Ezekiel Henry Jr. (abt. 1785 - 1853)

Born about 1785 in Washington, Tennessee

Ancestors

Husband of Judith (Francis) Henry — married 18 Jan 1818 in Rhea County, Tennessee

Descendants

Died 11 Aug 1853 at about age 68 in Cherokee, Texas

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Chad Henry [send private message] and Carl Bray [send private message]

Biography

Ezekiel Henry was born in 1785. He passed away 11 Aug 1853^[1].

Marriage

Husband: Ezekiel Henry

Wife: Judith Francis

Child: Ezekiel Francis Henry

Relationship to Father: Natural

Relationship to Mother: Natural

Marriage:

Date: 18 JAN 1818

Place: Rhea County, Tennessee

Marriage:

Date: 18 JAN 1810

Place: , Rhea, Tennessee^[2]

Children of Ezekiel Henry, Jr. and Judith Francis

Judith Francis Henry left a family Bible, which records the names and births of her ten chil-dren. Four were born in Rhea County, Tennessee and six in Shelby County, Alabama. The Bi-ble was lost in a flood in Lemesa, Texas, but a notarized, typed copy of the Bible Record survives.

Caroline Matilda Henry was born March 01, 1811 in Rhea County, Tennessee and died May 15, 1858 in Montevallo, Shelby County, Alabama. She married James McGlothlin Nabors.

Samuel Henry was born June 12, 1812 in Rhea County, Tennessee and died October 10, 1825 in Shelby County, Alabama.

Joseph Francis Henry was born October 22, 1814 in Rhea County, Tennessee and died August 23, 1853 Cherokee County, Texas. He married Laura Marcia Tredwell March 15, 1836 Chambers Co. Alabama.

Woodson D. "Wood" Henry was born March 12, 1816 in Rhea County, Tennessee and died before 1899. He married, first, Levissa Hutton, second, Laurina M. Smith on March 30, 1845 in Cherokee County, Texas.

Miller Wilfred Henry was born March 16, 1819 in Shelby County, Alabama and died about 1863 in Cherokee County, Texas. He married Lucy Anna Clark Boling on July 5, 1841 in Chambers County, Alabama ..

John Porter Henry was born July 03, 1821 in Shelby County, Alabama and died in February 1880 at Smithwick, Burnet County, Texas. He married Catherine Pinckard about 1841 in Georgia or Alabama.

Hugh L. W. Henry was born October 22, 1823 in Shelby Co. Alabama and died November 18, 1857 at Griffin, Cherokee County, Texas. He married Charlotte Susan Clark September 18, 1845 in Chambers County, Alabama.

J. Patrick Henry was born October 31, 1825 in Shelby County, Alabama and ied October 14, 1867 in Cherokee County, Texas. He married Amanda Jane Muse October 31, 1850 in Cherokee County, Texas.

Paralee Blevins Henry was born on May 24, 1828 in Shelby County, Alabama and died June 28, 1852 in Gallatin, Cherokee County, Texas. She married James Edwin Clark August 14, 1845 in Chambers County, Alabama.

Clinton Smith Henry was born November 14, 1834 in Shelby County, Alabama and died July 07, 1873 in Cherokee County, Texas. He married Martha Thompson January 18, 1855 in Cherokee County, Texas

Notes

Henry Family PDF^[3]

The Francis Family -The Henry Family Bible

owned by Descendants of Clinton Henry -son of Judith Francis & her husband, Ezekiel Henry, Jr. A transcription of the Bible record as found in Catherine Linney's Twigs, a Henry-Francis family history. It is not known if it was Judith Francis Henry's Bible which he inherited, or his Bible where he recorded family information given by his mother.^[4]

Judith Francis Born Jan 23, 1795

Father's Name, Joseph Francis

Grand Father, James Francis

Great Grand Father, Hugh Francis

Great Great Grand Father, Robin Francis

Grand Mother on Father's side, Obedience Carington

Great Grand Mother, Jane Stewart

Grand Mother's Name, Susan Easley

Grand Father on Mother's side, Warham Easley

Great Grand Father, Daniel Easley

Grand Mother on Mother's side, Nancy Woodson

Great Grand Mother, Susan Miller

Ezekiel Henry, Jr. Family

Birth Dates of the Children of Ezekiel Henry and Judith Francis Henry.

Caroline M. Henry Born March 1, 1811 Ray Co., Tenn. (Rhea)

Samuel Henry " June 12, 1812 " " "

Joseph F. Henry " Oct. 22, 1814 " " "

Woodson D. Henry " March 12, 1816 " " "

Miller W. Henry " March 16, 1819 Shelby Co., Ala.

