Descendants of Elijah Gentry & Wilmoth Killen Gentry ...

submitted by Judy G. Russell

Generation One

1.    Elijah1 Gentry; born 1787 at Wilkes County, GA; married Wilmoth Killen, born circa 1795 in North Carolina, circa 1817 at Wayne County, MS.

Elijah’s family history begins in America in 1680, when Nicholas Gentry was first recorded as a colonial militiaman for the Mattapony Garrison in Virginia (York County (Va.) Deeds, Order and Wills 1677-1685, volume 6, page 268). The first Nicholas, known as Nicholas the Immigrant in Gentry family research, was probably indentured and earned his freedom in part with his militia service. By 1684, he owned land in New Kent County, Virginia, going on to become a large landholder in central Virginia. Nicholas’s son Samuel was born in Virginia around 1692. He married Ann (Allen?) in Hanover County, Virginia, around 1712 and had 10 known children. Samuel’s son David was born around 1712 in Hanover County, Virginia, and married Sarah Brooks around 1734 in Louisa County, Virginia. David and Sarah had at least eight sons. Their youngest known son was Elijah Gentry (the Elder), born around 1753 in Lunenburg County, Virginia. After David’s death around 1765, Sarah and her sons moved to South Carolina, and five of her sons –- including Elijah – served in varying capacities in the Revolutionary War. The original stub indent copy from the South Carolina Department of Archives and History speaks of Elijah Gentry's duty "in the Militia as Sargeant before and since the reduction of Chas Town". This Elijah married a woman named Hannah in South Carolina, and moved first to Georgia, and then to Mississippi, where he died around 1817. At least two of his children, sons Elijah and Josiah, were born in Georgia.

The younger Elijah first appears in Mississippi in the records of the Tennessee Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, which covered the Mississippi Territory until the Mississippi Conference was formed in 1816. He was accepted as a junior itinerant preacher of the Tennessee Conference, Methodist Episcopal Church, on Nov 14, 1814 at Logan County, KY, and served between 1814 and 1815 at the Pearl River District, MS. He was assigned as a junior itinerant preacher between 1815 and 1816 at Amite Circuit, MS. Between Oct 10, 1816 and Nov 7 1817, he served as an itinerant preacher assigned by the Mississippi Conference to the Chickasaw Circuit, MS. He was ordained on Nov 7, 1817 and admitted to deacon’s orders at Midway, Amite County, MS. He "located" around the end of 1818, meaning he gave up his regular church assignments and salary but continued to preach in Wayne County, MS. 

The usual reason for a young man to leave the ranks of the itinerant preacher was the responsibilities of marriage and a family. That appears to be precisely the case for the Rev. Elijah Gentry, who then appeared on the census of 1820 at Wayne County, MS, with a wife (Wilmoth), young daughter (Martha Ann), young son (Elijah Killen Gentry), and brother (Josiah Gentry). 

Identifying the family of a wife is always difficult but various clues make it possible to state with a fair degree of certainty that Elijah’s wife was Wilmoth Killen, daughter of William Killen Sr. and sister to Henry Killen (later of Neshoba County), William Killen Jr. and others. Gentry family history is consistent in identifying Wilmoth's maiden name as Killen; indeed, her first son was reportedly named Elijah Killen Gentry. In their history of her husband, Rev. Elijah Gentry, for the Rankin County Historical Society, Clarence Wilson and Maxine Wilson Smith (descendants of her son John Wesley Gentry) identified Wilmoth's father as a neighbor in Wayne County, MS. Family history reports that Wilmoth and Elijah married around 1817 in Wayne County.

The only Killen family in Wayne County around the time Elijah and Wilmoth married was that of William Killen, Sr. William Sr. and his son Henry were on the poll tax rolls of Wayne County in 1813 and 1815. William Sr. is on the 1816 Wayne County MS territorial census, and there are two adult females in his household.

