Person Page - 7

     Joseph Jenks was born in Hammersmith, England, and baptized at St. Anne Blackfriars, a parish on the edge of the Thames River at the western end of London. His baptism as the son of John Jenks, was recorded in the parish register on August 26, 1599. The first record of Joseph as an adult that has been found is dated November 5, 1627, when he married Jone HEARNE, in the parish of Horton, Buckinghamshire, about fourteen miles from Hammersmith, his birthplace. Buckinghamshire is just west of London. Soon after his marriage he was in Hounslow, Middlesex. Hounslow is between Horton and Hammersmith; all three are on the old road from London running west to Bath.

As a cutler of possible German descent, Joseph was probably attracted to Hounslow by the arrival in 1629 of some skilled German cutlers who had been enticed by King Charles I to come to England to develop a sword industry there. These German cutlers are believed to have come from Solingen of German sword making fame. They no doubt knew the secrets of their homeland's trade and were under oath not to divulge those secrets upon pain of death. However, Charles I must have offered them sufficient enticements to forget their oaths.

The German cutlers allied themselves with a powerful English figure, Benjamin Stone. Stone, whose name disappears from British records around 1642 when the Protestant civil war broke out, probably was a wealthy entrepreneur whose fortunes were bet on the wrong side. In any event, those people who backed him suffered declining fortunes after his fall, and probably Joseph Jenks decided to make the best of a bad situation and migrate to the New World.

The exact date of Joseph's migration to America is unsure. He was in Hounslow as late as 1638 when a daughter was buried. He was supposed by genealogist Colonel C. E. Banks to be identical with an unnamed blacksmith who was reported on the Agamenticus (York) River in Maine, in the fall of 1641. He was indeed in Maine before June 25, 1642, when George Cleaves sailed for England (from Maine) and forged Joseph's name to a petition to the English Parliament.

Joseph's name appears on New Hampshire court records of November 10, 1642, and on a deed relating to land at York River on March 16, 1642/43. Conceivably, Joseph could have returned to England with John Winthrop, Jr., who was getting support for the establishment of an iron works at Saugus, near Lynn, Massachusetts. Winthrop may have induced cutlers residing at or near Hammersmith to migrate to the New World.

At Lynn, Massachusetts, the village at the foundry was called Hammersmith by the workmen who came from a place in England by that name.

No matter what the circumstances of his arrival were, Joseph Jenks was indeed in Lynn by 1645. In that year he applied for, and received the first patent granted in this country. It was for a labor-saving device that used water wheels for finishing sharp iron instruments. The village and iron works at Saugus have been recreated and is an now important museum of 17th century industry and life.

In 1654 the selectmen of Salem, Massachusetts, gave Joseph the right to deliver engines to carry water in the case of fire--thus, he invented the first fire engine to be used in America. Following that success, Joseph was granted a patent for the invention of a new type of scythe.

Nothing is known of Joseph's later years. His death is recorded in March 1683 at the age of 84. He was baptized on 26 August 1599 at St. Ann Blackfriars London, England.¹ He married Jone Hearne at Horton, England, on 5 November 1627.² Joseph Jenks immigrated circa 1642 to York, York, Maine.³ He married Elizabeth unknown at Lynn, Essex, Massachusetts, circa 1650.^4,5 Joseph died in March 1682/83 at Lynn, Essex, Massachusetts, at age 83.^4,6

     Jone was born at England circa 1607.¹ She married Joseph Jenks at Horton, England, on 5 November 1627.² Jone Hearne was buried in February 1635 at Hounslow, England.¹ Jone died in February 1635 at Hounslow, England.¹

     On March 25, 1669, Joseph, Jr., was granted land on either side of the Pawtuxet River for his sawmill, and he, for this favor from the purchasers of Warwick (RI), agreed to let them have sawn boards at 4 shillings, 6 pennies the hundred feet, and all other sawn work to be equivalent to the same. The grant included trees of pine, chestnut, or oak, within a half mile of each side of the river that is float- able. The proprietors reserved the right to cut what they needed. On January 18, 1670, Joseph was a foreman of a jury in the case of Thomas Smith and Ruth, his wife, "who were both drowned in the river of Pawtuxet, the 16th instant at night."

