Decendants of Micah Jenkins
by Nancy Peeples
02/03/1998
Nancy has just sent this in the last week or so. It provides new and interesting information. Martin
Micah's father was Joseph Jenkins of Toogoodoo and
Edisto. The Private Register of Rev. Edward Thomas while Rector of Trinity
Edisto Island SC 1827 -1829 he refers to Joseph Jenkins deceased of
Toogoodoo. This would give you the understanding that much of the land
he held was off the island of Edisto. Ater doing a great deal of
searching at the Archives in land records this proved to be the case as far
as I could tell. I am sure that there are other researchers who may be
able to find something that I missed. It appeared that by 1828 at
Joseph Jenkins death he was living on Toogoodoo. The only property that he
owned on Edisto was Brick House which the family owns to this day.
There was one period in 1866 when the house was put up for sale. A
letter from Aunt Eliza LaRoche to Rhoda Cornish dated October 22, 1866
". . . Your Grand Ma met with quite a serious accident a few days ago she
was walking in the piazza her foot sliped into a hole and strained
it very badly it is dreadfully swolen and very black she is not able
to walk a step at present and thinks she will never again. I hope
she is mistaken about that but is is very bad for a person of her age,
it has happened too at a very bad time as we have made all arangements
to move to Rockville on the 30th of this month and will be obliged to go.
I feel very sad at parting for I have been with Mother five years
she will miss me so much particularly at this time. John and Eliza Ann
will remain here some time yet which reconciles me to going. I could
not leave mother alone. I suppose you have seen the advertisement of the
old brick house, we have persuaded Father to sell to give Mother and
himself something to live on, John gave it up very willingly and will
take a place over here. Father divided his land among his
children, he will retain the house and portion of land his life time
afterwards it will be owned by George, who has the privilege of planting it at
present. Tell your Father his place is the one owned by UNCLE MIKE
between Pauls and this place each of us got (216 acres)..." (from the
Cornish papers 1461 in the Southern Historical Collection University of
North Carolina, Chapel Hill) To verfy this I pulled the advertisement
from the Charleston Daily News, October 11, 1866. This must have
been an extremely difficult time for the Jenkins family as this
property had been in the family since the late 1600 early 1700. Somehow
they managed to hold onto it and John and Eliza Ann went back to
Edisto and raised their family. They took with them Joseph Evans Jenkins
(Micah's brother) and his wife Ann and they died at Brick House. What
this tells us about Micah born 1796 is where his land was on the
Toogoodoo. It was next to the Roxbury property that is there today owned by
the King family. We also know from the Cornish Diary that the
property that Micah had inherited had been Joseph Jenkins homesite. A
Diary entry dated December 4th, 1867 "George and I called on Paul
on our way passing over Cronish Manor. I was particularly delighted by
the canopy of live oaks over the landing and in the rear of the spot
where George's grandfather's residence once stood" A little
background might be helpful here. The Rev. John Hamilton Cornish had
married Martha Sarah Jenkins daughter of Joseph Evans and Ann Jenkins.
The letter written to Rhoda Cornish (duaghter of John and Martha) by
her Aunt Eliza tells us which piece was owned by Micah before his leaving
for Mackay's Point and that was the same piece that her father was to
inherit.
I will give a brief genealogy to help clarify.
Jospeh Jenkins born 1761 married Martha Evans born Sept. 16, 1767. They married July 14,1785.
Joseph was the son of Richard Jenkins and Martha Rippon. Joseph and Elizabeth had:
Edward Jenkins and Richard Jenkins who never
married. Sarah Fripp Jenkins born 1789 married
first Ralph Bailey and second John Laroche. They had children. Joseph
Evans Jenkins born 1793 married Ann Jenkins Fripp and they had children.
John Jenkins born 1794 married Elizabeth Grimball Clark had children.
(These are the parents of Gen. Micah Jenkins.) Micah Jenkins born 1796
married his first cousin Martha Jenkins. They had children.
Abigail Martha Jenkins born 1807 married George Chisolm Mackay. They had
children.