Elijah Gentry and William Killen Jr. are on the same page (page 111) of the 1820 Wayne County census, one right after the other. Elijah Gentry's entry shows one female, aged 16-26. William Sr. is on the next page (page 112); his household then contained only one female, a woman more than 45 years old. (Henry is also reported by Ancestry.com to be on the same page as William Sr.; it is hard to see that name if it is there.) Thus if Wilmoth was born around 1794-95 and married around 1817, she would have been 21-22 in 1816 and in her father's household, and 25-26 and in her husband's household in 1820.

In 1830, the Gentrys, William Sr., William Jr. and Henry were all on the Rankin County census. Indeed, William Sr. is reported to have died in Rankin County around 1834. Rankin County was divided into different counties by 1840; the Gentrys were in Winston County and Henry Killen in Neshoba County. (There was a William in Kemper County; family researchers indicate that was in fact William Jr., who was in Rusk County TX by 1850.) The 1850 census continues to show Henry Killen in Neshoba County and by then the Gentrys had moved to Neshoba County as well. The census shows the birthplace for both Wilmoth Killen Gentry (shown as age 56) and Henry Killen (shown as age 58) was North Carolina. (Note: the birthplace of William Killen in the 1850 Rusk County TX census is also shown as NC. He was reported to be 50 years old in 1850.)

One family researcher, Harold B. Killen, reports that William's first four children, three sons and a daughter (William Jr., Henry, Jacob and, presumably, Wilmoth), were born in North Carolina. He further reports that William Killen Sr. was born around 1772 and died in Rankin County in about 1834. There is a census report on the 1800 Richmond County NC census for a "William Killin" with three sons under age 10 and one daughter under age 10. Family tradition reported by Jim Hardy, Roy Traster and Tom Branning is that the first Killen in Mississippi was a William, who died in MS around 1834.

Putting all these facts together, it is clear that these Killens are Wilmoth's family: the lives of the Gentrys and the Killens overlapped and were intertwined to a degree that powerfully suggests kinship.

Wilmoth married well in choosing Rev. Gentry. He became a well-regarded member of the community. Section 9 of the Statute of February 4, 1828, establishing Rankin County, created a commission consisting of John Brown, William Steen and Elijah Gentry, to fix a site for new county's courthouse and jail. An Act of the Legislature on February 3, 1829, established Pearl River Acadamy as seminary of learning at Brandon, Rankin County, MS, and appointed Elijah Gentry and eight others as the first trustees. The Board of Road Commissioners appointed Elijah Gentry and Daniel Fore and others to lay out a road from the new county seat of Brandon to Purvis Ferry on the Pearl River on Oct 7, 1829.

Elijah Gentry and his family appeared on the census of 1830 at Rankin County, MS, with wife Wilmoth, mother Hannah, brother Josiah and children Martha Ann, Elijah Killen, Ira Bird, John Wesley and Nancy.  He appeared on the census of 1840 at Winston County, MS, with wife Wilmoth and children Ira Bird, John Wesley, Nancy, Isabella, William Jefferson and George Washington.  Rev. Gentry appeared on the census of Aug 4, 1850 at Neshoba County, MS, with wife Wilmoth, sons William and George, and son John Wesley and his family (wife Amanda and William, possibly a stepson). He had returned to preaching as much as possible (his occupation is shown in the census as Methodist Episcopal preacher) but he was also a landowner and a slaveholder. He appeared on the census of Sep 20, 1860 at Twp. 12, Range 10, Neshoba County, MS, with wife Wilmoth, living near several of his children. His real estate and personal property was valued at more than $4500, a very large sum for the time. 

The exact date of Elijah Gentry’s death is unknown. However, he was alive as of the census on September 20, 1860, and on December 19, 1868, Wilmoth Gentry executed a deed to sell 320 acres of land in Neshoba County as the widow of Rev. Elijah Gentry. Thus it is safe to say he died between Sep 20, 1860 and Dec 19, 1868 at Neshoba County, MS.

