THE SONS OF SAMUEL-II GENTRY
Part 4. Allen Gentry and Family
by
Willard Gentry
Abstract
Continuing a series providing comprehensive descriptions of the sons of Samuel-II
Gentry, his son Allen is described, along with a summary of Allen's children.
Introduction
The Gentry Journal continues the series of articles on the children of Samuel-II Gentry with a
description of the information available on his son, Allen. The descriptions of and references
for Allen's sons are very much abbreviated.
Allen-III Gentry
| -- |
Born approx 1723 in Hanover County, Virginia; |
| -- |
Died in 1802 in Halifax County, Virginia, according to probate records (but see discussion
below). |
| -- |
Married Mary (Unknown) abt 1745 in Louisa County, Virginia. She
probably died between 1805 and 1807 in Person County, North Carolina. |
| Sons of Allen and Mary Gentry |
| i |
Shadrack Gentry, born abt 1746 in Louisa County Virginia, died 1842
in Person County, North Carolina; mother of his older children (Unknown)
Davis (unmarried); married next Susannah Davis, 23 Aug 1792 in
Halifax County, Virginia<7c> (see discussion below). |
| ii |
Meshack Gentry, born abt 1748 in Louisa County, Virginia, died 4 Jul
1846<2> in Monroe County, Tennessee; married (1) Ann
(Unknown)<4c> abt.1781; married (2)
(Unknown)<13a>, abt 1840, Monroe County,
Tennessee. |
| iii |
Abednego Gentry (also Obednigo); born abt 1758 in
Lunenburg County, Virginia, died probably 1844 in Surry County, North Carolina; married
Elizabeth(?) (Unknown) abt 1779 in Caswell County, North Carolina, and
perhaps other wives. |
| Daughters of Allen and Mary Gentry (order
unknown) |
| iv |
Mary Gentry, born probably in Lunenburg County, Virginia; married
Andrew Buchanan [Buckhannon] [the name was used interchangeably
even in the same document, but Buchanan appears to have been the preferred
spelling]. |
| v |
Agnes Gentry, born probably in Lunenburg County, Virginia; married
(Unknown) Whittemore [Whitmore]. |
|
(The names of Allen's wife and children and the date of Allen's death are taken from his
will<7b>. All other dates, unless referenced above, are "best-guess"
estimates.) |
Many fewer references have been found for Allen Gentry than for his brothers Nicholas,
Joseph. The question of whether Allen or Joseph was the older of the two brothers is
uncertain. The following points bear on this question.
-
Allen's appears to have married before Joseph, based on the probable dates of birth
of their oldest children.
- Allen's earliest known purchase of property was in 1755, whereas Joseph bought his
first land in 1752, and it appears probable that Allen lived with Joseph on that property at
least until Allen bought his own land and perhaps long after that.
These two observations tend to conflict with each other in judging which brother was
older. In this article and in the previous articles about Joseph Gentry, we rather arbitrarily
assign to Joseph the position of older brother. However, we would not in any way dispute
any assertion that Allen was older.
The early movements of Allen's family are given in the testimony of Allen's son, Meshack,
when he applied for a Revolutionary War pension<2>. Meshack related that
he was born in Louisa County, Virginia, in about 1748, and recalled that his family moved to
Lunenburg County when he was 4 years old [about 1752]. He lived there until he was 25
[about 1773] when he moved to Caswell County, North Carolina. (Person County was formed
from Caswell County in 1791, so Gentry references after that date that change in county
name.) This description matches quite well with what we know of the movement of the entire
Samuel-II clan from Louisa County to Lunenburg County. However, Allen and Meshack's
move to Caswell County was preceded by a brief visit to Surry County, North Carolina, for
both names are found in the 1772 tax lists of Surry County<12a> (but not
the names of Allen's other sons, Shadrack and Abednego). It is interesting to note that
Shadrack may have separately visited Surry County briefly in 1774, perhaps in the company
of Allen's father, Samuel<12b>. These visits are assumed to have been
exploratory in nature, for none of Allen's family appeared again in Surry County records until
a much later period in history. The visits occurred in North Carolina history at the time that
over a thousand residents left their homes after the "War of the Regulators" and moved west
to Tennessee and other places, thereby leaving behind many homes the refugees were
desperate to sell..
Allen Gentry in Louisa and Lunenburg Counties, Virginia
Allen's name appears in only a single record in Louisa County, Virginia when he witnessed
(along with his brother David) a deed for the sale of part of his father's land in Louisa County
in 1751<3a>. After his move to Lunenburg County, there is little that has
been recorded aside from a handful of land and court records. The land (and court) records
of Lunenburg County, Virginia, can be summarized as follows<3b>.
| 1755 |
Allen bought 100 acres on Crooked Creek from David Allen (see Fig 1).
This land was sold jointly by Allen Gentry and David Allen in 1759 to Richard Haggard, the
father-in-law of Allen's sister Ann Haggard. There is no assurance that our Allen lived on this
land. Apparently involving some joint ownership, it may have been for investment or
speculative purposes only. There have been suggestions that David Allen was a first cousin
of Allen Gentry, a nephew of Allen's mother Ann (Allen?) Gentry. |
| 1761 |
Allen, for 20 pounds, bought 73 acres from his nephew Hezekiah Gentry (son of David)
that had been part of the Richard Taliaferro grant on Flat Rock Creek. This was one-half of a
piece of property that Hezekiah had purchased from William Embry in 1757. Allen sold this
land in 1764 for 50 pounds to Roger Atkinson, a land-speculator from Dinwiddie County,
Virginia. |
| 1763 |
Allen bought 50 acres on the north side of the Meherrin River (actually probably the
North Meherrin) from his brother William. William had purchased this land in 1760 from a
Francis Ray who had apparently left Lunenburg County to move to Johnston County, North
Carolina. [Compare the trip (or move?) of David Gentry (who witnessed William's
purchase as an apparent neighbor) to Johnston County at about the same time.] There
is no specific record of the sale of this land. |
| 1768 |
Allen bought from Thomas Maury, 80 acres that had been part of the Robert Brooks
grant on North Meherrin River. It is probable that this was the same land that Maury had
purchased in 1767 from Nicholas Gentry (a deed which Allen witnessed). This land was
probably not far from the land Allen bought from his brother William in 1763. |
| 1769 |
Allen sold 100 acres in the vicinity of the Meherrin River. The acreage does not balance
with the land he bought in 1768 (80 acres), so it may have also involved part of the property
he had bought in 1763 (50 acres). |
| 1770 |
Allen was involved in a joint sale, with his brother Joseph (who had left Lunenburg
County several years earlier), in selling the last of the property that Joseph had first bought
on coming to Lunenburg County in 1752. This suggests the possibility that Allen may have
had an informal part ownership with Joseph of this land, in return for which Allen lived on the
property until he bought land of his own. |
Besides the transactions involving Allen as buying or selling land, he is listed in a
half-dozen deeds as a witness or an adjoining land owner<4a>. The
transactions above suggest a mixture of land speculation and actual use by Allen of his land.
His purchase in 1755 may have been speculative, and that in 1761 certainly appears to be
so. His purchase in 1763, on the other hand, seems to have been longer lasting and it is
probable that he moved to and lived there for a number of years.
Figure 1. Border Counties - Virginia and North Carolina
The vestry book of Cumberland Parish, which included all of greater Lunenburg County,
does not include extensive records, however, Allen's name appears briefly in its
records<5>. In 1760 he was listed as a processioner in precinct #14 along
with William Gentry and David Gentry; and in 1761 and 1763 he was reimbursed for keeping
an Ann Nobles [undoubtedly fulfilling the parish's need to care for needy widows--the
Social Security and Aid To Dependent Children programs of the time]. The very limited
list of tithables published for Lunenburg County, list Allen as liable for 1 tithe and 50 acres in
1764 in the same district as Nicholas and Joseph Gentry<6>. The acreage
reflects his purchase from William in 1763. In 1769 an "Allin Pattersfill" Gentry was listed as
liable for 3 tithes and 118 acres. In this case, the acreage corresponds to the land which
Allen and Joseph jointly sold in 1770. The two additional tithables undoubtedly represent
Allen's sons Shadrack and Meshack, although why Shadrack was not included in 1764 as a
tithable (age 16 and over) is not known.
As to court records for Allen in Lunenburg County, he appears in scattered references
that for the most part involve suits where he was a defendant in cases involving
debts<7a>. The fact that the suits were rather widely-spaced in years and
in some cases were dismissed suggest that Allen's court appearances were very normal and
did not involve any of the money problems that plagued his brother David. In one different
court record, Allen was appointed, along with his brother-in-law French Haggard and nine
other men, to assess a damage claim for water overflowing onto neighboring land during the
construction of a grist mill on the Meherrin River.