On October 10, 1671, he bought at Providence, "60 acres more or less with the right of Commonage, of Abel Potter, and wife Rachel, said land belonging formerly to Rachel's grandfather, Ezekial Holliman, and being situated near Pawtucket Falls." Here Joseph established his forge and sawmill. In 1676, his forge was destroyed by Indians during King Philip's War.

In 1677, Joseph was declared a Freeman. In 1679 he was taxed 12 shillings, 6 pennies for his sawmill. Between 1679 and 1681 he was a deputy. On May 5, 1680, Joseph and two others were empowered by the colony's assembly to purchase a bell "for the public use of this colony, and for giving notice or signifying the several times or sittings of the Assemblys (sic) and Courts of Trial, and General Councils." The bell was purchased for 3 pounds, 10 shillings from Freelove Arnold. Before the bell's purchase, the Assembly had been called to gather by the beat of a drum.

Between 1680 and 1690 Joseph and his sons were either taxed or called to serve the colony in various positions. In 1688, he had amassed real estate totaling 44 acres, a sawmill, 4 oxen, 7 cows, 2 steers, heifer, yearling, 2 mares, colt, swine, and sheep--a not inconsiderable fortune for the times.

On January 30, 1690, Joseph and five others, along with the deputy Governor, wrote a letter to the British sovereigns William and Mary congratulating them on the ascension to the English Throne, and informing them that since the deposition of Sir Edmund Andros, the former government under the charter had been reassumed. What this letter did was to reaffirm the form of government in the Rhode Island Colony that had existed before the English Civil War.

Joseph was elected to the colony's assembly in 1695, and was further mentioned on the tax rolls of June 16, 1713, as being taxed 12 shillings, 6 pennies.¹ Joseph was born at Colnbrook, Buckinghamshire, England, in 1628.² He was baptized on 12 October 1628 at Colnbrook, Buckinghamshire, England.² He immigrated in 1648 to York, York, Maine.³ He married Esther Ballard, daughter of William Ballard and Elizabeth unknown, at Westerly, Washington, Rhode Island, before 1656.⁴ Joseph died on 4 January 1717 at Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, at age 88.⁵ Joseph's will was probated at Pawtucket, Providence, Rhode Island, on 11 February 1717.⁶

     Esther was born at England circa 1633.^2,3 She married Joseph Jenks, son of Joseph Jenks and Jone Hearne, at Westerly, Washington, Rhode Island, before 1656.³ Esther died after 4 January 1717 at Providence, Providence, Rhode Island.^2,3

     Joseph Jenks was named Governor of the Rhode Island Colony in 1727 and served until 1732. He was the first Rhode Island Governor to be chosen from outside Newport. Prior to being chosen as Governor, he had served as Deputy, four years as Speaker of the House of Deputies, five years as Major for the Mainland Towns, Assistant for five years, and Deputy Governor for thirteen years.

In 1721 the General Assembly voted that he "have 30 pounds allowed him as gratuity out of the General Treasury for his good services done the Colony during his agency."

In 1727 Governor Jenks wrote a letter on behalf of the General Assembly to King George II, in which he apprised him (the King) of "a regular and beautiful fortification of stone built at Newport, with a battery where may be mounted sixty guns."

Governor Jenks was the tallest man of his time in Rhode Island, standing seven feet and two inches in his stocking feet.² Joseph was born at Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, in 1656.³ He married Martha Brown, daughter of John Brown and Mary Holmes, at Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, before 1682.¹ He married Alice Smith at Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, on 3 February 1727.¹ Joseph died on 15 June 1740 at Providence, Providence, Rhode Island.⁴ He was buried after 15 June 1740 at old cemetery near Read and High Streets, Providence, Providence, Rhode Island. In 1831 his body was moved to the Mineral Spring Cemetery in Pawtucket..¹

     Martha was descended from Chad Browne who emigrated to America in 1638 It was his family who, in the mid-1700s, donated their land in Providence to the College of Rhode Island, which, in 1804 was renamed Brown University. Martha was born at Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, in 1660.^1,2 She married Gov. Joseph Jenks, son of Joseph Jenks and Esther Ballard, at Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, before 1682.¹ As of before 1682,her married name was Jenks.¹

