TENNESSEE GENTRY FAMILIES - III

Nicholas Gentry of Davidson County

by
Willard Gentry
Revised 2014

Introduction

Of the Gentrys that settled in the area that eventually became the State of Tennessee, Nicholas Gentry of South Carolina was a close contender for first in time with Robert Gentry of Albemarle County, Virginia, and his family. This writer has recently come to the conclusion that Nicholas was the oldest son of Nicholas-III Gentry, son of Samuel-II Gentry and his wife Mary (Brooks) Gentry. This is in contradiction to the commonly held belief by many genealogists that Nicholas was a son of David and Sarah (Brooks) Gentry, although there has never been any documentary evidence to that effect. Some of the reasoning for this proposal is contained in a newly- published article in this journal<1>. In this current continuation of a series of descriptions of Gentry families who were early settlers of Tennessee, we will review what little is known of Nicholas and discuss his family in considerably more depth.
 

A.  Nicholas⁴ Gentry (Nicholas³, Samuel², Nicholas¹)

–  born about 1743, Louisa County, Virginia;
–  married Elizabeth Gibson;
–  died about 1783, Davidson County, North Carolina (later Tennessee).
	Children of Nicholas and Elizabeth:
	i.	John Gentry, born about 1765, probably in Lunenburg County, Virginia, died 31 Jan 1797, on the Cumberland River, Tennessee.
	ii.	Randal Gentry, born probably in Surry County, North Carolina, died 1787, Davidson County, Tennessee.
	iii.	George Gibson Gentry, born about 1774, Ninety-Six District, South Carolina, died about 1860, Limestone County, Texas
	iv.	Nancy Gentry, born about 1776, Ninety-Six District, died about 1828, Williamson County, Tennessee; married, Davidson County, Tennessee, to James Boyd.
	v.	Samuel Gentry, born about 1778, probably in Ninety-Six District, died 1816, Williamson County, Tennessee.
	vi.	Nicholas Gentry, born 15 Sep 1782, Davidson County, Tennessee [then North Carolina], died 27 Sep 1843, Washington County, Texas.

As stated above, this writer believes that Nicholas was the son of Nicholas and Mary (Brooks) Gentry of Louisa and Lunenburg Counties, Virginia. At the time his parents left Virginia and moved to Surry County, North Carolina, Nicholas Jr. is believed to have continued on south to the Ninety-Six District of South Carolina in what later became Spartanburg District. The single reference to Nicholas in that state was in 1779 when he was included in a list of residents who were liable for court service<2>.

In that same year, 1779, Nicholas "entered" a claim for 200 acres of land at the head of Fall Creek in the western extension of land claimed by North Carolina that later became Tennessee. This creek flows south and westward into the South Holston River not far to the east of the present city of Kingsport, Tennessee. The land was surveyed in 1778 and a warrant for the claim was issued in 1780 after Nicholas built a house and made other improvements <3a>. That this was the same Nicholas as that in South Carolina is supported by the fact that Nicholas' son, George, reported in the 1850 census that he was born in South Carolina. We will see later that this same land was surveyed again in 1790 and a duplicate warrant was issued in Nicholas' name even though he had long since died. This immediate vicinity between the North and South branches of the Holston River was an area that was a very popular destination for the first settlers coming from Virginia and North Carolina and came to be known as the Holston Settlement.

Some time between 1779 and 1782, Nicholas must have changed his mind, abandoned his claim, which by that time was a part of Sullivan County, and headed west to newly-opened lands along the Cumberland River next to Fort Nashboro. James Robertson and a group of other men had made an overland excursion in December 1779 from the Holston Settlement, traveling cross-country through Cumberland Gap and through Kentucky on the north side of the Cumberland River. At about the same time, another group led by John Donelson had traveled by boat down the Holston River to the Tennessee, then to the Ohio River, then up the Ohio and up the Cumberland River to the fort, arriving there in the spring of 1780. As a consequence, Davidson County was established by the North Carolina General Assembly in 1783 from land that had formerly been considered Indian territory. The new community was first named Nashborough, but then the name was changed in May 1784 by the General Assembly to Nashville. A new Cumberland Trail was blazed across the mountains from Knoxville to the Cumberland River, and it is probable that Nicholas took his family by this route to Fort Nashboro. There he settled on land on Browns Creek, a short distance south of the fort and the Cumberland River. Shortly thereafter he apparently died at the hands of marauding Creek Indians. He was one of a significant number of pioneers "killed in the settlement and defence [sic] of the said County of Davidson" who were rewarded in an Act of Assembly of 1784 by the State of North Carolina with a grant of 640 acres to their heirs. A claim was entered in Nicholas' name in 1784 for the land promised by the State, and his heirs were granted 640 acres on Browns Creek in 1794<4>.

We do not know the exact year of Nicholas' death. In 1780, during the first year of the Cumberland River settlement, thirty-seven settlers were said to have been killed by Indians. Hostilities between the settlers and the Indians continued until 1794. Nicholas' youngest son, Nicholas Jr., was born in September 1782, so Nicholas Sr. was alive in the early part of 1782. One reference for Davidson County for 1783, that might be thought of as an audit of land claims, refers to 640 acres being set aside for the "heirs of Nicholas Gentry"<5a>, so he had died by that time. The probability is that Nicholas was killed in the early part of 1783. His estate was brought to the Davidson County court in January 1784, and Isaac Mayfield, the newly-married second husband of Nicholas' widow, was appointed administrator.