John P. Henry " July 3, 1821 " " "

Hugh L. W. Henry " Oct. 22, 1823 " " "

Patrick Henry " Oct. 31, 1825 " " "

Paralee B. Henry " May 24, 1828 " " "

Clinton S. Henry " Nov 14, 1834 Chambers Co. Ala.

Clinton S. Henry was married to Miss Martha Thompson on Jan. 18, 1855 In Cherokee Co., Texas. Children:

Marietter Henry Born Oct. 27, 1855 Cherokee Co., Texas

Hew L. W. Henry " Apr. 10, 1857 " " "

Wiley T. Henry " Jan. 31, 1859 " " . "

Ezekiel C. Henry " Dec. 26, 1860 " " "

Judith Cynthia Henry " May 28, 1865 Angelina Co., Texas

Robert L. Henry " Oct 9, 1866 " " "

Luella Henry " Aug. 21. 1868 " " "

Patrick M. Henry " June 2, 1871 " " "

Duncan S. Henry " Feb. 8, 1873 " " "

Deaths:

Ezekiel Henry (Jr.) Died Aug. 19, 1853

Judith Henry " Nov. 1857

Clinton S. Henry " July 7, 1873

Judith Cynthia Henry " Aug 14, 1866

Marietta Henry (Hopper) " Sept 6, 1894

Martha Henry " Nov. 14, 1901

The above records and statistics are from the Henry Family Bible which was later lost in a flood conditions in Lamesa, Texas. (Signed) Lillie Henry Witt

The above signature has been notarized as of 30 day of April 1969 as notary in and for Tarrant County, Texas. (Signed: Bernice Lewis, Notary

Henry, Judy, "Ezekiel Henry, Jr. Family"^[5]

Ezekiel Henry, Jr.3 (Samuel1, Ezekiel, Sr. 2) was born about 1785 probably in old Greene County, North Carolina, now the Jefferson or Knox County areas of Tennessee. He is thought to be the son of Ezekiel Henry, Sr. because of his name, but could be the son of William Henry, Sr. of Rhea County, Tennessee. A genealogical journal from Shelby County, Alabama states that Ezekiel was the brother of Jolm Henry of Bibb County, AL, who was the son of William Henry, Sr.

A family Bible record from the Miller Wilfred Henry branch of the family in Cherokee County, Texas states that his father's name was Ezekiel Kindred Henry, born in Ireland. William and Ezekiel Henry, Sr. were living in East Tennessee at the time of his birth. The only use of the name Ezekiel Kindred Henry, was by Ezekiel's son Patrick, who named his son after his father and father-in-law, who was Kindred Muse.

Before 1805, when Zeke was about twenty years old, his family moved to Roane County, Tennessee, part of which became Rhea County in 1807. On January 18, 1810 in Rhea County, Tennessee, he married Judith Francis, fifteen-year-old daughter of Joseph Francis and Susannah Easley. The bondsman was her brother, Miller Francis. Miller married Hannah Henry, and their brother, Woodson, married Elizabeth "Betsy" Henry. Hannah and Betsy were either a sister or a cousin on Ezekiel Henry, Jr.

Records of Rhea County, Tennessee

On April 27, 1809 when John, William and Ezekiel Henry, Sr. sold Richard Waterhouse the 19,000-acre Patent 278, two thousand acres were reserved for Ezekiel Henry, Jr. On April 29 Waterhouse sold to this 2000 acres on the East Fork of Richland Creek to Zeke for $1000, "including plantation whereon John and William Hemy now live." Ezekiel, Jr.'s purchase preserved the ownership of the family property for his father, uncles and perhaps other family members. More details of this transaction appear in the William Henry, Sr. of Rhea County section. Ezekiel, Jr.'s purchase is described as

"Beginning at an Ask marked SD. a Small distance befov,1 the mouth of Whites Creek on the bank of the Tennessee River and runs down the various meanders of Said River including the meanders therof passing the mouth of Piney river or Creek Clear Chrrk. Mill Creek and several Small branches to the mouth of Richland Creek when reducted to a Straight line will be eight thousand five hundred poles. Thence West leaving Ten-nessee River twelve hundred and eighty poles to Cumberland Mountain. Thence along the foot of Said Mountain with the various courses thereof crossing a large Creek called Sale Creek and the head waters of Richland Creek, Vally Fork, Clear Creek, Piney Creek or River and Camp Creek to the main fork of Whites Creek when reducted to a Straight line will be nine thousand poles to a large Poplar, Pine and Sugar Tree on the bank of Said Creek at the foot of Said Mountain. Thence down the Said Creek including the Several meanders thereof to the beginning ... "

This description includes most of the Eastern half of the present Rhea County, reaching from Dayton to the northern border at White's Creek. It includes the Tennessee River Valley from the river to the foot of the mountains.