Allen Gentry in Caswell/Person County, North Carolina
Allen next appeared in a 1772 tax list in Surry County, North Carolina, along with Nicholas,
Richard, Samuel, his son Meshack, and two other Allen Gentrys. We have mentioned this
visit briefly above. One of the 1772 Allens, presumably this one, was taxed for 2 white polls,
the second taxable person in his household may have been either his son Shadrack or his
father Samuel--his son Abednego would have been too young to be taxed. We have also
mentioned that two years later, in 1774, Shadrack apparently also visited Surry County briefly,
again possibly accompanied by Allen's father Samuel. In both of these cases, there is only a
single reference in the Surry County tax records, so in neither case did Allen or any of his
family remain in that county. Instead, they moved to Caswell County, North Carolina, as
Meshack's Revolutionary War pension testimony indicates.
Allen and Shadrack's names are found in Caswell County tax lists in 1777, each assessed
for taxable land, while Samuel Gentry is listed as being subject only to the poll
tax<8a>. Two years later, Samuel signed a petition along with his
grandson, Abednego. These two references suggest that this Samuel was Allen's father and
he must have been living with Allen during the last years of his life. We can assume he died
between 1779 (when he would have been about eight-seven years old), and 1784 when Allen
and Shadrack's names next appeared in the Caswell County tax lists<8b>.
(The gap between 1777 and 1784 reflects the Revolutionary War period, and the fact that in
1784 the North Carolina General Assembly adopted new provisions relating to registering
individuals for taxes.)
The next entry for Allen (in the same reference) was not until 1794, when he was
assessed for 250 acres (the "Absolum" Gentry in the reference is presumed to be a
misspelling or misreading of "Allen"). In 1795, Meshack and Shadrack were listed as
tithables, but there is no record of property tax for them. In keeping with the apparent loss of
or failure to preserve early Caswell and Person County tax records, there are no further tax
records for any Gentrys until 1805, and there are no deed records for the purchase of land by
Allen, although he is shown as buying some items in an estate sale in
1797<8b>.
It is perhaps appropriate at this point to make some remarks concerning the
responsibilities for recording deeds of land. This was a three-way responsibility, shared by
the seller, the buyer and the clerk of court. A deed was required to be signed by the grantor,
usually in the presence of witnesses, then attested by the grantor or a witness to a register of
deeds appointed by the county court (usually the clerk of court). The clerk than had the
responsibility of making a hand-written copy of the deed in his books, for the care of which he
was then responsible. The buyer had the most at stake in ensuring that his claim to property
would not be contested in the future and would be expected to be sure that his purchase was
properly recorded. But Allen (while he was in North Carolina) and all three of his sons
appeared to have a cavalier attitude about this. Deeds, particularly for the purchase of land,
are missing from the records of Halifax, Caswell, Person, and Surry Counties for all of these
Gentrys.
Allen's Residence at Time of Death
The final reference to Allen Gentry is found in the court records of Halifax County, Virginia,
across the state border from Person County. His will, written 21 Dec 1801, was received for
probate in the July 1802 session of the County Court<7b>. The will begins
with the words, "... I, Allen Gentry of Halifax County, and State of Virginia ..." This seems to
establish that Allen's residence at the time of his death was in Virginia. Even so, questions
linger concerning the circumstances as to this apparent residence, and the fact that his
surviving household appears to have continued to live in Person County. We can briefly
summarize some of the facts concerning Allen's family in the years just before and just after
his death.
- Allen was taxed for land in Person County in 1794 and made purchases there in 1797.
- We know from other information that tobacco farmed in Person and Caswell Counties
was regularly taken to Virginia for sale because the prices were better there than in North
Carolina, thus most commercial (and perhaps legal) communications were with Halifax
County.
- At no time prior to or after his death is Allen's name found in any Halifax County
records with the single exception of his probate proceedings.
- From the terms of his will, we know that Allen owned eight slaves, but can infer that
he no longer had any land that he wished to or was able to divide among his heirs. He may
have been living on the land that Abednego bought from Allen's son-in-law, Andrew
Buchanan, in 1805 that adjoined land occupied by Shadrack<9b,9c>. This
land was at the intersection of Castle Creek and the main east-west road and was
approximately four miles south of the state boundary.
- It is probable that Allen and his wife Mary were living together with their son Abednego
at the time of Allen's death. [This is particularly suggested by the provision in the will
making a special bequest to his grandson, Shadrack.] We know from the 1800 census
that neither Allen nor Abednego was living with Shadrack or with Andrew Buchanan.
There seems to be no question that Allen lived along the border between the Virginia and
North Carolina. However, all of the property references for Gentrys or for Andrew Buchanan
after both Shadrack and Meshack left Halifax County between 1793 and 1797 are to land on
the North Carolina side of the border. Did Allen actually live in North Carolina and stated that
he was a resident of Virginia for the convenience of doing business there.
At this point, we should mention the status of Federal census records. Along with the loss
of all of Virginia's census records for 1790, including Halifax County, those for Caswell County
were also lost. The 1800 census for Halifax County was also lost, along with many of the
records for Person County. A 1784 tax list for Halifax County, Virginia shows Meshack with 5
individuals in his family, but with no breakdown as to male and female members, or ages of
family members. Shadrack is listed in the 1800 Person County census, but neither Allen nor
Abednego Gentry are included. Unfortunately, given the uncertain nature of the Person
County census, their absence from that census and the complete lack of a Halifax County
census leave us without any knowledge as to their residence in 1800<14>.
Allen's will, written 21 Dec 1801, was received for probate in the July County Court of
Halifax County. The will reads in part:
| |
"In name of God amen. I, Allen Gentry of Halifax County, and
State of Virginia, and in perfect health, and in good memory, thanks be to God. Knowing that
it is appointed for all men to die, do make this my last will and testament ... |
| |
I give to my wife, Mary Gentry, during her natural life or widowhood, all and
singular my estate, real and personal, with all my household goods, and moveable effects,
and after her decease or marriage in the manner following: |
| |
Item: |
I give to my eldest son, Shadrack Gentry, of my estate one negro man
named Jack to him and his heirs forever. |
| |
Item: |
I give and bequeath to my son, Meshack Gentry, one negro man named Toney, to him
and his heirs forever. |
| |
Item: |
I give and bequeath to my daughter Mary Buchanan one negro woman, Lucky, to her
and her heirs forever. |
| |
Item: |
Item: I give to my grandson, Shadrack Gentry, Obednigo's son, one negro man, named
Toby, and two negro women named Hanna and Amy, and two negro children, named Hanna
and Enos, to him and his heirs forever, and it is my will and desire that Andrew Buchanan,
should keep these five negroes with him at his own house, and that he will pay the earnings
that they earn to Shadrack, my grandson, and keep them together, after my decease, and my
wife Mary's decease, until the heir comes of age and then deliver them and the earnings or
the hire they have earned to the said heir. |
| |
Item: |
I give to my daughter Agnes Whittemore, ten pounds of current money to be raised out of
my estate. |
| |
Item: |
I give and bequeath to my son Obednigo Gentry, ten pounds current money to be raised
out of my estate. |
| |
Item: |
It is my will and desire, and I do leave the rest of my moveable property to be equally
divided amongst my children--namely Shadrack Gentry, Meshack Gentry, Obednigo Gentry,
Agnes Whittemore and Mary Buchanan. |
| |
Item: |
Andrew Buchanan and Shadrack Gentry executors." |
The copy of this will in Richard Gentry's book, "The Gentry Family in
America"<1> shows the will as being signed by "Allen A. Gentry". In fact,
the document ends with "Allen [his mark] Gentry", and Allen did indeed make his mark with
the letter "A". The mistake of referring to Allen as "Allen A. Gentry" is repeated in the title of
Richard's description of Allen [#205, p.255], and has been perpetuated in other
documents that have drawn on this book as their source of information. This use of a mark
for his signature is found in other documents involving Allen, for example, in Lunenburg
County deeds.
Children of Allen
A. Shadrack Gentry
Less is known about Allen's son Shadrack than either of the other two. With the exception of
the brief reference to Shadrack in Surry County, North Carolina (in 1774), that has been
mentioned above, and the record of his marriage in Halifax County, Virginia (in 1792), all
other references are found in Caswell County and its successor, Person County, North
Carolina. He was named with his father in the Caswell County tax lists of 1777 and 1784 and
with his brother Meshack in a Person County list of 1795. Shadrack apparently moved from
Halifax County to Person County in 1794 when he was identified as "of Halifax County" in
buying 200 acres of land on Castle Creek from his brother-in-law, Andrew Buchanan. Five
years later he bought 105 acres more<9a>. In 1805, Shadrack was taxed
for 308 acres of land, but there is no record of when he bought the additional land. In 1820,
Shadrack gave 105 acres to his son, Abednego, which corresponds with being taxed in 1823,
for 200 acres<8b>. In the latter year, Shadrack was apparently no longer
required to pay a poll tax (he was approximately 77 years old at the time). Shadrack's name
is found in each Person County census from 1800 to 1840.
Shadrack died in 1842 as indicated by documents in the probate records for Shadrack.
