THE EARLY GENTRYS

Movement and Fate

by
Willard Gentry
Revised

Abstract
A summary of the movements of the three major branches of the early Gentry family is provided in parallel time-lines in fifteen-year time increments ending in 1820. Their movement from Central Virginia by families is outlined along with the fate of each of the second and third-generation members of the family.

Introduction
During the past year, on the pages of the Journal of Gentry Genealogy, we have published comprehensive descriptions of much of what is known about the first three generations of the Gentry Family in America. As one concentrates on each of the three major branches of the family, it is easy to overlook what is going on in another branch of the family at any given time in the life of the branch under study. The present article is designed to paint a broad-brush picture of activities that took place simultaneously at given periods of time in the lives of Joseph-II, Samuel-II, and Nicholas-II Gentry and their immediate descendants.

For this purpose, we will consider the time period between 1700 and 1820, dividing the time into fifteen-year increments, and in each time increment consider what was happening to members of the three family branches. For this study, we will concentrate on the male members of the family, thereby following the Gentry surname from one descendant to another.
 

1700 - 1715

During this increment of time, the Gentry family was living in Hanover County, Virginia. The period opened with a single family unit consisting of Nicholas-I, the immigrant and his three sons, Joseph-II, Samuel-II, and Nicholas-II living together in one household on Nicholas' plantation in the vicinity of Totopotomoy Creek. [The suffix -I, -II, and -III will be used in this article to denote the generation of the individual with respect to Nicholas-I.]

Nicholas-I's name appeared a number of times in the vestry records of St. Paul's Parish, up until 1709, and thereafter disappeared from the records. From this, we have concluded that he died in the period between 1709 and 1712, when the next Gentry reference appeared in the records.

Joseph-II's name appeared in the vestry records with Nicholas in processioning records for 1709, from which we deduce that he was probably working a portion of Nicholas' land on his own account and living separately with his immediate family. We also deduce that he was of age to hold land. When Joseph's name next appeared, in 1712, without Nicholas, we can assume, that as the oldest son in the family, the family land was now in his name as far as vestry records were concerned. Joseph's brothers, Samuel and Nicholas may or may not have still been living on the family plantation by the end of the period in 1715. We will see in a moment that within the next few years, both moved westward, but the exact time of their departure is not known.

James and John Gentry have been considered by many to be sons of Joseph-II, and David Gentry a son of Samuel-II. This author now believes them to be children of Nicholas. In either case, James, David and John were born during this time interval, as was also Joseph's son William-III
[Editor's Note. In view of the change in assumed parentage of James, David and John, sections of the manuscript relating to those family's movements have been extensively relocated from their original listing with Joseph's, Samuel's and Nicholas' families to separate listings of their own.]

 

1715 - 1730

With this time period, the six Gentry brothers and their descendants began to divide and go their separate ways. Accordingly, we will consider each family branch separately.

Fig 1. St. Paul's Parish, Hanover County

Joseph-II Family

Samuel-II Family

• Samuel moved from Totopotomoy Creek to the vicinity of Stone Horse Creek at the far western boundary of St. Paul's Parish. He was assigned parish road duties in 1716 and was also listed in 1719 vestry records.
• Samuel was granted land in 1723 and 1724 along Beech Creek and on the north side of South Anna River (which was in St. Martin's Parish) (see Fig. 1). This was close to, but separate from the Stone Horse Creek processioning precinct in which he first settled.
• Samuel's sons Nicholas-III, Joseph-III, Allen-III, Simon-III and probably daughter Ann were born.

Nicholas-II Family

• Nicholas moved from Totopotomoy Creek to the same Stone Horse Creek processioning precinct as his brother Samuel. Whether he moved with Samuel, or followed a few years later is unknown, but both brothers were listed together in a 1719 order for road duty.
• Nicholas' sons David-III, Robert-III and Nicholas-III born.