     In 1731 he resided at Glocester, RI, but in 1736 he was living in Cranston, RI.¹ Obediah was born at Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, in 1684.² He married Alice Eddy, daughter of Zachariah Eddy Jr. and Mercy Baker, at Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, on 21 May 1713.³ He married Anna Blake at Glocester, Providence, Rhode Island, circa 1731.⁴ Obediah died in 1759 at Voluntown, New London, Connecticut.⁴

     Alice was born at Middleboro, Plymouth, Massachusetts, on 5 January 1694.^1,2 She married Obediah Jenks, son of Gov. Joseph Jenks and Martha Brown, at Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, on 21 May 1713.³ As of 21 May 1713,her married name was Jenks.³ Alice died before 1731 at Glocester, Providence, Rhode Island.¹

     He was admitted as a freeman at Providence, RI, in 1739. He resided at Glocester, RI, most of his life, but at some point he moved to New York State--perhaps in his old age--where he died.

John had a house and two shops or stores built prior to 1742 in Providence, RI, as noted in Names of Owners or Occupants of Buildings Town of Providence from 1742-1771.

Why he was in Whitesboro, New York (a village in the town of Whitestown, Oneida County, New York), is a question. The town was formed around 1784 and, by then all three of his known children were established in various locations: Abigail was perhaps in Clarendon, Rutland County, Vermont, as was her brother James. Thomas was in Amenia, Dutchess County, New York, where he died 12 Feb 1784. Neither place was close to Whitesboro, so the mystery remains.¹ John was born at Providence, Providence, Rhode Island?, in 1716.² He married Abigail Knowlton, daughter of Lt. Elisha Knowlton and Lydia Hawkins, at Glocester, Providence, Rhode Island, on 2 January 1736.³ John died on 1 December 1797 at Whitesboro, Oneida, New York.² He was buried after 1 December 1797 at Grandview Cemetery, Whitesboro, Oneida, New York.^2,4

     Abigail was born at of, Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, circa 1717.^2,1,3,4 She married John Jenks, son of Obediah Jenks and Alice Eddy, at Glocester, Providence, Rhode Island, on 2 January 1736.⁵ As of 2 January 1736,her married name was Jenks.⁵ Abigail Knowlton died on 31 December 1797 at Whitesboro, Oneida, New York. Whitesboro is a suburb of Utica -- 5 Jul 2011.⁶ She was buried after 31 December 1797 at Grandview Cemetery, Whitesboro, Oneida, New York.⁴

     In 1775 James was in Clarendon, Vermont, and was also there in 1791 when the first Federal Census was taken. He was also in Clarendon for the Census of 1800. By 1805, he had moved his family to Schroon Lake, Essex County, NY, where he is listed in "A List of Names of Inhabitants of this Town and their Tax on Road for the year 1805." He served in Captain Ichabod Robinson's Clarendon (VT) Militia Company in the Revolutionary War from 1780 to 1781.

It is likely that James was one of the very first settlers in the town of Schroon Lake, because it was established in 1804, a year before his name appears on the town's road tax rolls. Perhaps, being a Revolutionary War veteran, he was granted land in New York State by the Federal Government. Research in government archives might shed further light on the reasons why James moved his family first from Rhode Island to Clarendon, Vermont, in the late 1700s, then to Schroon Lake, New York, some twenty years after the Revolution when he was in his late 50s. James was born at Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, circa 1747; Schroon Lake CR says he was b. 1747..¹ He married Phebe Tripp, daughter of Abiel Tripp and Deborah Cleveland, at Scituate, Providence, Rhode Island, on 29 March 1770.² James Jenks was Military Service He served in Capt. Ichabod Robinson's Co., Vermont Militia. between 1775 and 1873 at Clarendon, Rutland, Vermont.³ He lived in 1800 at Clarendon, Rutland, Vermont.⁴ He lived in 1805 at Schroon Lake, Essex, New York. He was listed on the 1805 Schroon Road Tax Record. He lived in 1810 at Schroon Lake, Essex, New York. There is a female age 26-44 listed as living in James's household, and the only way I can account for her is to think that she is Sally, wife of Edmund, who is nowhere to be found in 1810. There are also several young children listed who are probably Edmund and Sally's children.

