U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Tonkin, Jacob C. ------------------------------------------------------------------- History of Braxton County and Central West Virginia by John Davison Sutton Sutton, West Virginia, January, 1919 Page 444 A remarkable history — from wealth in infancy to extreme poverty in later life — from a devoted life of usefulness to a cruel, tragic death. Jacob C. Tonkin's father came from England as a soldier in the Revolution. With quite a number of others, he deserted at Redbank and joined the American forces. After the war, he was rewarded by the gift of a tract of land on the Delaware river. He married and reared a family of sixteen boys, Jacob C. being the youngest. At one time in the history of this family, there were seventy-two boys of the generation, and only one girl. Jacob C., was born and reared at or near Philadelphia, and learned the stone-cutter's trade. He married Ann Guess, a Welch lady of education and refinement. Mr. Tonkins failed in business, and his effects were sold to pay his debts. With what little they could carry, he removed his family in a wheelbarrow. He and his wife, with three sons, Wm., Edward and Ambrose, started on a long march toward the western wilds of West Virginia, and settled at Jane Lew in about 1845. Two years later, he removed to Braxton county, and settled on Salt Lick where he made his future home. Besides the above-named sons, his family consisted of Francis Asbury, John I., and a daughter who was drowned in infancy by falling in a tub of water, thus leaving the generation of seventy-two boys. Of the family of sixteen boys, have come men of prominence, Congressmen, Judges, Ministers. Jacob C. Tonkins was one of the early ministers of the M. P. Church, and his tragic death is noted on another page. [Page 204, which follows] Page 204 The most atrocious and revolting murder that was committed in central West Virginia was the brutal killing of Jacob Tonkin, an aged and respected citizen living on Salt Lick of Little Kanawha. Mr. Tonkins was a local preacher in the M. E. church. It is said that a scout of Federal soldiers accompanied by some young men of the neighborhood, went to his house and professed to be southern soldiers, and led Mr. Tonkin to say something which indicated to them that he was a southern man, and from this a report was circulated that led to his murder. He was out in a lot near his house, and a squad of soldiers rode up and fired at him, and it is said that six balls took effect in his body, but he was able by the assistance of his wife and some other members of his family to get to the house. Two of the soldiers went to the house and his aged wife begged them not to hurt him as he was already mortally wounded, but one of the men drew his carbine and shot him in the back of the head. The squad of soldiers were said to belong to Roan's Cavalry, commanded by Lieutenant Lawson. The two men who went to the house and did the last shooting were said to be from Wheeling, their names being Burnhart and Skinner. Nowhere in the annals of savage warfare when savagery and civilization clashed in deadly combat, was there a more brutal spirit of the lower instincts of humanity shown than in the murder of this aged Christian gentleman. ------------------------------------------------------------------- (son of Jacob C. Tonkin) From Register of Deaths, Braxton County, WV (Page 50, Line Numbered 14) FULL-NAME: Wm. Tonkin BIRTH-PLACE: Pennsylvania DEATH-DATE: January 11, 1882 at age 52y-9m-19d DEATH-PLACE: Kanawha District MARITAL-STATUS: Consort of Mary Tonkin OCCUPATION: Farmer PARENTS: Jacob C. & Ann Tonkin CAUSE-OF-DEATH: Heart Disease INFORMANT: John W. Tonkin, son ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Braxton County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/braxton/bios.html -------------------------------------------------------------------