Doug's Genealogy

Miscellaneous Updates

2011-10-10T20:10:00.005-04:00

Glad to see more than 10,600 visits so far to this blog. I hope you find something of interest in your quest to add to your knowledge of the Jenkins and Ballem families.

I regret not having posted in a long time, but there have been problems in posting articles to this blog. Also, I broke my arm just over a year ago, and it still has neither the strength nor mobility that the other arm has. Before you feel too sorry for me, I broke it while ice-skating on a cruise ship in the eastern Mediterranean. It was initially set on board, but had to be re-broken when I got home, and plate and pins installed.

My book Nicolaus Henckell the Hessian: A Genealogy of Jenkins Families of Prince Edward Island has been well received, and the 3-volume set is selling well too. As requested in the book, I welcome all additions, corrections, or errors. When sufficient information has been received, it is planned to publish a fourth volume to the set. Meanwhile, four addenda, with a total of 26 pages, have been emailed to those who purchased the book whose address I have. If you have purchased the book, but have not received the addenda, please let me know. Email me at demacdonald[at]pei[dot]sympatico[dot]ca, remembering to complete the areas in brackets properly. (Sorry for any confusion, but an address presented in this way helps lessen spam.)

On a related note, have you tried to read any of the comments to the postings? Most of them appear to be in an oriental font, and are unreadable. I welcome comments, but please send them directly to me rather than posting to the blog.

Now for a family related puzzle:

Does anyone have information on Amelia Jenkins of Millview, PEI, who was married 3 March 1874 to Samuel Jardine? Whose family are they? Do they have any family?

April Photo of the Month

2010-04-30T20:34:00.000-04:00

Mount Albion School, Lot 48, PEI.

Can anyone help identify the teacher and pupils? What year was this photo taken?

Please send whatever names you can to me at: demacdonald (at) pei.sympatico.ca .If you can help with this, I have an older photo of the same school to try later.

Jenkins Photo of the Month - March 2010

2010-03-02T13:43:00.001-04:00

You never know where a priceless family photo is going to turn up. This picture was taken in the entrance to Piazza Joe's Italian Eatery & Bistro in Charlottetown, PEI. Look closely at the photo on the wall (click on it to enlarge). Would you have recognized it as the family of Robert Jenkins and Margaret Louisa (Young) Jenkins which was taken in 1901? And an original, not a copy, in the original frame! It has appeared previuosly on this site. One of the young girls is my wife's grandmother Hannah Belle Jenkins.

After finding the restaurant owner, Joe Lisi, I was told that he had bought the framed photo at a yard sale. As he was from the US it had no sentimental value to him, but was just an old family photo to go with a few others he had on adjacent walls of the entry to his establishment. After explaining the significance to our family, I asked if I could buy it from him. He replied that he would not sell it, but that what he wanted was an old family photo, and that if I could provide him with a suitable replacement we could make a trade. You will now find hanging in it's place a copy of the photo of the family of Isabella Jenkins and husband Kenneth MacDonald taken in 1903, which is also found in Nicolaus Henckell the Hessian, Vol. I, p. 242. Thank you Joe.

The moral of the story is to always keep your eyes peeled for old family photos. You never know where you might come across something which is priceless to the preservation of your family heritage.

If you have old Jenkins family photos to share on this site, please send a scanned copy to me at demacdonald@pei.sympatico.ca . And please don't forget to identify all your photos with who is in them so it won't someday be tossed out like the priceless Jenkins photo shown above.

Jenkins Photo of the Month - February

2010-02-03T16:30:00.001-04:00

This photo of the Henry Boswall Jenkins family was submitted by his grandson Hudson Jenkins. It shows Henry Boswall Jenkins, born 23 February 1866 in Mount Albion, Lot 48, PEI; his wife Elizabeth Jane (Bessie) MacKenzie Jenkins, born 17 September 1877; and their sons. From the left, they are Lorne Alexander Jenkins, Robert Harold Jenkins and Henry Spurgeon Jenkins. It was undated, but appears to have been taken about 1908. You can find more on this family in Nicolaus Henckell the Hessian, Vol. 1, p. 241.

If you have old photos and/or stories to share, please email me.

How a Baby Received His Name

2010-01-27T14:05:00.001-04:00

This photo of the family of Robert Jenkins was taken in the early summer of 1901 in Charlottetown. The baby shown on his mother's lap had been born 27 April 1901. The Governor General of Canada, His Excellency Lord Gilbert Minto, and his wife visited Prince Edward Island later that summer. During the visit Robert somehow managed to present this photo of the family to Lady Minto, requesting that she name the baby. She called him Gilbert, after her husband, and he thus became Gilbert Minto Jenkins. This begs the question of what he had been called before, and what his birth name might have been registered as.

Addendum #1 - Nicolaus Henckell the Hessian

2010-01-20T18:34:00.000-04:00

The first four-page Addendum has recently been emailed in PDF format to those who have the 3 volume set of the book Nicolaus Henckell the Hessian. If you have the book but have not received Addendum #1 via email, it is because I do not have your email address. If you do have the book and wish to receive further complete updates as they become available, please send an email with your name to me at demacdonald@pei.sympatico.ca.

Also please remember to provide scanned copies of old family photos (with people identified) and additions and/or corrections to the above address, as a further addendum is planned for whenever there is sufficient material so that the information in the book may be kept up to date.

Jenkins Photo of the Month - January

2010-01-17T15:39:00.000-04:00

This photo was submitted by Roddie MacLean of his great-grandparents Caroline Amelia Jenkins, born 1852, died 1944, (daughter of George E. Jenkins and Susannah Marie Hawkins), with husband J. Benjamin Mutch and young son Robert Everett Mutch. R. E. Mutch (1876-1957) was baptized 21 April 1879, the occasion for this photo. They farmed in Earnscliffe, Lot 50, PEI. Al Mutch tells of his grandmother Amelia taking his sister on walks to the shore to gather kindling chips from an area where ships were built in the 1800s. See more on the family in Nicolaus Henckell the Hessian: A Genealogy of Jenkins Families of Prince Edward Island, Vol. I - p. 36.

Do you have old Jenkins photos? Please take time to share them with relatives via this site. You can have them scanned and emailed to me at demacdonald@pei.sympatico.ca . Include a story about the photo if you can, or about someone in the photo in general, but this is not necessary.

Meanwhile, always remember to put names lightly on the back of your old photos, and dates if you know them. Otherwise future generations will not know who is in the photo or its significance to family history, and might just throw them out.

HENCKELL BOOK REVIEW - 17 DEC 2009

2009-12-18T16:10:00.001-04:00

(Click on the image to enlarge)

This article on "Nicolaus Henckell the Hessian" and the author was published in "The Guardian", Charlottetown, PEI on 17 December 2009.

HENCKELL/JENKINS GENEALOGY PUBLISHED

2009-11-07T22:20:00.000-04:00

The books have now been received from the printer.

The initial request for interest in the book was in order to try to get a fix on how many to order from the printer. Based on interest received by the time the final edit of the book went to print, I accepted their advice on the number to run. As I am personally totally funding this endeavor, you can understand that I wouldn’t want to have a large stock of unsold books for a long time. Also, with the rather large size of the book (3 volumes) and subsequent retail price of $140, there was a great deal of concern as to potential demand. As a result, I am also temporarily subsidizing the cost of the books until the end of the book launch so that the set of three volumes may be had for $95 rather than the retail price of $140.

To my pleasant surprise, there has been a large request for the book, and in order to guarantee a copy for pickup at the launch, people have been paying for their books in advance. Consequently, I cannot guarantee availability at the launch unless payment is received in advance. It will be first come, first served, and a list has been kept from the beginning of orders paid as they are received. As of November 7, requests have been received for 60% of the print run, and one-quarter of the total run has already been paid in advance. This is with 3 weeks still remaining until the launch.

For your information, at such time as 85% of the books in print are sold an order will be placed for a reprint. I have been told that reprinting would take about 3 weeks, so would still be available for pickup before Christmas. Meanwhile, the discounted price of $95.00 will only be guaranteed for orders paid on or before the November 28 book launch.

If interested in guaranteeing a copy for pickup at the launch, please email me at: demacdonald@pei.sympatico.ca for details on where to send a cheque. For copies to be mailed outside the province, packing and postage charges will be applied. For the amount, please send your complete address, including postal or zip code, via email. Every effort will be made to mail out as soon after receiving payment as possible.

Just to confirm launch details, the PEI Genealogical Society is hosting it at 2:00pm on Saturday November 28 at the Carriage House, Beaconsfield, 2 Kent Street, Charlottetown.

Please pass this information on to others who might have an interest in the book. If you have any questions, please email me.

THE JENKINS BOOK IS AT THE PRINTER

2009-09-28T16:34:00.000-04:00

Nicolaus Henckell the Hessian
A Genealogy of Jenkins Families
of Prince Edward Island
by Douglas B. MacDonald, GRS(C)

Finally at the printer, Nicolaus Henckell the Hessian includes more than 19,600 of his descendants and spouses. This three volume set is 8½" x 11" in size and contains 1,390 pages.

There are separate chapters on each of Nicholas’ children, their descendants and spouses; William’s family alone requires 534 pages. Volume I, about 472 pages, also covers family traditions such as place of birth of Nicolaus and two oldest children, the surname change to Jenkins, his two (?) marriages, and the descendants as heirs to a three billion dollar estate. It has the life story of Nicolaus from birth through the American Revolution, his return to Germany, his arrival in PEI, and what it was like then to begin a life on the Island. Volume II, about 433 pages, ends with an appendix of maps and family photos. Volume III, about 485 pages, ends with a separate index to each volume. For those who wish to verify some of the facts for themselves, there are more than 6,600 footnotes of sources. There are also photos of his birth and baptism record, as well as that of his first two children.

This long-anticipated book is now at the printer and will be available soon. The book launch is planned for November 28 in Charlottetown, PEI, in time for Christmas giving. The 3-volume set will retail for $140, but will initially be available at a subsidized cost of only $95 for the set, plus shipping where required. Shipping costs will be determined once the first set is received from the printer.

To reserve your copy, or for more information, please contact Doug MacDonald at (902) 892-1181 or email demacdonald@pei.sympatico.ca. For those books prepaid for delivery outside PEI, every effort will be made to ship them for arrival by November 28. For those on the Island who prepay, book sets will be available for pickup at the launch or from the author.

Please pass this information on to others you think might be interested.

Henckell Genealogy Progress

2009-08-01T10:55:00.000-04:00

This is a quick update on progress on the Henckell/Jenkins genealogy. Just because I haven't been updating this site doesn't mean I haven't been working on the book. It grew so large (about 40 MB in size) that it crashed in both WordPerfect and in MS Word formats. I have now broken it down by chapters, one for each of Nicholas' descendants, but William's is still about 600 pages long (about 18 MB in size) and it still crashes. I've tripled the RAM on my computer to better handle the big files, but am still having difficulty. I've been at it for long hours daily, beginning after breakfast and working until 10:00 or 11:00 at night.

I have been trying everything I can find to cut down on the cost of books. At the moment, it looks like 8-1/2x11 page size, Ariel 10pt font, with footnotes and name index at 9pt. and still totals about 1350 pages without maps, photos, etc. At this rate, it will be about 4 volumes, and might sell for $95 plus postage for the set. If you are interested in purchasing a set, with no committment at this time until finalized details are known, please send an email to me at demacdonald@pei.sympatico.ca so I can add your name to a list of those interested.

Meanwhile, I've got to get back to editing the book.

