William Jenkins

William JENKINS was born about 1736, apparently in Fairfax Co., VA, one of the sons of Ezekiel and Mary (GUNNELL) JENKINS, and grandson of John JENKINS (c.1658 - c. Jun 1717) and Martha (GARNER) JENKINS (c.1676-1752) of Westmoreland Co., VA. (Martha seems to be either daughter or granddaughter of John GARNER and Susannah KEENE; this Susannah was, by and by, through the GOSNOLD and WINGFIELD families, of distant royal descent from the PLANTAGENETS.)

Ezekiel JENKINS was probably born c.1700 and died in or about 1750. His wife Mary was born c.1704. They appear to have had 11 children, listed here with known or approximate years of birth:
Elizabeth JENKINS, b: 18 Mar 1719/20 in Virginia
Mary Eliza JENKINS, b: 2 May 1726 in Westmoreland County, Virginia
Ezekiel JENKINS, II, b: 1722/c.1728 in Westmoreland County, Virginia
John JENKINS, b: 1726/1730 in Virginia
Martha JENKINS, b: 1734
William JENKINS, b: 1736-26 Jun 1787 in Fairfax, VA (subject of this biography)
Ann JENKINS, b: 1738
Samuel JENKINS, b: 1740/1728
Charles JENKINS, b: 1742
Simon JENKINS, b: 1744-aft.1792
Thomas JENKINS, b: 1745/1732

William JENKINS (son of Ezekiel and Mary), subject of this brief biography, married in about 1758 to Katherine TIDWELL, of Cople Parish, Westmoreland Co., VA. She appears to be the daughter of Robert and Hannah (CARR) TIDWELL, of Cople Parish, and is mentioned in his will, though the exact relationship is not stated.

William and Katherine had a fine estate of several thousand acres on Pimmit Run, now part of one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in America: McLean, Fairfax Co., VA. In 1785 they moved to the Goshen Hill area of southern Union Co., SC.

Family genealogies state that William JENKINS died on 26 Jun 1787, probably about the age of 52. He is almost assuredly buried in the cemetery later known as the Jenkins-Burel-Hunter Cemetery (or Hunter-Burel-Jenkins Cem., etc.), and was likely the first one buried here, in what would become his family's cemetery.

William's wife Katherine (TIDWELL) JENKINS must also be buried here, as are his sons Randolph "Randel" JENKINS (1761/2-1824) and Jesse JENKINS (1765-1816), his daughter-in-law Deborah (DARBY) JENKINS (c.1770-1821; wife of Randel), and maybe his granddaughter-in-law Sarah Catherine JENKINS (1791-c.1832, probably died in Abbeville Co.) wife of Randel & Deborah's son Samuel JENKINS, who moved to Attala Co., MS).

[This biography corrected and expanded, July 2020, including correcting William's parentage to Ezekiel and Mary (GUNNELL) JENKINS, instead of Ezekiel's brother William and Mary (BALLENGER) JENKINS, who are actually this William's uncle and aunt.]* Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Jul 3 2022, 18:44:32 UTC