Editor's note. The original version of this document treated James and John as sons of Joseph, and David as a son of Samuel-II. The author for some time has believed that all three were sons of Nicholas-I and that the time has come to revise and correct this document.]

James-II, David-II, and John-II Families

 

1730 - 1745

Joseph-II Family

• Joseph-II present in vestry records in 1731, 1732, 1735, 1739 and 1743.
• Son William-III assigned road duty in 1732 and 1735. These are the only surviving records of him. He may have died, but there are enough suggestions possibly relating him to a number of otherwise unexplained Gentrys that it is strongly likely that he left the family homestead and moved west, outside of St. Paul's Parish.
• A 1743 order for road maintenance in St. Paul's Parish by Joseph "Sr" implies the existence of a Joseph "Jr". He appears to be the only one of Joseph's sons who continued to live at home.

Samuel-II Family

• Samuel present in vestry records in 1731, 1735, 1739 and 1743 in a precinct separate from his brother Nicholas, probably on the land granted to him earlier along Beech Creek.
• Samuel and Nicholas served as surety for the estate of John Spradling (a possible brother-in-law) in 1733.
• Samuel received a grant in 1742 for land on Dirty Swamp in Louisa County (see Fig. 2) and is assumed to have moved there with his family.
• Samuel's son Nicholas (the Younger) married Mary Brooks, a sister of David-II's wife, Sarah Brooks. Both men were given land by their father-in-law, Richard Brooks in 1743. The simultaneous presence in Louisa County of this David and Nicholas and the David and Nicholas who were sons of Nicholas-II, has led to a confusion between them that has progressed to the point that it will probably never be eliminated.
• Sons Richard-III, William-III, John-III and Samuel-III born.

Fig. 2. Louisa - Hanover Counties, 1750

Nicholas-II Family

• Nicholas present in vestry records in 1731, 1734 and 1735 in a St. Paul's processioning precinct lying between Stone Horse Creek and Beech Creek.
• Nicholas received a grant in 1736 for land on Dirty Swamp in future Louisa County and is assumed to have moved there with his family, despite the fact that his name continued to appear in St. Paul's processioning orders until 1769.
• Sons Benajah-III, Moses-III and possibly Nathan-III were born, as were his four daughters.

James-II Family

• James witnessed a deed in 1735 in St. Martin's Parish (the eastern boundary of which was Stone Horse Creek), leading to the conclusion that when he left the family home he moved to the vicinity of Stone Horse Creek, but outside St. Paul's Parish.
• James' sons James-III, George, John, David and William were born. Two more children born in this period, Aaron and Diana may have been his.

David-II Family

• David is assumed to have accompanied his father-in-law Richard Brooks when the latter received a land grant in 1731 on Dirty Swamp in what later became Louisa County
• David given 100 ac land on Dirty Swamp in 1743 by his father-in-law, Richard Brooks.

John-II Family

 

1745 - 1760

Joseph-II Family

• Joseph's name appears for the last time in vestry records in 1751, leading to the assumption that he died within two or three years thereafter. However, it is possible that he continued to live until at least 1765 but in an inactive and perhaps senile condition without any vestry responsibilities. This possibility arises from the fact that Joseph-III is referred to in parish records as Joseph "Jr" in 1764 and 1765.
• Joseph-III included in same precinct as his brother James in 1759 vestry processioning order.
• William-III presumed to be living in St. Martin's County and perhaps had died by the end of this period. Several Gentry families subsequently found living in Louisa County are thought to be William's children.

Samuel-II Family

Nicholas-II Family

• Nicholas' son Martin born.
• Nicholas gave land on Dirty Swamp to his sons David and Moses in 1757 and 1758. His son Nicholas was given land on Gold Mine Creek in Louisa County in 1752 by Nicholas Jr's father-in-law. As mentioned above, the confusion of these Davids and Nicholases with those of Samuel-II appears to be irretrievable, but for the record, Nicholas-II ("Sr") married Jane (possibly Barrett), not Mary Brooks, and his son Nicholas-III ("Jr") married Elizabeth Stringer. Similarly, David the son of Nicholas-II married Mary Estes, whereas David the son of Samuel-II married Sarah Brooks.

