Hannah HENRY

  Research Notes:

My research into the Henry family is in its early stages. In the meantime, I recommend John Gillon's website: http://awt.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=thegillons&id=I4484

  Noted events in her life were:

1. Census: 1810, Wayne County, Kentucky. ⁵

Household of Charles Hamilton: Presumably the female age 45+

2. Tax List: 1819, Wayne County, Kentucky. ⁶

District 2 (Lower): Hamilton, Hannah; 115 acres, H.C. and 50 acres, Br C; total value, $330.

3. Census: 1820, Wayne County, Kentucky. ⁷

Mrs. Hannah Hamilton: 001110-01001

4. Tax List: 1820-1829, Wayne County, Kentucky. ^{6 8}

1820, District 1 (Lower): Hamilton, Hannah; 115 acres, Harmon; 50 acres, Beaver; 1 horse/mare; total value, $310.

1821, District 2 (Lower): Hannah not listed; James Hamilton listed for land previously taxed to Hannah (and before her to Charles).

1822, District 2 (Lower): Hannah not listed and can't identify to whom the land which Charles owned at death was taxed. [But there is an entry that seems to indicate Hannah may have purchased 50 acres of vacant land and owed $8.33 to the State on account of this sale. See 1824 land grant.]

1823, District 1 (Lower): Hamilton, Hannah; 165 acres, Harmon's Cr; 1 horse/mare; total value, $300.

1824, District 2 (Lower): Hamilton, Hannah; 115 acres and 50 acres, BC; 1 horse/mare; total value, $500.

1825, District 1 (Lower): Hamilton, Hannah; 117 acres and 50 acres, BC; 1 horse/mare; total value, $610.

1826, Capt. Wm Thomas' Company: Hamilton, Hannah; 117 acres, 50 acres and 50 acres, B.C.; total value, $621.

1827, Capt. Elisha Franklin's Company: Hamilton, Hannah; 115 acres and 50 acres, BC; 2 horses/mares; total value, $390.

1828: Hamilton, Hannah; 115 acres and 50 acres, H.C.; 2 horses/mares; total value, $435.50.

1829: Hamilton, Hannah; 115 acres, H.C.; 50 acres, B.C.; 2 horses/mares; total value, $400.

5. Deed: 1821, Wayne County, Kentucky. ⁹

Dated 29 Oct 1821, Recorded 4 Apr 1822, Bk C:318
Hannah Hambleton, John Hambleton and Ellender his wife, Andrew Hambleton and Elizabeth his wife, Joseph Hambleton and Nancy his wife, Dolly Hambleton, Joshua Hambleton [sic] and Hannah his wife, Abner Jones and Rebecca his wife, John Williams and Nancy his wife, James Lair and Sally his wife, Samuel Allen and Polly his wife, all of Wayne, to Elisha Franklin, Samuel Collett, Thomas Simpson, William Lockett and John Kelly, Trustees of The Methodist Episcopal Church, $200 for a tract on Beaver Creek being part of survey of 117 acres entered in name of Charles Hambleton, including the Meeting House known by name of Bethel Meeting House, forever on Trust for the members of the Methodist Episcopal Church to preach or expound God's most Holy Word therein. /s/ Hannah Hambleton, James Lair, Sally Lair, John Hambleton, Elender Hambleton, Joshua Whitaker, Hannah Whitaker, Samuel Allin, Polly Allin, Abner Jones, Rebecca Jones, James Hambleton, Dolly Hambleton, Andrew Hambleton, John Williams, Joseph Hambleton, Nancy Hambleton, Nancy Williams. Wit: George Lair, John Morrow, Robert Calhoon.

[This deed by the heirs of Charles Hamilton, Dec'd, provides nearly a complete listing of the children of Charles and Hannah and their respective spouses. Missing are William, then deceased, and Charles H., then a minor.]

