THE SONS OF SAMUEL-II GENTRY
Part 7. The Spartanburg, South Carolina, Gentrys
by
Willard Gentry
Abstract
Samuel Gentry (the Elder), Nathaniel Gentry, Samuel Gentry (the
Younger) and Richard Gentry (the Revolutionary War pensioner of Rockcastle
County, Kentucky) are discussed and their possible relationships to Samuel-II Gentry
considered.
Introduction
A group of Gentrys living in Old Ninety-Six District and subsequently in
Spartanburg District in South Carolina are undoubtedly a part of the
extended family of Samuel-II Gentry. The scanty information about these
Gentrys is described. Samuel Gentry (the Elder) is surely Samuel-III
Gentry, a son of Samuel-II. The other Gentrys are not so easy to identify.
A Side-bar - History of Ninety-Six District and Spartanburg
District
South Carolina had some peculiarities of history and nomenclature that can
be confusing to the uninformed. In addition, it is always helpful to know a
little about the history of an area when studying those who lived there.
Accordingly, this brief account of the early history of "up-country" South
Carolina is inserted, beginning with its opening for settlement in 1755 when
Governor Glen negotiated a treaty with the Cherokee Indians which ceded
their hunting grounds to the whites.
The earliest settlers were along the Pacolet and Tyger Rivers in the mid-1750's.
Scotch-Irish from Pennsylvania and direct immigration from Northern
Ireland arriving through Charleston, were the first to come After the first
influx, more settlers arrived from the north which gave easier access.
These were mostly immigrants from Virginia, of English extraction and
dissenters from the Established Church of the mother country. The
topography and climate of Spartanburg District was very favorable. The
distribution of rivers, numerous springs and small creeks and the gentle
slopes of the watershed combined to make the area one of the best in the
Eastern United States for farming and grazing. It was difficult to make
money farming, however, because of the lack of a transportation system.
Even so it was a popular site for pioneer settlers to establish new lives.
Originally the area was all a part of Craven County, which dated from
1685. In 1769, Ninety-Six District was created, extending to the Georgia
and North Carolina borders. The latter boundary was uncertain, and grants
from North Carolina in Mecklenburg and Tryon Counties overlapped with grants
from South Carolina in Ninety-Six District. A Commission of the General
Assembly in 1783 and 1785 laid off Ninety-Six District into six smaller
counties for greater ease in administration and attendance at courts.
Abbeville, Edgefield, and Newberry Counties were created in 1783. In 1785,
Spartanburg, Laurens, and Union Counties completed the division of Ninety-Six
District. Following this partition, the Ninety-Six District Circuit
Court met on an established schedule at each of the county seats, while
county courts and county officials were established in each county
separately. The first Spartanburg courthouse was built in 1787 at the
present location of the city of Spartanburg.
An Act of 1798-1799 abolished county courts. Thereafter each of the six
counties was designated a District, with a separate District Circuit Court.
On 1 Jan 1800, Spartan County became interchangeably Spartan District and
Spartanburgh District. Through usage and time, the "h" in Spartanburgh was
dropped, and the name evolved to Spartanburg. All South Carolina
"Districts" remained such until the adoption of the Constitution of 1868 at
which time (under Federal pressure), the designation "County" was adopted.
We may also mention that a stumbling block for genealogists working with
early South Carolinians is the fact that there was no mechanism for
recording marriages until modern times. We can draw information from deeds
where dower was relinquished, or from probate records, but for the most
part, marriage information is lacking. Still another factor that should be
kept in mind is that South Carolina revoked all colonial land grants at the
start of the Revolutionary War. New grants were not issued until after the
end of the war. Thus records of land grants dating after the war may not
reflect the date at which the land was first occupied.
Section A. Samuel-III Gentry
Nomenclature
Four Samuel Gentrys were living in the Spartanburg district of South
Carolina during the period between the 1790 and 1800 censuses. To minimize
problems in identifying these Samuels, the author has adapted the system
used by the residents of Louisa County, Virginia in the mid-1750's in
identifying three contemporaneous Nicholas Gentrys. The oldest of the
three, whom we propose to identify as Samuel-III, the son of Samuel-II
Gentry, is referred to herein as Samuel the Elder (or sometimes as Samuel
Senior). We will refer to his son as Samuel Junior. The second-oldest
Samuel, is referred to as Samuel the Younger. He appears in a number of
references prior to 1800 and is in the 1790 census along with Samuel the
Elder. Finally, one of the sons of Samuel the Younger was also a Samuel and
we shall simply refer to him as the son of this Samuel. The author has used
his judgment in differentiating between the two older Samuels in South
Carolina references that could refer to either, and also between the two
younger Samuels.
In the records of Surry County, North Carolina, differentiating between
Samuel-III Gentry and his nephew Samuel, the son of Joseph-III Gentry, is also
difficult in a number of references. Again the author has used his judgment
in deciding which is which. In the North Carolina references, Samuel-III is
identified as such, whereas the other Samuel is identified as the son of
Joseph.
Samuel Gentry References Prior to 1770
During the time that members of Samuel-II Gentry's family were living in
Lunenburg County, Virginia, there are only three references that can be
attributed to Samuel-III, and none of them are in Lunenburg County. Young
Samuel is mentioned in 1761 and 1762 in three Johnston County, North
Carolina references <1> as a surveyor's chainbearer. The
three references describe two separate surveys Samuel took part in during
the platting of land for John Spencer and David Allen respectively, along
the Neuse River. How can we rationalize this Samuel Gentry as being one of
the sons of Samuel-II?
Item 1. There is only one prior reference in Johnston County to a
Gentry (namely, John Gentry who witnessed a deed in 1759) and no subsequent
references to any Gentrys. This leads to the supposition that any Gentrys
were present in that county only in visiting or transitory status.
Item 2. David Gentry was described in Lunenburg County in a 1759 deed
as being "of Johnson [sic] County, North Carolina", although
apparently he did not remain there. From this we know that David was in
North Carolina for a period of time and It is reasonable to suggest that
Samuel (who we propose to be a younger brother) may have accompanied David
during that time.
Item 3. The David Allen for whom Samuel assisted in surveying a land
grant application was involved in a sale of land in 1759 in Lunenburg
County, jointly with another brother of Samuel, Allen Gentry. This David
was also identified as being "of Johnston County" in the deed. This
reinforces the close relationship of the Allens and Gentrys in Johnston
County with the Gentry family in Lunenburg County.
In 1767, a Samuel Gentry witnessed a deed for land along Mountain Creek
in Mecklenburg County, Virginia (which was separated from Lunenburg County
in 1765<2>. This is just across the county border from
Lunenburg County. The land in question appears to be adjacent to land which
William Allen (the buyer in this transaction) purchased in 1759, and also
adjacent to a James Arnold who was a neighbor in both instances.
Interestingly, the 1759 purchase was witnessed by David Gentry, and involved
trading land which William Allen owned in Johnston County, North Carolina,
for the Virginia land. Our conclusion is that the Samuel who witnessed in
1767 is the same Samuel who had such close ties to David Gentry in the
period from 1759 to 1762.
Samuel Gentry in Surry County, North Carolina
Beginning in 1771, a Samuel Gentry appears in the tax and land records of
Surry County, North Carolina. While there is nowhere a direct tie between
this Samuel and the Samuel Gentry of Virginia, the presence of Samuel with
the same Gentry siblings who all lived previously in Lunenburg County, is
virtually conclusive evidence that Samuel was a part of the Samuel-II
family.
The Surry County tax records<3> suggest that Samuel
accompanied his older brothers, Richard and Nicholas, to North Carolina.
Samuel is listed in tax records with them in 1771, 1772, and 1774 and again
in 1782. Tax records for the county are missing for the period during 1775
to 1780 (during the Revolutionary War), but another undated record which may
date from 1781, also includes Samuel with Richard and Nicholas. A final tax
listing dated 1786, is suggested as applying to this Samuel only because the
acreage of land (400) for which he was being taxed, matches the 1782 tax and
a state land grant consummated in 1792.
The land in question, on the slopes of a prominent hill named Fox Knob
(or "Nob") at the headwaters of Deep Creek in old Surry County. [Today,
after a number of divisions of Surry County, the hill is located in northern
Yadkin County.] It is obvious that Samuel occupied this land at least from
1782 onward, (see reference also to him holding land in
1784<4a>), but he did not receive title from the state
until 1792<4b>. A rather prolonged gap in time between
filing for land and receiving title was not unusual, and it may have taken
Samuel that long to accumulate the £10 necessary to pay for the land.