James-II Family

• James returned to the family home and appears in vestry records for 1751, 1756 and 1759. He was presumably occupying land of his own, separate from the family plantation, but in the same area, namely between Totopotomoy Creek and the south fork of Crump Creek.

David-II Family

• David sold his land in Louisa County in 1748 and moved to Lunenburg County along with others of the Richard Brooks family, and probably continued to live with them for most of his time in Lunenburg County.
• David bought land on Flat Creek in 1757, perhaps as an investment, sold it in 1759 and moved briefly to Johnston County, North Carolina. Because David returned to Lunenburg County, his family presumably did not accompanied him to North Carolina and he may have been simply prospecting for new land.

John-II Family

Fig 3. Central Virginia, 1750

1760 - 1775

The British Crown established the Line of Demarcation in 1765, roughly along the line of the Blue Ridge and Appalachian Mountains. Colonists were prohibited from settling on land in the Indian territories west of this line.

Joseph-II Family

Samuel-II Family

• The last of Samuel's property in Louisa County was sold in 1762. His son Richard may have remained there until then before moving to Lunenburg County
• By about 1771, all of Samuel's family had left Lunenburg County, the last to go apparently were Allen and Samuel-III.
• Joseph, Nicholas, Richard and William moved from Lunenburg County to Surry County, North Carolina appearing in records there beginning in 1771. Samuel joined them not long after. William lived only a short time after his move, dying in 1773, presumably in a drowning accident. His widow, Lucy, and family including son Claiborne, continued to live in the area.
• Three sons of Nicholas, namely Nicholas Jr, Samuel and Richard, left the family and struck out on their own, going on to what eventually became Spartanburg District, South Caroline, rather than stopping in North Carolina.
• Simon-III appeared in a variety of court records indicating he had remained in Cumberland County, Virginia, after moving there in 1760.
• Allen-III's movements during this time period are more uncertain. He visited Surry County briefly with his brothers in 1772, then appears to have settled in Halifax County, Virginia, and Caswell (later Person) County, North Carolina (see Fig. 4) in the next few years.
• An elusive son of Samuel, John-III, died in Lunenburg County in about 1761, leaving an orphan son, Joseph who was bound over for care to his grandfather, Samuel, but who apparently then died in infancy.

Nicholas-II Family

• Nicholas and his sons David, Nicholas Jr., Moses, Nathan and Martin were living in Louisa County during this period and appear in a variety of tax and court records.
• Robert moved from Louisa County to Albemarle County by 1761, in which year his father-in-law Philip Joyner left property in the latter county to Robert's children.
• Benajah moved from Louisa County to Albemarle County where he obtained a land grant in 1765. Benajah spent the rest of his life there.

James-II Family

• James appears in a 1763 vestry record with Joseph-III, but in 1767 and 1771, the records show James Gentry "heirs" or "dec'd" indicating his death probably about 1766. A Louisa County record in 1767 refers to his estate in assigning tithables for road duty, and in 1768, James-III Gentry appears in court in Louisa County as executor for his father's estate. This clearly indicates that he owned land in both Louisa and Hanover Counties. It also suggests that James-III was probably the oldest son of James-II. This son, who appears in no earlier records, is believed to have spent his life up to that point in St. Martin's Parish.
• David Gentry and William Gentry appear in vestry records for the first time in 1767 and 1771 in the same precinct as the estate of James-II. They are assumed to be the younger children of James who accompanied their father back to eastern Hanover County when the latter returned in 1751.
• An older son of James-II, George, appears in vestry records beginning in 1771 in the Stone Horse Creek precinct, replacing his uncle Nicholas-II in the listing of property owners. As per later testimony by George's son George Jr., the family was living in the area in 1765 and before. A probable brother of George, Aaron Gentry, witnessed a deed for the sale of land in 1759, but then disappears from history and probably died soon afterwards.

