George H. Jenkins (c1803) and Avy --- of Onslow Co, NC

I (Marty Grant) don't know how I'm related to George H. Jenkins, but I'm sure he is somehow related to my ancestor Osborne Jenkins (c1803), but not too closely, for he married one of Osborne's daughters (my ancestor Sarah Jenkins) as a second wife, making George my Step 3rd Great Grandfather.

George H. Jenkins was born ca 1802/1803 in NC, presumably in Onslow County, in the area that later became Stump Sound Township. I don't know what his "H" middle initial stands for.

Using the 1810 and 1820 census as clues, I find several possible candidates for his parents.

On the 1810 Onslow County census, George would have been about 7 years old, so he should be in the "under 10" age group (born ca 1800/10). John Jenkins (c1770/75) had a son that age; and Lewis Jenkins (c1770/74) (and wife Sarah Beasley) had a son that age.

The 1820 census provides additional clues. George should have been about 17 then, so he should be enumerated in the 16-25 age group (born ca 1794/1804) and possibly further enumerated in the 16-17 sub-category (born ca 1803-04). Lewis Jenkins still had a son that age; John Jenkins still had a son that age as well. These two are the prime candidates, since no others seem to be qualified (based only on the 1810 and 1820 census records). Both of these were also listed on the 1830 census, and by that time their son this age had gone. So that fits as well, as George was married by then. If I had to guess which of these was George's father, I'd choose John over Lewis, but I have no real reason for that.

George Jenkins married Avy --- before 1827 in Onslow Co, NC. I didn't find a marriage record for them, but her maiden name might be Curtis for a deed dated 21 Jul 1827 shows George and Avy selling land inherited by Mary Curtis from George Curtis (both deceased) and for some reason George and Avy obtained the land, so my guess is that this land was divided among Mary's siblings at her death, including Avy Jenkins. This is not the only possible explanation for this deed, but for now, I'm going to assume that Avy was a Curtis, and a daughter of George Curtis, and sister to Mary Curtis. Further research is needed to confirm (or refute) this conclusion.

The above mentioned deed was dated 21 Jul 1827 between George Jenkins and wife Avey Jenkins to Sigley Curtis (is he another sibling?), 1/2 of land Mary Curtis drew at death of her father George Curtis and she (Mary) now deceased, we sell our right in said land. Witnesses were William Ennett and Edward Hobson. (Onslow Co, NC Deed Book 16 page 91, from Records of Onslow County, North Carolina, Vol II by Zae Harget Gwynn).

George Jenkins was listed on the 1830 census in Onslow Co, NC. He was listed next to an apparent widow Mary Curtis (1780/90), is this Avey's mother? Lear Jenkins was just three houses away, and James Jenkins (1780) was just a few more houses away.

George was listed on the 1840 census in Onslow Co, NC. He was not listed near any of the other Jenkins this time.

The family was listed in Stump Sound District in Onslow County, NC on the 1850 census. There were several Jenkins families nearby. In fact, most of the Jenkins in Onslow in 1850 were within 50 households of each other in 1850.

I was unable to locate George and Avy on the 1860 census, though their son Jackson Jenkins was listed with his new wife. At first I assumed they both had died before 1860, but an 1862 marriage bond shows that George H. Jenkins was still alive at that time. For some reason George was missed by the census taker, or perhaps he was listed, but under the wrong surname (an uncommon census error, but one that does happen).

There is a George S. Jenkins in 1860 New Hanover County, living alone. I'd bet this is him, for he did marry there a few days later. The "S" (and it clearly says "S") is probably just a mistake. If this is him, then Ava was dead before 5 Aug 1860 (the date on that page of the census)..

There is a marriage record in New Hanover Co, NC dated 11 Aug 1860 for a George H. Jenkins and Elizabeth Lagwin. Samuel R. Bunting was bondsman. They were married on 12 Aug 1860 by D. Macmillan. It seems likely this is the same George. If so, then Avy Curtis Jenkins died sometime before August 1860. I believe this must be the same George H. Jenkins of Onslow, for there was no man of that name in New Hanover in 1850 or 1860 as far as I could find (excepting the George S. Jenkins mentioned above, whom I believe is indeed George H. Jenkins).

If the above marriage is the same George, then his second wife Elizabeth died before September 1862.

On 2 Sep 1862 George H. Jenkins obtained a marriage bond in Onslow County to marry Sarah Watson. Jerre W. Yopp was bondsman. B. W. Jenkins was witness (Benjamin W. Jenkins (1818)). They were married on 14 Sep 1862 in Onslow County. Sarah Watson was a widow, her maiden also Jenkins. She was my ancestor (via her first husband Joseph Watson). Sarah Jenkins was born ca 1830/31 in Onslow Co, NC, a daughter of Osborne Jenkins and Ann ---. Her first husband Joseph Watson having died in the 1850's. George and Sarah must be cousins to some degree. George was the same age as Sarah's father, so perhaps he and Osborne were first cousins (just a guess).