On March 2, 1810 William Henry Sr., and newlywed Ezekiel Henry, Jr. sold John Henry 200 acres "with valuable considerations on East Richland Creek part of grant #278 cornering Eze-kiel Henry, Jr. on line between John, Ezekiel and William Henry, Sr." This was John's original land grant. Witnesses were Woodson Francis, Henry David and Abr. Swagerty.

It is not known exactly where Zeke and Judy Henry established their home and no records for land sales have been found for them prior to their move to Alabama. There is a sale of 1000 acres to John Day on October 2, 1846 when Ezekiel was living in Chambers County, Alabama.

John Day was married to Ezekiel's cousin, Sarah Jane Henry Day, daughter of John, Sr. This family stayed in Rhea County and John Day purchased much of the family property as others died or moved away. This land was bordered in part by the Stokley Donelson claim #212 and located at the top of Valley Ridge. It was part of the 2000 acres Richard Waterhouse sale.

Move to Alabama

Always looking for new opportunities, a large Henry family group migrated to the Alabama Territory before 1819. The area was cleared of the threat of Indians in 1814. Shelby County was created in February 1818 and Alabama became a state in 1819. Included in the group were Ezekiel Henry, Jr., his brother, John, and possible siblings, Hugh Henry and Margaret Henry, wife of George Mayberry, Jr. Ezekiel settled in Shelby County, while John, Hugh and the Mayberrys located in neighboring Bibb County. Judith's Bible record records the birth of their son, Miller, in Shelby County, Alabama in March of 1819.

"Most of the white settlers to this county (Central Alabama) were from Tennessee, Kentucky and South Carolina. They became acquainted with the region when General An-drew Jackson came through building Fort Jackson and blazing a trail to the Wilsonville area. A ferry was established here to get the soldiers across the Coosa (River) and on their way to the Battle of Horseshoe Bend. After that victorious battle, General Jackson sent 500 men to the Cahaba River to search for the remnants of the 'Red Sticks". These men returned to their home states so impressed with the beauty and promise of this re-gion that they brought their families and household goods back to this area traveling chiefly by pack horse. ... The Coosa Valley meantime developed its population at the same time, being wider and containing more territory. Most of the newcomers settled at Montevallo, Harpersville and Wilsonville.", "... the earliest settlers . .. later referred to as squatters, ... did not gain legal title to their lands until the land office at Tuscaloosa was opened in 1821." Land Tract books record a large number of land entrants in the first year of legal land sales.

Ezekiel and his family "squatted" originally on about eighty acres of land in Shelby County, which he purchased on June 2, 1823. He received a Federal Land Patent for Certificate Number 698. The land is described as 79.98 acres, the West half Northwest of Section 11, Township 22 South, Range 3 West. This land is located about one mile south of Moore's Cross Roads and two miles Northeast of Montevallo in Shelby County, Alabama. The property is bisected by Highway 98 at the fork of a dirt road that runs to Spring Creek. Today it is the location of Montevallo's American Village ....

The Move to Georgia

Sometime between 1828 and 1830 Ezekiel Henry, Jr. moved his family to Georgia. They moved directly into an area of unrest with the Native Americans.

"In 1827 all the Creek land in Georgia were ceded to the United States and the follow-ers of Chief Mcintosh were given the right to move to a new location which the United States Government had purchased for them. This was the first step toward the removal of all of the Five Civilized Tribes to the newly created Indian Territory. (Oklahoma) " ... The removal was badly managed and chaos reigned as the white settlers moved into the territory not yet vacated by the Creeks."

The Ezekiel Henry family was counted in the 1830 Troup County, Georgia Census in Captain David Stewart District. Those counted in the household included five unidentified people. The list includes: 1 male under five (Patrick), 2 males ages 5-10 (Hugh and John), 2 males ages 10-15 (Miller and Woodson), 2 males ages 15-20 (Joseph and Unknown), 1 male age 20-30 (Unknown), 1 male age 30-40 (Unknown), 1 male ages 40-50 (Ezekiel), 1 male age 100 up (probably Joseph Francis, father of Judith Francis Henry), 1 female under five (Paralee ), 1 female age 30-40 (Judith), 1 female age 70-80, who was perhaps Judith's mother, Susannah Easley Francis.

