ROBERT-III GENTRY AND FAMILY

ABSTRACT
Records for the family of Robert Gentry, son of Nicholas-II Gentry, are summarized based upon a manuscript written by Amos Lee Gentry, supplemented by extracts from the book "The Gentry Family in America", and by other documentary sources where available.

INTRODUCTION
The following manuscript is built around an article published by Amos Leo Gentry, of Knoxville, TN in the "Gentry Family Gazette and Genealogy Exchange", vol. vi, p.180-196, (Sep 1987), entitled "A Collection of Research Notes on the Descendants of Robert Gentry in the Knoxville, Tennessee Area". Interspersed with Amos' notes, the editor has added a number of additional documentary references that provide supplementary evidence concerning the Robert Gentry family. These sections are indented to set them off from the Amos Gentry manuscript. Where specific documentary references are available that Amos has not provided, this information has been added by reference to an endnote.

Amos Gentry's article is primarily concerned with Robert Gentry, and with his son Jesse (and descendants) who lived in Knox County, Tennessee. Most of his information about Robert and Robert's oldest son Charles was taken from "The Gentry Family in America" [GFA], which provides brief descriptions of Robert and his four sons<1>. Further information has been provided by the editor concerning the other sons of Robert Gentry.

Robert Gentry
"A Nicholas Gentry was born c. 1697 and died c. 1779. He left a will naming eleven children. They were: Moses, David, Nicholas, Mary (who married a Hinson), Robert, Benajah, Nathan, Martin, Elizabeth (who married a Haggard), Jane (who married a Timberlake), and Ann (who married a Jenkins).

"Descendants of this family were early settlers in Tennessee, Kentucky and other western states. Woods, in "History of Albemarle County, Virginia", lists Jesse Gentry as an emigrant to Washington County, North Carolina [TN]. He names Aaron Gentry as an emigrant to Tennessee. Richard Gentry, Josiah Gentry, Elizabeth Gentry, and Austin Gentry are named as emigrants to Madison County, Tennessee [Kentucky].

"A Robert Gentry believed to be the son of the Nicholas named in the first paragraph above, owned a place on Ivy Creek in Albemarle County, Virginia, He sold this place to John Woodson in 1776<2c>. This Robert Gentry is said to have married Judith Joyner, daughter of Philip Joyner, An account states that Charles and Jesse Gentry, sons of Robert and Judith (Joyner) Gentry emigrated to North Carolina. Nothing is said directly about Robert Gentry leaving Virginia."

Note added: Robert was born in Hanover Co. about 1730; married Judith Joyner, daughter of Philip Joyner of Albemarle Co. His father moved to "Dirty Swamp" in what later became Louisa Co. in 1736<3>. By 1761, Robert was apparently living in Albemarle Co. at the time his father-in-law Philip Joyner bequeathed land in that county to his grandsons Charles and Jesse. In 1763, he witnessed a deed for his brother Benajah<4>. He bought 234 ac land on Ivy Creek in 1773 from Matthew Arnold (originally granted by patent to Samuel Arnold in 1764)<2a>.

Washington County, NC
"Washington County, North Carolina tax rolls show that Robert Gentry and Charles Gentry were there in 1778<5a>. Washington County had been formed in 1777 [and at first, comprised the entire territory of what was later the state of Tennessee]; Charles Gentry is also shown on the first grand jury which met in May 1778. The court minutes show that Jesse Gentry was a witness in a gun stealing case in 1781. He [Jesse] is listed as a constable in 1782."