It is known that Joseph Jenkins left a will
but the actual document has not been recovered by this researcher.
Perhaps it was destroyed or perhaps it is held privately. Joseph Jenkins was
named as the executor of the will of Thomas Baynard but Joseph died
before the estate could be settled. In a document found at the South
Carolina Archives dated March 28, 1839 the executors of Joseph Jenkins will are
trying to settle the estate and be free of it. The executors of
Joseph Jenkins will are his two sons Joseph E. Jenkins and Micah Jenkins.
This is proof that a will did exist and it is hoped that some day it will
be found. We know that Abigail Jenkins Mackay inherited her land at
Mackay's Point a tract called Maderia from her father and it is assumed
that Micah also inherited his original property from Joseph.
Abigail and Micah were the two youngest surviving children of Joseph and
Elizabeth Jenkins. Abigail being the child of their old age. The
1820 Mills Atlas shows the Jenkins name on Mackay Point/Grahams Neck.
LaRoche's owned land there also but it is not known from whom all of
the land that Micah born 1796 was obtained or how. That is something that
I am still researching but with little luck so far.
Micah and Martha Jenkins had at least seven children that I can find
records on. They are as follows: Ann L. Jenkins born February 1819
possibly on Edisto Island and died November 24, 1900 and is buried at
St. John's Episcopal Church, Johns Island, SC.
She never married.
Richard Jenkins born May 1824 possibly Edisto
Island died in 1904 also buried at St. John's. Grimball Jenkins of which
we only have one mention and no dates.
Elizabeth (Eliza) Jenkins
born Oct. 9, 1826
possibly Edisto Island died February 2, 1901 also
buried at St. Johns.
She married Isaac Paul Grimball on November 25,
1845 at the home of her
father. She and Isaac lived out there lives on
Johns Island and have
many ancestors there to this day.
Benjamin J.Jenkins born 1830 possibly Edisto Island died after 1901. It is
unknown if Benjamin ever married or when he died. I have not been able to
find him in a Census record after 1860 but did find that he and
Richard got pensions for a short time until 1901. Sarah M. Jenkins born
October 1833 possibly Edisto Island and died March 1880 in the Adams
Run area. She is said to be buried at St. Paul's Meggett. She married
John James LaRoche after 1870 as his second wife and they had no children.
Micah Jenkins born about 1836 (my great-great-grandfather) on Edisto
Island and died in Brunson, South Carolina between 1889 and 1893.
This information was taken from Eloise Tucker Green Jenkins
application for Pension benefits in the State of Georgia. Eloise and Micah were
married January 15, 1861 in Greenville, South Carolina by The Rev. T. S.
Arthur. All of the sons fought in the Civil War. Richard was with the
Rebel Troop as was Benjamin who also served with the Beaufort
Volunteer Artillery. Benjamin had been discharged due to losing and
eye which we assume happened in the war but re-enlisted under his
cousin Maj. John Jenkins of the Rebel Troop. Micah fought with the
Beaufort Volunteer Artillery until the end of the war.
Would like to know the name of Micah's plantation but have not recovered that as yet. We do know that the area
was extremely hostile after the war and all of the buildings of worth
had been destroyed by the Northern Troops on October, 23, 1862. There
was nothing to go back to and Micah had lost everything he owned. Other
letters I have found written at that time from that area describe just
how awful the situation was. So many people were murdered.
One of the Mackay sons tried to go back and was killed. Micah went back
to Toogoodoo and lived near Abigail LaRoche a neice of his. Sarah,
Richard and Ann were with him there in 1870. It is assumed he died in this
area.
Micah Jenkins was born in 1796 the son of Joseph
Jenkins, Sr. and Elizabeth Evans.
Mr. Wm. Albergotti has personal
papers of his great great grandmother Abigail Martha Jenkins Mackay
where she states that her parents had a total of 15 children.
Micah
was fourth from the oldest that we have names and dates on. Abigail
was the youngest.
Micah married Martha Jenkins his first cousin.
