John Soltestoner Hemry Sr. (bef. 1761 - 1827)

Born before 1 Feb 1761 in Christian Malford, Wiltshire, England [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Catherine (Hopkins) Hemry — married 1775 in Virginia

Descendants

Died 5 Aug 1827 after age 66 in North Township, Harrison, Ohio, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Chet Snow [send private message] and Ida Houston [send private message]

Biography

Mountain Roots Family Tree says:^[1]

•ID: I57894
•Name: John, Sr. Hemry
•Surname: Hemry
•Given Name: John, Sr.
•Sex: M
•Birth: ABT 1755 in unk
•Death: 5 Aug 1827 in Harrison Co., Ohio

Note: 'Nearly all of the Hemry information, excluding Eleanor Hemry's data, has been obtained from: Larry H. Hemry's book, Hemry Family History Book. Ye Gallion Press, Fairfield, Press. To obtain his book, write to PO Box 532, Sumas, Washington, 98295-0532."

"Permission to use his data has been graciously received from the Mr. L.H.Hemry. I strongly urge anyone interested in this genealogy to purchase his book which is filled with family stories, anecdotes, history, pictures etc. & is exceedingly interesting & well written!"

"Many of the family trees have been graciously obtained from many other genealogy sources including Bill Capper, Phillip Norris, Tyrone Hemry,Floyd Chio, Robert Soule & Candace Gravelle among the many to numerous tolist. There sources have been included in my [BAC] notes."

"Richard Dew, Columbus, OH has supplied very graciously all the Dew family information & given me permission to use it."

"John Sr., who is my (DJS) 5th Great grandfather, place of birth is unknown but Larry H. Hemry feels that English roots should be most correct either as a native of that land or an immigrant. Abraham Hemry, a grandson, before he died, stated that: ...he came from England... Isaac Hemry's g-grandtgr also stated that Isaac came from England; but all 5 of his sons were born in Virginia. The names in the first 3 generations are English tradition Names.

"John Sr. may have came over as an indentured servant, a common way of travel for the poor in those days. His wife's birthplace & last name are not known. There is good evidence that John, Sr. was in Loudon Co., VA from prior to 1793 until his move to Ohio in 1803. He was a farmer. He did not fight in the Revolutionary War according to Larry Hemry who has searched the Nat'l. archives with 9 differant spellings. The family can be found in the area of Fairfax in Hampshire Co., VA. the Cappers who married Hemrys are from this area. Sally Kail who married George Hemry was from the Hampshire Co., VA area. Leesburg is the county seat of Loudon Co., VA. The very first reference to John Hemry, Sr., is in 1813 on the Ohio's voters registration list."

"The date of his death is not definitely known but is probably August, 1827 & below is his will. Candace Gravelle sent this to me which she obtained from Larry H. Hemry's book."

"John Hemry's Will was probated on September 3, 1827 in Harrison County, Ohio"

The Last Will and Testament of John Hemry, Senior. In the name of God Amen, I, John Hemry, of North township, Harrison County and State of Ohio, being sick and weak in body but of sound mimd, memory and understanding, praise be God for it, and considering the certainty of death and the uncertaintly of the time thefrof and to the end I may be the beter prepared to leave this world whenever it shall please God to call me hence, do therefore make and declare this my last Will and Testament in manner following, that is to say, First and principally I commend my soul into the hands of Almighty God my creator, hoping for free pardon and remission of all my sins and to enjoy everlasting happiness in the Heavenly Kingdom through Jesus Christ My Savioir, my body I commit to this earth at the discretion of my executors herein after named, and give all my ??? lands , tenements ??..........

I give and bequeath unto my loving wife Cathorin one third parts of all my goods and chattels, all the grain that is come to perfection and one half of what is growing at my death. The farm is to be rented and my wife shall have one third parts of the rent, my said wife is to hold the house and garden. My will is that the remaining two thirds of the rent of the farm is to be paid to my son John Hemry to the amount of eighty dollars, after the said sum of eighty dollars is to be paid to my said John, the rents shall be equally divided amongst all my children, one equal part to my son Henry, Isaac, George, Abraham, John, Daughters, Elizabeth , Magdalin, Mary, Sarah and Anne, my estate I give and bequeath to and among my children to be equally divided, and I make and ordain Henry Hemry and Isaac Hemry Execitors of this my last Will and Testament. John Hemry. Signed, sealed and aknowledged in the presence of: Mahlon Stewart and John Hagey.

