1. Winfield Scott Hancock, born February 14, 1824 in Montgomery twp., Montgomery Co., PA; died February 09, 1886 in Governors Island, New York. He was the son of 2. Benjamin F. Hancock and 3. Elizabeth Hoxworth. He married (1) Almira D. Russell January 24, 1850.

Children: Russell Hancock, b. October 29, 1850 St. Louis MO, d. December 30, 1880; and Ada Elizabeth Hancock b. February 24, 1857 Ft. Myers FL, d. March 28, 1875.

Notes for Winfield Scott Hancock:

He was the leader of the Union forces during the first day of Gettysburg until the arrival of General Meade. He was a leader in the battles of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania and Cold Harbor too. In 1880 he was the Democratic candidate for President and lost by the narrowest of margins to James Garfield. His father was a boyhood acquaintance of Sam Medary in Montgomery township. Sam Medary was a powerful figure in Ohio Democratic politics in the early to mid-1800s.

More About Winfield Scott Hancock:

Education: 1840, Entered West Point Military Academy at the age of 16. Poem written at age 15.

Graduation: June 30, 1844, West Point Military Academy

With the 6th US Infantry in Mexico until that war ended in 1848.

Military service: General, Civil War:

1861: W.S. Hancock was granted permission to leave his quartermaster post in California to offer his services defending the Union. Commander of a brigade at the Battle of Williamsburg in 1862. He commanded the 1st Division of the Army of the Potomac during the Battle of Fredericksburg and the Battle of Chancellorsville. He commanded the Union forces on the 1st day at Gettysburg. Hancock played a significant role in the fighting at Gettysburg when "Pickett's Charge" took place on July 3, 1863, where he was wounded in battle and in much pain, but continued to direct the battle and encourage his men until the Confederates were driven back. He was at the Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court House, North Anna, Cold Harbor, and the Petersburg Campaign. He remained on active duty until the age of 62, dying while still in the service. President Rutherford B. Hayes called him "through and through pure gold" and "the hero of Gettysburg."

After the war, W.S. Hancock was sent to the south as part of the military oversight of Reconstruction (commander, 5th military district). In reply to a request for more military control (and less reliance on local laws) he famously replied, "It is time now, at the end of almost two years from the close of the war, we should begin to recollect what manner of people we are; to tolerate again free, popular discussion, and extend some forbearance and consideration to opposing views."..."No one can reasonably expect certain and absolute justice in human transactions; and if military power is to be set in motion on the principles for which you would seem to contend, I fear that a civil government, regulated by laws, could have no abiding place under the sun."..."the great principles of American liberty are still the inheritance of this people and ever should be, that the right of trial by jury, the habeas corpus, the liberty of the press, the freedom of speech, and the natural rights of person property must be preserved..." Complete transcript

Involved in the Plains Indian Wars.

Politics: 1880, Candidate, President of the United States, Democratic Party, losing by the narrowest of margins to James Garfield.

A brief biography of Winfield Hancock is given by H.M. Jenkins (1897) in chapter 27. He is also listed in the Jenkins genealogy. He is buried at Montgomery Cemetery, Norristown PA.

More complete internet biographies are at:

2. Benjamin F. Hancock, born October 19, 1800 in Philadelphia PA; died February 01, 1867 in Norristown, Montgomery Co., PA. He was the son of 4. Richard Hancock and 5. Anna Maria. He married 3. Elizabeth Hoxworth.

3. Elizabeth Hoxworth She was the daughter of 6. Edward Hoxworth and 7. Mary Hawkesworth.

More About Benjamin F. Hancock:

Elected: Abt. 1846, Director, Norristown Public Schools

Occupation: 1824, Teacher, Free School, Montgomery Square

A brief biography of Benjamin Hancock is in H.M. Jenkins (1897), chapter27.

A brief genealogy of the Hoxworth family is in H.M. Jenkins (1897), chapter 26.

Children of Benjamin Hancock and Elizabeth Hoxworth are:

4. Richard Hancock, died in At sea. He married 5. Anna Maria.

5. Anna Maria

Notes for Richard Hancock:

Seized by the British before war of 1812 while at sea upon the pretext that he was an English subject and he was for some time confined in Dartmoor prison. He died on a later voyage of ship fever at sea. His wife, in low circumstances, placed her son Benjamin in the care of Squire John Roberts of Montgomery twp.

