In writing the history of Laban Jenks, Senior, I thought perhaps it might be interesting to some of his descendants to refer back a few hundred years to his first American ancestor, his great great great grandfather, Joseph Jenks, Sr., who was born in 1602. And who’s name has been handed down in history as one of the first iron makers in America.

The first colonial ironworks of any importance was at Lynn, Mass. In 1642. Joseph Jenks was one of the chief iron makers and was also constantly in hot water because of his sturdy independence and outspoken opinions. He was arrested and plagued until he fled to Rhode Island where Roger Williams had established a more tolerant form of faith than that of the Lynn Puritans.

In 1648, he took out the first patent of which we have any record. His invention was a water powered device for saving time and labor. "For speedy dispatch of much work with few hands" he said. It was he who made the first American sawmill, the first fire engine, the first wire, and the dies for the famous Pine Tree money, the earliest coinage minted in the colonies.

One of his achievements alone entitle him to fame, the invention of the Scythe. Before his day all the grain in the world was cut by the little hand sickle. No ironworker or farmer had thought of any quicker way. Why not make the blade straight and twice as long and swing it with a two handed handle? This was the question asked and answered by Joseph Jenks, simple enough perhaps, but since the first blade of wheat was grown no one had suggested such and idea before. His son, Joseph Jenks, JR. Was born in 1632. And was the great great grandfather of Laban Jenks whose great grandfather, William Jenks, was born in 1674, his grandfather, Dr John Jenks in 1710, and his father, Jesse Jenks was born in 1734, married to Mary Smith, September 11, 1757 and died in 1827. On his father’s side he had 7 uncles: Edmund, Henry, John, Thomas, William, Lawrence, and Isaac, and 7 aunts: Mary, Sarah, Caroline, Patience, Lydia, Rachel, and Abigail. He was the fourth child of Jesse and Mary Smith Jenks and was born at Smithfield, Rhode Island, June 11th 1772. He had six own brothers and sisters: Jesse, Jr., Jacob, Welcome, Elisha, Stephen, and Hulda, and six half brothers and sisters: Rachel, Amy, Mary, Allen, Cynthia, and Belinda (by his father’s second wife, Abigail Sayles). His brother, Jesse, married Lucinda Mowry; his sister Hulda, Asad Mowry, his half brother Allen, Ann Sayles, and his half sisters as follows: Rachel - Giebede Ross; Amy - John Field; Mary - Thomas Field, Cynthia - Jabes Jenks; and Belinda - Welcome Staples. He moved to Chishire, Mass, and was married to Miss Prudence White, daughter of Nathaniel and Mehitable Mosey White of Newton, Mass about 1793. They lived afterward in Adams, Mass, and Berkshire and Caroline, NY. While in Tioga County, NY, was then appointed Lieutenant of a company of militia with Samuel Seymour, Esq. as Lieutenant Colonel Commandant, April 29, 1809. His commission as "Leftenant" (as it was then spelled) was made out to Laban Jencks, Gentleman, so he had no military title before that date.

It is uncertain whether he served in the War of 1812, but he was called Captain Jenks here in Michigan. His commission, with some old parchment deeds to the original farm taken from the government issued in 1823, and signed by James Monroe, 5th President of the United States are now in the possession of Mrs. Ida Jenks Golden, granddaughter of William, his youngest son.

He was the father of 14 children - 7 boys: Smith, Orren, Seth, Morris, Nathaniel, Laban, and William - and 7 girls: Lucy, Patience, Polly, Laura, Diadama, Sophia, and Prudence.

According to the Oakland County History, he came to Bloomfield, Michigan, November 10, 1821, and stayed ten days at Daniel Balls. He bought the NE quarter section and built a log house, the first west of the river, Rouge.

Only part of his family came to Michigan with him: his wife, three sons: Morris, Laban, Jr., and William, and four daughters: Laura, Diadama, Sophia, and Prudence. Nathaniel had died at the age of two years, and the ones left in NY were the sons: Smith, Orren, and Seth. The daughters Lucy, wife of Joseph Park, Patience, widow of Nathan Park, and Polly, wife of Leman Case. And they all came to Bloomfield a year later. Captain Jenks was a man of excellent qualities and enjoyed the respect of his fellow townsmen. He held the office of Justice of the Peace by government appointment signed by Lewis Cass, Governor of Michigan. He was but 57 years of age and a resident of Michigan but 8 years, at the time of his death, September 15, 1829.