Nicholas' widow, Elizabeth, married Isaac Mayfield not long after her first husband died. Isaac was one of the settlers named as a member of the John Donelson party and appears to have been a widower. Some ten years later, he met the same fate as Nicholas when he was "killed by Indians, 6 Jul 1794 within 5 miles of Nashville while standing guard with his son-in-law, who was hoeing corn. Eight musket balls pierced his body, and he was scalped, and a bayonet thrust through his face, and 2 bloody tomahawks were left near his body."<6>

Disposal of Nicholas' Land
The application by Nicholas for 640 acres land on Brown's Creek, south of the Cumberland River, was granted posthumously in 1794. As part of the settlement of his estate, this land was divided by lot in 1797. Elizabeth Mayfield, as the surviving widow was entitled to one-third of the land, but she elected to take only eleven acres containing the improvements [read "house and farm buildings"] located near a fresh-water spring. The surviving children of Nicholas shared equally in the division, with the exception that Nicholas' oldest son, John, had made some arrangement with Isaac Mayfield (both of whom had been killed by Indians at that point), that entitled the latter's heirs to 100 acres of Nicholas' land. The entire tract of land was then sold in 1800 to two land speculators, William Taitt (Tate) and William Stothard when the family left Davidson County. In return, Taitt and Stothard sold 1000 acres in Williamson County to George, Samuel and Nicholas Gentry.<4>

The land in Sullivan County for which Nicholas had received a warrant in 1780 after being surveyed in 1778, was resurveyed in 1790 in his name. A duplicate warrant issued in 1791, was granted in his name in 1791<3a>, long after his death. This may have been a consequence of his son, John, paying the balance of the fees due to consummate the claim. At the same time, John was granted 240 acres in Sullivan County, North Carolina "including the plantation where Nicholas Gentry, decd., formerly lived"<3b>. This appears to have originally been a land entry made by a neighbor of Nicholas, which must have been abandoned and was taken over by John and resurveyed in 1790. The record of land grants and deeds of sale for the Gentry properties in Sullivan County are confusing. In any event, John's 240 acres were sold in 1796<8a>, then a deed of sale was re-executed in 1804<8b>, after John's death, by his heirs (and the heirs of Nicholas Sr), to perhaps confirm an uncertain title. In addition, in 1803, Nicholas Jr. sold 138 acres of land in the same area which may or may not have been part of the original Nicholas Sr. grant<8a>.

 

B.  Children of Nicholas

John Gentry
Birth years for Nicholas' older children can only be estimated, and there is no good evidence as to their order other than the fact that John appears to have been the oldest son. He was taxed for 1 poll in 1787<5b>, indicating he had been born in 1766 or before [North Carolina raised the age for tithables from age 16 to age 21 in 1784.] Besides appearing in Davidson County tax lists he also served jury duty on three occasions, the last time only two weeks before he was killed by Indians in January 1797<7>. In addition to his share of his father's land in Davidson County, we have just observed above that John obtained a grant for 240 acres land in Sullivan County that included "the plantation where Nicholas Gentry, decd., formerly lived". It is very possible that in exchange for conveying most of his share of his father's estate in Davidson County to Isaac Mayfield, John was given free rein to complete the grant application started by Nicholas in Sullivan County. In addition to the disposal of John's land in Sullivan County, his mother, as the administrator of John's estate, eventually sold the very small part of his land left in Davidson County in 1800<4>.

Randal Gentry
Randal is completely undocumented except for one sentence in Ramsey's "Annals of Tennessee", reviewing activities of 1787: "The Indians killed Randal Gentry, not far from the Bluff, at the place where Mr. Foster since lived"<9>. Since there were no Gentrys in the area except for the family of Nicholas, the unescapable conclusion is that Randal was a son of Nicholas and was probably next in age to John. Randal was apparently a member of one of the militia patrols sent out to look for Indians and as such he was probably in the age range of say 17 to 20. This sets his date of birth as the interval between 1767 and 1770.

George Gibson Gentry

–  born about 1774, Ninety-Six District, South Carolina;
–  married (1) Betsey Browder; –  married (2) 2 Jul 1813, Williamson County, Tennessee, to Martha (Patsey) Carson;
–  died about 1860, Limestone County, Texas.
	Children of George and Betsey said to be:
	i	John B[rowder?]. Gentry, born about 1801, probably in Williamson County, Tennessee, died 24 Feb 1845, probably in Dyer County, Tennessee; married Letsy Mayfield.
	ii.	George J. Gentry, born about 1803, Williamson County, died 1830-1840 (?), Dyer County, Tennessee.
	iii.	Nicholas Gentry, born about 1805, Williamson County, died 1830-1840 (?), Dyer County, Tennessee.
	iv.	Samuel Gentry, born about 1813, Williamson County, died about 1850, Limestone County, Texas; married Emaline Payne.
	Children of George and Patsey:
	v.	Nicholas C. Gentry, born 1815, Williamson County, died 1870, Dyer County, Tennessee; married (1) Mary Ann [Merchant?], married (2) Eunice [Unknown].
	vi.	Sina Malinda Gentry, born about 1817 Williamson County, died after 1860, Limestone County, Texas; married 1834 in Tennessee to Mark Thurman.
	vii.	Gibson G. Gentry, born about 1818, Williamson County, died after 1860, Dyer County; married Martha J. Shaw.
	viii.	Susan Gentry, born 1819, Stewart (?) County, Tennessee, died 6 Nov 1860, Fayette County, Texas; married Fredrick Browder Waddell.
	ix.	Nancy Ann Gentry, born 1821; married 20 Jun 1847, Austin County, Texas, to Caleb Wilburn.
	x.	Drucilla H. Gentry, born 1823, died Jul 1878, Limestone County, Texas; married 26 Dec 1844, Colorado County, Texas to William R. Howard.
	xi.	Mary H. Gentry, born 1825; married 19 Apr 1840, Austin County, Texas to Matthew Kuykendall.
	xii.	Mary Jane Gentry, born about 1829 in Illinois, died 13 Nov 1876, Limestone County, Texas; married (1) Allen J Blackburn, married (2) about 1857 to James D. Stapleton.
	xiii.	Elias Marion Gentry, born about 1833, Dyer County, Tennessee, died Mar 1909, McCulloch County, Texas; married Feb 1855, Limestone County, Texas to Malissa Jane Lowery.
	xiv	William Gentry, born about 1836, Dyer County, Tennessee; married Drucilla [Robinson?].

