Tyson Earl Gentry

Notes:

TX Death Record - Gentry Tyson E 03-22-1971 TOM GREEN M SINGLE

Family/Spouse: Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Living
2. Living
3. Living
4. Living

Notes:

Research by Jerry Tyson BARTON of Georgetown, Texas: Texas Death Certificate # 27059.

"Sixty Three Years of Married Life on the West Texas Plains" by Nora GENTRY LOCKLIN, September 1987, McCamey, Texas: "My father, David Simon Gentry, 'Papa', died August 6, 1926, in Scott and White Hospital at Temple, Texas, with a tumor on his brain. Sam Holmes and I were with him. He had fierce headaches all summer and was in the Shannon Hospital in Sasn Angelo. We took a Pullman car on the Santa Fe railroad. I knew he was worse whin we got to Brownwood. His death was a blow to me. He was buried in the Sherwood Cemetery by Alvin, my brother." "Papa was elected County Tax-Assessor and collector (Irion County) in 1914. Myrtle and I had to help him make up the Tax Assessor's roll during the summer vacation....Papa was elected County Judge in 1922. He served two years as County Judge and six years as Tax-Assessor."

"A History of Irion County Texas", Irion County Historical Society, published by Anchor Publishing Company, San Angelo, Texas: - Article by daughter Nora: "David Simon Gentry was born 30 June 1874 in Grayson County, Texas. His family moved to Mills County, Texas and he attended Howard Payne College in Brownwood. He married Maude Mae Tyson, another HPC student, in 1894. After the marriage Dave helped his father, J A Gentry run a livery stable and wagon yard in Goldthwaite, Mills County, Texas." "In 1902, J A Gentry homsteaded four sections in Reagan County and as he wished Dave to be near him, Dave bought a half section of unimproved land at Arden in Irion County. He and a hired hand drove a covered wagon to Sam Angelo and bought supplies and lumber to build a one room house on the land."

"In January 1906, the Gentry family: wife, Maude, daughters Myrtle and Nora, and son Alvin, joined Dave in his pioneer home. The family traveled by the Santa Fe Railroad from Mullin to San Angelo. There Dave met the wife and children in a wagon with a team of horses as there were many more supplies to be bought and carried to their home fifteen miles away." "In May 1906 another girl, Ilene, was added to the pioneer family. Doctor Williams came in his buggy from Sherwood, fifteen files away, to deliver the baby. The neighbor women helped the Gentry couple during this time. After one year and making a good crop on the farm, Dave realized that he was too far, three miles, from school, so he sold the land in 1906 and bought a house in Sherwood, and an irrigated farm in Spring Creek." "January 1907, Myrtle, Nora and Alvin began school in Sherwood." "A baby boy, Tyson, came to the Gentry family in July 1909." "All five Gentry children graduated from Sherwood High School and attended colleges. Dave always said that he wanted five High School Diplomas and would like very much to have five college ones also. Alvin died at college in Abilene, December 1918, during the World War I flu epidemic." "Dave was elected Irion County Tax-Assessor in 1915 and served until 1922. Myrtle and Nora helped him make up the tax roll in the hot summer months during vacation. The office was on the west side of the courthouse and there was no air-conditioning nor ice." "1923, Dave was elected County Judge. He died in August 1926. His children have each lived a productive life as was his ambition."

"Mrs Maude (TYSON) GENTRY was ninety-one when she passed away and was active in church and civic affairs up to the time of her death."

Above furnished by Mrs Dee LOCKLIN.

Civilian registration cards completed in 1917-1918"

Some men do not have birth locations listed because they registered on the final draft registration day in 1918 when this information was not recorded.

Name - Birth date - Ethnic Group - Birth Location - Location of Registration

Gentry, David S. 30 Jun 1873 W x Irion TX

(Research):Census Information:

1900 US Census, Mills County, Texas

Gentry, David S Head Age 25 Farmer Born TX f-b MO m-b TX
Gentry, Maude A Wife 24 TX TX TX
Gentry, Martha A Dau 4 TX TX TX
Gentry, Nora B Dau 2 TX TX TX
Gentry, Jesse A Son 3/12 TX TX TX

1910 US Census, Irion County, Texas

Gentry, David S Head Age 35
Gentry, Maude A Wife 34
Gentry, Martha A Dau 14
Gentry, Nora B Dau 12
Gentry, Jesse A Son 10
Gentry, Claris J Dau. 3
Gentry, Earl Son 5/12

1920 US Census,
Irion Conty, Texas

Gentry, Dave Head Age 45 Born TX
Gentry, Maud Wife 44 TX
Gentry, Ilene Dau. 13 TX
Gentry, Tyson Son 10 TX

David married Maude Mae Tyson on 7 Nov 1894 in Mullin, Mills County, Texas. Maude was born on 10 Jul 1875 in Maysfield, Milam County, Texas; died on 24 Feb 1967 in Rankin, Upton County, Texas; was buried in Sherwood Cemetery, Sherwood, Irion County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The daughter of Noah J Tyson and Sonora Clay Hanks.