Greene County (formed 1783 from Washington County)

Note added: Robert applied for a grant for 387 ac on Little Limestone Creek and received it in 1783<6>.In 1783 he filed for another 475 ac of land at the head waters of Kelseys Mill Creek, along the French Broad River in what became Greene Co., TN, and then later Jefferson Co. After a lengthy series of governmental actions, Robert obtained clear title to this second tract of land. Robert originally obtained a warrant for this land (making application at Hillsborough, North Carolina), 22 Oct 1783, for which a survey was completed 13 Feb 1785 (a John Gentry served as one of the chain bearers for the survey crew). A grant for the land was issued 20 Sep 1787. Later there developed questions as to whether the land survey corresponded correctly with the grant description. After a second survey in 1788 (for which Robert's son Jesse and son-in-law Duke Kimbrough were chain bearers), and instructions for correction of title by the Greene County Court in 1792 there were still delays. In 1795 a Mr. William Coche wrote to the Secretary of State: "My old and perticular friend Mr. Gentry comes to get a deed altered to correct the surveyor's errors agreeable to an order of Green County Court and an act of Assembly ... Any civililies [sic] my friend Mr. Gentry ... may receive from you will be acknowledged by your real friend." And in 1796, John Sevier wrote again: "This will be handed to you by Mr. Bartly [Bartlett] Gentry, who is about to apply for a patent for a tract entered by Robert Gentry ... Mr. Gentry is a man of repute and respectability always conducting himself as an orderly citizen and good member of society but is aged and [infirm] and not capable of looking after himself. So he sends his son and asks the Secretary for a grant since he has sold the land and is in danger if he doesn't soon make a title<7>."

"At that time, John Sevier was the clerk of Washington County and Valentine Sevier was the sheriff. The Gentrys likely got acquainted with the Seviers and later supported John Sevier in the State of Franklin movement (see below). Sevier's friend, William Bount, appointed Bartlett Gentry, a lieutenant in the Territorial Militia. Governor John Sevier commissioned Jesse Gentry a captain in the regiment of Knox County in 1799."

[When North Carolina ceded western lands to the United States in 1784, settlers in the East Tennessee region organized the State of Franklin, which maintained a precarious existence until 1789, when North Carolina reestablished its jurisdiction. In 1790 the whole Tennessee region was officially organized as the Territory of the United States South of the River Ohio and it was admitted to the Union as a state in 1796, the first to be carved out of national territory.]

Jefferson County (formed 1792 from parts of Greene County)
"Robert Gentry had married Judith Joyner in Virginia. She was the mother of his children. Judith died and Robert married Rachel West of Jefferson County, Tennessee, 13 November 1804(8). Robert and Charles Gentry were among the first members of the French Broad River Baptist Church. Robert Gentry helped organize the Dumplin Creek Baptist Church in Jefferson County. Robert, Charles and Jesse Gentry made purchases of grants of land from the State of North Carolina. The North Carolina Revolutionary Accounts show that sums of money were paid to Robert, Charles and Jesse Gentry. Jesse made several real estate transactions in Jefferson County before he moved to Knox County. ... A Moravian missionary tells that he spent a night with Jesse Gentry on 31 December 1784. Jesse was living along the French Broad River at that time near the Cherokee Indians."

Note added: Jesse had sold his land in Albemarle County, Virginia in 1783<2d> some time after leaving Virginia and moving to Tennessee to join his father and brothers. His Virginia land had been willed to him by his father, Philip Joyner, and is said to be land now occupied by the University of Virginia.

"Robert Gentry owned a large plantation along the French Broad River about four miles from the present town of Dandridge in Jefferson County. His will names the following children: Charles [whom we will identify as "the Elder", to distinguish him from Martin's son Charles], Jesse, Martin [Sr], Bartlett, Elizabeth (who married a Murrer), and Sarah (who married a Mogark). Another daughter, Mary, married Duke Kimbrough, a famous Baptist preacher. Duke and Mary Kimbrough had one daughter, Mary, who married William Chilton. Mary (Gentry) Kimbrough died young, evidently before the Robert Gentry will was made."

[Amos Gentry gives a near-verbatim version of this will later in his manuscript as well as a very complete inventory of Robert's estate. The will can be summarized as follows:]

"I, Robert Gentry, of the State of Tenn., and County of Jefferson... give and devise to my beloved wife Rachel Gentry...to my son, Martin Gentry...to my granddaughter Molly Shelton...to my sons Charles Gentry, Jesse Gentry, Bartlett Gentry and Martin Gentry, the three daughters and two sons of my daughter Elizabeth Murror...the children of my daughter Sarah McGork...my grandson Robert Drake and his two sisters, Sarah and Prudence... And I do hereby nominate, constitute and appoint my beloved wife Rachel Gentry, Thomas Galbraith and John Seaborne, executrix and executors of this my last will and testament." (Signed 9 May 1811, Witnessed by William Moon, John Parrott)<9>.

