Nicholas’ Son William

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.