George A. Wood to be Inducted into PEI Sports Hall of Fame

2009-05-20T13:35:00.000-04:00

The first Prince Edward Island born player to have a career in Major League Baseball is to be inducted into the PEI Sports Hall of Fame later this summer.

As noted in an earlier entry to this site, George Albert (Dandy) Wood was the son of Joseph A. Wood and Mary Ann Jenkins. He was born in PEI on November 9, 1858 and moved to Boston with his parents in 1867. He went on to play 1,280 games in the majors, and was the 1882 National League Home Run Champion.

In order to let as many of his family as possible know of this honor to be bestowed on him, your help is requested in trying to locate descendants of his brothers and sisters. Although George and his wife Cora did not have children, he had two brothers and two sisters as follows:

AMOS WOOD, born in PEI September 1860, died September 1918, probably in MA.

ROSCILLA WOOD, born in PEI March 1863, married about 1886 in MA EDWARD H. WINSOR, born March 1853. They lived in Dorchester, MA and had a son EDWARD BAKER WINSOR, born April 1887 in Boston, MA.

LERONA J. WOOD, born about 1869 in East Boston, MA, married SAMUEL SHEIDOW.

JOSEPH LEMUEL WOOD, born March 1877 in East Boston, MA.

It would be greatly appreciated if someone with Massachusetts research connections could help locate one or more living descendants of Joseph and Mary Ann (Jenkins) Wood, and pass this information along to me at: demacdonald@pei.sympatico.ca .

LAST CALL - JENKINS GENEALOGY INPUT

2009-04-23T14:44:00.000-04:00

We are nearing the end of the road in gathering information for inclusion in the book of Nicholas (Henckel) Jenkins and his almost 19,000 descendants. It looks now like it will require two volumes to cover everyone that we know of to date. Once the information is generated in the proper format for publishing, it will be too difficult to go back and add or modify names and information.

The small committee working on this Jenkins genealogy has been Paulette (Johnston) McNally and Doug MacDonald of Charlottetown, and Hazel (Jenkins) Sanford of Vancouver. Although we have collaborated for a few years now, we could not have done this without the gracious input of others. We are indebted to the many of you who have already submitted information on your branch of the family. Without your input this project would not have been nearly as comprehensive as it already is.

If you are wondering if your name is included, or if your branch of the family is included, or if what you have on the family is to be included, or if you have an old photo you would like to see included, etc., please send it via email to demacdonald@pei.sympatico.ca by May 15, 2009 at the latest. Nothing received after that date will be included, but will be saved for a future update some years down the road. If in doubt, please ask.

Please pass this information on to anyone you think might be interested so they won't be left out. As of May 15th we will have reached the point of no return for additions and/or corrections.

Jenkins Picture Puzzle

2009-02-19T18:54:00.001-04:00

Robert & Margaret Jenkins's Family - 1898

Robert & Margaret Jenkins's Family - 1901

Robert & Margaret Jenkins's Family - 1911

Shown above are three photos of the family of Robert Jenkins of Mount Albion, Lot 48, PEI. Who knows the names of those in the 1898 and 1901 photos in the order in which they appear? I am almost certain, but not positive, as to which is which. But I would like your help in finding out for certain. Who can help me solve the puzzle? Please email your answers to me at demacdonald@pei.sympatico.ca .

Now, in order to help you, I will give you the dates of birth of the family. Robert was born January 1849, and his 2nd wife Margaret November 1859. From his 1st marriage to Jessie Currie were born Robert Harold (June 1873), Ludlow (November 1875), James Daniel (December 1877), Jessie Winnifred (December 1879), Henry Marshall (August 1881), Parkman (August 1883), Frederick (May 1885), Susan Margaret Jane (August 1887), and Earle Goodspeed (October 1889). From the 2nd marriage were born John Spurgeon (January 1891), Arthur Emerson (August 1892), Hannah Belle (November 1894), Mary Victoria (December 1895), Minnie Laura (February 1898), Chrystie Doctor (May 1899), Gilbert Minto (April 1901), Edna May (May 1904), and William Robert (March 1907).

If you find these photos interesting, let me know, and I can post others of this family in casual scenes for you to identify also.

Relatives in Pro Sports

2009-01-21T16:57:00.001-04:00

George A. Wood Baseball Card, from the United States Library of Congress Collection.

Some of you may know of Jenkins relatives who are active in professional sports. Lorie Kane, born in Charlottetown, PEI, has been an LPGA touring professional since 1995. Did you know that her great-great grandmother was Isabella Jenkins of Johnston’s River and Covehead, PEI? Dion Phaneuf is an All Star defenceman with the NHL Calgary Flames. Many of you are aware that his grandmother is Roma (Jenkins) Phaneuf of Summerside, PEI.

But I’ll bet many of you have not heard of baseball’s National League Home Run Champion from the family? He was almost certainly the first Prince Edward Island born player in the Majors. His name was George A. (Dandy) Wood.

Mary Ann Jenkins was born 12 March 1836 in Pownal, Lot 49, PEI, oldest daughter of James MacBriar (Scilly) Jenkins and Sarah Wood. She was married on 25 October 1855 at "Springfield", a pleasant farm in China point, Lot 50, to Joseph A. Wood, born in 1824 in Alexandra, Lot 49. Joseph was a first cousin of his mother-in-law Sarah. Mary and Joseph’s first child, George A. Wood, was born on 9 November 1858 in PEI, as were his siblings Amos (born about 1861) and Roscilla (born about 1863). Some time between 1863 and 1869, the family emigrated to the United States, settling in Boston, MA. There, about 1869, was born their fourth and last child Loronia. George was a great-great grandson of Nicholas (Henckel) Jenkins, our immigrant ancestor.

George began his professional baseball career on 1 May 1880 at age 21 with the Worcester Ruby Legs of the National League. This League had been founded in 1876 with eight teams, but there was a great turnover during those early turbulent years. Worcester, MA, joined the League in 1880, but was gone by the end of the 1882 season. With so many teams coming and going, players changed teams frequently, and George was no exception. After beginning his career with Worcester in 1880, he played with the Detroit Wolverines (1881-1885), Philadelphia Quakers (1886-1889), Philadelphia Athletics (1890-1891), Baltimore Orioles (1889, 1892), and Cincinnati Reds (1892). In 1891 he was both player and manager of the Athletics in the American Association. In 1881 he was among the National League leaders with a .421 slugging percentage. In 1882, his .269 batting average was well above the team average; the year in which he led the League in home runs and was runner up in triples.

Wood also participated in an early integrated baseball game. The Chicago Tribune reported on the game as follows: "A very singular contest took place at New Orleans, La., on April 4, 1880, when five Northern professionals succeeded in defeating the colored professional nine of that city by a score of 17 to 3." According to the account reported 14 months later in the Chicago Tribune of July 1881, Tim Keefe pitched, Charlie Bennett caught, John Sullivan played first base, while Wood and George Creamer "were entrusted with the onerous task of filling the other six positions."

George died on 4 April 1924 at age 65 in Harrisburg, PA. He was buried in Union Street Cemetery, Franklin, MA.

Article references included "The Baseball Page.com"; "baseball-reference.com"; "baseball-almanac.com"; and "wikipedia.org"

As usual, if you have any comments, please email me at demacdonald@pei.sympatico.ca

Family Facts, Fiction & Future

2008-11-08T22:01:00.000-04:00

FACTS:
How does the family of Nicholas (Henckel) Jenkins now appear? As a result of findings in Treysa, what changes are required to what has been previously presented here?

We know that Nicholas Jenkins was born Nikolaus Henckel on 28 March 1755 in Treysa, Germany to Johann Hermann Henckel and Anna Elisabeth Ott. He was baptized 31 March 1755, and confirmed in the Lutheran Church, Treysa in 1769 at the age of 14.

His military records show that he joined his regiment in April 1775 in Ziegenhain, Germany, having just turned 20 years old. He was listed as a Tambour (drummer) in the 3rd Company (von Minnigerode Company) of the Hessen-Kassel Regiment von Knyphausen. Regiment von Knyphausen departed the fortress at Ziegenhain for America on 3 March 1776. His time in America has been highlighted in a previous entry to this site of 11 Aug 2007.

We also know that while in America, 28 year old Nicholas Henckel was married 27 July 1783 to Betsey [Elizabeth] Robinson in the Presbyterian Church, Jamaica, Long Island, NY by Rev. Matthias Burnet. A few weeks later, on 15 August 1783, the soldiers of the Regiment von Knyphausen sailed from New York for Germany, and after two months arrived back in Ziegenhain on 16 October 1783. It was only about 5 km from there to his hometown of Treysa.

Nicholas and Elizabeth had the following children born while living in Treysa: Johann George Henckel was born 13 May 1784 in Treysa, nine months after they had departed New York. This is the oldest son, John Jenkins, who died in Prince Edward Island 20 Jun 1866. Susannah Henckel was born 19 months later on 15 Dec 1785 in Treysa. This is the Susannah Jenkins who died in Prince Edward Island 14 May 1884.

Nicolaus Henckel was listed in 1785 as a Master Shoemaker living with a Mrs. Entwichene in Treysa. His father, Johann Hermann Henkel, also a Master Shoemaker, died and was buried 28 May 1787. Church records say their "illegitimate child" Anna Maria, born in New York, died at 11pm on 27 Nov 1787 in Treysa, aged 9 years. She would have been born about 1778, or 5 years before they were married. The same death record says that the parents were "absconded" or "deserted", indicating that they had left Treysa before that date. Based on the records, it is probably safe to say that Nicholas, Elizabeth, John and Susannah left Treysa for Prince Edward Island in North America sometime between the deaths of his father and daughter, or between May and November 1787. This corresponds with the timing of fellow regimental drummers Wilhelm Fischer (later William Fisher) and Georg Weckesser or Weickerssen (later George Vickerson) also leaving the Treysa/Ziegenhain area with their families to settle in PEI. As to 12 year old Peter Baum who arrived on the Island with the Henckel family, we will discuss this below.

FICTION:
Which are the stories from family tradition that now should be considered fiction? Of course we realize that once something has been put in writing, whether true or false, it tends to take on a life of its own. And sometimes such stories or items become quoted as if they were prime sources themselves. Even prime source records may sometimes vary when compared with each other. For example, birth dates on tombstones or from census documents are usually less reliable than birth or baptism records from church documents because the date of recording is more distant from the event of record.

Henckel to Jenkins - The story persists that Nicholas anglicized his surname to Jenkins at the suggestion of Rev. Dr. Louis Charles Jenkins, Minister at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Charlottetown, PEI. However, Rev. Jenkins wasn’t born until Aug 1797 in England, and the "Weekly Examiner" of 21 Nov 1884 says he didn’t emigrate to the Island until about 1820. Nicholas would have been 65 years old by that time, and have been an Island resident for 33 years. It should be noted that there have been numerous different spellings of all German immigrants names at the time. However, although named as Nicholas Jenkins in his will, it was signed "Nikolaus Henckell".

Another Marriage for Nicholas - There has never been anything to back up the tradition that Nicholas was previously married to anyone other than Elizabeth (Betsy) Robinson. The Edwards connection comes from Nicholas Henckel’s son Nicholas Jr.’s first marriage to Mary Edwards, not from Nicholas Senior. Her parents were reportedly James Edwards and Dobson McBriar, whose family came from the Isles of Scilly off the southwest tip of Cornwall, England.