We do not know how long Samuel remained in North Carolina, but tax
records between 1782 and 1790 do not show his presence in any consistent
sequence. We do know that he was in South Carolina at the time of the 1790
census (which was actually recorded in 1791), so he had apparently moved
permanently by that time.
The fact that it was the same Samuel Gentry who owned the Fox Knob land
that moved to South Carolina, is convincingly shown by the sale of this land
in 1801<4c>. Samuel's four sons, Allen, Nicholas, Jeremiah,
and Samuel Jr. are named in the deed as heirs of the deceased Samuel Gentry
of South Carolina.
Samuel Gentry in South Carolina
While there are a limited number of references to Samuel's sons in the
Spartanburg District records, the only reference to Samuel Sr. is in the
1790 census<18a>. It is here that we have to distinguish
between Samuel the Elder (who is found on p. 87 of the printed publication
of the census with a household listing of 2 - 2 - 1) and Samuel the Younger
(who is on p. 86 with a household listing of 3 - 2 - 3 adult males, males
under the age of sixteen and females respectively). Samuel the Elder's
oldest son, Allen is included separately in this census, but his three other
sons, and Samuel himself are listed under Samuel's name.
By the time of the 1800 census<18b>, Samuel the Elder is
missing, presumably having died that year or in the immediately preceding
period (based upon his North Carolina property being sold in 1801). Three
of Samuel's sons are listed separately in the 1800 census, namely Allen,
Nicholas and Jeremiah. Samuel the Younger and a son, Reuben, are also in
the 1800 census. A second, younger Samuel in the same census is almost
surely a second son of Samuel the Younger. He is listed with a date of
birth of 1774 to 1784, roughly five years older than Samuel Jr (see below),
and recently married. This Samuel shows up again in the 1810 Spartanburg
census (born 1765-1784), with five children under the age of
ten<18c>.
As will be seen below, Samuel Jr., son of Samuel-III, is believed to have
eventually moved to Spencer County, Indiana along with cousins from Surry
County, North Carolina. The Indiana Samuel, listed as age 65 in 1850 (born
about 1785), had a son Allen who was age 41, thus born about 1809. It is
difficult to conceive of this Samuel being married by 1800, at an age of
only 15. The author has concluded that the Indiana Samuel could not have
been in the 1800 South Carolina census, and must have left the state before
then, probably going first to North Carolina where he was present in 1801
for the selling of his father's land.
Sons of Samuel Gentry the Elder
We have mentioned above that, Samuel's son Allen is listed individually in
the 1790 census, and two of the other three sons were also in the 1800
census. The author has estimated that Allen may have been born about 1770,
in which case he was very probably born in North Carolina. Allen's name is
found in at least one court record in 1798<5>. He also is
included in a number of deed and trust records beginning in 1792 and
continuing until 1802 when he sold his homestead property on Ferguson's
Creek and is believed to have left South Carolina<7g>.
There is no clear evidence of where he went, but the most likely
speculations are that he went to the Indian territory in southeastern
Tennessee. This writer believes that the Sally Gentry who appears in the
1810 Spartanburg census was Allen's widow who returned to her former home
after the presumed death of Allen in Tennessee. Sally's name does not
appear in any other census records, and we can assume she remarried. The
two sons in the family in 1800, are thought to have remained in Tennessee
after Sally's return to South Carolina, and there has been much speculation
as to what happened to these sons which goes beyond the scope of the present
article. The two sons living with Sally in 1810 (born 1800-1810), were
younger sons born either in South Carolina or Tennessee, but before Allen
died. We have no clue as to what happened to these two Gentry boys in later
years.
Samuel's second son, Nicholas, was probably born in about 1772 or 1773,
in Surry County, North Carolina. Nicholas is the son present with Samuel in
1790 who was over sixteen years of age. Besides being in census records for
1800 to 1840, Nicholas' name is in three deeds, dated 1810, 1821, and
1822<7h,i,j>, all involving sales of land along Ferguson's
Creek. He was a land owner at least by 1799<7d>. The
records for his purchase of this land are missing. Nicholas is missing from
the 1850 census but we do not have a record of his date of death. His widow
is thought to be the "M. Gentry" found in the 1850 census. Two probable
sons, Sevier (or Severe) and Riley, are mentioned briefly in deeds, living
in the same area of Spartanburg District<13e,g,k>.
The third son of Samuel Sr., Jeremiah (or Jerry/Jerrey) was probably born
about 1774. He and Samuel Jr. were the two sons of Samuel Sr who were under
age sixteen in the 1790 census. Jeremiah served as a juror in the county
court and a case against him in court was dismissed<6>.
Both of these references were in 1806. In 1799, Jeremiah was cited (along
with his brother Nicholas) as a neighbor in a land sale along the South
Tyger River<7d>, and two years later, Jeremiah witnessed a
deed for another neighbor<7e>. Jeremiah was in the
Spartanburg censuses until 1820. His widow, Sarah is believed to have been
living with their son, Jeremiah Jr., in 1840. She may be the Sarah or Sally
Gentry who appears in three Spartanburg deed references between 1836 and
1845, living along the Enoree River<13h,n,y>.
The youngest son, Samuel Jr. does not appear by name in any South
Carolina records. He is believed to be the Samuel Gentry who was in Ohio
County, Kentucky, in 1810<18c>, and thereafter in Spencer
County, Indiana along with several sons of his namesake cousin Samuel of
Surry County, North Carolina, and Barren County, Kentucky (son of Joseph-III
Gentry). In 1850, Samuel Jr was listed as age 65 (born about 1785 in South
Carolina), his wife "Susiana" was age 69 at the time, and they were living
with a son Allen, age 41, born in Kentucky.
If the ages of Jeremiah and Samuel Jr. are approximately correct, there
is a sizeable gap between them. If any children were born to Samuel Sr.
during that period of time, they should have been of an age where one would
expect them to still be living with their parents at the time of the 1790
census. It is conceivable that the female present in 1790 was a daughter of
Samuel rather than his wife. On the other hand, Samuel was probably only
about fifty years old in 1790, and it would be well within reason for his
wife to still be living at that time. Thus, if Samuel had any children
between Jeremiah and Samuel Jr., the chances are they died young.
The Curious Case of Polly Gentry
We would be remiss in not mentioning a Polly Elizabeth Gentry who appears in
some genealogy records as marrying John Ridings, and proposed as a daughter
of Samuel Sr<8>. This writer has tried to find the source
of this published information, which was passed on by a member of the
Ridings family. There are several problems with the information as
published in the cited publication. A major concern is the listed date of
marriage, during a time when Samuel Gentry was in Lunenburg County,
Virginia, and there were no Gentrys of any description living in North
Carolina. The family of John Ridings is badly mangled, the children do not
at all correspond to reliable family listings for John Ridings, and marriage
dates are quite inappropriate for a marriage of John and Polly to have been
in 1757. Considering the listed parents for John, this family does not seem
to represent a different John Ridings than the one who lived for many years
in Surry County, North Carolina, rather it was a case of misidentifying the
members of his family.
It appears that this citation has combined a number of facts concerning
the Gentry and the Ridings families in a completely haphazard fashion. The
known facts are that John Ridings did indeed marry a Gentry, but it was Anna
Gentry, who was a daughter of Joseph-III Gentry. Anna's brother was a
Samuel, but a nephew of Samuel-III. Joseph and his son Samuel were also
involved in a sale of land to John Ridings. These combinations of
circumstances may have led someone to put together their "facts" in an
inappropriate manner.
Conclusion - Samuel
Despite the extreme scarcity of direct references to Samuel Gentry the
Elder, these references and the circumstances of where Samuel lived at
different times in his life, provide virtually conclusive proof of his
parentage. Samuel was undoubtedly a son of Samuel-II Gentry and Samuel's
wife Ann. We can very roughly estimate his date of birth as approximately
1740. It is probable that he was the youngest of Samuel-II's sons.
Section B. Nathaniel, Samuel the Younger, and Richard
Gentry
Nathaniel Gentry
Interestingly, the first record of Nathaniel Gentry is found, not in South
Carolina, but in the Surry County, North Carolina tax records in
1782<3>. In that year four Gentrys from South Carolina
were present in Surry County at the time of the annual tax assessment. The
writer has presumed that the timing of this visit corresponded with a period
right at the end of the Revolutionary War when great numbers of North
Carolina Tories fled the state. Their abandoned lands became available for
filing by prospective new owners and the South Carolina Gentrys were
probably on a scouting expedition. It is significant that these four
visiting Gentrys, namely: Nathaniel, Hezekiah, and Hezekiah's sons Runnel
[Reynolds] and Robert were taxed only for their horses and not for
any land. This occasion certainly shows a close association of Nathaniel
with both the Surry County Gentrys and with Hezekiah and the latter's
family.