Source Nora Gentry LOCKLIN, 1987: "At Howard Payne College, Maude did not like the food in Robinett Hall, and her college days were few. Another reason was that she was in love with David Simon GENTRY, a Howard Payne student from Goldthwaite, eleven miles from Mullin. David was born 30 June 1874 in Grayson County, Texas. Before Grandaddy Tyson would give his girl away in marriage, he rode his horse, Old Button, to Goldthwaite to see what was generally thought of this boy David Gentry. One man told him David was worth a whole cow pen of other boys. Maude and Dave were married in Mullin in the Tyson Home, 7 November 1894. Granny Tyson thought that you should not bother to ice a cake, so she baked several plain pound cakes for the reception and the dance. The bride's dress was of cream colored solid cashmere, made basque style and trimmed in lace. The bride wore a beil and white gloves. The first night the couple slept in the side room of the Tyson Home."

Texas Death Certificate # 012863.

(Research):Census Information:

1930 census McLennan Co. TX ED 155-9 Pg. 228A
Waco
441/481 Benham, Samuel S., head, MW, 71, M, age first marri
ed 21, MO IL IL
Alice B., wife, FW, 70, M, age first married 20, MO VA KY
/482 Patton, Ava, head, FW, 56, Wd., MS AL AL
Clifton, son, MW, 32, S , TX TX MS
Opal, dau., FW, 19, S, TX TX MS
/483 Gentry, Maude, head, FW, 54, Wd., TX AR TX
Tyson, son, MW, 20, S, TX IA TX

Notes:

Married:
Affidavit for Marriage License - Goldthwaite, Mills County, Texas

D.S. Gentry and Maude Tyson Nov. 7, 1894 Record number 12 B

(From the Mills Co. TX genweb site) http://www.rootsweb.com/~txmills/Records.htm

"These affidavits were sworn statements that the individuals were of age and that there were no objections to their marriage. These were not actual marriage licenses, but most of the couples considered them to be and never obtained an actual license."

Sherwood Cem., Irion Co. TX Gentry, Dave S. 1874 1926 S/W Gentry, Maude M. 1875 1967

Pictures of grave stones in the Shewood Cem. is online at: http://www.rootsweb.com/~txirion/cemeteries/sherwoodcemetery.htm

Notes:

He would have been aged ca. 10 when his family moved to Hillsboro, Hill Co., Texas.

1860-He is listed as a farmer, age 15, in the Hill Co., Texas, census of 1860 while living with his parents.

1862-Jesse served as a Confederate soldier, based on the application of his second wife and widow, Izora Joan, for a pension, as abstracted below: Widow's Application for a Pension #50300 Name of Applicant: Mrs. Izora Joan Casey Mills County Post office, Mullen Filed October 22nd, 1931 Approved Oct. 22nd, 1931 Pension allowed from Nov. 1st, 1931

The State of Texas,

County of Mills} I, Mrs. Izora Joan Casey, do hereby make application for a pension pursuant to the provisions of Articles 6204 to 6227, inclusive, of the Revised civil Statutes of 1925 as amended by H.B. No. 150, passed by the Forty-second Legislature at its Regular Session and all other laws of this State relating thereto.I am a widow of J. Gentry deceased, who departed this life on the 11 day of May, A.D., 1915 in the county of Brown in the State of Texas.....I do solemnly swear that I was never divorced from my said husband J. Gentry and that I never abandoned him during his life but remained his true, faithful and lawful wife up to the date of his death. I was married to him on the 2 day of Sept.. A.D. 1894, in the county of Mills (note: Brown was typed in and crossed out and Mills written in), in the State of Texas.

My husband, the said J. Gentry, served as a Confederate soldier (or sailor) in the war between the States of the United States; or (that he was a soldier who, under special laws of the State of Texas during said war, served in organizations for the protection of the frontier against Indian raiders or Mexican marauders) or; (that he was a soldier of the militia of the State of ______ who was in active service during said war.) That my said husband served honorable from the date of his enlistment until the close of the war, (or until he was discharged or paroled in some military organization regularly mustered into the army or navy of the Confederate States until the surrender). He was honorably discharged or paroled?..told to go home at the close of the war.

That I have been a bona fide resident of this State continuously since 1871. What is your age, and date of birth? 72 years: born March 27, 1859 How long have you resided in the county of your present location? 58 years. What is your postoffice address? Mullen, Texas Have you applied for a pension under the Confederate pension law and been rejected? no If rejected, state when and where ___ Did your husband draw a pension? no_ If so, give his file number ____ Give, if possible, the postoffice address of your deceased husband at the time of his enlistment. Pilot Grove, Grayson county, Texas. What was your husband's full name? Jesse A. Gentry In what State was your husband's command originally organized? Texas How long did your husband serve? nearly three years. If known to you, give date of enlistment and discharge. enlisted in fall of 1862 What was the name or letter of the company, or number of the regiment in which your husband served? Company C. Ninth Texas Name branch of service in which your husband served, whether infantry, cavalry, artillery, or the navy, or if commissioned as an officer by the President, his rank and line of duty, or if detailed for special service, under the law of conscription, the nature of such service, and time of service: Cavalry

1st Ind.

