John Jenkins (d.1754, Elizabeth City, VA)
John Jenkins whose will was recorded in Elizabeth City, VA 1754 was probably the progenitor of the Jenkins
found in NE NC in the 1700's.In his will, he named: wife Ann, sons; John, James, Henry and Edward
and daughter Mary. He was the son of Captain Henry Jenkins Jr. and brother to Henry, Lewis, Bridgett and
Elizabeth Jenkins.
The earliest record found that probably references this John Jenkins was recorded in 1702 when Captain Henry Jenkins Jr.
was an official for Nansemond County. It is a 1702 Isle of Wight record that notes John Jenkins as a transportee
of Barnaby McKinney for land that was near Nansemond's western border.It is puzzling to the author of
why John would be a transportee (financial deal?), but Barnaby McKinney would later be associated with a Thomas
Jenkins for which there is circumstancial evidence of him also being a son of John Jenkins.Thomas Jenkins was witness
to deeds of Barnaby Mckinney in 1716 Isle of Wight, 1725 Bertie, and it was in a 1721 court order Where "Thomas Jenkins
late of Nansemond County in Virginia" first appears in the records of NC to answer charges by Theophilus and Francis Pugh.
(side note: Thomas was charged on a plea of debt that occured with Thomas Hawstead in Dec. 1717.Hawstead patented land
at Summerton swamp Nansemond in Jan 1717. See my post of Dr. Henry Jenkins of Nansemond for further Summerton and Francis Pugh
connections.)Thomas would die in 1733 Edgecombe, NC after which John Jenkins is found selling the tracts of land that were
purchased by Thomas. This would not be a son John selling the land as evidence suggest Thomas was youngwhen he died.A 1721
Chowan record indicated Thomas had no land and only 1 tythable at that time.Elizabeth (Hopgood), the widow of Thomas and
administratix of the estate, is found purchasing a tract of land in her name the same year of Thomas' death. Elizabeth appeared
to have never remarried as she was witness to a 1747 Edgecombe deed and listed as adjoining land owner in a 1765 Halifax record.
John Jenkins is next found in a 1716 NC corn tax list that contained the names of people that were quite familiar in the Chowan area at that time.
Evidence suggest he was in Chowan earlier as a 1714 deed at Stopping Creek swamp list "Jenkins" as an adjacent landowner.
The 1714 reference is probably the land mentioned in a 1730 Chowan deed that has perplexed some researchers of John Jenkins
of Bertie who proved 10 headrights.The 1730 deed references 250 acres bought of Luke White by John Jenkins came into possession of
Robert Riddick, father of Robert. (Further insight to the mechanics of this transaction will be reserved for further discussion if someone is interested.)
The association of John Jenkins with Luke White is additional evidence for John being a son of Captain Henry Jr.
as Lewis Jenkins is found witness to a Luke White deed in Currituck, NC 1737.Most researchers would agree this Lewis descended from
the Captain Henry Jenkins line.Stopping Creek mentioned in the 1714 deed is near Warrick swamp where John Jenkins of Bertie pct.
sold land to Thomas Hobbs in 1737 that was purchase by John in 1732.The details of this deed would suggest that John did not reside there.
A 1727 court entry at Edenton, NC is the only other early record found for this John before 1730 where other researchers contend
that a 1730 record of John Jenkins of "Nansemond" was the entry of the John Jenkins who proved 10 headrights.Before the entry of several apparent
John Jenkins in the records of NC, evidence indicates there was only one John Jenkins land owner before 1736.A 1735 Accounts of
North Carolina income and expenses, including quit rent arrears only list Jenkins for Edgecombe Precints: John Jenkins (in part) 925 acres
and Elizabeth Jenkins (in part) 279 acres and Thomas Jenkins of Pasquotank for 700 acres.The John referenced would be John of
this writing and therefore was the John Jenkins of "Nansemond" in the 1730 record where he buys land adjacent to James Jenkins (a son
as named in the will.)James first appears in the records of NC in 1727 and had purchased several land tracts before 1736.However;
he appears to have sold all of his tracts before the 1735 accounts and was living on land rented to him for yearly rent due to his brother
Thomas Jenkins "joyner" in 1733.His next land acquistion was a 1738 patent for 354 acres.James would be recordedin 1730 registering his
livestock marks next to Ann Jenkins who was probably mother of James and wife of John.James Jenkins would prove 6 rights in 1744 and
die in Edgecombe, NC 1751.
It is a fact that John Jenkins who proved 10 headrights in 1744 naming wife Anne, and 8 Children: James, Elizabeth, Cassia,
Mary, John, Anne, Cader, and Lewis all settled in the "Cashy" swamp area of Bertie, but it is unknown the first record
that can be attributed to him.The references to John Jenkins "wheelright" could be debateable as to applying for the John of this
writing. If one thing can be pointed out, John Jenkins (d.1754) mainly appeared dealing NW of the Cashy swamp area after 1730 in
the area that would become Edgecombe county.The record of significance and may be evidence that John Jenkins of Bertie did not
arrive till much later than 1730 is a 1747 Chowan deed where John Jenkins and wife Anne (Speight) of Nansemond sold land to Moses Hare. This
deed was witnessed by John Jenkins Sr. which would be John (d.1754).John Jenkins of Bertie would be son of John Jenkins as named
in the will.