David-II Family

• David's move from Lunenburg County to Johnston County, North Carolina in 1759, was not a permanent move as Lunenburg court records and tax lists show his continued presence in Lunenburg until the mid 1760's. David died about 1765.
• David's widow, Sarah, and seven children moved to South Carolina where Sarah was granted land along the Saluda River in 1766 (in what later became Edgefield District)(see Fig. 7). David's oldest son Hezekiah visited Surry County North Carolina briefly with several of his cousins but eventually moved to South Carolina to join the rest of the family.

John-II Family

1775 - 1790

With the coming of the Revolution, the Line of Demarcation was no longer a bar to westward expansion after 1776. This opened up a tide of migration beginning in the late 1770's led by Daniel Boone and others, to unsettled lands that later became Kentucky and Tennessee.

Joseph-II Family

• A John Gentry, living probably along Locust Creek in Louisa County (see Fig. 2), and other Gentrys in Louisa County marriage and tax records can best be explained speculatively as being children of Joseph's son William-III. Lacking any firm evidence, we can only assume that he lived in St. Martin's Parish after leaving St. Paul's Parish some time after 1735, and died before tax records for the St. Martin's Parish and Trinity Parish areas became available after 1768.
• Joseph-III is assumed to have died in 1786 in Hanover County when his widow, Susannah, was assessed taxes in his stead. Land tax records for 1789, 1790 and later, assessing "Joseph Gentry est[ate]" confirm this death. Joseph's son, Gaddis, served briefly with the militia. Another son, Joseph Jr. moved from Virginia to Washington County (then of the state of North Carolina, later a part of Tennessee). Gaddis continued to be listed in Hanover County tax records throughout this period.

Fig 4. North Carolina Border Counties, 1770-1790

Samuel-II Family

• Samuel probably accompanied his son Allen to Caswell (Person) County, North Carolina as there are fragmentary references to a Samuel in conjunction with Allen there. He probably died about 1779. Allen appeared in 1777 Caswell County tax lists with Samuel and Allen's son, Shadrack. In 1780 and 1784 he appeared again in Caswell County tax lists, with Shadrack. Allen's son Meshack enlisted for service in the North Carolina militia from Caswell County and served several short periods of duty during the war. Following the war he settled in Halifax County, Virginia.
• Samuel-III spent some time in Surry County, North Carolina and owned land there but appears to have abandoned that land and moved to Spartanburg District South Carolina before 1790.
• The other members of Samuel-II's family living in Surry County continued there throughout this time period. William-III died unexpectedly of drowning. His widow, Lucy, remained in Stokes County, North Carolina while his son Claiborne enlisted in the militia from Surry Co, then volunteered for the Continental Army and served until after the Battle of Yorktown. After the war ended, Claiborne moved to Tennessee and settled in Davidson (later Williamson) County
• Nicholas' son, Nicholas Jr., left South Carolina in about 1777, stopped briefly in Sullivan County in the future state of Tennessee, then accompanied one of the first contingents of settlers to travel overland to the new settlement of Fort Nashboro in Davidson County. Nicholas was killed by Indians on his farm in about 1782. His heirs were among a group of pioneer settlers granted land by the North Carolina legislature in appreciation for their actions.
• Nicholas' son, Richard, enlisted in the South Carolina militia and took part in the battles of Kings Mountain and Cowpens. Discharged in North Carolina after the battle of Yorktown, he eventually returned to Surry County to live.