According to Judith's Bible record, their son, Samuel, had died in 1825 while the family was still in Shelby County. Family legend states that her father, Joseph Francis went to Alabama with Ezekiel, Jr. and that he died in their home in Georgia or Alabama at the age of 104. No elderly people were living with the family in 1840 in Chambers County, Alabama. Joseph and Susannah's deaths would have taken place between 1830-1840 in Heard County, Georgia or Chambers County, Alabama. No cemetery records have revealed their burial places ....

The Move to Chambers County, Alabama

Chambers County was created by an Act of the Alabama Legislature on December 18, 1832 from the Creek Indian Cession executed March 24, 1832. The Treaty of Cusetta stipulated that the head of each Creek family would receive 320 acres of land and the chiefs 640 acres. Most of the land ended up in the hands of white land speculators who used many fraudulent methods of acquire the land.

Before 1835, Ezekiel's son, Woodson Henry, traveled west to Texas with a group of these dis-placed Creek Indians, lead by his future father-in-law, James Hutton ....

Next Stop Cherokee County, Texas

After the sales of their homesteads, the next records for the Henry clan are found in Cherokee County, Texas. On the trip west they undoubtedly stopped to visit their daughter, Caroline Nabors, in Montevallo and Ezekiel's brother, John's fmnily in Centerville, Bibb County, Alabama. John had died before their arrival, but his son, Judge William C. Henry joined his uncle and cousins for the trip to Texas. Ralph Harrington's grandmother told stories of the "terrible" journey by wagon and especially of the difficulty in fording the numerous rivers.

The Cherokee County Tax list for 1847 shows Joseph F. Henry living in the town of Rusk, the county seat. An unknown Thomas Henry is also listed. By 1848, in addition to Joseph, who owned a town lot in Rusk, are Ezekiel Henry with 450 acres, Patrick with 450, John P. with 300, Miller W. with 352 and Hugh L with 300 acres. In August of 1848, members of the family put up a bond and Joseph Francis Henry took the oath as Sheriff of the county.

"The State of Texas County of Cherokee. Know all men by these presents that we, Joseph F. Henry as principle and Ezekiel Henry, John P. Henry, Hugh Henry, James T. Bloomfield, John Kendrick, John Frazier as Securities are held and firmly bound unto George T. Wood, Governor of the State of Texas and his successors in office in the sum of Ten Thousand Dollars good and lawful money for the payment of which we ... bind ourselves and each of our heirs, Executors and administrators, Jointly and Severally firmly by these presents singed and sealed ... and dated this seventeenth day of August, A. D. 1848. " Joseph F. Henry as Sheriff of said county of Cherokee shall well and truly account for and pay over to the person authorized by law to receive the same all fines, forfeitures and penalties that he may collect for the use of the State of Texas or any county within the State and that he do well and truly execute and due return make all process and precepts to him lawfully directed and pay over all sums of money by him collected by virtue of any process or precept to the persons to whom the same are due or their lawful attorney and that he will faithfully perform all such duties as my be re-quired of him by law. Then the above obligation to be void and of no effect otherwise to be and remain in full force and virtue in Law. This the day and date above written. Ap-proved of by me Jas. Thomason, Chief Justice for said County. Signed by Jos. F. Henry, E. Henry, John P. Henry, Hugh Henry, James T. Bloomfield, John H Kendricks and John Frazier."

On January 1, 1849 Ezekiel purchased 2145 acres from John R. Taylor and John H. Irby for the sum of $2,000, being part of the headright of John R. Taylor located on the West side of Mud Creek about seven miles north of Rusk. This property is located near what is now Gallatin, Texas. Rusk at the time had a population of 355 people.

On December 21, 1849 Ezekiel purchased an additional piece of land about nine miles northeast of Rusk. He paid $50 the day of the sale with a promissory note at ten percent interest due for another $50 due on November 1, 1850. His sons, John Porter and Hugh L. Henry witnessed the deed. The 1849 tax list shows Ezekiel paying taxes on two pieces of property, one of 450 acres and another of 640 acres. Patrick still owned 450, John P. 268, Thomas, 200, Edwin, 200 and M. W. 477 acres. Joseph was still located in Rusk. On August 9, 1850 Ezekiel sold his son, John P. Henry, 450 acres of the John Taylor tract for $300. On August 10 he sold 652 acres to his son, Miller, for $600 and 300 acres each to son, Hugh L. Henry, and son-in-law, James Clark. Ezekiel signed these documents with his mark.

