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Married:
- 1841 census
Place: Kirkconnel -Dumfries-shire Enumeration District: 2
Civil Parish: Kirkconnel Ecclesiastical Parish, Village or Island: -
Address: Niviston
JENKINS William M 60 Farmer Outside Census County (1841)
JENKINS Jannet F 55 Outside Census County (1841)
JENKINS John M 25 Dumfries-shire
JENKINS Murray M 25 Dumfries-shire
JENKINS James M 20 Surgeon Dumfries-shire
JENKINS Mary F 15 Dumfries-shire
SCOTT Isabella F 35 Female Servant Dumfries-shire
FRENCH Margt. F 15 Agricultural Labourer Dumfries-shire
FRENCH Mary F 10 Agricultural Labourer Dumfries-shire
- - M 20 Unknown Name: N. K. Place of birth blank
1851 census
County Name Dumfriesshire
Parish Name Kirkconnel
Address Nivistone
William Jenkins Head Married 74 M Farmer of about 300 Acres Employing One Labourer Argyll, Cowal
Janet Jenkins Wife Married 67 F Ayr, New Cumnock
John Jenkins Son Unmarried 35 M Farmer's Son Dumfries, Kirkconnel
Margaret W. Jenkins Grand Daur 8 F Scholar Dumfries, Glencairn
Matthew Wilson Servant Unmarried 17 M Farm Servant Lanark
Barbara McCrone Servant Unmarried 23 F House Servant Dumfries, Kirkconnel
Mary Milligan Servant Unmarried 14 F Servant Dumfries, Kirkconnel
Aster McNimey Servant Unmarried 18 M Farm Servant Ireland, Antrim
Andrew Lauder Labourer Widower 33 M Agricultural Labourer Dumfries, Dryfesdale
Source: FOLK LORE AND GENEALOGIES OF UPPERMOST NITHSDALE. By WILLIAM WILSON, Sanquhar, book dedicated to the Marquis of Bute, Earl of Dumfries, Lord Crichton of Sanquhar
page 152-153-154
On the farm of Nivinston, in the parish of Kirkconnel, there was actually a room in one of the farm buildings set apart for mendicants, and known all around as the "Beggars' Chamber." The occupier of the Nivinston at that time was Mr Jenkins, a gentleman who belonged to Wales, and who, with his wife, was endued with the spirit of true country hospitality. It is not known if undue advantage was ever taken of the kindness they showed to homeless wanderers, but it is certain that Nivinston acquired a widespread notoriety, and that many vagrants availed themselves of the generous provision made for their comfort by the kind-hearted farmer and his spouse. Similar free accommodation is known to have been provided in Sanquhar parish at the farm of Ulxieside where an outhouse was known as the ''beggars' quarters," and also at Burnfoot, where was a " gaberlunzie's lodgings." But the " Beggars' Chamber " of the Nivinston was the most noted of these quasi almshouses. In fact, it provided not only a sleeping place for mendicants, but at times, when any of the gangrel tribe was seized with illness, it did duty as a hospital, the wretched wanderers receiving all attention from the kind-hearted farmer and his household, so that among the outcast the name of Jenkins became the synonym of all that was good.
In connection with this it is interesting to note that the present-day representative of the charitable farmer of the Nivinston has risen to high rank and honour in his country's service. This is Sir James Jenkins of Nivinston, Mannamead, Plymouth, who was created a K.C.B. in 1887. He is the son of William Jenkins of Nivinston, Kirkconnel, and grandson of William Jenkins of Nivinston, Kirkconnel, and Janet Wilson, daughter of James Wilson, and great-grand-daughter of James Wilson of Polquhirter, the representative of an old family that had held lands in the parish of Cumnock for several centuries. Sir James Jenkins is honorary surgeon to the King. He was bom in 1818, and married Sophia Pauline, daughter of Admiral Luckroft. She died in 1882. Sir James is an M.D. of Glasgow, and an M.R.C. He entered the Royal Navy as assistant surgeon in 1841, became staff surgeon in 1863, deputy-inspector of hospitals in 1872 and inspector-General (retired) in 1878. He served in the Naval Brigade before Sebastopol, 1854-5, for which he received the Crimean medal, with clasps, the Turkish medal, and the Legion of Honour. He was staff surgeon of H.M hospital ships, Belleiale and Surinam, in China from 1857 to 1861 ; he was senior medical officer of the Plymouth Division of the Royal Marine light Infantiy, 1861-9; of the Royal Marine Artillery at Estrey, 1869-72; Deputy Inspector-General of Naval Hospital at Bermuda, 1872-75 ; and of the Royal Naval Hospital at Plymouth, 1875 to his retirement in 1878. Sir James was as a boy, thought to be too delicate for the management of land, and on that account was placed under the care of his uncle Dr Wilson of Leeds. He had a distinguished college and professional career; and truly it may be said, apropos of Sir James and the kind hospitality of his forebears, "never saw I the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging their bread." No doubt the courage, perseverance, and talent of Sir James led to his uniform success; but still, it may be assumed that Providence had marked out for favour the son of such kindly ancestors as the Jenkins of Nivinston showed themselves to be.
page 251-252
WILSONS OF POLQUHIRTER AND JENKINS OF NIVINSTON. The Wilsons of Polquhirter were an ancient family who held lands
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