Distinguishing among George, Nancy, and Samuel Gentry as to age is difficult. The 1850 Limestone County, Texas, census gives George's age as 75 which if correct indicates a date of birth of 1774/5<17>. Further, Davidson County court records show George serving on jurypanels beginning in 1797 which indicates an age of at least 21 at the time and a date of birth of 1776 or earlier<10b>. The only census record for Nancy is that for Williamson County, Tennessee in 1820 which indicates she was born in 1775 or later. Nancy had married James Boyd by 1797 when her father's land was divided between his heirs. Both factors are consistent with Nancy being a twin or a year or two younger than George. The biography of their brother, Samuel, published in "History of Rover and the 10th District of Bedford County", lists George and Nancy with the same year of birth and estimates Samuel's date of birth as about 1777<14>. He died before he had an opportunity to be in any census records, but his marriage and the ages of his oldest children support the fact that he was certainly younger than his brother George.

George's marriage to Betsy Browder is a family tradition – there are no records pertaining to this marriage. His second marriage, to Martha Carson is supported by a marriage bond in Williamson County. Some of the details listed in the table above come from a combination of family trees posted on the internet, but most of it can be supported by census evidence<17>. George's oldest son, John B., is listed in 1840 census records for Dyer County, Tennessee and his widow in the 1850 and 1860 Gibson County census. The next two sons, said to be Nicholas and George J in family records, correspond to two sons of George that were present with the family in 1820 (Williamson County census) and 1830 (Dyer County census), but disappeared after that. This writer cannot confirm the names of the sons, but the birth dates correspond to census records. The youngest son of George and Betsy Browder, Samuel, was listed in the 1840 Dyer County census, and his widow, Emaline, was present in the 1850 Limestone County, Texas census. Her maiden name is confirmed by the will of her father, John Payne<12b>. Some family trees for George, add a second Samuel as a son of George and Martha, but there is no evidence to support this.

The children of George and Martha as listed above can all be confirmed by census records, but records of their ages contained in the census listings vary considerably. For example, Gibson was listed in the 1850 Dyer County census as age 32, but in 1860 he was listed as 45. Drucilla was listed in the 1850 Limestone County, Texas, as age 20, and as age 35 in 1860. Mary Jane was listed as age 27 in the Washington County, Texas census as age 27, and as age 28 in the 1860 Limestone County census. [Incidentally, both census records agree on Illinois being her place of birth in contrast to all of the rest of George's children's Tennessee birth place.] The 1830 Dyer County census record for George's family includes six daughters, all born before 1830, leading to the conclusion that Mary Jane was born in or before 1830 rather than in 1832 as some references indicate.

Census records also confirm the identity of the husbands of the daughters, since each one of the families can be found in census records under the head of house indicated by that husband. The first names of the wives of Nicholas C. Gentry's wives are established by the contents of his will which was presented in the August session of the Dyer County court in 1870<12b>. He refers to a son, Charles, as being a child of his first wife, Mary Ann, while Eunice was the mother of his other children. In 1850, Charles, age 5, was living with James Merchant, age 59, and his wife. This suggests that Mary Ann was a daughter of James, and the grandparents took care of raising Charles for a few years after Mary Ann died.

Another inference of a wife's maiden name applies to William Gentry's wife, Drucilla. In 1860, William, his wife, Drucilla, and two young children were living with the family of R. C. Robinson, suggesting the possibility that Drucilla's maiden name was Robinson. The age of "R.C.", was listed as 37, whereas Drucilla's was given as 21. The age difference is ambiguous. The two could have been father and daughter, or might have been brother and sister.

George is known to have lived in Davidson County, Tennessee until 1800 when he and his siblings sold the land they had inherited from their father to local land speculators who turned around and sold them land in what was then Williamson County. George and his two brothers redistributed their land in Williamson County in 1814 in a series of related deeds, apparently resolving some previous joint ownerships<11>. There is not a record of just when George left Williamson County, but in 1825, he sold a slave girl, Grace, to a neighbor in Dyer County, and in 1829 he bought 169 acres of land in the 13th District [the northern half of the westernmost part of Tennessee which included Dyer County]. During the period between 1829 and 1834, George's son, John, also appeared in several Dyer County deed and court references as a witness. It is possible that during the period before George decided to buy land in 1829, he went up the Mississippi River briefly to Illinois where his daughter Mary Jane was born, then decided that indeed the "grass was not greener on the other side of the fence".

While still in Williamson, George and his two brothers enlisted briefly during the War of 1812 in the Tennessee militia in June 1812 and were discharged the following year. In 1836, George perhaps quixotically at the age of 62 responded to the call of Sam Houston to raise an army of 5000 men in Texas to "Remember the Alamo". The story is that George left Tennessee in the spring of that year in time to enlist in Sam Houston's army before the battle of San Jacinto. For this he became eligible to receive a land "Donation". He and his wife, Patsy had to return to Texas before 1 Oct 1837 to qualify for the land grant. They left a power of attorney with their son John, left their younger children with their daughter Susan who was only eighteen years old and newly-married to Fred Waddell, and headed south. George settled on land in Limestone County, Texas, and was joined by Susan and the children in 1838. The story goes on to say that Susan arrived on horseback accompanied by five-year-old Elias. Susan and her husband settled in Austin County, daughter Mary wound up in Washington County, while the rest of the family settled in Limestone County, Texas. The older sons all remained in Tennessee, although when George's son, Samuel, died, his widow Emaline joined the rest of the family in Texas. George died just before the 1850 census and was buried in Eutaw Cemetery, Limestone County.