6. Land Grant: 1824, Wayne County, Kentucky. ¹⁰

Hamilton, Chas Heirs; 50 acres on B___ Cr; surveyed 28 Jan 1824; Bk 17.

[This Land Grant must have been applied for when Charles was still alive and finalized after his death. I suspect this is the reason the 1822 tax list shows Hannah owing the State $8.33 for 50 acres and explains the extra 50 acres taxed to Hannah in 1826.]

7. Court: 1829, Wayne County, Kentucky. ¹¹

Nov Court 1829
"The Court doth allow unto Hannah Hamilton the sum of $35 as a compensation for keeping old Bowsan a Negro man in the County from this time until the next Novem. Court. Whereupon the said Hannah Hamilton came personally into Court and entered into & acknowledged Bond in the penalty of $70 with James Lear her Security conditioned for the faithful performance of her duty towards keeping & supporting said Bowsan."

[See Events for Elisha Franklin, who cared for Bowsan/Boson in 1820. It is apparent that Wayne County had a safety net for its residents, regardless of race. Hannah would have been about age 76 in 1829 and at that time must have been considered able enough to take care of Bowsan/Boson. But see subsequent letter by Hannah dated 18 Jul 1830.]

8. Census: 1830, Wayne County, Kentucky. ¹²

Household of Taylor Hickman: Presumably the female age 60-70.

[Although Hickman is listed as head of household, James and Dolly appear to have lived with Hannah on her property, for it was she who appeared on the 1830 tax list. See Hannah's letter of 18 July 1830 for confirmation.]

9. Letter: 1830, Wayne County, Kentucky. ¹³

The following letter was transcribed by Edna Stockton. On 10 Feb 1968, Edna wrote on the transcription, "This is a copy of a letter written by Hannah Hamilton to her son James Henry Hamilton and his wife Hannah (Francis) Hamilton. The Polly Francis she mentioned was possibly Hannah's sister who was married in Indiana 1/9/1830 to William Lipsey" Although I defer to Edna's reading of Hannah's handwriting, in a few instances where Edna had trouble, I offer my own reading in brackets.

"Kentucky State Wayne County July 18 the ___ 1830. [My reading is that the letter was written July 18 thru 21] Dear children I gladly embrace this opportunity of writeing to you to let you know that I enjoy but a low degree of health at presant but I have great reason to thank god that I am no worse for I have had a long and a serious spell of affliction of about nine or ten weeks continuance but I have got about again a little and I favorably hope that if this few lines sould fall into your hands they may find you all well. after the conversation that you and your wife had I had dispared of James t. hickmons comeing to take care of me for I was here a long and lonesome time before they came but when they cold not prevail with me to brake up house keeping for pittys sake in my affliction they moved here a while but I do not know how long they will stay, perhaps as long as I live for the time of my departure appears to be near at hand but they do not appear to be satisfyed for they want to go to some new country where they can get land of there own but they hate to go and leave me alone. I thought a little hard of my son that I sot so much store by leaving me entirely alone. they also thought harde of my not dividing more with you which I would have done to the utmost of my power with ___trict tittle you left but as for the money which was coming for Coson you thought I cold have got it but I have not got it yet, for I have not ben able to see to my affairs. as for Polly Francis her talking hurt of me behind my back which I did not deserve and I thought that hannah put polly forth at the head of everything and made ___ than welcome and then laid the blame on James which displeased me very much and I have never seen onwell day since that time. Hannah and hur children all ways felt near and dear to me and she was allways good to me while she lived with me and made out. She cold not stay away from me one night to go abroad any place, yet was the cause of leaving me alone for good and took off them little children which I thought so much of and never let me tell them my last and long farewell but these things are all past and gone and childrine's ingratitutude to parrents cannot wean there affections from them. therefore I want to hear from you often what little time I am in the world and sincerley wish you to do well for both for soul and body and amidst all your worly persuits remember you are born to die and after death we must all come to judgment and as my last advice is to you allways keep your minds upon the one thing needful. I do not expect ever to see you any more till the morning of the resurection. So no more at presant but remain your poor broken hearted _____ [Mo but] affectionate Mother until death.
Hannah Hamilton
farewell"

[This letter confirms that Hannah was enumerated in the 1830 household of Taylor Hickman, although it should have been the other way around. "Cosun" is undoubtably Boson/Bowsan, the ward of the County who was placed in her care in 1829. See 1829 Court Order.]