Fig 5. Western North Carolina (Tennessee), 1790)

Nicholas-II Family

• Nicholas moved from Louisa County to Albemarle Co, Virginia in about 1776, accompanied by his sons David, Moses and Martin. Nicholas died in 1779, leaving a will in which he named all of his children with the exception of two married, and apparently deceased, daughters where Nicholas left bequests to his granddaughters.
• David-III sold his land in Albemarle County in 1787 and moved to Madison County, Kentucky. His son, Richard, was drafted for militia service in Albemarle County and served several short periods of duty during the war. After the war, he moved in about 1786 to Clarke County, then to Madison County, Kentucky where his father David joined him a year later.
• Robert-III moved in about 1777 with most of his family from Albemarle County to Washington County, North Carolina (later Jefferson County, Tennessee). Robert and his son Charles appeared in the Washington County tax rolls in 1778. His son, Jesse, followed them there soon after.
• Nicholas-III continued to live in Louisa County until 1786 when he moved to Lincoln County, (later Green Co, and still later Adair County) Kentucky. Nicholas was accompanied to Kentucky by many of his eleven sons and eight daughters. One son, Nicholas-IV, died in Louisa County in 1787, possibly by suicide. Another son of Nicholas, David-IV, moved northward from Louisa County to Caroline Co, probably with his wife's Whitlock family, and remained there for many years before eventually moving south to Buncombe County, North Carolina.
• Nathan-III died in 1784 in Louisa County His widow and family continued to live there for many years.
• Martin-III moved from Albemarle County in about 1787 to Madison County, Kentucky, settling near his brother David and nephew, Richard.

James-II Family

• The sons of James-II, already scattered in different locations at the beginning of this period of time, scattered even more. The oldest, James Jr. was named in a marriage bond in 1778 in Louisa County when he married for a second time, and his estate was taxed in St. Martin's Parish from 1783 to 1791 [even though this was well after his death]. James sold his land in Louisa Co in 1783 and moved to Guilford (later Rockingham) County, North Carolina (see Fig. 4). James died there about 1786, leaving a will naming two daughters and a son Watson who was living in Hanover County at the time. Watson followed his father to North Carolina by 1790.
• James Sr.'s son George moved from Stone Horse Creek in Hanover County to Louisa County in 1784. George's son, James, moved on to Albemarle County in 1785. His sons, James and George Jr, both enlisted in military service from Hanover County during the war, James enlisting for three years in the Continental Army, and George serving several brief periods of service in the militia.
• James Sr.'s son John was listed in the 1782 state census with a family of eight in the western part of Hanover County. He apparently moved shortly thereafter, for succeeding references, most of them property and land tax assessments, placed him near his brother, David, in the eastern end of the county near Totopotomoy Creek.
• William Gentry, a probable grandson of James-II and possible son of Aaron, enlisted and served from 1777 to 1780 in the Continental Army artillery as a private for three years.
• St. Paul's Parish was no longer required to procession parish land after the Revolution. James Sr.'s sons George, David and William appeared in final processioning records in 1779. David is briefly mentioned in 1775 and 1784 parish records, and then appeared regularly in county tithables and land tax records until his death in 1817.
• James's son, William, is believed to have left Hanover County about 1780 and moved perhaps briefly to Louisa County He is thought to be the William described in family traditions who "sold his land along the Roanoke River for a bushel of Continental money which proved to be worthless and then moved to the western part of North Carolina [read this as to Tennessee]."

David-II Family

John-II Family

• A John Gentry left a will in Botetourt County, Virginia in 1779 in which his children were not named. His widow, Mary, and John's sons (again unnamed) were left bequests in 1786 by Mary's father, Hugh Green. It is uncertain whether the John writing the will was John-II or a son, John-III.
• Hugh Gentry who was present in Washington County, North Carolina (later Tennessee) when he signed a petition for statehood in 1784 is presumed to be a son of this John. Likewise, Joseph Gentry, included in tax lists for Washington County in 1778 and 1787, is assumed to be a brother of Hugh and a son of John-III.
• David Gentry, possibly a son of John-II, enlisted in the Virginia militia in the Revolutionary War and was at the battles of Kings Mountain and Cowpens, then served with North Carolina militia forces for another year. We speculate that he may have settled in the Watauga Settlement of eastern Tennessee (North Carolina at the time) following the war.

