William Hendry
William Hendry

By Spessard Stone


William Hendry, son of Robert Hendry and Ann Lee, was born 12 February 1783, New Hanover County, North Carolina. With his parents about 1796, he moved to Burke County, Georgia and in 1801 to Taylors Creek, Liberty County, Georgia.

In Liberty County, Georgia on 7 December 1807, William married Nancy McFail, born 4 November 1786, Barnwell District, South Carolina, daughter of James McFail and Judith McFail.

William and family, together with the families of Judith McFail and John Hendry, moved about 1825 to Lowndes County (now Brooks County), Georgia. William bought and was granted lands on which he settled about midway between (now) Pavo and Quitman.

William was a prominent citizen in his community. On 28 August 1807, he was commissioned as Ensign of the 17th District of Liberty County. He served as 2nd Lieutenant in Captain Robert Quarterman's Company, 2nd Regiment, Georgia Militia, in the War of 1812. In 1825 he was named a Justice of the Peace in the 17th District of Liberty County. On 23 December 1835, he was named in a legislative act as one of five commissioners to select and lay out a new county site for Lowndes County.

William and Nancy, pious Methodists, were one of the seven families who attended and lived in their tents for the week when Mount Zion Campground came into existence in 1828. By legislative act, approved 23 December 1833, Mount Zion Campground was incorporated. William was named one of the trustees.

The Hendry family was among those in their community struck by a typhoid fever epidemic. In June 1840, three members of the family were laid to rest in a little cemetery on the west side of Mule Creek, not far from their old plantation. Eli Harrison Hendry died 4 June 1840, William Hendry died 6 June 1840, and Nancy McFail Hendry died 27 June 1840.

Issue of William and Nancy (McFail) Hendry:

1. James Edward Hendry, born 29 September 1808; died 3 January 1852; married in 1829 Lydia Carlton, daughter of John Carlton and Nancy Ann (Alderman) Carlton.
2. Eli Harrison Hendry, born 26 September 1810; died 4 June 1840; married on 3 May 1835 Jane Alderman.
3. Harriet Hendry, born 28 March 1812; died 23 May 1898; married on 24 December 1829 William Carlton.
4. Nancy Jane Hendry, born 26 March 1814; died 5 September 1888; never married.
5. Robert McFail Hendry, born 29 February 1816; died 30 August 1888; married in December 1838 Martha Ann Carlton.
6. William Hamilton Hendry, born 9 May 1818; died 3 June 1897; married (1) Patience Pertee Peacock; (2) Eveline Hale.
7. Neal Hendry, born 6 April 1820; died 16 November 1892; married on 4 March 1844 Margaret Campbell.
8. John McFail Hendry, born 5 July 1822; died 26 October 1900; married (1) 8 August 1842, Abigail Campbell; (2) December 1858, C. Matilda Bell.
9. David Lee Hendry, born 18 June 1824; died ca. 1898, Mississippi; married (1) Mary Hamilton; (2) Saleta Pamela Featheree; (3) Cecelilia Featheree.
10. Mary Winn Hendry, born 2 July 1826; died January 1882; married about 1844 William Compton Carlton.
11. Elizabeth Caroline Hendry, born on 30 December 1830; died after 1900; married on 21 November 1850 Jacob Curry.


References: Folks Huxford, Pioneers of Wiregrass Georgia, Volume I (1951), Volume VI (1971); Milton D. Wilson, Pioneer Families of Polk County and South Florida, Polk County Historical Commission (Bartow, 1940s); Spessard Stone, John and William Sons of Robert Hendry, 1989.

February 04, 2001, October 16, 2001, March 23, 2011