Person Page

     Martha Hanks was born on 26 May 1752.¹ She was the daughter of Luke Hanks I and Sarah.¹

     Nancy Hanks was born circa 1780 in Hardin County, Kentucky.^2,1 She was the daughter of Joseph Hanks and Nancy Ann "Nannie" Lee.¹ Sometime before 1799, Nancy had a relationship with Charles Friend which produced an out of wedlock son, Dennis Hanks.² Nancy Hanks married Levi Hall in 1802 in Green County, Kentucky.^3,2 Nancy Hanks died in 1829 in Spencer County, Indiana. Both Nancy and her husband Levi died of milk-sickness, the same diease that killed Nancy Hanks Lincoln as well as Elizabeth and Thomas Sparrow eleven years earlier. According to her son Dennis Hanks, she was buried beside "her sister Elizabeth Hanks Sparrow and with her first cousin Nancy Hanks Lincoln." I believe though that if Lucey Hanks was the sister of this Nancy, then Nancy Hanks Lincoln would have been this Nancy's niece, not first cousin.^4,2,5
     
Nancy was about four years older than her namesake niece, Nancy Hanks Lincoln, President Lincoln's mother, and the two were often confused in later family traditions, hence causing difficulties with later researchers, biographers, and genealogists.²

Levi was the brother of Nancy's brother William's wife Elizabeth. He was a tailor and had a "club foot." Levi, Nancy and family lived in Hardin, Grayson and Montana Counties, Kentucky until about 1809 when they moved to Green County, Kentucky. About 1825 they accompanied Nancy's brother William Hanks and his family to Spencer County, Indiana, where Nancy's natural son Dennis Hanks was living with the young Abraham Lincoln.^3,2

Nancy Hanks Hall and her husband Levi Hall had seven children together. They were William Hall and Squire Hall (c. 1805-1851). Squire married Matilda Johnston (b. 1809), step-sister of President Lincoln and younger daughter of Daniel Johnson and his wife Sarah Bush, who in 1818 became the second wife of Thomas Lincoln. In 1856 after Squire Hall died, Matilda married Reuben Moore. There was daughter Lydia Hall, d. 1858, Alfred G. Hall, and Joseph Hall (1814-186?) who chose his brother Squire Hall as his guardian in Coles County, Illinois court 29 September 1831. Squire Hall was also appointed guardian of Nancy and Levi's youngest children Mahala Hall (b. 1817) and Letitia Hall (b. 1819). These guardianships most likely occurred because Nancy and Levi died in about 1829 when Joseph, Mahala and Letitia were all under 15 years of age.²

     Dennis Friend Hanks was born on 15 May 1799 in Hardin County, Kentucky. Dennis was illegitimate and according to Verduin, Charles Friend was the natural father of Dennis.^1,2 He was the son of Nancy Hanks.¹ Dennis married Sarah Elizabeth Johnston on 9 June 1821 in Indiana. Sarah was the oldest daughter of Daniel Johnnston and his wife Sarah Bush Johnston, who in 1818 became the step-mother of Abraham Lincoln; therefore Sarah was a step-sister to Lincoln.^3,4 Dennis Friend Hanks died on 21 October 1892 in Paris, Edgar County, Illinois, at age 93 years, 5 months and 6 days. Dennis was interred in the old cemetery in Charleston, Coles County, Illinois.⁵
     
His step-father was Levi Hall who married his mother Nancy in 1802, about three years after Dennis was born. Dennis was a cousin, foster brother and step-brother to Abraham Lincoln. He was raised by his aunt and uncle, Elizabeth Hanks Sparrow and Thomas Sparrow. They moved to Spencer County, Indiana in 1818. Dennis lived with Abe Lincoln in the Thomas Lincoln household from 1818-1821. A farmer in Indiana, he accompanied Thomas Lincoln when he migrated to Macon County and Coles County, Illinois.^3,4

The children of Dennis and Sarah who survived childhood were: Sarah Jane Hanks (1822-1907); John Talbot Hanks (1823-1915) who settled in California and later Oregon; Nancy Hanks (1824-?); Harriet Hanks (1826-1915) who resided in the Abraham Lincoln household in Springfield, Illinois in 1844-46 while attending school. In 1847 she married Col. Augustus H. Champman of Coles County; Amanda Hanks (1833-?); Mary Hanks; Charles Hanks (1841-1870); and Theophilus Hanks (1849-?).⁴

In March 1830, Dennis moved to Charleston in Coles County, where he became a shoemaker and cobbler. He resided most of the rest of his life in Coles County.^3,4