[Amos Gentry concludes his discussion of Robert's children (other than Jesse) with the following brief comments.]

"Bartlett Gentry, married Elizabeth Whitman, 1 Feb 1790<8a>. Martin Gentry [Sr], died about 1824, The settlement of his estate in 1825 shows Sarah Gentry as his wife. Martin's other heirs were John, Charles [the Younger], Mary, and Elizabeth Gentry, Martin Gentry, Jr. and William Kelley and Martha Kelley. Of these, John Gentry married Priscilla Graham, 1 October 1812<8a>. Martin Gentry, Jr. married Betsey Rinehart<1>. Charles Gentry married Rhoda Carson, 6 December 1824<1>."

Jesse Gentry and Family
"In 1797, Jesse Gentry bought a tract of land from William Murphy in Knox County. In the next few years he bought and sold several tracts of land in that county. The purchase from Murphy must have been near, or on, Black Oak Ridge as the old Knox County Road book shows that Jesse and Silas Gentry were working on the road on Black Oak Ridge. Jesse Gentry was a (road?) overseer in 1806.

"Three Gentrys were on the early tax rolls of Knox County. They were Jesse, William, and Aaron Gentry. [Aaron was a relative of Jesse Gentry, probably a third cousin. He was a son of George Gentry of Hanover and later Albemarle County, Virginia.] William Gentry, along with Silas Gentry, witnessed a deed for Jesse Gentry in 1802. A William Gentry married Elizabeth McPherrin in 1806<9>. William and his wife witnessed the deed when Jesse Gentry bought 520 acres from Isaac Jones in 1808. A William Gentry was appointed constable in 1812 when Jesse Gentry was on the Knox County Court. William Gentry witnessed a deed in Raccoon Valley in 1814. William, Jesse, Isaac Gentry and Martin Gentry [Sr] signed a petition for a new election precinct in north Knox County; date on the back of the petition was 1815.

"A William Gentry was on the tax rolls of Roane County in 1820. A William Gentry is listed in the 1850 census of Fentress County. His age was given as 75. His wife's name was Elizabeth. His state of birth was Virginia. Could this be the same William Gentry who had lived in Knox County? William Gentry was close to Jesse Gentry when he lived in Knox County. He was on the tax rolls but deed records do not show that he purchased any land. What was his relation to Jesse? Could he be an older son of Jesse?

"Deed witnesses, Church records and election petitions, as well as marriages, tell something about the people who settled in the Raccoon Valley or North Knox County section. Martin Gentry [to distinguish this son of Jesse from Jesse's brother, Martin Sr, and the latter's son, Martin Jr, we will refer to him as "Martin the Younger"], who was [about] fourteen years of age, is reported signing a deed as a witness when Jesse Gentry bought the Raccoon Valley property in 1808. Martin's name is on the election petition of 1815. He was unmarried at this time, Martin Gentry married Sarah Mitchell in 1817<8b>. John Keith signed his marriage bond. John Keith had worked on the road with Jesse and they had witnessed deeds for each other.

"On January 18, 1814, Jesse Gentry, John Nester and Isaac Gentry witnessed the deed when John Keith bought 248 acres in Raccoon Valley from Samuel McPherson. Isaac Gentry, according to the census records, would have been about fifteen years of age. Isaac's name is also on the election petition of 1815.

"A Sarah Gentry's name is on the Hines Creek Church rolls. The records show that she joined the church by letter in 1810. She was an organizing member when the Mount Hebron Church was formed in 1824 from some of the previous members of the Hines Creek Church. A Sarah Gentry joined that Mt. Hebron Church by experience in 1830. About 1831/2, Isaac Gentry and his wife Elizabeth joined the Hines Creek Church. The Mount Hebron records show that Rachael (Gentry) Mitchell and her mother Sally (Sarah) Gentry were dismissed by letter from that church in 1833. Rachael Gentry had married Jesse Mitchell in 1820<8b>, but she had been widowed before the 1830 census. Evidently Rachael and her mother had followed Isaac Gentry into the Hines Creek Church.