War Department, A. G. O., July 15, 1931 ? To The Adjutant General, State of Texas, Austin, Texas.

The name Jessie Alvin Gentry has not been found on the rolls on file for soldiers in service in the Confederate States Army. The records show, however, that one J. Gentry enlisted September 26, 1862, at Pilot Grove, Texas as a private in Co. C. 9th Texas Cavalry, C. S. A. The company muster roll for May and June, 1864, the last roll on file, shows him absent, at Hospital wounded June 24. No later record of him has been found. J. E. Bery was captain of Co. C., of the above named regiment. Jos. C. Hart, Jr., was captain of Co. E. 9th Regiment Texas Cavalry.

C.H. Bridges Major General The Adjutant General

The following URL is the 9th TX Cavalry web site. It has a time line for the battles, etc. and I would guess that Jesse was wounded in one of the battles in Georgia. His brother in law, Ed R. Bush, was also in this unit.

http://gen.1starnet.com/civilwar/9cvbatt.htm


1871-He is listed as an heir to Mary Gentry's estate and received a portion of land west of Sherman in Grayson County, Texas.

In March, 1877, he and one of his brothers, J.M. Gentry, received land in Grayson County from Jesse W. Bell and James K. Blair. The reason for the transfer, and the relationship between these four men, is unknown. (Vol A1, Grayson Co, TX)

On August 19, 1878, he sold 12 acres of Timber land to J.M. Gentry (his older brother) for $75. (Volume 44, Grayson County)

Notes by Charles Strong, Dec. 2002.
"J.A. Gentry purchased (Land Certificates) of Charlie Carson - Book B, Page 516 - November 1902

Reagan County Texas
Book 1 Page 615

I John J. Terrell, Commissioner of the General Land Office of the State of Texas do hereby certify that
J.A. Gentry on the 3rd day of July. A.D. 1905, filed proof of three consecutive years residence and occupancy on Section No. 184, Block No. 2. Certificate No. 1/189, Grantee T. & P. Ry. Co. in Reagan County, as required by Article 4218 ? and 4218 ? Revised Civil Statuated of 1895: and said proof is corroborated by the affidavits of F.McG?, C. F. Hilburn and E.L. McMaster whose credibility is certified to by J.B. Lucas as County Clerk Reagan County, Texas, that said land was originally sold to C. W. Carson on 11th day of June, A.D. 1902. In testimony whereof I ? to set my hand and cause to be affixed the seal of the General Land Office.
Done at Austin, Texas, this the 5th day of July, A.D. 1905.

John J. Terrell

Commissioner of the General Land Office

F. 72683

Additional lands
Section 198, Block 2 Cert. 1/210, Grantee T. & P. Ry. Co.

Filed for record the 10th day of July 1905 at 6 o'clock P.M. and duly recorded the 11th day of July 1905, at 10 o'clock A.M.

(This land sold in 1909 to J. Blocke by J.A. Gentry and wife I.J. Gentry - Book 4 Page 151)

(Another sale was on this same page, Book 4 Page 151 in 1905)

(Research):
Census Information:

1870 Census
Grayson Co. TX Pg. 17B
86/86
Gentry, J.A., 26 MW Farmer 250 200 KY
". Sarah, 18 FW Keeps House KY
". Calumy(?), 1 MW TX

1880 census Coleman Co. TX
ED 44 Pg. 546D
Jessee A. GENTRY Self M Male W 36 KY Farmer KY KY
Sarah A. GENTRY Wife M Female W 29 KY Keeping House KY KY
Calaway D. GENTRY Son S Male W 10 TX Works On Farm KY KY
David S. GENTRY Son S Male W 5 TX KY KY

1900 census Mills Co. TX
ED 113 Pg. 191
117/118
Gentry, Jesse A., head, WM Nov. 1844 55 M 5(married 5 yrs) KY Ky Ky
Gentry, I. J., wife, WF March 1859 41 M 5 0children LA SC AL
Tolson/Folson, Attie, d-in-law, WF Feb. 1881 19 S TX LS MS (Probably step-dau.)
Gentry, Dennis, son, W M Oct. 1880 19 S TX KY KY
Gentry, Evi, daugh W M Aug 1883 16 S TX KY KY
Gentry, Etta, niece, W M Aug 1889 10 S TX TX TX

Jesse married Sarah Anise Wilkins on 5 Sep 1868 in Grayson County, Texas. Sarah (daughter of C.S. Wilkins and Elizabeth ???) was born on 17 Nov 1851 in Kentucky; died on 3 Feb 1894 in Mills County, Texas; was buried in Center City Cemetery, Center City, Mills County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Now then, we have this from Grayson Co. TX:

Box "W", (looks to be probate records from Grayson Co.) "C.S. Wilkins, deceaced.Michael Pitman, administrator."