The next references to Nathaniel in order of time have him listed in
indexes of South Carolina land grants with 2 grants dated 1785 and 1792, one
showing acreage on the Tyger River and the other on the Pacolet River
<9>. These dates are deceptive and give no clue to when
Nathaniel first filed for and occupied the land. As has already been
indicated, South Carolina cancelled title to all colonial land grants at the
start of the Revolutionary War and then re-issued grants to occupants after
the war. There are no further records of deeds involving other Gentrys
until after 1800.
Because of the appearance of Nathaniel's name in the early North Carolina
reference and the fact that his name is the only one found in the earliest
South Carolina references, this author has reached the conclusion that
Nathaniel was the oldest of the "Other Gentrys" of Spartanburg named in the
title of this section. Further, he is a likely candidate for being
considered as the patriarch of the family if indeed this was a single
family. In addition to Samuel the Younger, and Richard Gentry, Tyre Gentry
lived for a time in Spartanburg District and may have been part of this
proposed family. Still another member of this group appears to be a son and
family living with Nathaniel at the time of the 1790
census<18a>.
Nathaniel's name is briefly mentioned as a juror in county court in
1793<10>, and a Matthew Gentry is cited three years later.
Both names disappear from South Carolina records after 1796. A Nathaniel
Gentry found in Pulaski County, Kentucky in 1810<18c> is
suggested as being the same Nathaniel. This Nathaniel and his wife appear
in 1810 to be the parents of a younger family consisting of husband,
(presumably a son of Nathaniel), possibly a wife, and either ten or eleven
children. The oldest four of these children (three boys and a girl)
correspond well with the children who were living with Nathaniel in South
Carolina in 1790. The identity of the son living with Nathaniel in 1790 and
1810 is not certain but may be the Matthew who appeared in the Spartanburg
court references in 1796. There is no further trace of Nathaniel or his
wife after the 1810 census which is understandable since they would have
been about 80 years old by then. A Matthew Gentry (and son Samuel Gentry)
living in Vermillion County, Indiana in 1830 may be part of the family
living with Nathaniel in 1810. There are no Matthews in the 1820 census
that could correspond to this family.
Samuel Gentry the Younger
The next Gentry in order of apparent age in the Spartanburg District was
Samuel the Younger. The 1800 census reports him as older than 45 (born
before 1755)<18b>. By combining census and other records,
we can propose a family for him consisting of Reuben Gentry (born several
years before 1774), a son Samuel (born probably just before 1774), a son
Richard (born perhaps shortly after 1780), and a son Nathaniel who was born
about 1785 (according to the 1850 census). In addition he had four
daughters born before 1790. With a total of eight children born before
1790, two of them before 1774, Samuel must have been married in about 1770.
This places his date of birth well before 1755, and probably between 1745
and 1750. If this Samuel was a son of Nathaniel as the author has
suggested, Nathaniel was probably born before 1730.
References to all four of Samuel's sons are found in the Spartanburg deed
books, but none to Samuel himself<12,13>. Court records
relating to a controversy over the settlement of Samuel's
estate<14>, show that he died in 1819, that his wife's name
at the time of his death was Fanny, that Nathaniel was a son who cared for
his parents in their old age, and that Reuben Gentry was administrator of
the estate. Reuben undoubtedly was the oldest son.
Reuben left Spartanburg District probably in 1821<12q>
and moved to Anderson District. There he was listed in census records in
1830 and 1840, and in various court references. Reuben died in Anderson
District in 1848<15>. Samuel the Younger's son, Samuel, is
clearly in the 1800 and 1810 census, but is missing in 1820 even though land
records suggest he was in Spartanburg until 1824 when he sold land bordering
his brother Richard<12u>. Samuel's name is also mising
from the 1830 census. A Samuel who appears again in Spartanburg in 1840,
is probably this same individual but with a family living with him that we
can surmise was a widowed mother (Samuel's daughter or daughter-in-law?) and
four young children. His whereabouts during the two missing decades of time
has not been established.
Richard and Nathaniel's families were listed regularly in the census
records for Spartanburg District from 1800 to 1850 (although Richard had
died by 1850). Richard sold his home and farm to his daughter and son-in-law Mary
and Jesse Waddell in 1843<13t>, and he and his
wife Mary are presumed to have lived with his daughter until his death.
Nathaniel lived until 1852 when he died and left a brief will disposing of
his estate to his children, only three of whom were specifically named in
the will<16>.
Richard Gentry, the Revolutionary War Pensioner
A Richard Gentry who enlisted in the South Carolina militia in 1780 in time
to participate in the battles of Kings Mountain (October, 1780) and Cowpens
(1781), testified in his claim for a military pension that he had been
living near the Tyger River in Union District, South Carolina at the
time<17>. This was just a short distance downriver from
where the Spartanburg Gentrys lived. He indicated further that he had been
born in December 1755 in Lunenburg County, Virginia. There has been
controversy as to Richard's connection with the rest of the Samuel-II Gentry
family. This has been described in the October 2002 issue of the Journal of
Gentry Genealogy in the article on the family of Richard-III Gentry. We
will not repeat the arguments here except to say this author does not
believe the war veteran Richard was a son of Richard-III. By default, there
is little choice but to conclude that he was in some way related to the
Spartanburg Gentrys. The fact that Richard was born in Lunenburg County,
Virginia, clearly tie him to the extended family of Samuel-II, and
correspondingly strengthen the belief that the Spartanburg Gentrys were also
a part of this family.
Richard left no trail in South Carolina, either before or after his
enlistment in the militia. He is known to have married Gestin (or Justina,
also Justin, Justiney, Gestine) Hudspeth in 1793 in Surry County, North
Carolina and then moved to Kentucky, first to Lincoln County, then to
Rockcastle County. ["Hudspeth" was the Surry County spelling for
Gestin's maiden name. Military pension records are filed under the name
"Hedgepeth".] All of Richard's known children result from this North
Carolina marriage. If he married earlier during the period after his
discharge from the army, and had any other children, there is no record of
them. Richard died in 1836 in Kentucky.
There have been suggestions based on the 1790 Surry County census record
for "Richard Gentry Jr", that Richard the war veteran had married earlier
before his marriage to Gestin and had several children by that marriage.
None of these are found in later records, and the 1820 census for Rockcastle
County, Kentucky (the first in which Richard appeared after he left North
Carolina), shows Richard's children all born after 1790, thus after his
marriage to Gestin.
Proposals for a family fathered by Nathaniel Gentry
We believe, based upon the fact that Nathaniel Gentry's name was the only
one present in the earliest records, that he was the father of Samuel the
Younger, Richard, and an unidentified son who was living with him at the
time of the 1790 census. This son may have been the Matthew who appeared in
two county court references in 1796. It is also possible that Tyre (or
Tyree) Gentry, who was also in the 1790 Spartanburg District census, was a
son of Nathaniel. Tom Gentry's article on Tyre in the December 2002 issue
of the Journal of Gentry Genealogy, concluded that Tyre was probably a son
of either David Gentry or John Gentry, both sons of David and Sarah Brooks
Gentry. As we have developed the information on Nathaniel Gentry further in
preparation for this article, it appears equally possible that Tyre (born in
1766) was a son of Nathaniel. If so, it removes a somewhat awkward set of
rationalizations explaining the movement of Tyre from Edgefield and
Abbeville Districts where the other Gentrys lived, to Spartanburg District
in time for the 1790 census.
We have concluded above that Samuel was probably born in 1750 or somewhat
earlier. We know Richard was born in 1755. If Tyre was a son of Nathaniel,
his birth in 1766 fits comfortably within an acceptable range. Further, if
the Nathaniel who was in Pulaski County, Kentucky in 1810 was the same
Nathaniel as the one in South Carolina, the presumed son living with him was
born between 1765 and 1784 with four children born between 1784 and 1794.
With two more children than Tyre in 1790, his birthdate probably was a
little earlier than 1765. The time span between 1750 and 1766 is a broad
one and we would expect there to have been more children than the four
potential sons we have mentioned, but no names have surfaced to fill the
gap. Daughters, and a son or two who might have died early may have filled
in the time interval. But the individuals about whom we know, suggest a
family unit for which Nathaniel is the best logical candidate for a father.
