David Jenkins (1758 - 1846)

Born 4 Mar 1758 in Groton, Middlesex, Massachusetts

Ancestors

Husband of Tryphena (Frost) Jenkins — married 26 Oct 1780 in Shirley, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA

Husband of Elizabeth (Dunn) Jenkins — married 8 Dec 1819 in Stoddard, Cheshire, New Hampshire, United States

Descendants

Died 28 Jul 1846 at age 88 in Stoddard, Cheshire, New Hampshire, USA

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Henry Chadwick [send private message]

Biography

David Jenkins was born on March 4, 1758 in Groton, Middlesex, Massachusetts. He was the son of Obadiah Jenkins and Lydia Bixby Jenkins.^[1]

Marriage intentions were filed on October 26, 1780 in Shirley, Middlesex, Massachusetts for David Jenkins and Tryphena Frost.^[2]

Military

David Jenkins enlisted in April 1775 as a private for a term of eight months in the company of Capt. Henry Farwell, regiment of Col. William Prescott of the Massachusetts line. At the expiration of his term in December 1775, he enlisted for one year and was discharged at Peekskill, New York on 1 January 1777. He made application for a pension on 26 May 1818 and was admitted to the pension rolls.

On 4 July 1820, David provided additional information on his circumstances. He was a farmer by occupation but currently of insufficient ability to perform to a considerable extent. His household was himself, his wife Betsey aged 46 years, son Samuel aged 13 years, and daughter Nancy aged 11 years. He reported personal property valued at $72.09 and the income from 26 acres which was his wife’s dower. David was struck from the pension list; he petitioned this noting he had not listed his debts in his statement. Also included was a physician statement noting that David was little able to work due to an asthmatic complaint bordering on pulmonary consumption. Several prominent citizens of Stoddard signed a statement on 25 September 1820 stating David was of indigent circumstances. He was reinstated to the pension rolls on 17 July 1821.^[3]

Probate

In his will written 20 July 1846 (probate 4 August, 1846), David Jenkins of Stoddard bequeathed to beloved wife Elizabeth all the household furniture, clothing, provisions, and crops not harvested that he has at the time of his decease. She also receives all the personal estate except the farming tools, and she receives one hundred and twenty dollars. Son Benjamin Jenkins receives the farming tools and the two one-year-old neat cattle. Sally Richardson (relationship not identified) wife of Joseph Richardson of Stoddard receives ten dollars. Nancy Jenkins, widow of son Samuel, receives ten dollars. The remainder of the estate is to be divided in equal shares among his three children: Benjamin Jenkins, Betsey Mansfield, and Nancy Reed, designing to make no bequest to the issue of his deceased children: David Jenkins, Jr., Abijah Jenkins, Samuel Jenkins, Sally Dunn, and Tryphena Reed. Jacob Taylor of Stoddard was named executor. Estate was valued at $560.22.^[4]

Children

The probate record gives evidence of eight children who were likely all born at Stoddard.

1. David Jenkins who married Esther Jennerson
2. Sally Jenkins who married Joseph Dunn
3. Tryphena Jenkins who married Henry Reed (who also married Tryphena's sister Nancy)
4. Abijah Jenkins who married Mary Wilson
5. Benjamin Jenkins who married Sarah Reed
6. Betsey P. Jenkins who married Daniel Mansfield
7. Samuel Jenkins who married Nancy Reed
8. Nancy Jenkins who married Henry Reed

Research Notes

It seems likely that Tryphena Frost was also known as Esther Frost. A death record for Nancy Reed, born in Stoddard, NH, says that she was the daughter of David Jenkins of Groton, Massachusetts and Esther Frost.^[5] This appears to be daughter Nancy Jenkins Reed. There were multiple children born to David and Esther Jenkins in Shirley.^[6]

The History of the Town of Stoddard compiled by the Stoddard Historical Society (published 1974), p 192 reports that David Jenkins and Tryphena Frost had intentions to marry, but did not marry, and David married her sister Esther instead.

The births recorded in Shirley for David and Esther Jenkins are for a different David Jenkins (who is the son of David Jenkins in this profile) and a different Esther (Esther Jennison/Jennerson). The son David and Esther Jennison married in 1802 in Shirley and resided there.

Sources

^{[1] [2] [5] [6]}

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FCL8-T65 : 4 December 2014), David Jenkins, 04 Mar 1758; citing GROTON,MIDDLESEX,MASSACHUSETTS, ; FHL microfilm 0873746 IT 4.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FHZH-SYW : 13 July 2016), David Jenkins and Tryphena Frost, 26 Oct 1780; citing Marriage Notice, Shirley, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States, , town clerk offices, Massachusetts; FHL microfilm 765,406.
3. ↑ U. S. Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, Case S44459
4. ↑ New Hampshire Probate, Cheshire County, Estate Files J-87 to J-145, Estate of David Jenkins, Case J110
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} "New Hampshire Death Records, 1654-1947," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FSLW-381 : 12 December 2014), Esther Frost in entry for Nancy D Reed, 11 Oct 1892; citing Stoddard, Bureau Vital Records and Health Statistics, Concord; FHL microfilm 1,001,103.
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} "Vital Records of Shirley, Massachusetts to the Year 1850", Boston: New England Historic and Genealogical Society, 1918, page 54-55, Shirley VR