These documents also relate the circumstances of the last years of his
life<10a>:
"In the year 1839 a writ of lunacy by Person County Court directing the sheriff to
inquire into the state of mind of Shadrack Gentry...found him to be a lunatic [in modern
terms, senile] ... at June term of court appointed Simon Gentry to be his guardian.
"Shadrack Gentry died intestate in the spring of 1842...Simon appointed as
administrator...estate amounting to $15,000, including a tract of land, several valuable slaves,
some fine stock of different kinds, and some little household plunder".
It may seem to be misplaced order to discuss Shadrack's marriage after discussing his
death, but we have a good reason for this which will be apparent below. The only marriage
recorded for Shadrack was in 1792 in Halifax County<7c>. A marriage bond
was executed on 21 August and his marriage to Susanna Davis took place on August 23rd.
Susanna's parents, Jonathan and Bathsheba Davis gave their consent which would normally
indicate she was underage. In contrast to this, the 1810 Person County census reports
Susanna as being born in 1765 or before, which would have meant that she was indeed of
age in 1792. There is no further evidence to indicate which was right.
Shadrack had three children at the time of this marriage, namely Sally, Simon, and
probably Mary. The same probate records mentioned above contain the records of a suit
brought by the younger children of Shadrack against Simon as the administrator of the
estate<10a>. The plaintiffs state:
"...said Simon is an illegitimate son of said Shadrack born out of the bonds of
matrimony and although by an act of the legislature passed perhaps in the year 1835 his
name was changed from Simon Davis to Simon Gentry,
yet this same act gave him no heritable capacity to take property of distribution shares of
lands by descent." Simon's response did not deny illegitimacy, but went on to say, "Besides
his own claim as one of the heirs at law and next of kin--one Sally Allen, formerly Sally
Gentry or Sally Davis also claims to be an heir at law."
From this we can conclude:
- The mother of Simon and Sally Gentry was a woman by the name of Davis, who was
not married to Shadrack at the time of their birth. We have no clue as to why this was so.
Based on an estimate of Sally's birth, their first liaison would have been in the vicinity of 1782,
a date which suggests a possible effect by the Revolutionary War. The established church in
Virginia and North Carolina was in disarray during this time and many churches were without
a minister. The local civil infrastructure may also have been in disarray. These
circumstances may have led Shadrack and his "wife" to adopt a "common law" relationship and
to forego any technicalities connected with marriage.
- Despite the fact that Shadrack's legitimate wife Susanna's name was Davis, it is very
unlikely that she was the mother of the older children. Rather it is probable that she was a
younger sister of the first "wife".
- Simon was born about 1792 according to the 1850 census records. It is probable that
Simon's mother died in childbirth or shortly afterwards, leading to the decision by Shadrack to
promptly marry again.
- It is of interest that despite any action taken by the North Carolina legislature to
change Simon's name from Simon Davis to Simon Gentry at a relatively late stage of his
life<10a>, Simon was always known as Simon Gentry and
Sally as Sally Gentry, witness Simon's purchase of land from Abednego in
1808<9c>, and his marriage bond of 1809 and Sally's marriage bond of
1803<10b>.
Besides Sally (married Thomas Allen) and Simon (married Martha or Patsy Buckhannon
[or Buchanan]), Shadrack's children by his first wife probably included another
daughter, Mary (who married John Trew or True<10b>). Shadrack's children
by his
second wife included Polly [a second Mary?] (married Jackson Dunn), Abednego
(married
Francis Ramsey), Elizabeth (married Jesse Chambers) and Allen (married Harriet
Jones)<10a>. Census records suggest there was another son who died as a
child.
B. Meshack Gentry
Allen Gentry's second son was far more active than his older brother. Meshack served in the
Revolutionary War as a captain of North Carolina mounted riflemen, entering service in 1779
in Caswell County (but was never able to obtain a pension for lack of documentary evidence).
We have referred earlier to his application for a pension. A chronology of Meshack's activities
after being discharged from military service at Hillsborough, North Carolina in 1781, is
summarized below.
| 1782 |
Meshack taxed in Halifax County, Virginia. Included also in the 1784 Halifax
County census published by the Federal Bureau of Census in lieu of the 1790 Federal
census<14>. |
| 1784 |
Meshack (identified as "of Halifax County") bought 240 acres in Caswell County on Bold
Creek. He sold this land in 1787<9b>. | | 1787 |
Meshack and his wife Ann sold to Joseph Huell an estimated 100 acres on Coleman
Creek, the first of three plots of land in Halifax County. This was followed in 1791 by the sale
of 73 acres jointly by Meshack and Huell (which probably included part of the land Meshack
sold in 1784). In 1793, Meshack sold 169 acres, also on Coleman Creek, presumably the
last of his Halifax land. There is no record of his purchase of any of this
land<4c>. |
| 1796 |
Meshack made the first of a series of purchases of land in Surry County, North Carolina.
Most of his land was along both banks of Deep Creek. Beginning probably in 1801, his
properties included one or more mills. In addition to the Deep Creek property, he purchased
260 acres of land on Hunting Creek in 1797, part of which he sold in 1800. |
| 1817 |
Meshack sold the first of his holdings on Deep Creek, including his mills. The last of his
Surry County property was sold in 1819<11a>. There is no record of
Meshack selling any land on Hunting Creek, but his son Allen D. Gentry sold land there,
presumably part of which had been bought by his father.
[His land holdings as shown by tax records, varied from 150 to 410 acres, mostly in
the neighborhood of 300 acres<12c>. Obviously some of his purchases
were not properly recorded with the clerk of court. Interestingly, one of Meshack's purchases
of land in 1805 was not recorded with the court until fourteen years later in 1819. Presumably
the buyer wanted to provide proof of ownership and arranged for the late recording of the
ownership of land which he had just purchased. We have remarked earlier about the fact
that Meshack appeared to be careless about ensuring that his purchases of land were
properly recorded.] |
| 1818 |
Meshack left Surry County and moved to Green County, Tennessee (as reported in his
military bounty application<2>). After two years there, Meshack moved on
to Bledsoe County, Tennessee where he spent another two years. He finally moved to
Monroe County, Tennessee where he lived until his death with his son Allen D.
Gentry. |
| 1840 |
Meshack reported to have a newly married wife (name
unknown)<13a>. | | 1846 |
Allen D. Gentry reported to the U.S. Bureau of Pensions that Meshack had
died. |
Meshack had three children that we know of, namely: Pleasant Gentry (married Lucy
Alnut in Surry County in 1804, and moved to Madison County, Kentucky); Jordan Gentry
(married
Elizabeth Holcomb (?) in Surry County and moved eventually to Itawamba County, Mississippi);
and
Allen D. Gentry (married his cousin Nancy Gentry, daughter of Abednego Gentry in Surry
County in
1810, and moved to Monroe County, Tennessee with Meshack). Marriage bonds are recorded
in Surry
County for Pleasant and for Allen D. but not for Jordan.
A Halifax County tax list citation for 1784 for "Michael Gentry" [probably a
mis-reading of Meshack Gentry!] shows 5 people in his family at that time, so it is
unlikely that there were other unidentified members. Meshack is listed (with 3 sons) in the
1800 Surry County census. He was also listed in the 1810 Surry County census and in the
1830 Monroe County, Tennessee census. Despite the fact that he was living in Monroe
County in 1840, he was not listed under any Gentry name in that year [could he have
been living with the family of his new wife?].
C. Abednego Gentry [The author's line of descent]
The first reference to Allen's third son, Abednego (or Obednigo) was in 1779 when he
signed a petition with his grandfather. The next reference was not until his name was
included in Allen's will. The special bequest of five slaves to Abednego's son, Shadrack,
suggest that Allen and Abednego were living together in one household or neighboring
households, and that the young boy (who was about nine years old) was a favorite of his
grandfather. In 1805, three years after Allen's death, Mary Gentry (presumably Allen's widow)
was listed in Person County tax records as owning 5 slaves but no land<8b>.
In the
same year, Abednego bought 168 acres of land from his brother-in-law Andrew Buchanan that
Andrew
had purchased almost twenty years earlier, and which interestingly included a part of a parcel of
land
on
which Abednego's brother Shadrack was living<9c>. We can assume Mary
was still
living with her son. In 1808 Abednego sold this Person County land while living in Surry
County, North
Carolina, where he had moved in 1807. This move probably was after the death of his mother
and
final
settlement of Allen's estate.