"The last time Jesse Gentry's name appears in Knox County Court minutes is in 1819. He was administrator of the Silas Gentry estate. His name appears in both the Jefferson County and Knox County Court minutes in regard to his work as administrator. Martin Gentry and the Gentrys of Anderson County had a son named Silas. Was this [older] Silas a relative of Jesse?

"In the 1830 census of Knox County, Jesse Gentry's age is in the 70 to 80 year bracket. His wife is listed as between 50 and 60 years of age. Jesse's name is beside that of Rachael Mitchell, who has three small children. Jesse's name is not in the 1840 census of Knox County. One assumes he died between 1830 and 1840. In the 1840 census, an older female is living with Martin Gentry [the Younger]. In the 1850 census of Anderson County the woman living with Martin Gentry is listed as Sarah Gentry, age 75, state of birth, Virginia. This would mean that she was in the same age bracket as the wife of Jesse was shown to be in the 1830 census.

"This means, I believe, that Sarah was the mother of Martin [the Younger], Isaac and Rachael, and the wife of Jesse. Martin Gentry signed the bonds when Isaac (his brother) and Rachael (his sister) were married (no dates/names given) by the same Justice of the Peace, Reuben Cole. Cole owned a farm in the area where the Gentrys lived. Though no records have been found that show directly that Jesse Gentry was the father of Martin, Isaac and Rachel, by association and by elimination the evidence is convincing.

"In 1817, Jesse Gentry sold his farm to John Bayles (Bayless). The Bayles family was from Virginia. Jesse had witnessed a deed when Bayles bought a farm on the south side of Clinch River in 1798. A Bayless family has lived along Bull Run Creek in Knox County for many years. Martin and Robert Kirkpatrick witnessed the deed when Jesse Gentry sold to John Bayles. A Kirkpatrick family lived for four generations at the intersection of the old Loyston and Maynardsville Pikes. This indicates that the farm of Jesse Gentry was somewhere nearby. Evidently the Gentrys and Kirkpatricks were neighbors.

"Martin Gentry [the Younger] moved from Knox County to Hines Creek in Anderson County about 1837. His two elder sons, Silas and William Hamilton, lived near him for a time. His Bible names his children [see list below]. Census records list many of his grandchildren and descendants. In 1845, Martin Gentry gave about an acre of land to a church called the Mount Hebron Meeting House. Martin was living on Route 1, Clinton, Tennessee in 1860.

"Martin Gentry, son of Jesse Gentry and brother of Preacher Isaac Gentry and Rachael Gentry was born 26 April 1794 and died 21 July 1863 [his burial place is unknown]. Martin Gentry and Sarah Mitchell were married 16 October 1817. Sarah Mitchell was born 26 May 1799 and died 7 July 1879. The children of Martin and Sarah were:

"Names of the children and the dates of their birth were taken from the Martin Gentry Bible. This Bible was printed and sold by Greenburgh in Lunenburg, Massachusetts; date 1823. The Bible is now in the possession of Carlton Gentry in Knox County." Tennessee census records, (which exist for Knox County only from 1830 onward), document the movements of Jesse's family as indicated by the following chart:

Church Records, Knox County
"The following is from the records of the Hines Creek Church of Christ, organized about 1806 and the Mount Hebron Church of Christ, organized in 1824. These churches are referred to as Primitive Baptist churches. Mount Hebron appears to be an offshoot of the Hines Creek Church as many of its organizing members had been members of the latter.

"Hines Creek Church

• Sarah Gentry was received by letter in 1820.
• Sarah Gentry was on the list of members in the front of the book. Sarah Gentry's names is on a petition dated in 1824 it appears that she was one of the organizing members of the Mount Hebron Church.