Moving one step backward, the next question concerns Nathaniel's father.
We have estimated that for him to have the family suggested above, he must
have been born in the vicinity of 1730 or shortly before. This places his
father outside the range of possibly being a son of Samuel-II, since even
Samuel's oldest son, David, can hardly be argued to have had a son that
early. We are left with the probability that Nathaniel was one more of the
many sons of Samuel.
If Nathaniel was a son of Samuel, how can we explain the fact that there
are no surviving references to him in Virginia. It is indeed unfortunate
that the tax lists of Lunenburg County between 1752 and 1764 are missing, as
they would have given us much information on the family during that time.
But making do with what is available, we have seen that Samuel-III has only
a single Virginia reference, and Richard-III is found in only a very few
references, mostly during the last years of his time in Virginia. We can
only conclude that it was possible for Nathaniel to have lived with one of
his brothers in Virginia and not have shown up in any formal state or county
documents. This is not a very satisfactory situation and leaves us
wondering, but we cannot exclude him from consideration just because of the
lack of references. We have commented earlier that Nathaniel's appearance
in Surry County in 1782 with Hezekiah Gentry and two of Hezekiah's sons
suggests contacts between those two families bringing them to North Carolina
at the same time. We can guess that Nathaniel may have left Virginia at the
same time as did his brother David's widow, Sarah. Whereas she settled
immediately on a homestead on the Saluda River, Nathaniel may have looked
around a little more widely and decided to settle farther up-country along
the Tyger River instead.
Conclusion - Nathaniel
Bits and pieces of evidence that are each inconclusive by themselves,
combine to form a picture of a family of Gentrys, headed by Nathaniel
Gentry, settling in the up-country of South Carolina at least as early as
1780, and probably for a decade before that. The scanty evidence provides
no alternative to the proposition that Nathaniel was a son of Samuel-II
Gentry who left Virginia at some indeterminate time after 1755 and moved to
South Carolina. Until there is contradictory evidence, logic leads us to
propose that Nathaniel, a son of Samuel-II, was the father of Samuel the
Younger, Richard the war veteran, a son with whom Nathaniel lived in both
1790 and 1810 (possibly named Matthew), and perhaps a son Tyre.
Conclusion - Samuel-II
Over a period of almost two years, this Journal has undertaken to provide as
complete a description as is presently possible of Samuel-II Gentry, second
son of Nicholas the Immigrant. Beginning in July 2001 (vol 1, issue #7), we
have discussed in depth both Samuel himself and his wife, Ann, and also have
devoted in most cases an entire issue to most of his children and their
immediate families. We have omitted his sons Simon and John, and his
daughter Ann (married French Haggard), none of whom had any surviving Gentry
descendants. It is the hope of the author that the references accompanying
each article will assist readers in following their own individual family
lines. In ending this series, it is worth repeating that the conclusions
that were presented in the past articles were those of the author alone, and
readers should not necessarily accept them as gospel truth. Facts and
interpretations added to this body of knowledge over time may well change
some of the proposals that have been presented in these articles.
Section C. References
References to Samuel-III Gentry and Family
| 1. Margaret M.
Hofmann, "The Granville District of North Carolina, 1748-1763"
Vol II "Abstracts of Land Grants (covering Granville, Halifax, Hyde,
Johnston, Northampton, Orange and Tyrrell Counties), The Roanoke News Co.,
Weldon, NC, 1987 |
| 1761 |
Jul 22 |
#3308 |
(p.211) |
Patent Book(14-244) |
| |
John Spencer granted 700 ac in Johnston County on the south
side of Neuse River joining Brogdens line. Signed: John Spencer; witness:
J. Ballard, Robt Rainey. Surveyed 5 May 1761; chainbearers Millington
Blaylock, Saml Gentry; Charley Young surveyor.
[Copy of plat in Land Office, North Carolina State Archives, see below] |
| Vol V "Abstracts of Misc Land Office
records" |
| 1761 |
May 5 |
#4936 |
(p.88) |
|
| |
Plat for John Spencer, 700 ac in Johnston Co., on the south
side of Neuse River joining Brogdens line. Chainbearers: Mickington [?]
Blaylock, Samuel Gentry; Charles Young, surveyor. |
| 1762 |
Jun 7 |
#4404 |
(p.40) |
|
| |
Plat for David Allen, 520 ac in Johnston Co. on both sides
of Neuse River, joining Reynold Allen. Chainbearers: Saml Gentry,
Robt Cook; Charles Young, surveyor. [Refr #4403, a warrant for survey,
refers to Neuse River at the mouth of Cedar Creek]. |
| |
| 2. Katherine B. Elliott,
"Early Settlers Mecklenburg County Virginia, Vol II", South Hill, VA, 1965,
reprinted Southern Historical Press, Easley, SC, 1983 |
| 1767 |
Oct 5 |
Bk(1-538) |
(p.133) |
|
| |
James Vaughn to William Allen, for 93 pounds, 200 ac on
Mountain Creek and Meherrin River adj. Andrews and Arnold, devised to James
Vaughn by his father's will. Wit. John Williams, Turner Allen, Samuel
(S) Gentry. Recorded 14 Mar 1768. |
| |
|
|
|
|
3. Tax Lists, Surry
County, North Carolina, 1771 - 1850
Tax Deed References |
| 1. |
Original records in North Carolina
Dept of Archives, filed by county and by year, data transcribed 1982 by this
writer. Miscellaneous undated lists filed together, are recorded below
according to approximate date estimated by format of list and content of
listings. |
| 2. |
"The North Carolinian", vol 3, p.342
(1957) |
| 3. |
"The North Carolinian", vol 4, p.398
(1958) |
| 4. |
William Johnson, "Surry
& Wilkes County Taxables, 1771-1777", vol 1, 1974 |
| 5. |
Mrs. Robert Taylor, "1782
Tax List of Surry County, North Carolina", Cimarron, Kansas, 1974. |
| 6. |
G. W. Cook, "1812 Tax List
of Surry County, North Carolina", 1973 |
| 7. |
Luther Bird, 1771, 1774-5,
1784-1786, 1813 records transcribed 1944 (filed with original records in
State Archives files). |
| Year |
Refr |
|
|
Acres |
Polls |
|
| 1771 |
1,2,4,7 |
|
Samuel Gentry Richard Gentry Nicholas Jentry |
|
1 1 3 |
|
| 1772 |
1,3,4 |
|
Nicholus Gentry Allen Gentry Richard Gentry Allen Gentry
Samuel Gentry Allen Gentry Mezhi Gentry |
|
2 1 1 2 1 1 1 |
[Meshack] |
| 1774 |
7 |
Capt Freeman's District |
| |
Samuel Gentry and Shadrack Gentry Nickles Gentry
and Richard Gentry and Athey Gentry Allin Gentry |
|
1 3 1 |
|
| 1781 |
1 |
S. Martin District |
| |
Samuel Gentry |
600 |
|
$23, 3 horses, 6 cows |
| 1782 |
5 |
Capt Martin District |
| |
Richard Gentry Hezekiah Gentry Samuel Gentry
Robert Gentry Runnel Gentry Nathaniel Gentry |
200 0 400 0 0 0 |
|
3 horses, 4 cows, Fox Nob 3 horses 3 horses, 6 cows, Fox Nob
1 horse 2 horses 1 horse |
| ??? |
1 |
-- Undated records file -- (Approximately 1783?) |
| |
Capt Carson District |
| |
Samuel Jentry Nicholas Gentry Richard Gentry Artha Gentry |
350 100 |
|
3 horses, 5 cows 3 horses, 10 cows 1 horse, 2 cows 3 horses, 3
cows |
| 1786 |
1 |
Capt Carson District |
| |
Artha Gentry Samuel Gentry |
150 400 |
1 1 |
|
| 4. Surry County Deed
Books |
| (a) |
1784 |
Nov 3 |
Bk(C-113) |
|
| |
State grant to Michael Henderson 400 ac ... on the head
waters of Deep Creek beginning at a small branch of said creek, along a line
agreed with Samuel Gentry, to top of Fox Nob, to a line agreed with
Moses Woodruff, then variously back to the beginning. |
| (b) |
1792 |
Dec 24 |
Bk(E-195) |
|
| |
State grant to Samuel Gentry 400 ac ... on the head
waters of Deep Creek on the north side of Fox Nob Mountain, beginning in
Michael Henderson's line, then WNW, then WSW [adjoining Moses Woodruff],
then south, then west, then south, then east to the top of said mountain
along the same NE to Henderson's line, then to the beginning. |
| (c) |
1801 |
Feb 16 |
Bk(I-147) |
|
| |
Samuel Gentry heirs to Humphrey Cockerham 400 ac.