     Sarah Elizabeth Johnston was born in 1807.¹ Sarah married Dennis Friend Hanks, son of Nancy Hanks, on 9 June 1821 in Indiana. Sarah was the oldest daughter of Daniel Johnnston and his wife Sarah Bush Johnston, who in 1818 became the step-mother of Abraham Lincoln; therefore Sarah was a step-sister to Lincoln.^1,2 Sarah Elizabeth Johnston died in 1864 in Illinois at age 57 years.²
     

The children of Dennis and Sarah who survived childhood were: Sarah Jane Hanks (1822-1907); John Talbot Hanks (1823-1915) who settled in California and later Oregon; Nancy Hanks (1824-?); Harriet Hanks (1826-1915) who resided in the Abraham Lincoln household in Springfield, Illinois in 1844-46 while attending school. In 1847 she married Col. Augustus H. Champman of Coles County; Amanda Hanks (1833-?); Mary Hanks; Charles Hanks (1841-1870); and Theophilus Hanks (1849-?).²

     Levi Hall married Nancy Hanks, daughter of Joseph Hanks and Nancy Ann "Nannie" Lee, in 1802 in Green County, Kentucky.^1,2 Levi Hall died in 1829. Levi along with his wife Nancy died of milk-sickness, the disease that eleven years earlier had killed Nancy Hanks Lincoln, Elizabeth and Thomas Sparrow. He left a will dated 17 January 1726, and was buried with his wife Nancy.^1,2
     

Levi was the brother of Nancy's brother William's wife Elizabeth. He was a tailor and had a "club foot." Levi, Nancy and family lived in Hardin, Grayson and Montana Counties, Kentucky until about 1809 when they moved to Green County, Kentucky. About 1825 they accompanied Nancy's brother William Hanks and his family to Spencer County, Indiana, where Nancy's natural son Dennis Hanks was living with the young Abraham Lincoln.^1,2

Nancy Hanks Hall and her husband Levi Hall had seven children together. They were William Hall and Squire Hall (c. 1805-1851). Squire married Matilda Johnston (b. 1809), step-sister of President Lincoln and younger daughter of Daniel Johnson and his wife Sarah Bush, who in 1818 became the second wife of Thomas Lincoln. In 1856 after Squire Hall died, Matilda married Reuben Moore. There was daughter Lydia Hall, d. 1858, Alfred G. Hall, and Joseph Hall (1814-186?) who chose his brother Squire Hall as his guardian in Coles County, Illinois court 29 September 1831. Squire Hall was also appointed guardian of Nancy and Levi's youngest children Mahala Hall (b. 1817) and Letitia Hall (b. 1819). These guardianships most likely occurred because Nancy and Levi died in about 1829 when Joseph, Mahala and Letitia were all under 15 years of age.²

     Margaret Name Unknown married James Stilson, son of Vincent Stilson and Grace.

     Bernjamin Fairchild was born on 21 March 1721 in Stratford, Connecticut.¹

     John Campbell was born circa 1760 in Virginia.²
     
According to information provided by Carolyn Whitaker, John Campbell was married to Ann, last name unknown, she was perhaps a Yowell or Chapman. John was the son of Elias Campbell and Elizabeth Yowell and they lived in Culpeper County, Virginnia, which later became Madison County, Virginia.

Whitaker believes that Elias' father was also named John Campbell, born in 1717 in Glasgow, Scotland. She thinks he came to Virginia in the 1730s and then went to Jamaica before going back to Virginia in 1756. Supposedly he married Mary Dandrige, the widow of John Spotswood who was a son of Governor Alexander Spotswood. Mary was a niece of Martha Dandridge Custis Washington, wife of George Washington.³ He left a will on 11 March 1793 at Culpeper County, Virginia. Carolyn Whitaker provided a copy of a Will for John Campbell of Madison County, Virginia, written and witnessed in March 1793. It also appears that the Will was proved and Letters of Administration were filed by Ann Campbell on this will 26 June 1794. See attached copy of Will and Court Order.⁴

     Henry Sparrow married Lucey Hanks, daughter of Joseph Hanks and Nancy Ann "Nannie" Lee, in 1791 in Mercer County, Kentucky.^2,3 Henry Sparrow died in 1841 in Kentucky.²
     
According to Verduin, Henry obtained a Revolutionary War pension.²

Henry Sparrow and Lucey Hanks had a number of children together, they all lived in Kentucky. The children were Polly Sparrow, Rev. James Sparrow, Betsy Sparrow, Peggy Sparrow, Thomas Sparrow, Rev. Henry Sparrow, George Sparrow, and Lucindy Sparrow.²