References to Abednego in Surry County, other than being listed regularly in the tax
records, are few in number. In 1807 he bought 100 acres from Thomas Day and an adjoining
52 ½ acres from Henry Day on the south side of the south fork of Deep
Creek<11b>. Although there are no more deeds in his name for the
purchase of land, the tax records show a jump from 152 acres in 1808 to 292 acres in 1809
and another jump to 392 acres in 1813. These presumably reflect his purchase of 100 acres,
then another 140 acres<12c>. The latter property apparently was sold or
given to his son Allen between 1827 and 1830 judging from tax records. Aside from one
citation where he witnessed a deed for his brother, Meshack, Abednego's name does not
occur in any more deeds until 1836 when he divided his remaining land between his two
younger sons, William and Abednego Jr<11b>. William was given the 100
acres which his father had bought in 1808 or 1809, while Abednego Jr. was given the original
two plots of 152 ½ acres. Abednego's oldest son, Shadrack, was not included in any of
these transfers of land because he already had land of his own
The determination of the date of Abednego's death is an intriguing one. We get no help
from tax records, for there is a gap in these records between 1842 and 1847. However, we
can get important information from court records filed in Monroe County,
Tennessee<13b>. In 1854, Abednego's daughter, Nancy, filed suit against
the estate of her husband, Allen D. Gentry, to overturn an earlier divorce decree that
prevented her from inheriting that estate. As a part of the proceedings, a letter supposedly
written in 1845 by a brother-in-law of Nancy and sent from Surry County to Monroe County,
was introduced in evidence. Nancy alleged that she later learned the letter was forged by or
on the instigation of Allen. This letter stated that Abednego had died October 31, 1844, and
that Nancy had been left money amounting to some $250. She apparently never received
this money. Despite the fact that Nancy discovered at a later time that the letter was forged,
there must have been enough truth to the statement that Abednego had died in 1844 (which
she had probably already learned before receiving the letter) for her to accept that part of the
document at face value. While the exact date may be in question, it is reasonable to say that
Abednego's death must have been during the fall of 1844. [To satisfy any reader's
curiosity, Nancy did indeed inherit all of Allen's estate, so apparently the court was satisfied
by her claim of forgery.]
Many of the details of Abednego's family are unknown or uncertain, beginning with his
wife or wives, but we will not try to delve into them here. There have been suggestions that
his first wife was named Elizabeth but there is no documentary evidence that has been found
so far to support this. Census records suggest that he may have married a second time
between 1820 and 1830, and possibly a third time between 1830 and 1840. Even the
composition of the rest of his family is uncertain. Mary Gentry (married Samuel Stokes) and
Nancy (married her cousin Allen D. Gentry) were his oldest children, followed by the
Shadrack (married Polly Jacks, then Melinda Messick) who was mentioned in his
grandfather's will. Abednego had three other sons, Allen (married Sarah Brittain, then Louisa
Martin), William (married Lucy Myres, then Sarah Long), and Abednego Jr. (married a Sarah,
maiden name unknown). Abednego had a third daughter, Elizabeth (married William Sparks),
and probably a fourth daughter whose name is not known.
The records for Abednego's family are complicated by the presence of three extraneous
Gentry children who were apparently living with Abednego and with his son Shadrack in 1820.
Records of these extra Gentrys continued to appear in Surry County records for many years
afterwards. This author has a theory that they were orphan children of Reuben Gentry who
lived in Surry County from 1809 to 1810, then presumably died. This question will not be
discussed further here, but rather deferred to later consideration in the Gentry Journal.
D. Daughters of Allen Gentry
Allen's daughter, Mary Buchanan, is probably cited in the 1800 Person County census
returns in the family listed for "Andrew Buckhanon" (the spelling "Buckhannon", "Buckhanon",
and "Buchanan" was used interchangeably). There are many references to Mary's husband,
Andrew, in Caswell and Person County beginning in 1779, as he was active in buying and
selling land mostly along Castle Creek just south of the Virginia state line (see Fig.
1)<9b>. In 1810, Mary may have been living with the "Andrew Buchanan"
included in the census for that year (this Andrew was the right age to have been her son). If
this is the right Buchanan family, Mary was born before 1755, and the children's ages given in
the 1800 census suggest that Mary and Andrew were probably married about 1779.
We know nothing of the movements of Allen's daughter, Agnes Whittemore or Whitmore.
The only evidence for her existence is in Allen's will. There are no records in either Halifax
County or Person County of deeds involving a Whittemore or Whitmore either as a grantor or
a grantee. Nor is there a record in the 1800 census. It is possible that a Whittemore family
in the 1810 Caswell County census may be this family or a related family.
There has been speculation as to the identity of a Nancy Gentry who married John
Mullins in Halifax County, Virginia, in 1792<7c>. The presence of the name
Nancy in Abednego's family, and the unexplained presence of this Nancy in Halifax County
have led to suggestions that she was a third, younger daughter of Allen Gentry. While this is
very possible in terms of Nancy's age (other records show she was born about 1768), the
absence of a Nancy in Allen's will casts doubt on this proposal. Nancy is thought to have
moved before 1800 with her husband to Floyd County, Kentucky, and was living there at the
time of Allen's death. One would presume that Allen would be aware of her existence if
indeed she was a daughter of Allen. Lacking this relationship, we have no good explanation
for the presence of this Nancy in Halifax County at that time.
Conclusion
Allen Gentry, while unremarkable in what we know of his life in general, was distinctive in
one way. We have no idea as to why he went off on his own into Caswell County, but in
doing so, he very clearly broke away from the pattern followed by his other brothers who
moved one after another from Lunenburg, Virginia to Surry County, North Carolina. His sons
likewise had minds of their own, and aside from Meshack and Abednego spending a number
of years together in Surry County, each of them followed separate paths. The Journal of
Gentry Genealogy will pursue them on these paths in future articles.
References
1. Richard Gentry, "The Gentry Family in America", by Grafton Press,
New York, 1909, p.255-257:
#205, Allen A. Gentry. (Includes a verbatim copy of Allen's will.)
2. Revolutionary War Pensions
R3974: Meshack GENTRY, of Monroe County, Tennessee
[In his petition he] stated that he was born in Louisa County,. Virginia, [abt 1748], moved
at age 4 [abt 1752] to Lunenburg County, Virginia, where he lived until he was 25 [abt 1773],
then moved to Caswell County, North Carolina. "A few years after the end of the war", he
moved to Surry County, North Carolina where he lived until 1818. Then lived 2 years in
Greene County, Tennessee, 2 years in Bledsoe County, Tennessee, 2 years in McMinn
County, Tennessee [southwest of Knoxville and southeast of Bledsoe Co], then finally moved
to Monroe County, Tennessee [east of McMinn Co] where he resided until the time of his
application. [In pursuit of Meshack's claim later, his son Allen D. Gentry stated that Meshack
died 4 Jul 1846.]
3. Land Transactions of Allen Gentry
| (a) |
Louisa County, Virginia, Deed Books |
| 1751 |
Aug 6 |
Deed Bk(A-433) |
| |
Thomas Lane of Louisa Co, and Ann, his wife, to John Starke, for £37,
deeds 100 acres on Dirty Swamp in Fredericksville Par., conveyed 22 Sep 1746 by
Nicholas Gentry, the younger, and Mary, his wife to said Lane. Signed:
Thomas Lane, Ann (A) Lane. Wit: John (X) Brooks, David (D) Gentry, Allen (X)
Gentry. |
| |
| (b) |
Lunenburg County, Virginia, Deed and County Minute
Books |
| 1755 |
Nov Court |
County Court Order Bk(4-32) |
| |
Indenture of sale between David Allen & Martha his wife, [to] Allen
Gentry proved by oath of 2 witnesses and ordered to be certified.
[No acreage or location of land given. No matching deed.] |
| 1759 |
Oct 1 |
Deed Bk(5-489) |
| |
David Allen of Johnston Co NC and Allen Gentry of Lunenburg Co
VA to Richard Haggard, for £30, sold 100 acres on Creeched (Crooked) Creek, ... Wit:
John Hanna Smith, John Colson, Elisha Brooks... |
| |
Oct Court |
Court Order Bk(6-31A) |
| |
Indenture proved by witnesses and ordered to be recorded. | | 1761 |
Apr 6 |
Deed Bk(7-11) |
| |
Hezekiah Gentry to Allen Gentry for £20, sold 73
acres granted 5 Sep 1749 to Richard Taliaferro, adj. French Haggard and Joseph
Simpkin's corner. | |
Apr Court |
Court Order Bk(6-251B) |
| |
Indenture acknowledged by Hezekiah and ordered to be recorded. |
| 1763 |
Dec 8 |
Deek Bk(9-337) |
| |
William Gentry to Allen Gentry, both of Lunenburg Co, for
£40, sold 50 acres ... on north side of Merrin (Meherrin) River. |
|
Dec Court |
County Court Order Bk(9-300) |
| |
Deed was acknowledged. |
| 1764 |
May |
Deed Bk(8-268) |
| |
Allen Gentry of Lunenburg Co, to Roger Atkinson of Dinwiddie
County, for £50, sold estimated 73 acres, purchased of Hezekiah Gentry in
Lunenburg Co, Cumberland Parish, near the mouth of Flatrock Creek, being part of patent
granted 5 Sep 1749 to Richard Talleferro (Taliaferro), adj. French Haggard's line,
Joseph Simpkin's corner...Wit: David Garland, Wm Taylor, Barttelot Anderson. |
| |
Aug Court |
County Court Order Bk(9-126) |
| |
Deed was proved by oath of the witnesses. | | 1768 |
Aug 11 |
Deed Bk(11-188) |
| |
Thomas Murry [Maury] to Allen Gentry, both of
Lunenburg County for 40 lbs, 80 ac in Lunenburg County on N side of Maherrin Riv.;
part of a grant to Robt. Brooks and conveyed to said Murry, adj. Richd. Brooks at river.