One of his English ancestors, George Jenks, who possessed the Wolverton Manor House in the Parish of Eaton under Eywood Shropshire, England, was granted a Coat of Arms and had same confirmed May 1, 1553. The motto over and beneath crest are, "Bold but Cautious" and "Provided the Lord is Willing". This coat of arms is still used by some of his faraway American relatives in Rhode Island and Mass. He, Laban Jenks, Sr., was of the six generation of the American descendants of the Jenks family, and 83 years with their smiles and tears have gone by since he passed away. And one by one, all his children and many of his grandchildren, have followed him across the dark river to the beautiful home beyond.

Mrs. Oliver T Jenks, Historian

2nd Jenks Reunion August 17, 1912

One of his English ancestors, George Jenks, who possessed the Wolverton Manor House in the Parish of Eaton under Eywood Shropshire, England, was granted a Coat of Arms and had same confirmed May 1, 1553. The motto over and beneath crest are, "Bold but Cautious" and "Provided the Lord is Willing".

This coat of arms is still used by some of his faraway American relatives in Rhode Island. He was of the six generation of the American descendants of the Jenks family. And his family record (as far as I have been able to get it) is as follows:

Born Smithfield, Rhode Island June 11, 1772

Married 1793 — Died Bloomfield, Oakland County, Michigan September 15, 1829

Born Newton, Mass January 25, 1772,

Died Bloomfield, Michigan, June 24, 1855

Lucy, born Cheshire, Mass Feb 15, 1794

Married Joseph Park, Caroline, NY, Nov 1, 1812

Died Bloomfield, Oakland County, Michigan Aug 4, 1826

Children:

Lavina, Mary, and Emily Park

Smith Jenks, Adams, Mass Feb 25, 1795

Married Abigail Herrington, Bloomfield, Michigan Nov 26, 1837

Died North Plains, Ionia County, Michigan June 25, 1879

Oren Jenks, Adams, Mass June 4, 1796

Married (1) Hannah Wolfen Feb, 1815

(2) Elizabeth Abbey

Died North Plains, Michigan Jan 27, 1863

Children:

Cornelius, William, Nathan, Alvin, Stillman, and Mary Jenks.

Patience, Adams, Mass Aug 13, 1797

Married (1)Nathan Park, Caroline, NY, April 23, 1815

(2) John Williams

Died April 11, 1869

Children:

John, Oliver Park

Ed , Olive Williams

Seth Jenks, Adams, Mass Nov 11, 1798

Died Bloomfield, Michigan July 27, 1877

Polly, Berkshire, New York June 24, 1800

Married Leman Case, Caroline, NY, December 18, 1818

Died Bloomfield, Michigan Mar 17, 1872

Children:

Oliver, Leman, Jr., Almira

Laura, Sarah, and Harriet Case

Morris Jenks, Berkshire, NY October 7, 1801

Married Almira Botsford November 20, 1828

Died Southfield, Michigan February 18, 1878

Children:

Leman C., Esther, Oliver T., and Minerva Jenks.

Laura, Berkshire, NY March 24, 1805

Married Oliver Torrey (1) January 20, 1823

Harvey Botsford (2)

Died Pontiac, Michigan May 4, 1870

Nathaniel Jenks, Caroline, NY July 4, 1806

Died Caroline, New York September 7, 1808

Diadama, Caroline, NY January 30, 1808

Married Darius Thayer January 2, 1832

Died Groveland, Michigan December 3, 1893

Children:

Eli, Seth D, Emily, Ellen, and Franklin Thayer

Sophia, Caroline, NY December 16, 1809

Married Rial Irish, Bloomfield, Michigan December 4, 1828

Died Pontiac, Oakland County, Michigan May 21, 1885

Children:

Cordilia, Helen, William, and Mary Irish

Laban Jenks, Jr., Caroline, NY April 16, 1811

Married Jane Burgess, Redford, Michigan April 17, 1834

Died Groveland, Michigan April 28, 1886

Children:

Lucy Jenks

Prudence, Caroline, NY November 29, 1812

Married Calvin Herrick August 25, 1830

Died Pontiac, Michigan November 12, 1850

Children:

Hattie, Francis Austin, Harvey, and Laban Herrick

William Jenks, Caroline, NY June 6, 1814

Married Amy Comstalk, Spodsville, NY May 17, 1837

Died Bloomfield, Michigan April 1, 1891

Children:

Alphonso, Lucian Delos, and Francis William Jenks.

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