"Division of land, 175 acres be for Elizabeth Pitman who was the widow of C.S. Wilkins, and 425 acres to be set aside for Elizabeth H. Wilkins and SARAH WILKINS who were the only minor heirs of C.S. Wilkins."

"Michael Pitman, petitioner states that C.S. Wilkins departed this life in the Summer of 1853, that he left a wife and two children, and states that recently he (Pitman) married the widow."~~~~~~~

Probate of S.A. Gentry, wife of J.A. Gentry

Mills County Texas Vol. 2 Page 38

In the Estate Matter of S. A. Gentry} In the Probate Court Mills County Texas

In chambers; Now comes J.A. Gentry and with respect represents to the Court that his wife S.A. Gentry departed this life on or about the 3rd day of February 1894 in Mills County Texas, that at the time of her death your petitioner and his deceased wife left the following the children surviving her, the issue of their ^ said marriage. Viz(?): D.S. Gentry a male now aged 23 years, A.D. Gentry a male now aged 17 years, Eva Annis Gentry now aged 14 years, a female. That all of said children reside in Mills County Texas. That A. D. Gentry, Eva Annis Gentry with your petitioner is said Mills County Texas that at the time of the death of his said deceased wife that there was a community estate between your petitioner and his deceased wife, the same is situated in Mills County, Texas that said estate consists chiefly of --

Page 39

--Real Estate, but that there is some personal property belonging to said Estate. Petitioner prays that appraisers be appointed to appraise said estate, and that upon hearing hereof that he be appointed Community Administrator of said estate will ever pray ?.

Williams and Patterson

Attys. for J.A. Gentry

Filed January 11, 1898 C.C. Yarborough Clerk Co. et. Mills Co. Tex.

On this 11th day of January of January 1898came on to be heard the application of J.A. Gentry for letters of Community Administration of the estate of his deceased wife S.A. Gentry. And it appearing to the Court that all the matters and things contained in said petition are true, It is therefore ordered and decried by the Court that H. T. White, J.B. Ferguson and C.W. Humphries be and they are hereby appointed appraisers to appraise said estate. And that upon the return of said inventory and appraisement and the filing of the ? required by law the said J.A Gentry is hereby appointed Community Administrator of said Estate.

A.V. Logan Co. Judge

Estate of S. A. Gentry, Deceased } In County Court, Mills Country, Texas

Inventory and appraisement of the Estate of S.A. Gentry deceased, produced before the undersigned appraisers on the 11th day of January A.D. 1898 by J.A. Gentry Community Admin. of the Estate of said S.A. Gentry, deceased.

Community Property

Abst. No. 110 Cal Co School Land 160 acres Value $1250

Abst " 111 " " " " 257 " " $ 514

Abst. " 110 " " " " 89 " " $ 179

Goldthwaite lots, lot 1. 4. 5. 6. 7. & 8 in Blk 14 " $1000

Nine houses and 3 mules Value " $ 295

Fifteen head of cattle Valued " $ 150

Four buggies, one wagon, Valued at total $ 170

Agricultural implements Valued at $ 100

Household goods Valued at $100

total $ 3758.00

We the undersigned appraisers do solemnly swear that the foregoing is a full and fair appraisement of the Estate of J.A. Gentry Community Admin.

H.T. White } appraisers

C.W. Humphries

J.B. Ferguson

Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 11th day of January A.D. 1898.

A.V. Logan

County Judge

Page 40 (right edge was cut off during printing)

In the Estate Matters }

of S. A. Gentry deceased. }

In the Probate Court. Mills Co. Texas In Cha?

The State of Texas }

County of Mills } Know all men by these presents that we J. A. Gentry as principal and H. T. White - - - as sureties do hereby acknowledge ourselves jointly an d severally bound unto A. V. Logan, County Judge of Mills County, Texas, or his successor in office, in the Sum of Three Thousand Seven hundred and fifty-eight dollar conditioned that the above bounden J.A. Gentry Principal who has been appointed Community Administrator of the Estate of S. A. Gentry, deceased will faithfully administer such Community Estate and ? over one half the surplus thereof after the payment of the Debts, with which the whole of said property is properly chargeable to such person or persons as shall be entitled to receive the same.

Witness our hand this the 13th day of January 1898

J.A. Gentry, Principal

B. F. Geeslin, Surety

H. T White, Surety

The foregoing bond examined and approved this January 15th 1898

A.V. Logan

County Judge

Endorsement

Filed Feby 28th 1898 C.C. Yarborough Clk. Co. Ct. Mills Co. Texas

Notes:

Married:
Grayson Co. TX Marriages:

Miss S(arah) A(nise) Wilkins m. J.A. Gentry, Sept. 5, 1868.

