An American Family History

William Hendry

William Hendry was born about 1760 in Frederick County, Virginia. He was the son of George Hendry and Debora Borden.

William Hendry did not marry Elizabeth Jones.  According to that William Henry's Revolutionary War pension (W364-1832), he lived in Jones Cove, Sevier County, Tennessee.

William's first wife was named Chloe.

Mary Ann Hendry (1775, married John Beagles),
Eli Hendry (1775, married Sarah Howard),

Nancy Hendry (1788, married John McEfee/McAfee), and
Sarah (Sally) Hendry (1792, married William McCray).

He had children with Rachel Grubb.

Joseph Hendry (1793, married Massy Jane Dodd) and
Thornton Hendry (1796, married Rachel Dyer).

[1819] A petition of William Hendry, praying that his two illegitimate children, Thornton and Joseph Grubs may be changed to Thornton and Joseph Hendry, and make them his legitimate heirs. (from Senate Journal Tennessee General Assembly)

In 1794 William and Chloe sold Zaddock Conner of Shenandoah County a tract of land on Flint Run containing 150 acres and joining the side of a mountain.

In 1799, William and Chloe, sold their share of his brother, George's estate in Frederick County, Virginia.

On October 2, 1805, William Hendry bought 100 acres from Abram Williams on Lick Creek in Greene County, Tennessee.

1806, William bought 45 acres in Washington County on Reedy Branch from Rachel Grubb and then sold it to David Brown.

He also had children with Rose (an enslaved woman)

Delfey Hendry (1808, married Charles Robinson),
John Hendry (1811, married Ester)

William and Chloe Hendry divorced on September 2, 1813 in Washington County, Tennessee.

On April 26, 1816, William married Sarah (Sally) Palmer (Parmer) in Greene County, Tennessee.

In 1818, Joseph McNinn sold William Hendry 57 1/2 acres near the head of Lick Creek joining the lands the land William already owned.

Greene County Tennessee Petition 11483304 read: 

Twenty-five residents of Greene County represent that William Hendrey gave John McFee, his son-in-law, "a Cartin Calored Gal by the name of Delfe" in 1827 and that said McFee "Sold hur to hur mother a black woman for the Sum of thre hundred Dollars;" McFee “gave hur mother a firm bil of Sail for Delfy and She was to Set hur free."

The mother could notemancipate her daughter owing "to an act of the General assembly prohibiting the amancipation of Slaves."The petitioners therefore pray "your Honourable body to pass a law authorising the County Court of Green to emancipate the sd Delfey." They further avow that Delfy "is a garl of good Charactor."

At the time of the 1830 census his son-in-law, John McEfee was in Washington County, Tennessee. The household consisted of

a man between 50 & 59
a woman between 40 & 49
2 men between 20 & 29
a girl between 15 & 19
a girl and a boy between 10 & 14
2 girls between 5 & 9
2 girls under 5
an enslaved boy and girl between 10 & 23

William died in 1838 in Greene County, Tennessee.

At the time of the 1840 census, his son John was in Greene County, Tennessee. They were designated "free colored." The household consisted of

a man and a woman between 24 & 35
2 boys and 2 girls under 10

In 1840, his son Thornton was in Greene County. The household consisted of:

a woman between 50 & 59 (Sally?)
a man between 40 & 49
2 boys between 15 & 19
a girl between 10 & 14

At the time of the 1850 census, Joseph and Massey, Thornton and Rachel were still in Greene County. Eli and Sarah were in Washington County.

At the time of the 1860 census John B. Hendry was living in Greenville, Greene County, Tennessee with his wife, Esther, and daughter, Susan and John was a stone mason. In 1870 he was still in Greenville and was a well digger.

William Hendry's will as transcribed by Renaee Marotte.

In the name of God, Amen. I, William Hendry of the County of Greene and the State of Tennessee, considering the uncertainty of this mortal life, and being of sound and perfect mind and memory, blessed be Almight God for the same, I do make this my last will and testament in manner and form, this is to say,

1st-it is my will that all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid.

2nd-I give and bequeath unto my wife Sally Hendry one third of all my real and personal estate as long as she remains my widdow, and if she marries or dies, then and in such case, it is my will and desire that her third is to be sold at public venue to the highest bidder and equally divided between [children of Chloe]
Mary Anne Beagles and
Eli Hendry and
Sally McCray's heirs to be paid to Sally McCray's heirs as they come of age.

3rd-It is my will and desire that her third be laid off so as to include the dwelling house and orchard and convenience of the water.

4th-It is my will and desire that Sally McCray's heirs have one-hundred fifty dollars equally divided between them and to them as they come of age as there was that coming to her out of the plantatioin that the rest of my heirs have got their parts. I want it also to be remembered that Marshall McCray and Eli McCray, two of my grandsons have recieved fifty dollars-twenty five dollars each their parts of the above named one-hundred and fifty dollars.

5th-And it is my will and desire that Nancy McEfee have three hundred dollars in place of a mallato girl named Delfey I once gave her as a Legatee and McEfee gave her back and gave her mother a bill of sale for the girl that she might have chance to free her for which above named three hundred dollars McEfee holds some obligation on me to be paid at my death.

6th-It is my will and desire that Thorton Hendry have fifty dollars and Joseph Hendry fifty dollars and also John McEfee fifty dollars, it being the amount I intended for them as I have given them their shares heretofore.

7th-It is my will and desire that all the rest of my estate after Sally McCray's heirs have one hundred and fifty dollars as above named

and Nancy McEfee gets her above named three hundred dollars which I promised McEfee to leave her at my death in place of Delfey the mallato girl and for selling Delfey to Rose as she might have a chance to free her

and Thornton Hendry and Joseph Hendry and John McEfee all have their within named fiifty dollars

and Mary Anne Beagles have one hundred and fifty dollars

and Sally Hendry, my wife, have her third as within named,

then it is my will and desire that all the rest of my estate real and personal when sold to be equally divided between Mary Anne Beagles and Eli Hendry and Sally McCray's heirs to be paid to said Sally McCray's heirs as they come of age.

Given under my hand and seal this 28th day of June 1838.
I acknowledge this to be my last will and testament and revoking all former wills, and

I do also ordain and appoint Charles Bright to be my executor to this my last will and testament.

Signed and acknowledged in presence of :
Jacob Starns
Thornton (x) Hendry -his mark
Joseph Hendry

William Hendry" (his seal)

This indenture made this tenth day of October in the year of Our Lord one thousand eight [1800] hundred between Baltis Hammer of Washington County and State of Tennessee of the one hand and William Hendry of the county and state aforesaid of the other part

witnesseth said Baltis Hammer for and in consideration of one (donkey) to him in hand paid (?) on before the sealing and delivering then presents the receipt such that the said B. Hammer hath given granted bargained and sold and (released) conveyed and by them presents doth give grant bargain and sell convey unto William Hendry all and that parcel of land

beginning at a small black oak on the south west side of a steep hill supposed to be in the dividing line between the said Hendry and Hammer running there north sixty degrees west eleven poles

to a stake then south twenty seven poles degrees west fifteen and one half poles to a stake in the north side of a hill crossing a spring branch thence south sixty degrees east eleven poles to a small dogwood on the side of said hill then

to the place of the beginning containing one and a half square poles to gather

with all apprutenances and all whatsoever in and hinderments and app thereunto belonging on the said lot of land hereby granted or intended to be granted with (?) and (?) of the appurtinnance

to said William Hendry his heirs and forever ...

William Malone (his mark)
Baltis Hammer (seal)
Jones Melone (his mark)
Margaret Milone