It was 170 years ago, on 2 October 1849, that my first cousin, 4 times removed, Ransom R. Jenks, married Lucinda A. Boyer.  [OK, it was Ransom’s name that caught my eye to this event, but I will continue].  Ransom M. Jenks was born on 27 September 1828, in New York, to Seth and Levinia Jenks Jenks [Levinia’s maiden name was also Jenks!].  Seth was the son of Laban and Prudence White Jenks.  Levinia was the daughter of Laban’s cousin, Michael and Sarah Hunt Jenks.

Ransom and Lucinda were the parents of two daughters: Stella (1858) and Edla (1859).

I decided to Google Ransom as a Given Name:

The name Ransom is a boy’s name of English origin meaning “shield’s son”. Ransom may be rakish and handsome, but it carries an unavoidable association with holding someone for ransom.

Wonder what Seth and  Levinia had in mind?