A Tree Grew in Oakland

192 years ago, 1 July 1828, my 1st cousin, 4 times removed, Sillman H. Jenks, was born to Orrin and Hannah Wolfen Jenks.  Orrin was the third child and second son of my 4th great grandfather, Laban Jenks who migrated the family from Massachusetts to New York to Oakland County, Michigan.

Cousin Stillman was one of four Stillmans in my genealogy database. All were first names.  I found no surnames that any of them could have been named after.  And they were all in the Jenks family.  When I asked the all-knowing Google about Stillman it came back with a University, a number of famous people, and one occupation – a man who is employed to operate a still.   One might conclude the Jenks family honored their stillmen!  Again, one of the names given to children of my ancestors that seem amusing in the 21st century.

Cousin Stillman married Delia Eliza Butler and they were the parents of two: Caroline L, and Arthur.  Stillman died on 14 April 1907 in Ionia, Michigan, and is buried in Balcom Cemetery, there.  Delia predeceased him on 18 May 1901, and he is buried next to her.

383 years ago, 11 June 1637, Nicholas White, the son of Walter and Mary Brown White, married Susanna Humphrey, the daughter of Jonas and Frances Coley Humphrey.  The pair were my 9th great grandparents.   Both were born in England: Nicholas in Rochester, Kent, in 1618; Susanna in Wendover, Bucks, in 1615.   Both were brought to North America by their parents.

There were only two recorded children of this union: Elizabeth (1643) [my 8th great grandmother}, and Nicholas (1647) [my 8th great grandfather]!  Nicholas married Ursula Macomber and they had 4 children including my 7th great grandfather Thomas White.  Elizabeth married Samuel Hall and they were the parents of George Hall, my 7th great grandfather.  George married Lydia Dean and their daughter, Lydia Hall married Thomas Morey.  Thomas married Abigail Crossman and their son, Nathaniel, Sarah Thrasher.   Now it gets messy!  Nathaniel and Sarah’s son, Nathaniel, Jr. [for those trying to keep track, my 5th great grandfather), married Mehitable Morey [my 5th great grandmother], the daughter of Thomas and Lydia Hall Morey.   So, they are my double 5 times great grandparent since they also happen to be 3rd cousins to each other and, my 3rd cousin, 7 times removed!

Nathaniel and Mehitable were the parents of Prudence White who married Morris Jenks.  Together they became one of the earliest settlers of Oakland County, Michigan.

It was on this day, 8 June in 1874, 146 years ago, that my 3rd cousin, six times removed, Boomer Jenks passed away. He might not have made my list of strange familial names except for the current craze of placating older members of society with the admonition of “OK, Boomer” referring to their origins in the post World War 2 Baby Boom.

Cousin Boomer was born 19 February 1761, in Scituate, Rhode Island, to Joseph and Sarah Moon Jenks.  He married Anna King, the daughter of Thomas King.   With Anna, he parented 13 children: John (1781), Thomas (1782), Sarah (1784), Olive (1786), Boomer King (1789), George Washington (1790), Charles (1792), James (1794), Lyman (1797), Eunice (1798), Aurelia (1800), Isaac (1803), and Andrew Nelson (1806)!

Anna passed away on 6 March 1839.  Boomer relocated to Marlborough, Vermont, prior to his passing and that is where he finally left this life.

Jonathan Sprague, my 8 time great grandfather, was born in Hingham, Massachusetts, on 28 May 1648, to William and Millicent Eames Sprague.  He married Mehitable Holbrook, daughter of William and Elizabeth Pitts Holbrook, 20 July 1670, in Providence, Rhode Island.  In 1672, the couple removed to Mendon, Massachusetts.  William Sprague died in 1675 and left Jonathan 60 acres of land in Providence, Rhode Island, where the family relocated before 1680.  He was appointed, with other, by the Assembly to run the eastern line of the Colony.

From Genealogy (In Part) of the Sprague Family in America As Descended from Edward Sprague of England from 1614, compiled by Augustus B. R. Sprague. 1905:

“Jonathan Spague was evidently a man of strong character, was one of the most prominent and influential citizens of his town, and served frequently in public office. He was a member of the House of Deputies for sixteen years between 1695 and 1714; Speaker of the House in 1703, and member of the Town Council, eight years, from 1705 to 1712; Clerk of the Assembly in 1707.  In 1703, he, with two others, was appointed to draw up the methods and proceedings of the Court of Common Pleas.

“Of a decidedly religious bent, he professed the Baptist faith, and preached as an exhorter. — Staples’ Annals of Providence

“He died probably in Smithfield, Rhode Island, September 1741.”

Jonathan and Mehitable were the parents of 6: Jonathan, Joanna, an infant daughter, Patience (1674) [my 7 time great grandmother], William (1691), and Mary (1697).   Their daughter Patience married William Jenks, connecting that family line.