Ira Cecil Manire

Notes:

When he registered for the World War I draft, in 1917, he was farming in Forestburg, Texas. He was single and described as tall and slender, having brown eyes and hair.

PVT, US ARMY

Name: Ira Cecil Manire
Event Date 20 Dec 1975
Event Place Precinct #8, Medina, Texas
Gender Male
Race (Original):
Age (Formatted) 79 years
Birth Year (Estimated): 1896
Birth Date:
Birthplace:
Marital Status:
Spouse's Name:
Father's Name Authur Manire
Father's Birthplace:
Mother's Name Nora (sic) May Hodges
Mother's Birthplace:
Occupation:
Residence Place:
Cemetery (Original):
Burial Place:
Burial Date:
Informant's Name (Original):
GS Film number 2243840
Digital Folder Number 4167922
Image Number 1296
Reference ID 92967

Citing this Record:
"Texas, Deaths, 1890-1976," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/J63B-VWL : accessed 15 Jul 2013), Ira Cecil Manire, 20 Dec 1975.

(Research):

Census Listings:

1920 Census
Oklahoma, Jefferson County, Ryan Twp
Enumerated 6 Feb 1920
SD 272 Ed 211 Sheet 14B
274-274
Manire, Ira C Head M W 23 M Tx Tx Tx Laborer
Manire, Irma Wf F W 22 M Tx Ala Tx

1930 Census
Oklahoma, Jefferson County, Ryan Twp
Enumerated April 16, 1930
ED 34-14 SD 9 Sheet 12B
244-255
Monire, Ira C Head M W 34 M 21 Tx Tenn Tx Clerk Grocery
Monire, Irma Wf F W 32 m 20 Tx Ark Tx none
Monire, Geneva Dtr F W 9 S Ok Tx Tx
Monire, Ira C Jr Son M W 3 S Ok Tx Tx

Family/Spouse: Irma Strasner. Irma was born on 5 Nov 1897 in Texas; died on 15 Mar 1983 in Medina County, Texas; was buried in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, Bexar County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Geneva Manire was born about 1921 in Jefferson County, Oklahoma; and died.
2. Living

Notes:

Said by Lynell Gentry Cordell to be the son of James Joel Manire and Elizabeth Poates, which matches his death certificate information as shown below. Vickie Berry, on the "Manire Family Tree" she posted at Ancestry.com, also shows the same parents. She further indicates he was born in Weakley, Tennessee.


Name Arthur C. Manire
Event Date 03 Nov 1949
Event Place Lubbock, Lubbock, Texas
Gender Male
Race (Original) W
Age (Formatted) 78 years 11 months 13 days

Birth Date 20 Nov 1870
Birthplace Tennessee
Marital Status Widowed
Spouse's Name:
Father's Name James Joel Manire
Father's Birthplace Tenn.
Mother's Name Mary E. Poates
Mother's Birthplace Va.
Occupation Laborer
Residence Place Lubbock, Lubbock, Texas
Cemetery (Original) Tech Memorial Park Cemetery
Burial Place Lubbock, Texas
Burial Date 04 Nov 1949
Informant's Name (Original) X
GS Film number 2223547
Digital Folder Number 4031936
Image Number 48
Reference ID 54640

Citing this Record:
"Texas, Deaths, 1890-1976," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/JDG6-74K : accessed 15 Jul 2013), Arthur C. Manire, 03 Nov 1949.

He appears to have left home prior to the 1900 census, however, and the Arthur Manire enumberated with Joel Manire, below, is likely a namesake nephew. Indeed, he is listed as a grandson, and not son, of Joel Manire.


1900 Census
Texas, Montague County, Uz Voting Precinct
Enumerated 20 Jun 1900
SD 3 ED 51 Sheet 11B
204-207
Manier, Joel Head W M May 1824 76 Wd Tenn Ala NC
Manier, William A# Son M M Apr 1859 41 S Tenn Tenn Va Farmer
Manier, Emma* V Dtr W F Nov 1860 39 S Tenn Tenn Av
Manier, Arther D GSon W M Sept 1879 20 S Tx Tenn Tenn Farm Laborer

#Living with Arthur C. Manire at the time of the 1920 Montague County, Texas census, and shown as W. A., age 62, brother. . Also enunmerated in the household as of 1920 was Arthur's eldest son, Harry, along with his widowed father-in-law, Benj. F. Hodges. Note that Arthur is shown as brother, not nephew.

