RootsChat.Com

Just as an update;
Using the info gathered from Sandra's obits, and some census data, I was able to contact a living descendant.  As it turns out, one of Howard Malcolm Jenkins great grandsons was a high school classmate of mine.  I sent him a picture of the Inn at Buck Hill Falls and a summary of the data I've put together and he appears willing to ask some of his relatives whether they know anything of the photo, which I hope is attached hereto.
(if the attachment doesn't work, I'll make another attempt)

The Word doc I sent him has links to this thread and the Buck Hill story, so eventually, some relative might see it and jar a memory.

NOTE:  the attached photo will need to be scrolled to see entire image

Happy 4th of July weekend everyone,

Does anyone have any connection to the Howard Malcolm Jenkins family of Gwynedd, Montgomery Co., PA. ?
He was born 30 Mar 1842, only child of Algernon S. Jenkins and Anna Maria Thomas.
Howard died 11 Oct 1902 from a tragic fall off a makeshift bridge at Buck Hill Falls, PA.

The progenitor of this branch of the Jenkins family in the US, was John Jenkins (1719-1803/4), having emigrated here with his parents.  His father, Jenkin Jenkin from Wales, bought 350 acres in Hatfield, PA.

I am searching for data of Howard's descendants.  He had 6 surviving children,
1.  Charles F., b. 1865
2.  Anna M., b. 1867
3.  Thomas, A., b. 1868
4.  Edward A., b. 1870
5.  Florence, b. 1876 ; d. unmarried
6.  Arthur H., b. 1880

Please refrain from posting names of living people, but contact me by private message if you know of any living descendants.

In lieu of any direct knowledge, if you are aware of alternate websites that are specific to JENKINS family discussions, please let me know.

Thank you so much,
Rick T.

Hello,

The Reverend Pierce William Drew had a keen interest in his family history and contributed genealogy articles/family trees to various publications the 1850s.  “The Royal Families of England, Scotland, and Wales” Volume 1, by J B Burke published 1851 contains a pedigree of the Rev. Pierce William Drew (Pedigree 14).  I suspect that Rev. Drew submitted this pedigree to Burke.

The Rev Drew claimed that John Downing had married Catherine Browne and that she was the daughter of Sir Valentine Browne (1st Baronet of Mohaliffe and Ross) by his second wife Juliana McCarthy.  Drew claimed direct descent from Edward I through ancestor Sheely/Shelly/Sheila (otherwise known as Julia/Juliana/Julian) McCarthy. 

However, there is problem with Drew’s claim.  There are documentary sources that say that Catherine Browne was a daughter by Sir Valentine’s first wife Ellis/Ellice/Elizabeth Fitzgerald rather than his second wife.

Paul

Hello Paul,

Re: your Reply # 68, partially copied above

It looks like your documented evidence that Catherine was the daughter of Sir Valentine's first wife, is well-sourced and I have no reason to question, or challenge, your findings.  I believe Rob said he was setting the Browne tree aside and I'll probably edit mine as well.
Thank you for digging up and reporting your info.

As you say, it was likely Rev'd Drew was driven to show a link to Edward I, which was apparently a rather common endeavor "back in the day" for families to bolster their social status.

Rob has compared his GEDmatch DNA kit with mine and it seems we are 11th cousins, with Lt. John Downinge of Ballymanagh being our most recent common ancestor.  He has posted his pedigree in this thread (Reply # 59) which is proven and verified back to his 6th great grandfather, the great grandson of Capt. John Downing and the disputed Catherine Browne.  At that point Rob follows Catherine's tree, but if we follow Capt. John's side, we see that he was the son of Lt. John aforementioned.

If you go back and review my 5 part series that begins on Reply # 54 of this thread, you will see that I have amassed a rather extensive set of notes on the life of Lt. John.  Although some of it is UNVERIFIED, the full body of circumstantial evidence is too voluminous to be brushed off as coincidental.  Ironically, Lt. John can also claim direct descent from Edward I, through his father and paternal grandmother, Elizabeth Wingfield.

Ahhh, yes.  Thank you Rob.  I just found my note with your GEDmatch Kit No and went to the GEDmatch site to punch it in as you outlined.

Like I said, I haven't explored the DNA angle much.  I guess the boxed details above Chromosomes 2, 7, 10, etc. and the little summary at the bottom indicate you and I have some significant matches.

I'd like to compare some data through a PM thread if you are willing.
As a result of my own trees being PARTIALLY filled in with some unverified connections, I can't actually publish them, but I've built various extensive trees that are pieced together from bits of evidence.
 
I have a tree headed by Jefferry Downinge of Belchamp St Paul, Essex, which asserts that his eldest grandchild is Lt. John Downinge (a theory based on several bits of circumstantial evidence).  John's downline is partially complete.  The Catherine Browne data outlined in the Olden Times Reply seems to be in question.  Regardless of all that, looking back at your Reply # 59, I see that you have established your tree running back through Martha Downing, Maj. John Downing, Catherine Browne, and then it branches off through her mother, Julia McCarthy.  Of course going through her husband, Capt. John, you can also claim descent from Lt. John as your 10th great grandfather, making you and I 11th cousins, assuming I can prove my link to Lt. John.

THEREFORE, your DNA match, although by relatively few SNPs, helps to confirm my connection.
I've noticed that Ancestry only lists down to POTENTIAL 8th cousins, so assuming you and I ARE 11th cousins, the few SNP matches makes good sense.

I see while I was reviewing this, you've posted more info about your tree and your mother's kit, which I will look at.  Thanks so much.

No, I’m pretty sure it was NOT an actual castle.  That’s just what the farmer around the corner called it when he played in the ruins as a kid.  I’d wager it was a rather stately home as Adam was Deputy Governor of the County.

The site is on Rocktown Lane right where the road bends left, then right again (going NW away from Rocktown Rd)