The above marriage record is the very last record I've found for George H. Jenkins. He may have died soon after this marriage due to the hardships of the Civil War. I doubt he was a soldier due to his age, but everyone suffered during this time and many died due to the War.

Sarah Jenkins was mentioned in the June 1863 Estate records of her mother, and that is the last record I've found for her. She may also have died during the Civil War period.

There are several loose estate files at the North Carolina Archives for Onslow County men, one of which could be George H. Jenkins. I have not yet examined these files, but the first was dated 1866 for George W. Jenkins, the next 1867 for G. W. Jenkins, then one dated 1871 for George Jenkins and widow Mary (this is not George H. Jenkins), and one dated 1878 for George W. Jenkins. The two dated 1866 and 1867 could be for George H. Jenkins, even though "W" was used instead of "H" for his middle initial. I'll have to examine them to be sure. The 1871 Estate is for George W. Jenkins (c1816), and I don't know who the 1878 record is for. Some of these could represent two different files for one person.

Children

George H. Jenkins and wife Avy had at least four children, only two of which are identified. I don't know if George and his second wife Sarah had any children together. If so, they would have been born in the 1860's.

Unknown Son (1825/30). George H. Jenkins had an apparent son this age. He was home in 1830 (age "under 5", born ca 1825/30), but gone by 1840, so probably dead by then, or perhaps living with someone else.

Mary "Polly" Jenkins was born ca 1825/30 (per 1830 census) in Onslow Co, NC. She was apparently home with her parents for the 1830 census (age "under 5", born ca 1825/30).

She died on 12 Jan 1831 in Onslow Co, NC. This was reported in the newspaper dated 26 Jan 1831, "accidentally burned to death on 12 inst, Miss Polly Jenkins, daughter of George Jenkins, at mouth of New River and Fullwood's Creek near Daniel McDaniel's farm. I don't have an exact reference for this, though I believe it came from a book with abstracts of area newspapers. I'll try to find a complete reference.

Andrew Jackson Jenkins was born ca 1833/34 in Onslow Co, NC. He was apparently home with his parents in 1840 (age 5-9, born ca 1830/35) and still home in 1850 ("Jackson" age 16).

On 19 May 1855 Jere W. Yopp deeded something to Jackson Jenkins. I don't have the details of this deed yet. (Onslow Co, NC Deed Book 27 page 359)

On 20 Nov 1855 Jackson Jenkins deeded something to William Jenkins. I don't have the details of this deed yet. (Onslow Co, NC Deed Book 27 page 414)

He married Miranda --- in the 1850-60 time-frame in Onslow County. I did not find a marriage record for them. She was born ca 1843/44. I have no idea what her maiden name might have been. There was a marriage bond dated 7 Mar 1858 for John Jenkins and Miranda Dennis. This could be them if "John" was incorrect.

They were listed on the 1860 census in Onslow County. They were listed next door to Ann, widow of Osborne Jenkins (c1803).

There are two loose estate files at the North Carolina Archives for Onslow County men named "Jackson Jenkins", one of which could be this one. I have not yet examined these files, but the first was dated 1867 and the next dated 1871. Both files could pertain to the same person. My guess is that the first one is for this same Andrew Jackson Jenkins, and the second one may be as well. I'll have to check these files to be sure.

Unknown Daughter (1835/40). George H. Jenkins had an apparent daughter this age. She was apparently home with parents in 1840 (age "under 5", born ca 1835/40) but gone by 1850. She may have died or married by then. I didn't find any marriage records in that time period that likely belong to this daughter of George H. Jenkins.

Researcher List

Persons researching this family (click here for data on how to get on or off of this list):

1. George H¹ Jenkins , born 1802/03 in Onslow Co, NC; died aft Sep 1862 in Onslow Co, NC. He married (1) bef 1827 in Onslow Co, NC Avy Curtis , born 1802/03 in Onslow Co, NC; died bef Aug 1860 in Onslow Co, NC, daughter of George Curtis ; (2) on 12 Aug 1860 in New Hanover Co, NC Elizabeth Lagwin , died 1860/62 in New Hanover Co, NC; (3) on 14 Sep 1862 in Onslow Co, NC Sarah Jenkins , born 1830/31 in Onslow Co, NC; died aft Jun 1863 in Onslow Co, NC, daughter of Osborn Jenkins and Ann (---) .

Children of George H Jenkins and Avy Curtis were as follows:

2 i Mary "Polly"² Jenkins , born 1825/30 in Onslow Co, NC; died 12 Jan 1831 in Onslow Co, NC.

3 ii Andrew Jackson² Jenkins , born 1833/34 in Onslow Co, NC; died 1867 in Onslow Co, NC. He married in 1850/60 in Onslow Co, NC Miranda (---) , born 1843/44 in Onslow Co, NC.