Rachel, wife of Maury relinq dower right. Signed Thomas (X) Murry. [This is probably
the same land that Maury bought in 1767 from Nicholas Gentry.] |
| 1769 |
Aug 10 |
Deed Bk(11-288) |
| |
Allen Gentry to Charles Gravett, both of Lunenburg County, for 50
lbs, 100 ac in Lunenburg County on N. Maherrin Riv., up spring branch on Degraffenreidt line,
to Wm. Cockerham, to Abraham Maury, to river. Wit: Everard Dowsing, Bartlet Estes Senr.,
David Hopkins. Signed Allen (A) Gentry. |
| 1770 |
Dec 13 |
Deed Bk(11-423) |
| |
Joseph Gentry of North Carolina, Agness Gentry his wife,
Allen Gentry, Mary Gentry his wife of Lunenburg County and Cumberland
Parish to Samuel Jeter of the same county, for 100 lbs ... sell 118 ac in Lunenburg County on
the lower side of Ready Creek adj. Jeremiah Glen, John Mellenor, Michael Maccy, down
Horsepen Creek to Everard Dowsing's line to Ready Creek then down the creek as is
meanders to the beginning; said tract of land part of a larger parcel originally granted to
Michael Macey and conveyed to Joseph Minor and by him conveyed to Joseph Gentry.
Signed: Joseph ("X") Gentry, Allen ("A") Gentry. Wit: Wm
Jeter, Francis Degraffenreidt, Wm Jeter Jr. Ack by Joseph Gentry and Allen
Gentry; Mary on examination relinq. her dower rights. |
| 1771 |
Sep 27 |
Deed Bk(12-108) |
| |
To Jacob Bonn and James Marck, Esq. Gentlemen of Surry County NC,
greeting. Joseph Gentry & Agness, his wife, and Allen Gentry,
& Mary, his wife, by their deed of Dec. 13, 1770 sold to Samuel Jeter 118 acres
in Lunenburg County on Reedy Cr. Agness, the wife of said Joseph Gentry,
cannot conveniently travel to our county court to make acknowledgement of the deed. You
are therefore authorized to go to Agness to receive her acknowledgement. Signed
11 Jul 1711: Wm. Taylor.
Agness relinquished her right of dower. Signed 27 Sep 1771: Jacob Bonn,
James Merck. Recorded 9 Apr 1972. |
|
| 4. Other Deed Book References,
Virginia |
| (a) |
References to Allen as Witness or Neighbor, Lunenburg
County |
| 1760 |
Jul 12 |
Deed Bk(6-342) |
| |
Francis Ray of Johnston Co NC to William Gentry of Lunenburg Co
VA, for £25, sold 50 acres, adj. Andrews' Rock...Wit: William (A) Allen, Allen (A)
Gentry, David (D) Gentry. Signed: Francis ( ) Ray. |
| 1762 |
May 3 |
Deed Bk(7-390) |
| |
French Haggard to Thomas Ayre for £40, sold 50 acres, granted 5 Sep
1749 to
Richard Taliaferro on south side of Flat Rock Creek of Meherren. Wit: Ruben Vaughn,
Allen (A)
Gentry, John Hight. Signed: French Haggard, and Ann (A) Haggard. |
| 1763 |
Dec 31 |
Deed Bk(8-282) |
| |
Thomas Ayer of Lunenburg Co VA to Rodger Atkinson of Dinwiddee County,
for £60, sold 50 acres orig. granted 5 Sep 1749 Richard Taliaferro, being on Flatrock
Creek of Meherrin, adj. Allen Gentry...Wit: Richard Whitton, David Garland, Samuel
Garland... |
| 1767 |
Aug 8 |
Deed Bk(11-59) |
| |
Nicholas Gentry and Mary, his wife, to Thomas Maury, both
of Lunenburg Co VA, for £40 sold 80 acres, being part of a grant to Robert Brooks,
since sold to said Gentry, adj. Richard Brooks...Wit: Richard Gentry, Daniel
Murray, Allen Gentry. |
| 1770 |
May 16 |
Deed Bk(11-402) |
| |
Charles Wray [wife Lucretia] of Lunenburg County to Lewis Parham of
Mecklenburg County, for £11, 260 ac in Lunenburg County, S. side Beaver Crk... Wit:
John Arnoll, James Gee, Thomas Edwards, Allen Gentry, Mathew Laffoon. |
| |
| (b) |
References to Meshack Gentry, Lunenburg County |
| 1771 |
Oct 1 |
Deed Bk(12-85) |
| |
Richard Haggard of Bute County, NC, to Rich'd Dunston of Lunenburg
County, for £100, a certain tract of land of about 50 acres, being half the land bought of
David Allen, being in Lunenburg County and Crooked Cr.. Signed: Richard Haggard. Wit:
John Hix, Mourning Hix, Robert (mark) Willis, Meshack Gentry, John Hix. Recorded
12 Mar 1772. |
| |
| (c) |
References to Meshack Gentry, Halifax County |
| 1787 |
Jan 18 |
Bk(14-42) |
| |
Meshack Gentry and wife Ann deed to Joseph Huell;
estimated 100 acres of land lying on the waters of Coleman Creek, adjoined by land of John
West. |
| 1791 |
Sep 26 |
Bk(15-210) |
| |
Meshack Gentry and Joseph Huell of Halifax County deed to Jesse
Atkinson of same county; 73 acres of land in Halifax County. |
| 1793 |
Jan 26 |
Bk(15-514) |
| |
Meshack Gentry of Halifax County, deeds to Pleasant Turner of
same county; 169 acres of land on Coleman Creek, neighboring land of Roger Atkinson,
Wyatt Huell, William Robertson, John Carmical [Carmichael], Eliza Spencer, said Pleasant
Turner and Major Hood. |
5. Parish Records
Landon C. Bell, "Cumberland Parish, Lunenburg County, Va,
1746-1816" "Vestry Book 1746-1816", Richmond, VA, 1930
| 1760 Mar 1 |
Processioners in Precinct #14...Allen Gentry, William Gentry,
David Gentry... |
| 1761 Oct 30 |
Allen Gentry for keeping Ann Nobles 3 months. |
| 1763 |
Allen Gentry for caring of Ann Nobles... |
| 6. Tax Records, Virginia |
| (a) |
Landon C. Bell, "Sunlight on the Southside,
Lists of Tithes, Lunenburg County, Virginia, 1748-1783", Genealogical Publishing County,
Baltimore. 1974 ["Southside" was the term used for that part of Virginia south of the James
River.] This book does not report all of the existing tax list records many of which duplicate
each other from year to year. Instead, specific years were chosen such as 1752 when
Halifax County was formed out of Lunenburg County and 1764 when Mecklenburg County
was formed. |
| 1764 |
p.236 |
List by Henry Blagrave |
| |
Allen Gentry
Joseph Gentry
Nicholas
Gentry |
1 tithe
1 tithe
1 tithe |
50 ac
118 ac
108 ac |
|
| 1769 |
p.272 |
Cumberland Parish list by Everard Dowsing |
| |
|
"Gentry, Allin Pattersfill"(?) |
3 tithes |
118 ac |
|
|
|
[Note. Acreage same as for Joseph in 1764; is there some joint
ownership or occupation of this land by Joseph and Allen. Note that Allen is involved with
Joseph in deed records for sale of final portion of this land.] |
7. Virginia Court and Marriage Records
| (a) |
Lunenburg County Court Books |
| 1757 |
Apr Court |
Bk(4-277) |
| |
William Allen, a witness for Allen & Simon Gentry
ordered to be paid for 4 days attendance. |
| 1757 |
Apr Court |
Bk(4-280) |
| |
Theophilus Field, Plt vs Allen Gentry & Simon Gentry,
Defts. Suit ordered to be dismissed. |
| 1762 |
Apr Court |
Bk(8-9B) |
| |
Richard Hanian vs Allen Gentry, in debt. Suit dismissed at the Deft's
cost. | | 1762 |
Dec Court |
Bk(8-144B) |
| |
John Hix executor of Henry Cockerham deceased vs Joseph Simpkin,
Allen Gentry & William Gentry. The Deft Gentrys not appearing,
makes default the conditional order against the said Defts and Richard Witton Sheriff of the
said county. Judgment is confirmed against the said Defts. The said Deft Simpkins also
comes not but makes default. Judgment for the Plt for payment and costs. |
| 1764 |
Jun Court |
Bk(9-116) |
| |
James Thornton vs Joseph Simpkin and Allen Gentry, in Debt.
