Individual Details

"The 20th Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Vol. 6, p.69" states that he was born in Buckinghamshire, England, in 1632.

FindAGrave states he was baptized Colnbrook, Horton, Buckinghamshire, 12 Oct 1628, son of Joseph Jenckes and his first wife Joan Hearne.


"The 20th Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Vol.6, p.69"
In 1648 followed his father to Saugus, MA and was connected with him in the iron and brass works, there, the first established in America. On account of the large amount of charcoal needed for smelting and refining iron ore, the forests around Lynn were rapidly becoming extinct, which caused much alarm among the manufacturers. Jenckes, in order to establish himself in the iron business, followed Roger Williams to Rhode Island, and was granted land in Warwick, in 1669. He purchased a tract of woodland at Pawtucket Falls, near Providence, on the Blackston River, in 1671. Iron ore was discovered near the falls, and Jenckes built a foundry and forge, which were destroyed during King Philip's war in 1676. He rebuilt the works and laid the foundation of the great iron works of Providence. He was the founder of Pawtucket, RI. In 1661 he was elected a member of the governor's council, and served as assistant, or lieutenant-governor, and subsequently was a member of the house of deputies. He married Esther Ballard, of Lynn (born in England, 1633) and they had six daughters and four sons. His son Joseph became governor of Rhode Island. He died in Pawtucket RI, Jan 4, 1717.

Ancestral Records and Portraits : a Compilation From the Archives of Chapter I, the Colonial Dames of America, p.770.
Joseph Jenckes, bom 1622, and died January 4, 1717, was Deputy, to the General Assembly of Rhode Island 1680, holding office from 1679 to 1691. He married Esther Ballard, who died 1717.


Records & Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County Massachusetts, Vol. 1, 1636-1656, Published by the Essex Institute, Salem, MA, 1911

p.271 Court at Salem 30.9.1652
Nicholas Penion and his wife Ester, wife of Joseph Jenkes, Jr., John Gorum & John Parker of Lynn, fined for wearing silver lace. Wit: Joseph Armitage, Sr., Geo. Keyser, Will. Longlye, Phill. Kirtland, And. Mansfield

This case may explain in part why the Jenckes family left Linn, MA:
p.289f Court at Ipswich, 27:7:1653
A civil case: Mr. John Gifford agent of the Iron works v. Mr. John Beax & Company. The jury found: Mr. Gifford as agent, had the right to transact the affairs of the Iron works; he was indebted to divers workmen who would ask for satisfaction; the company and not Mr. Gifford personally should be responsible for the debts. If the property at the works is not sufficient to cover the indebtedness, the undertakers of the works should be responsible. Mr. Gifford swore that the indebtedness was 1,363£. The undertakers produced no account to show that the agent had disposed of any of the effects of the works to pay the debt. Execution had been levied upon the effects. They find for the plaintiff, damages according to the account; execution respited until Dec. 5. [this was only about 90 days since the 7th month was September at that time]
Among the debts of the Iron works at Hammersmith and Braintree: the account of Francis Perry ...his son 8 days work with goodman Jenckes in the slittinn mille, 16s.
Found in the very long list of assets of the Iron works attached, taken according to a writ, dated 13:7:1653, served by John Fuller the constable of Linn: all the Scots & English servants, the mill, the new mine dug & undug, etc...the ten acre lots, the lots by the marsh side, all the wood cut in the bounds of Lin, dwelling house of Mr. John Gifford, six oxen, Joseph Jinks Sr., his mill and rent ...land of Joseph Jinks Jr. ...the new water course pond and sluse gates, the barn & hay in it, with the cow houses, the mine carts and coal carts.

There were a number of cases involving Jenckes and debt:
28:10:1647 Joseph Jenckes v. Thomas Brouge. Debt. Thos. Trowton testified he delivered attachment to constable of Glocester and saw him serve it.
30:4:1652 Edward Richards v. Joseph Jenckes Sr and Joseph Jenckes Jr. Debt.
1:5:1652 George Burrill v. Joseph Jenckes Sr and Joseph Jenckes Jr. Debt.
and John Gillo v. Joseph Jenckes. For bill due from Joseph Armitage and assigned to defendant.
30:9:1652 George Burrill v. Joseph Jenckes Sr and Joseph Jenckes Jr. Debt.
28:4:1653 Mr. John Gifford v. Joseph Jenckes Jr. [part of several suits initiated by Gifford - apparently in an effort to recover some of the debt]
27:4:1654 Joseph Jenckes Jr. v. John Gillo. Review of case tried in 1651. Withdrawn.
26:4:1655 Civil Cases. Edward Richards v. Joseph Jenckes Jr. Debt for bar iron, silver lace, etc.
Edward Richards v. Joseph Jenckes Jr. For taking away his workhouse wheels and tools.
Joseph Jenckes Jr. v. Edward Richards. Debt.
Joseph Jenckes Jr., assignee of Jno. Gillo v. Joseph Armitage. Debt.
Joseph Jenckes Jr., assignee of Joseph Jenckes Sr., v. Joseph Armitage. Debt.
Joseph Armitage v. Joseph Jenckes Jr. Debt
This was a very busy court day and many of the suits seemed to be a result of the failure of the Iron Works.

