The following is a history report on the Jelks family (my paternal great grandmother's maiden name). Only my direct lineage is shown; although, I do have some information on other Jelks branches, as well as more detailed information on my own line. I did not include this information here simply because of space constraints.
The first Jelks supposedly came to this country in Cromwell's time and was among the second generation of immigrants to Virginia.
A special THANK YOU goes to David Hopper (a newly found distant cousin) for advising me about the book, Shadows to Sunshine - Jelks Family Connections, to J. Rukin and Keri Jelks for writing the book, and to the Jelks Coffee Company website, where I learned of many other people with this unusual name. If you see a name that you would like to know more about or read something you question, please contact me. I hope you enjoy reading about the Jelks Family name and the indelible mark they have made in this country.
First Generation - Richard Jelks
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Birth Date: About 1650
Birth Place: England
Death Date: 31 Jan 1687
Death Place: Virginia
Notes:
Richard Jelks was an apprentice to John Bromfield for seven years prior to coming to America. He immigrated from Briston, England on the 22 November, 1666.
Spouse: Believed Rookings??
Death Date: Before 1687
Death Place: Virginia
Children: William
Spouse's Notes:
William Rookings, a gentleman, was resident in the same parish (Southwark Parish, Surry County) as Richard Jelks. It is believed that William Rookings was the first ancestor of the Rookings (Rukins) name in America.
Second Generation - William Jelks
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Birth Date: 1675/1687
Birth Place: Surry County, Virginia
Death Date: About 1766
Death Place: Southampton County, St. Luke's Parish, Virginia
Notes:
When William's father, Richard, died -- Francis Mason (close friend or relative) was made executor of Richard's will and guardian of William. Mason was a well-off farmer who owned a 300-acre plantation and a number of slaves. He was also a loyal member of Governor Berkeley's House of Burgesses. Mason died the following year and in his will directed that William continue living with Mason's son-in-law, Thomas Holt. Holt also received one-half of the plantation.
Spouse: Belived Rookings??
Children: William
Richard
Ethelred (Etheldred)
William - Third Generation
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Birth Date: 1715
Death Date: 2 Mar 1769
Death Place: Southhamtpon County, Virginia
Spouse: Ann Johnson
Death Date: After 1782
Death Place: Edgecombe County, North Carolina
Spouse Father: John Johnson
Marriage Date: About 1746
Children: William
Lemuel
Mary
Tabitha (Tabby)
Betty
Lemuel Jelks - Fourth Generation
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Birth Date: About 1750
Birth Place: Southampton County, Virginia
Death Date: 21 Feb 1805
Death Place: Johnston County, North Carolina
Notes:
There is evidence that Lemuel was the "Webfoot Jelks" of family tradition. As related by his third great-grandson, apparently there was a "renegade" of the family that had run off but came back after the war (Revolutionary) to claim his estate. Nobody knew him accept for one old woman who said, "...if he's who he's supposed to be, he's got a webfoot." He pulled his shoe off, and there it was - so he got the estate. In addition, Lemuel apparently got a young lady pregnant out of wedlock ,but shortly thereafter died. Records do show that a Rachel Horn made such a claim in 1804. After Lemuel died in 1805, his executors were ordered to pay Rachel for the upkeep of the child, who was also apprenticed to John Jelks, Lemuel's son and the child's half brother.
Spouse: Lucy Marshall
Birth Date: About 1760
Death Date: Before 6 oct 1805
Spouse Father: John Marshall
Children: Jarrett M.
John
Ethelred (Etheldred)
Elizabeth
Rebecca E.
Tabitha Ann
Jarrett M. Jelks - Fifth Generation
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Birth Date: 1783/1790
Birth Place: Edgecombe County, North Carolina
Death Date: 12 Jan 1828
Death Place: Madison County, Tennessee
Burial Place: Old Union Church, Woodruff County, Arkansas
Notes:
Around 1823, Jarrett M. bought land in Madison County, Tennessee. Since Madison County had been formed a mere three years prior, Jarrett and family were early pioneers of the area. He was only 38 years old when he died in 1828. The inventory of his estate lists 800 acres of land on which he lived plus an additional 44 acres.
Spouse: Mary H. Curtis
Birth Date: About 1790
Birth Place: Wake County, North Carolina
Death Date: About 1875
Death Place: Madison County, Tennessee
Burial Place: Old Union Church, Woodruff County, Arkansas
Spouse Father: Christopher Curtis (1750-1815)
Spouse Mother: Esther Hinton
Marriage Date: 4 May 1812
Marriage Place: Wake County, North Carolina
Children: Mary H.
John Rukin
William H.
Claudia J.
Hinton J.
Candice Louisa
Mary Rebecca
Lemuel M.
Eliza Ann
Lucy J.
John Rukin Jelks - Sixth Generation
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Birth Date: 3 Nov 1814
Birth Place: Wake County, North Carolina
Death Date: 13 Jul 1875
Death Place: Woodruff County, Arkansas
Burial Place: Old Union Church (Fakes) Woodruff County, Arkansas
Notes:
John Rukin moved to Madison County, Tennessee at about age 11, where he spent his young years helping his father to build and develop their 800-acre plantation. At age 14 his father, Jarrett M., died. He was allotted 54 acres in his father's will. Around 1836, he married Emma C. Reese by whom he had six children. (Prior to Emma, it is believed that he married a lady named Boykin, but no other information is available). After Emma Reese, John Rukin married Mary Elizabeth Lane (my Great, Great Grandmother). John Rukin is listed in the deeds of Madison County as sheriff between 1848-1852. Sometime prior to 1854, he moved to Woodruff County, Arkansas where he became the first sheriff until his death in 1875. He rode horseback to the courthouse in Augusta (then known as Chickasaw Crossing). Upon his death, his estate was worth about $2500.
Spouse: Mary Elizabeth Lane
Birth Date: About 1824
Birth Place: Believed North Carolina
Marriage Date: 22 Jan 1845
Children: John Alphonse
Martha Eugenia "Geanie"
Lemuel Albert
Millard E.
Claudia I.
Rebecca E.
Theodore Adelaid