Edmund was in the Essex County Militia, so he might have been away with his unit at the time of the census.⁵ He was buried circa 1812, in the Baker Street Cemetery, Schroon Lake, Essex, New York. There was no gravestone. Grave site viewed and photographed by John R. Wood, August 1992.⁶ James died circa 1812 at Schroon Lake, Essex, New York.⁶

     Phebe was born at Washington County, Rhode Island, in 1746.^1,2 She married James Jenks, son of John Jenks and Abigail Knowlton, at Scituate, Providence, Rhode Island, on 29 March 1770.³ As of 29 March 1770,her married name was Jenks.³ Phebe died on 14 October 1814 at Schroon Lake, Essex, New York. Gravestone viewed and photographed by John R. Wood, August, 1992..^4,2 She was buried after 14 October 1814, in the Baker Street Cemetery, Schroon Lake, Essex, New York. Gravestone viewed and photographed by John R. Wood, August, 1992.²

     Edmund moved his family from Clarendon, VT, to the vicinity of Schroon Lake, NY, about 1803 -04. It is likely that Edmund moved at the same time as did his father James. Edmund is listed in the Census of 1800 in Clarendon, VT, and is listed on the 1805 Road Tax rolls for Schroon Lake, NY. He is not listed on the Census of 1810 for Schroon Lake, probably because he was in the Army (see below); the first time he appears on a Schroon Lake Census is on the one for 1820.

Edmund was a sergeant in the Essex, County, NY, Militia in the War of 1812, and a prominent citizen, generally. His appointment to 4th Sergeant reads (complete with misspellings and no punctuation) as follows: "To Mr. Edmand Jeencks, "You, having been Nominated, are hereby appointed fourth Sergeant in a Company of Militia in the County of Essex Commanded by Capt. John Cilley you are therefore to Discharge your Duty as Sergeant thereof and they are Commanded to obey as Such and you are at all times to Obey Such orders as you shall from time to time receive from me or either your Superior Oficers according to the rules and Dicipline of war and in so doing this shall be your Sufficient Warrant "Given under my hand and Seal this 7 day of April One Thousand Eight Hundred and ten Abihah [Abijah?] Parsons Leut Coll." Edmund was born at Scituate, Providence, Rhode Island, on 9 March 1773.^1,2 He married Sally (Sarah) Richardson, daughter of Jesse Richardson Jr., at perhaps, Vermont, circa 1796.³ Edmund Jenks lived in 1800 at Clarendon, Rutland, Vermont. The census listing is in error in that it only lists one male age 45 and older. Edmund would have been 27 at the time. The original census page show the number one in the 45 or older column but I am sure it was simply placed one column to the right of its proper "26-45" spot.

Anyway, the listing does show that one: he was living in Clarendon in 1800 and, two, he did not have any sons, only two daughters, at that time.⁴ He lived in 1805 at Schroon Lake, Essex, New York.⁵ He lived in 1820 at Schroon Lake, Essex, New York.⁶ He lived in 1830 at Schroon Lake, Essex, New York.⁶ He lived in 1840 at Schroon Lake, Essex, New York.⁷ Edmund died on 11 March 1844 at Schroon Lake, Essex, New York, at age 71.⁸ He was buried after 11 March 1844, in the Baker Street Cemetery, Schroon Lake, Essex, New York. Gravestone viewed and photographed by John R. Wood, August, 1992.⁸

     Sally was born circa 1778. The Possible Identity of Sally Richardson's Parents

There is a remote possibility that this Sally was born in Stonington, CT, the dau. of Amos and Sarah (Kennedy) Richardson. I am making a rather large leap of faith here in saying that the Sally Richardson that married Edmund Jenks is the same person as Sarah Richardson, daughter of Amos and Sarah Richardson. My assumption is based on a number of pieces of circumstantial evidence that seem to link the two.

1. Sally was often used as a diminutive of Sarah.

2. Sarah was orphaned by the age of six when her father died. Her mother had died before 1782, perhaps in childbirth.

3. Sally's birth year of 1778 was estimated from her death record in Schroon Lake, NY. A birth year of 1779 is consistent with the evidence.