Elizabeth Pfluger Married Lt. Col. Baum - Nothing has been found to date to back up the idea that Nicholas’ wife Elizabeth had been previously married to a German soldier surnamed Baum. She most certainly was never married to Lt. Col. Frederick Baum who was killed in the Battle of Bennington in Aug 1777. This is backed up by court records in Germany where Lt. Col. Baum’s widow, mistress and daughters fought over his estate, with no mention of a wife or child in America. And it is therefore also certain that Nicholas was never married to anyone with either the maiden or married surname of Pfluger, as this name came from a brother-in-law of the Lt. Col.

John & Susannah Born in Hannover - Family tradition has said that Nicholas’ oldest son John was born in Hanover, Germany about 1777, and that daughter Susannah was also born there about 1778 or 1779. We now know that no one in the family was born in Hannover.

Great Old Ages - The great old ages of some of Nicholas and Elizabeth’s children born in PEI contain errors. Some of these came from newspaper articles written either late in life or after some had died. Even the questionnaire answered by William Jenkins in old age contains an error in the year of his own birth. He could not possibly have been born in PEI in 1783, because his parents did not arrive on the Island until 1787. To this day, no church source has ever been found which records either birth or baptism for any of their children born in PEI.

FUTURE:
Where do we go from here? What are some of the major questions still outstanding, and where might we look for answers?

Anna Maria Henckel Birth Records - If Anna Maria Henckel was born to Nicholas and Elizabeth (or Betsy) in New York about 1778, is there a birth record to be found? Might her birth be found under her mother’s name as she and Nicholas were not yet married? She died in 1787, the year the rest of the family emigrated to the Island. William Jenkins, writing some 89 years later in 1876, said that a child named Mary had died on the passage. Since this would have been before William was born, is it possible that he was referring to the story he had heard of Maria dying in 1787, about the time of the passage? And why was she left behind in Treysa, and with whom? At this point we can only speculate that she was already very ill when they were to leave, and that she was left behind in the care of relatives.

Children born in PEI - Where are the records of birth and baptism of any of Nicholas and Elizabeth’s children who were born in PEI?

Relation to Peter Baum - Who are the parents of Peter Baum? And what is his relation to Nicholas and Elizabeth? According to newspaper accounts and court records of August 1792, Peter was a young boy of about 17 at that time. This would have him born about 1775, but where, and to whom? We know there were at one time Baum families living in Treysa, but no connection has yet been made with Peter. Why would 12 year old Peter have been included with Nicholas and Elizabeth’s family when they left Germany in 1787 to settle in PEI? Was he a child of Elizabeth before she met Nicholas?

As is usual in genealogy, for every puzzle you solve there are many unanswered questions remaining. Who among us will be the first with source records to establish answers to any of the questions posed above? If anyone has evidence to dispute the claims above, I would love to see the proof. If you have any ideas for possible means of arriving at these answers, please help the effort by emailing me at demacdonald@pei.sympatico.ca .

Final Day in Treysa

2008-10-09T06:31:00.001-04:00

Inside the Henkel house, Treysa.

In the cellar of the Henkel house, showing the stone vaulted ceiling.

In the cellar showing old winding stone stairway up to the ground floor. Nearby is the former entrance to a tunnel.

We met our new friends again after breakfast on Day 3, and were given photocopies of Treysa church records. These included the marriage of Nicholas’s grandparents Johann Heinrich Henckel and Elizabeth Lotz in 1722, Nicholas’s parents Johann Herman Henckel and Anna Elizabeth Otto in 1752, and the baptism/christening (including birth date) of Nicholas himself in 1755. We were also given copies of some house records from the local Treysa archives. Among these were all owners of the Henkel house from 1623 to the present. This showed Henkel families owning the house continuously from 1730 to 1978. However, these Henkels were Bakers, not Shoemakers. Please see again the reference in the Treysa - Day One posting to the two families of Henkels in Treysa. You will recall that Nicholas’s widowed father remarried when Nicholas was 5 or 6 years old to Susanna Henkel, and that she was one of the "Baker Henkels", thus connecting the two families.

The previous day, our Genealogist friend had shown us a book entitled "Das Tagebuch des Sockenstrickers Johann Valentin Asteroth aus Treysa (1776-1831)". It was the diary of a soldier, born in Treysa, which was kept during the time of the American Revolution. His experiences and details of life as a soldier in Ziegenhain and America, and the journey to and from, would have been almost identical to that of Nicholas. Today, our friend insisted that he give us this book to further help with our research.

Before leaving to visit the town again, we showed a copy of family trees of both Evelyn and I to point out other common German ancestors in our past. These included not only Nicholas Henckel, but also John (Eichorn) Acorn and Peter (Baum) Ballem. As soon as we mentioned Peter Baum, we heard the word "Juden", Jewish. There had indeed been Baum families in Treysa, and that they had been Jewish. We mentioned that 32 year old Nicholas Henckel and family had left Germany for Prince Edward Island, Canada in 1787, and that young Peter Baum, a boy of about 12, was with them. They were quite excited and pleased about the story of a German family helping a young Jewish boy. Later that morning we were given a document for another house in Treysa which had been sold by an Abraham Baum in August 1937, presumably shortly before they left Hitler’s Germany. Our friends were going to dig deeper to see what might be found of any Baum in Treysa about 1787, specifically for any mention of Peter, and a possible reason for a connection between the Baum and Henckel families.

After thanking our friends very much for their help, we set out to see if we could get inside the Henkel house. The ground floor is now a bar, Bistro Copas, and we went in to have a coffee as soon as they opened that morning. The lady did not speak English, but went next door to fetch someone who could. Who should appear but the same man whom we had met each of the previous two days, and who owned the Henkel house. He quickly excused himself, returning with a photo of the interior as it had been before extensive restoration in the 1990s. He also had a flashlight, and proceeded to take us on a tour of the cellar below the house. It had a vaulted stone ceiling and winding stone stairs that had previously lead up to the ground floor. There had also at one time been a tunnel which lead from the cellar though the lower levels of many other buildings down toward the river a great distance away. After taking more photos, he joined us for coffee in the Bistro Copas.

After picking up our luggage at the Hotel Stadt, and a final thanks and farewell, we were off to catch the noon train for Frankfurt and our return home. We cannot say enough about how friendly and helpful the people were that we had met. Without their efforts we still would have had a pleasant visit to the area of our ancestors. But because of how friendly they were and all that they did for us during our short stay, we have gained so much more information about Nicholas, his family, the town of Treysa where he lived, and the fortress of Ziegenhain where he was a soldier, than we might have hoped for. The people, scenery, and history were all first class We have made numerous friends, and hope to visit again. If you ever get a chance to visit Germany, we would highly recommend including a visit to Schwalmstadt if at all possible.

While this visit is finished, the work is not. In the coming days and weeks the information provided in German will be reviewed for additional details on Nicholas, his family, and his community. And the new information will be incorporated into what was previously known to give a revised and updated look at this part of our family. Stay tuned for more updates. Meanwhile, what do you think of the findings so far? Do you have any observations, questions, or suggestions for lines of further research? Please add you comments below, or email to me at demacdonald@pei.sympatico.ca .

Day 2 in Treysa (continued)

2008-10-01T20:49:00.000-04:00

Stadtkirche, Treysa.
Church where generations of Henkels worshipped.

Entrance to Stadtkirche, Treysa.

Hospital of the Holy Ghost, Treysa.

Stadtkirche, Ziegenhain.

Nicholas worshipped here before leaving for war in America in 1776.

Interior of Stadtkirche, Ziegenhain.

Museum der Schwalm, Ziegenhain.

Regimental drums, Museum der Schwalm.
As Regimental Drummer, Nicholas would have drums identical to these.

Following closely on the genealogical update, we were told that the Evangelische Kirche (Protestant Church) in Treysa of the mid 1700s still existed, the Stadtkirche. It had been part of a Dominican cloister since about 1350, but in 1531 Landgrave Philip, in support of the Reformation, converted it to the Protestant parish church. We asked if there was a cemetery connected with the church, hoping to check out the headstones for a Henkel ancestor. The law in Germany, however, permits the reuse of graves after 30 years. People from the same families were usually buried with others in the family plot, so headstones/markers would be of little use after many years.

He told us that he personally knew the last male Henkel, who died about 50 years ago at about 30 years of age, and that the house sold some years later. This, of course, meant that he knew where the Henkels lived, and would take us to the house. It turns out that it is only about 25 meters from the Rathaus (Town Hall), and we had unknowingly taken pictures it of the previous evening. He would also get additional information on the history of the house.

We then went for a short walk to see the Henkel house, take some photos, and then met the current owner who also has a business next door. He was the same man who had helped us find an Internet Café the evening before. After excusing himself for a few minutes, he returned with legal documents of sale of the Henkel house to his family in 1975. Of course, I took photos of those as well. Then it was off to take photos of the church where Nicholas Henkel’s family had worshipped. This was where his grandparents and parents had been married, and where Nicholas’s birth and baptism/christening had been recorded. Then it was off to see the Hospital of the Holy Ghost, a medieval charity institution for the needy, aged and infirm, first mentioned in a document from 1367. Part of it now contains the local Treysa archives, which would be searched for records on the Henkel house.

In the afternoon, Evelyn and I took a taxi to Ziegenhain, the fortress about 5 km from Treysa where Nicholas had been a regimental Drummer. This was also where Nicholas departed in March 1776 headed for war in America, and to which he had returned in 1783 following the war. As the Museum der Schwalm was not to open for about an hour, we headed to the local Information Office. The lady there spoke English, could not have been more friendly, and while giving us a brochure on Ziegenhain, made arrangements for a personalized tour of the town for 4:00 pm. She also said she would deliver a photocopy of some papers on Hessian Troops from Ziegenhain to our hotel that evening.

After taking many more photos around Ziegenhain, we were the first into the Museum der Schwalm. Again, a volunteer spoke English, was most helpful, and after hearing of our connection to the town took us on a personalized tour of the exhibits. Among the displays was one of a shoemaker shop, just as Nicholas would have grown up in under the watchful eye of his Master Shoemaker father Johann Hermann Henkel. Also on display were original regimental drums identical to that used by Nicholas. Local clothing, furniture, handcrafts, etc. were also on display. At 4:00 pm we met our guide, who explained the significance of each of the historical old sites in the town, all of which would have been familiar to Nicholas. Included among those was the Protestant Church within the Fort where Nicholas would have attended services before heading off to war. Then it was time to get a taxi back to Treysa, tired but pleased with all of the information received.

Shortly after this, while going out to take evening photos of the older area of Treysa again, we crossed paths with the lady from the Information Office in Ziegenhain. She had a copy of 7 pages from a story of Hessian Troops from Ziegenhain for us as promised earlier. Without exception, everyone we met in Schwalmstadt either spoke English, or made an effort to help us find someone who could. And being a small town, we kept crossing paths with people we had met before, although we had only been there a little over 24 hours. That the area was not spoiled by flocks of tourists was confirmed when we could find no one who could think of any place to buy a souvenir of the town. (To be continued)

Day Two in Treysa

2008-09-23T20:58:00.000-04:00

Hotel Proprietor and Doug. She made all of the appointments for me. Many thanks.

Genealogist/Historian, Interpreter, and Doug in Treysa. They were extremely helpful. I couldn't have done any of this without them. Thanks again.

Nicholas's Parent's Marriage Record as found in the Church Record Book for Treysa, Germany.

Nicholas Henkel's Birth Record as found in the Church Record Book for Treysa, Germany.

What a difference a day makes!

