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10-12-2003, 04:17 PM
In 1750, Michael Tanner immigrated to America. Mr. Tanner was of good German stock, hard working, and well educated. In Amelia county,Virginia, he purchased land and built a plantation. He became prosperous and was well respected in his community.
Mr. Tanner fathered two sons, Daniel and Michael. Young Michael was soon to play a great part in the future United States of America. What? You never heard of Michael Tanner? Sit down, my friend. You are about to learn a TRUE piece of history.
As a young man, Michael had a girlfriend, of questionable morals, by the name of Lucy. Lucy became pregnant by Michael. Shame had fallen upon the Tanner family name.
Michael and Lucy never married, as Lucy would never have been accepted into the Tanner clan, as she was considered "common". You must remember that the people of earlier years had different standards than the people of today. Some might say "higher" standards.
Lucy, out of wedlock, gave birth to a beautiful daughter and named her Nancy. Nancy would never be accepted by either the Tanner family or society because she was illegitimate. This fact may have caused young Michael and brother Daniel, along with Lucy, daughter Nancy and two of Lucy's brothers, Richard and another un-named, to leave Virginia and move to what is now Gaston county, North Carolina.
Lucy eventually left Michael, married Henry Sparrow, and moved to Tennessee, leaving little Nancy with Daniel Tanner, her uncle, to raise. Lucy never married before or after her marriage to Henry Sparrow. Furthermore, Nancy was never adopted nor given her father's name. She went by her mother's maiden name until she married some years later.
Eventually, Daniel married and started a family. Nancy, the illegitimate one, was sent to live with her Uncle Richard in the Belmont, N.C. area. Richard, or "Dickie" as he was known, drank too much and worked too little. Dickie was also a regular in the county jail. Her mom, now gone, and her uncle imprisoned, Nancy was placed in a foster home. The home of Abraham Enloe, located in what is now Rutherford county, North Carolina.
Mr. Enloe was the son of a Scottish immigrant, one of three Enloe brothers who initially settled in the Maryland area. The Enloe brothers were highly educated, of above average intelligence, successful and community minded. These attributes were passed on to their offspring.
Abraham Enloe was a farmer and well respected in his community. He also served as a magistrate, deciding legal disputes, until his lapse in good judgement……..which I will now relate.
Nancy was about eleven years of age when taken in by Enloe and his wife. The Enloe's had other children, all of who helped with the household and farm chores. Nancy was taught how to weave, to earn her keep.
Not only had Nancy been a beautiful baby, she developed into a beautiful young lady. Mr. Enloe did not fail to notice. Nancy became pregnant by Mr. Enloe.
About this time, the Enloe's moved to what is now Bostic, N.C.
Here, in Bostic, Nancy went into labor and gave birth to a son. She named him after his father.
Mrs. Enloe was fit to be tied. She demanded that Mr. Enloe "get rid of that girl" and the little one. Nancy and son were sent to Kentucky to live with an Enloe daughter and son-in-law.
Now, it was not proper for a young lady to have a small baby and no husband to care for them, so Mr. Enloe, out of conscience, contracted with an acquaintance, by the name of Tom, to marry Nancy and give the mother and child a last name.
Did I fail to mention the last names of this couple? How careless of me. Nancy's last name was Hanks. Tom's last name was Lincoln.
All of the above commentary is based on historical legal documents and sworn affadavits obtained by Hon. J. H. Cathey and James Caswell Coggins, Ph. D.
Mr. Tanner fathered two sons, Daniel and Michael. Young Michael was soon to play a great part in the future United States of America. What? You never heard of Michael Tanner? Sit down, my friend. You are about to learn a TRUE piece of history.
As a young man, Michael had a girlfriend, of questionable morals, by the name of Lucy. Lucy became pregnant by Michael. Shame had fallen upon the Tanner family name.
Michael and Lucy never married, as Lucy would never have been accepted into the Tanner clan, as she was considered "common". You must remember that the people of earlier years had different standards than the people of today. Some might say "higher" standards.
Lucy, out of wedlock, gave birth to a beautiful daughter and named her Nancy. Nancy would never be accepted by either the Tanner family or society because she was illegitimate. This fact may have caused young Michael and brother Daniel, along with Lucy, daughter Nancy and two of Lucy's brothers, Richard and another un-named, to leave Virginia and move to what is now Gaston county, North Carolina.
Lucy eventually left Michael, married Henry Sparrow, and moved to Tennessee, leaving little Nancy with Daniel Tanner, her uncle, to raise. Lucy never married before or after her marriage to Henry Sparrow. Furthermore, Nancy was never adopted nor given her father's name. She went by her mother's maiden name until she married some years later.
Eventually, Daniel married and started a family. Nancy, the illegitimate one, was sent to live with her Uncle Richard in the Belmont, N.C. area. Richard, or "Dickie" as he was known, drank too much and worked too little. Dickie was also a regular in the county jail. Her mom, now gone, and her uncle imprisoned, Nancy was placed in a foster home. The home of Abraham Enloe, located in what is now Rutherford county, North Carolina.
Mr. Enloe was the son of a Scottish immigrant, one of three Enloe brothers who initially settled in the Maryland area. The Enloe brothers were highly educated, of above average intelligence, successful and community minded. These attributes were passed on to their offspring.
Abraham Enloe was a farmer and well respected in his community. He also served as a magistrate, deciding legal disputes, until his lapse in good judgement……..which I will now relate.
Nancy was about eleven years of age when taken in by Enloe and his wife. The Enloe's had other children, all of who helped with the household and farm chores. Nancy was taught how to weave, to earn her keep.
Not only had Nancy been a beautiful baby, she developed into a beautiful young lady. Mr. Enloe did not fail to notice. Nancy became pregnant by Mr. Enloe.
About this time, the Enloe's moved to what is now Bostic, N.C.
Here, in Bostic, Nancy went into labor and gave birth to a son. She named him after his father.
Mrs. Enloe was fit to be tied. She demanded that Mr. Enloe "get rid of that girl" and the little one. Nancy and son were sent to Kentucky to live with an Enloe daughter and son-in-law.
Now, it was not proper for a young lady to have a small baby and no husband to care for them, so Mr. Enloe, out of conscience, contracted with an acquaintance, by the name of Tom, to marry Nancy and give the mother and child a last name.
Did I fail to mention the last names of this couple? How careless of me. Nancy's last name was Hanks. Tom's last name was Lincoln.
All of the above commentary is based on historical legal documents and sworn affadavits obtained by Hon. J. H. Cathey and James Caswell Coggins, Ph. D.