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The Rev. Williams Jenkins House, located on the east half of Lot 27 Concession 5, was constructed in 1817 and provides a fine, early example of Neo-Classic architecture. Set on a fieldstone foundation, the dwelling is rectangular in plan with a 5-bay front façade. The exterior is wooden clapboard with corner boards.
The house was the home of Reverend William Jenkins (1779-1843) who was the first Presbyterian minister to settle permanently in this part of Ontario. As an itinerant preacher, he ministered to settlers anywhere from Pickering Township in the east to the Grand River in the west, from York, north to Lake Simcoe. Rev. Jenkins was the only Protestant minister authorised by the government of Upper Canada to solemnise marriages in this area for many years.
The construction of the Jenkins House in 1817 is documented in papers that were in the possession of Jenkins descendants, which included a record of accounts with James Fenwick for work including handling of building materials and carpentry under the direction of a Mr. Forfar. Previously an estimated construction date of c.1830 was proposed for this early house.
In 1851, the property was sold to William Carruthers. His descendants were the owners until 1973, when the property was sold to a group of investors.
By the late 2010s, the Jenkins House had fallen into a state of severe disrepair, resulting in the collapse of the roof and floor structure. When on-site restoration became unlikely, relocation to Markham Heritage Estates was proposed. In 2018, significant architectural features were salvaged and stored for future installation on a replica structure. The building’s timber frame had seriously deteriorated due to years of water damage and could not be saved. Reconstruction at Markham Heritage Estates did not occur, but in 2025 the salvaged components remained in storage by a private owner for potential reconstruction elsewhere.
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