Samuel Gentry (1750-1816)
Samuel Gentry was born in either Lunenburg or Louisa County, Virginia in about 1750. The NSDAR Patriot Index lists Samuel among those who provided patriotic service during the Revolutionary War. He lived in Surry County, North Carolina, prior to 1809 about which time he moved to Barren County, Kentucky. He was a Baptist preacher. Surry County records show that in 1802 Samuel bought land from Levi Savage on Dill’s Creek and in 1803 fifty acres from Henry Speer.
It is believed that Samuel was married several times. Only the record of his third marriage to Sarah Brock in Surry County, North Carolina, on 24 May 1787 has been found.
In the 1790 federal census for Surry County, North Carolina; there are eleven people in Samuel’s household. There are two males over 16 years of age and five males under age 16. There are also 3 white females and one slave.
The 1800 Census report for Surry County, there are 13 people in Samuel’s household; four boys and 3 girls under age 10, one boy and two girls age 10-16, one male over 45 and two females 26-45 years old.
By 1810 Samuel had moved to Barren County, Kentucky where the census roll showed seven people in his household. There were two males age 10 - 16, one between 16 - 26 and one over 45 years old. One female was less than 10 years old and two were between 10 - 16.
The Surry County land records also show land entries by several of his sons. Arthur, Shelton and Matthew each appear as land owners from 1792 - 1804. All of the eight sons of Samuel Gentry seem to have moved from North Carolina to Spencer or Warrick County, Indiana, between 1818 and 1825 except Joseph who settled in Ohio County, Kentucky.
His son James settled for awhile all along Rough Creek in Ohio County, Kentucky, to the mouth of Blackford Creek on the Ohio River. James was the big hog raiser of his day. He would examine the trees, ascertain where the best mast crop would be, and in due time, take possession and move in with his hogs. When his mast privileges began to be interfered with, he crossed the Ohio River in Indiana where few settlements had been made and where he had ample range. James Gentry settled and gave name to what is now thrifty village of Gentryville in Spencer County.
James is of particular interest in that he married Elizabeth, one of the daughters of Abraham Hornbook. Another of Abraham’s daughters, Hannah, married Ezekiel Powell. Thus the Powell and Bryan sides of the family were united at an early date, 1 July 1803.
Samuel Gentry died on 16 February 1816 in Barren County, Kentucky. He is buried in The Gentry Cemetery at Narrows, Kentucky.
Barren County, Kentucky, Will Book 1, p332
In the name of God amen I Samuel Gentry of Barren County and State of Kentucky being sick and weak of body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be given to God, calling unto the mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this my last will and testament that is to say a touching such worldly estate where with it has pleased God to bless me in this life I give, devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form.
First I give and bequeath to my beloved wife, Sarah Gentry, one good bed and furniture and her saddle to dispose of them at her death as she thinks proper. Also I give to my well beloved wife Sarah Gentry all of my estate, real and personal, during her lifetime or widowhood except such property as I shall otherwise bequeath. Also I give and bequeath unto my son Atha Gentry one sorrel horse likewise fifteen dollars for the use of getting him a saddle. Also I give and bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth Gentry one good bed and furniture likewise one good second rate cow and as for my Negro woman named Juda she is to serve my wife Sarah Gentry during her widowhood and at the end of her widowhood the said Negro woman Juda shall be free so far as this that she shall go to live with any of my children that she pleases to live with and if she gets old and helpless it is my desire that then my son or daughter that she lives with shall maintain her during her lifetime. And as for my Negro boy Nick he is to serve my wife Sarah until next New Years Day and then after that he is to be hired out for twelve years from next New Years day and after that he is to be free. The executor is to see to his freedom according to law and his hire is to be equally divided among all my children. If there should be any of my father’s estate coming to me from North Carolina I want it to be equally divided among all my children and all the estate land and property left to my wife during her widowhood when she marry or at her death is to be sold and equally divided among all my children except my Negro woman Juda. I do hereby utterly disavow, revoke and disannul all and every other former testament, will, legacies, bequests and executors by me before named willed and bequeathed ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament. Also I constitute Gideon Mayfield and Benjamin Osborne my sole executors of this my last will and testament in witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal this sixteenth of February one thousand eight hundred and sixteen.
Signed and sealed in the presence of Nicholas Towson, John Ingram and Elizabeth Brown
Samuel X Gentry MAST CROP: The nuts of the forest trees on the ground that served as food for swine Illustrated Atlas of Daviess Co., KY, reprinted by Unigraphics, Evansville, IN. Richard Gentry, The Gentry Family in America 1676-1909 (The Grafton Press, 1909, New York) pp267-268.
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This page updated: February 07, 2002