Her father was Benjamin Jenkins of Wadmalaw Island. Micah has been
somewhat hard to track as all family information on him has been lost so it
became necessary to search all public records. What I have been able
to find lets us know that Micah lived in the Adams Run area until
1838. I have a copy of the Private Register of Rev. Edward Thomas while
Rector of Trinity Church Edisto Island SC 1827 - 1829. On April 16, 1827
Micah Jenkins was elected as a vestryman at Trinity. On April 15
Easter, Oct. 21, and Dec. 25, Christmas 1827 Mrs. Micah Jenkins took
communion.The Sunday school ended for the season on Oct. 28, 1827 and
Ann Jenkins, Micah and Martha's oldest daughter attended.
On Feb. 1828
the statement of the congregation of the Episcopal Church Edisto
included Micah Jenkins, Mrs. Jenkins and children Ann, Richard and Grimball.
This is the only record we have of Grimball. The dates for taking
communion in 1828 are April 6, Easter Sunday, May 25, Whitsunday, Sept. 21, ,
Nov. 23 and December 25, Christmas. These were all for Mrs. M.
Jenkins. The 1829 dates are July 19 and Sept. 4. We have copies of records
from Christ Church Wiltown that show that Micah paid for the
construction of a church at Wiltown. The cost was $1852.49. His pledge of
$100 for the year is also shown and a statement of finances dated
March 31, 1836 for the church with Micah Jenkins as treasurer. There is
also a statement of payment for pews the says "Upon Mr. Micah Jenkins
removing from the parish Mr. Henry Seabrook became the purchaser of
his pew in 1838." At this time Micah has moved to Grames Neck in
Pocotaligo. On April 19, 1838 we have a bill of sale that has been held in
the Jenkins family of a mulato fellow named Joseph to Micah Jenkins
from Thomas N. Gadsden for $1100. This is one of the only remaining pieces
of paper the family still has and I believe it is in the possession
of Buddy Jenkins, deceased, wife. Micah was on the vestry at
Sheldon Church in 1841. The records of Sheldon church show that on Nov.
27, 1845 Mr. Micah Jenkins adopted Ella Elliott daughter of Geo. C.
and Abigail Mackay. It is is not clear as to what it means as the
Mackays always had Ella in their household as far as we can determine) , the
marriage of Isaac P. Grimball to Eliza Jenkins, Nov. 25th 1845 at Mr.
Micah Jenkins, the death of Martha Jenkins wife of Micah Jenkins d.
Wednesday, 29 of January 1857 and buried on the 30th with the
service and burial at Sheldon age about 60 years and Micah as the
godfather of Benjamin Wyman the son of Charles F. and Anne L. Davis b. Sept.
5, 1860 and baptised April 17, 1861 Sponsors: Mother and Micah
Jenkins. by DO. At Mr. Jenkins. Anne L. Davis was the sister of Micah
Jr.'s wife Eloise Tucker Greene so it is not known if Micah Jr. or Sr. was
the godfather. In 1841 Micah attended the Dicocesan Convention in
Charleston as a delegate. He had a total of 127 slaves in October of 1860,
sixty-two of which where working age between 15 and 55 with a total of 25
slave houses. He was taxed on Oct. 1, 1860 for 1731 acres and 127
negroes and paid tax of $252.03..The agricultural census staes that he
had 900 acres improved land and 831 unimproved with a cash value of the
farm of $34,600. The farm improvements valued at $360. He had no
horses, 7 mules, 40 cows, 8 working oxen 92 other cattle, 50 sheep and 8
swine with a cash value of $2,600. He grew 2000 bushels of indian corn, 20
bushels of rice, 60 bales of cotton, 100 wool, peas and beans 100
bushels, 2000 sweet potatoes, 200 pounds of butter and 10 tons of hay
with the value of the slaughtered animals at $250. In the book
Rehearsal for Reconstruction the second largest tax payer and landowner in the
Beaufort District was Micah Jenkins who was paying taxes on lands
valued at $34,600. I have made a copy of a letter from Jospeh Jenkins to
Rhoda Cornish dated Sept. 11, 1859 that gives a detailed account of Joseph
Jenkins, Jr. going by boat to Grames Neck to vist Uncle Mike and Aunt
Abby. He made this trip in an open boat. I will try and include the text
of the letter later. It is three pages long but very interesting.