Notes:

Ken Harvey writes that "William was known to have been a Baptist preacher. The sober preacher trained in the dialectics of the seminary was rare west of the Appalachians. The Baptists boasted that in 1817, in the State of New York, that there were only three preachers west of the Hudson that had ever been to college. The settlers demanded personality rather than diplomas from the men who called them to God. Kentucky was famous for the pathological intensity of the religious revivals that shook the populous at the turn of the century. Evangelists had swarmed over the area preaching in great open-air camp meetings where silent, lonely frontiersmen gathered to sing and shout. Revivalists knew their hell intimately---geography, climate, and vital statistics---and painted the sinners fate so hideously that shuddering crowds surged forward to the bushel-box alters to be born again. Hundreds fell to the ground senseless, the most elegantly dressed women in Kentucky lying in the mud alongside ragged trappers."

1817--A William Gentry appears on a Wayne Co, Kentucky list of Delinquent taxpayers. It is noted, as a reason for non-payment, that he had gone to Tennessee. If this is "our" William, he must have been born earlier than 1804, possibly as early as 1795.

1826 - Approximate year of the marriage, of William to Mary "Polly" ???, based on the date of birth of their eldest known child. Note, however, that there could have been earlier children who had left home before the 1850 census.

1830 - It has not been possible to find Preacher William Gentry in the 1830 census in Illinois (where several of his children were born).

1840 - A search for his location, in Kentucky, in the 1840 census has been negative using FTM Census Index on CD ROM (1996).

1846 - William Gentry was listed as a MG (Minister of the Gospel) and a JP (Justice of the Peace) in Obion Co., Tennessee. He officiated at the marriage of John Marr and Nancy R. Mills (Miles) on 11 Feb 1846, and at the marriage of Allen Walker to Margarette Jones on 29 July 1846.

Ken Harvey further noted that the Tennessee Baptist Historical Society has failed to find any reference to Preacher William Gentry in its Baptist collection. They should be contacted again, at their request, if the Obion County Church with which he may have been associated with can be identified. The first organization for the Missionary Baptists in Obion county was in Beulah, which was formed by the 1830s. At this period, the Methodists, Presbyterians and Baptists worshipped in the same building. The church, known as Solitude, was located about 4 1/2 miles north of Union City. That original church building burned down in 1838 and a few years later (1841) the Beulah Baptist Church was built. There are no extant records for the next 12 years. However, it is most probably the church attended by the Gentry family, since it was located in their general area and was the only Baptist Church in the county. In 1858, W.H. McGowan was listed as pastor, and their were 72 members. (Adapted from Marshall and Goodspeed). It is assumed that William was a lay preacher. The reason for this assumption is that William is not referred to in the book by: Carroll, James Milton (1923) "A History of the Texas Baptists."

The postmaster of Bulah, Obion County, Tennesse as of 27 Sept 1847 was a William Gentry. This may well have been our William. (Source: TNGenWeb Project "Obion Post Office and Postmasters of Obion County, TN", cited by Lynell Cordell). Bulah (1847-1859) later became State Line, Fulton County, KY.

The document below, dated March 15, 1850, was found by Charles R. Strong and his daughter, Mary Pat Strong during mid June 2002. This was the only document found in the land records of Obion County Tennessee. No record was found of land purchase or land sale! (Also there were no land records found in Weakley County Tennessee). This may be due to fact that the old town of Bulah, Tennessee, was renamed State Line Kentucky after a border correction at some date. State Line KY located in Fulton County KY was not searched for land records.

Charles and Mary Pat observed that there was an abandoned store in State Line KY named Shaw as highlighted in the document below. Also, the "(???)" in the document might be either "etc." or "and so on and so forth".

Obion County #1 - Wm Gentry

Book 1 - I, page 201-202

William G Gentry Mortgage to L. S. Barnes Registered 15th day of March 1850

This indenture made and entered into this day of March 1850 between William G Gentry of Obion County Tennessee of the one part and L.S. Barnes of Fulton County Kentucky of the other part. Witnesseth [sic] that the said Gentry for and in consideration of seven hundred and seven dollars and 05 cents in hand paid hath this day sold and by these presents doth convey unto said Barnes his assigns. (???) a certain gelding horse about six years old a sorrel mare about 11 years old six head of stock cattle one farm horse wagon also all my house hold and kitchen furniture consisting of feather and under beds clothing furniture (???) bed steads [sic] side bordes[sic] chairs cooking utensils and cup board ware also my stock hogs about 25 in number all of which property is now in my possession my farm and in and about my dwelling house in said Obion County. I also sell and convey to said Barnes my two succeeding crops which are to be made on my farm and I do sell and convey to him all the corn tobacco oats fodder potatoes and all other production which maybe thereon raised so what my family may be protected in (???) law as exempt from sale and I do sell him all of the profits production and mumments [sic] of my said farm for two years to come and I have assigned to said Barnes the following notes towit [sic] one on John Shaw & John Bayer for sixty seven dollars and 50 cts due 9th Feby [sic]1850 and on N. Gurley for one hundred and eighty dollars due 1st Feby [sic] 1850 one on RR Powel for one hundred dollars due 19th June 1850 one on same for fifty dollars due 19th April 1850 - one on Charles S. Tally for seventy five dollars due 1st May 1850 and whereas said Barnes is to pay for me to Messers [sic] Robinson and Keith seventy five dollars and Thos Mitchell thirty nine dollars and 50 cts and whereas he has also paid me two hundred dollars over and above the amount of said notes now shall I within two years pay to said Barnes or his order or cause the same to be done said Robinson and Keith and Mitchell debts said two hundred dollars and all liabilities that I may be under as the assignor of said notes and it is expressly understood that Gurley and Tally are not to be sued the first court nor under aliberal [sic] time and that I am to guaranty these debts then this obligation to be null and void else to remain in full force and virtue and it is further understood and so agreed between these parties that said Barnes to act as my agent in and about the management of sell of all the herein mortgaged property or interest and he is to have the right from time to sell and dispose of the same for the purposes of paying of dispersing this mortgage and I said Gentry for myself my heirs administrators (???) doth and will forever warrant and defend the title in (???) to the property things interests profits (???) herein sold against any and all claims whatever. In witness where of I have hereto set my hand and seal this day and date above written. John M. Gentry & James C. Gentry /s/ witnesses. -- /s/ Will Gentry (Seal

