vol. VI; JENCKES, Joseph, manufacturer, was born in Buckinghamshire, England, in 1632; son of Joseph Jenckes. His father was the inventor of the grass scythe, and a manufacturer of edge-tools. In 1648 he followed his father to Saugus, Mass., and was connected with him in the iron and brass works there, the first established in America. On account of the large amount of charcoal needed for smelting and refining iron ore, the forests around Lynn were rapidly becoming extinct, which caused much alarm among the manufacturers. Jenckes, in order to establish himself in the iron business, followed Roger Williams to Rhode Island, and was granted land in Warwick, in 1669. He purchased a tract of woodland at Pawtucket Falls, near Providence, on the Blackstone river, in 1671. Iron ore was discovered near the falls, and Jenckes built a foundry and forge, which were destroyed during King Philip's war in 1676. He rebuilt the works and laid the foundation of the great iron works of Providence. He was the founder of Pawtucket, R.I. In 1661 he was elected a member of the governor's council, and served as assistant, or lieutenant-governor, and subsequently was a member of the house of deputies. He married Esther Ballard, of Lynn (born in England, 1633), and they had six daughters and four sons. His son Joseph became governor of Rhode Island. He died in Pawtucket, R.I., Jan. 4, 1717.