Nancy Gentry Boyd
There is not much to be said about Nancy Gentry or her husband James Boyd. The latter was a part of a family that was prominent in the history of Nashville and Davidson County and members of which were part of the initial Donelson expedition to the Cumberland Settlement. James was several years older than Nancy and appeared in the 1787 initial tax list for Davidson County, being over 21 at the time. He participated on behalf of Nancy in the drawing for selection of shares of Nancy's father's property in 1794 and he also received a share of the estate of Nancy's brother, John, on her behalf. James and Nancy sold their share of Nicholas Gentry's land in 1800 at the same time as her siblings, and like them, moved to Williamson County. James Boyd died in 1821, his will being accepted in Williamson County Court for probate in July of that year<12a>. The will left the bulk of his estate to his wife during her lifetime and also names sons Abner and John G. Boyd, and daughters Polly, Elizabeth, and Sinci Swisher, all three of whom had married. Three younger sons are not mentioned by name. Nancy died a few years later, probably in about 1828. She did not survive to the time of the 1830 census.

Samuel Gentry

–  born about 1778, Ninety-Six District, South Carolina.
	–  married about 1803, probably in Williamson County, to Frances (Famey) Cannon. (Frances remarried 24 Aug 1818, Williamson County, to Thomas Cheatham.)
–  died 1816, Williamson County, Tennessee.
	Children of Samuel and Famey:
	i.	Letitia Gentry, born 9 Nov 1805, Williamson County, Tennessee, died 1867; married 28 Aug 1822 to Wiley Perry.
	ii.	Sina Gentry, born about 1807, Williamson County; married 25 Jan 1821, to Richard T. Long.
	iii.	Minos Gentry, born about 1809, Williamson County, died young.
	iiv.	John R. Gentry, born about 1811, Williamson County, died before 1857, Randolph County, Arkansas; married Elvira Adams.
	v.	Elizabeth Gentry, born about 1813, Williamson County, died about 1829 Bedford County, Tennessee; married 24 Dec 1828, Williamson County, to James Gregory.
	vi.	Nancy Gentry, born 1814, Williamson County, died 1848; married about 1832 to Dorrington Garrett.
	vii	Samuel M. Gentry, born 24 Feb 1816, Williamson County, died 16 Nov 1875, Bedford County; married 24 Jul 1834, Bedford County, to Mary Agnes Bailey.

Samuel's children were all identified in a court suit brought by the children against the administrators of their father's estate after his death in 1816<13>. Their grandfather, Minos Cannon, their uncle James Boyd, and their mother, Fanney (or Famey) were appointed administrators, and the children were suing for a division of the estate. A description of the members of the family can also be found in "History of Rover and the 10th District of Bedford County"<14>. Thomas and Famey Cheatham lived on the land which was her dower right from the estate of her husband Samuel. This was part of the land which Samuel, George, and Nicholas had bought on the Harpeth River near present-day Eagleville. Indeed, there is still a Cheatham Spring and a Cheatham Branch [Creek] located in the vicinity. This was an area which was originally in Williamson County but eventually was transferred to an enlarged Rutherford County.

The Cheathams moved with their family a short distance to the community of Rover in Bedford County in 1834, and there they lived until Famey died in 1855 and Thomas died in turn in 1858. Thomas left no heirs of his own, other than children of his brothers and sisters and the Gentry heirs by his marriage to Famey. Three of Samuel and Famey's children were still living at the time, namely Letitia Perry and Samuel Gentry of Bedford County, and Sina Long of Pontotoc County, Mississippi. The children of John R. Gentry and Nancy Garrett, both deceased were also named as heirs in his will<15>.

Nicholas Gentry Jr.

–   born 15 Sep 1782, Davidson County, Tennessee (then North Carolina).
–  married (1); 19 Feb 1805, Williamson County, Tennessee, to Sarah (Sally) Browder. –  married (2); 27 Oct 1818, Williamson County, to Mary (Polly) Nunn.
–  died 27 Sep 1843, Washington County, Texas.
	Children of Nicholas and Sally (all born in Williamson County):
	i.	Elizabeth P. Gentry, born 27 Jan 1806.
	ii.	George Washington Gentry, born 6 Nov 1808; married Dec 1848 to Jane Smiley.
	iii.	Frederick Browder Gentry, born 10 Jan 1810, died 18 Apr 1877, Hamilton County, Texas; married 26 Oct 1840, Washington County, Texas to Rebecca Barnett.
	iv	Caroline Gentry, born Dec 1812.
	Children of Nicholas and Polly Nunn:
	v.	James R. Gentry, born 22 Oct 1819, died 27 Jan 1852; married Jul 1848 to Amanda [Unknown].
	vi.	Thomas Newton Gentry, born 2 Oct 1821; married 16 Jul 1856 to Martha Jane Shannon.
	vii.	William Nicholas Gentry, born 10 Dec 1823; married (2?) Amanda [Unknown]..
	viii.	Sarah Tennessee Gentry, born 18 Dec 1825, died before 1840.
	ix.	Mary American Gentry, born 20 Mar 1829, died 24 Feb 1847.
	x.	Francis F. Gentry, born 25 Dec 1832, died before 1840.
	xi.	Rebecca I. Gentry, born 8 Sep 1834.
	xii.	Nancy Louisa Gentry, born 6 Feb 1836.
	xiii.	Emily Amanda Gentry, born 7 Jun 1838..
	xiv.	Columbus A. Gentry, born 29 Mar 1841, died 21 Oct 1844.

The date of Nicholas' birth has been conveniently established by a writ of apprenticeship issued in 1798 when Nicholas was sixteen years old by which he was bound to his brother-in-law James Boyd until age 21 to learn the trade of a wheel wright<10b>. His marriage dates have been verified by marriage bonds issued in Williamson County, and the dates of birth of his children have been taken from a family bible kept by the family of his son Thomas<16>. Many of Nicholas' movements have already been mentioned in connection with those of his brothers. In 1800, he and his brothers, George and Samuel, sold their properties in Davidson County and moved to Williamson County. He also participated with them in 1804 in selling the land in Sullivan County which had been granted to his brother John. Nicholas owned some other land in Sullivan County, the origin of which is uncertain. He sold his share of this land in 1803 at his first opportunity to do so (i.e. when he reached age 21). He accompanied his brothers in joining the Tennessee militia during the War of 1812 and was discharged in 1813. In 1814, Nicholas, George and Samuel signed a series of deeds that in effect re-apportioned the land that each one held on the Big Harpeth River in Williamson County. Samuel died in 1816, but it was not until after 1820 that the two remaining brothers went their separate ways, George moving to Dyer County along the Mississippi River, and Nicholas moving to Gibson County just to the east of Dyer County.

