This document lists the descendants John Hinkson who emigrated from Co. Cavan in the north of Ireland to Pennsylvania. It is derived largely from published sources. Joe and Judy Smaldone (who is descended from this family) and her husband Joe have studied the early records in Ireland and we now know John was descended from Hinksons who were part of the Settlement of Ulster early in the 17th Century. Joe's document about the "Hinksons in Ulster" is now available on this web site, from which I have derived a summary of the Ulster Hinksons in our normal format. This also provides a link to the Kentucky Hinksons in Tree HK.
The early records are sparse and incomplete, but we know that there was a group of Hinksons centred around Belturbet in Co. Cavan in Ireland (map). This was in the ancient province of Ulster but is now in the Republic of Ireland.
Joe has pointed me to some documents that relate to one Hinkson family that moved from Cavan to Chester, Pennsylvania in about 1765. This is a few miles west of Philadelphia, and only a short distance from Byberry to which HD#6. Abel Hingston had moved from Holbeton in Devon about 100 years earlier.
The core of the document below is based on a paper presented at the Delaware County Historical Society on 26 Sep 1901 at Media, by William Shaler Johnson, in memory of John B. Hinkson. This included an extensive pedigree of the family in Pennsylvania.
To this I have added extracts from an earlier paper in the same volume described the life of Frederick J. Hinkson and information taken from a number of other papers.
Immigration of the Irish Quakers into Pennsylvania, 1682-1750: with their early history in Ireland, by Albert Cook Myers. (This gives interesting background to Quaker history in Ireland).
A history of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and its people, by John Woolf Jordan, 1840-1921; Lewis Historical Publishing Co.
Ashmead's History of Delaware County, Pennsylvania.
A biographical sketch taken from One Hundred Years, The Delaware County National Bank Chester, PA 1814-1914)
Who's who in Delaware County 1926
There is a tradition, not verified, that three brothers of the name of Hinkson went over from Hanover, in north Germany, to County Cavan, in the north of Ireland, early in the seventeenth century, and established the family there, and that the name was possibly Hansen originally. No authority whatever seems to exist for this. All that is really known is that the family was numerous in Ireland and some of its members well to do and in some cases wealthy.
1. JOHN HINKSON married JANE MORROW at the Quaker meeting house in Lurgan, Co. Armagh, in 1747. At the time John was living in Drumgoony, Co. Cavan, and Jane in Tamnaficarbet, Co. Armagh. They emigrated to Upper Providence township, Delaware (then Chester) county, Pennsylvania in about the year 1765. The house in which they lived was reported to be still standing in about 1900, the second one to the right above the Rose Tree Inn. Afterward they removed to Hinkson's Corner (named after them) where Mr. Hinkson had purchased a tract of five hundred acres.
Jane's certificate of transfer was issued at Cootehill and is described in "Immigration of the Irish Quakers into Pennsylvania, 1682-1750: with their early history in Ireland" but if one was issued for John it does not appear to have survived. "Jane Hinkson, wife of John Hinkson, dated 5 Mo. 30, 1764, from Men's Meeting at Cootehill, County Cavan, Ireland; received 1 Mo. 27, 1766. Certificate states that she was a "a Woman of an Easey, mild, modest behavior, Held in Esteem by friends and others; Walked Orderly During her Residing here; was in unity with friends when she Left this." John Hinkson and wife Jane came from Ireland as early as 1764. By deed of March 20, 1764, in which he is styled "of the city of Philadelphia, yeoman," he purchased from Charles Morris and wife two adjoining farms in Nether Providence Township, now Delaware County, for £860. Towards the close of that year he was assessed with 200 acres of land and buildings, worth £16 per annum, 3 horses, 4 cattle, 10 sheep, and 2 servants. He died about 1785, being survived by his wife and eight children: Jane, m. Thomas Dell Weaver; John, d. 2 Mo. 17, 1819. m. about 1784, Abigail Engle; James, m. Betty Crosley; Thomas, m. 5 Mo. 11, 1797, Mary Worrilow; George, m. Catharine Fairlamb and went to Ohio; Mary, d. unmarried; Sarah, m. William Hawkins; Ann, m. Joseph Dickinson. — See Cope's Smedley Genealogy, 209-10."
John and Jane Hinkson had the following children
2. JOHN HINKSON, second son of 1. John and Jane (Morrow) Hinkson, married in 1784 ABIGAIL ENGLE daughter of Frederick and Abigail (Vernon) Engle. He died in about 1818.
They had eight (surviving) children:
3. JOHN HINKSON was born in Nether Providence, 27 Jul 1792, the son of 2. John Hinkson and Abigail Engle, and a farmer. John held the position of steward of the House of Employment of the county, was sheriff, a member of the State Legislature, and a recorder of deeds and register of wills.