4. The problem lies in getting Sarah to Vermont close enough to Clarendon so she can meet and marry Edmund Jenks.

5. Because she was orphaned by the time she was six, she must have been raised by relatives. The question is, which ones? I think (and here's where the leap of faith comes in) that she went to live with Nathan and Phebe (Crocker) Richardson, who had moved to Manchester, Vermont (20-30 miles south of Clarendon) in March of 1780. Her father had nine siblings, most of whom died before or soon after her father died. The ones who didn't die moved to other locales. Of all of her father's close relatives, his first cousin Nathan seems to be the most likely candidate to look after his daughter. Indeed, she may have moved in with Nathan's family before her father died in 1785 (he may also have lived with his cousin's family), and moved with them to Manchester, Vermont.

6. Assuming that Sarah did indeed move to Manchester, Vermont with her cousin's family, how do we get her to meet with Edmund Jenks, who lived a long 20 to 30 miles away? Here, we take another leap of faith to form this working hypothesis. Nathan Richardson married in 1748, Phebe Crocker, who I believe to be the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Champion) Crocker of New London, CT. John Crocker, born 1700, was the son of Samuel Crocker and Hannah Wolcott. His brother Samuel was born two years earlier in 1698. Samuel married Jemima French 25, May 1720 and they had a son Andrew, born 7 April, 1721 in Norwich, CT. Andrew married Lois Waterman 4 March, 1745 in Norwich, CT. Their son Andrew, Jr., who was born 14 October, 1750, in Coventry, CT. was a friend of James Jenks of Clarendon, VT, father of Edmund Jenks. Andrew lived in Clarendon and moved to Schroon Lake, NY, with James and Edmund just after 1800. Andrew appears on the Schroon Lake Road Tax rolls of 1804 along with James and Edmund Jenks. Andrew Crocker had a son Andrew III, who was born in 1775, making him only 2 years younger than Edmund Jenks.

The point of all this Crocker family tree is to point out that Andrew Crocker, Jr.. was the nephew of Phebe Crocker Richardson of Manchester, VT. It doesn't take much imagination to have young Edmund Jenks travel with his friend Andrew Crocker to the latter's aunt's family home just a few miles down the road, especially when there was an unattached girl 18 or 19 years old living with the aunt. My theory is that Edmund Jenks did indeed make the journey, met Sarah, or Sally, and liked her enough to father her children. Whether they actually were married is another question.

At any rate. the possibility certainly exists that Sarah and Sally Richardson are the same person.

On the other hand, some circumstantial evidence exists to support the notion that Sarah Richardson died young. Doreen Potter Hanna makes this claim in her compilation of the descendants of Amos Richardson. She writes that "In the settlement of his estate, April 21, 1785, there is mentioned his widow, Mary (his second wife), two brothers, and two sisters with their husbands, No children are mentioned so it is assumed Amos left no descendants."

This is strong evidence against Sarah and Sally being the same. However, it is possible, since there is no official record of Sarah's death in Stonington, Ct, it may well be that her father, having already made provisions for the care and raising of his six-year-old daughter, didn't feel that it was necessary to leave her anything from his estate.

Secondly, Doreen Potter Hanna claims that Nathan Richardson and his family were Congregationalists, Nathan being one of the seven charter members of the First Congregational Church of Manchester, VT. The Jenks family, I believe, were Baptists.

Edmund Jenks was only 18 at the time of the 1791 federal census of Vermont, so he probably was still living at home in the James Jenks household. He did get counted in Clarendon in the 1800 census, but by then he was 27 or 28 with a family of his own.

His and Sally's first child, Loren, was born (according to his age at death) in 1796 when Sally was only 17 or 18 and Edmund was 22 or 23. The usual age of marriage for women in those days was 20 or 21, so Sally was pretty young to have gotten married in 1795 or 96.

There were Richardsons living in the neighboring town of Shrewsbury in 1791, but none in Clarendon.

Some records from the Mormon Church say Sally was born in New York state, where no official vital records were kept until 1890. Indeed, there are Richardsons listed in the Schroon Lake Cemetery book who were old enough to have been her parents, although none of them were listed on the 1805 Road Tax list.

So, the question remains: was Sally living in New York or Vermont when she married Edmund Jenks? Did they actually get married, or did they just get together with a "common law" marriage. Sally's tender age at the birth of her first child suggests that there might possibly have been some irregularities here.

Obviously, further research is necessary.

I tried to search two other Possibilities for Sally's parents, but had no luck at all. According to Dawn Hance, who has written a history of Rutland (VT) County, there were two Richardsons in the Clarendon, VT, area in the 1790s when Sally and Edmund were supposedly married (Eldest Child Deborah, b. 1797).