Contact had been made with a local genealogist/historian, and an interpreter was to meet with Evelyn and I at 9:00 am. In order to keep them from being swamped with requests for research, their names are not included. Not being sure of what to expect, we were encouraged when we were shown a copy of my detailed German letter which had been sent out months before, but with no reply having been received by us. I’m still not sure how he got a copy of it, but very thankful to whoever passed it on to him. He gave us a sheet full of details on Nicholas, his parents, grandparents, their families, and containing more than a few surprises. The interpreter had never been exposed to genealogy before, but the more we talked, the more interested she became in the story, and more excited too. So interested, in fact, that they had to be reminded to include Evelyn and I in the conversation from time to time so we would know what was being said. The following is some of what was revealed:

Johann Heinrich Henckel had come originally to Treysa from Mengshausen/Niederaula, about 30 km east of Treysa. In 1737 he had been listed as a Maurer (Mason) and Tagelöhner (Day Labourer). He had been born about 1700, and buried before 1743. He married in the Stadtkirche, Treysa, in 1722 Elizabeth Lotz, who was buried 13 Oct 1732 aged 32 years. They had the following child:
1. Johann Hermann, born 21 Aug 1727, christened 25 Aug 1727, with Godparent Johann Hermann Walrab [Ref. Treysa Kirchenbuch, p. 54]. Note the German custom of naming the child after the Godparent.

Johann Hermann Henkel, son of Johann Heinrich Henckel and Elizabeth Lotz, was listed in 1770 as a Master Shoemaker, and buried 28 May 1787. He married first 7 May 1752 in the Stadtkirche, Treysa, Anna Elizabeth Otto, born 19 Dec 1718, confirmed 1734, daughter of Andreas Otto and Anna Martha Sohl. Anna Elizabeth must have died before 1760, for he married second 19 Oct 1760 Susanna (nee Henkel), born 1737, confirmed 1751, daughter of Master Baker Johann Wilhelm Henkel. Johann Hermann died in 1787, and Susanna was married second on 13 Jan 1791 to widower, Sockenstr. [translation of italized words uncertain] Adam Korell, son of the Church Warden. Note that there were two distinct families of Henkels living in Treysa, Nicholas’s father being a Master Shoemaker, and his step-mother’s Henkels being Master Bakers. We will refer to this again.

Johann Hermann Henkel and 1st wife Anna Elizabeth Otto had the following children:
1. & 2. Twins ': a girl born dead, and Kunigunde, born 15 Aug 1757, GodParent: White binder Hermann Otto' s daughter. [other child’s name either not included or not legible]
3. Anna Catharina, born 28.01.1753, confirmed 1767, GodParent: Mother’s sister, Schneider Gehrke' s wife. Anna Catharina married 4 Jan 1778 widower Master Shoemaker George Biedebach, son of Peter Biedebach.
4. Nicolaus, born 21 Mar 1755, confirmed 1768, GodParent: Ackerman, Nicolaus Wetzel. [Nicholas would have been 5 years old when his father remarried].

Johann Hermann Henkel and 2nd wife Susanna Henkel had the following children:
5. Martha Elizabeth, born 25 Jul 1761, GodParent: her Mother’s Mother, wife of Wilhelm Henkel.
6. Johann Caspar, born 16 Aug 1763, GodParent: Woolweaver Johann Caspar Bach. Johann Caspar Henkel married M. E. Henkel.
7. Elisabeth, born 03 Nov 1771.

Nicolaus Henkel was listed in 1785 as a Master Shoemaker, der mit [living with?] Mrs. Entwichene. Treysa records say he "married Elizabeth Rapsis (Rappison) of New York (supposed Robinson) with illegitimate child Anna Maria born about 1778 in New York, died 27 Nov 1787 in Treysa, aged 9 years." Nicholas and Elizabeth had the following children born while living in Treysa:
1. Johann Georg, born 13.05.1784, GodParent: Brother-in-Law George Biedebach, Shoemaker, who had married Anna Catharina Henkel, Hermann Henkel' s daughter. [Note: This is the missing birth record for John (Henkel) Jenkins who died in Prince Edward Island 20 Jun 1866].
2. Susanna, born 15 Dec 1785, GodParent: Wagoner Johann Becker' s daughter. [Note: This is the birth record for Susanna (Henkel) Jenkins who died in Prince Edward Island 14 May 1884. Unless the Godparent’s name was Susanna, she might have been named after Nichols’s step-mother].

Andreas Otto was listed in 1690 white binders Wall way 69 (4) born about 1678, buried 09 Nov 1731, were Catholic (killed in the forest by a fallen tree?), married Anna Martha Sohl, who was listed about 1737 as a Midwife. She was born 20 May 1688, buried 22 Feb 1761, daughter of Hans Hermann Sohl and A. G. Friauf. [Now we have Nicholas Great-Grandparents names]. Andreas Otto and Anna Martha Sohl had the following children:
1. Johann Hermann, I born 19 Dec 1712, buried 28 Jan 1759, GodParent: Hans Hermann Sohl.
2. Johann Jacob, born 17 Oct 1714, confirmed1729, GodParent: Andreas’s Father-in-Law’s Son.
3. Anna Catharina, born 04 Sep 1716, GodParent: Ludwig Stephan's wife. She married 07 Apr 1744 Johannes Gerke from Marburg.
4. Anna Elizabeth, born 19 Dec 1718, confirmed 1734, GodParent: Hans Hermann Sohl ' s wife. [KB p.445]. She married 07 May 1752 shoemakers, Johann Hermann Henkel.
5. David, born 08 Aug 1721, GodParent: Andreas’s cousin from.Merzhausen
6. Daniel, born 07 Apr 1723, GodParent: Andreas’s father-in-law
7. Andreas, born 13 Mar 1724, GodParent: Johann Jacob, the brother of Andreas’s wife.
8. Johannes, born 03 Nov 1726, confirmed 1741, GodParent: Wine Owner(?), Johannes Schnödt.
9. Martha Elizabeth, born 21 Aug 1730, GodParent: Blacksmith Christoph Sohl' s wife. She married 24 --- 1753 gewesn. Dragoon Peter Vollprecht, brother-in-law of the Father.
(To be continued)
Please send additional information/comments/questions to Doug at demacdonald@pei.sympatico.ca

In the Land of the Henkels - September 2008

2008-09-20T21:22:00.000-04:00

"Totenkirche" by night

"Totenkirche" (Church of the Dead)

Rathaus, or Town Hall, Treysa

What a wonderful time we had in Treysa (pronounced ‘Try-za’), the town of our ancestors! But it didn’t appear to start out that way.

As mentioned in an earlier entry, my wife Evelyn and I are both descended from Nicholas Henckell who was born there in 1755, and also from Peter Baum. We were not quite sure what to expect as we approached Treysa by train from Frankfurt September 15, 2008. In preparation for the visit I had sent numerous emails to various people, but with little in reply to give us any hope of success. However, upon mid afternoon arrival at Hotel Stadt, the proprietor immediately began to offer assistance, and couldn’t have been more helpful during the entire visit. She tried unsuccessfully to phone everyone we had written. However, it was soon determined that the church records of births, christenings, confirmations, deaths and burials contained in the Evangelische Kirkenbuch for Treysa were located in archives in Kassel. Being late in the day, we set out to take photos of some of the older buildings which would have been there in Nicholas’s time, and to familiarize ourselves with the town.

Later that evening we learned that a meeting had been arranged for early the next morning with someone who might be able to help us. After taking some night photos, we returned to the hotel for the night, wondering if we might find out anything the next day. (to be continued)

German Research Update

2008-08-25T19:40:00.000-04:00

Sorry for not updating this site more often, but I have been quite busy preparing for our visit to Treysa and Ziegenhain. We leave in about a week, and the time since my last entry has been taken up with trying to establish one or more contacts. I have received suggestions from coast to coast on whom I might write, received help to have my letters translated into German, and sent numerous emails and one letter. For all of these efforts I have received only one reply from Germany, and that only saying that they were passing my message on to someone else, from whom I have yet to hear. I'm not sure now if I will even be successful in talking with anyone who might be able to help once I get there. Oh well, just like buying something online, we pay our money (in this case for the trip) and take our chances.

It goes without saying that I will be tying to get in contact personally with any of the people who have been suggested to me that I wrote. I plan to visit the "Museum of the Schwalm" in Ziegenhain, which has on display much of the dress and customs of the people of the area. I also plan to take lots of photos of the older buildings and anything that might have been there when our Nicholas was about. Just generally trying to immerse myself in the place. It will still be interesting, but it would certainly have helped if I had some idea of what kind of reception I might receive while there. Regardless, I will keep you posted on what, if anything, I find out that will be of interest from the trip.

With regards an update on progress re publishing a history of Nicholas (Henckel) Jenkins and his descendants: We now have over 18,700 of his descendants and spouses on file. While as many additions as received are being added, time is mainly being used to improve the accuracy of what we already have, expand on the extensive listing of sources to back up what we have, and make corrections as necessary. Please pass the word that the process is rapidly nearing a point where the decision is made to publish what we have without gathering any more. We have now reached the point of diminishing returns for the additional effort that is being expended. If anyone has anything to contribute, or knows of someone who has, or just wants to know if we have what they have to offer, please email me soon at demacdonald@pei.sympatico.ca . Also, if anyone has old photos at least 90 years old of Jenkins relatives, or any old journals, day books, etc., please let me know so we can arrange to have them scanned for possible inclusion in the book. By the way, it looks now like it will have to be in two volumes and total about 1,000 pages. Any and all assistance to our committee of three (Paulette McNally, Hazel Sanford and me) will be very greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Visit to Treysa & Ziegenhain

2008-05-28T19:30:00.000-04:00

I am digressing from the usual family history for this entry to tell you of something which has been in the planning stages for months, and about which I am really looking forward.

My wife Evelyn and I, both descended from Nicholas Henckel, plan to spend a few days in Treysa and Ziegenhain, Germany, late this Summer. Following a two week tour of some European capitals, we are taking a few extra days on our own to visit the area of our roots, the birthplace of Nicholas, and where the headquarters of his regiment was. The two towns were amalgamated in the 1970s to form a new town of Schwalmstadt.

From previous postings you know that Nicholas lived there for approximately the first 20 years of his life before leaving for America to fight as a Hessian with the British Army during the Revolutionary War. Following the war he returned home with his new wife, stayed there for three to four years, and then immigrated to Prince Edward Island in Canada where we now live. His father was a Master Shoemaker, and Nicholas had also learned the trade. We have discussed references to various dates re his birth, baptism, birth of a child, etc. While there, I hope to get a copy of some of these references to include in an upcoming book on Nicholas and his descendants. I also want to take photos of some of the buildings which would have been around during his time, as well as some general photos of the surrounding area.

To this end I am trying to get a contact person who lives in the area, and who has an interest in family history, local history, or genealogy. Hopefully this person would have some ability in the English language, as my German is non-existant. If anyone reading this can offer some assistance in making such a contact by suggesting such a person, please email me at: demacdonald@pei.sympatico.ca . I will keep you posted here on my plans and progress.

Two More of Nicholas’ Children

2008-02-16T13:10:00.000-04:00

Henry B. Jenkins, son of Nicholas and Elizabeth, was born about 1788 in Vernon River, Lot 49, PEI, never married, and died about 1870. His father’s will left Henry with the farm in Pownal, Lot 49, providing he looked after his mother (who died about two weeks after Nicholas), and paid 40 pounds in currency or the equivalent in produce within three years.