Upon going through the John Jenkins letters I found many more references
to Uncle Mike and Aunt Abby that give us some clue as to where they were
during the Civil War. The first is from McPhersonville dated Sept. 18,
1864 where John is stationed. He writes "I will go out in a day or
two Uncle Mike and borrow bedding." John is planning on a visit
from his wife and he needs some things to make the place more
comfortable. In another letter from McPhersonville dated Sept, Monday 1864 John
writes "...that I have not ridden over much of the District nor been
able to get out to Uncle Mikes. Cousin Ann and Miss Grimball called to
see me for a few moments one evening,..." Later in the same letter John
wrties "Cousin Ann says I must bring you up at once to stay with her till
I can arrange leave but that would be double trouble." Letter dated
October, Saturday, 1864 John writes his wife and says, "Tell Washie I
have sent the filly mare up to Uncle Mikes farm for pasturage...". The
letter dated Dec. 24, 1864 is telling of battles and forays against the
enemy at which time he states " when I hoped to have a chance of
punishing them for the capture of my pickets but they had retired to their
entrenchments at Jenkins or Mackays Point." This letter was from
headquarters at Pocotaligo. In November 1864 also at McPhersonville he states
"Eliza Jenkins' family are coming tomorrow to Uncle Mikes so I fear I
will not be able to borrow a bed of them. How shall we manage. Lis
invites me to take my birthday dinner with her and to let you meet me
there on your way here. What say you to all this." There is also a
newspaper clipping from the Charleston Mercury dated Saturday June 18, 1864 a
letter from John Bachman to the Editor Mercury: I gratefully
acknowledge the following donation for the hospital: Miss Ann Jenkins,
Pocotaligo - box containing 10 dozen egg." There is a letter
from Ann which I shall include in its entirety in which she is
requesting John's help to get pensions for Richard and Benjamin. The letter is
dated March 22 with no year but due to the reference of Isaac Grimball
health we know that it was written in 1898. This also tells us Benjamin
was alive at this time though we cannot find him in a census. The next
letter is from Pocotaligo dated Dec. 21, 1864 where John says, "
I have advised Uncle Mike and an Aunt Abby Mackay to remove
immediately and save what they could." The evacuation of Savannah has begun. We
were able to locate the deeds to the Mackays Point land loss at the
Beaufort RMC office. The first one says the land will be rented for 7
years beginning in 1867 by Ann S. Maybank. The final loss of land was
May 2nd, 1882 when it was bought by Sallie A. Richardson for $100. Here
the complaint was filed against Richard Jenkins, Benjamin Jenkins, Micah
Jenkins, Ann Jenkins, Eliza Grimball and John LaRoche. ( This lets us
know that Micah (1796) was dead by then and also that Sarah was dead by
then). There are bounding and abutting statements in the deed as
well as statements of the last surveys done. The John Cornish Diary,
Cornish Papers #1461 in the Southern Historical Collection, University of
North Carolina LIbrary, Chapel Hill makes several references to
Micah. Wednesday, February 12, 1845 Shopped in King St. Met Mr. and
Mrs. Micah Jenkins and Miss Eliza J. On Thursday, February 26, 1846
Martha Cornish wrote a letter to her Uncle Micah Jenkins. On Monday,
May 18, 1846 in the Evening Mr. Micah Jenkins and his daughter Ann
arrived from Pocataligo to Toogoodoo. On Wednesday May 20, 1846 there
were long walks in the field in the morning with Col. J and Uncle Micah.
Saturday, July 30th, 1853 Mr. Micah Jenkins called this morning in
Aiken. Rev. Cornish called on Micah Jenkins and Mrs. Jenkins and
children at Schwartz's. Tuesday August 2nd, 1853 Mr. and Mrs. Micah
Jenkins called on us. Thursday August 4th 1853 Uncle Micah called.