The exact date of Wilmoth Killen Gentry’s death is also unknown. She was living with her son George and his family at the 1870 census; she was not living with any of her children as far as the 1880 census record shows.

      The eight known children of Elijah¹ Gentry and Wilmoth Killen were as follows:

               2     i.   Martha Ann² Gentry was born circa 1817 at prob Wayne County, MS. 

         +   3    ii.   Elijah K. Gentry was born circa 1818 at prob Wayne County, MS.

         +   4   iii.   Ira Bird Gentry was born circa 1822 at prob Hinds County, MS.

         +   5   iv.   John Wesley Gentry was born circa 1823 at prob Hinds County, MS.

         +   6    v.   Nancy A. or Nancy J. Gentry was born circa 1829 at prob Rankin County, MS.

         +   7   vi.   Isabella Gentry was born on 3 Sep 1832 at prob Rankin County, MS.

         +   8  vii.   William Jefferson Gentry was born in Apr 1834 at MS.

         +   9 viii.   George Washington Gentry was born in Sep 1836 at MS.

Generation Two

     3.  Elijah K.² Gentry (Elijah¹) was born circa 1818 at prob Wayne County, MS; date of birth extrapolated from census records.  He married Eliza Z. Lanham on 18 Apr 1848 at Winston County, MS.  He died between 22 Sep 1860 and 12 Sep 1870.

     He appeared on the census of 1820 at Wayne County, MS.  He appeared on the census of 1830 at Rankin County, MS.  He appeared on the census of 1840 at Winston County, MS.  He appeared on the census of 25 Sep 1850 at Winston County, MS.

     The three known children of Elijah K.² Gentry and Eliza Z. Lanham were as follows:

             10     i.   Joanna³ Gentry was born circa 1849 at MS.

             11    ii.   Wilmoth Gentry was born circa 1850 at MS.

             12   iii.   James A. P. Gentry was born on 4 Jun 1859 at Neshoba County, MS.

      4.  Ira Bird² Gentry (Elijah¹) was born circa 1822 at prob Hinds County, MS; date of birth and place extrapolated from census records.  He married Martha Clark on 6 Aug 1840 at Noxubee County, MS.

     He appeared on the census of 1830 at Rankin County, MS.  He appeared on the census of 1840 at Winston County, MS.  He appeared on the census of 26 Oct 1850 at Attala County, MS.  He appeared on the census of 20 Sep 1860 at Twp. 12, Range 10, Neshoba County, MS.

     The seven known children of Ira Bird² Gentry and Martha Clark all born at MS were as follows:

             13     i.   James A.³ Gentry was born circa 1843.

             14    ii.   Mary Gentry was born circa 1845.

             15   iii.   Amanda Gentry was born circa 1847.

             16   iv.   Adolphus Gentry was born circa 1849.

             17    v.   Elijah Gentry was born circa 1854.

             18   vi.   Benjamin F. Gentry was born circa 1856.

             19  vii.   Margaret Gentry was born circa 1859.

      5.  John Wesley² Gentry (Elijah¹) was born circa 1823 at prob Hinds County, MS.  He married Amanda Haynes on 8 Apr 1850 at Winston County, MS.

     He appeared on the census of 1830 at Rankin County, MS.  He appeared on the census of 1840 at Winston County, MS.  He appeared on the census of 4 Aug 1850 at Neshoba County, MS.  He appeared on the census of 20 Sep 1860 at Twp. 12, Range 10, Neshoba County, MS.  He was in military service between 1861 and 1864 at MS Shown as a Private in the Beauregard Rifles, Company F, 14th Mississippi Infantry.  He appeared on the census of 6 Aug 1870 at Precinct 4, Orange, Orange County, TX.

     The seven known children of John Wesley² Gentry and Amanda Haynes were as follows:

             20     i.   William³ Gentry was born circa 1847 at AL; The marriage of John Wesley and Amanda was in April 1850; this child was reported as three years old on the August 1850 census. His and Amanda's places of birth were both Alabama; he may thus be a stepson given the Gentry last name. There is no record of this child after the 1850 census.

