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
Friday, September 28, 2007
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Nicholas’ Oldest Son from His first Marriage
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
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
Monday, September 3, 2007
Another Go At Births and Ages
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.
"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.
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