Defts came not. Order that the Plt recover against sd Deft Simpkin and David Gentry
and David Brooks, his security. Suit dismissed as to Gentry at his costs. |
| 1764 |
Oct Court |
Bk(9-187) |
| |
John Potter, assignee of Matthew Marable, Plt vs David Brooks, John
Brooks, and Allen Gentry, Defts. In Debt. Suit dismissed. |
| 1765 |
Apr Court |
Bk(11-19) |
| |
Matthew Marable, Sheriff, on oath by 11 men [incldg Allen Gentry
and French Haggard] evaluated damage to land of William Andrews opposite where John
Brooks intends to build a water grist mill over waters of Meherrin River, caused by overflow of
river during construction of mill. Leave granted to Brooks to build the same. |
| 1766 |
Aug Court |
Bk(11-186) |
| |
Jonathan Ratteson Jr, assignee of Allen Gentry who was Assignee
of Hezekiah Gentry vs Edward Waller and John Ussery, Defts in Debt. Plt came by
his atty. Ussery came in person and acknowledged debt. Waller no longer an inhabitant of
this county, suit abates as to him. |
| |
| (b) |
Halifax County Court Will Books |
| 1802 |
Jul 26 |
Will Bk(6-374) |
| |
Will of Allen Gentry received for probate in July County Court,
signed 21 Dec 1801, bequeaths to: |
| |
Wife Mary;
Eldest son Shadrack;
Son Meshack;
Daughter Mary Buchanan;
Daughter Agnes Whitmore;
Son Obednego;
Grandson Shadrack, son of Obednigo;
Executors Andrew Buchanan and Shadrack Gentry. |
| |
(Also accessible in "The Gentry Family in America", p.255-257.) |
| |
| (c) |
Halifax County Marriage Bond Register |
| 1792 |
May 17 |
Bk(1-26) |
| |
John Mullins to Nancy Gentry; surety Henry Pollard; Nancy signs her
own consent. (Married 7 Jun by Rev. Jesse Owen). |
| 1792 |
Aug 21 |
Bk(1-25) |
| |
Shadrack Gentry to Susanna Daviss; Meshack Gentry; dau of
Jonathan and Bethsheba Daviss who consent. (Married 23 Aug by Rev. Reuben
Pickett) |
| 8. Caswell and Person County, North
Carolina, Tax Lists | | (a) |
William P. Johnson, "North Carolina
Genealogy" |
| 1777 |
vol 20, p.2918 (1974) Caswell County, NC Tax Lists for Nash
District:
Includes Allen Gentry and Shadrick Gentry (assessed for land), and
Samuel Gentry (no land tax but liable for poll tax). |
| 1779 |
vol 16, p.2572 (1970) North Carolina Legislative papers, box 29:
Abstract of papers includes: "Samuel Gentry and Obednego Gentry sign
petition for division of Caswell County". |
| |
| (b) |
Katharine Kerr Kendall, "Person County, North
Carolina Compilations, Land Grants, Tax Lists and Record Book Abstracts
1792-1820",1978: |
| |
Record Book (Person County) |
| 1797 |
Allen Gentry and others made purchases at estate sale of John
Rogers |
| |
Tax Lists (Caswell County) |
Acres |
White
Polls |
Black
Polls |
|
| 1777 |
Allen Gentry
Samuel Gentry
Shadrick Gentry |
land assessed at £937[+]
subject to poll tax
land assessed at £362[+] |
| 1784 |
Shadrack Gentry
Allen Gentry |
0
0 |
1
1 |
0
3 |
|
| |
Tax Lists (Person County) |
| 1794 |
Absolum [Allen?] Gentry |
250 |
1 |
|
| 1795 |
Nash District - Meshack Gentry, Shadrick Gentry. |
| 1805 |
Shadrack Gentry
Obednego Gentry
Mary Gentry |
308
200
0 |
0
1
0 |
2
0
5 |
|
| |
[Note. This must be Allen's widow, with 5 slaves left by will]. |
| 1815 |
Simon Gentry, Shadrack Gentry. |
| 1823 |
Simon Gentry
Abednigo Gentry
Shadrack Gentry |
0
105
200 |
1
1
0 |
0
0
4 |
[son of Shadrack] |
| 9. Caswell and Person County, North
Carolina, Deed Books |
| (a) |
References to Shadrack Gentry |
| 1794 |
Oct 8 |
Person County Bk(B-79) |
| |
Andrew Buckhannon of Person Co. NC to Shadrack Gentry of
Halifax County, Virginia, for £100 deeds 100ac more or less on the waters of Castle
Creek. Wit: L.A. Buchanan. |
| 1799 |
Feb 15 |
Person County Bk(C-26) |
| |
Edward Deshazo of Person County, NC to Shadrack Gentry of said
county and state, for £61 13/4 deeds 105 ac. Wit: And'w Buchanon, Dean J. (X)
Buchanon. |
| 1820 |
Dec 26 |
Person County Bk(E-301) |
| |
Shadrack Gentry ... to Abednego Gentry ... son of
Shadrack Gentry for the natural love and affection ... [for] Abednego Gentry
his son deeds 105 ac on the waters of Castle Creek. Wit: Johnson Davis, A.
[Allen?] Gentry. | | |
| (b) |
References to Meshack Gentry |
| |
Katharine Kerr Kendall, "Caswell County North
Carolina Deed Books 1777-1817", Southern Historical Press, Easley, SC, 1989 |
| 1784 |
Jul 20 |
Bk(C-15) (p.61) |
| |
Thomas Ragsdale of Caswell County to Mesheck Gentry of Halifax
County, Virginia for £100, deeds 240 ac on Bold Br. Wit: J. Coffee, Fielding Lewis,
And'w Buch'n [Buchanan]. |
| 1787 |
Dec 24 |
Bk(E-254) (p.101) |
| |
Meshack Gentry of Halifax County VA to Roger Atkinson Sen'r of
Dinwiddie County VA, for £200, deeds 240 ac on Bold Cr ... land purchased by Gentry
of Thos. Ragsdale 20 Jul 1784. Wit: Artha Brooks, D.Mann, Rog'r Atkinson. |
| [Same book has 14 references to Andrew Buchanan on Mayo
and Castle Creeks including state grant in 1779 and deed below.] |
| 1786 |
Jan 16 |
Bk(C-177) (p.71) |
| |
Robert Dickens of Caswell Co. to Andrew Buchanan of same, 167
3/4 ac on Castle Cr. both sides of Dry Br. and Main Rd adj. James Hague. [This is land
Andrew later sold to Abednego Gentry] | | |
| (c) |
References to Abednego Gentry |
| 1805 |
Jan 25 |
Person County Bk(C-560) |
| |
Andrew Buchanan of Person County, NC to Abednego Gentry of
said county and state for £100 deeds 163 3/4 ac land ... bought by the sd Buchanan
from Rob't Dukins [Dickens] on the waters of Castle Creek [ad]joing Shadrack
Gentry's land ... and also a part of the tract of land Shadrack [where] now lives
on the East side of the Spring Branch ... the whole lands containing 200 ac. Wit: Thomas
Allin. |
| 1808 |
Jun 13 |
Person County Bk(D-119) |
| |
Abednego Gentry of Surry County, NC to Simon Gentry of
Person County, NC for £100 Virginia money deeds 167 3/4 ac in Person County on the
waters of Castle Creek joining Shadrack Gentry's land ... also a part of the said tract
of land Shadrick Gentry now lives on the East side of the Spring Branch ... the whole
containing 200 ac. Wit: Thomas Allin, Edward (X) Martin, William Allin. |
| |
| 10. Person County, North Carolina, Miscellaneous
Records | | (a) |
Miscellaneous Probate Court Records |
| 1842 |
Abstract of Estate Records for Shadrick Gentry:
(Loose papers in folder of Person County Wills and Estates, in North Carolina State
Archives)
Simon Gentry, 21 Mar 1842, appointed administrator of Shadrack
Gentry estate.
Bill of Complaint, signed Nov 1842 against Simon Gentry by:
Jesse Chambers and wife Elizabeth; Jackson Dunn and wife Polly;
Allen Gentry; William Gentry; Richard Jones and wife Martha Ann;
Jane Gentry;, John, Margaret, Susan, Nancy, Thomas, Larkin, Stephen, Henry, and
Francis Gentry, the last nine of whom are minors under the age of twenty-one and
sue in this behalf by Jesse Chambers, their next friend.
Complaint says in effect:
"...in the year 1839 a writ of lunacy by Person County Court directing the sheriff to
inquire into the state of mind of Shadrack Gentry...found him to be a lunatic [in modern
terms, senile]...at June term of court appointed Simon Gentry to be his guardian.
"Shadrack Gentry died intestate in the spring of 1842...Simon appointed as
administrator...estate amounting to $15,000, including "tract of land, several valuable slaves,
some fine stock of different kinds, and some little household plunder".