*Living with Arthur C. Manire at the time of the 1920 Montague County, Texas census, and shown as Emma, age 60, sister. Also enunmerated in the household as of 1920 was Arthur's eldest son, Harry, along with his widowed father-in-law, Benj. F. Hodges.

A Memorial for the younger Arthur D. Manire is at FindAGrave (Memorial #44009208):

On this memorial, Arthur D. MANIRE (1 Sep 1878-23 Nov 1955) is shown as a son of Benajim F. MANIRE and Mary Adeline ELLISON. Benjamin is shown as a son of Joel James MANIRE and Elizabeth Mariah POATS, all of whom also have memorials on FindAGrave. Arthur's tombstone is engraved as Arthur D. Manire, and his shares a double marker with Ida Birtha Stone Manire (1887-1962). Additionally, the 1910 and 1920 census both show Arthur C. Manire would have been born ca 1871, not 1878.

There is also a FindAGrave memorial (# 20433020) for Arthur C. Manire, 20 Nov 1870-3 Nov 1949 at the Resthaven Memorial Park in Lubbock, and this matches the Texas Death record index on FamilySearch.org.

(Research):
Census Information:

1910 census
Wise Co. TX
ED 260 pg. 215B
92/92
Manire, Arthur C., head MW 39 WD TN TN VA
Manire, Harry T., son MW 17 S OK TN TX
Manire, Ollin, son MW 16 S OK TN TX
Manire, Ira C., son MW 14 S TX TN TX
Manire, James A., son MW 12 S TX TN TN
Manire, Nora M., daughter FW 10 S TX TN TN
Hodges, Benj. F, father-in-law MW 71 WD TX TN TN

1920 census
Montague Co. TX
ED 43 Pg. 67A
Forestburg
Fm/8/8
Manire, A.C., head, MW, 49, Wd., TN TN VA
Manire, Harry, son, MW, 26, S, OK TN TX
Manire, W.A., brother, MW, 62, S, TN TN VA
Manire, Emma V., sister, FW, 60, S, TN TN VA
Hodges, B.F., father-in-law, MW, 82, Wd., TX TX TX

Arthur married Willie May Hodges before 1893. Willie (daughter of Benjamin Franklin Hodges and Sarah M. "Sally" Gentry) was born about 1876 in Texas; died after 1899. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

CSA, Company A, 12th Texas Cavalry from Hill County, Texas. His first application for a pension, made in 1910, was rejected because they could not find his name in the rolls. It was approved in 1926. His brother's, G.A Hodges and L.C. Hodges, both of Sterling City, Texas stated they knew he served for three years. G.A. had served in the same company and regiment. An affadavit of witnesses, dated August 5, 1926 is signed by J.Williamson and Elmer Williamson. Elmer may be the son in law of John M. Gentry and J. Williamson could be either Jerry or his son Jason Williamson.

In HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, TEXAS, in a story about his father, it states that Benjamin was a farmer in Indian Territory. A Hodges descendant gave the names of the children to Lynell Cordell in February 1999.

His father was Newel Hodges and Theodocia Lindsey.

At the time of the 1910 and 1920 federal census enumerations, the widowed Benj. Hodges was living in the home of his son-in-law, also a widower, Arthur C. Manire.

(Research):
Census Information


1880 census
Johnson Co. TX ED 80 Pg. 247B
Benjamin F. HODGES Self M Male W 41 TX Farmer TN TN
Sarah M. HODGES Wife M Female W 40 KY Keeping House KY KY
Thomas W. HODGES Son S Male W 7 TX TX KY
Willie May HODGES Dau S Female W 4 TX TX KY
Lewis H. MC LENDON Other S Male W 38 GA Farm Labored NC NC

1900 census
Montague Co. TX, Ed 57 Pg. 99B
318/321
Hodges, Benj. F., head, WM, ------?, 61, M, 38, ? TN TN
Hodges, Sarah M., wife, WF, -----?, 62, M, 38, 5/2 children, KY KY ?