1790 - 1805

With the start of the Federal census, the identification of Gentry family members becomes much easier, but 1790 census records for all of Virginia, Person County, North Carolina, and all of Georgia, Kentucky and Tennessee are missing. The census records for South Carolina exist but were recorded in 1792 rather than 1790. The 1800 census records are missing for almost all of Virginia (Louisa Co is an exception), and for all of Georgia, Kentucky, and Tennessee.

Joseph-II Family

• Joseph-III's oldest son, Joseph Jr. had settled in Carter County, Tennessee, before 1784 and was in tax lists in 1796. His family mostly settled permanently in the area. Joseph Sr.'s son, Gaddis, and his widow Susanna continued to appear regularly in Hanover County tax records.
• Records of the descendants of William-III are very limited and consist mostly of a few marriages and census records, all in Louisa County, for the families of John Gentry, and the widow Frances Gentry.

Samuel-II Family

• Four of Samuel's sons, Nicholas, Allen, Simon and Samuel died during this period. Simon died in 1792 in Cumberland County, Virginia, leaving a will naming his wife and two daughters. Both Nicholas and Samuel died about 1800, Nicholas in Surry County, North Carolina, and Samuel in Spartanburg District, South Carolina. Allen died about 1802, perhaps in Person County, North Carolina but his will was received for probate in the bordering county of Halifax in Virginia. Allen's son, Meshack, moved from Halifax County to Surry County, North Carolina about 1796. His other two sons Shadrack and Abednego appear to have remained in Person County after Allen's death.
• The sons of Nicholas-III all left Surry County after the latter's death. His son Allen moved to Wilkes County, North Carolina, about 1802, while his younger sons, Arthur and John, moved to Pendleton Dist., South Carolina about 1801. His son, Richard, following military service, returned from South Carolina to Surry County and was married there about 1792. He left North Caroline in about 1804, moving to Lincoln County, Kentucky, then Rockcastle County, Kentucky.
• The sons of Samuel-III, Allen, Nicholas, Jeremiah and Samuel Jr., already living in Spartanburg Dist., South Carolina, continued to live there after his death. They were in the 1800 Spartanburg District census, and are named in a Surry County deed in 1801, when they sold the land still owned by Samuel in that county. Samuel Jr. moved shortly after 1800 to Ohio County, Kentucky.
• Samuel's two other sons who were living in Surry County, Joseph-III and Richard-III, continued to live there, but Richard's three oldest sons, Richard Jr., Nicholas, and Simon all left the county shortly before or after 1800. Richard Jr. is thought to have eventually moved to Pulaski County, Kentucky, Nicholas moved to Wilkes County then to Ashe County, North Carolina, and Simon moved to Tennessee (eventually to Greene County).
• Nathaniel moved between 1800 and 1810 to Pulaski County, Kentucky.

Fig 6. Kentucky and Tennessee, 1800
(Shaded counties with documented presence of Gentrys)

Nicholas-II Family

• Tennessee was admitted to the Union as a separate state in 1796. Robert-III and his sons Charles, Jesse, Bartlett and Martin, appeared in a variety of records in Jefferson County, beginning with the first days of statehood and before.
• Nicholas-III died in 1803 in the newly-formed county of Adair in Kentucky. Before that time, a number of his sons were present in the 1800 tax lists that have been published in lieu of the 1800 census: Blackston, Henry and Martin in Bullitt County, and Zachary in Green County (along with his father Nicholas).
• David-III and Martin-III were present in Madison County, Kentucky in the 1800 tax lists along with Josiah and Bartlett, sons of Martin.
• During this period, Benajah-III and Moses-III and some of their sons appeared in a number of Albemarle County, Virginia records, especially in connection with road maintenance duty.

