Joseph JENCKS

                   From Hammersmith, England. A London suburb.

Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s about Joseph Jenks
Name:	Joseph Jenks
Year:	1643
Place:	Lynn, Massachusetts
Source Publication Code:	9448
Primary Immigrant:	Jenks, Joseph
Annotation:	In the years from 1925 to 1942, Frederick A. Virkus edited seven volumes with the title, The Abridged Compendium of American Genealogy, published in Chicago by the Institute of American Genealogy. Each volume has a section in the main body of the work, co
Source Bibliography:	VIRKUS, FREDERICK A., editor. Immigrant Ancestors: A List of 2,500 Immigrants to America before 1750. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1964. 75p. Repr. 1986.
Page:	41

Mineral Springs Cemetery Joseph Jenks Pawtucket Pioneers -----First----- Joseph Jenks Born England 1602 Died Lynn, Mass Mar 16, 1683 -----Second----- Joseph Jenks Born England 163 2 Died Pawtucket, RI, Jan 4, 1717 The first white man to build a home in Pawtucket. Settled in Pawtucket in 1656. Town Council from 1679 - 1680. Founder of Pawtucket, RI -----Third----- Governor Joseph Jencks Born in Pawtucket 1656 Died PawtucketJune 15, 1740 Buried south of Reeds Street with his parents Brought to Mineral Springs on June 2, 1831 and buried there. Exact location of his grave is not known Admitted as Freeman 5/3/1681 County Auditor 1697 - 98 Deputy Speaker of the House 1698 - 1708 Major for the Main 1707 - 1711 Governor 1727 - 1731 He was the first person elected Governor outside of Newport, RI

First Patent in America (Handwritten)
First Patent in America(hand written)

At a generall Courte at Bostonthe 6th of the 3th mo 1646

The Cort considringe ye necessity of raising such manifactures ofengins of mils to go by water for speedy dispatch of much worke wth few hands, F.r being sufficiently informed of ye ability of ye petitionr to pforme such workes grant his petition (yt no othr pson shall set up, or use any such new invention, or trade for fourteen yeares w'hout ye licence of him ye said Joseph Jenkes) so farr as concernes any such new invention, & so as it shalbe alwayes in ye powr of this Corte to restrain ye exportation of such manifactures, & ye prizes of them to moderation if occasion so require.

A few added notes on Mr. Jenkes (submitted by Joanne Lahr-Kreischer, accompanying the above text):

JOSEPH JENKES [see his page in the WhippleGenWeb], of Hounslow, Middlesex [now in Greater London], England; settled at Lynn, Mass., in 1643, where he died in 1683, aged 81 years.



The Driver Family:A Genealogical Memoir of the Decendants of Robert and Phebe Driver by Harriet Ruth (Waters) Cooke--1889
The emigrant was Joseph Jenks, Sr., variously spelled Jencks, Jenckes, and Jenkes, who came from Hammersmith, England, supposed by Dr. Savage, as one of the workmen whom John Winthrop, Jr., engaged and brought over with him in 1643, in order to commence the iron works in Lynn, for Joseph is found in these works in 1645. These works were established on account of the great want of iron tools and ware, in the colony, which induced several persons to attempt the establishment of a forge, among whom were principally Thomas Dexter and Robert Bridges. In 1642 Mr. Bridges took some specimens of the ore, called bog iron, which had been found in large quantities in several places in Lynn, within a mile from the meeting-house, at a very early period to London, to see if he could form a company, to work it in New England. Many wealthy and enterprising gentlemen of London were induced to form a company, which was called the " Company of Undertakers for the Iron Works," for which they advanced one thousand pounds to commence the works. Mr. Bridges returned to Lynn, bought land on the west bank of Saugus River, and erected a foundry, which was the first established in America. These works yielded about seven tons per week. " The furnace runs eight tons per week, and their bar iron is as good as Spanish." So wrote Mr. Winthrop to his son in England, Sept. 30, 1649 (Lewis).