10. Letter: 1832, Wayne County, Kentucky. ¹⁴

The following letter, written by Hannah Hamilton to James Henry Hamilton and his wife Hannah in Indiana, was transcribed by Edna Stockton on 10 Feb 1968. At that time, Edna thought that Hannah may have died shortly after this letter was written and before Polly Allen's letter, which she thought was dated 3 Jan 1833. Thereafter, Edna learned of the 1850 Kentucky Mortality Schedules, which show Hannah died in 1850. She then determined that Polly Allen's letter was dated 1853, which is corroborated by other evidence as well. [Although I have a copy of the original letter, I defer to Edna's reading of the letter since she was working with the original.]

"June the 25 18 & 32.
Dear Son and daughter it is with pleasure i imbrace this oportunity of writing to you to let you know i am still alive yet on land Amongst the living through the mercy of god but i am very weakly in body and often times distrest in mind to think of my children being scattered about over the world where i can not see them nor often hear from them. it gave me much satisfaction to hear you were all well and i hope theas liens will find you all injoying the same state of helth. i understand you have not made a purchase of land of your own but are still living on a Congress purchase yet. my feeble advice would be to you to purchase land as quick as posable you can if you intend to make that part of the world your abiding home while you stay in it for old age and affliction will come on you as it has on your poor old mother and perhaps you will not be able to open a plantation in the woods. but in the midst of all your deficulties and troubles remember this is not your home and let us be found living as we would wish to be found when we come to die that we may meet where parting will be no more. _____ (next line of copy of off the page) . . . bad and to see my little grandchildren. I have been looking for my son James(?) to come and see mee but i dispair of ever seeing him in time unless he would come shortly. time and oportunity would fail me to tell you of the many scenes(?) of affliction i have under gone since i seen you but i think my sorrows and troubles in this world is nearly at an end. i need not say anything about the tiems inquire of the _____ of this letter. pleas write mee any chance you have and let me know how you are a-coming on. So no more at preseant but remains your tender and affectionate mother untill death. hannah hamilton to James and hannah hamilton."

[Since Hannah lived until 1850, she must have recovered from the spell of bad health she was having. Hopefully, she had many good years until she again became ill and was bed-ridden for the last years of her life. See the 1853 letter written by Polly Allen at her Events.]

11. Tax List: 1830-1839, Wayne County, Kentucky. ⁸

1830: Hamilton, Hannah; 115 acres and 50 acres, B.C.; 2 horses/mares; total value, $405.

1831-1832: Tax Lists missing.

1833: Hamilton, Hannah; 50 acres and 115 acres, HC; 1 horse/mare; total value, $205.

1834-1839: No listings for Hannah found.

12. Military Pension Application: 1839, Wayne County, Kentucky. ^{1 2}

While this application has been summarized by Bork, the following is my transcription of Hannah's affidavit from a copy of the original, with one significant difference from Bork's summary noted in brackets:

