Joseph Hanks was born 20 December 1725 in Farnham, Richmond County, Virginia, United States to John Hanks (1681-1740) and Catherine Williams (1695-1780) and died 14 May 1793 Woodlawn, Nelson County, Kentucky, United States of unspecified causes. He married Nancy Lee (1728-1808) 26 May 1756 in Bedford, Richmond County, Virginia, United States.
Biography
Joseph Hanks and his family were one of the many groups of Virginian's that followed legendary frontiersman Daniel Boone (1734-1820) in taking the Wilderness Road across the mountains to help settle Kentucky in the late 1780's. It is curious that Joseph and his wife undertook this journey in their later years with many of their children and siblings and in-laws.
Marriage & Family
Joseph Hanks is notable as a great-grandfather of future US President Abraham Lincoln
- Thomas Hanks (1759-1834) - served in the militia while in Hampshire County. When the family moved to Kentucky, he remained in Hampshire County until 1800 when he settled in Rose County, Ohio. He died about 1835.
- Joshua Hanks (1762-1835) - Joshua was born about 1762 and died about 1835.
- William Hanks (1764-1851) - was born about 1765 and died about 1851 or 1852. He was father to Abraham Lincoln's "rail splitter", John Hanks. He was married to the Elizabeth Hall, Levi Hall's sister. He moved Illinois in 1826-1827 and in 1830 was a neighbor to Abraham Lincoln in Macon County, Illinois.
- Lucy Hanks (1765-) - Her daughter, Nancy Hanks (1784-1818), was born out of wedlock, but became the mother of the future US President. Then gave birth to Sarah Hanks about 1787 and married Henry Sparrow in 1791. Sarah Hanks gave birth to 6 illegitimate children, the eldest, Sophia Hanks was born in 1809, lived with her aunt Elizabeth and uncle Thomas Sparrow, and after their death in 1818 lived with the Thomas Lincoln family. Lucy had eight children with Henry Sparrow.
- Mary Polly Hanks (1773-1821) - md Jesse Friend
- Elizabeth Hanks (1776-1818) - md Thomas Hanks, brother of her sister's husband. Childless herself, she raised Nancy Hanks (1784-1818) and also Dennis Friend Hanks (1799-1892), her sister Nancy's illegitimate son. Nicknamed Betsey, was baptized May 4, 1771. She married to Thomas Sparrow and raised Dennis and Nancy Hanks. Nancy was called Nancy Sparrow by her Hanks relatives.
- Nancy Hanks (1780-1829) - she had an illegitimate son that was raised by her sister, Elizabeth and then later lived with the family of Abe Lincoln.
- Joseph Hanks (1785-1852) - moved with the family in his youth, moved with his mother move to Virginia after the death of his father. He was raised by his older brother, either Joshua or Thomas, following his mother's death in 1794. In 1798 he moved to Kentucky and worked in an Elizabethtown carpentry shop where Thomas Lincoln also worked. He married Mary Young in 1810. He moved to Crawford County, Indiana in 1815 and to 10 years later moved to Sangamon County, Illinois.[
Children
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Thomas Hanks (1759-1834) | 1759 Virginia | 1833 Degraff, Logan County, Ohio | Elizabeth Ryan (1756-) |
| James Hanks (1760-1793) | |||
| Joshua Hanks (1762-1835) | |||
| William Hanks (1764-1851) | 1765 North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Virginia | 6 October 1851 Macon County, Illinois | Elizabeth Hall (1766-1844) |
| Lucy Hanks (1765-) | 1765 Richmond, Virginia | Kentucky | Unknown (c1780-) Henry Sparrow (1765-1840) |
| Mary Polly Hanks (1773-1821) | 1773 Richmond, Richmond County, Virginia | 1820 Kentucky | Jesse Friend (1773-1830) |
| Elizabeth Hanks (1776-1818) | 4 March 1771 North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Virginia | 1818 Spencer County, Indiana | Thomas Sparrow (1765-1817) |
| Nancy Hanks (1780-1829) | 5 February 1780 Amelia County, Virginia | 5 October 1829 Gentryville, Spencer County, Indiana | Unknown (c1780) Levi Hall (1785-1829) |
| Joseph Hanks (1785-1852) | 1782 Amelia County, Virginia | 24 January 1852 Quincy, Adams County, Illinois | Mary Young (1792-1872) |
Siblings
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Joseph Hanks (1725-1793) | 20 December 1725 Farnham, Richmond County, Virginia, United States | 14 May 1793 Woodlawn, Nelson County, Kentucky, United States | Nancy Lee (1728-1808) |
| John Hanks (1728-1810) | 4 May 1728 Farnham, Virginia, United States | 31 July 1810 Versailles, Kentucky, United States | Susannah Ann Dale (1748-1766) |
Famous Descendants
- Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)
- Tom Hanks - Famous Hollywood Actor! - Direct Descendant thru sibling, John Hanks Jr (1728-1810)
References
- Family of Joseph Hanks - Wikipedia