Very hard to read the 1900 census..

(Courtesy of Lynell Gentry Cordell)

Benjamin married Sarah M. "Sally" Gentry in Texas. Sarah (daughter of Preacher William G. Gentry and Mary "Polly" ???) was born about 1838 in Kentucky; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Sarah and her husband were listed as heirs to her mother's estate in 1871 in Grayson County. They received a portion of land west of Sherman. They were also listed as heirs to W.G. Gentry in Hill County, Texas where they sold land that had belonged to W.G. in 1883. A part of these records show that B.F. and Sarah appeared before J.B. Massie, Court Clerk, in Throckmorton County, Texas in January 1884. Throckmorton County is two counties west of Wise County, where some of the family ended up in the 1880's.

Notes:

Ken Harvey writes that "William was known to have been a Baptist preacher. The sober preacher trained in the dialectics of the seminary was rare west of the Appalachians. The Baptists boasted that in 1817, in the State of New York, that there were only three preachers west of the Hudson that had ever been to college. The settlers demanded personality rather than diplomas from the men who called them to God. Kentucky was famous for the pathological intensity of the religious revivals that shook the populous at the turn of the century. Evangelists had swarmed over the area preaching in great open-air camp meetings where silent, lonely frontiersmen gathered to sing and shout. Revivalists knew their hell intimately---geography, climate, and vital statistics---and painted the sinners fate so hideously that shuddering crowds surged forward to the bushel-box alters to be born again. Hundreds fell to the ground senseless, the most elegantly dressed women in Kentucky lying in the mud alongside ragged trappers."

1817--A William Gentry appears on a Wayne Co, Kentucky list of Delinquent taxpayers. It is noted, as a reason for non-payment, that he had gone to Tennessee. If this is "our" William, he must have been born earlier than 1804, possibly as early as 1795.

1826 - Approximate year of the marriage, of William to Mary "Polly" ???, based on the date of birth of their eldest known child. Note, however, that there could have been earlier children who had left home before the 1850 census.

1830 - It has not been possible to find Preacher William Gentry in the 1830 census in Illinois (where several of his children were born).

1840 - A search for his location, in Kentucky, in the 1840 census has been negative using FTM Census Index on CD ROM (1996).

1846 - William Gentry was listed as a MG (Minister of the Gospel) and a JP (Justice of the Peace) in Obion Co., Tennessee. He officiated at the marriage of John Marr and Nancy R. Mills (Miles) on 11 Feb 1846, and at the marriage of Allen Walker to Margarette Jones on 29 July 1846.

Ken Harvey further noted that the Tennessee Baptist Historical Society has failed to find any reference to Preacher William Gentry in its Baptist collection. They should be contacted again, at their request, if the Obion County Church with which he may have been associated with can be identified. The first organization for the Missionary Baptists in Obion county was in Beulah, which was formed by the 1830s. At this period, the Methodists, Presbyterians and Baptists worshipped in the same building. The church, known as Solitude, was located about 4 1/2 miles north of Union City. That original church building burned down in 1838 and a few years later (1841) the Beulah Baptist Church was built. There are no extant records for the next 12 years. However, it is most probably the church attended by the Gentry family, since it was located in their general area and was the only Baptist Church in the county. In 1858, W.H. McGowan was listed as pastor, and their were 72 members. (Adapted from Marshall and Goodspeed). It is assumed that William was a lay preacher. The reason for this assumption is that William is not referred to in the book by: Carroll, James Milton (1923) "A History of the Texas Baptists."

The postmaster of Bulah, Obion County, Tennesse as of 27 Sept 1847 was a William Gentry. This may well have been our William. (Source: TNGenWeb Project "Obion Post Office and Postmasters of Obion County, TN", cited by Lynell Cordell). Bulah (1847-1859) later became State Line, Fulton County, KY.

The document below, dated March 15, 1850, was found by Charles R. Strong and his daughter, Mary Pat Strong during mid June 2002. This was the only document found in the land records of Obion County Tennessee. No record was found of land purchase or land sale! (Also there were no land records found in Weakley County Tennessee). This may be due to fact that the old town of Bulah, Tennessee, was renamed State Line Kentucky after a border correction at some date. State Line KY located in Fulton County KY was not searched for land records.