1850 - Unfortunately Preacher William Gentry was not listed as being present in his Obion Co. home, in Tennessee, at the time of the 1850 census enumeration. He is therefore presumably recorded elsewhere in the census of that year, possibly while on a visit to Kentucky, if he is recorded at all. Could he have already gone on to Texas, and left his wife and eldest son in charge of the family?

From the evidence above it would appear probable that;

1. Preacher William Gentry was born and married in Kentucky.

2. A few years following the marriage, ca. 1829, the young family moved to Illinois, probably to the southern part of that state.

3. They returned to Kentucky in about 1835 and remained in that state until ca. 1846 when they moved again

4. This time they moved to Tennessee and they had only been in Tennessee for a few years by the time of the 1850 census.

Using further data

5. The family then moved to, and stayed in, Missouri from about 1854. They would have been in that state for about four years (grand-daughter Ellen was born there in 1855, as was Virginia in 1858).

6. They then all headed to Texas in about 1859.

This assumes that William and his son John Melton Gentry stayed together as they migrated south. William could have gone ahead to Texas, before John and his family, without staying with them in Missouri. He was more mobile on account of the age of his children.

1860 - William Gentry is described (microfilm page 58), in 1860, simply as a Baptist Minister, age 55, born in Tennessee. Mary was the same age, but like all the children, listed as born in Kentucky. Clearly this contradicts the 1850 census. The family were living in Hillsboro, Hill Co., Texas. William's real estate here, at the time, was valued at $1,250 and his personal property at $3,115.

At this time there was a very high per capita income in Texas. This was to collapse in a few years with the civil war and it took a very long time to recover.

Preacher William's eldest son, John Melton Gentry (32), had real estate in Grandview area in nearby Johnson Co. This was valued at $270 and his personal property at $525. He was a farmer and he was now employing a farm labourer from Alabama, Sam Benge (23), who lived with his family.

1861-The book HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY noted that on June 14, 1861 the Masonic Blue Lodge #266 A.F. and A.M. was chartered. The charter members included W.F. and J.M. Gentry. The book also noted that the first organization of a Baptist church in Alvardo, TX is due to the Rev. William C.(G.?) Gentry. The church was organized on October 6, 1861 in the old Union Building, located on the corner of what is now Cummings ans Atchley streets. The upper story was used for Masonic meetings, the lower floor was a school and church. The records state that "after a few remarks by Brother William C. Gentry, the members present appointed Brother Gentry moderator pro-tem. They then adopted the Trinity River Association Constitution or by laws, written by Brother Carroll. After they organized,the door of th church was opened. Brother William C. Gentry was elected pastor and Jonathan Burk elected pastor and Jonathan Burk elected clerk." On the first Sunday in July 1862 Brother W.B. Senter was chosen to be pastor and moderator. Was this Rev. William Gentry our Preacher William moving to be closer to his son John? If it was not our William, there is a slight possibility that it could be William Gravit Gentry, born 23 Jan 1786 in Louisa Co, VA, son of John and Milly (Edwards) Gentry [THE GENTRY FAMILY IN AMERICA, p 24].

W. G. Gentry also purchased land in Hill County from Thomas A. Flippin and N.J. Fritze sometime in the 1860's. Also, the Johnson County Deeds Vol. D, Pg 84-December 27, 1860- W.G. Gentry-Land Patent in Hill County, Texas from Smith, 200 acres--witnessed by John M. Gentry

1870 - "Mary Gentry, 65 years of age, born in Kentucky, died in August of this year in Grayson Co., Texas." Was this Preacher William's wife? It certainly seems highly likely.

William's Grayson Co., Texas, census entry is proving difficult to find. He would have been aged 66. Ken Harvey believes he was still alive.

1871-Land records from Grayson County, Vol 38 pg 442 dated November 6, 1871 show that Mary Gentry owned, with her husband William G., 20 acres of land situated about one mile west of Sherman on the Gainsville and Sherman road at the time of her death. (Grayson Co, TX Vol 38 pages 442, 443 & 444)

1875 - A Rev. Gentry performed a wedding in Grayson Co. Texas and another one in Collin Co., Texas. Were these two ceremonies performed by the same man and was it "our" Rev. William Gentry? An unknown Rev. M. Gentry was active in Collin Co, also. He is not thought to be related.