"Mount Hebron Church

• Sary (Sarah) Gentry was received in the Mount Hebron Church by experience, third Saturday in August, 1827. This could have been Martin Gentry's wife.
• Isaac Gentry received by experience, first Saturday, July 1830.
• Elizabeth Gentry and Rachael Mitchell, a widow, by experience, third Saturday, February 1831, from Mount Hebron Church.
• Isaac Gentry and his wife, Elizabeth, were dismissed by letter, first Saturday, February 1831, from Mount Hebron Church.
• Isaac Gentry and his wife, Elizabeth, were received in the Hines Creek Church by letter in 1831.
• Rachael Mitchell and her mother, Sally Gentry, were dismissed by letter, first Saturday, October 1833. It is assumed that Rachael and her mother also went to the Hines Creek Church, but the records are missing after 1831, until a much later date. Third Saturday in December 1835, the Mount Hebron Church met after worship, set for business and received a petition from Hines Creek Church for our ministerial help in the ordination of Isaac Gentry from Hines Creek Church. The petition was granted.
• Mount Hebron records indicate Isaac Gentry assumed pastoral duties at that church in 1838. Church records show that he was pastor there in 1853. Although I have not located all the records for the Hines Creek Church, I am sure Isaac Gentry, at some time, served as its pastor. His grandson, James Gentry, was attending the Hines Creek Church prior to the time the church split up.

Martin Gentry [Sr.]
References to Martin are even more sparse than for his brother Charles. He was listed in tax lists for Jefferson County in 1800 and 1822, and in his father's will in 1811. Martin died, probably in 1824, and left his estate to his widow Sarah, and to his children John, Charles [the Younger], Mary, Elizabeth, and Martin Jr. The maiden name of his wife Sarah, and the date of their marriage is not known. She is easily confused with the Sarah Mitchell who married the older Martin's nephew, Martin "the Younger" (the son of Jesse Gentry).

The census records for Martin's family are very scanty (it should be remembered that records for Jefferson County, TN exist only for 1830 and afterwards).

REFERENCES
1. Richard Gentry, "The Gentry Family in America" [GFA], The Grafton Press, New York, NY, 1909.

#6, p.40-42: Robert Gentry
"Born in Hanover Co. about 1730; married Judith Joyner, daughter of Philip Joyner of Albemarle Co. In 1776 he conveys 234 acres of land on which he lived in Albemarle, to John Woodson, in which his wife Judith joined. He is described as a planter of the parish. The will of Philip Joyner dated Feb. 19, 1761, names, among other legatees, his grandsons Charles and Jesse Gentry, giving each of them 200 acres of land, and names his granddaughters, Elizabeth, Sarah and Mary. [This implies that Bartlett and Martin had not been born by 1761.] The land on which the Virginia University stands is a part of this legacy. He moved to Tennessee and settled on the north side of the French Broad River, 4 miles east of Dandridge, Jefferson Co., Tenn., in 1783. He married second wife Rachel West, in Tennessee, Nov 13, 1804. She had no children. "Ramsey's History of Tennessee," page 277, mentions Robert Gentry among the first settlers in Jefferson Co., in 1783."
Children:

[GFA also gives a verbatim transcription of Robert's will.]

#23, p.68-69: Charles Gentry
"Born in Albemarle Co. [Louisa Co.?], VA, about 1755; he probably moved with his father to Tennessee in 1783. His father settled in Jefferson Co., Tenn. There is a record of a deed for land in Clark Co., Ky, bought by Charles Gentry of Benjamin McFarland of Tennessee in 1805. He is mentioned s one of the legatees in his father's will in 1811, of record in Dandridge, Jefferson Co., Tenn. He sold the land in Virginia he inherited from Philip Joyner in 1875 [sic = 1785]."

#24, p.69: Jesse Gentry.
"Born in Albemarle Co. [Louisa Co.?], Va., about 1757. He and his brother Charles inherited by will from their grandfather, Philip Joyner of Albemarle Co., VA., 200 acres of land each, being the same land on which the University now stands. Jesse sold his part of this land in 1783, and probably wet to Tennessee. He is mentioned as a legatee in his father's will in 1811. It is probable that he finally settled in Southern Kentucky."

