New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-10

of as clear and clean lineage as her husband?
There had been nothing whatever until. few
years ago. through the efforts OF Mrs caroline
Hanks Hitchcock. OF Cambridge. Mass, who had
IN preparation the genealogy OF the Hanks fam
fly in America, little volume was published
showing what she had established in regard to
Nancy Hanks. Mrs. Hitchcock had begun at
the far end of the line-the arrival of one Ben
jamin Hanks In Massachusetts in 1899.
She discovered that one of his sons, William
moved to Virginia, and that in the latter part
Of the eighteenth century his children formed
in Amelia County of that state a large settle
mcnt. All the records OF these families she
found In the Hall of Records in Richmond
When the migration into Kentucky began late
In the century. 1t was Joined by many members
Of tho Hanks settlement in Amelia County
Among others TO go was Joseph Hanks, with his
wife. Nancy Shpley Hanks. and their children
Mrs. Hitchcock traced this Joseph Hanks, by
means of land records, to Nelson County, KY
where she found that he died in 1893. leav-
ing behind will, which she discovered In the
records Of BardstoWn Ky This viii shows
that at the time of his death Joseph Hanks
had eight living children, TO whom he be-
Queathed property. The youngest OF these was
my daughter Nancy the viii puts Il.
Mrs Hitchcocks first query, on reading this
will. was: Can it be that this little grl-she
was but nine years old when her father died
IS the Nancy Hanks who sixteen years later be-
came the mother of Abraham Lincoln" She
determined TO ind out. She learned from rela-
tives and friends of the family of Joseph Hanks
still living that, after her fathers death,
Nancy went TO live with uncle. Richard
Berry, who, the records showed had come from
Virginia 10 Kentucky at the same time that
Joseph Hanks came. A little further research,
and Mrs. Hitchcock found that there had been
brought to light through the efforts Of friends
Of Abraham Lincoln all the documents to show
that in 1906 Nancy Hanks and Thomas Lincoln
were married at Beechland. Ky. Now, one Of
these documents was a marriage bond. II was
signed by Richard Berry the uncle Of the little
girl recognized in the Will or Joseph Hanks
Here. then. was the chain complete. The mar
riase bond and marriage returns not only
showed that Nancy Hanks and Thomas Lincoln
were married regularly three years before the
birth of Abraham Lincoln. thus setting forever
at rest the story of Lincoln's illegitinacy, but
one named in the will The suspicion In regard
10 the origin of Lincoln's mother was removed
by this discovery OF the will, for the recognition
Of any one as his child by a man In his will Is
considered by the law as sufficient proof OF pa
ternity.
Now. what sort Of people were Thomas Lin
coin and Nancy Hanks Ii has been inferred
by those who have made no investigation of
Thomas Lincoln's life that Nancy Hanks made
a very poor choice OF husband. Tho facts do
not entirely warrant this theory. Thomas Lin
coin had been forced from his boyhood 20 shift
for himself IN a young and undeveloped coun-
try He IS known to have been who IN
spite OF this wandering life contracted no bad
habits. He was temperate and honest. and his
name is recorded in more than one place in the
records Of Kentucky. He a churchgoer
and. II tradition may be believed stout de-
fender Of his peculiar religious views He held
advanced ideas OF what already an i'm
portant public question in Kentucky. the right
10 hold Negroes as slaves. One OF his old friends
has said OF him and his wife. Nancy Hanks
that they were Just stepped full OF notions
about the wrongs OF slavery ana the rights OF
men. explained by Thomas Jefferson and
Thomas Paine" These facts show that he must
have been man Of some natural intelligence.
lie had n trade and owned a farm.
That the two people who endured It's hard
ships and made in spite OF them home where
a boy could conceive and nourish such ideals
and enthusiasus as inspired Abraham Lincoln
from his early years should have their names
darkened by unfounded suspicious Is a cruel in
rio "a,
out the noble project of making n national park
OF the Kentucky farm where Thomas Lincoln
and Nancy Hanks made their first home the di-
rectors do nothing more than TO set forth the
facts OF the parentage Of Abraham Lincoln they
will Justify their undertaking.