"On this the 28th day of March 1839 Personally appeared before me William J. Heardin a Justice of the peace for the County of Wayne and State aforesaid Hannah Hamilton a resident of the County of Wayne and State of Kentucky aged Eighty five years [65 years per Bork], who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 4, 1836. That she is the widow of Charles Hamilton who volunteered in the year Seventeen hundred and Seventy Six in the County of Lincoln in the State of North Carolina for the term of Eighteen months and served as an orderly Sergent in the revolution under Lieutenant George Duff and Captain James Duff and while performing this tour of Eighteen months duty under said officers he was in the Battle of Sullivans Island, during this whole tour of Eighteen months he held the office of orderly Sergent under the above named officers but what regiment the Company of Captain James Duff belonged to this declarant does not now recollect. she was not at this time married to the said Hamilton but lived in the same neighborhood. Nor does she now recollect any other battles he the said Hamilton was in during this Eighteen months tour. She further declares that after her marriage to the said Hamilton, that her Husband seemed to be nearly or quite half his time out in the army either after the tories or the British. She recollects well of his being in the Battle of Ramsours in North Carolina. he at this time marched under Captain Malcolm Henry and Col John Barbour. in this tour of duty the declarant does not think he the said Hamilton was out very long, but he was so frequently out on skirmishes that she cannot now well recollect how long he served in each tour but the declarant recollects perfectly well of her husband the aforesaid Hamilton being under Captains Malcolm Henry & Colonel John Barbour at the Battle of Kings Mountain. the declarant recollects well meeting her Husband the aforesaid Hamilton on the next day after the Battle within one mile of the Battle ground and found her husband had received a Slight wound while in said Battle, the declarant lost two Brothers in this Battle. She further declares she was married to the said Charles Hamilton in Lincoln County in the state of North Carolina by Alexander Gililand Esqr. a Magistrate in the month of December Seventeen Hundred and Seventy Seven (1777). That her Husband the aforesaid Charles Hamilton died on the twenty fourth day of November Eighteen hundred Eighteen and that she has remained a widow ever since that period. And she further declares the aforesaid Charles Hamilton received his discharge for his Eighteen months tour which discharge she has frequently seen (she also recollects of). She further declares she knows of no record of her marriage or of the age of her children. She further declares that her Husband the aforesaid Charles Hamilton made out a declaration for a pension in the year of Eighteen hundred & Eighteen and handed it to a Colonel Qualls then a member of Congress from the State of Kentucky which declaration and proof she presumes was handed by said Qualls to the war department but whether they were ever acted on or not she has never heard as her husband died before Mr. Qualls's return from Washington City. Hannah (her X mark) Hamilton"

Bork's summary includes other depositions as well:

Deposition of Mrs. Mary Henry, resident of Monroe County, Indiana, taken at the house of Mrs. Sally Lair of Wayne County, Kentucky. Mary would appear to be the widow of Joseph Henry, Hannah's brother. Per Bork: "Mrs. Henry, age 77 years, states that she has seen and heard and read the declaration of Mrs. Hannah Hamilton and deposition of Joseph Hamilton, and states that they both contain the truth. States that she was in the neighborhood at the time of the marriage of Charles Hamilton and Hannah Henry, now Hannah Hamilton -- said marriage took place in Lincoln County, North Carolina in the later part of 1777 and has been acquainted with her from that day until the present time and believes the age of the children, as stated in the deposition of Joseph H. Hamilton to be entirely correct."

Deposition of Joseph Hamilton of Wayne Co., KY, taken at Mrs. Sally Lear's house. [See Events for Joseph Hamilton.]

An earlier declaration by Hannah Hamilton in 1836: Per Bork: "that her husband served under Capt. John Barber, commanded by Col. Williams and was in the BATTLE OF SULLIVANS ISLAND, KINGS MOUNTAIN, EUTAW SPRINGS, and HANGING ROCK."

Deposition of Samuel Allen. [See Events for Samuel Allen.]

Deposition of Mary Allen. [See Events for Mary Hamilton Allen.]

Letter from Thomas Green of Richmond in 1845. Per Bork: "states that the ages of the children are proved, one of them being born in 1778."

