JOURNAL OF GENTRY GENEALOGY
Volume 3 Issue 3
March 2003
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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


© 2003, W.M. Gentry - All rights reserved. This article may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial purposes provided that proper attribution (including author and journal name) is included.

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