More About Richard Hancock:

Occupation: Seaman

Child of Richard Hancock and Anna Maria is:

6. Edward Hoxworth He was the son of 12. John Hawkesworth and 13. Elizabeth Jenkins. He married 7. Mary Hawkesworth.

7. Mary Hawkesworth, born 1760; died 1823. She was the daughter of 14. Peter Hawkesworth and 15. Ann Wentz.

Children of Edward Hoxworth and Mary Hawkesworth are:

12. John Hawkesworth He was the son of 24. Peter Hawkesworth and 25. Mary. He married 13. Elizabeth Jenkins.

13. Elizabeth Jenkins She was the daughter of 26. Jenkin Jenkins and 27. Mary.

Children of John Hawkesworth and Elizabeth Jenkins are:

14. Peter Hawkesworth He was the son of 24. Peter Hawkesworth and 25. Mary. He married 15. Ann Wentz.

15. Ann Wentz She was the daughter of 30. Peter Wentz and 31. Mary Jenkins.

Child of Peter Hawkesworth and Ann Wentz is:

24. Peter Hawkesworth, born in England; died Bet. February 26, 1767 - March 22, 1769 in of Hatfield twp., PA. He married 25. Mary.

25. Mary

More About Peter Hawkesworth:

Burial: St. Thomas' Church yard, Whitemarsh twp., Montgomery Co., PA

Immigration: 1730, England to Hatfield twp., PA

Children of Peter Hawkesworth and Mary are:

26. Jenkin Jenkins, born 1659 in Wales; died September 15, 1745 in PA. He married 27. Mary.

27. Mary, born 1690; died November 27, 1764 in PA.

More About Jenkin Jenkins:

Immigration: Abt. 1729, From Wales to PA

Property: November 17, 1730, Bought 350 A in Hatfield twp., PA from Joseph Tucker

Children of Jenkin Jenkins and Mary are:

30. Peter Wentz was born December 22, 1747 in Philadelphia (now Montgomery) Co., PA; died 1839. He was the son of 64. Peter Wentz and 65. Rosanna Margaretha ?. He married (31) Mary Jenkins. She was born Abt. 1750. She was the daughter of John Jenkins and Sarah Hawkesworth.

31. Mary Jenkins She was the daughter of 62. John Jenkins and 63. Sarah Hawkesworth.

Child of Peter Wentz and Mary Jenkins is:

62. John Jenkins, born February 15, 1718/19 in Wales. He was the son of 26. Jenkin Jenkins and 27. Mary. He married 63. Sarah Hawkesworth.

63. Sarah Hawkesworth, born 1720 in England; died January 16, 1794 in PA. She was the daughter of 24. Peter Hawkesworth and 25. Mary.

More About John Jenkins:

Occupation: 1776, Tax assessor for Gwynedd twp.

Property: Received 150 A of the Hatfield land from his father

Children of John Jenkins and Sarah Hawkesworth are:

64. Peter Wentz, born November 19, 1719 in Philadelphia (now Montgomery) Co., PA; died September 13, 1793. He was the son of 66. Peter Wentz and 67. Elizabeth Ruperti. He married 65. Rosanna Margaretha ?. His home in Worcester twp., Montgomery Co., PA is today a museum run by the State of Pennsylvania.

65. Rosanna Margaretha ?, born December 07, 1717.

Children of Peter Wentz and Rosanna ? are:

66. Peter Wentz, born July 26, 1691 in Emmeich, Germany; died November 01, 1749 in Worcester twp., Montgomery Co., PA. He was the son of Anthoni Wentz and Maria Wemers. He married 67. Elizabeth Ruperti.

67. Elizabeth Ruperti, born Abt. 1700 in Partenheim, Hesse.

Notes for Elizabeth Ruperti:

Children of Peter Wentz and Elizabeth Ruperti are:

Sources for this document: Historical Collections of Gwynedd (H.M. Jenkins, self-published, 2^nd edition, 1897; and http://www.Rootsweb.com Worldconnect data bases. Compiled by James A. Quinn, 2001.

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