Grandma Patience was real, and she really had a daughter named Desire.
She also showed her droll wit (and spelling flexibility) in naming her other children: Wata Jencks Veltman, Sally Jencks Hogeboom, Hannah Jencks French, James Jencks Jr, Elmore Jenks, and Sylvester Jencks.
Jencks and Jenks are used interchangeably throughout family history. No doubt the c was dropped to save the cost of ink.
About Philip E Jenks
Philip, a synodical deacon in the ELCA Metropolitan New York synod, is a retired communicator for American Baptist Churches USA, the U.S. Conference for the World Council of Churches, the U.S. National Council of Churches, and two Philadelphia area daily newspapers. He and his spouse, the Rev. Dr. Martha M. Cruz, are the parents of six adults and are members of St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Rye Brook, N.Y. They live in Port Chester, N.Y.
Cakes and Ale 
The name of the game is The Game of the Name. High Jencks for sure.