Charles and Mary Pat observed that there was an abandoned store in State Line KY named Shaw as highlighted in the document below. Also, the "(???)" in the document might be either "etc." or "and so on and so forth".

Obion County #1 - Wm Gentry

Book 1 - I, page 201-202

William G Gentry Mortgage to L. S. Barnes Registered 15th day of March 1850

This indenture made and entered into this day of March 1850 between William G Gentry of Obion County Tennessee of the one part and L.S. Barnes of Fulton County Kentucky of the other part. Witnesseth [sic] that the said Gentry for and in consideration of seven hundred and seven dollars and 05 cents in hand paid hath this day sold and by these presents doth convey unto said Barnes his assigns. (???) a certain gelding horse about six years old a sorrel mare about 11 years old six head of stock cattle one farm horse wagon also all my house hold and kitchen furniture consisting of feather and under beds clothing furniture (???) bed steads [sic] side bordes[sic] chairs cooking utensils and cup board ware also my stock hogs about 25 in number all of which property is now in my possession my farm and in and about my dwelling house in said Obion County. I also sell and convey to said Barnes my two succeeding crops which are to be made on my farm and I do sell and convey to him all the corn tobacco oats fodder potatoes and all other production which maybe thereon raised so what my family may be protected in (???) law as exempt from sale and I do sell him all of the profits production and mumments [sic] of my said farm for two years to come and I have assigned to said Barnes the following notes towit [sic] one on John Shaw & John Bayer for sixty seven dollars and 50 cts due 9th Feby [sic]1850 and on N. Gurley for one hundred and eighty dollars due 1st Feby [sic] 1850 one on RR Powel for one hundred dollars due 19th June 1850 one on same for fifty dollars due 19th April 1850 - one on Charles S. Tally for seventy five dollars due 1st May 1850 and whereas said Barnes is to pay for me to Messers [sic] Robinson and Keith seventy five dollars and Thos Mitchell thirty nine dollars and 50 cts and whereas he has also paid me two hundred dollars over and above the amount of said notes now shall I within two years pay to said Barnes or his order or cause the same to be done said Robinson and Keith and Mitchell debts said two hundred dollars and all liabilities that I may be under as the assignor of said notes and it is expressly understood that Gurley and Tally are not to be sued the first court nor under aliberal [sic] time and that I am to guaranty these debts then this obligation to be null and void else to remain in full force and virtue and it is further understood and so agreed between these parties that said Barnes to act as my agent in and about the management of sell of all the herein mortgaged property or interest and he is to have the right from time to sell and dispose of the same for the purposes of paying of dispersing this mortgage and I said Gentry for myself my heirs administrators (???) doth and will forever warrant and defend the title in (???) to the property things interests profits (???) herein sold against any and all claims whatever. In witness where of I have hereto set my hand and seal this day and date above written. John M. Gentry & James C. Gentry /s/ witnesses. -- /s/ Will Gentry (Seal

1850 - Unfortunately Preacher William Gentry was not listed as being present in his Obion Co. home, in Tennessee, at the time of the 1850 census enumeration. He is therefore presumably recorded elsewhere in the census of that year, possibly while on a visit to Kentucky, if he is recorded at all. Could he have already gone on to Texas, and left his wife and eldest son in charge of the family?

From the evidence above it would appear probable that;

1. Preacher William Gentry was born and married in Kentucky.

2. A few years following the marriage, ca. 1829, the young family moved to Illinois, probably to the southern part of that state.

3. They returned to Kentucky in about 1835 and remained in that state until ca. 1846 when they moved again

4. This time they moved to Tennessee and they had only been in Tennessee for a few years by the time of the 1850 census.

Using further data

5. The family then moved to, and stayed in, Missouri from about 1854. They would have been in that state for about four years (grand-daughter Ellen was born there in 1855, as was Virginia in 1858).