George Jenkins, was born about 1789 in Vernon River, Lot 49, PEI. A conveyance of land from John Cambridge, of 100 acres from Mill Lot (49) "now and for some time in possession of George Jenkins," was recorded 1 August 1809. [PAPEI, Queens County Conveyances, Liber 33, Folio 162]. He was killed, possibly on 30 October 1836, when a hemlock tree being felled by son John and friend Elisha Weatherbie landed on him. "An Island Refuge" says this happened 23 August 1836, Ludlow Jenkins wrote that it happened before George's son Donald was born. He was reported to have been buried in Alexandra Baptist Cemetery, Lot 49, but no headstone now exists.

He married about 1809, possibly in Mount Albion, Lot 48, Margaret Acorn, born 5 November 1790 in Lot 49, daughter of John Acorn and Eleanor Williams, baptized 14 November 1794 by Rev. Theophilus DesBrisay, died 16 October in either 1855 or 1866 in PEI, and probably buried with her husband. They had 11 children as follows:
1. Eleanor Jenkins, born about 1810, died 8 November 1892. She married John Wood 4 October 1831 (by marriage license of 27 September 1831), and had 15 children.
2. John M. Jenkins, born about 1812, died 12 February 1894. He married Charlotte Sophia Murray 21 March 1838 (by license of 16 March 1838), and had 12 children.
3. Mary Jenkins, born about 1814. She married first William Brown 25 July 1842. She married second James Robertson 26 September 1862. No record of any children.
4. Eleanor Magdalene (Layner) Jenkins, born about 1816, died 18 February 1892. She married Donald (Red) Martin, and had 11 children.
5. Margaret Jenkins, born 20 August 1819, died 1880, buried in St. Davids United Cemetery, Georgetown, PEI. She married Elisha Weatherbie 11 April 1838 (by license of 7 April 1838) and had 6 children.
6. Elizabeth Anne Jenkins, born 2 April 1821, died 1874. She married Archibald MacIntosh (Tosh) Munn 5 September 1848 and had 12 children.
7. Nicholas (Curly Nick) Jenkins, born 23 June 1822, died 20 July 1892. He married Ann Brown 9 October 1855 and had 6 children.
8. George Ewen Jenkins, born about 1830, died possibly in Danforth, ME. He married Jeannette (Jane) MacEachern 30 November 1854 (by license of 23 November 1854) and had 9 children.
9. Jane Jenkins, born about 1830, died 1919. She married Daniel Singleton 7 April 1851 and had 8 children.
10. Samuel James Jenkins, born about 1833, died 22 October 1889, buried in Greenswood Cemetery, Jonesport, ME. He married first Margaret Thornton and had 3 children. He married second Lois Mansfield Sawyer 12 December 1866 and had 6 children. He married third Mary Elizabeth (Lizzie) Kelley 12 June 1880 and had 6 children.
11. Donald Jenkins, born 22 March 1836, died 1915, buried in Birch Hill Cemetery, Lot 49, PEI. He married Matilda Coady Sealey 18 January 1865 (by license of 12 January 1865), and had 8 children.

As usual, if you have any corrections or additions, please let me know by email at demacdonald@pei.sympatico.ca

Questionnaire of 1876 to PEI's Oldest Citizens as Answered by William Jenkins

2007-11-19T21:46:00.001-04:00

Nicholas’ Son William

2007-11-19T21:46:00.000-04:00

William Jenkins, son of Nicholas and Elizabeth Jenkins, in answering a questionnaire in 1876 said that he was born "At Mr. Thomas Beer’s Lot 50" in 1783. He said they sailed "In ‘1783' in the Polly - From the United States of America", that they landed in 1783, that "Mary Jenkins Died on the passage", named his father, Nicholas Jenkins, as being the first shoemaker in their area, and said the oldest wayside tavern he knew of belonged to Nicholas Jenkins. But he also said that his brother, James Jenkins, was the first born in their settlement after coming there, possibly meaning that James was the first born in Pownal after relocating from their original home in Vernon River, Lot 49. [Source: PAPEI, Acc. 2702, Series 20, Vol. 296-317, William Jenkins.] [No birth or christening record for William Jenkins has been found. Could it be that William mixed the story of the "Polly" with that of the troop transport ship from Charlottetown to Quebec? Or was the "Polly" the ship that brought the family from New York about 1787 after their arrival back from Germany?] Next door neighbour Peter Praught, born in Lot 50, PEI in 1796, in answering the same questionnaire as William Jenkins in 1876 said the old men and women he remembered were "Nicholas Jenkins and his wife. He was born in Germany. And she was born in New York". [Source: PAPEI, Acc. 2702, Series 20, Vol. 296-317, Peter Praught.]

William Jenkins died in 1880. The Examiner of 1 March 1880 says he died aged 92, which would have him born about 1787. This is about the year of Nicholas and family arriving on the Island from Germany, and is considered possible. Some time before 1810 William married Eleanor Acorn. They lived in Birch Hill, Lot 49, PE on land where the Birch Hill Church of Scotland now stands, and next door to Peter Ballem. A deed dated 20 Feb 1855 transferred 50 acres to son Joseph, William signing and Eleanor marking an 'X'. Another deed dated 1862 signed by William, Eleanor and Benjamin covered sale of land to the Church of Scotland for a church. William and Eleanor had 11 children as follows:
1. Elizabeth Jenkins, born 6 March 1810, died 7 April 1905, buried in Birch Hill Cemetery, Lot 49, PEI. She married Martin Myers 12 March 1831 and had 11 children.

2. Margaret Ann Jenkins, born 20 August 1811, died 1905, buried in Birch Hill Cemetery, Lot 49, PEI. She married James B. Roberts 5 August 1835 and had 7 children.

3. James Gray Jenkins, born 1815, died 6 August 1900, buried in Birch Hill Cemetery, Lot 49, PEI. He married Jane J. Burhoe and had 9 children.

4. William (Billy Dundas) Jenkins, born 1 August 1819, died 15 September 1900. He married Mary Burhoe 18 December 1839 and had 10 children.

5. Henry J. Jenkins, born 28 July 1820, died 23 February 1882, buried in Birch Hill Cemetery, Lot 49, PEI. He married Hannah Jones 30 July 1846 and had 11 children.

6. John Jenkins, born 24 December 1824, died 6 March 1909, buried in Birch Hill Cemetery, Lot 49, PEI. He married first Elizabeth (Betty) Ballem 16 September 1845 and had 10 children. He married second Anna Maria MacLean 21 November 1891 and had 2 children.

7. Joseph Jenkins, born 17 February 1826, died 7 March 1907, buried in Birch Hill Cemetery, Lot 49, PEI. He married Anne MacPherson 7 March 1849 and had 9 children.

8. Sarah Jane Jenkins, born July 1827, died 25 January 1914, buried in Murray River Cemetery, Lot 63, PEI. She married Thomas M. Jenkins 21 November 1848 and had 12 children. Sarah and Thomas were half first cousins (their fathers were half brothers).

9. Benjamin Jenkins, born 4 April 1832, died 19 October 1919, buried in Birch Hill Cemetery, Lot 49, PEI. He married Mary Jane Gay 30 November 1859 and had 13 children.

10. Elinor (Leonore) Jenkins, born 4 June 1835, died 31 March 1929, buried in Birch Hill Cemetery, Lot 49, PEI. She married William Bishop Ballem 31 July 1856 and had 10 children.

11. Nicholas Jenkins, born about 1837 in Birch Hill, Lot 49, PEI.

Nicholas’ Daughter Susannah

2007-09-28T19:04:00.000-04:00

As previously stated, family tradition has said that Nicholas’ daughter Susannah was born about 1778/1779 in Hanover, Germany. The only documentation for this date is in the 1881 Census of Lot 49, PEI where she was listed as aged 102, born in Germany. A search of all church baptismal records at the Stadtarchiv, Hanover for the period 1775-1782 turned up no record for either John or Susannah, in fact for no Henckel at all during that period. [Source: Letter of 31 Aug 1979 from Stadtarchiv, Hanover to Beryl (MacDonald) Barrett] Either her assumed age or place of birth (or both) is probably incorrect, as her father had left home before 3 Mar 1776 for America when only 20 years old.

On 18 December 1785 a daughter, Susanna, was born in Treysa, Germany to Nicolaus Henckel, master shoemaker and his wife Elizabeth nee Robinson, born in New York. One of the witnesses was Susanna Beckmerin. Although Susanna's birth date has been shown to be later than had been previously thought, family lore has said she was born in Germany, and this was recorded in the same town in Hessen Cassel where her father Nicolaus had been born. Thus she would be a product of Nicholas’ second marriage, not his first. Susannah died aged 98 on 14 May 1884, possibly in Greek River, and was buried in Birch Hill Cemetery, Lot 49. Her plot was reportedly surrounded by a wrought iron fence with grave markers attached, which was removed for maintenance in the 1930s and subsequently lost. She is the only child of Nicholas whose date of birth has been found. Susannah was known as "Aunt Sukey" or "Sookey".

Susannah was married some time before 1808 to Thomas Robertson, believed born about 1780, with date of death and parents unknown. They lived in Mount Albion, Lot 48, PEI, and later moved to Greek River, Lot 63. He was a Carpenter and Teacher. When they moved, the house they had built in Mount Albion was used as the first school in the community. They had four children as follows:

1. Nicholas Robertson, born 26 February 1808, died 17 October 1885, and buried in Birch Hill Cemetery, Lot 49, PEI. He married Maria MacPherson 27 December 1831 and had 14 children.

2. Thomas Robertson, born about 1810. He married Sarah Hume 4 March 1840 and had 1 child.

3. James Robertson, born about 1812, died 1895. He married first Mary Murray 1841 and had 7 children. She died 11 August 1857, and James married second Mary Jenkins 26 September 1862, with no issue from this marriage.

4. Eleanor Robertson, born about 1815, died before the 1881 Census. She married James Bishop 30 December 1834 and had 7 children.

As usual, if you have any corrections or additions, please let me know by email at demacdonald@pei.sympatico.ca

Nicholas’ Oldest Son from His first Marriage

2007-09-15T21:25:00.000-04:00

As previously stated, family tradition has said that Nicholas’ oldest son John was born in Hanover, Germany about 1777. A search of all church baptismal records at the Stadtarchiv, Hanover for the period 1775-1782 turned up no record for either John or his sister Susannah. In fact for no Henckel at all during that period in Hanover. [Source: Letter of 31 Aug 1979 from Stadtarchiv, Hanover to Beryl (MacDonald) Barrett]. As Nicholas had left Ziegenhain, Germany 3 March 1776 at age 20, it is highly unlikely that John was born in Germany, but more probably in New York or Pennsylvania. No birth or christening records have been found to date anywhere.

According to Ludlow Jenkins, John lived for a short while in Mount Albion, Lot 48, PEI before moving to Seal River, Lot 49 and finally to Alberry Plains, Lot 50. A land conveyance of 70 acres on Township #49 from David Gay to John Jenkins was dated 2 May 1808 and registered 3 May 1808. [Liber 13, Folio 419] There must have been some animosity between John and his father, for when Nicholas died John was left only "five shillings should he demand it". The "Examiner" of 16 July 1866 said John died 20 June in Lot 49 after some years illness aged 89 years.

John married Christene Anne MacGregor, born 1788 (probably in Nova Scotia), daughter of John MacGregor, and died 1866 in PEI. Their burial place is unknown. They had 8 children as follows:

1. Catherine Jenkins, born about 1811, died 2 October 1883, and buried in Murray Harbour South Cemetery, Lot 64, PEI. She married Obediah White 24 December 1831 and had 9 children.