Allen Gentry, Nicholas Gentry, Jeremiah Gentry and
Samuel Gentry, joint heirs of Samuel Gentry, dec'd, of the
State of South Carolina, of the one part; to Humphrey Cockerham of Wilkes
County of the other part...for the sum of four hundred pounds, sell a track
of land containing four hundred acres lying in County of Surry...on the
headwaters of Deep Creek, on the Fox Knob mountain, beginning at...Michael
Henderson's (now John Martin's) line, on the north side of the
mountain...lines agreed on by Moses Woodruff...to the top of said mountain.
[Signed with mark of four heirs]. Wit: William Cook, John Moor, Thomas
Sparks. |
| (d) |
1801 |
May 7 |
Bk(I-149) |
|
| |
Humphrey Cockerham of county of Wilkes to Moses Woodruff 100
ac ... land on Fox Knob adjoining Moses Woodruff's land, being part of a
tract of land formerly granted to Samuel Gentry dec'd. Wit: John
Cook, W. Patterson. |
| |
| 5. Brent H. Holcomb,
"Spartanburgh County, South Carolina, Minutes of the County Court, 1785-1799",
Southern Historical Press, Easley, SC, 1980 | | 1798 |
Jul 20 |
(p.256) |
|
|
| |
Allen Gentry defendant for debt owed Zebulon Bragg.
Defendant not appearing in court, judgment for the plaintiff by
default. |
| |
| 6. "Minutes of the Court
of General Sessions, 1806-1808", (quoted in "Old Spartanburg Genealogy"
[journal] vol. 1, 1986: |
| 1806 |
Nov 10 |
(p.17, Mar) |
|
|
| |
Court convened. Drawing of petit jurors included Jerry
Gentry, Ruth P. Gentry (presumably a man; misreading of
"Reuben"?). |
| 1806 |
Nov 11 |
(p.68, Jun |
|
|
| |
Jeremiah Gentry indicted on charge of arson; jury
found "no bill". |
| |
7. Albert Bruce Pruitt,
"Spartanburg County/District, South Carolina, Deed Abstracts, Books A-T
(1785-1827)", by Southern Historical Press, Easley, SC, 1988
Deed references to the family of Samuel Gentry the
Elder. |
| (a) |
1792 |
Nov 23 |
Bk(F-316) |
(p.168) |
| |
Nathaniel Gentry (Spartanburg) to Zabulon Bragg (same);
[mortgaged for] 200 pounds [to be paid] in 15 years for 100 ac on S. fork
Tyger R; borders a pine tree Nathaniel sawed in the presence of Allen
Gentry (and others). |
| (b) |
1793 |
Oct 21 |
Bk(C-274) |
(p.84) |
| |
Enoch Floyd (Spartanburg) to Allen Gentry (same); for
30 pounds sterling sold 50 ac on both sides of Fergeson's Cr. (Sold
1802) |
| (c) |
1799 |
Jun 10 |
Bk(H-40) |
(p.221) |
| |
Deed for land on branch of Fergeson's Cr; borders Allen
Gentry. |
| (d) |
1799 |
Aug 10 |
Bk(F-413) |
(p.178) |
| |
Deed for land on both sides, S fork Tyger R; borders
Jeremiah Gentry (on N), and Nicholas Gentry (on E). |
| (e) |
1801 |
Dec 28 |
Bk(H-106) |
(p.226) |
| |
Jeremiah Gentry witnessed deed for sale of land on S.
side Tyger R. |
| (f) |
1802 |
Jan 21 |
Bk(H-74) |
(p.223) |
| |
Deed for land on S. side Fergeson's Cr; borders Allen
Gentry. |
| (g) |
1802 |
Jul 9 |
Bk(I-17) |
(p.249) |
| |
Allen Gentry (Spartanburg) to Thomas Price (same);
for $150 SC money, sold 50 ac on both sides Fergeson's Cr. (part of grant to
Enoch Floyd). (Bought 1793). |
| (h) |
1810 |
Feb 17 |
Bk(M-304) |
(p.427) |
| |
Nicholas Gentry (Spartanburg) to George Brewton
(same); for $100 sold 50 ac; borders Forgason's Cr. on N. |
| (i) |
1821 |
Jan 30 |
Bk(R-247) |
(p.647) |
| |
Nicholas Gentry (Spartanburg) to Samuel Eskridge
(same); for $550 sold land (ac omitted) on SW side of Ferguson's
Cr. |
| (j) |
1822 |
Mar 12 |
Bk(S-96) |
(p.677) |
| |
Nicholas Gentry (Spartanburg) to Richard Willis; for
$55 sold 52 ac on N. side of Tyger R. Dower renounced 8 May 1822 by
Sarah Gentry. |
| |
| 8. Frances Harding
Casstevens, editor, "The Heritage of Yadkin County", The Yadkin
County Historical Society, 1981), p.573 |
| |
John Ridings--born in Rowan County (now
Yadkin) in 1737. He was the eldest son of William Jr and Ruth Parsons
Ridings. Married in 1757 to Polly Elizabeth Gentry, dau of Samuel
Gentry...John & Polly Ridings had 12 children: |
| |
Jesse David Isaac John Jr. Sarah Caroline
Agness Dicie Judith Jennie Patsy Susannah Nancy |
m. Mary Poindexter m. Betsy Cole m. Susanna Chinn
m. Nancy Hunter, 1811 m. William Phillips m. John Williams, 1812
m. Isaac Williams, 1812 m. Frederick Miller, 1809 m. William
Pettit
m. _____ Smith m. William Spears m. Benjamin
Matthews |
References to Nathaniel Gentry and Family
| 9. Leonardo
Andrea, professional genealogist, "Gentry Family" Manuscript
on microfilm compiled for Mrs. John F. Gannon, Montgomery, AL, South
Carolina State Library, Columbia, SC [notes can be taken from manuscript
but by terms of its gift to the library, the manuscript itself may not be
copied]. |
| |
Index II for South Carolina land grants
shows: |
| |
Nathaniel Gentry, 170 ac on Tyger River,
2 Oct 1786; |
| |
Index III shows: |
| |
Nathaniel Gentry, 534 ac on Pacolet River in
Greenville Co., 4 Feb 1793; |
| |
10. Brent H. Holcomb,
"Spartanburgh County, South Carolina, Minutes of the County Court, 1785-1799",
Southern Historical Press, Easley, SC, 1980
(original documents in Vol. 1784-1799, SC Archives): |
| 1799 |
Mar Court |
(p.91) |
|
| |
Nathaniel Gentry called as pettit juror to serve at
Sept. court |
| 1796 |
Jan 16 |
(p.221) |
|
| |
James Tanner and George Walker against Matthew
Gentry; appealed. |
| 1796 |
Jul 16 |
(p.222) |
|
| |
Petition by Alexander McBeth & Co. against Matthew
Gentry; settled by defendant in open court. |
| |
11. Deed references to
Nathaniel Gentry.
Albert Bruce Pruitt, "Spartanburg County/District, South
Carolina, Deed Abstracts, Books A-T (1785-1827)", by Southern Historical
Press, Easley, SC, 1988 |
| (a) |
1787 |
Dec 27 |
Bk(B-302) |
(p.35) |
| |
Deed for land; borders [Nathaniel?]
