Individual Details
Robert Gentry
(Abt, 1730 - June 29, 1814)
On February 18, 1776, Robert Gentry with his wife Judith sold their 234 acres on Ivy Creek to John Woodson and in May, received his letter of dismissal from the church. Wife Judith apparently had never joined.
Thus in the spring of 1776 Henry Haggard's uncle Robert Gentry, now 46 years old, and his son Charles and their families along with James Randolph, who had or soon would marry Robert's daughter Sarah, and possibly others, headed out traveling down the valleys of the Appalachians to the Wautauga settlement, a trip of over 200 miles.
Although the Wautauga area had only been settled a few years when the Gentrys arrived, there were already enough people in this wilderness area to petition the North Carolina legislature requesting their own county. An act was signed December 18, 1777, creating Washington County. The site for the county seat was selected at the head of Little Limestone Creek and named Jonesboro, in honor of Willis Jones the North Carolina Revolutionary War leader. Charles Gentry served on the first grand jury which was empaneled in May 1778 at the second meeting of the Washington County court.
Robert Gentry was patented 375 acres on Little Limestone on November 10, 1784; Charles Gentry two tracts of 250 acres each on Big Limestone on October 24, 1782.
"Item: I will and desire that all the remainder of my estate of what now remains and shall be divided into equal shares and so distributed to my sons Charles, Jesse, Bartlett and Martin Gentry and the three daughters and two sons of my daughter, Elizabeth Murror to have one seventh part there of equally divided between them. The children of my daughter, Sarah McGork one seventh part thereof equally divided amongst the whole of them. My grandson, Robert Drake and his two sisters, Sarah and Prudence, one seventh part thereof equally divided between the three and the other four sevenths equally divided between the four sons above mentioned share and share alike. And I do hereby nominate , constitute and appoint my beloved wife, Rachel Gentry, Thomas Gillbreath and John Sehorn, Executrix and Executors of this, my last Will and Testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 9th day of May in the year of our Lord, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Eleven." (Will of Robert Gentry.)
Thus in the spring of 1776 Henry Haggard's uncle Robert Gentry, now 46 years old, and his son Charles and their families along with James Randolph, who had or soon would marry Robert's daughter Sarah, and possibly others, headed out traveling down the valleys of the Appalachians to the Wautauga settlement, a trip of over 200 miles.
Although the Wautauga area had only been settled a few years when the Gentrys arrived, there were already enough people in this wilderness area to petition the North Carolina legislature requesting their own county. An act was signed December 18, 1777, creating Washington County. The site for the county seat was selected at the head of Little Limestone Creek and named Jonesboro, in honor of Willis Jones the North Carolina Revolutionary War leader. Charles Gentry served on the first grand jury which was empaneled in May 1778 at the second meeting of the Washington County court.
Robert Gentry was patented 375 acres on Little Limestone on November 10, 1784; Charles Gentry two tracts of 250 acres each on Big Limestone on October 24, 1782.
"Item: I will and desire that all the remainder of my estate of what now remains and shall be divided into equal shares and so distributed to my sons Charles, Jesse, Bartlett and Martin Gentry and the three daughters and two sons of my daughter, Elizabeth Murror to have one seventh part there of equally divided between them. The children of my daughter, Sarah McGork one seventh part thereof equally divided amongst the whole of them. My grandson, Robert Drake and his two sisters, Sarah and Prudence, one seventh part thereof equally divided between the three and the other four sevenths equally divided between the four sons above mentioned share and share alike. And I do hereby nominate , constitute and appoint my beloved wife, Rachel Gentry, Thomas Gillbreath and John Sehorn, Executrix and Executors of this, my last Will and Testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 9th day of May in the year of our Lord, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Eleven." (Will of Robert Gentry.)
Events
| Birth | Abt, 1730 | Hanover County, Virginia | |||
| Marriage | Bef 1755 | Albemarle County, Virginia - Judith Joyner | |||
| Marriage | November 13, 1804 | Tennessee - Rachel West | |||
| Death | June 29, 1814 | Jefferson County, Tennessee |
Families
| Spouse | Judith Joyner (1732 - 1803) |
| Child | Mary Gentry (1762 - 1784) |
| Child | Charles Gentry (1753 - ) |
| Child | Jesse Gentry (1754 - 1834) |
| Child | Martin Gentry (1757 - ) |
| Child | Elizabeth Gentry (1758 - ) |
| Child | Sarah Gentry (1760 - 1933) |
| Child | Bartlett Gentry (1761 - ) |
| Spouse | Rachel West (1804 - ) |
| Father | Nicholas Gentry Jr. (1697 - 1777) |
| Mother | Jane Benajah Martin (1708 - ) |
| Sibling | Elizabeth Gentry (1731 - 1820) |
| Sibling | Benajah Brown Gentry (1733 - ) |
| Sibling | Nathan Gentry (1741 - ) |
| Sibling | Martin Gentry (1747 - 1827) |