Individual Details

http://www.gentryjournal.org/archives/jgg0109.htm
"The life of Nicholas-II Gentry can be divided into three phases. The first half of his life (almost forty years) was spent in Hanover County, half of that time at his father's plantation along Totopotomoy Creek in the eastern end of the county, and the other half at the far west end near Stone Horse Creek (see issue 7 of this Journal for maps). The second half of his life was spent in Louisa County in the neighborhood of a creek with the unprepossessing name of Dirty Swamp, not far to the west of his first home. Finally, the last couple years of his life, Nicholas moved still farther west, to Albemarle County where he died in 1779."

The birth date given for Nicholas Gentry is actually his baptism, St. Peter's Parish. Christ Church Parish, 1653-1812, on Ancestry has this baptism as 30 May 1699. It is a transcript - no digital image available.

Nicholas II has been given several wives by researchers. Jane was his wife at the time of his death. An earlier wife named as Mary Brooks, daughter of Richard Brooks has been shown to have been the wife of Nicholas the 2nd's nephew who was also named Nicholas, but was the son of his brother Samuel Gentry and called "Nicholas , the younger". Jane, wife of Nicholas II, signed her "mark" as a backward "B" giving rise to the speculation that she may have been a Brown. The Gentry family did live near a Brown family when they moved to Albemarle Co.
The following refers to the nephew not this Nicholas II:
Louisa Co Va DB A:
p.77 13 Jun1743 Richard Brooks, of Fredricksville Parish, Louisa Co, planter, to Nicholas Gentry the younger and Mary his wife. For Paternal affection...son-in-law Nicholas Gentry. Give tract on Dirty Swamp, 100 acres. Signed: Richard (R) Brooks. Wit: John Venable, John Clark. Ack. by Brooks, the same day. A similar gift was given his daughter Sarah, wife of David Gentry.
p.249 22 Sep 1746 Nicholas Gentry the younger, and Mary his wife of Fredericksville Parish to Thomas Lane Junr of St Martins. 30 #'s. 100 acres. Signed: Nicholas (N) Gentry. wit: Thos Lankford, John Chisholm. Ack. by Gentry; Mary privately examined

The Haggard database divides Nicholas II's children among two wives, the first Mary Brooks and the second Jane "Benajah". Since there was no first wife Mary Brooks, I believe all the children to have been Jane's.

After his baptism at St. Peter's Parish, there is no mention of Nicholas II. He does appear in the Vestry book of St. Paul's Parish after it was separated from St. Peter's and after Hanover County was separated from New Kent. This was in 1719 when he was processioned near his brother Samuel in the vicinity of Stone Horse Creek.

In 1736, Nicholas, or his father, was granted land on Dirty Swamp in what was then Hanover County. All records point to Nicholas living in Louisa Co until 1776 - This actually could also be his nephew of the same name - Richard Brooks gave 100 acres on Dirty Swamp to his daughter Mary and son-in-law Nicholas Gentry the younger. It appears both lived in the same area. However he remains listed as a land owner at St. Paul's Parish until 1769. There are indications that the list of landowners may not have been updated for many years and that other Gentrys were instead occupying this land.

Louisa Co DB 2
p.214 Nicholas Gentry of Fredericksville Parish, for good will & fatherly love to my son David Gentry, 100 acres on branches of Dirty Swamp. Begin W. Winstons line, Maj. John Starkes corner. Signed: Nicholas (A) Gentry. 23 Aug 1757 ack. By Nicholas Gentry.

p.228 Nicholas Gentry 24 Jan 1758. To Moses Gentry for good will & Natural affection. 103 acres. Begin David Gentry's line; Col. Charles Barrets line. Nicholas (his mark) Gentry. 24 Jan 1758, ack in open court.

In 1776 at age almost eighty, Nicholas moved with sons David, Moses & Martin to Albemarle Co. Robert, Elizabeth & Benajah had already been there for several years. The family settled in the vicinity of Brown's Cove in Albemarle. Only Nicholas Jr & Nathan remained in Louisa Co.