(A biographical sketch taken from One Hundred Years, The Delaware County National Bank Chester, PA 1814-1914) http://www.oldchesterpa.com/biographies/hinkson_john.htm
By occupation he was a farmer. Early in life he took prominent parts in the political affairs of the county. In 1820, he was captain of the Delaware Troop of Horse, and in the fall of 1814, the Troop was stationed at Marcus Hook, Camp Gaines, at which time Captain Hinkson was a private in that organization. In 1821, he was steward of the County House, the grounds of which then included much of the present Media. In 1825, he was elected Sheriff, his commission being dated October 17, of that year, serving until October 22, 1828. In 1831, he was a Director of the Poor, and April 23, 1834, was commissioned Prothonotary, Clerk of the Courts, Recorder of Deeds and Register of Wills, serving until July 9, 1836. In that year he was nominated on the Democratic ticket to the Legislature, in which body he acceptably served during the session of 1836-7, but declined a renomination. On 5 Sep 1842 he was elected a director of the Delaware Mutual Insurance Company and held that position at the time of his death. He retired to his farm in Chester township, on part of which the Chester Rural Cemetery is located. For several years before his death he was in feeble health and he died, July 30, 1844, aged 52 years.
John married firstly JEMIMA WORRAL, a daughter of Joseph Worrall, of Upper Providence
They had issue:
John married secondly, ORPHA NAIDE dau. of Joseph Naide of Chester township
They had issue:
9. FREDERICK JAMES HINKSON was born 8 Nov 1803, the son of 2. John Hinkson and Abigail Engle, m. HANNAH B. BROBSON, dau. of William Brobson in 1837. She was born 9 Jun, 1814, and died 9 Jan 1844. F. J. Hinkson died 10 Sep 1879. They are buried in the Friends' burying-ground in Chester.
There is an article about him in the Proceedings of the Delaware County Historical Society, 24 Oct 1899 (available online) entitled "Some incidents in the life and times of Frederick J. Hinkson, one of the Associate Judges of the Courts of Delaware County" by D.M. Johnson, from which much of the following is taken. On the death of his father he worked in the store of Abraham Hamer before learning tailoring and teaching in a school, but in 1828 he joined the Bank of Delaware County as a Clerk. He rose through the ranks at the bank but resigned as Cashier in 1856, by which time he was in business as a tanner with William Brobson, his father-in-law and later with James S. Bell. From 1860 to 1864 he was also President of the Bank. In 1861 there was fear of a Confederate schooner sailing up the Delaware River, so guns were purchased and a watch kept, but it came to nothing. However, in 1863 there was a fear of an advance by General Lee and the Bank's assets were taken on Francis and others to Philadelphia (for onward transmission to New York) for safe-keeping. He held various elected public offices, representing the Whig or Republican parties at various times. He was elected an Associate Judge in 1856. In 1872 he "could have been elected mayor" of Chester, but chose not to stand. The article deals at some length with Hinkson's political views, which of course were tied up with the Civil War and also with the rise of the American or "Know-Nothing" party (which he opposed), which objected to the influence of catholic immigrants, particularly from Ireland and Germany. He apparently attended Quaker meetings although he was not a Friend and his involvement in the Civil War (and encouraging his sons Henry and Charles to sign up when the county was threatened) would have stood out against their pacifist tendencies. He was firmly against slavery throughout his life. Frederick and Hannah were married at St Paul's Episcopal Church on 3rd St., Chester in 1837 (significantly, not at the Quaker Meeting House). Hannah died only seven years after their marriage and Frederick never remarried.
see also http://www.oldchesterpa.com/biographies/hinkson_f_j.htm
They and had issue:
10. EDWARD ENGLE HINKSON was the son of 2. John Hinkson and Abigail Engle m. SARAH SLANTER, dau. of Samuel Slanter of Chester township. He was a carpenter and builder. He was the first building inspector of the city of Chester; held the office for several years, and until his death.
They had issue:
4. JOSEPH H. HINKSON was born in 1817, the son of 3. John Hinkson and his first wife Jemima Worral. He m. LYDIA ANN EDWARDS, dau. of Edward and Mary (Paiste) Edwards,
Joseph was wont to joke with his friends about his "low origin," saying that he was born in the Work House and brought up in the jail, referring to the positions his father held during his childhood. He, too, was at the outset of his life, a farmer, but later entered into partnership with John Baker in the lumber and coal business, in which the firm, named Baker and Hinkson, were very successful. He was at one time County Treasurer and held several offices in the borough. With I. Engle Cochran, Sr., Robert Benedict (who was, apparently, the Father-In-law of Bishop Alonzo Potter), 'I'homas Clyde and others, he united in founding the First Presbyterian church in Chester and was active in the Sunday school which was established, mainly through his efforts, a year before the actual organization of the church in 1853. For several years he had charge of the infant class and he lived to see the school grow from thirty to four hundred members. In 1859, he was ordained an Elder in the church. His death was a sad one. He was accidentally killed April 23d, 1864, at the early age of 47. He was walking by the side of the railroad tracks, just opposite the station, reading some memoranda and was so absorbed that he did not apparently hear the warning cries of three or four who saw his danger. He was struck by the engine, thrown under the wheels and the life crushed out of him. It was said of him that he was a man of "broad views, tender-hearted and full of sympathy for the unfortunate," and by another, that "he was the kindest hearted and most popular man in the county, always ready to lend a helping hand to everyone in distress."