             21    ii.   Jacob Elijah Gentry was born circa 1853 at prob Neshoba County, MS.  He was buried after 1900 at Castle Cemetery, Castle, Okfuskee County, OK.

             22   iii.   William P. Gentry was born circa 1855 at prob Neshoba County, MS.

             23   iv.   George H.P. Gentry was born circa 1857 at prob Neshoba County, MS.

             24    v.   Wilmoth N.C. "Nancy" Gentry was born circa 1859 at prob Neshoba County, MS.

             25   vi.   Mary Gentry was born circa 1861 at prob Neshoba County, MS.

             26  vii.   John W. Gentry was born circa 1864 at MS.

     6.  Nancy A. or Nancy J.² Gentry (Elijah¹) was born circa 1829 at prob Rankin County, MS.  She married Amos T. Humphries on 4 Jul 1845 at Noxubee County, MS.  She died between Sep 1870 and Jun 1880 at prob Winston County, MS; Nancy was shown with her husband on the 1870 census; he was a widower by the 1880 census.

     She appeared on the census of 1830 at Rankin County, MS.  She appeared on the census of 1840 at Winston County, MS.  She appeared on the census of 25 Sep 1850 at Winston County, MS.  She appeared on the census of 3 Aug 1860 at Louisville, Winston County, MS.  She appeared on the census of 6 Sep 1870 at Twp 13, Range 14, Winston County, MS.

     The six known children of Nancy A. or Nancy J.² Gentry and Amos T. Humphries were as follows:

             27     i.   William³ Humphries was born circa 1846 at MS.

             28    ii.   Amos Thomas Humphries was born circa 1856 at prob Winston County, MS.

             29   iii.   Georgia Ann Humphries was born circa 1858 at prob Winston County, MS.

             30   iv.   Henry Clay Humphries was born circa 1861 at prob Winston County, MS. 

             31    v.   Charles Humphries was born circa 1863 at prob Winston County, MS.

             32   vi.   N. Emmeline Humphries was born circa 1867 at prob Winston County, MS.

      7.  Isabella² Gentry (Elijah¹) was born on 3 Sep 1832 at prob Rankin County, MS.  She married Gustavus Boone Robertson, son of William M. Robertson and wife of William Robertson, before 1847 at prob Winston County, MS.  She died after 1 Oct 1903 at prob Hopkins County, TX.

      She appeared on the census of 1840 at Winston County, MS.  She appeared on the census of 17 Oct 1850 at Winston County, MS.  She appeared on the census of 1 Aug 1860 at Twp. 14, Range 8, Attala County, MS.  She appeared on the census of 31 Aug 1870 at Beat 2, Paris, Lamar County, TX.  She appeared on the census of 19 Jun 1880 at Precinct 3, Delta County, TX.  She appeared on the census of 13 Jun 1900 at Delta County, TX.

     The 11 known children of Isabella² Gentry and Gustavus Boone Robertson were as follows:

             33     i.   William M.³ Robertson was born circa 1847 at MS.  He married Louisa Victoria [--M?--] Robertson before 1879.

             34    ii.   John Elijah Robertson was born in Feb 1850 at MS.  He married Martha Jane Ellis on 7 Apr 1876 at Delta County, TX.

             35   iii.   Bird Alexander Robertson was born on 7 Jan 1852 at Attala County, MS.  He married Alice Matilda Ellis, daughter of Marshall Ellis and Elizabeth Smith, on 31 Aug 1876 at Delta County, TX.

             36   iv.   Martha Wilmoth Robertson was born in Feb 1854 at MS. She married Louis Dorson Crenshaw Jr. on 2 Nov 1871 at Lamar County, TX..

             37    v.   Nancy Arminta Robertson was born on 29 Aug 1856 at MS.  She married Mack Lee Parish on 3 Sep 1874 at Delta County, TX.