2. John J. Jenkins, born about 1816, died 29 January 1883, and buried in Union Cemetery, Union Road, Lot 51, PEI. He married Mary Mellish 24 February 1842 and had 7 children.

3. Elizabeth Ann Jenkins, born about 1817, died 19 May 1879, and buried in Murray Harbour South Cemetery, Lot 64, PEI. She married John Hooper 4 July 1839 and had 8 children.

4. George E. Jenkins, born 5 August 1819, died 9 April 1898, and buried in Birch Hill Cemetery, Lot 49, PEI. He married Susannah Marie Hawkins 9 October 1850 and had 8 children.

5. Thomas M. Jenkins, born 28 January 1821, died 28 January 1892, and buried in Murray River Cemetery, Lot 63, PEI. He married Sarah Jane Gray Jenkins 21 November 1848 and had 12 children. Thomas and Sarah were half first cousins (their fathers were half brothers).

6. Caroline Hayden Jenkins, born 1822, died 9 May 1919, and buried in Birch Hill Cemetery, Lot 49, PEI. She never married, lived with her brother George, and died at the home of nephew Giles Jenkins in Millview.

7. William Jenkins, born about 1824. He reportedly left PEI to possibly go to New York or out West.

8. Isabella Jenkins, born 13 April 1831, died 30 October 1898, and buried in Lower Montague United cemetery, Lot 59, PEI. She married James I. Phillips 4 March 1861 and had 3 children.

As usual, if you have any corrections or additions, please let me know by email at demacdonald@pei.sympatico.ca

Another Go At Births and Ages

2007-09-03T12:38:00.000-04:00

The following appeared in the newspaper Examiner, Charlottetown, PEI, in the 1 March 1880 edition [adjacent to the obituary of Catherine (Jenkins) Mutlow]
"A long lived family. - a notice of a death which appears in our column has induced us to make enquiries respecting a family remarkable for their great age to which its members have attained. Nicholas Jenkins and his wife emigrated to this Island from Germany about the year 1782 with three children. They settled first at Vernon River and removed after a short stay to Cherry Valley, from which place they came to Pownal, where they resided to the day of their death. After coming to the Island seven children were born to them, some of whom are still living. Nicholas Jenking [sic] the father died at 76. His wife 75, John Jenkins 90, George accidently killed 51, Susannah is still alive aged 100, William died at 92, Nicholas 90, Catherine 91, James still alive aged 88, Henry died at 81, Elizabeth 86 and Leanor 72."

This article, obviously taken from hearsay, appears to contain many errors. For instance: Nicholas Jenkins and his wife emigrated to this Island from Germany about the year 1787 with three children [John and Susanna (Henckel) Jenkins and Peter (Baum) Ballem].

Nicholas Jenkins the father, born 28 March 1755, died 15 July 1823, would have been aged 68 years 3 months 18 days.
Elizabeth his wife, birth date unknown, died 29 July 1823, was probably not 7 years older than Nicholas.
John Jenkins, birth date and place unknown, died 20 June 1866, if born about 1777 would have been 90.
Susannah, born 18 Dec 1785, died 14 May 1884 aged 98 years, would have been 94 in 1880, not 100.
George, birth date unknown, was accidently killed 30 Oct 1836, but if at age 51 would have been born about 1785 when the family was still living in Germany.
William, birth date in PEI unknown, if died at 92 earlier in 1880 would have been born about 1787, about the year of their arrival on the Island. Considered possible.
Nicholas, birth date in PEI unknown, died 1877, if died aged 90 would have been born about 1787. Considered possible.
Catherine, birth date in PEI unknown, died 10 Feb 1880, if died aged 91 would have been born about 1788. Considered possible.
Henry, birth date in PEI unknown, died about 1870, if died at 81 would have been born about 1789. Considered possible.
James, birth date in PEI unknown, died 24 Feb 1877, if aged 88 in 1880, would have been born about 1791. Considered possible.

Many of you have wondered before about the ages in that newspaper article. Has anybody thought of how it should have read? What are the actual birth dates of Nicholas' children? How old were they really at death? Can anyone help? If you don't wish to post a comment for everyone to see, perhaps you might email me on any of the postings at demacdonald@pei.sympatico.ca . Look forward to hearing from you.

Nicholas’ Wife Elizabeth Was Mother of Peter Ballem; But Who Was Her First Husband?

2007-08-29T10:46:00.000-04:00

To begin, the surname Ballem (or Ballum) was probably originally spelled Baum, which is German for tree. Correct pronunciation is indicated by the most common early spelling variation as Bollum. Since the name was changed from Baum to the contrived forms Ballem or Ballum by Peter Baum following his arrival in Prince Edward Island (PEI), it has been assumed in the past that all of that name are descended from him. While the name Ballem is relatively uncommon, there are some by that name who do not appear to be descended from our Peter. Massachusetts Vital Records contain a number of families with spellings Ballem, Ballum, and Ballam. Places of birth include Boston, Duxbury and Cambridge (MA), Arichat (NS), Ireland and Russia. In PEI the name has predominantly been spelled Ballem in Queens County, while two of Peter's sons, George Malcolm and John, relocated to western Prince County where John's descendants use the spelling Ballum.

As to the identity of Peter's father and his place of birth, family tradition has been as follows. Young Peter arrived in PEI with his mother and her new husband Nicholas Henckel in the 1780's. An October 1937 letter from Priscilla Jane (Ballem) Loring to her son Malcolm says that her father William Bishop Ballem, age 39 years when Peter died, "used to tell that his great grandfather's name was Charles Ballem, Captain of an American Army. His men all got in behind the wall, the gate was closed; he climbed the wall and was shot by a British sentry." In a December 1937 letter to Priscilla from George Wallace Ballem, age 8 years when Peter died, he said Peter's father was "William Ballem, born in Amsterdam, Holland, don't know his age, was shot in the Battle of Brandywine, 1777. He was a sharpshooter in that battle" during the American Revolution. The Battle of Brandywine was fought 11 September 1777 at Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, about 40 km southwest of Philadelphia, and involved 18,000 British against 11,000 Americans. It has also been said that Peter’s father was Lt. Col. Friedrick Baum, who died at the Battle of Bennington on the New York/Vermont border in August 1777. Peter’s mother Elizabeth, maiden name unknown, was thought to have been born about 1747. She, young son Peter, and a daughter possibly named Mary, were said to have sailed from Amsterdam to New York to join him, but upon arrival found that he had recently been killed in battle. She reportedly took out a land grant, available to those who were loyal to the Crown, and arrived at the Island of St. John (now PEI) to settle about 1777. The daughter is believed to have been sent back to Germany to live with relatives as nothing more is known about her.

From these conflicting stories based on family tradition, we turn next to German and American Revolutionary War source documents. The possibility that Peter's father was the Hessian officer Lt. Colonel Samuel Frederick Baum who died as a result of the Battle of Bennington in August 1777 has been dismissed by Mrs. Beryl (MacDonald) Barrett, a Certified Genealogist. Research in Germany has found that Lt. Col. Baum had both wife and mistress who, along with his daughters, vigorously contested his will in Germany for many years. This resulted in many public documents, none of which establishes any link with either a son Peter or a wife Elizabeth. Also, except for Lt. Col. Baum, there were no others of that name at the Battle of Bennington. However, records list a Lt. (later Captain) Jacob Baum, a Sergeant Bernhard Baum, a Grenadier Johannes Baum, and a Private Henrich Baum. Not enough is known about any of them at this time, but this gives us possible leads for future research. There has yet to be found any mention of a Charles or William Baum which might provide a link with those names mentioned in family tradition.

The possibility exists that Elizabeth’s first husband, Peter’s father, had arrived in America prior to 1776 and the beginning of the Revolution. He could have been among the German settlers of Pennsylvania or New York. However, to date no record of marriage or birth to provide a link to our Peter has been found. A book titled Descendants of Frederick Baum of New York State by Mrs. Clayton C. Baum of Cortland, NY says this Frederick Baum was born 24 October 1758 in Oppenhein, Montgomery County, NY and died there 16 October 1843. A Phillipp Baum, born in Holland and believed to be Frederick's brother, arrived in the United States aboard the ship Hampshire on 7 September 1748 and settled near what is now Canajoharie, Montgomery County. L. Frank Baum, born in the same area and a descendant of Phillipp, was the author of Wizard of Oz and other books. This indicates there were others by the name Baum living in New York state before, during and after the American Revolution.

Can anyone help add to this? It is a great puzzle which has not yet been solved.

Treysa & Ziegenhain Photos

2007-08-20T12:29:00.000-04:00

Modern map showing Schwalmstadt, Germany, with Treysa on the left and Ziegenhain to the right. They were amalgamated in 1970, along with some outlying villages, to form Schwalmstadt. Nicholas was born in Treysa, and served in the army from Ziegenhain. (click on the photos to enlarge them)

Ziegenhain, Germany. It was here that Nicholas became a soldier, and departed from here for America on 3 March 1776 as Drummer in the von Knyphausen Regiment. He was also discharged from the regiment here in April 1785.

Steinerne Haus, Ziegenhain, much as it would have been when Nicholas was there.

Schuhmacher, or shoemaker, shop in Treysa. Young Nicholas would have learned the trade from his father Johan Hermann Henckel, who was a Master Shoemaker, before becoming a soldier. In addition to farming, Nicholas also did leather work in PEI.

Tor zur Schwalm in Treysa, Germany. Nicholas was born in Treysa 28 March 1775. Many buildings such as this are as they were when Nicholas lived there.

A 1954 photo of the Rathaus restaurant in Treysa.

Nicholas Jenkins and the Island Census of 1798

2007-08-14T08:52:00.000-04:00

Copy from History of Prince Edward Island, by Duncan Campbell, published by Bremner Brothers, Charlottetown, PEI, in 1875, p. 215.

The oldest surviving British Census of what is now Prince Edward Island is that of 1798. The only surviving source of this census is incomplete, and contained in a History of Prince Edward Island, by Duncan Campbell, published by Bremner Brothers, Charlottetown, PEI, in 1875. On page 215 it includes a line with the following information:
Lot 49 - Nicks. Jenkins, 6 males under 16 yrs, 1 male 16 to 60, 3 females under 16, 1 female 16 to 60.
It has always been a puzzle as to which family members were included in this census, and how they might fit into the age groupings as listed. The following presents what is confirmed by quality sources, information based on family tradition, and some educated guesses to help fill in the blanks. Any suggested sources of further research, corrections, expansions and improvements is both welcomed and encouraged

We have read previously that on 3 March 1776 the Regiment von Knyphausen departed the garrison at Ziegenhain, Germany. Regimental Drummer Nicolaus Henckel would have been aged 20 years & 11 months at the time. It is considered unlikely that he would have been already married.

Family tradition has said that Nicholas’ oldest son John was born in Hanover, Germany about 1777. A search of all church baptismal records at the Stadtarchiv, Hanover for the period 1775-1782 turned up no record for either John or his sister Susannah. In fact for no Henckel at all during that period in Hanover. [Source: Letter of 31 Aug 1979 from Stadtarchiv, Hanover to Beryl (MacDonald) Barrett] As Nicholas had left Ziegenhain, Germany 3 March 1776, it is highly unlikely that John was born in Germany, but more probably in New York or Pennsylvania. No birth or christening records have been found to date anywhere.

