John Hendry, Sr. 1778-1858
John Hendry

By Spessard Stone



John Hendry, a pioneer settler of Jasper, Florida, was a veteran of the War of 1812, farmer, and patriarch of a prominent Florida family.

John Hendry, son of Robert Hendry and Ann (Lee) Hendry, was born December 1, 1778 in New Hanover County, North Carolina. With his parents he moved to Burke County, Georgia about 1796 and to Taylors Creek, Liberty County, Georgia in 1801.

In Liberty County, Georgia on December 13, 1808, John married Catherine McFail, born April 18, 1789, Barnwell District, South Carolina, daughter of James McFail and Judith McFail.

John Hendry served as a soldier in the War of 1812. He was a private in Captain Robert Quarterman's Co. of Infantry, 2nd Reg't Georgia Militia (War of 1812). Jno. Hendry appeared on "Company Muster Roll" for January 18 to February 13, 1815, roll dated Riceboro April 22, 1815, date of joining rendezvous, January 18, 1815, remark: discharged February 13.

On December 9, 1816, John Hendry of Liberty County, carpenter, sold 202 1/2 acres in Morgan County, Georgia to Richard Smith of Morgan County, blacksmith, for $575. On the same day Catherine Hendry relinquished her dower in the property to Richard Smith.

The 1820 census of Liberty County, Georgia recorded John Hendry as a head of household. About 1825, John and his family, together with his brother, William and family, and mother-in-law, Judith McFail and family, moved to Lowndes County, Georgia. John was enumerated in the 1830 census of Lowndes County. He was 2nd Lieutenant, 790th District, from February 29, 1832 to 1835.

Deed records show John bought his first home place consisting of 200 acres of lot 515, 12th District, Lowndes County (now Brooks County), Georgia on June 16, 1826 from Rev. Melus Thigpen. On August 22, 1842, he sold it to Abraham Hargraves of Ware County for $1,785.00. The 1830 Lowndes County "Tax Digest" showed John with 565 acres pine land, 125 acres oak & hickory, quality 2 (granted Melus Thigpen); 220 acres pine land, 25 acres oak & hickory, quality 3; all in District 12. The 1840 "Tax Digest" recorded John Hendry Senr. with 75 acres pine land, 125 acres oak & hickory, and additional lands which's acreage is not clear (to this writer).

John Hendry, age 72, and Catherine Hendry, age 61, were enumerated in household # 62 in the 1850 census of Lowndes County. Ellen C. Martin, age 22, was living with them. Later they moved to Jennings in Hamilton County, Florida.

John Hendry died in December 1858 at Jennings. Burial was in the Hendry Cemetery, about three or four miles from Jennings.

On February 16, 1859 at Jasper, Florida, Henry J. Stewart, Judge of Probate of Hamilton County, granted to John Hendry Junior "administration of all & singular the goods & chattels lands & tenements rights & credits to which the late John Hendry senior to which were of the said John Hendry senior at the time of his death." On February 16, 1859, John Hendry, James N. Hendry and Charles W. Hendry were "held & firmly bound to the Governor of Florida & his successors in office in the sum of eight thousand dollars" in regard the estate of their late father John Hendry Sr.

Catherine Hendry was enumerated in the household of her son, John Hendry, Jr., in the 1860 census of Hamilton County. It is believed Catherine moved about 1869 with her son, John, Jr., to Fort Green, Manatee (now Hardee) County, Florida. According to her grave marker in the Fort Green Methodist Cemetery, she died in 1889. On the front of the headstone of Robert Hendry, her son, in Fort Green Baptist Cemetery is the inscription: "Catherine McFail Hendry born 1789, died 1889, married 1808, John Hendry."

Issue of John and Catherine (McFail) Hendry:

1. John Hendry, Jr., born Feb. 2, 1810; died July 30, 1891, Fort Green, Fla.; married (1) June 13, 1833 Clarissa Maulden; (2) May 19, 1855 Margaret Cheshire.

2. James Norton Hendry, born July 2, 1812; died 1861, Hamilton County, Fla.; married (1) Nov. 8, 1836 Priscilla Johnson; (2) Nancy Campbell.

3. Robert Hendry, born March 4, 1815; died Feb. 3, 1863, Fort Green, Fla.; married on April 12, 1835 Zilla Ann Moody.

4. Judith Hendry, born April 16, 1817; died after 1860 in Bradford Co., Fla.; ____; married ca. 1835 James Holloway.

5. Archibald Hendry, born Feb. 18, 1820; died June 16, 1897, Fort Pierce, Fla.; married on April 10, 1853 Mary Ann Clardy.

6. William McFail Hendry, born Feb. 8, 1824; died ____; never married. The 1850 census of Hamilton County, Fla. listed William McFail, age 27, a farmer, in household # 93 of his brother, Andrew J. Hendry. The 1860 census of Hamilton Co., Fla. recorded William M. Hendry, age 38, an attorney, with $400 realty & $4,700 personal property in household 14. Nothing further has been learned of him.

7. Charles Wesley Hendry, born July 11, 1825; died July 14, 1893, Fort Myers, Fla.; married (1) Jan. 10, 1847 Jensie Alderman; (2) Dec. 8, 1853 Mrs. Vianna (Clardy) Watts; (3) Jan. 9, 1866 Mrs. Jane Louise (Brown) Mansfield.

8. Andrew Jackson Hendry, born Aug. 23, 1827; died ____; never married. The 1850 census of Hamilton County, Fla. listed Andrew J. Hendry, age 29(?), a farmer, in household # 93. The 1860 census of Hamilton Co., Fla. recorded Andrew J., age 34, a farmer, living in household # 14 of his brother William M. Nothing more has been learned of him.

9. George Washington Hendry, born Feb. 14, 1832; died March 3, 1882, Peru (Riverview), Fla.; married on Feb. 7, 1867 Sarah Ann Hague.

References: Milton D. Wilson, Pioneer Families of Polk County and South Florida The Hendry Family with Data on the Alderman Family, the Carlton Family, the McFail Family, the Wilson Family (Bartow, Fla.), 1940s; Folks Huxford, Pioneers of Wiregrass Georgia, Volume 1, (1951) p. 123; muster roll of John Hendry, National Archives; Deed Book Baldwin County, Georgia, Book F, Morgan County, 1817-18, p. 171, courtesy of Pat Dampier; tax records of Lowndes Co., Ga., courtesy of Jean Burton; Probate Book B, Hamilton County, Fla., p. 178; miscel. censuses; Fort Green Baptist Cemetery.


This profile is adapted from the author’s John and William Sons of Robert Hendry, 1989.


January 16, 2001, April 18, 2002, May 19, 2008.