Waterloo Region Generations
A record of the people of Waterloo Region, Ontario.
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Andrew Jenkins

Andrew Jenkins

Male 1844 - 1924  (80 years)

Personal Information    |    Media    |    Notes    |    Sources    |    Event Map    |    All    |    PDF

  • Name Andrew Jenkins 
    Born 3 May 1844  Saint Germans, , Norfolk, England Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8] 
    Residence 1848  Saint Germans, , Norfolk, England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Christened 12 May 1848  Wiggenhall, Saint Germans, , Norfolk, England Find all individuals with events at this location  [9] 
    Gender Male 
    Immigration 1852  , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [3] 
    Immigration 1857  , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [1] 
    Residence 1861  North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [4] 
    Church of England 
    Occupation 1871  North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [6] 
    Acrobat 
    Occupation 1871  North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [6] 
    Farmer 
    Residence 1871  North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [6] 
    Anglican 
    Residence 1871  North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [6] 
    Anglican 
    Occupation 1881  North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2] 
    Photographer 
    Residence 1881  North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2] 
    Church of England 
    Occupation 1891  North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [5] 
    Farmer 
    Residence 1891  North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [5] 
    Presbyterian 
    Occupation 1901  North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [1] 
    Farmer 
    Residence 1911  North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [3] 
    Anglican 
    Died 14 Jul 1924  Branchton, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [7, 8] 
    Hall of Fame - Waterloo Region Bef 2012  , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [10] 
    Interesting Dare Devil 
    Andrew Jenkins crossing the Niagara    		 Andrew Jenkins crossing the Niagara
    Jenkins,Andrew-tightropebicycle-002.jpg    		 Jenkins,Andrew-tightropebicycle-002.jpg
    Andrew Jenkins crossing the Niagara
    Eby ID Number Waterloo-73937 
    Buried Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [7, 8] 
    Person ID I73937  Generations
    Last Modified 25 Apr 2024 

    Father Benjamin Jenkins,   b. 1812, , England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 6 Jan 1864, Victoria, British Columbia Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 52 years) 
    Mother Sarah Mayner,   b. 28 Apr 1808, , England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 26 Aug 1902, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 94 years) 
    Family ID F228484  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Agnes Arthur,   b. 11 Sep 1847, Branchton, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 9 Mar 1923, Branchton, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 75 years) 
    Children 
     1. Bernie Jenkins,   b. 1869, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     2. Benjamin Arthur "Benny" Jenkins,   b. 22 Jun 1870, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 20 Apr 1906, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 35 years)
    Last Modified 26 Apr 2024 
    Family ID F19234  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Photos
    Andrew Jenkins    		Andrew Jenkins
    from Waterloo Region Hall of Fame
    Andrew Jenkins' original tight rope bicycle    		Andrew Jenkins' original tight rope bicycle
    Waterloo Region Museum display 2012

  • Notes 
    • ANDREW JENKINS 1844-1924

      Married: Agnes Arthur. Known as "The Canadian Blondin", in reference to the famous French daredevil who crossed the gorge at Niagara Falls in 1859, Andrew Jenkins was born in Gloucestershire, England on May 3, 1844. He emigrated from England in 1850 and arrived in the area when his father, Benjamin Jenkins, obtained the contract to build the Great Western Railway line from Harriston to Galt. The family made its home in Branchton while work on the railway was in progress. In 1859, when Andrew Jenkins was fifteen years old, his father took him to Niagara Falls to watch the French daredevil Jean Francois Gravelet, better known as the Great Blondin, cross the Niagara gorge on a tightrope. Andrew Jenkins was so impressed by the feat that he strung a rope between two trees in his backyard and began practising tightrope walking, hoping someday to emulate his new hero. Ten years later Professor Jenkins, as he was called during his performances, crossed the Niagara gorge on a bicycle that he had designed. His Niagara crossing was reportedly witnessed by 50,000 spectators and provided instant fame. He was in demand and gave performances in Canada and the United States for the next fourteen years, developing a number of innovations along he way. In one of his stunts he would take a stove to the centre of the rope and make pancakes which he would then throw to people in canoes far below. Other stunts included sitting on a chair while on the rope and reclining on the rope. Upon his retirement from tightrope walking, Mr. Jenkins opened photography studios in Galt and Dunnville. He was partially blinded when a bottle of ammonia exploded while he was working in Dunnville. Mr. Jenkins died in Branchton on July 24, 1924 and is buried in Mount View Cemetery.

      Cambridge Mosaic, Jim Quantrell, 1998, City of Cambridge

  • Sources 
    1. [S180] Census - ON, Waterloo, North Dumfries - 1901, Dumfries (North) B-1 Page 5.

    2. [S205] Census - ON, Waterloo, North Dumfries - 1881, North Div. 2 Page 83.

    3. [S562] Census - ON, Waterloo, North Dumfries - 1911, Div. 1 Page 4.

    4. [S1778] Census - ON, Waterloo, North Dumfries - 1861, Div 4 Page 35.

    5. [S2042] Census - ON, Waterloo, North Dumfries - 1891, Sect. 2 Page 2.

    6. [S355] Census - ON, Waterloo, North Dumfries - 1871, Sect. 1 Page 54.

    7. [S122] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Cambridge - Mount View CC#4495 Internet Link .
      [S] Andrew/ JENKINS/ died in Branchton/ July 14, 1924/ in his/ 81st year/

    8. [S3231] Find A Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/138997549.

    9. [S2633] Norfolk, England, Bishop's Transcripts, 1579-1935, Baptisms Solemnized in the Parish of Wiggenhall St. Germans.
      Andrew S. 3 years of age, bapt 23 May 1848 s/o Benjamin & Sarah Jenkins, abode St. Germans

    10. [S220] Waterloo Region Hall of Fame Waterloo Region Hall of Fame.

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 3 May 1844 - Saint Germans, , Norfolk, England Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1848 - Saint Germans, , Norfolk, England Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsChristened - 12 May 1848 - Wiggenhall, Saint Germans, , Norfolk, England Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsImmigration - 1852 - , Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsImmigration - 1857 - , Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Church of England - 1861 - North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Acrobat - 1871 - North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Farmer - 1871 - North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Anglican - 1871 - North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Anglican - 1871 - North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Photographer - 1881 - North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Church of England - 1881 - North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Farmer - 1891 - North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Presbyterian - 1891 - North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Farmer - 1901 - North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Anglican - 1911 - North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDied - 14 Jul 1924 - Branchton, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsHall of Fame - Waterloo Region - Bef 2012 - , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBuried - - Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 


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