Jenkins Family

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Adam Jenkins and wife Mary (neé Campbell), from Dunoon Scotland, arrived in Melbourne, in January 1857, aboard the "Merrie England".

Travelling with them was their son John, aged 18 years, daughter Margaret, aged 20, and their eldest daughter Catherine, and her husband John Campbell.

John Jenkins found employment as a coach builder with Gilbert Alston at Bulla. Here he became acquainted with William Alston, and accompanied him to Mornington for employment.

Early rates records show that Adam Jenkins, until his death in 1868, was farming in Moorooduc.
His daughter Margaret, married a neighbour, Alexander McLellan, in 1863. Sadly, Margaret died in childbirth, at the age of 39, in 1874.

John Jenkins married Helen Firth in 1876. Helen had come out from the Orkney Isles to join her brothers, but after her marriage, she settled in Mornington with John, who was working as a wheelwright.

John Jenkins Snr. died unexpectedly in 1896 leaving his son John (Jack) to carry on the blacksmithing business.
Jack was a well known sportsman in the area, and also played in the town band.

He married Ethel Ferber in 1912, raised a family and became one of Mornington’s favourite sons.

John Snr. and Helen’s oldest son, Adam Firth Jenkins, was to become a train driver with Victorian railways, but died in Donald, Victoria, in 1911.

Mary never married and lived on in the family home in Albert Street and was an early member of the Mornington & District Historical Society.

Adam Jenkins’ Death Certificate

 

Adam Jenkins’ Death Certificate reveals some interesting associations:

• His death was registered by his friend John McCrae, who was also the undertaker; and
• Robert Olley was the Sexton at the Mornington Cemetery at that time.

Mornington Standard 23 April, 1896 p.2