The 1850 the Cherokee County, Texas census shows Ezekiel as a farmer worth $2500. He was 65, born in Tennessee. Judith, age 53, was born in Virginia. Living at home with them were Patrick, age 25, born in Alabama worth $2,000, and Clinton Smith, age 16, born in Alabama. The tax list that year shows Ezekiel Henry owning 450 acres of the John R. Taylor Headright, nine slaves valued at $4500, and a team and wagon for a total value of $5950 and a tax of $4.46.

Between January 1, 1849 and January 10, 1863 Ezekiel Henry and his sons were involved in 104 Cherokee County land transactions.

By 1852 when he is counted on the Cherokee County tax list he had purchased 320 acres of the S. F. Stanley (?) Headright. He still owned nine slaves and a wagon and team. His value was $6500. His state tax was $9.50 and his county tax was $4.87 ~ . In 1853 he is assessed with 675 acres of the John Taylor Headright, nine slaves and a team and wagon. His value was $6350.

In July of 1852 Ezekiel and Judith made a settlement of property to their youngest son, Clinton.

The State of Texas }

County of Cherokee} Know all men by these presents that we Ezekiel Henry and Judith Henry his wife of the State and County aforesaid, being desirous to secure to our be-loved son Clinton Smith Henry (now about eighteen years of age) an equal and fair por-tion of our estate with our several other children to whom we have given proportionably and liberally thereto, for and in consideration of the Natural love and affection Which we have unto the said Clinton Smith Henry our said son do give grant alien release and confirm, and do hereby relinquish forever all our right and interest of and in and to the following described real and personal property, unto the said Clinton Smith Henry, and his heirs forever towit: Four hundred and fifty acres of land situated in said State and County, being a part of the lands Surveyed by virtue of John R. Taylor 1s headright and conveyed to the said Ezekiel Henry by the said John R. Taylor and John H. Irby on the first day of January A. D. Eighteen hundred and forty nine

... Also Pleasant a yellow boy slave about twenty years of age, Henry about eighteen, George about seventeen years of age, Frank about seventeen years of age, and Jim about thirteen years of age, the last said four boys are of dark complexion and slaves for Life, and also a certain sorrell mare called Syntha To have and to hold the said above named land (450 acres), Five Negro Boys and Sorrel mare unto the said (our son) Clinton Smith Henry and to his lawful heirs forever, to him the said Clinton Smith Henry's only proper use and behoof, henceforth and forever, Together with an equal portion with our other heirs of such of our other undivided and not otherwise appro-priated property as we may die possessed of securing to him above given & granted property in any event connected with the final division. Given under our hands and seals using scrawls for seals this the tenth day of July, One thousand eight hundred and fifty two

E. Henry (seal) Judith X Henry (her seal)

Signed sealed & delivered In presence of us the day And date above written W.C. Henry

Death and Estate of Ezekiel Henry, Jr.

According to family tradition a thypus epidemic caused by contaminated water was the cause of death of several members of the Henry family. On August 19, 1853 Ezekiel Henry died, followed four days later on August 23, his son, Joseph Francis. Doctor's charges for their care indicate that Judith Henry and a household servant were also ill ..

Ezekiel, Joseph and others were buried on family land that is now the Henry Cemetery, which is located on Highway 22 east of Gallatin, Cherokee County, Texas. The early graves are marked with iron ore rocks that have chipped and weathered over time. They are no longer marked with names, Funeral home markers have been added to the stones of Joseph, Ezekiel, and Judith's graves.

In September of 1854 Judith Henry petitioned the court for payment of personal funds owed to her by her husband's estate. She requested a payment of $400, which had been given to her by her father, Joseph Francis, when he sold a slave and horse. Ezekiel had used the money.

In the first petition of the probate of his estate, Ezekiel's sons Miller and Patrick stated that he died intestate and left property worth $4,000. They asked to be appointed administrators because their mother was unwilling to serve in that capacity. They posted a bond of $8,000.

Sources

1. ↑ Ezekiel Henry burial at billiongraves.com
2. ↑ Source: #S00010 Page: Database online. Data: Text: Record for Ezekiel Henry, Jr.
3. ↑ "Henry Family PDF". A collection of Henry Family data. Published by Orange Co., Calif. Genealogical Society
4. ↑ "TREE TALK" Volume 30, Issue 2, Winter, 2004-2005 Page 50.
5. ↑ Ezekiel Henry, Jr. Family: Son of Ezekiel Henry, Sr. or William Henry, Sr. Submitted by Judy Henry, "TREE TALK" Volume 30, Issue 2, Winter, 2004-2005 Page 50.