One was David, of Shrewsbury, VT, whom I have determined was too young to have been her father. If she was an orphan, she might have been living in his household, however.

The other candidate was a Jesse Richardson, who was in Shrewsbury as early as 6 Oct 1791, when he signed the Shrewsbury Great Road Petition. He might have come from Woburn, Middlesex, Mass. Jesse was listed at Shrewsbury in the 1800, 1810 and 1830 Censuses. There was a Jesse and a Jesse, Jr. listed at Woburn, Mass., in the 1791 Census. There were no children of Jesse listed by name in any of the records.

I doubt that there is any connection to the Woburn Jesse, since the Jesses of Shrewsbury probably came from the Groton, Ma, family of Benjamin Richardson (see the note attached to Sally's possible father..^2,1 She married Edmund Jenks, son of James Jenks and Phebe Tripp, at perhaps, Vermont, circa 1796.³ As of circa 1796,her married name was Jenks.³ Sally died on 21 July 1844 at Schroon Lake, Essex, New York.⁴ She was buried after 21 July 1844, in the Baker Street Cemetery, Schroon Lake, Essex, New York. Gravestone viewed and photographed by John R. Wood, August, 1992.⁴

     Norman was born at Schroon Lake, Essex, New York, on 10 June 1814.¹ He married Avis Luther Phelps, daughter of Orin Phelps and Ruth Scofield, at Schroon Lake, Essex, New York, on 30 March 1837.² Norman Jenks lived in 1840 at Scroon Lake, Essex, New York.³ He purchased by Deed Norman purchased for $100 cash land described as follows: "All of that certain piece as parcel of Land situate in Essex County and is a part of Lot Number Twenty Eight (28) in the Schroon Grant, it being the South East corner of said lot. It being twenty-five chains East and West, and twenty chains North and South, containing fifty acres of land as surrounded by B. K. Seamans."

The sellers to Norman were: Benjamin Seamans Warren and his wife Sally Barnes; and David Hall and his wife Jeanette.

As far as I can tell, there is no connection between these Halls and the family of Livona Marion Hall, mother of Clara Warren, who married Norman Jenks's son Walter.

Nor can I find any connection between Benjamin Warren and the family of Walter's wife Clara Warren.

The wife of Benjamin S. Warren was Sally Barnes, who was the sister of David Barnes's first wife Lucy.

It is perhaps, an interesting coincidence of surnames, however. on 12 December 1863 at Schroon Lake, Essex, New York.⁴ Norman died on 1 August 1891 at Schroon Lake, Essex, New York, at age 77.^5,6 He was buried after 1 August 1891, in the Baker Street Cemetery, Schroon Lake, Essex, New York. Gravestone viewed and photographed by John R. Wood, August, 1992.⁷

     Avis's brother Orson Scofield PHELPS, who was born 6 May, 1816, in Weathersfield, VT, became a well-known guide in the Adirondack mountains of New York state. He was known as "Mountain Phelps" and was the subject of numerous magazine and newspaper articles of the time. He died 14 April, 1905. Avis was born at Weathersfield, Windsor, Vermont, on 17 January 1817.^1,2 She married Norman Jenks, son of Edmund Jenks and Sally (Sarah) Richardson, at Schroon Lake, Essex, New York, on 30 March 1837.³ Avis died on 6 March 1883 at Schroon Lake, Essex, New York, at age 66.⁴ She was buried after 6 March 1883, in the Baker Street Cemetery, Schroon Lake, Essex, New York. Gravestone viewed and photographed by John R. Wood, August, 1992.⁴

     Walter and Clara started their married life at Olmstedville, Minerva, Essex County, New York, but moved to Orwell, VT, in 1900, after he was not named in his father's will to inherit the family farm.

According to Skip Patnode, Walter and his family hiked across Lake Champlain on the ice sometime around 1897 or 1898. They lived with Clara's brother Herman Warren at the farm on Griswold Lane in Orwell.