Evidence of a son Edward as named in the will of John Jenkins in NC is found in a 1722 Chowan record where Edmond Jenkins was
witness to a deed of Beal Brown to Christian King of Nansemond.It is said the names "Edward" and "Edmond" can be interchanged
due their similarities in trying to read old colonial writing.He may be the Edward/Edmond Jenkins whose will was recorded in Southampton,
VA in 1779.
This leaves the question of where is son Henry as named in the will and how does Charles Jenkins of Hertford fit in?The most plausible
answer to conceive with the data is that they were one and the same. Charles may have been an alias for Henry as such was the case
for Francis Jenkins recorded in Edgecombe and Nash counties was alias Rogers.Charles Jenkins was most assuredly of this clan as a
1772 Johnston Co, NC record gives that John and Charles Jenkins sold a tract of land at Summerton in Nansemond to Henry Jernigan who
died in Bertie 1736.Charles Jenkins did not appear in the NC records until 1743 when he petitioned for 600 acres.Since then, it
appears that he always was referenced as Charles.In the Vestry records of the Upper parish and the Vestry records of Suffolk, both
in Nansemond, the name Charles is given.The only records found for "Henry" being referenced are in 1728 and 1729 deeds in Nansemond.
and the will of John Jenkins (d.1754).John Jenkins witnessed a deed in Bertie 1735 for Thomas "Futerrill" (Futrell) who was father-in-law
to Charles Jenkins.
The daughter Mary mentioned in the will is also puzzling.Evidence supports that she was very young at the time of the will as court
orders pertaining to her legacy due were recorded as late as 1763.It is possible that Mary was a grand daughter to John through his son James as
James died in 1751 and appeared to have no surviving spouse.Arthur Bowin administrated the account of sale in the estate of James Jenkins.It is
interesting to note that the wife of James Jenkins was named Mary in a 1733 record.
In 1740, Lewis Jenkins deeded land to John Jenkins that was formerly land of Henry Jenkins in Elizabeth City. Not too long after this,
John Jenkins would appear to remove from NC where he was last noted in a 1742 Edgecombe record and had disposed of his land holdings.
It may have been a brief trip to Chowan when he witnessed the 1747 deed of John Jenkins and wife Anne of Nansemond as later in 1747
he was back in Elizabeth City being noted as an appraiser to the estate of William King.
Two other Jenkins that were found in the early records of NE NC are a Lewis and a different Thomas Jenkins.Connections of these
two can be found in the records and both appeared to have migrated to Onslow NC. Thomas in 1736 and Lewis in 1744.The William and
Mary Quarterly suggest that this Lewis was son of Captain Henry Jenkins Jr. and that Thomas and Lewis were related, but not brothers.
However; there is evidence to support that they could have been brothers.Lewis and Thomas appear as the same generation as the children
of John Jenkins (d.1754).John had brother Lewis who is thought to be the one who migrated to Onslow.This research and other records
indicate that the sons of Captain Henry Jenkins Jr. may have been born earlier than what has been previously written.Captain Henry Jr's
son Lewis may not have been the one who migrated to Onslow, but is the Lewis Jenkins that was noted master of a ship in 1698, owner of a ship
"Liver of Liverpool" built in Accomack, VA 1699, owner of a sloop "Anne & Elizabeth of Liverpool" built Northampton Co, VA 1701,
and the Lewis Jenkins in Liverpool England (1697 and 1699) apprenticing students bound for Virginia and Maryland.Thomas and Lewis Jenkins
of Onslow were probably brothers and grandsons of Captain Henry Jenkins Jr. through his son Lewis Jenkins who was recorded in Liverpool.
Research is still being conducted on Lewis in Liverpool, but no doubt it was descendants of Captain Henry Jenkins I in Onslow, NC.
In connecting the Jenkins of NE NC to the line of Captain Henry Jenkins of Elizabeth City, there are other points to ponder. Thomas Hansford
and wife Bridgett lived inBertie, NC. in an area where Thomas and James Jenkins were found recorded.Thomas Hansford was witness
to a deed of James Jenkins in 1732.Thomas and Bridgett had a son named Jenkins Hansford.One could make inference that Bridgett's maiden
name was Jenkins.John Jenkins (d.1754) had sister named Bridgett which Bridgett Hansford appeared to be of the right age to be a sister.
A John Williams was associated with the Jenkins in several ways, but there were two different land acquistions by Jenkins where the details
are "murky" of acquistion and John Williams is involed with both.One involves the 1730 Chowan record that reference John Jenkins and Luke White.The
other is a 1725 Bertie deed where Thomas Jenkins sells (acquistion unknown) land to William Little formerly belonging to Frederick Jones and
purchased by John Williams.There was a John Williams that had wife Elizabeth.Evidence of linking this Elizabeth as sister to John
would be minimal at best, but interesting none the less.
For those researching these Jenkins, I hope this information may be of benefit.
Stephen