Joseph JENCKS, II

                   I had her before the family tree.
Had 11 kids.

The Jenckes Family Immigrates from England to America
1600s & 1700s , England & MA & RI
Joseph Jenckes (1602-1683) was from Hammersmith, England.  It's a suburb of London.

Joseph Jenckes was married in England.  One source listed Mary Tervyn (married 30 September 1630, parents James and Margery Tervyn of All Hallowes, London) and another listed Joan Hearne (married 05 November 1627, parents George and Catherine Hearne of Colnbrook, Buckinghamshire).  Joseph Jenckes was a widower on arrival in America.  His young sons Joseph (born 1632) and George were to remain in England until they should "come of age".

Joseph Jenckes was a master mechanic.  He was an operator of an extensive foundry and metal works and was an expert blacksmith.

One source lists Joseph Jenckes as having a blacksmith shop on the Agamenticus River in Maine in 1642.

Massachusetts Bay Colony Governor Winthrop knew of "bog iron" discoveries along the Saugus River and wanted to establish iron and steel works there and strongly encouraged Joseph Jenckes to come there to head up that effort.  Joseph Jenckes, at Governor Winthrop's request, went to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1642.  Joseph Jenckes designed and built the iron works on the Saugus River near Lynn, MA beginning in 1642/3 and it was operational by 1644.  It could be operated only in the summer and fall when there was sufficient water power available to operate the forge.  On 02 March 1643 the General Court of Massachusetts gave this Company of Undertakers of the Iron Works the exclusive privilege of making iron in the colony for 21 years.  Joseph Jenckes was the acknowledged head of the iron smelting and foundry business and is the first builder of machinery in America.  He received the first American patent called the "Jenks Monopolye" in 1646 which was for 14 years for "engines for mills to go by water" or "mill improvements".  In 1647 Joseph Jenckes perfected a "new water wheel" and built a forge at the iron works.  By 1648 7-8 tons of iron was being produced weekly and pots, chains, plow irons, scythes, bolts, etc. were bing made.  Joseph Jenckes and other foundry workers lived in a little village first called Hammersmith and soon called Saugus instead.  This is now part of Lynn, MA.  Joseph Jenckes' son Joseph (born 1632) had joined him by 1647 when he was about 15 years old and was learning the iron industry from his father.

Joseph Jenckes remarried Elizabeth in about 1650 and had 5 more children there at Lynn, MA.

Tradition has it that Joseph Jenckes cut dies for the "pine tree shilling" that was produced for 30 years.  There is no proof of this.

Joseph Jenckes invented an improved scythe or a machine/engine "for speeding cutting of grass" which was patented 22 May 1655.  This was his 2nd patent.

Joseph Jenckes (1602-1683) was called "a man of great genius".

Son Joseph Jenckes (1632-1717) came from Hammersmith, England near London.  He joined his father, Joseph Jenckes (1602-1683) in Lynn, MA by 1647 at age 15 years to learn the iron industry from him.  The iron industry did not continue outside of Lynn, MA long past Joseph Jenckes'(1602-1683) death.

Joseph Jenckes (1632-1717) moved to RI after his 1655 marriage to Esther Ballard.  The first lived at Warwick and then at Providence and then he helped found Pawtucket.  He built the first house at Pawtucket.  On 25 March 1669 he was granted land on either side of the Pawtuxet River to build a saw mill.  On 10 October 1671 he bought about 60 acres more near Pawtucket Falls to build a forge for manufacturing iron.  His iron foundry was burned down by the Indians during King Philip's War in about 1676.  His efforts established Pawtucket "as the great iron workshop of the colonies and the place where skilled mechanics, who have made RI noted for her iron and steel works, machinery and other manufactories, gathered".  Joseph Jenckes was a Freeman at Providence in 1677.  On 01 July 1679 he was taxed 12s 6d.  Joseph Jenckes was in the Providence House of Deputies 1679-1681.  He was Assistant Governor of RI most years 1681-1698.  Joseph Jenckes was taxed with his sons Joseph and Nathaniel 12s on 01 September 1687.  Joseph Jenckes had a "ratable estate" on 06 August 1688: 6 acres planting land, 2 acres meadow, 8 acres pasture, 30 acres wild pasture, 4 oxen, 7 cows, 2 steer, a heifer, a yearling, 2 mares, a colt, swine, sheep, and a saw mill.  On 30 January 1690 Joseph Jenckes and others wrote a letter William and Mary congratulating them on accession to the throne.  On 02 July 1695 Joseph Jenckes was chosen by the General Assembly "to run the eastern line of the county".  On 16 July 1713 Joseph Jenckes was taxed 12s 6d.  Joseph Jenckes' will was dated 21 October 1708 and it was proved 11 February 1717.

"The family of Jenkses in general from the first settlement to the present day, have sustained the character of an industrious, honest, and civil people." -- Esten

Granddaughter Elizabeth Jenckes, daughter of Joseph Jenckes (1632-1717), married Samuel Tefft in Kingstown, RI and they raised 11 children there.

Sources:  English Origins of New England Families, 1985; Short Sketch of the Family of Jenkses by E. Esten, 1926; History and Trees of the Jenks Family by C. Jenks, 1934; Jenks Genealogy by H. C. J. Cleary, 1937; Genealogy of the Jenks Family by W. B. Browne, 1952
                  

                   Governor of RI.
                  

                   I had him a long time before the Family Tree.

How Jenckes became Jenks...
1682
The "Geneology of the Jenks Family of America" (1952) states, on p. 21:

"In 1682 [Nathaniel Jenks] took the oath of allegiance to Charles II which so incensed his brothers that, it is said, they compelled him to abandon the family name and write his name "Jenks."

   The Jenks geneology also has a few life tidbits and his will (pp. 21-24).

Nathaniel Jenckes (1662 - 1723)
Nathaniel Jenckes was born in 1662. He was famous for strength in many ways and at different exercises. He lifted the great forge hammer of 500 pounds weight, together with seven men thereon and the handle thereof, one man whereof lifted up under the drone beam with all his might to react against him, a proof of great, very great strength indeedHe was very active in the defence of the Town against the Indians. In the military line he ascended to the office of Major of the Colony. He died August 12, 1723; aged 61 years.
                  

                   Millennium File about Joseph Jenckes
Name:	Joseph Jenckes
Gender:	Male
Christening Date:	12 Oct 1628
Christening Place:	Colnbrook, Horton, Buck, England
Death Date:	4 Jan 1716
Death Place:	Pawtucket, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
Spouse:	Esther Ballard
Children:	William (Judge) JenckesJenks