6. They then all headed to Texas in about 1859.

This assumes that William and his son John Melton Gentry stayed together as they migrated south. William could have gone ahead to Texas, before John and his family, without staying with them in Missouri. He was more mobile on account of the age of his children.

1860 - William Gentry is described (microfilm page 58), in 1860, simply as a Baptist Minister, age 55, born in Tennessee. Mary was the same age, but like all the children, listed as born in Kentucky. Clearly this contradicts the 1850 census. The family were living in Hillsboro, Hill Co., Texas. William's real estate here, at the time, was valued at $1,250 and his personal property at $3,115.

At this time there was a very high per capita income in Texas. This was to collapse in a few years with the civil war and it took a very long time to recover.

Preacher William's eldest son, John Melton Gentry (32), had real estate in Grandview area in nearby Johnson Co. This was valued at $270 and his personal property at $525. He was a farmer and he was now employing a farm labourer from Alabama, Sam Benge (23), who lived with his family.

1861-The book HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY noted that on June 14, 1861 the Masonic Blue Lodge #266 A.F. and A.M. was chartered. The charter members included W.F. and J.M. Gentry. The book also noted that the first organization of a Baptist church in Alvardo, TX is due to the Rev. William C.(G.?) Gentry. The church was organized on October 6, 1861 in the old Union Building, located on the corner of what is now Cummings ans Atchley streets. The upper story was used for Masonic meetings, the lower floor was a school and church. The records state that "after a few remarks by Brother William C. Gentry, the members present appointed Brother Gentry moderator pro-tem. They then adopted the Trinity River Association Constitution or by laws, written by Brother Carroll. After they organized,the door of th church was opened. Brother William C. Gentry was elected pastor and Jonathan Burk elected pastor and Jonathan Burk elected clerk." On the first Sunday in July 1862 Brother W.B. Senter was chosen to be pastor and moderator. Was this Rev. William Gentry our Preacher William moving to be closer to his son John? If it was not our William, there is a slight possibility that it could be William Gravit Gentry, born 23 Jan 1786 in Louisa Co, VA, son of John and Milly (Edwards) Gentry [THE GENTRY FAMILY IN AMERICA, p 24].

W. G. Gentry also purchased land in Hill County from Thomas A. Flippin and N.J. Fritze sometime in the 1860's. Also, the Johnson County Deeds Vol. D, Pg 84-December 27, 1860- W.G. Gentry-Land Patent in Hill County, Texas from Smith, 200 acres--witnessed by John M. Gentry

1870 - "Mary Gentry, 65 years of age, born in Kentucky, died in August of this year in Grayson Co., Texas." Was this Preacher William's wife? It certainly seems highly likely.

William's Grayson Co., Texas, census entry is proving difficult to find. He would have been aged 66. Ken Harvey believes he was still alive.

1871-Land records from Grayson County, Vol 38 pg 442 dated November 6, 1871 show that Mary Gentry owned, with her husband William G., 20 acres of land situated about one mile west of Sherman on the Gainsville and Sherman road at the time of her death. (Grayson Co, TX Vol 38 pages 442, 443 & 444)

1875 - A Rev. Gentry performed a wedding in Grayson Co. Texas and another one in Collin Co., Texas. Were these two ceremonies performed by the same man and was it "our" Rev. William Gentry? An unknown Rev. M. Gentry was active in Collin Co, also. He is not thought to be related.

1880 - Preacher William's, Wise Co., Texas, census return is proving difficult to find. He would have been aged 76. He might well have died before this. Zada Trawick's family was also in Wise Co. in 1880. I wonder if John M. and Pamelia could have moved there after the 1880 census and Zada and [James] Ed[win Gentry] met and married there in 1890/91.

"LOCALS ... ... A well known citizen by the name of Gentry, of the Sand Hill country, who was stopping in the East Mound country for his health died one day last week." Could this have been Preacher William's "obituary"? The newspaper date needs to be rechecked. Could the East Mound area be where Will and Molly lived? Their Wise Co. census return gives their location as E[numeration] D[istrict] 130.

From the deed listed below, it is known that William died before 1883.