Records & Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County Massachusetts, Vol. 1, 1656-1662
p.215 26 Jun 1660 Will of James Moore, proved by Joseph Jenks Sr. was allowed. Ruth, the widow, brought in an inventory. Moore's will was dated 5:5:1659; names a little daughter Dorothy and his wife Ruth. Oliver Purchase & John Clarke to be overseers. Wit: Joseph Jenckes Sr, Joseph Jenckes, Jr.

Lived first at Concord, then Warwick, RI, before Pawtucket

Article found on Ancestry.com in FamilyTree; sources unknown in some cases.
18 Jan 1670 Joseph Jenckes was foreman of a jury in the case of Thomas Smith and Ruth his wife 'who were drowned in the river of Pawtuxet, the 16th instant at night'.
10 Oct 1671 Providence. Jenckes bought 60 acres with right of commange of Abel Potter and wife Rachel, formerly Rachel Warner, of Masshautateet, land formerly belonging to Rachel's grandfather, Ezekiel Holliman, situated near Pawtucket Falls. This is where he built his forge and sawmill - destroyed by the Indians in King Philip's War, 1677. [Abandoned Providence was burned to the ground, March 29, 1676.]
Providence Town Records, Vol. 4, p.6-7
1 Jul 1679. Taxed as freeman. Empowered by the Assembly to purchase a bell for the public use of the colony. Said bell was purchased of Freelove Arnold. Previously the Assembly had been called by beat of drums.

Early Records of Providence:
Will dated 21 Oct 1708 and proved 11 Feb 1717 bequeaths to sons Ebenezer and William, his coal house and forge. Nathaniel, Ebenezer, & William are to have his two Rights of Land & Commons bought of the widow Mary Mawrey. All four sons, Joseph, Nathaniel, Ebenezer & William have already received Lands. Remainder to wife Esther; she is to be sole Executrix. Esther was too old to take on the responsibility and requested Nathaniel Jenckes officiate in her place. Joseph's inventory was taken and "apprised" by Joseph Bagly and Thomas Comestock on 24 Jan 1717

Find A Grave Memorial# 19416717
Joseph Jenckes II is known as the founder of Pawtucket. A skilled ironworker, he had come to the New World to join his father, Joseph Jencks I, who had organized and operated the first American iron works in Saugus,MA. In 1670, Joseph II left Massachusetts, intending to build his own forge in Rhode Island. On October 10, 1671, he purchased 60 acres of land on the west bank of the Blackstone River, marking the establishment of the first permanent settlement of Pawtucket. However, it was short-lived, as the Jenckes settlement was burned to the ground in 1675 during King Philip's War. When the war ended, the Jenckes forge was rebuilt, and soon it became the center of a small village including the foundry, a gristmill, and sawmill. The commerce of the village was founded on the production of iron products essential to the survival of these early settlers.
He is said to be buried on the lot of his son, Gov. Joseph in Pawtucket.

Christen	12 Oct 1628	Horton Parish, Colnbrook, Buckinghamshire, England
Marriage	30 Nov 1652	Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts - ESTHER BALLARD
Death	4 Jan 1717	Pawtucket, Providence County, Rhode Island

Spouse	ESTHER BALLARD ( - 1717)
Child	Gov. Joseph Jenckes III (1656 - 1740)
Child	Elizabeth Jenckes (1658 - 1740)
Child	Sarah Jenckes (1660 - 1707)
Child	Nathaniel Jenckes (1662 - 1723)
Child	Esther Jenckes (1664 - 1720)
Child	Mary Jenckes (1666 - )
Child	Ebenezer Jenckes (1669 - 1726)
Child	Joanna Jenckes (1671 - 1756)
Child	Abigail Jenckes (1672 - )
Child	WILLIAM JENCKES (1674 - 1765)

Father	JOSEPH JENCKES ( - 1683)
Mother	Joan Hearne ( - )
Sibling	Elizabeth Jenckes (1630 - 1638)

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