"Heirs left surviving at the time of his death ... further show that the defendant
Simon Gentry is not entitled to any portion of the personal estate of said
Shadrack Gentry for that said Simon is an illegitimate son of said Shadrack born out
of the bonds of matrimony and although by an act of the legislature passed perhaps in the
year 1835 his name was changed from Simon Davis to Simon Gentry, yet
this same act gave him no heritable capacity to take property of distribution shares of lands
by descent."
Simon answered in effect:
"...It is true that he does claim to be one of the heirs of law and next of kin of the
deceased Shadrack Gentry, his intestate, and that he is in truth entitled to a distribution share
of his estate ... For that although he may have been illegitimate (and whether he was or not
he does not know and does not admit that he was, and insists upon proof) ... Yet he was
legitimated if he was illegitimate by act of assembly and made capable of inheriting property
as one of the children and heirs at law of Shadrack ... besides his own claim as one of the
heirs at law and next of kin--one Sally Allen, formerly Sally Gentry or
Sally Davis also claims to be an heir at law for distribution in said Shadrack's estate
..."
|
| (b) |
Person County Marriage Bonds |
| 1803 |
Dec 21 |
Thomas Allin to Sally Gentry;
sur: W. Jeffreys; wit: Anth'o Brown |
| 1809 |
May 10 |
Simon Gentry to Patsey Buckhannon;
sur: David Buchanon; wit: H. Haralson |
| 1809 |
May 11 |
John Trew to Mary Gentry;
sur: Thomas Word; wit: Dan'l C. Townes |
11. Surry County, North Carolina, Deed Books
| (a) |
Partial References to Meshack Gentry |
| 1796 |
Feb 6 |
Bk(F-305) |
| |
Airs Hudspeth to Meshack Gentry 150 ac ... on both sides of Deep
Creek. Wit: Allin Gentry, Richard Persons, George H Hudspeth Jr. |
| 1797 |
Sep 15 |
Bk(H-10) |
| |
Isaac Johnson to Meshack Gentry 100 ac ... all the land on which
Isaac Johnson now lives on the waters of Hunting Creek. Wit: Thos. Clanton, Robert
Walker. |
| 1797 |
Sep 18 |
Bk(G-210) |
| |
Isaac Johnson to Meshack Gentry 160 ac ... on North Hunting
Creek. Wit: Thos. Clanton, Robert Walker. |
| 1800 |
Jan 14 |
Bk(K-51) |
| |
Meshack Gentry to Thomas Harvey 160 ac beginning at William
Alnut's line to Fortune's branch, down said branch to Hunting Creek ... then back to
beginning. Wit: S. McLemore, Trustram Cogshall, James Parks. |
| 1801 |
Apr 13 |
Bk(O-356) |
| |
George Hudspeth to Meshack Gentry 35 ac N. side of S. fork Deep
Creek ... beginning at bank of Creek and down the Creek to the west side of Creek, then to
Airs Hudspeth's old line, then variously back to beginning. Wit: Pleasant Gentry, Airs
Hudspeth. Rec. Feb 1819 [!!]. |
| 1805 |
Aug 12 |
Bk(O-353) |
| |
George Hudspeth to Meshack Gentry 115 ac ... beginning at head of
a branch along said Gentry's line to bank of Deep Creek ... to the beginning. Wit:
Philip Halcomb, Sh. Halcomb. Rec. Feb 1819 [!!]. |
| 1817 |
|
Bk(T-66) |
| |
Meshack Gentry to William Durham 60 ac S. fork Deep Creek ...
beginning below the mill ... then along the road to the beginning point on the Creek. Wit: P.
Halcomb, Nancy Hudspeth. |
| 1817 |
May 19 |
Bk(R-21) |
| |
Meshack Gentry to Phillip Holcomb 185 ac S. fork Deep creek,
including mill seat ... and mills on south fork of Deep Creek beginning on north bank ... and
back along the Creek to beginning. Wit: Abednego Gentry, Laurence Holcomb
Jr. |
| 1819 |
Jan 25 |
Bk(O-327) |
| |
Meshack Gentry to George Hudspeth 80 ac Deep Creek ...
beginning at ford of the Creek ... then to the head of the mill pond ... along the road to the
beginning. Wit: Allen D. Gentry, Nancy Gentry. |
| |
| (b) |
References to Abednego Gentry |
| 1807 |
Mar 17 |
Bk(N-420) |
| |
Thomas Day to Abednego Gentry 100 ac ... on the south side of
south fork of Deep Creek ... Wit: Meshack Gentry. Rec. Nov. 1817. |
| 1807 |
Nov 12 |
Bk(N-406) |
| |
Henry Day to Abednego Gentry 52 1/2 ac ... on the south waters of
Deep Creek ... Wit: Meshack Gentry, R. Jacks. Rec. Nov 1817. |
| 1836 |
Oct 20 |
Bk(W-48) |
| |
Abednego Gentry Sr to Abednego Gentry Jr 50 1/2 ac S.
side of S. fork Deep Creek [Same description as in Bk(N-406)] Wit: Wiley
Brittain, Max (?) M. Nesbitt. |
| 1836 |
Oct 30 |
Bk(W-49) |
| |
Abednego Gentry Sr to Abednego Gentry Jr 100 ac
[Same description as in Bk(n-420)]. Wit: Wiley Brittain, Max (?) M.
Nesbitt. | | 1836 |
Nov 14 |
Bk(W-50) |
| |
Abednego Gentry to William Gentry 100 ac ... starting at
Allen Gentry corner on waters of Deep Creek ... Wit: Abednego Gentry Jr,
Max (?) M. Nesbitt. [Deed text shows Abednego Jr as the grantor, but
Abednego Jr signed as a witness, deed signed by "Abednego
Gentry"]. |
12. Surry County, North Carolina, Tax Lists
| (a) |
William Johnson, "Surry and
Wilkes County Taxables, 1771-1777", 1974, vol 1: |
| 1772 |
Tax List, Surry County, NC |
| |
Nicholus Gentry
Allen Gentry
Richard Gentry
Allen Gentry
Samuel Gentry
Allen Gentry
Mezhi (Meshack) Gentry |
2
1
1
2
1
1
1 |
[white polls] |
| |
[The Allen Gentry with two tithables was probably Allen-III and
his son Abednego. One of the other Allen Gentrys was the oldest son of Nicholas-III. Who
or why there was a third entry for an Allen Gentry is not known.] | | |
| (b) |
Luther Byrd, Records transcribed by, 1944
(filed with original records in State Archives files). |
| 1774 |
Capt Samuel Freeman's District |
| |
Samuel Gentry
and Shadrack Gentry |
1 |
[Samuel-II?]