Monday, August 8th, 1853 Mr. Micah Jenkins called. Tuesday, August 9th
1853 Micah Jenkins dined with us. Monday, August 15th, 1853 Uncle Micah
took tea with us. Sunday, August 21st, 1853 Called this evening
Micah and Mrs. Jenkins to bid us goodbye. Tuesday, November 4, 1862 Raw
morning. Uncle Micah Jenkins came today after dinner and is now with
us. Wednesday Nov. 5, 1862 Uncle Micah Jenkins and I rode out to look
at Cook's place where Mrs. Fripp and her daughter Mrs. Prileau are now
staying. We called on Mr. and Mrs. Hayward. In the S. C. Claims books
found at the S. C. Historical Society the index shows Micah Jenkins
of Prince William Parish filing losses on pages 42, 48, 62 and 80.
The first entry was for 110 slaves in Parish of Prince William 1861,
Nov. 15 the affidavit of Geo. P. Elliott and W. H. Cuthbert, Jr. and
self. 37 head of cattle, 7 hogs, Prince William Parish 1861, Nov. 15th
affidavit of owner, 30 sheep and one mule May 25th 1861 Geo. P. Elliott
and W. H. Cuthbert. DWELLING HOUSE and out building burnt Parish of
Prince William 1862, Oct. 23 affidavit of owner. Provisions 100
bushels of corn 1861, Nov. 15th affidavit of owner 2000 lbs. of fodder 1861
Nov. 15th Geo. P.Elliott and W. H. Cuthbert. In a letter to John
Cornish from George M. Jenkins from Roxbury dated July 26th 1871 George
states "I spent a night last week with Uncle Mike Jenkins he has improved
very much and enquired after you and family affectionitally and
expressed a wish to see the girls again." This gives us the last known date
that Micah was alive! This is followed by "Ben and Richard both have
good corn crops and cousin Dick has a healthy cotton crop but he has
the advantage of fertilizer under his which you and I have not."
This could be our Richard and Ben and it could put them on Wadmalaw
with Cousin Dick (Richard LaRoche) or at Toogoodoo with George.
This letter is from the Cornish Papers #1461 in the Southern Historical
Collection, University of North Carolina Library, Chapel Hill. S. C.
Claims Losses due to the Enemy can be found at the SC Archives and the SC
Historical Soceity in Charleston has the orginal log book. It is
listed as SC Claims 1861-1862 vol. 1 #34/309. Micah Sr. can be found
on pages 42, 48, 62 and 80.
April 1867 Ann S. Maybank got a lease on the property "situate lying and
being inthe District of Beaufort aforesaid in Prince Williams Parish
bounded to the north by lands of Jno. E. Frampton and est. of Stuart to
the east by Pocotaligo River to the south by lands of Mackay to the west
by Tulifinny River and containing seventeen hundred and twenty acres
more or less." IN May of 1882 Mrs. Sallie A Richardson (Sarah) buys the
land for $100 and the bounding and buttings are part on the lands of
George P. Elliott and part on the lands aforesaid, Mrs. Mary B. Stuart
to the East part on the lands aforesaid the said Mary B. Stuart and part
on Pocotaligo River to the South on lands of George C. Mackey and to the
West partly on Tulifinny River and partly on land of James Frampton and
having such figures and dimensions and descriptions mark as are
represented on a plat drawn by Joseph Purcull in the month of December
AD 1800 and a plat drawn by Daniel Brown on 21 November AD 1818
containing the parcel marked B and C on Purcell's plat and parcels
marked C on Browns plat . . ." ( This is what I am looking for!)
It is then sold to A. J. Salinas and Son of Charleston in 1885 for two
thousand three hundred and forty dollars and ninteen cents and the
assumption of a mortgage on the land. The same plats are still sited.
The land is then sold to C. D. Witte, Arthur Lynah and Edward Sparkman
for $1 to satisfy a mortgage I believe. This one is for June 1903.
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marc_h_b@rocketmail.com
MARTIN BALDWIN
34 COOSAW RIVER DR
BEAUFORT, SC 29902
United States
Email: peeplesb@conterra.com