Charles Strong located the following deed in Hill County, Texas (Hill Co, Vol. N)

1883-"Know all men by these presents that whereas on or about the ___ day of ___ A.D. 186_, W.G. Gentry, then a resident in Hill County, Texas now deceased, did make, execute and deliver to Thomas A. Flippin and N.J. Fritze for a valuable consideration to him in hand paid, a good and sufficient warranty deed to the following tract of land....and whence the said deed has been lost, mislaid or destroyed, and the record of the same in the deed records of said Hill County, having been destroyed by fire, now therefore in consideration of the ??? and the fact of the payment in full of the purchase money of said land, to said W.G. Gentry by the said Flippin & Fritze which we here acknowledge, We J.M. Gentry, James C. Gentry, Mitchell C. Gentry, Jesse A. Gentry, J.W. Gentry & Minerva A. Gentry his wife, B.F. Hodges and wife Sarah M. Hodges and L.B. Bush and wife Mary E. Bush, sole surviving heirs at law of the said W.G. Gentry, do bargain and sell, and by these presents do transfer and convey unto J.W. Siddons the ....title to said land...Witness our hands this the 19 day of September A.D. 1882. John M. Gentry, J.W. Gentry [Minerva's husband], M.A. Gentry, L.B. Bush, M.E. Bush, J.C. Gentry, M.C. Gentry, B.F. Hodges et ux, Sarah M. Hodges J.A. Gentry

It would be worth searching for the burial place and gravestone of Preacher William. He could be buried near Decatur. Lewis Payne remembers his maternal grandmother, Molly, speaking of Decatur and it seems that her husband, Will, and she could at the time, have lived outside this town, the Wise County seat.

William Gentry's parents are still unknown.According to Ken Harvey, the following are considered to be possible, but unlikely, parents of Preacher William Gentry, born circa 1804.

Gentry, (1909), M.S., Ph. D. "The Gentry Family in America 1676 to 1909 etc." The Grafton Press:New YPatrick Gentry (abt.1780-1820) of Louisa Co., Virginia. His son William B. Gentry (1802-?) married Sallie Sargent March 11, 1824. (p 74)

--Robert Gentry of Jackson Co., Tennessee. Robert was fifth generation but there are no dates. His son William was probably born in Jackson Co. where he was definately reared. (p 134)

--Mathew Gentry (abt. 1782-? ), son of Samuel. Matthew had migrated from Surrey Co., North Carolina to Warwick Co., indiana in 1822 where he settled and reared a large family. His children were: William, James, Mathew, Samuel and Thomas. (p 270)

--Thomas Gentry (1779-?) and Sussana Caster (1781-1854). Son William was born in 1806. Thomas' father was William Gentry of Gloucester Co., N.J. said to have been a revolutionary soldier. (p 292)

--Joseph Gentry (abt.1785-1835) of King William Co., Virginia. (p 294)

1810 - There are thirty-one potential Gentry parents of William in the state of Kentucky in 1810 when he would have been circa six years old at the time.

1820 - Of these there are, however, only seven possible candidates as William's parents in Madison Co. Kentucky in 1820 This ASSUMES that he was born c. 1804 in Madison Co., Kentucky. There is no compelling reason for this assumption however.

These Madison parental candidates, with some of their probable wives, have all been arrived at by a process of elimination, they are;

1. Bartlett Gentry and Elizabeth Timberlake, 2. ? Gentry and Elizabeth ?, 3. John Gentry, 4. John (Stumpy) Gentry, 5. John P. Gentry, 6. Josiah Gentry, 7. Josiah Gentry and Winney Musick

(Research):
Census Information:

1850 census, Obion Co. TN
District 2 West of District 1 (NE corner before the panhandle was included), North border is Kentucky.
496.
Polly GENTRY, 48, KY;
John, 23, KY, farmer;
Permelia, 23, TN;
James, 20, IL, farmer;
Michel, 18 IL, farmer;
Manerva, 13, KY;
Sarah, 12, KY;
Wesly, 8, KY;
Abram, 5, KY;
Mary, 4/12,TN

1860 census in Hill Co. TX
Hillsboro twp. ED 58 Pg. 459
397
Gentry, William 55 M Baptist Minister TN
Mary 55 F KY
Menerva 23 F KY
Sarah 20 F KY
Wesley 18 M KY
Abram 15 M KY
Mary 10 F KY


(Courtesy of Lynell Gentry Cordell)

(Medical):Y DNA Results, FTDNA Haplogroup:

I1 Haplogroup
Predicted Y-DNA Haplogroup 1-M253

A direct male descendant of William G. Gentry, still bearing the Gentry surname, volunteered to have his yDNA tested. The results can be found at www.ysearch.org, under the user ID #CBFD9, and the FamilyTreeDNA Kit number is 49107.