In 1835, Nicholas' son, Frederick, went to Texas to join the revolutionary military forces there and was a participant in the battle of San Jacinto, for which he received both a "Bounty" and a land "Donation". Nicholas also went to Texas, but the timing of his move is uncertain. He did not receive bounty land for military service as did Fred and George, but in 1840, Nicholas was listed in the tax rolls of Washington County, Texas, as owing tax for 1 poll as was Frederick. At the same time, Nicholas was listed in the 1840 Gibson County, Tennessee census, so he had not yet moved permanently to Texas. By 1850, Nicholas had died, but the rest of the family was all in Washington County, Texas.

Summary

By dint of digging through a variety of sources, we have been able to present a rather complete summary of information relating to Nicholas Gentry Sr. and his family. Dogged by misfortune in its early years, with father, two brothers, and a step-father all falling victim to Indian attacks, the surviving members of the family moved on to better days. We have tried to follow as completely as possible, the first generation of the family following Nicholas, and have been able to trace their movements and that of the children.
 
 

References

 
2.  South Carolina General Assembly Ordinance, MS Act No. 1123, 20 Feb 1779,

	p.80, 101	Hezekiah Gentry	Spartan District	liable for grand/petit jury
	p.88, 104	John Gentry	Spartan District	liable for grand/petit jury
	p.89	Nicholas Gentry	Cuffey Town &Turkey Creek	liable for court service

3a.  A. B. Pruitt, "Tennessee Land Entries: Washington County, 1778-1796".
1779	Jan 2	#983
	[Duplicate warrant #3306 issued 18 Feb 1790 by John Carter] for 240 ac in Washington Co., in Carter's Valley; surveyed 15 Aug 1790 for John Gentrey by George Vincent CS [for grant see file #611 in Sullivan Co.; MARS 12.14.17.611]. [Apparently John Gentry received a duplicate warrant for land that had been originally entered 1 Jan 1779 by a Margaret Dunlop who transferred it to Ephraim Smith.]
1779	Sep 25	Entry #1720B [indicates 2nd of 3 entry warrants numbered 1720]
	Robert Gilliland, 600 ac in Sullivan Co. on N side of Holston R; borders: Nicholas Gentry.
1779	Sep 25	#1720C
	John Blanton, 600ac in Sullivan Co. on N side of Holston R; borders: Nicholas Gentry.
1779	Oct 6	#1809
	Nicholas "Genterey", 200 ac in Sullivan Co. on head of Fall Cr, a branch of Holston R; border: joins Robert Gilleland and Robert King; includes improvements where said Gentery lives; warrant issued 3 Feb 1780 by John Carter; 200 ac surveyed 28 Dec 1778 for "John Colter" by Adam Meek, Hawkins Co.; 200 ac entered by Nicholas Gentry on entry taker's report [for grant see file #460 in Hawkins Co., NC Archives MARS computer code, 12.14.9.460]["for grant" notation indicates a grant was issued.]
1779	Oct 7	#1809B
	Nicholas Gentry, 200 ac in Sullivan Co. on Fall Cr; border: joins Robert Gilleland and Robert King; includes his "plantation"; duplicate warrant issued 11 Jun 1790 by J. Carter; surveyed 18 Oct 1790 for Nicholas Gentry by George Vincent DS; [for grant see file #603 in Sullivan Co.; MARS 12.14.17.603]
3b.  Shelby Ireson Edwards, "Sullivan County, Tennessee Deed Books 1 & 2", 1985
1791	Dec 26	Book(2-531)    [p.115]
	Land Grand No. 566, State of North Carolina, Alexander Martin, Gov. to John Gentry, 50 shillings for every 100 ac; 240 ac in Sullivan Co., NC including the plantation where Nicholas Gentry, decd., formerly lived .. [adj Joseph Blear] /s/Alexander Martin, Esq by J. Glasgow, Sec. Reg: 28 Jul 1792
3c.  ibid. , Deed Books 3 and 4, 1795-1807"
1791	Dec 26	Book(2-532)    [p.115]
	Land Grant No. 558, State of North Carolina, Alexander Martin, Gov. to Nicholas Gentry, 50 shillings for every 100 ac; 200 ac in Sullivan Co., NC, including Egan Troy's plantation ... along William Kee's line formerly Robert King's ... /s/Alexander Martin, Esq by J. Glasgow, Sec. [Note, this is a grant to Nicholas Sr. in consequence of an entry claim dated 6 Oct 1779, and surveyed 18 Oct 1780. (Original adjoined Robert King)]
	4.  Helen C. & Timothy R. Marsh, "Land Deed Genealogy of Davidson County Tennessee, vol 2, 1793-1797", Southern Historical Press, Greenville, SC 1992.
1794	May 19	Book(C-282)    [p.77]
	Nicholas Gentry – Territory of the U.S. North Carolina No. 390 For £10 per 100 acres paid by Nicholas Gentry was granted a tract of land containing 640 acres in Davidson County on the south fork of Browns Creek and joining Francis Armstrong's corner, Samuel Barton's Preemption. Surveyed for Nicholas Gentry 24 Aug 1784 by John Bucchanan, D.S. in consequence of a Warrant No. 243. Entered 6 Feb 1784. Dated 26 Jun 1793.
1797	Aug 5	Book(D-211)    [p.250]
	Division of Gentry's Lands As divided by Frederick Davis, Andrew Cassellman, Daniel Bell and David Beaty return report into July Session 1797. The place represents 600 3/4 acres on the south side of Cumberland River and on the south fork of Brown Creek granted by patent to Nicholas Gentry etc. No. 1 drawn by lot is the division of George Gentry and containing 125 1/4 acres and joining Mayfield's corner. No. 2 drawn by Nicholas Gentry containing 125 1/4 ac adjoining Samuel Gentry's lot and George Gentry's corner. No. 3 drawn by Samuel Gentry containing 125 1/4 ac adjoining Nicholas Gentry's corner. No. 4 drawn by James Boyd, heir by marriage to the said Nicholas Gentry, deceased, containing 125 ac adjoining Samuel Gentry's corner and Mayfield's corner. The tract of land represented in the platt by the heirs of Mayfield is claimed by virtue of an obligation given by John Gentry, deceased, heir of said Nicholas Gentry to Isaac Mayfield, the obligation dated 10 Jan 1794 and contains 100 ac adjoining George Gentry's corner and James Boyd's corner. We also considering Miss Mayfield to be entitled to a third of the survey have agree to lay it off for her. But she covenant to take the old improvement on the north side of the spring branch which is about 11 acres.
1800	Jan 14	Book(E-179)    [p.147]
	This indenture made between Elizabeth Mayfield [mother of Nicholas Gentry sons], wife and relic of Isaac Mayfield, deceased, and George Gentry, Nicholas Gentry and Samuel Gentry and James Boyd, all heirs of Nicholas Gentry, deceased of Davidson County of the one part and William Stothart and William Taitt, both of the same place of the other part. Elizabeth Mayfield and George, Nicholas and Samuel Gentry conveyed until William Stothart and William Taitt a tract of land containing 640 acres in Davidson County on the waters of Browns Creek, being the same tract of land granted to Nicholas Gentry by Preemption Right by patent from State of North Carolina and dated 19 May 1794. Said land adjoining Francis Armstrong's line and Samuel Barton's Preemption. Wit: B. Searcy and John Boyd Jr. Jan term 1800; rec. 21 Feb 1800.
1800	Oct 8	Book(E-247)    [p.173]
	This indenture made between Elizabeth Mayfield one of the executors for the estate of John Gentry, deceased of Williamson County, State of Tennessee of the one part and Robert Johnston of Davidson County of the other part. Elizabeth conveyed until Robert Johnston a tract of land containing 3 acres in Davidson County and on the waters of Browns Creek adjoining Gentry's Preemption and William Tate's line. Wit: James Boyd and John Nolin. Oct term 1800; rec. 22 Nov 1800.