James-II Family

• George-III moved from Louisa County to Albemarle County about 1796, leaving his son George Jr. still living in Louisa County His son, Aaron, moved to Knox County, Tennessee about 1804. George's son William obtained a land grant in Greenbrier County in 1802.
• James-II's son William may be the William who was buried with his wife in a Sullivan County, Tennessee cemetery between 1791 and 1799. A presumed son of this William, Richard, was married in Louisa County and then moved to Stokes County, North Carolina.
• Two of John of Hanover's sons, Patrick and William moved from Hanover County to neighboring Henrico County about 1800.

David-II Family

Fig 7. Western South Carolina, 1790-1800
With bordering Georgia Counties

John-II Family

1805 - 1820

The 1810 census records are missing for Louisa County, Virginia, and for all of Georgia and Tennessee.
The 1820 census records are missing for the eastern 2/3rds of Tennessee, and for Franklin and Twigg Counties, Georgia.

Joseph-II Family

• John of Louisa County, proposed son of William-III, and most of his family remained in Louisa County throughout this period. With the exception of a Nicholas Gentry who moved to Rockingham County, Virginia, and lived there until after 1860, all the others who have been suggested as children or grandchildren of William-III lived for a time in Louisa County, then disappeared from view.
• Joseph-III's son, Gaddis, remained with his family in the Hanover County, Virginia, area. Joseph's son, Joseph Jr. operated an iron ore mine in Carter County, Tennessee, until about 1805, then moved to a new location in the county (which eventually became Johnson County, Tennessee). Most of his family remained in the area permanently, but one son, Joseph Oliver, moved in about 1811 to Green County, Kentucky.

Samuel-II Family

• Nicholas-III's son, Samuel Gentry the Younger, was living in Spartanburg District, during most of this time period, but died in 1818. Most of his large family continued to live in Spartanburg and Anderson Districts, South Carolina, for many years. Another son of Nicholas, Richard, had moved to Rockcastle County, Kentucky, and is listed in the 1820 census for that county. His sons Arthur and John were living in Pendleton District (which became Anderson District), South Carolina. Son, Allen, was in Wilkes County, North Carolina.
• Joseph-III died in Surry County, North Carolina in 1813, leaving a comprehensive will. His widow, Agnes continued to live there for many years. Joseph's son, Samuel, moved from Surry County, to Barren County, Kentucky in about 1807. Samuel died there in 1816. His large and prolific family left many descendants in Ohio County, Kentucky and in Warrick and Spencer Counties, Indiana. Joseph's son, Shelton, and grandsons Joseph Jr., and Robert continued to live throughout this time period in Surry County
• Allen-III's son, Meshack, left Surry County, about 1819 and after a couple brief stops elsewhere, settled in Monroe County, Tennessee. Meshack's brother, Abednego, joined Meshack in Surry County in about 1807 coming from Person County, probably staying there after their father's death until their mother had also died. Allen's third son, Shadrack, continued to live in Person County
• Richard-III died in Surry County in 1811, leaving small bequests to his wife and daughter. Richard's youngest son, William, remained in Surry County, until shortly after his father's death, then moved to Tennessee (location uncertain). Richard's son, Nicholas and family were in the 1810 Wilkes County and the 1820 Ashe County, census for North Carolina. His son, Simon, was listed in Green County, Tennessee in an 1812 tax list. His son, Richard Jr., was probably the Richard Gentry found in the 1810 Pulaski County, Kentucky, census.
• William-III's son, Claiborne, was listed in 1811 in a tax list for Davidson County, Tennessee.
• Two of the sons of Samuel-III, Nicholas and Jeremiah, were living in Spartanburg Dist., South Carolina and were present in the 1810 and 1820 censuses. His oldest son, Allen, is believed to have left for Tennessee for possible land prospecting but his wife, Sally is assumed to be in the 1810 census. The youngest son, Samuel Jr., is believed to be in the 1810 Ohio County, Kentucky, census and the 1820, Spencer County, Indiana, census.
• The family of Nathaniel-III was widely scattered during this time period. Nathaniel himself, may have been the Nathaniel found in the 1810 Pulaski County, Kentucky census where he probably died soon after. His widow, Elonder, and most of his family were in the 1820 census for Gibson County, Indiana. His oldest son, Tyre, moved to Georgia, then Tennessee and eventually to Arkansas. Isham (or Isom) moved before 1803 to Lincoln County, Kentucky, then eventually to Platte County, Missouri.