Family lore has also said that daughter Susannah from Nicholas’ first marriage was born in Hanover, Germany about 1778 or 1779. The only documentation for this date is long after the fact in the 1881 Census of Lot 49, PEI where she was listed as aged 102, born in Germany. As noted above, a search of all church baptismal records at the Stadtarchiv, Hanover for the period 1775-1782 turned up no record for either John or Susannah. Either her assumed age or place of birth (or both) is/are probably incorrect, due to when we know Nicholas left Germany for America.

We have also read previously that on 27 October 1779 five officers and 200 Hessian soldiers commanded by Col. Heinrich Borck of the Regiment Knyphausen aboard the transport Archer arrived at Charlotte Town in Saint Johns Island (PEI). Nicholas then would have been aged 24 years & 7 months. Source documents have been found that shows at least two of the men who had been in PEI that winter of 1779 through June of 1780, Weckesser [Vickerson], and Fischer [Fisher], had returned to Germany in 1783, had been discharged from the Regiment at Ziegenhain in Hessen as Nicholas had, and later returned to live out their lives in PEI. They had both come from the same area in the Schwalm Valley where Nicholas had been born.

We have also read previously that on 27 July 1783 a Nicholas Henkle was married to Betsey Robinson in the Presbyterian Church, Jamaica, Long Island, NY by Rev. Matthias Burnet. [Source: Manuscript owned by the Long Island Historical Society of Brooklyn, NY, copied by Josephine C. Frost (Mrs. Samuel Knapp Frost), Brooklyn, NY, 1914] No other information was given other than the date of the marriage and the names of the bride and groom. This would have been less than a month before Nicholas departed for Germany after the War. Nicholas would then have been aged 28 years & 4 months.

At the end of the Revolutionary War, the soldiers of the Regiment von Knyphausen sailed for Germany on 15 August 1783. They arrived back in the garrison city of the Regiment, Ziegenhain on 16 October 1783.

Family tradition has said Nicholas Jenkins first settled in Vernon River, Lot 49, in 1783, about where St. Joachims Roman Catholic Church later stood. However, this most probably happened after December 1785 and before November 1787 as we shall see. A search by Paulette McNally at the PEI Archives of Military Muster Rolls from 14 June 1783 to September 1784, and of Loyalist land grants 1783-1786, turned up no reference to any Henckel or Jenkins in the Island.

William Jenkins, son of Nicholas and Elizabeth Jenkins, wrote in 1876 in response to a questionnaire that he was born “At Mr. Thomas Beer’s Lot 50" in 1783. He said the family had sailed “In ‘1783' in the Polly - From the United States of America”. He said they landed in 1783, that “Mary Jenkins Died on the passage”, named his father, Nicholas Jenkins, as being the first shoemaker in their area, and said the oldest wayside tavern he knew of belonged to Nicholas Jenkins. But he also said that his brother, James Jenkins, was the first born in their settlement after coming there, possibly meaning that James was the first born in Pownal after relocating from their original home in Vernon River, Lot 49, to Cherry Valley, Lot 50, and shortly after to
Pownal, Lot 49. [Source: PAPEI, Acc. 2702, Series 20, Vol. 296-317, William Jenkins] No birth or christening record for William Jenkins has yet been found. Could it be that William mixed the story of the Polly with that of the troop transport ship from Charlottetown to Quebec? Or was this Polly the ship that brought the family from New York about 1787 after their arrival back from Germany? Next door neighbour Peter Praught , born in Lot 50, PEI in 1796, in answering the same questionnaire as William Jenkins, in 1876 said the old men and women he remembered were “Nicholas Jenkins and his wife. He was born in Germany. And she was born in New York”. [Source: PAPEI, Acc. 2702, Series 20, Vol. 296-317, Peter Praught] This appears to support Nicholas’ marriage to Betsy Robinson in Long Island, NY.

Henry B. Jenkins, son of Nicholas and Elizabeth Jenkins, born about 1784 in Lot 49, PEI. This is only a previously assumed date; no birth or christening record has yet been found.

George Jenkins, son of Nicholas and Elizabeth Jenkins, born about 1785 in Lot 49, PEI. This is also only a previously assumed date; no birth or christening record has yet been found.

Nikolaus Henckel's military records show him taking furlough or discharge from Regiment von Knyphausen at Ziegenhain, Germany in April 1785, further strengthening the idea that he had returned to Germany in 1783. [Source: HETRINA III, no. 7424]

On 18 December 1785, a daughter Susanna was born in Treysa, Germany to “Nicolaus Henckel, master shoemaker, and his wife Elizabeth nee Robinson of New York born”. Witnesses were Susanna Beckmerin, and another illegible name. Although Susanna's birthdate has been shown to be later than had been previously thought (based solely on what someone had given in the 1881 Census), family lore has said she was born in Germany. This birth was recorded in the same town in Hessen Cassel where her father had been born, although she would be a product of Nicholas’ second marriage, not his first.

Nicholas Jenkins, son of Nicholas and Elizabeth Jenkins, born about 1787 in Lot 49, PEI. This is also only a previously assumed date; no birth or christening record has yet been found.

One other very interesting piece of information was found regarding Nicholas and Elizabeth Henckel which adds to the mystery of this family. Listed in Treysa, Germany under "Buriels 1787" was this:
27 November 1787 - “Anna Maria of the absconded citizen and Master Shoe Maker Nicholaus Henkel and also absconded wife Elizabeth nee Ropison (Robison) born in New York, once living there [NY?] with illegitimate child, died on 27 November at 1pm, 9 years old.”
It should be mentioned that in the same month many young children and adults had died as though there was some kind of an epidemic. A 9 year old child would have been born about 1778 when Nicholas was in Pennsylvania or New York. It could be assumed that it was their illegitimate child that they brought back with them to Germany in the Fall of 1783. Susannah was born in 1785, so sometime between December1785 and November of 1787 Nicholas and Elizabeth had left (or absconded) Treysa, probably for the Island.

Catherine Jenkins, daughter of Nicholas and Elizabeth Jenkins, born about 1788 in Lot 49, PEI. This is also only a previously assumed date; no birth or christening record has yet been found.

About 1792 Nicholas and family moved to Cherry Valley, Lot 50, PEI. [Source: Examiner, Charlottetown, 1 March 1880. Name spelled Nicholas “Jenking”, other errors as to date of arrival, number of children, ages, etc.] This begs the question of when Nicholas and family relocated from Vernon River to Cherry Valley then Pownal. Was it after the birth of Catherine and before that of James?

James Jenkins, son of Nicholas and Elizabeth Jenkins, born about 1792 in Lot 49, PEI. This is also only a previously assumed date; no birth or christening record has yet been found.

On 2 August 1792 the trial of Joseph Farrow from Vernon River Settlement was reported. He had been charged three days earlier with the rape of a 12 or 13 year old girl from the community, “a small boy of about 17 being eye witness to the whole transaction”. This witness was 17 year old Peter Bollam, whose testimony helped convict the accused, resulting in the ...“first execution that ever took place in this Island”. [Source: PAPEI, Royal Gazette and Miscellany of the Island of Saint John, Charlottetown, 2 August 1792, p. 4] Family tradition has always said Peter Ballem was the son of Nicholas’ second wife Elizabeth by her first husband, a Hessian soldier who died during the Revolutionary War. But more of this in a future entry.

Elizabeth Jenkins, daughter of Nicholas and Elizabeth Jenkins, born about 1792 in Lot 49, PEI. This is also only a previously assumed date; no birth or christening record has yet been found.

Magdalene (Laney) Jenkins, daughter of Nicholas and Elizabeth Jenkins, born about 1792 in Lot 49, PEI. This is also only a previously assumed date; no birth or christening record has yet been found.

On 1 February 1796, 100 acres of land in Pownal, Lot 49 was transferred from Ann Clark to “Nicholas Jenkins” for 50 Pounds lawful money of the Island of Saint John, but it was signed by “Nicolaus Henckell”.

In April 1798 he is listed as Nicks. Jenkins, Head of Family on Lot No. 49 in the first surviving census of PEI: “A Return of the Inhabitants on the Island of Saint John, taken in April 1798, by order of His Excellency Governor Fanning.......” The family consisted of seven males (six under 16 years of age and one between 16 to 60) and four females (three under 16 and one between the ages of 16 and 60) for a total of 11 people. This would indicate that Nicholas’ son John Jenkins (then about 21) and Elizabeth’s son Peter Ballem (then about 23) were living elsewhere at the time. However, the only known source of this census is incomplete and does not list them elsewhere on the Island.

Further Questions and Research Suggestions:
Regarding a previous marriage for Nicholas: A search of marriage records in Ziegenhain, Germany from 1760 to 1830 turned up no marriage record for any Nikolaus Henckel. [Source: Letter of 30 Nov 1981 from Evangelisch Reformierte Kirchengemeinde Ziegenhain to Beryl (MacDonald) Barrett, Charlottetown, PE]

Is Susannah's date of birth wrong in family tradition, and/or is her place of birth wrong?

Where was Nicholas' first wife when their children were born and who was she? A few wives traveled with their husbands from Hessen to America and were even among the prisoners at Trenton, but it is doubtful that many soldiers traveled back and forth to Germany to visit their wives.

The exact date Nicholas Henckel arrived in PEI has always been in question.

Peter Bollam (Ballem/Baum) was the son of Nicholas’ second wife by her first husband, unknown Baum, so 2 August 1792 is the earliest documented evidence of Nicholas and family on the Island, and places them in the Vernon River Settlement. It should also be noted that based on Peter’s age in 1792, he would have been born about 1775, and at his death 24 January 1874 he would have been about 99, a more believable age than that of 106 as per his headstone.

According to tradition, Nicholas’ first two children were born of his first marriage. As discussed earlier, tradition also states that the two children arrived in PEI with their father, his second wife, and her son, Peter Ballem about 1783. She was a widow named Elizabeth Baum (Ballem) whose husband was said to have been killed in 1776 or 1777 in the American Revolution. Both Nicholas' children were said to have been born in Germany. The 1881 Census of P.E.I, lists Suzannah as being 102 years old (which would mean that she was born ca. 1779), born in Germany, and living with her son James Robertson, a farmer on Lot 49.

The years of birth and order of birth of Nicholas and Elizabeth’s children born in PEI have always been subject to speculation, especially in relation to who might have been included in the April 1798 Census. No birth records have yet been found, with ages at death often based only on those presented by Ludlow Jenkins in 1938 newspaper articles under the heading “Old Times South of the Hillsboro”which were known to have included inaccuracies.

Now to a possible family configuration for Nicholas (Henckel) Jenkins, with birth order modified to fit 1798 Census (followed by their age as it would have been in 1798).
With first wife, unknown:
1. John, born ca. 1777 in NY; died 20 Jun 1866 aet 89 years [Examiner, 16 Jul 1866] (20-21 yrs)
2. Mary, born ca 1779 in NY; died ca. 1788 on passage to PEI (Deceased)
With second wife Elizabeth Robinson, married 27 Jul 1783 in Long Island, NY:
1. Susannah, born 18 Dec 1785 in Treysa, Germany; died 14 May 1884 age 99 years? (12 yrs)
2. Nicholas, born 1787 (poss. enroute to PEI?); died 1877 in PEI age 90 years. (10-11 yrs)
3. William, born ca. 1788 in PEI; died 1877 age 92 years (89 years) (9-10 yrs)
4. James, born ca. 1792; died after 1880. (age 88 years old in 1880) (5-6 yrs)
5. Catherine, born ca. 1793 in PEI; died 10 Feb 1880 age 85 years. (4-5 yrs)
6. Elizabeth, born ca. 1794 in PEI; died 1879 age 85 years? (3-4 yrs)
7. George, born ca. 1795 in PEI; died 30 Aug 1836 age 41 years? (2-3 yrs)
8. Magdalene, born ca. 1797 in PEI; died 1858 age 66 years (per headstone, not b. 1792) (0/1 yr)
9. Henry, born ca. 1799 in PEI; died ca. 1880 age 81 years? (Not born yet)

Also: Peter Ballem, born ca. 1775 (about 17 yrs old in Aug 1792) (22-23 yrs)

PEI Census of April 1798
Only Existing Source: History of Prince Edward Island, by Duncan Campbell, pub. by Bremner Brothers, Charlottetown, PEI, 1875, p. 215.

