The following information was assembled from numerous sources and cannot be used directly as proof of Qualifying Service or Lineage.
It is considered a research aid and is intended to assist in locating sources that can be used as proof.
State of Service: NC
Qualifying Service: Patriotic Service
Author: Robert Lee Knott Jr
Per Indiana DAR from Boonville files: Joseph NC Service: Patriot and furnished material aid. Born about 1728 in VA, died about May 1813, Surry Co., NC; m. Agnes about 1750, she died about 1826. Children: Samuel, William, Elizabeth, Anne, Judith, Sarah, Susanna, Agey (Agnes).
His service as a revolutionary soldier are in Records Office of the Auditor's Office of North Carolina. Per VOL. I SURRY CO. HERITAGE BOOK: Joseph (1730-1813) was the son of Samuel Gentry, son of Nicholas Gentry who came to Virginia in 1684. According to family traditions, the first Gentrys in America were two young brothers, who came from England as British soldiers and settled in Virginia. To support this, it has been found that Nicholas and Samuel Gentry entered the land in New Kent County, Virginia in 1684. Nicholas and Samuel were British soldiers sent to Virginia by Charles II with some commissioners to settle the controversy between Governor Berkley and the people of Virginia at the time of the Bacon Rebellion in January 1677. These soldiers were paid off and discharged in the fall of 1683. Many of them remained and settled in Virginia. The records on the early Gentrys are sparse due to destruction by fire, wars, or were lost hence we have not been able to establish complete family records, but it is thought that Nicholas Gentry had six children: Joseph, Elizabeth, Nicholas, Mabel, Samuel and David. The second generation probably began moving from the homeplace when their parents died. Samuel is next found in Louisa County, VA in 1742 buying land and helping to build roads as was required of all citizens of these days by the government. In 1777 Samuel was listed on the tax list of Caswell County in North Carolina. Samuel had six sons. Allen, Joseph, Samuel, Nicholas, Richard and Simon. Joseph Samuel, Nicholas and Richard settled in Surry County, North Carolina. Joseph and Samuel purchased land in the lower part of Surry County, now Yadkin County and gradually bought more land in an area now part of Surry County.
Will of Joseph (E) Gentry, dated November 17, 1804: Wife Agnes to have negro woman Jemima, her own bed and furniture. Son Shelton to have 75 acres where he lives. Daughter Elizabeth Speere to have negro girl Hannah. Mary Gentry, daughter of my deceased son William twenty-five pounds. Son Samuel and Shelton, Daughters: Anne, Agey, Judith, Sarah, and Susanna are to equally divide my remaining property real and personal. Exrs: Samuel Gentry, wife Agnes. Witnesses: M.A. Hughes, A. Hughes, Wm. Dobson. Signed with his mark. Joseph wrote a will dated November 1804 which was filed for probate in May 1813. This will can be summarized with respect to bequests as follows: Wife: Agnes ... to have negro woman, Jemima and residue of estate after specific gifts to other heirs ...
Son: Shelton ... 75 acres where he now lives and a share of the estate. Dau: Elizabeth Speere, negro girl Hannah and a share of the estate. Grand-Dau: Mary Gentry, daughter of my deceased son William ... 25 pounds. Son: Samuel ... a share of the estate. Dau: Anne ... a share of the estate. Dau: Agey [Agnes] ... a share of the estate. Dau: Judith ... a share of the estate. Dau: Sarah ... a share of the estate. Dau: Susanna ... a share of the estate.
Joseph's sons Samuel and Shelton, and his wife Agnes were named as executors. There are a variety of loose papers relating to the settlement of this estate that are filed in the North Carolina State Archives. Among these is a listing of debts and credits relating to the estate, the last one of which, dated 28 April 1813, reads, "debit to cash for Nixon for coffin, 12/-". [All listings are in pounds, shillings, and pence and then converted at exchange "dollars at 8/-".] This clearly establishes Joseph's date of death as sometime in April, 1813. The final settlement of the estate was not until after 1826 when Agnes, Joseph's widow, died, thereby releasing her residual share of Joseph's estate for division among the remaining heirs. Agnes left a will which was written in 1813, and received for probate at the February 1826 Surry County Court. In this will, she left her remaining personal estate to her son Shelton and to her granddaughter Nancy (daughter of Shelton).
NC Rev Arm Accts, abstracted by Wunette Parks Haun (c) 1991, part 3, Vol. 4, Book G, p. 425, paid 26 Apr 1777 for Sundries Aug 1776."
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