In 1906, he moved the family to Sudbury, VT. All of their children were born in New York. The Census of 1880 reports that a W. Jenks, aged 19, iron ore worker, was lodging with the Peter O'Connor family of Olmstedville, NY. There was, at the time, a thriving iron mining and smelting business in the area. This W. Jenks is no doubt Walter M. Jenks, who would have been 19 or 20 by the time of the 1880 Census, which lists him as living in the area.

Clara's father Paschal P. Warren had started an inn at Loch Muller in the town of Schroon Lake some years earlier. The inn was later run by Paschal's son Edison Warren into the 1940s.

This writer and his cousin Livona Jenks Allen visited the area in August 1992 and found the old inn empty and falling apart.^1,2 Walter was born at Schroon Lake, Essex, New York, on 20 September 1860.³ He married Clara Diana Warren, daughter of Paschal P. Warren and Livona Marion Hall, at Schroon Lake, Essex, New York, on 9 June 1886.³ Walter Marcellus Jenks lived in 1896 at Olmstedville, Minerva, Essex, New York. Olmstedville was a village within the Town of Minerva, which was just west of Schroon Lake. I have an undated snapshot of Walter's house in Olmstedville.

All of Walters children's births are recorded in Schroon Lake, probably because it was the largest town in the area.³ He lived in 1900 at Orwell, Addison, Vermont. According to the Vermont 1900 Census, he lived in Orwell, Addison County, Vermont. Not sure where, but he certainly lived in Sudbury, Rutland, Vermont when his daughter Orpha was married to John Spaulding.⁴ He lived on 30 June 1909 at Sudbury, Rutland, Vermont. He was listed as a resident of Sudbury at the time of his son Claude's marriage.

They lived on the West side of Vermont Route 73 about 1/4 mile North of the Stone School House on the corner of Rte. t3 and Rte. 30, at the top of what is now known as "School House Hill."

Margaret and Marion Spaulding attended their first years of elementary school at this school house.^5,2 Walter died on 22 January 1941 at of Coronary Occlusion, Sudbury, Rutland, Vermont, at age 80.^6,7 He was buried after 22 January 1941 at Wallace Cemetery, Sudbury, Rutland, Vermont. Gravestone viewed and photographed by John R. Wood, July 1991..¹

      Clara was born at Schroon Lake, Essex, New York, on 2 May 1861.¹ She married Walter Marcellus Jenks, son of Norman Jenks and Avis Luther Phelps, at Schroon Lake, Essex, New York, on 9 June 1886.² As of 9 June 1886,her married name was Jenks.² Clara died on 31 May 1932 at Sudbury, Rutland, Vermont, at age 71.³ She was buried after 31 May 1932 at Wallace Cemetery, Sudbury, Rutland, Vermont. Gravestone viewed and photographed by John R. Wood, July 1991..⁴

     Claude was born at Schroon Lake, Essex, New York, on 5 October 1887.¹ He married Fannie Lillian Brock, daughter of Freeman J. Brock and Mary F. unknown, at Sudbury, Rutland, Vermont, on 30 June 1909.² Claude died on 1 August 1919 at Sudbury, Rutland, Vermont, at age 31.³ He was buried after 1 August 1919 at Wallace Cemetery, Sudbury, Rutland, Vermont.

      Orpha was born of a dirt poor family and I suspect that legacy influenced much of what she did in later life. When she moved with her parents to Sudbury, Vermont in the early 1900s, she decided to better herself. The family of Walter Jenks had left their farm in Schroon Lake, NY, when the Walter learned that he would not inherit the family farm. Walter and family left Schroon Lake and hiked across the then frozen Lake Champlain with all that they owned on their backs. Arriving in Vermont, they lived with Walter’s relatives until they could find a farm in Sudbury.

A few years later, when Orpha was a young woman, she set her cap for (a term used for a woman who decides on her future husband and pursues him), for John Albert Spaulding. John was a scion of a prosperous farm family in Sudbury, Vermont. Sudbury was, at the time (and is now), a very small Vermont farm community that averaged some 15-20 people attending church on any given Sunday. Orpha was successful in wooing John and they were married in 1910.

The marriage had a serious setback in the late 1920s or early 1930s. John's patrimony, the Spaulding farm, was sold by his sisters who were older than he, and the money from the sale was invested with his sister Fanny's husband Al Matot. With the coming of the depression, the money was lost and Al Matot went to jail for bank fraud. John Spaulding's patrimony was lost.

