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.
Resurrecting Memories 