Two probate court entries were made regarding the settlement of the John Hemry estate, one during the March Term of the Court 1829 ordrring the executors to sell John Hemry's property for the value agreed upon by the appraisors appointed by the Court; Mahlon Stewart, David Capper, Henry Ford, with the provision that the rights of dower of the widow be taken into consideration.
The second entry was during the July Term 1829, a report of the executors that the sale had been made in accordance with the provisions of the Probate Court, to John Hemry for the sum of $133.50.

A Deed was referred to which is found in Harrison County, Ohio Deed Book D page 542, which notes in part that "there [was] not personal property belonging to the estate of the deceased sufficient to pay all the demands against said Estate..." It was therefore decided that the property owned by John Hemry Sr. would have to be sold to satisfy the obligations against the estate. The forty acre tract of land was appraised by Mahlon Stewart, David Capper and Henry Ford...after setting aside a portion of the land as by right of dower belonging to Catherine Hemry, the widow, the forty acres was sold to John Hemry Jr., "subject to the said right of Dower of the said Catherine" for $133.50 and recorded on August 5, 1829.

How long Catherine lived is not known & she may have remarried in 1829. The place of burial of John or Catherine is not known. Larry Hemry feels they may have been interred on a farm in North Township, Harrison, Ohio, and a wooden cross marked the spot, which is now gone. The 5 sisters' genealogy record is probably lost except what has been recorded.

He is included in the History Collection of Harrison Co., OH, page 423, per Saundra Gibb. Note: slgibb[AT]deseretonline.com

According to the Family Search/ International Genealogical Index v5.0 North America, Family Group Record:

Husband, John Hemry

Birth: About 1755, in Harrison, Ohio

Marriage: About 1775 <, , Virginia>

Death: AUG 1827

Wife, Catherine UNK

Birth: About 1755 <, , Virginia>

Marriage: About 1775 <, , Virginia>

7 Children [sic = List is incomplete, see below for all 10 children]:

1. Anne Hemry Female Birth: About 1782 , , Virginia
2. Mary Hemry Female Birth: About 1784 , , Virginia
3. Elizabeth Hemry Female Birth: About 1786 , , Virginia
4. Sarah Hemry Female Birth: About 1789 , , Virginia
5. George Hemry Male Birth: 28 NOV 1790 , Loudoun, Virginia; Death: 12 NOV 1850
6. Magdalen Hemry Female Birth: 1790 , , Virginia
7. John Hemry, Jr Male Birth: 02 MAR 1798 , Loudoun, Virginia; Death: 30 MAR 1879

According to his FamilySearch profile, John S. Hemry, Sr., was born about 1755, the son of Jacob & "Betty" Hemry. He was christened on 1 February 1761 in the Church of England at Christian Malford, Wiltshire, England.^[2] He emigrated to Virginia as a young man and married Catherine Hopkins in Virginia (no documents found) about 1775. The couple had 10 children (5 sons & 5 daughters) between 1776 and 1799. ^[3] Their 10 children were:

1. Elizabeth Hemry [Dewalt], 1776-1830; b: VA; d: OH
2. Mary Hemry, 1784-1784; b & d: Virginia
3. Sarah Hemry [Fippans], b: 1789, Virginia; d: Ohio
4. Henry Hemry, b: 1780: Hampshire VA; d: 1838 Ohio
5. Isaac Hemry b: 20 Jul 1784; Hampshire VA; d: 1868 OH
6. Magdalen Hemry [Morris] b: 1789-90, Virginia; d: Ohio
7. George Hemry, 28 Nov 1790: Loudoun, VA; d: 1850: MO
8. Abraham Hemry, 12 Jun 1792: Loudoun VA; d: 1867: IN
9. John , Jr. Hemry, 2 Mar 1798: Loudoun VA; d: 1879: OH
10. Anna Hemry [Richardson], 1799: Loudoun VA; d: 1886: Kansas

From Sharon Davis: Larry Hemry's book does not address the female descendants at all, and after extensive research I came to believe my Elizabeth "Emery" was John Hemry's daughter; autosomal DNA of both my brother and I support this. I believe Elizabeth was John's first born child as she was born bef 1775 AND she's the first named dau in John Hemry's will (usually children are listed by age either regardless of sex, or first sons then daus listed). I contacted Larry Hemry (prior to DNA revelations) and documented all my rationale; unfortunately he could add nothing. In reference to the above listing of 10 children, I support this sequence as correct EXCEPT that Anne Hemry was the last born, ca. 1799, and she is also the last named daughter in her father's will.

Research Notes:

• The following 2 items were posted on a Harrison County, Ohio, web site: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ohharris/cch1/query021.htm#2744

1). Posted by Bonnie Stinchcomb on Wednesday, August 26, 1998:

I am looking for info on the CAPPER and HEMRY families of Harrison CTY OH. Isaac HEMRY (1787-1868) married Delilah CAPPER (1792-1827.) Their daughter, Mary Hemry was born in Harrison Cty in 1814 and Delilah died there. Isaac also married Nancy MCCOLLOUGH in Harrison Cty. Any info on these families is appreciated!