	5a.  Goldene Fillers Burgner, "North Carolina Land Grants in Tennessee, 1778 - 1791", Southern Historical Press, Greenville, SC 1981 Introduction: "This list of land owners and/or settlers constitutes the only substitute for a 1790 census of the part of North Carolina which became Tennessee in 1796."
Davidson County
1783	p.122  #23	Heirs of Nicholas Gentry	640 ac	On the south side of Cumberland River on Browns Creek

5b.  Edythe Rucker Whitley, "Tennessee Genealogical Records, Davidson County Pioneers",
p. 9	[Nicholas Gentry in list of those receiving grants from North Carolina Legislature, 1784]
p.12	John Gentry, listed for 1 poll in rolls of 1787 "being the first year in which the tax on land and polls was taken".
	6.  Richard Carlton Fulcher, "1770-1790 Census of the Cumberland Settlements", Genealogical Publishing Co., 1987 Isaac Mayfield (2nd husband of Elizabeth Gentry) arrived with the Donelson flotilla, April 1780.
(a)	1787 Davidson Co. tax roll with 1 poll tax due.
(b)	"Killed by Indians, 6 Jul 1794 within 5 miles of Nashville while standing guard with his son-in-law, who was hoeing corn. Eight musket balls pierced his body, and he was scalped, and a bayonet thrust through his face, and 2 bloody tomahawks were left near his body." [The fact that Isaac had a daughter in 1794 who was old enough to have been married indicates he must have been married to another wife before Elizabeth Gentry.]