Joseph Jenks proved himself to be a machinist of great genius; he soon petitioned " for liberty to make experience of his abillityes and Inventions for the making of engines for mills, to go with water, for the more speedy dispatch of work than formerly, and mills for the making of sithes and other edge tooles, with a new Invented saw-mill that things may be afforded cheaper than formerly, and that for fourteen years without disturbance by any others setting up the like Invention, that so his study and costs may not be in vain or lost, this pet icon was granted so as power is still left to restrayne the exportation of such manufactures, and to moderate the prizes thereof if occacon so require." In 1654 the selectmen of Boston agreed with Mr. Joseph Jenks " for an Ingine to carry water in case of fire." Thus he made the first fire-engine made in America; by his hands the first models were made, and the first castings taken of many domestic implements and iron tools. Silver was found in tho vicinity of Lyun, and a colonial mint was started to coin the " Pine Tree shillings," for which at the Iron Works Joseph Jenks made the die for the first impression in 1IJ5J. He petitioned the Government for the privilege to coin the money, but did not receive the appointment. In 1647 the agent for the works, Mr. Richard Leader, sold a privilege to Joseph Jenks to manufacture scythes.

Mr. Lewis in his " History of Lynn " says that " Joseph Jenks deserves to be held in perpetual remembrance in American history, as being the first founder, who worked in Brass and Iron on the western Continent."
When Mr. Jenks sailed for New England he was a widower, with one son, Joseph, whom he left in England with his grandmother, and where he remained until he was sixteen years old, when he arrived at Lynn, Mass., and went to live with his father. This was in 1648. Before 1649 his father married Elizabeth . They had issue: 1. Sara, born in 1650; 2. Samuel, born in 1654 ; :3. Deborah, born in 1658 ; 4. John, born in 1660; 5. Daniel, born in 1663. The father died in Lynn, March, 1683, aged 81 years. The mother died July, 1679.
The son Joseph married in Lynn, Mass., Esther, daughter of William Ballard, a fanner. She, in 16"<2. was presented at the Quarterly Court for wearing silver lace, contrary to the following law, passed Oct. 14, 1651, by the General Court of Massachusetts, which "deelared that intoreable excesses and bravery hath crept in upon us and especially among people of mean condition and their utter detestation and dislike that men of mean condition and callings should take upon them the garb of gentlemen by wearing gold or silver lace, or buttons, or points at their knees, to walk in great boots, or women of the same ranke, to wear silk or taffany hoods or scarfe, which though allowable to persons of greater estates, or more liberal education, they judge it intolerable in persons of such like condition ; therefore with the exception of magistrates, or any publick officer of this jurisdiction, their wives and children, military officers or soldiers, or any other whose education or employment have been above the ordinary degree, or whose estates have been considerable, though now decayed, or who were not worth two hundred pounds, no person should transgress this law under penalty of ten shillings." What the decision was in the case of Esther Jenks does not appear, but it must have been of great moment at that date, for several authors make mention of it. Evidently the affair was distasteful to Joseph Jenks, Jr., for soon after he removed to Warwick, 11. I., where laws were not so stringent, and where perhaps Esther could indulge her taste for finery. Subsequently he removed to Pawtucket, R. 1., where he bought a large tract of land of the Indians. Here he built a forge, which was destroyed in King Philip's War; also a house, the first in that place. In 1681 he was one of the "Councellors" of the Government; he died in 1716, aged 84 years. From him all the Jenks, or Jencks, or Jenckes, of Rhode Island descended. His children were nine,  five daughters, and four sons. The eldest, Joseph, filled many important offices in the colony, and for five years was its Governor; he died June 15, 1740, aged 84. Another son. Nathaniel, was major of the militia, repeatedly representative for Providence, R. I.; he died in 1723, aged 61. Still another son, Ebenezer, was an elder in the Baptist Church of Providence, R. I.; he died May 14, 1726 ; and yet another son, William, was a judge, who died in 1765, aged 91.

"A man of great genius," he made the dies for coining the first money; also built the first fire engine in America.

His son, Joseph, was Governor's assistant of Rhode Island in 1681, and built a large iron foundry near Providence.

His grandson, Joseph, was Governor of Rhode Island, 1727-1732.

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