#25, p.70: Bartlett Gentry
"Born in Albemarle Co., Va., about 1761. He emigrated to Tennessee with his father, who was one of the first settlers of Jefferson Co., Tenn., in 1783. He raised his family in White Co., Tenn., about 18 miles from Splarta, and in his old age he moved to Alabama with some of his children, and died near Belfant in that state.
Children:

#26, p.71: Martin Gentry
"Born in Albemarle Co., Va. Moved to Tennessee with his father in 1782. In his father's will he was given the home place near Dandridge in addition to other property, and his descendants still own the old homestead, which was situated on the north side of the French Broad River, four miles east of Dandridge. He was a soldier in the War of 1812.
Children:

2. "Virginia County Court Records, Deed Abstracts of Albemarle County, Virginia", edited and published by Ruth and Sam Sparacio, the Antient Press, McLean, VA, 1992

1. (Deed Book 6, 1772-1776), p.54
   1773 Mar 10      Bk(6-205)
   Indenture between Robert Gentry of Albemarle Co. to Carter & Trent, 234 ac purchased from Mathew Arnold, and where he now lives. Signed Robert Gentry; Witness John Swann, Wm
2. p.123.
   1775 Oct 12      Bk(6-466)
   Charles Gentry & Elizabeth Joyner of Albemarle Co. to Russel Jones of said Co., 200 ac on the head of Meadow Creek on S. side of Rivanna ... E. side of Piney Mtns. Signed Charles Gentry & Elizabeth (her mark) Joyner; (no witnesses). Acknowledged at Albemarle Oct court 1775 by Charles Gentry and Elizabeth his wife (relinquishing right of Dower).
3. (Deed Book 6), p.128
   1776 Feb 8      Bk(6-486)
   Robert Gentry of County of Albemarle and Judith his wife to John Woodson of same county, 234 ac in county of Albemarle on branches of Ivy Creek.
4. (Deed Book 8, 1783-1785), p.16
   1783 Aug 23      Bk(8-99)
   Jesse Gentry of county of Washington, NC to George Nicholas of county of Albemarle, 200 ac in county of Albemarle near Charlottesville, which was left to said Jesse by the will of Phillip Jones[Joyner] ... adj Nathaniel Haggard ... to Wheeler's New Road ... Main Road ... Joseph Woodson. Signed Jesse Gentry; witness H. Martin, Thos Garth, Peter Marks, Benajah Gentry.
   Proved at Albemarle Sep Court 1783 and recorded.

3. "Cavaliers and Pioneers, Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents and Grants",
"Vol IV (1732-1741)", edit. by Hudgins, Denis, publ by Virginia Genealogical Society, Richmond, 1994, p.125

1736 Dec 28      (Patent Book 17, p.222):
"Nicholas Gentry 400 acs Hanover co., both sides Dirty Sw; adj Richard Brookes/Brooks".

4.    Albemarle Deed Books

5.    Tennessee Taxlists

6.    "North Carolina Land Grants in Tennessee, 1778 - 1791", compiled by Goldene Fillers Burgner, Southern Historical Press, Greenville, SC 1981

7.    "Some Land Grant Alterations" by Bruce Pruitt, The North Carolina Genealogical Society Journal, vol xvi, #2 (May 1990).

8.    Tennessee Marriages

9.    Jefferson County, Tennessee Wills, 1811-1826, Project No. 65-44-1466, p.9-12.

Addendum - 4/14/2003
C. J. Robertson of Southport, NC reports an error in the data for James Bartlett Gentry (GFA #89) son of Bartlett (#25), which indicated that he died in 1894 in Seymore, MO.

"Bartlett's father lived with him in AL (1830 census) and after his death, James Bartlett moved to what is today the town of Seymore, Webster County, MO.  On 15 Mar 1853, his wife (Eleanor Prisalla Mundy) died and was buried near the present town of Seymore.  About 1856/7, he moved to Texas County, MO.  He remarried and had a second family.  James Bartlett died 20 May 1893 in Texas County. where his descendants still live."

© 2001, 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.