8a.  Shelby Ireson Edwards, "Sullivan County, Tennessee Deed Books 3 & 4, 1795-1807".
1796	Feb 23	Book(3-59)
	John Gentry to Peter Droke, £60 Virginia money, 240 ac one certain tract or parcel of land lying and being in the county of Sullivan aforesaid containing 240 acres including the part of the plantation where Nicholas Gentry formerly lived. Wit: John Anderson; proven & reg'd 2 Jun 1796
1803	Jul 22	Book(4-547)
	Nicholas Gentry to Jacob Droke, $341.66, a certain tract of land containing 138 ac lying and being in the County aforesaid [Sullivan] on the waters of Reedy Creek. Wit: John Anderson, Peter Droke; proven & reg'd 25 Nov 1803. [Nicholas Jr. now age 21, is able to sell land inherited from his father? The head waters of Fall Creek where his father's grant was located are less than a mile away from Reedy Creek. ]
8b.  Microfilm copy in Tennessee State Archives
1804	Sep (?)	Deed Book(6-96)
	Elizabeth Mayfield, George Gentry, Samuel Gentry, Nicholas Gentry and James Boyd each of Williamson County, State of Tennessee for a valuable consideration the receipt of which is hereby acknowledge, to Peter Troke [Droke?] deed a tract or parcel of land containing 240 acres, being in the County of Sullivan and State of Tennessee on the waters of Fall Creek [described by metes and bounds]. Signed by [5 parties] Acknowledged by the grantors in Williamson County Court, 3 Jun 1808 Recorded 21 Sep 1810, Sullivan Co. [This deed may have clarified some legal question that arose as to whether John Gentry, dec'd, had proper title after the deed dated Feb 1796 above.]
9. J.G.M. Ramsey, "The Annals of Tennessee to the end of the Eighteenth Century", p.475.
1787	Troops raised to protect Davidson county, under the leadership of Col. Robertson and Maj. Evans. Patrols were sent out to look for traces of Indians crossing creeks or passing through canes and weeds] "...The Indians killed Randal Gentry, not far from the Bluff, at the place where Mr. Foster since lived..."
10a.  Carol Wells, "Davidson County, Tennessee County Court Minutes, 1783-1792", Heritage Books, 1990
1784	Jan 7	p. 8    [p.3]
	Motion by Isaac Mayfield; Court admits him to Administer Estate of Nicholas Gentry dec'd; gave bond, took oath.
10b.  ibid "County Court Minutes 1792-1799"
	George Gentry served on jury:
	13 Apr 1797, p.352       10 Jul 1797, p.364 (2)       14 Apr 1798, p.174
1797	Jul 11	p.372    [p.151]
	The Division of the lands of John Gentry lately decd among the collateral heirs returned into Court by Frederic Davis, Andrew Casselman, Saml Bell and David Beaty, commissioners.
1798	Oct 13	p.507    [p.203]
	Ordered Nicholas Gentry orphan of Nicholas Gentry decd aged 16 years 15 Sep past bound to James Boyd untill he attains age 21. Boyd to learn him the trade of Wheel Wright & learn him to Read Write & cypher the Rule three inclusive & give him the half that he shall earn the last year of afsd Term, and he will find him necessary meat drink washing Lodging & Apparel during sd Term and Give him at end of sd Term one suit of Clothing for common wearing & an other for decency.
	11.  Louise Gillespie Lynch, "Williamson County Tennessee Deed Books, C, D & E (1811-1820)", Southern Historical Press, 1992.
1814	Jul 26	Book(D-116)    [p.61]
	Samuel and Nicholas Gentry to George Gentry, for $2268, 378 ac tract of land on the head waters of the Big Harpeth, being a part of a 5000 ac grant to Geo. Parks and bounded by Robert Weekley, Geo. Gentry, and Samuel Gentry. Reg. 9 Mar 1815.
1814	Jul 26	Book(D-117)    [p.61]
	Nicholas and Geo. Gentry to Samuel Gentry, for $5200, 395 ac tract of land on the head waters of the Big Harpeth, being part of a 5000 ac grant to George Parkes and bounded by Robert Weakley and George Gentry. Reg. 9 Mar 1815
1814	Jul 26	Book(D-126)    [p.62]
	Nicholas Gentry to James Mayfield [his half-brother?], for $600, 100 ac on the head waters of the Big Harpeth, being a part of a 5000 ac grant to George Parks and bounded by Geo. Gentry's survey. Wit: Robert Cannon and Samuel Gentry; Reg. 11 Mar 1815.
1814	Jul 6 [sic]	Book(D-127)    [p.62] [Date 26 July?]
	Samuel Gentry and George Gentry to Nicholas Gentry, for $2200, 548 ac on the head waters of the Big Harpeth, being part of a 5000 ac grant to Geo. Parks and bounded by Samuel Gentry's 223 3/4 ac tract and Geo. Gentry's survey. Reg. 11 Mar 1813 [sic]

12a.  WPA Typewritten Copy of Will Book 3, Williamson Co., TN (1819-1825)
1821	Mar 21		Book(3-248) Will of James Boyd
	1) Bequeaths to son John G. Boyd, $500 for books and tuition.
	2) To wife, Nancy, the balance of estate, both real and personal, to her use and in case
		she never marries, then I will and bequeath the same to her during her natural life with a request that she give to each of her children as they shall marry a sum not exceeding that which has been given to my daughter Polly or Elizabeth, who have already married.
	3) Upon either the marriage or the death of my wife, it is my desire that my estate of
		every kind be equally divided amongst my children, share and share alike, having reference to the portions which have already been received by any of the children when they shall marry and allowing the five hundred dollars above bequeathed to John G. Boyd as an extra bequest to him.
	4) I will and bequeath to my daughter Sinci Boyd, now Sinci Swisher a negro girl named
		Milley to her and bodily heirs forever.
	5) I appoint my sons Abner Boyd and John G. Boyd executors of this my will without
		security.
	Signed by James Boyd in the presence of Thomas Hardeman, Nathaniel W. Forbes and Samuel Pratt. Will produced in open court at July term, 1821, and attested by witnesses.
1821	Oct Session		Book(3-267)
	Inventory of the estate of James Boyd reported to court by Abner Boyd, acting executor of his last will and testament, and so recorded.
12b.  WPA, "Transcript of Dyer County, Tennessee Wills Volume A: 1853-1893", 1938
1855	Feb 27		Will Book(A-39) Will of John Payne
	Property after debts divided among wife and children. [Emiline Gentry among those to whom a proportion has already been given]. Attested at April Term 1855, Dyer County Court
1870	May 24		Will Book(A-175) Will of Nicholas C. Gentry
	Property after debts bequeathed to wife Eunice during her lifetime or until married, minor children to be raised and educated. After her death, property to be equally divided among:
		Charles, son of first wife Mary Ann children of second wife Eunice
	Attested at August Term County Court, 1870.

13.  Marjorie Hood Fischer, "Tennessee Tidbits, 1778-1914" Vol I, Southern Historical Press, Easley, SC, 1986

1816

Samuel Gentry died this year. The administrators were Minos Cannon, James Boyd and Fanny Gentry who has since married Thomas Cheathem. The children of Samuel Gentry brought suit against the administrators for a division: Sina Gentry, Letsy Gentry, Betsy Gentry, Minos Gentry, John Gentry, Nancy Gentry and Samuel Gentry by their guardian Nicholas Gentry. The defendant Minos Cannon is the father of Fanny Gentry Cheathem who was the widow. Proceedings covered from 1816 to July 1824.

