The Glasgow based Jenkins family originated in Donegal, Ireland with Evans Jenkins and Esther Rodgers in the early 1800s. Evans and Esther are my GREAT GREAT GREAT GRANDPARENTS.
I have very little documented information on either of them. My information has been gleaned from the 1841 Scottish Census as well as marriage and death certificates of their children.
Evans worked on the land as a farmer until the early 1800s just before the start of the Irish Famine at which point he moved to Glasgow with his family including his second wife, Isabella McDonald (nee Whitaker).
Unfortunately I have been unable to find any definite information on Esther but my assumption is that she was born around 1790-1800 and that she died sometime before the family moved to Glasgow. Evans and Isabella had a son, Hamilton, who was born in 1836 so I would assume that Esther died some time before 1836.
The first time Evans was identified in Glasgow was in the 1841 Scottish Census which estimated he was born in 1791. All his and Isabella’s children were listed in the census providing approximate ages and occupations. Evans was recorded as a “labourer”.
Since the 1841 Census I have been unable to find any record of when Evans died and I could not find him in 1851 Census.
The 1841 Census details for the family that arrived in Glasgow can be viewed here. The census does not include all the McDonald children but the full list can be found here.
As can be seen from the census and this chart, Evans had three sons, Richard, David, and Evans, with Esther and one son, Hamilton, with Isabella. There follows a summary of the lives of the four sons starting with Hamilton.