poll |
| |
| (c) |
References to Meshack and Abednego Gentry
Families |
| Refr 1 |
Original records in North Carolina Dept of Archives, filed by
county and by year, data transcribed by this writer. Miscellaneous undated lists filed together,
recorded above according to approximate date estimated by format of list and content of
listings. |
| Refr 3 |
"The North Carolinian", vol 4, p.398 (1958) |
| Refr 4 |
"Surry & Wilkes County Taxables, 1771-1777", vol 1, by
William Johnson, 1974 |
| Refr 6 |
"1812 Tax List of Surry County, North Carolina", compiled by
G. W. Cook, 1973 |
| Refr 7 |
Records transcribed by Luther Byrd, 1944 (filed with original
records in State Archives files). |
| |
|
| Year |
Refr |
|
|
Acres |
Polls |
|
| 1796 |
1 |
-- Original records missing |
| |
4 |
|
Meshack Gentry |
150 |
|
| 1797 |
1 |
-- Few original records, no Gentrys | | |
4 |
|
Meshack Gentry |
150 |
|
| 1798 |
1,4 |
Capt Hudspeth District |
| |
Meshack Gentry |
400 |
1 |
|
| 1799 |
4 |
|
Meshack Gentry |
315 |
|
| 1800 |
4 |
Capt Hudspeth District |
| |
Meshack Gentry |
160 |
|
| 1801 |
1 |
Capt Cook District |
| |
Meshack Gentry |
160 |
0 |
|
| 1802 |
1 |
Capt Cook District |
| |
Meshack Gentry |
225 |
0 |
|
| 1803 |
1 |
Capt Wright District |
| |
Meshack Gentry |
290 |
0 |
and cotton mill |
| 1804 |
1 |
Capt Wright district |
| |
Pleasant Gentry
Meshick Gentry |
140
286 |
1
0 |
[son of Shadrack]
and cotton mill |
| 1806 |
1 |
Capt Wright District |
| |
Meshack Gentry
Pleasant Gentry |
270
240 |
2
1 |
and cotton gin |
| 1807 |
1 |
Capt Bynum District |
| |
Pleasant Gentry
Meshack Gentry
Abednego Gentry |
140
290
151 |
0
1
1 |
|
| 1808 |
1 |
Capt Bynum District |
| |
Agednego Jentry
Meshick Jentry
Pleasant Jentry |
152
370
70 |
1
2
1 |
|
| 1809 |
1 |
Capt Wright District |
| |
Abednigo Jentrey
Reuben Jentrey
Meshack Jentrey
Mary Jentrey |
292
0
310
0 |
1
1
3
1 |
[dau of Abednego] |
| 1812 |
1,6 |
Capt Carmichael District |
| |
Abednigo Gentry
Meshack Gentry |
292
330 |
0
0 |
3 black |
| 1813 |
7 |
Capt Carmichael District |
| |
Shadrack Gentry
Abednigo Gentry
Meshack Gentry |
80
392
300 |
0
0
0 |
[son of Abednego]
|
| |
1 |
Capt Martin District |
| |
Mary Gentry
Allen Gentry |
50
50 |
0
1 |
[son of Meshack] |
| 1814 |
2 |
Capt Carmichael District |
| |
Jordan Gentry
Meshack Gentry
Shadrack Gentry
Abednigo Gentry |
0
300
80
390 |
1
0
0
0 |
[son of Meshack
3 black
2 black |
| |
Capt Martin District |
| |
"Gentry, D Allen" |
50 |
1 |
|
| 1815 |
1 |
Capt Martin District |
| |
Allen D. Gentry |
100 |
0 |
|
| 1816 |
1 |
Capt Swim District |
| |
"Gentry, D Allen" |
50 |
1 |
|
| |
1 |
-- Undated records file (list for 1815 or 1816?) |
| |
Jourdan Gentry |
|
1 |
|
| |
|
Hamptonville District |
| |
Meshach Gentry
Meshach Gentry
Abednigo Gentry
Shadrach Gentry |
300
390
80 |
5
4
1 |
|
| 1817 |
1 |
Capt Spears District |
| |
Allin D Gentry |
254 |
1 |
|
| 1819 |
1 |
-- No Gentrys found |
| |
1 |
-- Undated records file (list for 1817, 1818 or 1819?) |
| |
Abednigo Gentry
Shadrach Gentry
Jordan Gentry |
390
80
90 |
1
1 |
|
| 1820 |
1 |
Capt Chappel District |
| |
Jordan Gentry |
50 |
1 |
|
| 1821 |
1 |
Hamptonville District |
| |
Abednigo Gentry |
802 |
0 |
|
| 1822 |
1 |
Hamptonville District |
| |
Abednego Gentry
Shadrack Gentry |
390
0 |
0
1 |
|
| 1824 |
1 |
Hamptonville District |
| |
Shaderick Jentry
Ebednego Jentry |
0
392 |
1
0 |
|
| |
|
(No identifiction) |
| |
Shadrick Gentry
Abednego Gentry
Allen Gentry |
0
392
0 |
1
0
1 |
|
| 1830 |
1 |
Hamptonville District |
| |
Allen Gentry
Shad Gentry
Abednego Gentry |
140
122 1/2
252 |
1
1
0 |
1 black |
| 1832 |
1 |
Hamptonville District |
| |
Will Gentry
Gardner Gentry
Shadrac Gentry
Allin Gentry
Abednego
Gentry |
0
0
122 1/2
140
252 |
1
1
1
1
<0 |
[son of Abednego]
[son of Shadrack]
1 black
[son of Abednego] |
| 1834 |
1 |
Hamptonville District |
| |
Gardner Gentry
Will Gentry
Abednigo Gentry
Allin Gentry
Abednego
Gentry Jr |
0
0
252
140
0 |
1
1
0
0
1 |
[Followed by "For Bed"]
[son of Abednego] |
| 1835 |
1 |
Capt Windsor District |
| |
Shadrack Gentry |
543 |
0 |
Hunting Cr |
| 1836 |
1 |
Capt Windsor District |
| |
Shadric Gentry |
400 |
0 |
Hunting Cr |
| |
Hamptonville District |
| |
Abednego Gentry Sr
Wm Gentry
Allen Gentry
Abednego Gentry Jr |
252
0
140
0 |
0
1
1
1 |
|
| 1839 |
|
-- Original records missing |
| |
1 |
-- Undated records file (list for 1837, 1838 or 1839?) |
| |
Gardner Gentry
Abednego Gentry
William Gentry |
50 |
1
1
1 |
|
| 1840 |
|
-- Original records missing |
| 1840 |
3 |
Capt Martin District |
| |
William Gentry
Abednego Gentry
Allen Gentry
Shadrick Gentry
Shadrick Gentry
Shadrick Gentry |
100
252
220
230
90
86 1/2 |
|
Deep Crk
Deep Crk
Hunting Cr
Hunting Cr
Deep Cr
Hunting
Cr |
| |
Capt Wells District |
| |
Gardner Gentry |
100 |
|
Deep Cr |
| 1841 |
|
-- Original records missing |
| |
3 |
Capt Wells District |
| |
Gardner Gentry |
100 |
|
|
| |
3 |
Hamptonville District |
| |
William Gentry
Abednego Gentry |
100
252 |
|
|
| 1842 |
|
-- Original records missing |
| |
1 |
-- Undated records file (list for 1842 or later?) |
| |
Hamptonville District |
| |
Wm Gentry
Abd Gentry Jr
Allen Gentry |
100
152
140 |
1
1
1 |
|
| 1847 |
1 |
Capt Douthell District |
| |
|
|
Gardner Gentry
Abednego Gentry
William Gentry |
0
0
50 |
1
1
1 |
[Abednego Jr.] |
| |
|
Capt Speer District |
| |
|
|
Shadrick Gentry |
300 |
0 |
1 black, Hunting Cr |
| |
|
Hamptonville District |
| |
|
|
Shadrack Gentry |
90 |
0 |
Deep Cr |
| 13. Monroe County, Tennessee,
Miscellaneous Records |
| (a) |
Reba Bayless Boyer, "Loose Papers,
Abstracts
of Monroe County, Tennessee, Chancery Court". |
| 1840 |
Sep 1 |
Folio 160A |
| |
Allen D. Gentry vs. Justus Stud and Meshack Gentry -
Injunction Bill M 1826-1827. Allen made note to his father Meshack, and
note supposed to be last. Meshack has a newly married wife. |
| (b) |
Papers on file, Monroe County Courthouse, Madisonville,
Tennessee | | 1854 |
|
Folio 524 |
| |
Nancy Gentry vs Susan Ivy and others. (Papers include copy of
divorce decree dated 12 Jan 1846, dissolving Nancy's marriage with Allen
Gentry). The original letter is among the papers filed in this folio and reads in part:
"State of North Carolina Surry County November 10th 1845
dear sisterinlaw i take the opportunity of writing a few lines to inform you that we are
all well at present and I hope those few lines will find you all well. I can inform you that your
father is dead. he dyed on the last day of October 1844 and he left his land to his boys and
his money and stock to his girls. your part amounts to about to two hundred and fifty dollars.
I am exector to his will. ... [Signed] Samuel Stocks" |
| 14. Census Records, Virginia and North Carolina
|
| 1790 |
U.S. Census of 1790, publ by Bureau of Census
Virginia county census records destroyed, substituted state enumerations for earlier years.
Halifax County (1784) |
| |
p.22 |
Michael [Meshack] Gentry |
5 people |
| |
Nash District, Caswell County, North Carolina [Person County] all records
lost |
| |
| 1800 |
(Sections of Person County census and all of Halifax County, Virginia
lost) |
| |
Person County, North Carolina |
| |
Shadrack Gentry |
(3-0-0-0-1,2-0-0-1-0). |
| |
Surry County, North Carolina |
| |
Meshack Gentry |
(1-1-1-0-1, 0-0-0-1-0) |
| |
| 1810 |
Person County, North Carolina |
| |
Shadrack Gentry |
(1-1-0-0-1, 1-0-1-0-1) |
| |
Surry County, North Carolina |
| |
Meshack Gentry
Abednego Gentry |
(0-0-1-0-1, 0-0-0-0-1)
(2-0-1-0-1, 0-1-1-1-1) |
| |
| 1820 |
Person County, North Carolina |
| |
Shadrick Gentry |
(0-0-1-1-0-1, 0-0-2-0-1) |
| |
Surry County, North Carolina |
| |
Abednegoi Jentry |
(2-1-1-1-0-1, 0-0-1-0-1) |
| |
| 1830 |
Person County, North Carolina |
| |
|
Shadrick Gentry |
(0-0-0- ... >80, no F) |
| |
Surry County, North Carolina |
| |
|
Abednego Gentry |
(0-0-0-1-2-0-0-0-1, 0-0-0-0-0-2) |
| |
Monroe County, Tennessee |
| |
Meshac Gentry |
(0-0-0- ... >80, 0-0-0- ... >80) |
| |
| 1840 |
Person County, North Carolina |
| |
Shadrick w/Simon Gentry |
(... >90) |
| |
Surry County, North Carolina |
| |
Abednego Gentry |
(0-0-0- ... >70, 0-0-0-1-1-0-0-1) |
| |
Monroe County, Tennessee |
| |
Meshack Gentry |
(missing) |
|
