John Jenkins Sr. (abt. 1609 - bef. 1685)

Born about 1609 in Kent, England [uncertain]

Husband of Mary (Wallen) Jenkins — married 2 Feb 1653 in Barnstable, Plymouth Colony

Descendants

Died before 21 Oct 1685 before about age 76 in Barnstable, Barnstable, Plymouth Colony

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John Jenkins Sr. migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Great Migration (Series 2), by R. C. Anderson, vol. 4, p. 41) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Disputed Origins

Previously John Jenkins and Elizabeth (Byly) Jenkins were attached as parents of John Jenkins. Since there is no reliable source that indicates this relationship is accurate, they are being detached. Following collaboration, they may be reattached in the future should dependable sources arise. Additionally, there is no source for the birth place of Greenwich, so it is being generalized to Kent, England. Robert Charles Anderson in "Great Migration" says the origins are unknown.

Biography

John Jenkins arrived in America on the Defence in July 1635. Based on the passenger list, he was 26 years old at the time, indicating that he was born in about 1609.^[1] Beyond that, "nothing is known of [his] life before his arrival in America...."^[2] Some claim that he originated in Wales, but it was more likely in the county of Kent, England.^[3]

John arrived originally in Boston but within a few months had settled in Plymouth Colony where he became a freeman on 3 January 1636/7. By January 14, he had been granted land adjacent to that of his future wife Mary Wallen’s father Ralph Wallen.^[4] Six months later, he volunteered to serve Plymouth in the Pequot War on 7 June 1637.^[5] After this conflict ended, John served in many public roles in Plymouth Colony between 1637-1646.^[6]

There is no record that he married in Plymouth during that time (unusual for that time and place). If he was married during this period, the identity of his wife is unknown and they do not appear to have had any children.

In about 1646, John Jenkins, now in his mid-30s, was one of the early settlers of the Cape Cod town of Eastham (originally called Nauset), Barnstable County, in 1645-46.^[7]

However, he did not remain in Eastham for long. He had relocated to the nearby village of Barnstable by 1652 where he was on the published Freeman lists of 1658, 1670, and 1684.^[8]

On February 2, 1652/53, at 43 years old, John Jenkins married the widow Mary (Wallen) Ewer in Barnstable.^[9] She was about 20 years younger than him, and the daughter of Ralph Wallen, John's old neighbor in Plymouth shortly after his arrival in America 16 years earlier. John and Mary Jenkins most likely lived on the Ewer Farm in Barnstable, near “Coggin’s Pond,” as it was then called. This pond is passed on the left going into the village of Barnstable from West Barnstable on the State highway not far from the local Unitarian church.^[10]

Children

John and Mary (Wallen) Jenkins had at least 7 children, all in Barnstable (Cape Cod), Plymouth Colony:^[11]

1. Sarah, b. 15 Nov 1653
2. Mehitable, b: 2 Mar 1654/1655, m. Eleazer Hamlin
3. Samuel, b: 12 Sep 1657
4. John, b: 13 Nov 1659
5. Mary, b: 1 Oct 1662, m. Thomas Parker
6. Thomas, b: 15 Jul 1666
7. Joseph, b: 31 Mar 1669

Of these, the births of Sarah, Mehitable, Samuel, and John are identified in the Plymouth Colony records.^[12] Thomas, Joseph, John, Mehitable, and Mary are named in John’s will.^[13]

Later Life

John Jenkins made his will on 25 September 1683 and died before 21 October 1685 when an inventory of his estate was completed in connection with probate proceedings in Barnstable.^[13]

His grave marker has been lost but he was likely buried at Barnstable, Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

Research Notes

Although Jenkins and Otis contain much helpful information, both sources also contain several errors and should be used with care.^[14] A similar caveat is probably appropriate concerning Paine.

Sources

1. ↑ Smith, at 339; GM 1634-35, at 4:41 (“[O]n 18 July 1635, ‘Jo[h]n Jenkynn’ aged 26, was enrolled at London as a passenger for New England on the Defence”); citing Hotten, at 131.
2. ↑ Smith, at 340; see also GM 1634-35, at 4:41 (listing his origin as "unknown").
3. ↑ Smith, at 340.
4. ↑ Plymouth Records, at 1:48. See Smith, at 340; GM 1634-35, at 4:42 & 45.
5. ↑ Plymouth Records, at 1:60-61.
6. ↑ GM: 1634-1635, at 4:42; Smith, at 341; Otis, at 2:90.
7. ↑ Paine, at 20.
8. ↑ Otis, at 2:91.
9. ↑ Smith, at 339 & n. 4; citing MD 6:236-39, at 236; Plymouth Records, at 8:45. See also Rue, at 47-53.
10. ↑ Jenkins, at 11.
11. ↑ MD 6:236-39, at 236. See also Smith, at 342-44; GM 1634-35, at 4:44.
12. ↑ Plymouth Records, at 8:45.
13. ↑ ^{13.0 13.1} Smith, at 341-42 (including a transcription of the will). The original record is available in PCLR, at 5:386-87; FHL 567,790, DGS 7,451,134, image 196.
14. ↑ See, e.g., Smith, at 339 (describing both sources as "less than reliable"); Rue, at 52 (noting that "neither Otis nor [Jenkins] is very reliable").

• Amos Otis Papers. Genealogical Notes of Barnstable Families, revised by C.F. Swift. 2 volumes. Barnstable, Mass.: F.B. & F.P. Goss, 1888-90. Hathitrust. Image copy : accessed 7 Feb 2021.

• Anderson, Robert C., et al. The Great Migration: Immigrants to New England 1634-1635. 7 volumes. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1999-2011. ["GM: 1634-1635"].

• ”Barnstable, Mass., Vital Records.” The Mayflower Descendant. 6 (1904): 236-39. Internet Archive. Image Copy : accessed 6 Feb 2021. [“MD 6:236-39.”]

• Hotten, John Camden, ed. The Original Lists of Persons of Quality…. 1874. Reprint, New York: Empire State Book Co., 1874. Hathitrust. Image copy : accessed 6 Feb 2021.

• Jenkins, Samuel B. "The Descendants of John Jenkins." Cape Cod Library of Local History and Genealogy, No. 2. Yarmouthport, Mass: C.W. Swift, 1930. Reprint, Leonard H. Smith, Jr., comp. 2 volumes. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1992. Ancestry.com. Image copy for subscribers : accessed 5 Feb 2021.

• Paine, Josiah. "Early Settlers of Eastham, Book 1." Cape Cod Library of Local History and Genealogy, No. 33. Yarmouthport, Mass: C.W. Swift, 1930. Reprint, Leonard H. Smith, Jr., comp. 2 volumes. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1992. Ancestry.com. Image copy for subscribers : accessed 8 Feb 2021.

• Plymouth Colony Land Records (from microfilm). 6 volumes. FamilySearch. Digital images : accessed 6 Feb 2021. [“PCLR”].

• Rue, Eleanor Cooley. "Widow Joyce Wallen of Plymouth (1645) and Widow Joyce Lombard of Barnstable (1664): One and the Same?" The American Genealogist, 67 (1992): 47-53. AmericanAncestor.org. Image copy for subscribers : accessed 28 Jan 2021.

• Shurtleff, Nathaniel B., et al, eds. Records of the Colony of New Plymouth in New England. 12 volumes. Boston: William White, 1855-1861. Hathitrust. Image copy : accessed 2021. ["Plymouth Records"].

• Smith, Ethel Farrington. “John Jenkins of Barnstable, Massachusetts.” New England Historic & Genealogical Register. 149 (1995): 339-359.