1880 - Preacher William's, Wise Co., Texas, census return is proving difficult to find. He would have been aged 76. He might well have died before this. Zada Trawick's family was also in Wise Co. in 1880. I wonder if John M. and Pamelia could have moved there after the 1880 census and Zada and [James] Ed[win Gentry] met and married there in 1890/91.

"LOCALS ... ... A well known citizen by the name of Gentry, of the Sand Hill country, who was stopping in the East Mound country for his health died one day last week." Could this have been Preacher William's "obituary"? The newspaper date needs to be rechecked. Could the East Mound area be where Will and Molly lived? Their Wise Co. census return gives their location as E[numeration] D[istrict] 130.

From the deed listed below, it is known that William died before 1883.

Charles Strong located the following deed in Hill County, Texas (Hill Co, Vol. N)

1883-"Know all men by these presents that whereas on or about the ___ day of ___ A.D. 186_, W.G. Gentry, then a resident in Hill County, Texas now deceased, did make, execute and deliver to Thomas A. Flippin and N.J. Fritze for a valuable consideration to him in hand paid, a good and sufficient warranty deed to the following tract of land....and whence the said deed has been lost, mislaid or destroyed, and the record of the same in the deed records of said Hill County, having been destroyed by fire, now therefore in consideration of the ??? and the fact of the payment in full of the purchase money of said land, to said W.G. Gentry by the said Flippin & Fritze which we here acknowledge, We J.M. Gentry, James C. Gentry, Mitchell C. Gentry, Jesse A. Gentry, J.W. Gentry & Minerva A. Gentry his wife, B.F. Hodges and wife Sarah M. Hodges and L.B. Bush and wife Mary E. Bush, sole surviving heirs at law of the said W.G. Gentry, do bargain and sell, and by these presents do transfer and convey unto J.W. Siddons the ....title to said land...Witness our hands this the 19 day of September A.D. 1882. John M. Gentry, J.W. Gentry [Minerva's husband], M.A. Gentry, L.B. Bush, M.E. Bush, J.C. Gentry, M.C. Gentry, B.F. Hodges et ux, Sarah M. Hodges J.A. Gentry

It would be worth searching for the burial place and gravestone of Preacher William. He could be buried near Decatur. Lewis Payne remembers his maternal grandmother, Molly, speaking of Decatur and it seems that her husband, Will, and she could at the time, have lived outside this town, the Wise County seat.

William Gentry's parents are still unknown.According to Ken Harvey, the following are considered to be possible, but unlikely, parents of Preacher William Gentry, born circa 1804.

Gentry, (1909), M.S., Ph. D. "The Gentry Family in America 1676 to 1909 etc." The Grafton Press:New YPatrick Gentry (abt.1780-1820) of Louisa Co., Virginia. His son William B. Gentry (1802-?) married Sallie Sargent March 11, 1824. (p 74)

--Robert Gentry of Jackson Co., Tennessee. Robert was fifth generation but there are no dates. His son William was probably born in Jackson Co. where he was definately reared. (p 134)

--Mathew Gentry (abt. 1782-? ), son of Samuel. Matthew had migrated from Surrey Co., North Carolina to Warwick Co., indiana in 1822 where he settled and reared a large family. His children were: William, James, Mathew, Samuel and Thomas. (p 270)

--Thomas Gentry (1779-?) and Sussana Caster (1781-1854). Son William was born in 1806. Thomas' father was William Gentry of Gloucester Co., N.J. said to have been a revolutionary soldier. (p 292)

--Joseph Gentry (abt.1785-1835) of King William Co., Virginia. (p 294)

1810 - There are thirty-one potential Gentry parents of William in the state of Kentucky in 1810 when he would have been circa six years old at the time.

1820 - Of these there are, however, only seven possible candidates as William's parents in Madison Co. Kentucky in 1820 This ASSUMES that he was born c. 1804 in Madison Co., Kentucky. There is no compelling reason for this assumption however.

These Madison parental candidates, with some of their probable wives, have all been arrived at by a process of elimination, they are;

1. Bartlett Gentry and Elizabeth Timberlake, 2. ? Gentry and Elizabeth ?, 3. John Gentry, 4. John (Stumpy) Gentry, 5. John P. Gentry, 6. Josiah Gentry, 7. Josiah Gentry and Winney Musick

(Research):
Census Information:

1850 census, Obion Co. TN
District 2 West of District 1 (NE corner before the panhandle was included), North border is Kentucky.
496.
Polly GENTRY, 48, KY;
John, 23, KY, farmer;
Permelia, 23, TN;
James, 20, IL, farmer;
Michel, 18 IL, farmer;
Manerva, 13, KY;
Sarah, 12, KY;
Wesly, 8, KY;
Abram, 5, KY;
Mary, 4/12,TN

1860 census in Hill Co. TX
Hillsboro twp. ED 58 Pg. 459
397
Gentry, William 55 M Baptist Minister TN
Mary 55 F KY
Menerva 23 F KY
Sarah 20 F KY
Wesley 18 M KY
Abram 15 M KY
Mary 10 F KY


(Courtesy of Lynell Gentry Cordell)

(Medical):Y DNA Results, FTDNA Haplogroup:

I1 Haplogroup
Predicted Y-DNA Haplogroup 1-M253

A direct male descendant of William G. Gentry, still bearing the Gentry surname, volunteered to have his yDNA tested. The results can be found at www.ysearch.org, under the user ID #CBFD9, and the FamilyTreeDNA Kit number is 49107.

