Robert Gentry
born 1730
Albemarle CO., Virginia
married
Judith Joyner 1755/1757
died
May 9, 1811
Jefferson County, Tennessee
Children
Charles b. 1753
Jesse b. 1754
Bartlett b. 1755
Martin b. 1757
Elizabeth b. 1758
Sarah b. 1760
Mary b. 1762
Robert Gentry was born1730 in the part of Hanover County, Virginia which later became Louisa County. He was the fifth child of Nicholas II and Jane Brown Gentry. Robert was raised as a land owners son, and in his adult years, owned his own plantation with a number of slaves in what is now Louisa County, Virginia. Robert is believed to have been educated due to his signuture own his deeds instead of just his mark.
He married Judith Joyner, daughter of Phillip and Elizabeth Joyner of Albemarle County, Virginia, before 1753 when their first child, Charles was born. Robert and Judith had seven children, four boys and three girls. Charles, Jesse, Bartlett, Martin, Elizabeth, Sarah and Mary.
The University of Virginia sets on land bequethed to Robert and Judith's two son, Charles and Jesse, by their Grandfather Philip Joyner in his will. Philip died 1762 in St. Ann's Parish Albemarle Co, Virginia, leaving both boys 200 acres. One parcel was sold in 1775 and the other in 1783 when it appears the family migrated to
North Carolina
In 1776, Robert and Judith sold 234 acres in Albemarle Co. to John Woodson and probably left the area between that year and 1780, to migrate to what is now East Tennessee, but then was known as Washington Co., North Carolina.
Robert and his sons, Jessee and Martin, prossibly served in the war under north Carolina militia. A record in the North Carolina Military Pay Roll Department show a request for payment of services, but does not state what those services were. It is logical to assume that they were for military service.
Early records found Charles Gentry, serving on the Grand Jury of Washington County, North Carolina. ( East Tennessee )
Both Robert and Charles are listed on the first tax lists of Washington County which are on file in the County Court Clerks office in the courthouse at Jonesboro, Tennessee. On this list Robert showed property valued at 173 pounds 10 shillings and was charged a tax of 1 pound 15 shillings and 6 pence.
The May 1780 minutes of the Washington County Court of Pleas in Vol. 1, mentioned Robert Gentry putting up bond to guarantee his presence as a witness in the trial of the State vs William Nelson who was charged with passing counterfeit money.
The court records show that in 1781 Robert was on a jury in a case of the State vs. Patrick Murphy on a charge of stealing a bell. Mr. Murphy was found not guilty. In May of 1782, Robert was again on a jury.
Robert moved to Tennessee and settled on the north side of the French Broad River, 4 miles east of Danridge, Jefferson County, Tennessee in 1783 He is listed as one of the earliest setters in that area in ' Ramsey's History of Tennessee : page 227. His name is on the earliest records of the courts and in the second church founded around Dandridge, Tennessee. The French Board Baptist Church was established about 2 1/2 miles east of Dandridge in 1786, by John Mulky and Isaac Barton. Charles Gentry's name is on the original membership roll as the church clerk.
"Robert received two land grants from the State of North Carolina . One of them dated 1783 was for 375 acres on Little Limestone Creek. Another land grant occurred 1787 for 475 acres on the head of Kelsey's Mill Creek in Green Co. In February 1789 Robert sold land to Hugh and James Cunningham and it was acknowledged in open court. In the same court Robert was witness to a man's power of attorney.
" In February 1789 Robert appeared before the court to report he sold Thomas Embree 62 acres of land. ( in the early days it was the custom to appear in court to vouch for your signature on a deed to make a record of it and to authenticate it )
" In Jefferson County Court Minutes in February Session, 1795, ' Robert Gentry hath leave to record his mark which is a crop and two half pennies in the right ear and a swallow fork in the left This mark proved ownership of cattle and or livestock.
After Judith's death, Robert married Rachel West on November 3, 1804, in Danridge. Robert was 74 years of age and Rachel, since there were no children, was probably beyond child bearing age as they had no children.
Robert Gentry died in 1811 and he is probably buried outside Danridge, Tennessee.
WILL OF ROBERT GENTRY
FILED IN JEFFERSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE,
VOLUMN 2, PAGE 9
MAY 9,1811
" In the name of God, Amen, I, Robert Gentry, of the State of Tennessee and County of Jefferson being in good health of body and sound and disposing mind and memory ( Praises be to God for the same) and being desirous to settle my worldly affairs while I have strength and capacity so to do, I do make and publish this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking and making void all former wills by me at anytime heretofore made. First and principally I commit my soul unto God into the hands of the Almighty Creator who gave it and my body to the earth to be interred at the discretion of my executors herein named. And as to such worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me with, I dispose the same as follows: ( Viz) Imprimis, I will and so desire that all my just debts be speedily and punctually paid.
Item I give and desire to my beloved wife, Rachael Gentry, the house and plantation I now live on , whether cultivated or ( uncultivated or that may be so at the time of my decease) to be hers and to her use during her widowhood as also two feather beds and all the furniture sufficient for her use one of the said feather beds and all the furniture together with her own wearing apparel to be at her own disposal forever as also during her widowhood, one horse beast, her choice of all the horses I may be possessed of, also two cows and calves and two other cow beast, 2 years old, one woman's saddle and bridle, one chest, one cupboard and all the deft china and glassware, one table and 2 chairs, one pewter dish and one large pewter basin and 2 single pewter basins and 3 pewter plates, one dutch oven, one tall iron tramel and all the hogs with all the crops.
" All the above mentioned property is designed for the support of my said wife, Rachel Gentry, during her widowhood and my will and desire is that after her marriage or death, the whole of the above described property be sold and divided as hereinafter mentioned and designated. And also $10.00 in cash and one Negro girl named Aggy. Item I give and desire to my son Martin Gentry and his heirs and assigns forever, the dwelling house at present occupied by himself as also the land he now holds in cultivation together with the plantation and tract of land first above mentioned after the manner or desire of my said wife and all my other property not otherwise disposed of.
Item I give and desire to my granddaughter, Molly Shelton and the children begotten of her body, a certain Negro girl named Aggy and her increase of her body, if any, she may have.
Item I will and desire that all the remainder and 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, Rachael 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.
Signed, sealed and acknowledged by the said
Testator as his last Will and Testament in presence of us -
] William Dunn, William Moore and John Parrot
Robert Gentry ( seal)