Deposition of John Parmley of Wayne County in 1845. Per Bork: "states he frequently saw said Charles Hamilton during the Revolutionary War, in the service and knows that he enlisted from Lincoln County, N.C. and that he was well acquainted with Col. Williams, under whom Hamilton served and states that after he, the said John Parmley, served out his nine months, that Charles Hamilton remained in the service until the War closed, and that during the war or at that time, he was with him. States that after Hamilton came to Wayne Co., Ky., he heard him speak of being in the Battle of Kings Mountain, Hanging Rock, Eutaw Springs and at Camden, when Gates was defeated and at the Guilford Battle."

Letter dated March 1845 from the Clerk's Office of Lincoln Co., NC. Per Bork: "states that he cannot find the record of Charles and Hannah Hamilton in his office . . ." The letter goes on to note several county changes and formations, seemingly indicating the records might be elsewhere.

[It seems likely from the dates of the above referenced items that this pension application was probably supplemented whenever it was rejected. The only rejection that I have seen appears in the database of American Revolutionary War Rejected Pensions at Ancestry.com. There, an undated entry shows that the application of Hannah Hamilton, widow of Charles, of Wayne Co., KY, was rejected because she was "not a widow at the date of the act -- died before August 23, 1842." Perplexing, given the known facts.]

13. Census: 1840, Wayne County, Kentucky. ¹⁵

Household of Samuel Allen: Probably the female age 80-90

14. Tax List: 1840-1844, Wayne County, Kentucky. ⁸

1840: No listing for Hannah.

1841, District 1 (Upper): Hannah Hamilton; 50 acres, Beaver Creek, $25. [This is the first time Hannah appears in the Upper District tax list, presumably because she then lived in the household of Samuel Allen. The Beaver Creek land was located in the Lower District.]

1842-1843: No listing for Hannah.

1844, District 1 (Upper): Hannah Hamilton; 50 acres, Beaver Creek, $25.

[No further tax list entries for Hannah.]

15. Deed: 1841, Wayne County, Kentucky. ¹⁶

Dated 3 May 1841, Recorded 15 Jul 1845, Bk J:471
John Williams and Nancy his wife, John Hamilton, Joshua Whitaker and Hannah his wife, James H. Hamilton and Hannah his wife, and Dolly Hickman, Heirs of Charles Hamilton, Dec'd, relinquished all their right and interest in land owned by their father at the time of his death in favor of his widow and their mother, Hannah Hamilton, in consideration of their love and affection. The land is described as being about six miles from Monticello on both sides of the road leading to Green's Ferry. The deed was acknowledged in Morgan Co., IN, where the children then lived.

16. Deed: 1841, Wayne County, Kentucky. ¹⁶

Dated 23 Sep 1841, Recorded 15 Jul 1845, Bk J:469
Hannah Hamilton to Joseph H. Hamilton, $30 for her interest, including 5 shares conveyed to her, in 115 acres on Harmon's Creek. [See deed recorded the same day at Bk J:471, whereby 5 children in Indiana relinquished their interest to Hannah. Also, see deed recorded the same day at Bk J:468, whereby Joseph H. Hamilton and Nancy his wife conveyed to George and William Carter, 165 acres on Beaver and Harmon's Creek, which included 115 acres patented to Charles Hamilton Sr. and excepted 1 acre including the Bethel Meeting House -- thus ending the Hamilton family's involvment in the family farm Charles acquired in 1807.]

17. Mortality Schedule: 1850, Wayne County, Kentucky. ⁴

Hamilton, Hannah: Died at the age of 97 of old age in May, 1850 in Wayne Co., KY. Born in PA.

18. Estate Administration: 1852, Wayne County, Kentucky. ¹⁷

Nov Term 1852
Samuel Allen appointed Administrator of the Estate of Hannah Hamilton, Dec'd. [See Events for Samuel Allen for full text of Court order.]

Hannah married Charles HAMILTON on 23 Dec 1777 in Lincoln County, North Carolina.^{1 2 18} (Charles HAMILTON died on 24 Nov 1818 in Wayne County, Kentucky ^{1 2} and was buried in Old Bethel Cemetery, Wayne County, Kentucky ¹⁹.)