Gentry. |
| (b) |
1791 |
Jun 10 |
Bk(F-150) |
(p.152) |
| |
Nansey Gentry (misreading of "Nathaniel"?)
witnessed deed for sale of land on middle fork of Tyger R. known as Long
Br. |
| (c) |
1792 |
Nov 23 |
Bk(F-316) |
(p.168) |
| |
Nathaniel Gentry (Spartanburg) to Zabulon Bragg
(same); bond of 200 pounds for deed to be made in 15 years for 100 ac on S.
fork Tyger R; borders a pine tree Nathaniel sawed in the presence of
Allen Gentry (and others). |
| |
Deed references to Samuel Gentry the
Younger and family
12. Ibid. |
| (a) |
1804 |
Mar 30 |
Bk(I-446) |
(p.278) |
| |
Deed for 35 ac of land between N and S forks of Tyger R,
part of grant to Abuatus Bright who sold to Samuel Gentry. |
| (b) |
1807 |
Jan 29 |
Bk(O-370) |
(p.518) |
| |
Reuben Jentry witnessed deed for sale of land on S
side of Pacolate R. and both sides of Lindsey's Cr. |
| (c) |
1807 |
Apr 11 |
Bk(L-96) |
(p.351) |
| |
Reuben Jentry witnessed deed for sale of
land. |
| (d) |
1807 |
Apr 11 |
Bk(L-97) |
(p.351) |
| |
Reuben Jentry witnessed deed for sale of
land. |
| (e) |
1809 |
Feb 20 |
Bk(M-25) |
(p.391) |
| |
Richard Gentry (Spartanburg) to John Meaders (same);
Richard [mortgages for $60 with interest due 20 Feb 1800
(sic)] 199 ac where [he now] lives (plus various animals, corn,
fodder, furniture, and other personal belongings). |
| (f) |
1816 |
Feb 26 |
Bk(Q-78) |
(p.580) |
| |
Deed for land on N side of Jemmie's Cr; borders Richard
Gentry;. |
| (g) |
1817 |
Mar 22 |
Bk(P-305) |
(p.557) |
| |
Deed for sale of land; borders Richard Jentry,
Samuel Gentry. |
| (h) |
1817 |
May 30 |
Bk(P-303) |
(p.557) |
| |
Deed for land on fork of Tyger R.; borders Nathl.
Gentry's Spring Br. and N. Gentry land. |
| (i) |
1817 |
Aug 21 |
Bk(P-417) |
(p.569) |
| |
Deed for land in fork of Tyger R. below Shurley's old
bridge; borders Nathl. Gentry. |
| (j) |
1817 |
Oct 20 |
Bk(P-431) |
(p.571) |
| |
Deed for sale of land on N side of Jamie's Cr; borders
Richard Gentry. |
| (k) |
1813 |
Mar 1 |
Bk(Q-140) |
(p.586) |
| |
Deed for land; borders Richard Gentry. Rec. 2 Nov
1818. |
| (l) |
1818 |
Feb 28 |
Bk(Q-344) |
(p.605) |
| |
William Arnold (Madison Co., Miss) to Samuel Gentry
(Spartanburg); for $60 sold 15 1/2 ac; borders Richard Gentry and
Samuel Gentry. Rec. 15 Sep 1819. (Sold 1819).
[Because of the sale and repurchase of this property between 1819
and 1821, after the death of Samuel the Younger, this appears to be property
bought by the latter's son, Samuel.] |
| (m) |
1819 |
Feb 8 |
Bk(Q-258) |
(p.596) |
| |
Deed for land in fork of Tyger R.; borders
Gentry. |
| (n) |
1819 |
Apr 2 |
Bk(Q-343) |
(p.604) |
| |
Samuel Gentry (Spartanburg) to Elisha Thornton
(same); for $60 sold 15 1/2 ac on branch of Furgason Cr. of Tyger R; borders
Richard Jentry. [Bought 1818]. |
| (o) |
1819 |
Oct 4 |
Bk(T-87) |
(p.742) |
| |
Deed for sale of land on fork of Tyger R; borders
Nathaniel Jentry. |
| (p) |
1820 |
Aug 20 |
Bk(R-235) |
(p.640) |
| |
Richard Gentry (Spartanburg) to John Shurley (same);
for $187 sold (ac omitted) at head of branches of Ferguson's and Jemme's
Creeks; borders Richard Gentry's own land. |
| (q) |
1821 |
Feb 10 |
Bk(R-314) |
(p.650) |
| |
Reuben Jentry to Isaac Crow (Spartanburg); for $400
sold 125 ac on waters of Tyger R, part of where Reuben Gentry lives
and sold to him by Burrell Boro; witness Cassander Johnson
Jentry. |
| (r) |
1821 |
Aug 15 |
Bk(S-72) |
(p.673) |
| |
Nathaniel Jentry witnessed deed for land on N side of
N. Tyger R. |
| (s) |
1821 |
Oct 16 |
Bk(S-166) |
(p.688) |
| |
Elisha Thornton (Spartanburg) to Samuel Jentry
(same); for $60 sold 15 1/2 ac; borders Richard and Samuel
Jentry (on W); witness John Gentry. [Rebought land sold in
1819]. |
| (t) |
1822 |
Aug 15 |
Bk(S-375) |
(p.720) |
| |
Richard Jentry (Spartanburg) to John Mason (same);
for $56 sold 14 ac; borders Richard Jentry on N and E. |
| (u) |
1824 |
Mar 3 |
Bk(T-112) |
(p.746) |
| |
Samuel Gentry (Spartanburg) to Richard Willis; for
$60 sold 20 ac on S. side of Tyger R; borders Richard
Gentry. |
| (v) |
1825 |
Oct 13 |
Bk(T-238) |
(p.765) |
| |
Nathaniel Gentry (Spartanburg) to John Shurley (SC);
for $205 sold 75 ac on N. Tyger R.; witness John Gentry. |
| |
Further Gentry Deed References (Families
Not Always Clear)
13. Larry Vehorn, "Spartanburg District, South Carolina
Deed Abstracts". "Books U-W (1827-1839)", Southern Historical Press,
Greenville, SC, 2001 |
| (a) |
1827 |
Dec 27 |
Bk(U-414) |
(p.106) |
| |
Joseph Floyd to John Gentry, for $75 sold 150 ac in
Greenville District originally granted to William Clayton in 1793.
Wit: John Trail, Enoch Floyd. Signed Joseph Floyd. |
| (b) |
1829 |
Apr 22 |
Bk(U- ) |
(p.134) |
| |
Ford Mason to Nathaniel Gentry, for $600 sold 132 ac
in the forks of the Tyger River.
Wit: James Nesbitt Jr., William Wright. Signed Ford Mason. |
| (c) |
1829 |
Oct 20 |
Bk(U-327) |
(p.84) |
| |
John Mason (Spartanburg District) to Richard Gentry
for $300 sold 77 ac where sd Mason now lives.
Wit: Daniel Durham, John Ward. Signed John Mason. |
| (d) |
1831 |
Feb 20 |
Bk(W-595) |
(p.460) |
| |
Samuel Gentry (Spartanburg District) to Samuel
Waldrip (same) for $275 sold 100 ac on two mile Creek, the waters of Enoree
River, being part of 400 ac formerly granted to Thomas Fuller.
Wit: J. Underwood, G. M. Hobby. Signed Samuel (x) Gentry.
Dower relinquished by Ann Gentry, 18 Dec 1834. Rec 10 Sep
1838. |
| (e) |
1832 |
Aug 10 |
Bk(V-323) |
(p.241) |
| |
Nancyann Wilmott (Spartanburg District) to Samuel Floyd
(S.C.) for $320 sold 170 ac whereon Levin [?] Gentry now
lives. Borders Furgesons Creek, south side of Tyger River, Floyds
Creek.
Wit: Mereday Vise, John Vise. Signed Nancy (x) Wilmott. |
| (f) |
1835 |
Nov 3 |
Bk(W-87) |
(p.354) |
| |
Moses White (Spartanburg District) to Samuel Gentry
(same) for $469 sold 134 ac on both sides of road leading from Rogers Bridge
to Z. Hobby's near forks of aforesaid road and Hills factory road, being
land originally granted to Wm Earnest.
Wit: Samuel W. Tucker, Thomas Chesney. Signed Moses White.
Dower relinquished by Martha (x) White. |
| (g) |
1836 |
Feb 5 |
Bk(W-396) |
(p.418) |
| |
Joseph Wofford to Levier [Sevier?]
Gentry, sold land on South Side of Tyger River where John White decd
formerly lived.
Wit: James Bennett, Wm Bennett. Signed Joseph Wofford. |
| (h) |
1836 |
Dec 19 |
Bk(W-478) |
(p.435) |
| |
Sally Gentry [widow of Jeremiah?]
(Spartanburg District) to Christopher Rhodes (same) for $100 sold 230 ac on
Enoree River.
Wit: Moses Casey, Thomas Rhodes. Signed Sally (x) Gentry |
| |
| Vehorn, "Books X-Z
(1839-1848)" |
| (i) |
1834 |
Apr 9 |
Bk(X-93) |
(p.22) |
| |
Hutson Lanham (Spartanburg District) to Nathaniel
Gentry (same) for $3000 sold four tracts of land on the Tyger River
totaling 296 ac [?]. First tract of 150 ac near Market road, another
adjoining tract of 242 ac bordering Tyger River, another adjoining tract of
3 4/10 ac.