Nicholas wrote his will 20 Feb 1777 before leaving Louisa Co; it was received for probate in Albemarle Apr 1779. He left his wife Jane in possession of his real & personal estate during her life. Gifts to sons Martin & Nathan, grandson Bartlett & granddaughter Patty, children of Martin. Sons Moses, David, & Nicholas & daughter Mary only 20 sh [Moses & David had previously rec'd land, Nicholas had land rec'd from his father-in-law, doubtless Mary had also rec'd her share], One equal share of remaining estate to Robert, Benajah, Nathan & Martin and dau Elizabeth Haggard. One-half share to granddaughters Jane Timberlake & Ann Jenkins. Executors: wife Jane, sons David & Martin. Wit: Bezaleel & Benajah Brown.


Will of Nicholas Gentry, Jr.
In the name of God amen, I, Nicholas Gentry of Albemarle County , VA. , do make this my last will and testiment. Imprimis. My desire is that my well beloved wife, Jane Gentry, remain in the possession and engagement of my whole estate, both real and personal, during her life, and after decease, I give and bequeath to my son, Martin, a Negro girl, Milly, and likewise a Negro boy, Charles, and the children of said Milly with all of her future children, I bequeath to him and his heirs forever, provided my son Martin gentry, his heirs, executors or administrators, pay to my son Nathan Gentry, the sum of fifteen pounds current money of Virginia to him, his heirs and assigns, to be paid yearly, five pounds, until paid. I likewise give to my son Martin Gentry my copper still, and my gun, to him, his heirs and assigns, forever.
I give and bequeath to my grandson Bartlett Gentry, son of Martin Gentry, one Negro boy named Patrick, and to his sister Patty, my granddaughter, I give one Negro girl named Minnie, to them and their heirs and assigns forever. But if either of my grandchildren, Bartlett or Pattie, die without lawful issue, the said Negroes Patrick and Minnie descend to my son Martin gentry, his heirs and assigns forever.
And further, my will and desire is that my sons Moses, David and Nicholas Gentry and my daughter Mary have twenty shillings apiece and no more, to be paid out of my estate and that they, nor any of them shall enjoy any more, unless the laws of this country, should entitle them to a greater sum; in that case my desire is that they shall not possess, nor enjoy any more than the law entitles disinherited children to.
Further, my desire is that after my will desired shall be executed, the remaining part of my estate, shall be equally divided between my sons Robert, Benejah, Nathan, Martin, and my daughter Elizabeth Haggard and my granddaughters Jane Timberlake and Ann Jenkins; which two last Timberlake and Jenkins, shall have half as much as my son Robert, shall have no more, and Ann Jenkins shall have, as Jane Timberlake, and no more.
My desire is that my estate be appraised, and lastly I appoint my beloved Jane Gentry and my sons David and Martin Gentry, as executors, of this my last will and testiment, and I do hereby revoke all former wills made by me, and declare this to be my last will and testiment. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 20th day of Febry., in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven.
Signed, sealed and delivered
in presence of Signed Nicholas Gentry
Bezaleel Brown
Benejah Brown

Christen	30 May 1697	Saint Peters Parish, New Kent County, Virginia
Death	Bef Apr 1779	Albemarle County, Virginia
Marriage		Jane ?Brown

Spouse	Jane ?Brown (1705 - )
Child	David Gentry (1724 - 1813)
Child	Robert Gentry (1726 - 1811)
Child	NICHOLAS GENTRY III (1728 - 1803)
Child	Elizabeth Gentry (1731 - 1820)
Child	Benajah Gentry (1733 - 1830)
Child	Moses Gentry (1735 - 1808)
Child	Nathan Gentry (1745 - 1784)
Child	Martin Gentry (1747 - 1827)
Child	[Daughter] Gentry ( - )
Child	[Daughter] Gentry ( - )
Child	Mary Gentry ( - )

Father	NICHOLAS Gentry (1660 - 1710)
Mother	Living
Sibling	Joseph Gentry (1688 - )
Sibling	Elizabeth Gentry ( - )
Sibling	Samuel Gentry (1691 - 1780)
Sibling	Mabel Gentry ( - )
Sibling	James Gentry ( - )
Sibling	David Gentry (1707 - 1765)
Sibling	William Gentry (1711 - )