Lot 49 - Nicks. Jenkins, 6 males under 16 yrs, 1 male 16 to 60, 3 females under 16, 1 female 16 to 60.

Possible children in this Census (based on current information) included:
Nicholas Jr., William, James, George, Henry, Susannah, Catherine, Elizabeth
Did they have another male child (under 16 in 1798) who died young?

John (Henckel) Jenkins (age 20 or 21) and Peter (Baum) Ballem (age 22 or 23) probably not living at home in 1798.

Is this possible? Is it probable? Do you agree, disagree, or have another theory?
Please let me know so among us we might finally sort this out.

Nicholas Henckel’s Military Record

2007-08-11T20:54:00.000-04:00

von Knyphausen Regiment Uniform

1755 - Nikolaus Henckel's military records give two different dates for his birth in Treysa (now part of Schwalmstadt), Germany. One date shown is 1754/55 and the other is 1756/57. [Source: HETRINA III, no. 7420 & 7424]
28 March 1755 - Nikolaus Henckel was born in Treysa, Germany to Johannes Hermann Henckel, citizen and shoemaker and Mother, Anna Elisabeth nee Ott according to the Treysa parish records. [Source: Lutheran Kirchenbuch, Treysa, Germany] The records show the father of Nicolaus as being born in Treysa.
April 1775 - Nicolaus’ military records show that he joined his regiment in Germany. He was listed as a Tambour (drummer) in the 3rd Company (von Minnigerode Company) of the Hessen-Kassel Regiment von Knyphausen. [Source: HETRINA III, no. 7420, entered April 1775]
3 March 1776 - Regiment von Knyphausen departed the garrison at Ziegenhain (now part of Schwalmstadt), Germany.
15-17 April 1776 - Embarked Port of Bremerlehe (now Bremerhaven) on board the Claudina for Portsmouth, England. By 26 April there were about 8,000 troops assembled.
6 May 1776 - Sailed from Portsmouth, England for America.
12 August 1776 - Arrived off Sandy Point, Long Island.
August 1776 - Regiment von Knyphausen fought at Long Island [Source: Clifford Neal Smith Monograph No 3]
October 1776 - Regiment von Knyphausen fought at White Plains, NY [Source: Clifford Neal Smith Monograph No 3]
November 1776 - Regiment von Knyphausen fought at Fort Washington [Source: Clifford Neal Smith Monograph No 3]
26 Dec 1776 - Regiment von Knyphausen fought at Trenton, NJ; the Regiment’s only loss; Nikolaus Henckel taken prisoner.. [Source: HETRINA III, no. 7421, entered Feb 1777]
27 December 1776 - Nikolaus was on the List of Prisoners taken directly to Lancaster, Pennsylvania after the Battle of Trenton. Nikolaus Henckel and Henrich Heinman (of Company 5 of the Rall Regiment) were held as a prisoners by Christopher Kucher of Lebanon, Pennsylvania. [Sources: HETRINA III, no. 7421, entered Feb 1777; JJSHA Vol 3, No. 1, p. 12; Johannes Schwalm the Hessian, p. 234] Kucher was a flour miller on the Quittapahilla Creek in Lebanon, whose family had lived there since 1732. [Source: "The Mills of the Quittapahilla", by Henry S. Heilman, 1903] "The Hessian View Of America 1776-1783" a 'List of Hessian Prisoners Who Went Out To Work and Names of Their Employers' states on p 10 that 868...Hessians who were captured at Trenton, December 26, 1976 were marched to Pennsylvania-Dutch country. Many were confined in camps only a short time. Beginning September 10, 1777, and continuing through November 20, 397 prisoners were released to work for civilians.....most worked ....Lancaster, Lebanon, Reading and York.
21 June 1778 - Nicolaus Henckel, on list of prisoners included in the march to Philadelphia for exchange. [Source: HETRINA III, no. 7422] He was later sent back to rejoin his unit in New York. They built huts for the winter about six miles from the city. [Source: "Journal of the Fusilier Regiment von Knyphausen kept by Lt. Ritter; English translation from Harriet Irving Library, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB, p. 61]
September 1779 - Troops made up of the von Knyphausen regiment were being sent in transport ships to Quebec to help quell any uprising that might occur. There was concern that the French residents of Quebec might join with the forces sent from France who were aiding the Americans. On their trip from New York to Quebec the convoy of transports encountered a storm, and also the enemy, in the form of privateers. Two of the ships, Molly and Triton, were lost by being battered in the storm and the men aboard were captured by the privateers. [Source: "Journal of the Fusilier Regiment von Knyphausen kept by Lt. Ritter; English translation from Harriet Irving Library, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB, pp. 67-69]
27 October 1779 - Five officers and 200 Hessian soldiers commanded by Col. Heinrich Borck of the Regiment Knyphausen aboard the transport Archer arrived at Charlotte Town in Saint Johns Island (Prince Edward Island, Canada). The Archer had made its way safely to the Island by way of Nova Scotia and through the Strait of Canso. They had been on their way to Quebec when it was thought that the ship, after encountering a storm, was not safe enough to continue. [Source: "Journal of the Fusilier Regiment von Knyphausen kept by Lt. Ritter; English translation from Harriet Irving Library, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB, pp. 71-73]
16 June 1780 - The remnants of the Knyphausen Regiment left Charlotte Town on the brig Polly, arriving at Quebec City 29 June 1780. [Source: "Journal of the Fusilier Regiment von Knyphausen kept by Lt. Ritter; English translation from Harriet Irving Library, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB, pp. 76-77]
October 1781 - The remnants of the Knyphausen Regiment, including Nicolaus Henckel, left Quebec City and wintered in Halifax, NS.
Spring 1782 - The remnants of the Knyphausen Regiment which wintered in Halifax returned to New York.
27 July 1783 - A Nicholas Henkle was married to Betsey Robinson in the Presbyterian Church, Jamaica, Long Island, NY by Rev. Matthias Burnet. [Source: Manuscript owned by the Long Island Historical Society of Brooklyn, NY, copied by Josephine C. Frost (Mrs. Samuel Knapp Frost), Brooklyn, NY, 1914]
15 August 1783 - At the end of the Revolutionary War, the soldiers of the Regiment von Knyphausen sailed for Germany.
16 October 1783 - Regiment von Knyphausen arrived back in the garrison city of the Regiment, Ziegenhain.
April 1785 - Nikolaus Henckel's military records show him taking furlough from his Regiment, but nothing has been found to tell us when or if Nikolaus was ever discharged. [Source: HETRINA III, no. 7424]

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NICHOLAS JENKINS
After the American Revolution many Loyalist refugees and disbanded troops fled north, some coming to New Brunswick via Saint John and numbers arriving at Shelburne, Nova Scotia. These new settlers were industrious, home-loving people who would make excellent settlers to fill the expanses of empty land on the Island of St. John. With this thought in mind Governor Patterson offered Loyalists and Disbanded Troops free land if they would come to the Island to settle.
It appears that NICHOLAUS HENCKELL may have been in the Hessian regiment of Knyphausen en route to Quebec from New York in the fall of 1779 when ice conditions prevented the ship from reaching Quebec City. They put into the Island of St. John, where these Hessians under Col. Henn de Borch stayed until June 1780, according to John Stewart in an Account of P.E.I.
From the will of Nicholaus Henckell written and signed on 23 November 1818, we learn that he was known there as Nicolas Jenkins, an anglicized pronounciation of the German name. Nicholas' will is interesting in the light it sheds on the times in which he lived. To his four daughters, "Suzannah, Catherine, Elizabeth and Lenah, (he left) Two Good Merchantable Cows and four Sheep each of them". To his wife he left the farm "during her widowhood or if she does not marry during her Natural life. She was to live with their son Henry, who was to have it after her death. At that time Henry was to pay to his brothers "George, William, Nicholas, and James the sum of Forty Pounds Currency Each ... But as Cash is hard to be got in this Island I desire that it may be paid in the produce of the Country... so that it will not distress my son Henry". To his son John he left "five shillings if he demands it".
It appears that Nicholas settled first in Vernon River, just north-west of the present Roman Catholic Church, according to an undated map at the Public Archives of Prince Edward Island. Some say he then moved to Cherry Valley. We find that he moved to Pownal in 1796 when he bought one hundred acres in Lot 49 from Ann Clarke. From a map of that area in 1810 we see that he had 100 acres next to Frederick Fraught. He owned the Tavern "The Black Bull" in that area.
In the Census of 1798 for Lot 49, "Nicks Jenkins" appears with eleven in the household, one male and one female whose ages were between sixteen and sixty and six males and three females under sixteen.
Many legends exist among the desendants of Nicholas and Elizabeth and often they are conflicting. Little documentation has been found before 1798. It is said that Nicholas Jenkins came here with two children, a son John born c. 1777 and a daughter Susannah born c. 1780 in Germany, according to the 1881 Census. There is no known record of their mother's name, although one legend is that she was a Jenkins from the Scilly Islands. In support of this story would appear to be the fact that one child in each succeeding generation was nicknamed "Skilly".
Tradition says that Nicholas Jenkins married c. 1783 "the Widow" Elizabeth Baum (Ballem) whose husband was killed in 1776 or 1777 in the American Revolution, leaving her with two children, a son, Peter, born c. 1768, and a daughter who was supposed to have been sent back to Germany to be raised in Elizabeth's family.
Nicholas and Elizabeth had eight more children. However, no documentation can be found for their birth dates. Elizabeth Baume (Henckell) Jenkins and Nicholas died two weeks apart; he on 15 July, 1823 and she on 30 July, 1823. According to the burial records for Charlotte Parish, they were buried in the Elm Avenue Cemetery, but no stone exists.
(From an article submitted October 2004 by Douglas B. MacDonald and Beryl Barrett for inclusion in the book "An Island Refuge: Loyalist and Disbanded Troops on the Island of Saint John" as an update to one published in 1983 and incorrectly attributed to Beryl Barrett. The updated book has yet to be published.)
PS: Don't take this as gospel yet, as there has been more info found since then.

Introduction to Doug's Genealogy

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The purpose of this blog is to explore and exchange any information available concerning descendants of Nicholas (Henckle) Jenkins and Peter Ballem (Ballum), two related families of 18th Century Prince Edward Island, Canada.

It is planned to present their beginnings in Germany, their involvement as Hessian soldiers in the American Revolutionary War, and their arrival in Prince Edward Island. Also to be covered will be some of their descendants. Particular attention will be given to what has been made public in the past, problems with some of that information, and corrections to published information where available. Most importantly, conflicting information from the past will be posted in the hopes that others may be able to help with sorting out the correct details.

All of this is in the context of preparing a book on the genealogy of each of these families. To date I have information on more than 17,700 Jenkins descendants, and about 2,500 Ballem/Ballum descendants.