The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-22
THE STORY OF NANCY HANKS
PEDIGRkE OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN'S
MOTHER DEFTSITELf TRACED.

Documents Showing the MiErntions of the
Hanks Family, the Marriage of Nancy's
Parents aud Her Own Marriage to Thorn
ms Lincoln Found by Mrs. Hitchcock.
From n, Louttriu, Er.nino Post.
A life is about to DC published OF Mrs. Nancy
Hanks Lincoln. the mother OF Abraham Lin-
coin. from the pen OF Mrs Caroline Hitchcock.
Many OF the false stories CO Mrs. Lincolns
early life are entirely disposed OF therein.
1t Is true that the ISLANDERS against Nanoy
Hanks had never been accepted by authentic
history. 1t is true that the fasity Of the evil
dence on which they were based had over and
over again been conclusively proved. Never
theess Mrs. Hitchcock comes forward with
irrefragible. positive evidence to supplement
the negative evidence on which Lincoin's sup
porters have been com pc led to base their chief
reliance In tho past
This girl was born February 5. 1884. Bhe
was named for her mother. although the
quaint. old fashioned name Nancy is a favorite
one in the Hanks family throughout England
and America" In 1889. when she was Ave
years old. her parents decide to find a new
home in the then distant lands OF Kentucky.
They did not GO alone. With them went their
relatives. the shipeys. and neighbors. tho
Berrys. the Sparrows and Joseph Hankss
brother Abraham. with his family. An exam.
nation BY Mrs Hitchcock in the real estate
records Of Amelia county shows that all thess
families simultaneously DISPOSED OF their Vir-
gina property. 1t would seom that mono OF
them had prospe cred there.
The great migration In which these families
took part had begun whom Daniel Boone and
james Hariod. III IVA and l71J. succeeded in
establishing stations at the pui nts now known
IA HarrodsburG and Boonesborough. and had
increase ! ut such a rate that in 1854 when
nh n iIipha to
lucky tho population Of the new country was
estimated At 10000.
The farm uron which Joseph Hanks tho
father OF Nancy Hanks. and his family settled
in Kentucky consised Of fifteen acres in what
is now Eliza hethtown. Their friends and rela-
ttyes. tho Srarr"ws. the Berrys and the
Mitcheli-: formed u settlement a few miles
away. 10 Beachanh, near the present town OF
SPRINGFIELD; in washig,Eton county.
new nr@rarty. His viii. -dated Jan. 9. i7HHI.
and prr1Ihatsi May u. 1893, is reproduce by
Nancy IL therein beuu"nthrd one heller year
hing. called peluy," and comes in FOR her cq"al
aa sf" Z" ns s, Msr Of loo Do
10 left or life. This Will settles the quest on OF
Nance Hnnks's parentag", 1t shows that She
Kentucky pioneer. who rerntn bered her in his
WI, on basis oil equality with ali her brothers
After Joseph Hanks's death his elder chii-
drcn married and scattered Nancy. who wes
on he family homestead until the death q i her
mot her, a lew years later. made her douhly an
orphan; Ihen shr wa. taken into the house;
h Berr, or ss srI ssr Mrs Richard
ri Among the visitors at the Berry house was
Nancy. His lnrner. Abraham, had married tho
eldest OF the Shil!ey 81 + rrlor to. the migra-
tom from virginia: Abraham had been a
weH-to;co farmer. In IiS no had been killed
by the Indians. and accord ng to the laws OF
prmogeniture which then goverasd intcstates
IN kentucEy. nearlyo his prcperty hal gone
to tue eldest, son. M"riscai. Thomas. as tho
youngest. had received nothing.
lie han been brought UP under the care first
OF one relative, then OF smother. and had finally
settled in Eiznbeth to learn tho trade OF cnr-
renter from. his cousin, Joseph Hanks. 'hs
SIX years older than Nancy. The Acquaintance
between hem rpenGd INTO love; In 1906 they
were married Mrs. Hitchcock gives fac simiIs
tho min tiers return OF the marriage
According to the customs OF the time, tho
marriage bond was entered before the cere-
June T., lSbG, as the fac slmI- Of the original
psge shows. Two dnys later the MARRIAGE
sf sHr7y wa the ESh
preacher 81 Washington county. kentucky. A.
rcIulred ~ the law OF the Time. Jesse Head
coin and Nancy Hanks. and 30 gave to the
rev couple marriage cert hcatc;
- hose documents prove, c6ncusvely that
A HsFc Hank1 and Thomas Lincoln were. mar.
Abraham Lincoln, Thus. they set at rest 'or-
ever the story of l.lnrolu's leGitimncy They
:" torn part OF the chain Of evidence that
herself The marriage bond is signed BY
Richard Berry. II II known from outside
evidence that, as already recorded. Joseph
Went 70 live with her uncle. Richard Berry.
Therefore. the Nancy Hanks NJ the marriage
Gertircstr. and the Nancy Hanks m"ntionediG
IAdn 4 : md no.