The DNA sample was a high resolution match to several documented descendants of Nicholas Gentry I of Hanover County, Virginia. Nicholas was said to be the original immigrant of his family line, and can first be found on colonial records of Virginia in 1684.

More about the Gentry DNA study can be found at:

http://www.worldfamilies.net/surnames/g/gentry/

I is often called the "Viking Haplogroup." This haplogroup is common among Icelandic populations, and is generally considered indicative of Scandinavian or Anglo-Saxon ancestry when it is found in a person of British descent.

A good website that discusses Haplogroup I1a is located at:

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~gallgaedhil/haplo_i1a_part_1.htm

William married Mary "Polly" ??? about 1826 in Kentucky. Mary was born on 23 Jan 1805 in Kentucky; died on 13 Jun 1869 in Texas; was buried in Oakland Cemetery, Grandview, Johnson County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

1850-She is recorded in the census of 1850 as Polly Gentry, born in Kentucky in 1805,

1860-She is recorded as Mary Gentry. Polly is a familiar form of the formal name Mary.

1870 - "Mary Gentry, 65 years of age, born in Kentucky, died in August of this year in Grayson Co., Texas." Was this Preacher William's wife? It certainly seems highly likely.

1871-Land records from Grayson County, Vol 38 pg 442 dated November 6, 1871 show that Mary Gentry owned, with her husband William G., 20 acres of land situated about one mile west of Sherman on the Gainsville and Sherman road at the time of her death. (Grayson Co, TX Vol 38 pages 442, 443 & 444)

Charles Strong located the following probate record:

Grayson Co, TX Vol 38, pgs 442-444

The State of Texas, County of Grayson

Whereas on the 13th day of June, 1869, Mary Gentry, Wife of William G. Gentry, departed this life in said County and State leaving as her sole & only heirs the following named children to wit, John M. Gentry, James C. Gentry, Cyrus M. Gentry, Minerva A. Gentry wife of William J. Gentry, Sally M. Hodges wife of Benjamin F. Hodges, Jesse A. Gentry and Mary E. Gentry; and also the said Mary, dec'd, at the time of her death owned as community property with William G. Gentry, a certain tract of land situated in said County and State about one mile West of Sherman on the Gainsville x Sherman road and more particularly detailed as follows.....now the said Gentry suriviving Matrimonial partner of said Mary Gentry, desceased, as well as the heirs of the said Mary above named and who are all the lawful age to contract---being mutually desirous of settling the estate of said Mary and partitioning the same among themselves...have agreed with each other to partition said lands and to invest the title to the part set apart to each heir named in the portion so set apart and divest said heir of all interest in the remaining portion and they, the parties aforesaid, mutually agree that the followig plat and division of said lands illustrates substantially the division and partition agreed upon.

Witness our hands at Sherman this 6th day of November 1871

Signed by W.G. Gentry, J.A. Gentry, J. William Gentry, Minerva A. Gentry, Sarah M. Hodges, B.F. Hodges, J.M. Gentry, M.E. Gentry, C.M. Gentry and attested be L. Hare and Joseph Bledsoe

Could Mary's surname have been Miller? Her grandson by her son John Melton Gentry, William Miller Gentry, was clearly not given his mother's, Harpole surname, as his middle name. On the other hand it would have been quite reasonable for him to have received his paternal grandmother's surname.

Oakland Cemetery of Johnson Co., TX Miltenberger's Report, copied 1969 GENTRY, Mary Mrs. 23 Jan 1805 - 13 Jun 1869

The later recording of that cemetery is the one we found first:

Sacred to the Memory of M. Mary Gentry Jan. ?, 18?5 ? , 1869