2). Posted by Bonnie Stinchcomb on Wednesday, November 4, 1998:

I am looking for info on the HEMRY family of Harrison County, OH. John Hemry was born 1755, possibly in England married Catherine [Unknown] in VA. and died 8/1827 in Harrison Cty OH. One of his sons, Isaac Hemry grew up in the Harrison Cty area and Isaac's daughter, Mary Hemry, was born and raised there also. Many thanks!

• Prof. CA Bonine, whose mother descended from John Hemry Sr., wrote:

"The name [Hemry] was originally D'Hémery and it was French. Cora Hemry [Meacham], my mother's sister, went to French Canada [in 1930-40s] and found a photo of a 'Joseph d'Hemery' that she gave to her brother Ulysses S. Grant Hemry, saying, 'he is our ancestor'. The photo caption said: 'Joseph d'Hémery, Inspecteur de la Librarie, 1722-1806. Humain, doux, genereux aux malheuruex, inflexible. Son ame fut toujours a l'amitie sensible.' [trans: Joseph d'Hémery, Inspector of Books, 1722-1806. Humane, gentle, generous to the misfortunate, unbendable. His soul was always amenable to friendship.'] This man could have been the grand-father of Abraham Hemry." From Prof. CA Bonine's unpublished family genealogy notes; in possession of his and also a Hemry descendant, Chet Bonine Snow, as of November 2014.

NOTE 1: [Spelling corrected: d'Hemry to d'Hémery]. A brief article on Joseph d'Hémery, 1722-1806, exists in Wikipedia; apparently he was from metropolitan France and an important undercover police officer under Louis XV. See: Joseph d'Hémery article on Wikipedia.fr. This article has a footnote leading to another on French noble families, there one finds that the d'Hémery family was considered as a noble family from 1407 and was first noted in the Poitou and Brittany regions of France. See: Familles subsistantes de la noblesse francaise article (in French) on Wikipedia.fr . Note added by Chet Bonine Snow, November 13, 2014.

NOTE 2: Looking at the French name "Hémery" has led to other "contenders" for the American Hemry family pedigree. The American Hemry family were certainly Protestant, not Roman Catholic. Unless they simply switched religions when emigrating from France (possible but unlikely for the nobility), it is more likely they were Huguenots or French Protestants, and therefore persecuted after the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685. The (de) Bonine family were French Huguenots also. My (de) Bonine ancestors left France about 1685 for England, which was Protestant, from which they emigrated to America around 1725.

I recently found an important French Huguenot [Protestant] family named "Hémery" (the noble particle "d'" was dropped) living on the isle of Jersey (Channel Islands) from about 1690, having fled persecution in their native Normandy. They were merchants and ship owners (6 vessels in 1792) and specialized in trans-Channel trade with France and trans-Atlantic trade with Canada. See: http://jerseyfamilyhistory.co.uk/?page_id=111 and: http://jerseyfamilyhistory.co.uk/?page_id=114 . Their family or relatives seem more-likely candidates for our Hemry ancestors than very-Roman-Catholic 18th Century Parisian nobility. Added by Chet Bonine Snow, Nov. 13, 2014.

Sources

1. ↑ Mountain Roots Family Genealogy - John, Sr. Hemry
2. ↑ "England, Wiltshire, Church Records, 1518-1990", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6DSY-B91N : 24 February 2022), John Hemry, 1761.
3. ↑ Details for John Soltestoner Hemry, Sr., on FamilySearch; cites 8 sources

See also:

• Mountain Roots family genealogy on RootsWeb: John, Sr., Hemry; cites "Hemry Family History Book."

• http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ohharris/cch1/query021.htm#2744

• "Ohio Tax Records, 1800-1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J93Q-P36 : 3 May 2021), John Hemry, 1821; citing multiple county courthouse offices, Hanover, Harrison, Ohio, United States, p. , Tax records indexed by Ohio Genealogy Society; FHL microfilm 004021630.

• "Ohio Probate Records, 1789-1996," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89M2-XLZM?cc=1992421&wc=S24Z-923%3A266279001%2C266394601 : 1 July 2014), Harrison > Wills 1813-1878 vol A-C > image 118 of 883; county courthouses, Ohio.

• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/247761495/john-soltestoner-hemry: accessed 15 July 2023), memorial page for John Soltestoner Hemry (1 Feb 1761–8 Aug 1827), Find A Grave: Memorial #247761495; Burial Details Unknown; Maintained by Tyrone (contributor 46809552).