My six times great grandfather, John Jenkins was born in Polmont, Stirlingshire, Scotland on October 3, 1799. He was the son of John Jenkins and Helen Rae. John later married Helen Hardie on April 8, 1822 in Falkirk, Stirling, Scotland. They had the following known children; James Hardie Jenkins, Henry Jenkins, John Jenkins (my 5x ggfather), William Jenkins, and Robert Hardie Jenkins.
John and Helen Hardie’s eldest son, James Hardie Jenkins eventually converted to the Mormon religion in 1847. In 1863, moved his large family from Scotland to Utah, losing an infant daughter Agnes on the journey across the plains (more on his fascinating life someday soon). James H. Jenkins wrote this short memoir from which the following excerpt describing James’ childhood and parents was taken:
“I, James Jenkins do give a history of my life as near as I recollect and also my birth on the testimony of my father and mother. I was born in Lauriestown in the Parish of Falkirk and Shire of Stirling in Scotland, in the year of 1822, 22 July. My father’s name was John Jenkins and my mother’s name was Helen Hardie. My father was a collier or underground worker. There were times he left it and labored above the ground, but mostly he wrought at the coal trade. I did not stop much with my father and mother, but was brought up by my grandfather and my aunt. They were my mother’s father and sister. My grandmother died when I was a young child and they took me and brought me up until I was able to work. The name of my grandfather was Henry Hardie and my aunt’s name was Susan Hardie.”
John Jenkins worked for many, many years in the Scottish mines. He died on November 13, 1865 in Stirlingshire. He died a pauper, he was formerly a shoemaker. He died of Colliers asthma – another name for black lung which many Appalachian coal miners contract from their time in the mines.
Resurrecting Memories 