The Jenkins’ Journey to America (Part I)

My 4x great grandfather, John Jenkins (1830-1905), was the son of Scottish coal miner John Jenkins and Helen Hardie. He married Ann Hillions McCallum on January 11, 1851 in Slamannan, Stirling, Scotland. Together, Ann and John had the following known children: Henry Jenkins born 1855 in Slamannan, Douglas Jenkins born 1857 in Slamannan, Christina McCallum Jenkins born 1859 in Falkirk, twins Margaret McCunnochie Jenkins and James Hardie Jenkins born 1866 in Cumbernauld, and William Jenkins born 1869 in Cumbernauld.

John Jenkins Sr & son Henry on the State of Indiana passenger list which arrived at New York from Glasgow, Scotland and Larne, Ireland on May 4, 1879. Unable to confirm if the younger John is J. Douglas Jenkins due to age discrepancy.

The State of Indiana

John and his oldest sons, John Jr. & Henry Jenkins arrived in New York aboard the State of Indiana on May 4, 1879. They had departed from Glasgow, Scotland.

The three miners found work and a place to live before sending money for Ann to come to the United States along with younger siblings James Hardie Jenkins, Margaret “Maggie” Jenkins, and William Jenkins. On September 22, 1879 they arrived in New York aboard the Devonia. Also accompanying them aboard the Devonia were John Jenkins Jr.’s wife Catherine and two young sons.

Ann Jenkins and younger children aboard the SS Devonia

The SS Devonia

Older sister Christina McCallum Anderson, her husband Gabriel, and their five month old daughter Ann, came to the States the following year, arriving aboard the Ethiopia in New York on May 12, 1880.

Less than a month later, the 1880 US Census was taken and we find the Jenkins family had settled in Lafayette, McKean, Pennsylvania near many immigrants from Ireland and Scotland. John, Gabriel, and James H. all worked in the mines, William attended school, Ann & Christina cared for the home and four month old Ann.

John, Maggie, Henry, and Douglas are not listed in the household. But Maggie Jenkins is listed nearby as working for a servant in the home of J.E. and Catherine Butts. J.E. is a coal operator, and his 26 year old son J.E.P. Butts is a superintendent of coal and lumber.

The Jenkins Family in Scotland

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.