             38   vi.   George Galloway Robertson was born on 9 Oct 1858 at prob Attala County, MS.  He married Viola Grace Garner on 6 Aug 1880 at Delta County, TX.

             39  vii.   Lara Della Belle Robertson was born on 15 Jan 1861 at prob Attala County, MS.  She married H. J. Pratt before 1880. 

             40 viii.   Mary Isabella Robertson was born on 6 Jan 1863 at prob Attala County, MS.  She married Amos Wade Hendrix, son of James Hendrix and Rachel Hill, on 28 Dec 1879 at Delta County, TX. 

             41   ix.   Fannie B. Robertson was born circa Jun 1865 at prob Attala County, MS.  She married John F. Harrison before 1890.

             42    x.   Lillie Robertson was born on 1 Aug 1868 at prob Lamar County, TX.  She married Lawson A. Enloe after 23 Dec 1895 at Delta County, TX.  She married Peter D. Wilson on 15 Dec 1903 at Hopkins County, TX. 

             43   xi.   Jasper Carlton Robertson was born on 18 Apr 1871 at Honey Grove, Lamar or Fannin County, TX.  He married Eula L. Baird, daughter of Jasper Baird and Martha Louise Shew, on 19 Feb 1896 at TX.

      8.  William Jefferson² Gentry (Elijah¹) was born in Apr 1834 at MS.  He married Amanda [--M?--] Gentry before 1857 at MS.

     He appeared on the census of 1840 at Winston County, MS.  He appeared on the census of 4 Aug 1850 at Neshoba County, MS.  He appeared on the census of 20 Sep 1860 at Twp. 12, Range 10, Neshoba County, MS.  He was in military service between 1861 and 1864 at MS Shown as a private in the Beauregard Rifles, Company F, 14th Mississippi Infantry.

     The only known child of William Jefferson² Gentry and Amanda [--M?--] Gentry was:

             44     i.   Marcina W.³ Gentry was born circa 1857 at MS; date of birth is extrapolated from census records; Marcine was listed as a three year old on the 1860 Neshoba County census.

      9.  George Washington² Gentry (Elijah¹) was born in Sep 1836 at MS; Date of birth shown as Sep 1836 on 1900 Neshoba County census.  He married Sina A. Cooksey before 1860 at MS.  He married Joanna [--M?--] Gentry between Jun 1880 and Jul 1882 at prob Neshoba County, MS.

     He appeared on the census of 1840 at Winston County, MS.  He appeared on the census of 4 Aug 1850 at Neshoba County, MS.  He appeared on the census of 20 Sep 1860 at Twp. 12, Range 10, Neshoba County, MS.  He was in military service between 1861 and 1864 at MS Shown as a private in the Beauregard Rifles, Company F, 14th Mississippi Infantry.  He appeared on the census of 23 Jun 1870 at Neshoba County, MS.  He appeared on the census of 3 Jun 1880 at Neshoba County, MS.  He appeared on the census of 20 Jun 1900 at Neshoba County, MS.

     The seven known children of George Washington² Gentry and Sina A. Cooksey all born at prob Neshoba County, MS, were as follows:

             45     i.   Mary A.³ Gentry was born circa 1861.

             46    ii.   Elizabeth Gentry was born in Sep 1863.

             47   iii.   William Nathaniel Gentry was born in Dec 1866.

             48   iv.   Eliphus Alonzo Gentry was born in Feb 1868.

             49    v.   Isabella Gentry was born circa May 1869.

             50   vi.   John C. Gentry was born in Nov 1875.

             51  vii.   Ira B. Gentry was born in Nov 1875.

     The only known child of George Washington² Gentry and Joanna [--M?--] Gentry was:

             52     i.   Annie³ Gentry was born in Apr 1883 at prob Neshoba County, MS.

Printed on: 12 Dec 2006                 

Prepared by: Judy G. Russell

GGG granddaughter of Elijah and Wilmoth Killen Gentry
For more information: jgr@jgrussell.com
Further family tree data: http://www.jgrussell.com/famtree.htm 

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