James Massey Gentry June 14, 1832 in Ohio County, Kentucky.

His lineage can be traced to Nicholas Gentry of New Kent County, Virginia. According to family traditions, the first Gentrys in America were two young brothers, who came from England as British soldiers and settled in Virginia. To support this, it has been found that Nicholas and Samuel Gentry entered the land in New Kent County, Virginia in 1684. Nicholas and Samuel were British soldiers sent to Virginia by Charles II with some commissioners to settle the controversy between Governor Barkley and the people of Virginia at the time of the Bacon Rebellion in January 1677. These soldiers were paid off and discharged in the fall of 1683. Many of them, however, remained and settled in Virginia.

The records on the early Gentrys are sparse due to destruction by fire, wars, or were lost since we have not been able to establish complete family records, but it is thought that Nicholas Gentry had six children. They were Joseph, Elizabeth, Nicholas, Mabel, Samuel and David. The second generation probably began moving from the homeplace when their parents died.

Samuel is found in Louisa County, Virginia in 1742 buying land and helping to build roads as was required of all citizens, of these days by the government. In 1777, Samuel was listed on the tax list of Caswell County in North Carolina. It is believed that Samuel had six sons, Allen (c. 1725-1802), Joseph (c. 1730-1813), Samuel (c. 1732-1799), Nicholas (c. 1735- ), Richard (c. 1738-1811), and Simon. Of these six, Joseph, Samuel, Nicholas and Ricahrd settled in Surry County, North Carolina. Joseh and Samuel purchased land in the lower part of Surry County in 1774 (now Yadkin County) and gradually bought more land in an area now part of Surry County.

Samuel had four sons, Allen (c. 1750-1824), Samuel (c. 1750- ), Nicholas (1768-1858), and Jeremiah. Most of the Gentrys lived near one another and seemed to be a close family; although as the older generations died the brothers began to migrate to other regions.

Allen Gentry, the eldest son of Samuel moved to Wilkes County in 1800. He and his wife Elizabeth had six children: Jonathan (c. 1778-1852), Agnes (1780- ), Matthew (c. 1782- ). Arthur (c. 1794-), Mary (c. 1796-) and Nathan (1798-1852)

It has been said that Allen was a cartwright during the Revolutionary War. Many times if their occupation was useful, they did not serve in the military. Although it is hard to believe that some action was not seen at the homefront or at King's Mountain in North Carolina. Allen died in 1824 in Wilkes County.

His youngest son Nathan married Rebecca Passmore on 4 May 1821 in Wilkes County. They lived in Wilkes County for several years before moving to Surry County in the Bryan Township sometime before 1840. Nathan was a farmer, and lived near his brother Matthew. He and Rebecca had five sons.

Below is our descendants chart from Samuel Gentry and Margaret Draper, parents of Nicholas and Samuel.

--- 1st Generation ---

1. SAMUEL GENTRY was born in 1628 in Essex County, England and died in England. He married MARGARET DRAPER. MARGARET was born in 1627 in Thaxted, Essex, England d: in England m: August 22, 1655 in Thaxted, Essex, England SAMUEL and MARGARET were married on August 22, 1655 in Essex County, England

--- 2nd Generation ---

2. NICHOLAS GENTRY was born in 1655 in Thaxted, Essexshire County, England and died in 1755 in Hanover County, VA. He married LUCY CORNELIUS. LUCY was born in 1661 in New Kent County, VA and died Bef. 1754 in Fort Nashboro, TN. NICHOLAS and LUCY married Bef. 1685 in New Kent County, VA

--- 3rd Generation ---

3. SAMUEL GENTRY was born in 1695 in New Kent County, VA. and died Aft. 1787 in Pearson County, North Carolina. He married ANN ALLEN. ANN was born in 1703 in New Kent County, VA. SAMUEL and ANN were married in New Kent County, VA

--- 4th Generation ---

4. JOSEPH GENTRY was born in1728 in Virginia. and died in November of 1804 in Surry County, NC. He married AGNES SHELTON, daughter of WILLIAM SHELTON. AGNES was born in 1732 in Louisa, VA. JOSEPH AND AGNES were married in 1747.

--- 5th Generation ---

5. SAMUEL GENTRY ws born in 1753 in Lunenburg, VA. and died on February 16, 1816 in Barren County, Kentucky. He married SARAH BROCK. SARAH was born in 1755 in Surry, NC SAMUEL and SARAH were married on May 24, 1775 in Surry, NC

--- 6th Generation ---

6. JOSEPH GENTRY was born on January 05, 1776 in Surry County, NC and died on September 03, 1855 in Ohio County, Kentucky. He married RHODA THOMAS, daughter of MASSEY THOMAS and DICEY TALBERT. RHODA was born on September 24, 1784 in Culpepper, Virginia, and died on May 08, 1851 in Ohio County, Kentucky. JOSEPH and RHODA were married on January 08, 1801 in Ohio County, Kentucky

--- 7th Generation ---

2. 7 MASSEY GENTRY was born on December 04, 1801 in Ohio County, Kentucky and died on August 23, 1834 in Ohio County, Kentucky. MASSEY married ELIZABETH JONES. ELIZABETH was born in 1804 in Virginia. MASSEY and ELIZABETH were married on November 19, 1829 in Ohio County, Kentucky

--- 8th Generation ---

8. JAMES MASSEY GENTRY was born on June 14, 1832 in Ohio County, Kentucky and died on September 08, 1909 in Francisco, Indiana. JAMES married ELIVIRA BARRETT, daughter of THOMAS JEFFERSON BARRETT and ELIZABETH ANN KEITH. ELVIRA was born on April 14, 1838 in Ohio County, Kentucky and April 19, 1919 in Francisco, Indiana. JAMES and ELIVIRA were married on October 27, 1853 in Ohio County, Kentucky

--- 9th Generation ---

9. MARY BELLE GENTRY was born on August 25, 1859 in Kentucky and died on January 23, 1894 in Duncan, Missouri. MARY BELLE married DAVID BRAXTON MCMILLAN, son of JAMES JOSEPH MCMILLAN and MINERVA JOHNSON. DAVID was born on July 03, 1854 in Bryant Missouri and died on July 1, 1941 in Eureka, Indiana. MARY BELLE and JAMES were married on July 19, 1882.