Nicholas-II Family

• David-III died about 1812 in Madison County, Kentucky. Many of the very large family of David's son, Richard, remained in Madison County, Others moved on west to Missouri.
• Robert-III died about 1811 in Jefferson County, Tennessee, naming his children in his will. Robert's son, Charles, moved to Clark County, Kentucky, then to Jackson County, Tennessee, where Bartlett also settled. The other sons remained in Eastern Tennessee.
• Moses-III died in 1808 in Albemarle County His widow continued to live there for many years after. Most of Moses' sons moved to Kentucky, but his sons David and Nicholas died at a young age in Albemarle County
• Of all the third-generation grandsons of Nicholas-I, Benajah was the last to die, continuing to live in Albemarle County until his death in 1830.

James-II Family

• George, the son of James-II, died in Albemarle County in 1810. His son, George Jr. moved from Louisa County to Albemarle County to join the rest of the family in about 1817. His son, Aaron, who had moved to Knoxville, Tennessee, remained there until his death in 1852.
• David, son of James-II, died in Hanover County in about 1817. Two sons James and Henry, remained in Hanover County, two other sons, Basset and Matthew dropped from sight.
• Richard, proposed son of James' son, William, moved from Louisa County to Stokes County, North Carolina. Also in North Carolina, in Rockingham County, was Watson, son of James Jr.
• James' son, John, may have lived in Hanover County during this entire period--the records are somewhat ambiguous as to whether he survived to be included in the 1820 census. His sons scattered or died during this time period. Austin and George and probably Nicholas can be assumed to have died, Patrick remained in Henrico County until his death in 1848 and William died in that county in 1819. Only Charles and John Jr. remained in Hanover County

David-II Family

• The children of David and most of his grandchildren were still living in Edgefield, Abbeville and Pendleton (Anderson) Districts in South Carolina, during this time interval. Shortly before 1820 and continuing after, there was a wave of migration of grandchildren and their families to George, Mississippi and Alabama for the most part. A scattering of families moved to Tennessee and Kentucky and a few went as far north as Indiana.
• David-II's son, Allen Cain, is believed to have died shortly before 1810. David's son, John is missing from the 1820 census and is believed to have died a short time before. His son, Elijah, moved from Georgia to Mississippi and died there in 1818. Hezekiah was still living in 1820, but died in Edgefield District, in 1824.

John-II Family

Conclusion
The above listings, which may be confusing to the casual reader, document an ever-widening spread of Gentrys during the three generations that followed Nicholas, the Immigrant. With frequent exceptions, we can say that the family developed in three different directions based upon its descent from five of the six sons of Nicholas. In a broad sense, the first few generations that descended from the oldest son, Joseph, and from James, remained in Virginia, close to the original homestead of Nicholas-I. The generations that descended from Samuel and David, moved south to Lunenburg County, Virginia, and then from there to North and South Carolina, and from there, various branches continued on west, mostly to Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas, and Mississippi, but with some moving especially to Indiana. The third branch, the generations that descended from Nicholas-II, moved westward almost immediately, first into Albemarle County, Virginia, and then on primarily to Kentucky and Missouri but with a very significant fraction moving into Tennessee along with Samuel's descendants.

Revised June 2008,   January 2014

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