Wit: Leavis Shackelford, Edmond (x) Rogers. Signed Hutson Lanham.
Dower relinquished by Elizabeth Lanham, 26 Apr 1839. |
| (j) |
1836 |
Sep 24 |
Bk(Y-360) |
(p.236) |
| |
Samuel Gentry to James Bennett (Spartanburg District)
for $500 sold 134 ac on both sides of road leading from Rogers Bridge to Z.
Hobby's, land originally belonging to Wm. Yearnest.
Wit: S. W. Tucker, John W. Wofford. Signed Samuel (x)
Gentry. |
| (k) |
1838 |
Sep 26 |
Bk(X-5) |
(p.1) |
| |
William A. Young (Spartanburg District) to Thomas Young
(same) for $474 sold 87 ac on south side of Tyger River, bordering Rily
Gentry
Wit: Moor Bragg, Wm Young. Signed Wm A. Young. |
| (l) |
1839 |
Mar 22 |
Bk(X-273) |
(p.66) |
| |
Simpson Autry to John Gentry (Spartanburg District)
for $175 sold 33 ac on Wards Creek.
Wit: Jesse Pinson, Ransom Pinson. Signed Simpson Autry. |
| (m) |
1839 |
May 25 |
Bk(Y-200) |
(p.195) |
| |
Edward Floyd (Spartanburg District) to John Given (same),
for $3.25 per acre sold 85 ac on Tyger River, bordering ... Pinkny road ...
Wit: Jesse Pinson, John Gentry. Signed Edward Floyd. |
| (n) |
1841 |
Feb 8 |
Bk(X-455) |
(p.108) |
| |
Sally Gentry (Spartanburg District) to Thomas Gore
(same) for $75 sold 230 ac on Enoree River.
Wit: Jeremiah Stroud, M. Casey. Signed Sally (x)
Gentry. |
| (o) |
1841 |
Apr 9 |
Bk(X-570) |
(p.135) |
| |
Daniel Alexander and Mary Alexander (Spartanburg DistrictO
in consideration that John Gentry (same) hath upon himself undertaken
to support maintain and provide for us during the term of our natural lives,
we have granted all that tract of land in sd District on the south side of
Rogers Spring branch, bounded ... , containing 150 ac more or less and also
two head of horses, five head of neat cattle, all my stock of hogs and
sheep, farming tools and household and kitchen furniture.
Wit: John Givin, Mitchell Bearden. Signed Daniel (o) Alexander, Mary (D)
Alexander. |
| (p) |
1842 |
Apr 1 |
Bk(Y-451) |
(p.262) |
| |
Hammond Elder (Spartanburg District) to John Gentry,
for $55 sold 10 ac on Wards Creek.
Wit: James Barrett, Thomas G. Barrett. Signed Hammond Elder. |
| (q) |
1842 |
May 21 |
Bk(Y-464) |
(p.265) |
| |
Hutson Lanham (Spartanburg District) to Nathaniel
Gentry (same) for $1,596.97 sold 165 ac bordering S. Tyger River,
Charlestown Road.
Wit: Paul Cornbee, Joseph Lanham. Signed H. Lanham.
Dower relinquished by Elizabeth Lanham. |
| (r) |
1843 |
Mar 2 |
Bk(Y-241) |
(p.205) |
| |
Samuel Gentry (Spartanburg District) tp N. C. Vance
for $424.59 mortgages 400 ac land whereon Samuel Gentry now lives on
the road from Enoree River to Mrs. Hobby's, to be paid in full on 25 Dec
next.
Wit: W. D. Byrd, Samuel Stewart. Signed Samuel (x)
Gentry. |
| (s) |
1843 |
Mar 6 |
Bk(Y-304) |
(p.221) |
| |
George Nicholls (Shff of Spartanburg Cistrict) by virtue of
a write out of the Court of Common Pleas 6 Jun 1842 at the suit of
Nathaniel Gentry against Edward Floyd for $223.88 damages and costs,
have seized a tract of 80 ac land on Cane Creek, waters of Tyger River.
Purchased at public sale by James L. Williams for $147.
Wit: D. F. Mabry, J. Tapp. Signed G. Nicholls. |
| (t) |
1843 |
Apr 1 |
Bk(Y-188) |
(p.193) |
| |
Richard Gentry (Spartanburg District) to Jesse Waddel
(S.C.) for $300 sold 160 ac land whereon said Richard Gentry now
lives.
Wit: Robert McCasley, Azariah Vise. Signed Richard (R)
Gentry. |
| (u) |
1843 |
Apr |
Bk(Y-256) |
(p.209) |
| |
George Nicholls (Sheriff of Spartanburg District) by virtue
of a writ issued out of the court of Common Pleaas 8 Nov 1842 at the suit of
Strobel & Miller against Elisha Bishop for $124.18 damages and costs,
have seized 100 ac on the head waters of Lawsons Fork Creek. At public sale,
purchased by Samuel Gentry for $82 who transferred his bid to James
Watson.
Wit: A. C. Bomar, James Nesbett. Signed G. Nicholls. |
| (v) |
1843 |
Oct 20 |
Bk(Z-232) |
(p.360) |
| |
Thomas Gore (Union District) to Allen Gentry
(Spartanburg District) for $80 sold 100 ac on Enoree River.
Wit: M. Casey, James Watson. Signed Thomas Gore. |
| (w) |
1843 |
Nov 11 |
Bk(Y-302) |
(p.220) |
| |
George Gloyd Jr (Spartanburg District) to Nathaniel
Gentry, for $207 sold 93 1/2 ac in sd District.
Wit: John Gentry, Francis Ward. Signed George Floyd. |
| (x) |
1843 |
Dec 15 |
Bk(Y-332) |
(p.228) |
| |
Richard Gentry and Jesse Waddle (Spartanburg
District) to James Nesbitt (same) for $958.50 sold 248 ac on waters of
Jimmeys Creek.
Wit: James M. Lanham, Jonas Brewton. Signed Richard (x)
Gentry, Jesse Waddel [sic].
Dower relinquished by Mary Gentry and Mary Waddel, the wives of
Richard Gentry and Jesse Waddel, 15 Dec 1843. |
| (y) |
1845 |
Jun 20 |
Bk(Z-205) |
(p.355) |
| |
Thomas Gore (Spartanburg District) to Sarah Gentry
(same) for $60 sold 30 ac on Enoree River bordering ... Allen Gentry,
said Sarah Gentry.
Wit: John F. Casey, J. W. Harris. signed Thomas Gore. |
| (z) |
1845 |
Jul 9 |
Bk(Z-181) |
(p.344) |
| |
Nathaniel Gentry (Spartanburg District) to Robert
Casey, for $262 sold 93 1/2 ac in said District.
Wit: Roddy Lanford, J Ann Gentry. Signed Nathaniel (x)
Gentry. |
| (aa) |
1846 |
Feb 26 |
Bk(Z-216) |
(p.357) |
| |
Elizabeth Herilson (Spartanburg District) to John S.
Gentry (same) for $50 sold 112 ac.