15.  Helen C. & Timothy R. Marsh, "Bedford County TN Wills", Marsh Historical Publications, Shelbyville, TN 1984, p.241 Chancery Court Record Book, 1854-1856, p.158

Will of Thomas Cheatham, deceased. B. F. Duggan, Executor. Mary Cheatham, widow. He left no children. His heirs are his brothers and sisters and Gentry heirs and others, to wit: Letitia [Gentry] Perry, Samuel Gentry, James Garrett, Phanny C. Garrett, Thomas C. Garrett, Nancy L. Garrett, William Garrett, and Robert Garrett, the last 6 being minors, all of Bedford County [ch of Nancy], Tennessee. William McCurdy and wife Elizabeth [Cheatham] of Grand County, Missouri Gibson Dawdy and wife Nancy [Cheatham] of Calaway County, Kentucky Mary [Cheatham] Stanfield of Maury County, Tennessee. James Gillespie and wife Sarah [Cheatham] of Benton County, Tennessee Robert Taylor and wife Phoeby [Cheatham] of Weakley County, Tennessee Matilda Taylor, [Cheatham] a minor and her guardian, Vincent Taylor, of Rutherford County, Tennessee. John Crawford and wife Diadama. Sinai [Gentry] Long of Pontotoc County, Mississippi. William Caple, ___ Caple, ___ Caple, ___ Caple, only children of Cynthia Caple, [Cheatham] deceased, the whereabouts unknown. Others named: Fanny E. Duty, Martin A. Gentry, Letitia Smith, Nancy Gentry, Samuel J. Gentry, Wiley P. Gentry and Mary Gentry, only children of John R. Gentry, deceased, of Randolph County, Arkansas. Thomas C., Mary L., William, and Robert, minor children of Dorrington Garrett and wife Nancy [Gentry] deceased. Filed 5 Jul 1858.

17.  Federal Census Records
Gentrys listed as Head of Household along with reported year of birth.

Name (and Spouse)		1820	1830	1840	1850	1860
George Gentry and Family
George G Gentry    (Martha)		Wm'son, TN 1775-1794	Dyer, TN 1770-1780	Washington, TX (present)	Limestone, TX (1775 - SC)	Limestone (widow)
	John B Gentry    (Letsey)	w/parents (1794-1804)	---	Dyer, TN 1800-1810	Gibson, TN (widow)	Gibson, TN (widow)
	Samuel Gentry    (Emaline)	" (1810-1820)	w/parents (1810-1815)	Dyer, TN 1800-1810	Limestone, TX (1813)	Limestone (widow)
	Nicholas Gentry    (Eunice)	" (1810-1820)	" (1810-1815)	Dyer, TN 1810-1820	Dyer, TN (1815 - TN)	Dyer, TN (1814 - TN)
	Gibson Gentry    (Martha)	" (1810-1820)	" (1815-1820)	Dyer, TN 1810-1820	Dyer, TN (1818 - TN)	Dyer, TN (1815 - TN)
	Sina M. Gentry    (M. Thurman)	" (1810-1820)	" (1815-1820)	---	Limestone, TX (1818)	---
	Susan Gentry    (Fred. Waddell)	" (1810-1820)	" (1820-1825)	---	Austin, TX (1820)	Austin, TX (1820)
	Nancy A. Gentry    (Caleb Wilburn)		" (1820-1825)	---	---	Victoria, TX (1826)
	Drucilla Gentry    (Wm. Howard)		" (1825-1830)	---	Limestone, TX (1830)	Limestone (1825)
	Mary H. Gentry    (M. Kuykendall)		" (1825-1830)	---	---	Limestone, TX (1825)
	Mary J. Gentry    (A. Blackburn)    (J. Stapleton)		" (1825-1830)	---	Washington, TX (1823)	Limestone, TX (1832)
	Elias M. Gentry    (Malissa)				w/parents (1833)	Limestone, TX (1837 - TN)
	William Gentry    (Drucilla)				w/parents (1838)	Limestone, TX (1837 - TX)
Nancy Gentry and Family
Nancy Gentry    (James Boyd)		Wm'son, TN (1775-1794)	---
Samuel Gentry and Family
Samuel Gentry    (Frances)		Wm'son, TN (widow remarried)
	Letitia Gentry    (Wiley Perry)	w/mother (1794-1804)
	Sina Gentry    (Rich. Long)	" (1804-1810)
	Minos Gentry	" (1804-1810)
	John R. Gentry    (Elvira)	" (1804-1810)		Bedford, TN 1810-1820	Lawrence, TN (1811 - TN)	Marshall, TN (widow)
	Elizabeth Gentry	" (1810-1820)
	Nancy Gentry    (D. Garrett)	" (1810-1820)
	Samuel Gentry    (Mary Agnes)	" (1810-1820)		Bedford, TN 1800-1810	Bedford, TN (1810 - TN)	Bedford, TN (1815 - TN)
Nicholas Gentry and Family
Nicholas Gentry    (Mary)		Wm'son, TN 1775-1794	Gibson, TN 1780-1790	Gibson, TN 1780-1790	Washington, TX (widow)	Washington (widow) w/Thomas
	Elizabeth Gentry	w/parents (1804-1810)	---
	George Gentry    (Jane Smiley)	" (1804-1810)	w/parents (1800-1810)	---		Washington, TX (1808 - TN)
	Frederick Gentry    (Rebecca)	" (1810-1820)	" (1810-1815)	Washington, TX (present)	---	Hamilton, TX (1813 - TN)
	Caroline Gentry	" (1810-1820)	" (1810-1815)	---
	James Gentry    (Amanda)	" (1810-1820)	" (1815-1820)	w/parents (1810-1820)	Washington, TX (1820 - TN)
	Thomas Gentry    (Martha Jane)		" (1820-1825)	" (1820-1825)	Washington, TX (1823 - TN)	Washington, TX (1823 - TN)
	William Gentry		" (1820-1825)	" (1820-1825)	---	Wm'son, TX (1824) ?
	Sarah T. Gentry		" (1825-1830)	---
	Mary A. Gentry		" (1825-1830)	" (1825-1830)	---
	Rebecca Gentry			" (1830-1835)	w/Thomas (1833)
	Nancy L. Gentry			" (1835-1840)	" (1836)
	Emily A Gentry			" (1835-1840)	" (1838)

Revised 02/18/11 – parents of Nicholas Sr.; July 2014 – minor text and styling

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