They had issue:
5. JOHN ENGLE HINKSON was the son of 3. John Hinkson and his first wife Jemima Worral. He m. ANNIE PLEASANTS.
They had issue:
6. FREDERICK HINKSON was the son of 3. John Hinkson and his second wife Orpha Nelde. He m. ANNIE HANSELL.
They had issue:
7. WILLIAM HINKSON was the son of 3. John Hinkson and his second wife Orpha Nelde. He m. ANNIE ENGLE, dau. of Edward.
They had issue:
11. JOHN HINKSON was the son of 10. Edward Engle Hinkson and Sarah Slanter, married firstly, SARAH VERNON
They had issue
John married secondly, CECILIA MINNICK
They had a daughter,
8. JOHN BAKER HINKSON, was born 2 Oct 1840, the son of 4. Joseph Hinkson and Lydia Ann Edwards. He married KATE WARRINGTON CALDWELL, youngest dau. of John A. and Sarah Jane (Warrington) Caldwell of the city of Chester on 16 May 1864. John died 22 May 1901.
John was born in the township of Chester. He began, as a school boy in the Oak Grove school, on what is now Twenty-fourth street, the training which was to make him in time one of the most scholarly men in Chester. Later he attended Gray's Academy, now the Gartside school, on West Second street, and from there entered, in 1856, when he was not quite sixteen years old, the Freshman class in Lafayette College. He graduated in June 1860, with high honors, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and three years after, in due course, that of Master of Arts, from his Alma Mater. At his graduation he was elected a member of the oldest college society in the United States the Phi Beta Kappa, founded by Thomas Jefferson in William and Mary College, in the eighteenth century. Members of this society are selected from among the graduates of highest standing in the colleges and universities. It is a post-graduate society and admission depends primarily upon merit in scholarship. It is therefore considered a high honor to be one of the few selected to enter this order. After graduation he was offered a professorship in Lafayette, which he declined. He studied law in the office of John M. Broomall, was admitted to the bar of Delaware county in 1863, at the age of 23. He built up a large and lucrative practice, for a time in association with O. B. Dickinson and, while preferring the part of Counsellor, was associated with many important cases in the county and won success by his careful work, his accurate knowledge of law and his clear reasoning. On 28 Apr 1890, on motion of Solicitor General Taft, he was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States. He was president of the Delaware County Law Library Association for a number of years and up to the time of his death.
He was active in the business and social circles of the city and keenly interested in affairs. He was for years a member of the Board of Trustees of the Pennsylvania Military College and acted as its Secretary and Treasurer until the time of his death. He was a director in the Delaware County Trust, Safe Deposit and Title Insurance Company and also of the Esrey Manufacturing Company, and more or less associated with many other business interests. He was deeply interested in the founding of the Chester Hospital and Mr. Dickinson, speaking of his services in the interest of the Hospital Appropriation Bill, once said that "he was selected as the one man to present the claims of Chester before the Governor, and his argument was so clear and convincing that the Governor at once signed the bill".
Though a Democrat as his grandfather and father had been and an ardent party man, he was not, in the ordinary sense, a politician. In 1876 he was elected to City Council for the Middle ward, and in 1893 he was nominated and elected Mayor of the city by a substantial majority over the Republican candidate. At one time also he allowed himself to be nominated for the State Senate, but was defeated by Thomas V. Cooper.
Mr. Hinkson was a man of strong religious convictions and until 1872 a member, as his father had been, of the First Presbyterian church. In the fall of that year he connected himself with the Third Presbyterian church, of which he was a member until his death. From the organization of this church he was one of the trustees and for most of the time a Ruling Elder.
John and Kate had issue:
12. JOSEPH H. HINKSON He was born in the city of Chester, on May 22nd, 1865. the son of 8. John Baker Hinkson and Kate Warrington Caldwell. He married BESSIE WARD, dau. of Joseph H and Maria E. (Partridge) Ward, He was an Attorney-at-Law and President of the Cambridge Trust Company, Chester. He lived at Ridley Park. He was a member of the Union League, Philadelphia, Chester Club. Penn Club, Springhaven Country, and the Rolling Green Golf Club. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, Chester Lodge; of which he was former Past Master, Past High Priest Chester Chapter, R. A. M., and Past Commander of Chester Commandery, No. 66, K.T. He was a member of the U. of P. Law School, Class 1886. He was a director of the First National Bank, of Chester, Ridley Park National Bank. Consumers’ Ice Company and many other corporations. He was a Republican and attended the Presbyterian church.
Joseph and Bessie had issue
Return to Hingston One-Name Study
Updated 28th January 2017 C J Burgoyne