United States Congressman from New York

Attorney for the Oneida Indians of New York

(1799-1859) Born in Barre, Massachusetts, he moved to Washington County, New York in 1817. He attended academies in Salem and White Creek, and then taught school while studying law with Samuel Beardsley and William H. Maynard in Utica, and Lauren Ford in Herkimer, N.Y. Jenkins was admitted to the bar in 1824, and resided in Vernon and Oneida Castle, where he practiced. In Oneida Castle he also served in local offices including that of postmaster, and fire warden. He was the attorney for the "Oneida Indians" from 1838 to 1845, and he negotiated with the state of New York to resolve land claims and create reservations for them. He served as district attorney for Oneida County from 1840 to 1845. He served in the U.S. Congress from 1845-49, and 1851-53 when he served as chairman of the Committee on Private Land Claims. During his time in Congress, Jenkins was a prominent opponent of slavery, and he supported the Wilmot Proviso, which he was thought to be the author of, and he was in extremely firm opposition to the Kansas–Nebraska Act. As a result of his anti-slavery views Jenkins became a Republican when the party was founded, and in 1856 he served as delegate to the first Republican National Convention. In 1858, he was a candidate for the Republican nomination for Governor of New York, and lost to Edwin D. Morgan, who went on to win the general election. Jenkins died on December 24, 1859, while attending a session of the New York Supreme Court in Martinsburg. He was interred at City Cemetery in Oneida Castle.

Signature With Place: 5 1/4 x 1 1 /4 in ink, Timothy Jenkins, Oneida Castle, N.Y. Light age toning.