 | JAMES NORTON HENDRY |
By Spessard Stone
James Norton Hendry, son of John Hendry and Catherine McFail, was born July 2, 1812, Liberty County, Georgia. About 1825, he moved with his parents to Lowndes County, Georgia.
James married (1) November 8, 1836 in Thomas County, Georgia, Priscilla Johnson, born ca. 1815; died ca. 1842. He married (2) ca. 1843 Nancy Campbell, born 1812, North Carolina, daughter of Alexander Campbell and Flora Morrison.
James and family lived in Thomas County, Georgia until about 1849 when they moved to Hamilton County, Florida. A Mason, he was a member of St. Thomas Lodge # 49 at Thomasville, Georgia where he received Masonic degrees in 1849. James and family were enumerated in the 1850 and 1860 censuses of Hamilton County. In both his occupation was given as a farmer. In 1860 he had $2,000 realty and $800 personal property. He presided at a sheriff's sale in Hamilton County on December 5, 1853. Hamilton County Deed Book D, page 273, recorded on August 21, 1854 James N. Hendry purchased a tract of land from his brother, Robert Hendry. One reference in Deed Book E , page 241, is dated May 8, 1856, signed by him but apparently not recorded until December 3, 1861.
James, along with his brothers Robert and Charles, were members of Pleasant Grove, a nondenominational church started in the 1850s by Sam Nunn and sometimes known as Nunn Church and school.
James held offices of public trust. In 1851 he served as a justice of the peace. Cora Hinton in A Brief History of Hamilton County, Florida (1976) stated he was County Sheriff from 1854-58; however, Pioneers of Wiregrass Georgia, Volume 11, has, "He was elected Sheriff of Hamilton County and while in the discharge of his duties was killed in a riot in 1861." Other records indicate another man was sheriff in 1861.
James Norton Hendry died in 1861. Nancy Hendry, William R. Starling, Robert Hendry, and William T. Jennings gave a $4,000-bond for his estate on November 30, 1861, while Nancy Hendry and William R. Starling applied for letters of administration of the estate.
Nancy Campbell Hendry died in 1863, possibly on January 31, as her physician attended her last on January 31. On February 7, 1863 at Jasper, W. J. J. Duncan and Henry J. Stewart gave a $2,000-bond for administration. On February 6, 1865 at Jasper, W. J. J. Duncan, having fully administered the estate, applied to be discharged as administrator.
Issue of James Norton Hendry and (1) Priscilla Johnson:
1. Eliza Hendry, born ca. 1837; married on March 6, 1856 in Hamilton Co., Fla., William Rowan Starling.
2. Mary M. Hendry, born ca. 1839; married on Feb. 14, 1856 in Hamilton Co., Fla., James D. Hunter.
Issue of James Norton Hendry and (2) Nancy Campbell:
1. Henry Harry Hendry, born ca. 1844. His age was listed as 3 and 12, respectively, in the 1850 and 1860 censuses of Hamilton County; however, Folks Huxford cited, "b. 1844, never m., Killed in C. S. Army."
2. Andrew Alexander Hendry, born May 3, 1849; died Dec. 13, 1941 (1940?), Adel, Ga.; married (1) Louisa H. Jennings; (2) Christiana Ann Wilkes; (3) Feb. 1894 Henrietta Hurst Farmer.
3. Norman N. Hendry, born 1852; died in childhood. He was recorded in the 1860 census of Hamilton County.
4. James Jefferson Hendry, born June 3, 1854, Hamilton County, Fla.; died April 9, 1895; married on Oct. 28, 1878 Elizabeth Bathsheba Reddick.
5. Sarah Frances Hendry, born Dec. 8, 1856; died ____; married on April 15, 1875 at Morven, Brooks Co., Ga., Rev. William Henry Scruggs.
James Norton Hendry, Estate Application, Hamilton Co., Fla., 1861; courtesy Of Sylvia Hendry Porter
March 29, 2002, March 23, 2011