Richard's will had to be the two sons of Jonas of London, as they were the only two of that name. At that time, terms like "cousin", "brother-in-law", etc., had much broader meanings; the word "cousin" would only be used, however, with a blood relative whose actual relationship might not be clear.
6. John Jenks (3.John2, 1.William1) married Anne (?). John died in Clunbury.
Children:
i Richard Jenks.
ii Henry Jenks.
iii Thomas Jenks.
iv John Jenks born c. 1567, occupation Haberdasher.
8. v Mathew Jenks.
Fourth Generation
*7. John Jenks (5.William3, 2.Hugh2, 1.William1) born c. 1556, England, occupation Cutler, married January 8, 1595/6, in St. Anne, Blackfriars, London, England to Sarah Fulwater, born March 28 1573, Blackfriars, England, (daughter of Henry Fulwater and Margaret (?)) who died c. 1605, London, England. John died c. August 16, 1625, Blackfriars, London, England.
Children:
9. i John Jenks.
ii Sarah Jenks born February 6, 1596/7.
10. iii Jonas Jenks born 1580.
*11. iv Joseph Jenks born August 26, 1599.
"The Jenks Family of England ", p. 17, states "John Jenks of St. Anne, Blackfriars, London, cutler, obtained a license to Marry Sarah Fulwater on January 8, 1595/6." The only two children of this couple are recorded there, but the striking similarities between this John, and John of London, once opened speculation to his having another son John. The facts and records of John of London were so similar to those of John of St. Anne, Blackfriars, that it was first believed by those doing research of this family, that they were in fact the same person.
Perhaps, (it was once supposed), Sarah died shortly after Joseph’s (the colonist) birth and John married a Helen and moved to London, where he had another son named Joseph (who married Mary Tervyn) and a son John.
It all fit, except that John Jenks of St. Anne, Blackfriars was a fully recognized cutler at the time of his Marriage in 1595, while John of London was only just an apprentice at that time, not having been granted full occupational privileges. Also, the eldest son of John of the Precinct of Tower of London was mentioned in the minutes of the London Company of Cutlers in 1623 as "not then able to wield a Mark", meaning he was still a boy without the man's strength to pound a mark into stone or iron, therefore not fully occupationally qualified.
This eldest son of John of London, of course, could not be a reference to Joseph born in 1599, as he was 24 by that time and probably having done his own apprenticeship already. It is more believable, if at all, that John of St. Anne, Blackfriars, was a widower when he married Sarah Fulwater and that John of London was his son by a previous wife, however, no proof exists.
8. Mathew Jenks (6.John3, 3.John2, 1.William1) married (?).
Children:
i Henrie Jenks baptized March 19, 1596/7 in Clunbury.
ii Frances (Francisca) Jenks baptized June 10, 1599 in Clunbury, married November 20, 1620, in Clunbury, to Thomas Fidian.
iii Joseph Jenks baptized March 11, 1603/4 in Clunbury, buried January 6, 1605/6.
iv John Jenks born c. 1567, Clunsbury, Shropshire, occupation Haberdasher, buried February 9, 1638/9, London (?).
Fifth Generation
9. John Jenks (7.John4, 5.William3, 2.Hugh2, 1.William1) married c. 1605, Helen (?), born c. 1578. John died 1625.
Children:
12. i Joseph Jenks born 1607.
13. ii John Jenks born 1610.
10. Jonas Jenks (7.John4, 5.William3, 2.Hugh2, 1.William1) born 1580, married 1612, Ann Petro, who was born c. 1590 and died 1633. Jonas died 1622.
Children:
i Jonas Jenks born 1614, died 1636.
*11. Joseph Jenks (7.John4, 5.William3, 2.Hugh2, 1.William1) born August 26, 1599, England, occupation Blacksmith, married (1) November 5, 1627, in Horton, Joan Hearne, who was born c. 1607, (daughter of George Hearne and Catherine (?)) and died February 28, 1633/4. Joseph married (2) about 1650, in New England, Elizabeth (?), who was born c. 1604 and died in 1679, Lynn, MA. Joseph died March 16, 1682/3 in Lynn, MA. He cut the dies for the first coinage in New England. The exact date of his immigration to America has not yet been ascertained. He was in Hounslow as late as 1638 when a daughter was buried. He was evidently in Maine before June 25, 1642, when George Cleaves sailed for England and forged Joseph's name to a petition to Parliment. Joseph's name appears in New Hampshire records November 10, 1642.
Children: by Joan Hearne
*14. i Joseph Jenks born October 12, 1628.
ii George Jenks born c. 1630. Savage’s Genealogical Dictionary of 1st Settlers of New England mentions "perhaps another son (maybe George) that may have gone South and be progenitor of the name in North Carolina".
Children: by Elizabeth (?)
iii Sarah Jenks born 1652, Lynn, MA, married July 28, 1667to John Chilson.
15. iv Samuel Jenks born 1654.
v Deborah Jenks born June 11, 1658, Lynn, MA.
16. vi John Jenks born July 27, 1660.
17. vii Daniel Jenks born April 19, 1663.
Early historical writings of this unique man once identified him as the husband of Mary Tervyn of the Parish of All Hallows in London. However, another record search was done by Meridith B. Colket, Jr., F.A.S.G. under the terms of the will of Harlan W. Jenks to supplement William B. Browne's "Jenkes Family in America". "The Jenks Family of England ", which obviously entailed much research throughout England, showed that, in fact, the Joseph Jenks who married Mary Tervyn and the Joseph Jenks who came to America, were not the same person.