Wit: Martin O. Mitler, John Hatchett. Signed Elizabeth (x)
Herilson. |
| |
| 14. Brent H. Holcomb,
"Spartanburg County South Carolina Will Abstracts, 1787 - 1840",
Columbia SC, 1983 |
| Intro. |
Journals of the ordinary 1800-182, from South Carolina
Archives microfilm C755-7556, abstracts of original wills which are within
the Spartanburg probate files at the South Carolina Archives ... Spartanburg
did not keep will books until 1810... |
| p.78 |
1819 |
May 3 |
Journal of the Ordinary 1818-1819 (p.43) |
| |
At the Court House: granted a citation to Reubin
Gentry to admr on the estate of Samuel Gentry, decd. |
| p.79 |
1819 |
Jul 19 |
Journal (p.49) |
| |
Granted a citation to Reubin Gentry admr. of
Samuel Gentry against Nathaniel Grenty [sic] to try the right
of property of said decd. |
| p.79 |
1819 |
Jul 23 |
Journal (p.59-50) |
| |
"Property of Samuel Gentry decd..parties met at the
house of John Meadows...Benja. Nichols says there were $50 or $60 worth of
property he heard Nathaniel Jentry say was at his house of the decd;
this was before the death of the dec; Isaac Crow sworn in behalf of the
respondent on oath saith that some time before the decd went to his son
Nathaniel to live, he heard the old man say if Nat would take
him, the decd & his wife, & take care of them, that after their
death he should have all they had...this deponent movd the decd. to
Nathls with all his property, there they both died & was buried
there..." |
| p.80 |
1819 |
Sep 23 |
Journal (p.56-57) |
| |
Reuben Gentry admr of Samuel Gentry against
Nathaniel Gentry: "The complainant proves by George Roebuck that the
decd. sent to the respondent for property but the respondent refused giving
it up...also proved by Abagail Ward that was property was at Natts
was not his nor he never should have it; proves by Nancy Thomas that about
two or three months before the death of the dec. the she heard the ded. say
in one of Nat's houses one night that sd. Nathaniel had
brought him there & he proves by Mary Roebuck affidavit that she heard
Fanny Gentry say in her lifetime at different times that her son
Nathaniel was to maintain her & her husband Samuel Gentry
during their lifetime and he was to have what property they left...ordinary
decress that property belongs to respondent." |
| p.84 |
1821 |
Mar 5 |
Journal of the Ordinary 1819 - 1821, (p.52-53) |
| |
At the Court House: Settlement of acct of Nathaniel
Jentry against estate of James Otts. |
| |
| 15. Virginia Alexander, Colleen
Morse Elliott, Betty Willie, "Pendleton District and Anderson
County, S.C., Wills, Estates, Inventories, and Tax Records", compiled by
Southern Historical Press, Easley, SC, 1980. |
| p.271 |
1848 |
Aug 25 |
Inven & apprais, estate of Reuben Gentry,
dec'd |
| |
1848 |
Sep 19 |
Sale, estate of Reuben Gentry--to Cassa
Gentry, A.D. Hembree, Amariah Felton, James Hembree, et al. |
| |
| 16. Andrea #22. |
| |
Nathaniel Gentry will sg. 22 Mar 1852, pr. 3 May 1852
in Spartanburg Co. |
| |
[Index to wills: vol 3, p.267 |
Book D (1840-1858)] |
| |
Wife: Children: Grandson: Exec: |
Elizabeth Gentry;
Samuel Gentry...John N. Gentry...Nancy [no
surname].
"The residue to all my children except Nancy";
Nathaniel P. Gentry, son of John N. and Martha
Gentry;
Samuel Gentry, John N. Gentry; |
| |
17. Revolutionary War Pension Applications, National
Archives Microfilm.
File W8844, (BLWt 26713-160-55):
Richard GENTRY, widow Justina or Gestin, [also
Justin, Justiney, Gestiney] of Rockcastle Co. KY.
Credited with 13 months service as a private in SC militia.
Richard Gentry appeared in Rockcastle County court, KY, 12 Sep
1832, age 77 years as of next Dec. 27th [born 27 Dec 1755].
Testified that he had first volunteered for service in SC militia from Union
District, SC, near the Tyger River [about 1780]... He gave his
birthplace as Lunenburg Co. VA, and had lived three years in Lincoln Co. KY
before moving to Rockcastle Co.
Gestin [Gentry] appeared in Rockcastle Co. court on 25 Nov
1839, age given as 70 years, to apply for widow benefits. She stated that
she was married to Richard Gentry in the spring season of 1792 (she
did not recall the month), and was married in [Surry Co., NC]. She stated
that Richard died 13 Feb 1836.
Gestin appeared again on 23 Jun 1842, age given again as 70
years, to testify further as to Richard's war service. She stated
that she knew Richard before and during his service, but she was
young and she did not know how he entered the service or where he served
except what Richard told her after they were married. She recalled
that he entered service in SC--she was living at the time in NC. Nathaniel
Aldridge, who lived 2 or 3 miles from Gestin in Surry Co. testified that her
father was Ayres Hedgepeth [Hudspeth].
18. Census References
| (a) 1790 Federal
Census |
Spartanburg Dist., SC
[dated Apr 1791] |
M(>16) | M(0-16) | F |
|
Page 86 86 86 86 87 |
Gentry, Nathaniel Gentry, Samuel
[the Younger] Jentry, Allen Gentry, Tyreh
Jentry, Saml [the Elder] |
2 3 1 1 2 |
3 2 0 1 2 |
3 5 2 2 1 |
|
| (b) 1800 Federal
Census |
| |
Born: / Sex |
1790- 1800 |
1784- 1790 |
1774- 1784 |
1755- 1774 |
Bef 1755 |
|
| Spartanburg Dist. South
Carolina |
Page 184 |
Reuben Gentry |
M F |
0 1 |
0 0 |
0 1 |
1 0 |
0 0 |
|
| 184 |
Samuel Gentry [the Younger] |
M F |
0 0 |
1 1 |
1 1 |
0 0 |
1 1 |
|
| 184 |
Allen Gentry |
M F |
2 1 |
0 1 |
0 0 |
1 1 |
0 0 |
|
| 184 |
Jerrey Gentry [Jeremiah] |
M F |
2 1 |
0 0 |
0 0 |
1 1 |
0 0 |
|
| 185 |
Nicholas Gentry |
M F |
0 4 |
0 0 |
0 0 |
1 1 |
0 0 |
|
| 185 |
Samuel Gentry [son of the Ygr] |
M F |
0 0 |
0 0 |
1 1 |
0 0 |
0 0 |
|
| |
| (c) 1810 Federal
Census |
| |
Born: / Sex |
1800- 1810 |
1794- 1800 |
1784- 1794 |
1765- 1784 |
Bef 1765 |
|
| Spartanburg Dist., South
Carolina |
Page 187 |
Reuben Gentry |
M F |
1 1 |
0 1 |
0 0 |
1 1 |
0 0 |
|
| 187 |
Richard Gentry |
M F |
1 3 |
0 0 |
0 0 |
1 1 |
0 0 |
|
| 188 |
Sally Gentry [Widow of Allen?] |
M F |
2 0 |
0 2 |
0 0 |
0 1 |
0 0 |
|
| 189 |
Samuel Gentry [the Younger] |
M F |
1 0 |
0 0 |
0 1 |
0 0 |
1 1 |
|
| 195 |
Nicholass Gentry |
M F |
2 3 |
0 2 |
0 0 |
1 1 |
0 0 |
|
| 196 |
Jeremiah Gentry |
M F |
1 1 |
1 1 |
0 0 |
1 1 |
0 0 |
|
| 198 |
Samuel Gentry [son of the Ygr] |
M F |
2 3 |
0 0 |
0 0 |
1 1 |
0 0 |
|
| 202 |
Jonathan Gentry [Nathaniel |
M F |
1 0 |
0 0 |
1 1 |
0 0 |
0 0 |
|
| Ohio Co., Kentucky |
| 88 |
Samuel Gentry [Junior] |
M F |
1 0 |
0 0 |
1 1 |
0 0 |
0 0 |
|
| Pulaski Co., Kentucky |
| 146 |
Nathaniel Gentry [of Spartanburg?] |
M F |
4 1 |
2 0 |
3 1 |
1 0 |
1 1 |
|
| |
| (d) 1820 Federal
Census |
| |
Born / Sex |
1810- 1820 |
1804- 1810 |
1802- 1804 |
1794- 1804 |
1775- 1794 |
Bef 1775 |
| Spartanburg Dist., South
Carolina |
Page 247 |
Richd Jentry |
M F |
2 3 |
0 3 |
0 |
0 0 |
1 1 |
0 0 |
| 250 |
Susan Jentry [from Abbeville?] |
M F |
1 1 |
1 0 |
1 |
1 1 |
1 1 |
0 1 |
| 250 |
Nicholas Jentry |
M F |
1 1 |
1 0 |
0 |
0 1 |
0 0 |
1 1 |
| 250 |
Ranneys Jentry [son of Susan?] |
M F |
0 1 |
0 0 |
0 |
0 1 |
1 0 |
0 0 |
| 251 |
Jeremiah Jentry |
M F |
0 2 |
0 1 |
1 |
2 1 |
1 1 |
0 0 |
| 266 |
Ruben Jentry |
M F |
0 0 |
0 1 |
0 |
0 1 |
0 0 |
1 1 |
| 268 |
Nathan Jentry [Nathaniel] |
M F |
2 3 |
0 1 |
0 |
0 0 |
1 1 |
0 0 |
| Spencer Co., Indiana |
| 90 |
Samuel Gentry [Junior] |
M F |
0 5 |
1 0 |
0 |
0 1 |
1 0 |
0 0 |
3/12/2003
|