I remember Orpha as my "Nanny,” as I called her, and I loved her dearly. However, unbeknownst to me, Orpha probably felt that, because of her immediate family history, she had something to prove. She set out to find some evidence that the Jenks family’s status was a cut or two above that of her parents. One of the things that she pursued was membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). She purchased the Jenks Genealogy and used it to establish her descent from James Jenks, a Revolutionary War soldier. She also found that she was descended from a colonial governor of Rhode Island.

As an aside, Marion Spaulding, my mother's younger sister, inherited Orpha's social climbing skills, but was more successful than her mother. She married into the prosperous Williams family of Poultney, Vermont.

It's too bad that I haven't been able to give Orpha her due. She was a woman who, despite her lot in life, raised five daughters who gave her eleven grandchildren. She loved them all. I am only sorry that I have been unable to find a royal ancestry for her, although it does appear that she has a Mayflower ancestor via her mother Clara Diana Warren. All of my other grandparents have either, or both. Orpha would have delighted in knowing that she was descended from a Mayflower passenger, but she would have been happier if she was descended from Charlemagne.

Rest in peace, Nanny, knowing that I loved you.¹ Orpha was born at Schroon Lake, Essex, New York, on 11 July 1890.² As of 26 October 1910,her married name was Spaulding.³ She married John Albert Spaulding, son of Seneca Bucklin Spaulding and Elizabeth C.(Carr?) Mound, at Sudbury, Rutland, Vermont, on 26 October 1910.^3,4 Orpha died on 11 January 1974 at Poultney, Rutland, Vermont, at age 83.⁵ She was buried on 16 January 1974 at Poultney Cemetery, Poultney, Rutland, Vermont.⁵

     Clara was born at Schroon Lake, Essex, New York, on 18 July 1892.³ She married Royal Celand Williams at Sudbury, Rutland, Vermont, on 13 July 1913.⁴ Clara died on 11 March 1919 at Sudbury, Rutland, Vermont, at age 26.⁴

     Mildred was born at Schroon Lake, Essex, New York, on 6 July 1894.^1,2 She married Delmar Griffin at Sudbury, Rutland, Vermont, on 29 February 1916.² Mildred died on 22 February 1970 at Rooney Nursing Home, Castleton, Rutland, Vermont, at age 75.²

     Freeman was born at Schroon Lake, Essex, New York, on 20 September 1896.¹ He married Miriam Nancy Green, daughter of Walton Amasa Green and Emma M. Holcomb, at Cavendish, Windsor, Vermont, on 25 June 1927.² He married Ethel Grace Wheeler at Cavendish, Windsor, Vermont, on 3 January 1951.³ Freeman died on 7 February 1987 at Hanson Court Nursing Home, Springfield, Windsor, Vermont, at age 90.^2,4 He was buried after 7 February 1987 at Village Cemetery, Cavendish, Windsor, Vermont.²

     Fannie was born at Benson, Rutland, Vermont, on 27 August 1890.^1,2 She married Claude Norman Jenks, son of Walter Marcellus Jenks and Clara Diana Warren, at Sudbury, Rutland, Vermont, on 30 June 1909.³ As of 30 June 1909,her married name was Jenks.³ Fannie died between 27 August 1967 and 27 August 1968 at Porter Hospital, Middlebury, Addison, Vermont.^1,2

     He married Doris May Manchester.¹ Bernard was born at Benson, Rutland, Vermont, on 10 July 1910.² Bernard died on 6 August 1978 at Middlebury, Addison, Vermont, at age 68.³ He was buried after 6 August 1978, in the Wallace Cemetery, Sudbury, Rutland, Vermont.³

     Avis was born at Benson, Rutland, Vermont, on 15 February 1912.¹ She married Donald Kenneth Monier on 5 October 1948.² Avis died on 3 July 1985 at Springfield, Windsor, Vermont, at age 73.²

     Floyd was born at Sudbury, Rutland, Vermont, on 21 July 1916.¹ Floyd died on 6 November 1972 at Springfield, Windsor, Vermont, at age 56.²

     She married Francis Joseph Beeman.¹ Bernice was born at Sudbury, Rutland, Vermont, on 7 October 1918.² Bernice died in November 1983 at Middlebury, Addison, Vermont, at age 65.¹