The DNA sample was a high resolution match to several documented descendants of Nicholas Gentry I of Hanover County, Virginia. Nicholas was said to be the original immigrant of his family line, and can first be found on colonial records of Virginia in 1684.

More about the Gentry DNA study can be found at:

http://www.worldfamilies.net/surnames/g/gentry/

I is often called the "Viking Haplogroup." This haplogroup is common among Icelandic populations, and is generally considered indicative of Scandinavian or Anglo-Saxon ancestry when it is found in a person of British descent.

A good website that discusses Haplogroup I1a is located at:

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~gallgaedhil/haplo_i1a_part_1.htm

William married Mary "Polly" ??? about 1826 in Kentucky. Mary was born on 23 Jan 1805 in Kentucky; died on 13 Jun 1869 in Texas; was buried in Oakland Cemetery, Grandview, Johnson County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

1850-She is recorded in the census of 1850 as Polly Gentry, born in Kentucky in 1805,

1860-She is recorded as Mary Gentry. Polly is a familiar form of the formal name Mary.

1870 - "Mary Gentry, 65 years of age, born in Kentucky, died in August of this year in Grayson Co., Texas." Was this Preacher William's wife? It certainly seems highly likely.

1871-Land records from Grayson County, Vol 38 pg 442 dated November 6, 1871 show that Mary Gentry owned, with her husband William G., 20 acres of land situated about one mile west of Sherman on the Gainsville and Sherman road at the time of her death. (Grayson Co, TX Vol 38 pages 442, 443 & 444)

Charles Strong located the following probate record:

Grayson Co, TX Vol 38, pgs 442-444

The State of Texas, County of Grayson

Whereas on the 13th day of June, 1869, Mary Gentry, Wife of William G. Gentry, departed this life in said County and State leaving as her sole & only heirs the following named children to wit, John M. Gentry, James C. Gentry, Cyrus M. Gentry, Minerva A. Gentry wife of William J. Gentry, Sally M. Hodges wife of Benjamin F. Hodges, Jesse A. Gentry and Mary E. Gentry; and also the said Mary, dec'd, at the time of her death owned as community property with William G. Gentry, a certain tract of land situated in said County and State about one mile West of Sherman on the Gainsville x Sherman road and more particularly detailed as follows.....now the said Gentry suriviving Matrimonial partner of said Mary Gentry, desceased, as well as the heirs of the said Mary above named and who are all the lawful age to contract---being mutually desirous of settling the estate of said Mary and partitioning the same among themselves...have agreed with each other to partition said lands and to invest the title to the part set apart to each heir named in the portion so set apart and divest said heir of all interest in the remaining portion and they, the parties aforesaid, mutually agree that the followig plat and division of said lands illustrates substantially the division and partition agreed upon.

Witness our hands at Sherman this 6th day of November 1871

Signed by W.G. Gentry, J.A. Gentry, J. William Gentry, Minerva A. Gentry, Sarah M. Hodges, B.F. Hodges, J.M. Gentry, M.E. Gentry, C.M. Gentry and attested be L. Hare and Joseph Bledsoe

Could Mary's surname have been Miller? Her grandson by her son John Melton Gentry, William Miller Gentry, was clearly not given his mother's, Harpole surname, as his middle name. On the other hand it would have been quite reasonable for him to have received his paternal grandmother's surname.

Oakland Cemetery of Johnson Co., TX Miltenberger's Report, copied 1969 GENTRY, Mary Mrs. 23 Jan 1805 - 13 Jun 1869

The later recording of that cemetery is the one we found first:

Sacred to the Memory of M. Mary Gentry Jan. ?, 18?5 ? , 1869

Notes:

Now then, we have this from Grayson Co. TX:

Box "W", (looks to be probate records from Grayson Co.) "C.S. Wilkins, deceaced.Michael Pitman, administrator."

"Division of land, 175 acres be for Elizabeth Pitman who was the widow of C.S. Wilkins, and 425 acres to be set aside for *Elizabeth H. Wilkins and Sarah Wilkins who were the only minor heirs of C.S. Wilkins."

"Michael Pitman, petitioner states that C.S. Wilkins departed this life in the Summer of 1853, that he left a wife and two children, and states that recently he (Pitman) married the widow."~~~~~~~

C.S. married Elizabeth ???. Elizabeth was born before 1828; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]