Samuel Jenkins (abt. 1735 - abt. 1796)

Born about 1735 in Orange County, Virginia

Descendants

Died about 1796 at about age 61 in Shenandoah County, Virginia, USA

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Biography

The following genealogy begins in 1740 with Samuel Jenkins of Shenandoah County, Virginia. Records have not been found to secure an earlier genealogy. However, it is apparent that Samuel's father most probably was one Jonas Jenkins, recorded living in 1733 east of the Blue Ridge at the Great Mountain in the Rapidan Valley.^[1]

This record concerns a road being created in Spotsylvania (now Culpepper) County along the Rapidan River. In that year it was extended across the Blue Ridge at Swift Run Gap, thereby opening the Shenandoah Valley for forwarding migration. At this time the frontier line was at the eastern base of the Blue Ridge. Years later, Samuel would have followed this route through Swift Run Gap to the new frontier along the Shenandoah River.

It seems our first generation in America must have immigrated to the colony of Virginia during the large-scale Scotch-Irish emigration of the later 1600s. Our Jenkinses would have likely arrived through the Chesapeake Bay and migrated westward along the Rappahannock River. Generations pioneered the way to the Blue Ridge and the Shenandoah Valley, where the trend of migration turned to the south.

Samuel Jenkins was born about 1735 in Orange (now Culpepper)County, Virginia where he grew to manhood in the Rapidan Valley. He married circa 1756, a woman known to us only by her given name, Jane. Jane has not been fully identified. (surname Williams?) They were married sometime about 1758 judging from the apparent birthdates of their children. They had a family of at least 10 children, all seemingly born and raised in Spotsylvania and Shenandoah Counties, Virginia.

A soldier in the War of the Revolution, Samuel Jenkins served in the infantry within the Virginia Continental Army. His military record consists only of his name being listed in a register of certificates for payment of services rendered. His firstborn son, Josiah Jenkins, also appears in the pay register and his surviving military record is complete. It is most probable father and son served together. Josiah Jenkins enlisted in Captain Thomas West's Company, 10th Virginia Continental Regiment (commanded by Major Samuel Hawes.) He was mustered into service on November 18, 1776, and was last on the rolls on April 3, 1778 at Valley Forge in a hospital.

According to Mr. Lucius Harvey, Samuel Jenkins, the Revolutionist, served in the infantry of the Virginia Continental Line. His military record (which ordinarily includes the regiment and date enlisted) contains only a certificate of payment for services rendered. This was paid on August 27, 1783 following an act of Congress.^[2]

At the time of his service in the war, Samuel Jenkins was a resident of Dunmore (name changed to Shenandoah) County, Virginia. On April 6, 1773, he was granted by patent 145 acres near the head of Cedar Creek on Sugar Tree Hill. On August 30, 1778, He was granted an additional 125 acres on Cedar Creek. In 1778, Josiah Jenkins purchased 127 acres near the head of Cedar Creek.

Samuel Jenkins family first appears on the 1780 census of Shenandoah County. Samuel and Jane were pioneers in the Massanutten Valley of Shenandoah County. By the time of the Revolution, this region west of the Blue Ridge was still largely in the possession of Indians although the Scotch-Irish had gained a strong foothold.

Samuel Jenkins died probably at the beginning of 1796, as his will was proved on January 12, of the year. His will, ordered to be certified in Shenandoah County Order Book 1795-1798, p.124, does not survive on record in the county will book. An inventory and appraisement of his personal estate remains on record. (The above information was taken from a book compiled by Gary Claude Jenkins).

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 82-0094133 Copyright l983.

Samuel was born about 1735. He passed away about 1795.

Sources

1. ↑ Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, vol. 13, p. 366.
2. ↑ Military record per National Archives, Card #39168921; srickaby66701 originally shared this on 12 Jul 2011 in Ancestry.com.

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