English records contain a great deal of information on the Joseph Jenks who married Mary Tervyn, including their marriage and the baptism of only one child, a daughter Sarah. Further records through 1642 show him elevated to the rank of livery, having paid taxes and notes of failure to pay dues in 1641 and 1642. In September 1642 letters of administration on his estate were granted to Mary , at the time the other Joseph was in America.
New record searches in England were done using first, the important clue that, traditionally, it was stated that Joseph Jenks came from Hammersmith or Hounslow, near London. These two towns were located in the County of Middlesex, six miles apart and in the parishes of Fulham and Isleworth, respectively. The records of the parish of Isleworth, although badly damaged by fire, show the death of "Jone (Joan) Jeankes, wif of Joseaff Jeankes was buryed in 1634.5" and Elizabeth, daughter of Joseph Jenks buried in 1638, proving a Joseph Jenks was of that area at that time frame.
Another clue (found in his application for a patent), stated that Joseph was employed in the manufacture of sharp iron instruments, such as scythes and edged tools. Found in England at the Powysland Museum at Welshpool, Wales was an early 17th century sword inscribed "Joseph Jenckes", "Hounslow". These two pieces of evidence confirmed that a Joseph Jenks did reside in the area of Hounslow, and was a worker of iron, and widowed.
Essex Co., MA. records in 1678 and in 1681 contain depositions from Joseph Jenks where he gives his age at 76 and 81, respectively. This would place his date of birth between 1599/1602.
In England, three miles from Hammersmith and at the west end of London, is the parish of St. Anne, Blackfriars, where parish records yielded the following "1596/7 Sarah daughter of John Ginks, Feb.ruary VI(6)", "1599 Joseph sonne of John Ginkes, August 26". Also found was the Marriage of "John Jenkes of St. Anne, Blackfriars, London, cutler, and Sarah Fulwater of London, spinster, daughter of Henry Fulwater, of St. Anne, Blackfriars, aforesaid, cutler, gen. lic. 8 January 1595/6".
So it was established without doubt that a Joseph Jenks was the son of John, and the family of that John were, in fact, of the area traditionally believed, but more was needed to determine if it was "our" Joseph.
Tradition placed the birth of his son Joseph Jenks, Jr. at 1632, in Colnbrook, on the River Cole, Buckinghamshire. In Buckinghamshire is Colnbrook, on River Colne in the parish of Horton. Horton parish registers yielded one single Jenkes entry "Joseph Jinkes ye sonne of Joseph Jinks bap. October 12, 1628". This was four years earlier than what had been believed to be the date of the birth of Joseph Jenks, Jr., so a search for proof of age of Joseph Jr., in America was done.
The unpublished Providence Town Papers in the library of the Rhode Island Historical Society in Providence contains a deposition from Joseph Jenks Jr., dated Nov. 27, 1708, giving his age as "81 years or thereabout", placing his birth at 1628. It then is thought that confusion came from the fact that 1632 was actually his wife's year of birth.
With all of this evidence in England verifying what was already believed in America, a new search was made to determine the actual wife of Joseph Jenks. Bishop's Transcripts of the parish of Horton yielded the marriage entry "Joseph Jenkes and Ellen Hearne were married on the fifth day of November 1627". Apparently the minister failed to record the marriage in his own register, but reported it to the Bishop.
However, the name Ellen did not jive with the name of "Jone", whose death record appeared earlier. Since no other records of the death or marriage appear for Joseph, Jone or Ellen Hearne, it was not believed that he had two wives in England .
Even though the Bishop's records are official, and cannot be disputed, it is believed that in fact, an error occurred the Bishop had entered two weeks earlier the marriage of Ellen Hearne to a Richard Norris, and then the marriage of Joseph Jenks and Ellen Hearne again. It is believed that as he entered these, he simply recopied Ellen because the last name of both women were the same.
English records of Colnbrook in Horton have many entries of George and John Hearne, who were brothers, believed to be the sons of William; the only Hearnes living there at that time. Both named daughters Joan, but Ellen was used only by George, so it may have been a name from his wife's family.
The greatest piece of evidence for this being the correct family of Hearnes is the fact that Joseph Jenks, widower, left his son Joseph Jr., with his wife's family, with money for his upkeep and to travel to America when he came of age. But records indicate that George Hearne died in 1643, and so Joseph Jr., came to America at about age 16, after his grandfather’s death, but prior to coming of age.
Joseph Jenks, widower, came to America and settled at Lynn, MA. His exact date of immigration to America has
not yet been ascertained. He was in Hounslow as late as 1638 when a daughter was buried. He was evidently in
Maine before June 25, 1642, when George Cleaves sailed for England and forged Joseph's name to a petition
to Parliament. Joseph's name appears in New Hampshire records November 10, 1642.
Here in America, he married Elizabeth, whose last name has escaped everyone. He was a blacksmith, cutler and machinist. He was granted the first patent in America for a water mill he invented for the Saugus iron works. He also invented a new type of scythe of which is still used today. He built the first fire engine in this country and designed and cut the dies for the famous pine tree shilling, the first American coinage. He was referred to as "a man of great genius".
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