Was Abraham Lincoln born in western North Carolina? - Carolina Country
February 2003

Was Abraham Lincoln born in western North Carolina?

By Charles Joyner

Was Abraham Lincoln born in western North Carolina?

In 1899, less than 35 years after Lincoln's assassination, James H. Cathey of Sylva wrote and published the third edition of a book, entitled "The Genesis of Lincoln," in which he endeavors to prove "an interesting fact in the story of America's most remarkable man."

Quoting interviews and letters from widely scattered sources, Cathey makes a case that Lincoln's mother, Nancy Hanks, became pregnant as a servant girl in the home of Abraham Enloe, located on Ocona Lufta, about 14 miles from Bryson City in what is now Swain County.

Was Abraham Lincoln from NC?

James Cathey’s book includes these photographs on facing pages. Lincoln’s alleged half-brother, Wesley Enloe, was 81 in the photo on the left. His figure bears a striking resemblance to Lincoln, shown when he was President. The photos are from the fourth edition of James Cathey’s book, “The Genesis of Lincoln,” published in 1939 by B.H. Cathey, Canton, N.C. They are reproduced here courtesy of William Enloe, of Edneyville.

Abraham Enloe fathered nine sons and seven daughters by his wife (a former Miss Egerton). The ninth and only surviving son in 1899 was Wesley M. Enloe. Wesley was 88 years old when he was interviewed by Cathey at the Enloe home — the same house on the same farm where his father and mother lived when Nancy Hanks was banished from the household and sent to Kentucky.

Wesley Enloe said in 1899: "I was born after the incident between father and Nancy Hanks. I have, however, a vivid recollection of hearing the name Nancy Hanks frequently mentioned when I was a boy. No, I never heard my father mention it; he was always silent on the subject so far as I know.. . . I have no doubt that the cause of my father's sending her to Kentucky is the one generally alleged."

Cathey interviewed Joseph A. Collins, then 56 and living in Clyde in Haywood County. Collins said he met a Judge Gilmore in 1867, who said he knew Nancy Hanks before she was married, and that she then had a child she called Abraham. "While the child was yet small," Collins quoted Judge Gilmore, "she married a man by the name of Lincoln, after which the boy was known as Abraham Lincoln."

"Years ago," Collins quoted Judge Gilmore, "on Turkey Creek in Buncombe County, N.C., I met an old gentleman whose name was Phillis Wells. Wells said he was then 90 years old. When he was a young man he traveled over the country selling tinware and buying furs, feathers and ginseng. On one occasion he called on Abraham Enloe to stay overnight, as was his custom."

Enloe went with Wells to the barn to put up the peddler's horse, Judge Gilmore said. While there, Enloe told Wells: "My wife is mad; about to tear up the place; she has not spoken to me in two weeks, and I wanted to tell you about it before you went in the house."

Wells asked, "What is the matter?" And Abraham Enloe replied, "The trouble is about Nancy Hanks, a hired girl we have living with us."

"Later a child was born to Nancy Hanks and she named him Abraham."

As Cathey reports it, Wells said he returned to the Enloe place some time later and by that time Abraham Enloe had sent Nancy Hanks to Jonathan's Creek and hired a family there to take care of her, and that later a child was born to Nancy Hanks and she named him Abraham.

An Asheville lawyer named Col. Davidson, who married into the Enloe family, and who settled Abraham Enloe's estate, related that shortly after the Civil War a man came to his office and introduced himself as a son of Nancy Enloe Thompson. The Thompson man stated that he was a Democrat and had been an Indian agent during Lincoln's administration.

"I asked," Col. Davidson said, "why Lincoln, who was a Republican, appointed a Democrat an Indian agent. Thompson replied that the President was under some great obligation to his [Thompson's] mother, and had expressed a desire to aid her in some substantial way. 'This is the way I got my appointment,' he told me."

Capt. James W. Terrell (born in Rutherford County in December 1829) recalled a conversation with a Dr. Egerton of Hendersonville, a relative of Mrs. Abraham Enloe. Dr. Egerton told him, Terrell said, that in the fall of 1860, just before the Presidential election, he had a guest in his home, a Mr. Davis, also a Rutherford County native, who had moved to Illinois in the early 1850s and had become "intimately acquainted with Abraham Lincoln."

"In a private and confidential talk," Davis is quoted as saying, Lincoln told him he was of Southern extraction, that his right name was, or ought to have been, Enloe, but that he had always gone by the name of his stepfather.

After reading Cathey's book, I picked up the Hendersonville phone book and called the first three Enloes listed. "The story is common knowledge in the family," Bryce Enloe of Edneyville told me. "I come from the same set of Enloes."

"I heard it from my grandparents," said Keith Enloe of Laurel Park. "It has been passed down from generation to generation."

"Abraham Enloe was my great-great grandfather," said Robert Enloe of Big Willow community. "I've heard the story all my life. I know it is true."

Was Abraham Lincoln the son of a western North Carolina farmer? You be the judge.

About the Author

Charles Joyner is a Carolina Country correspondent living in Hendersonville.

Comments (116)

  • I just recently read this article. Yes, the story is very true. My grandmother was born and raised in the park and she knew all about Lincoln's birth. She said that's why he fought to free the slaves so hard because his Mom had been a servent. There is one small difference in what you have written. When Nancy got pregnant they found her a husband and she went with him to Kentucky. At least that is how the story was told in the mountains here. My grandmothers Parents lived a couple of miles from the Enloes.

    I enjoyed your article.

    Kim

    Kim Shuler |
    September 06, 2017 |
    reply

    • That’s what was passed down through my family too.

      Robbins Bobbitt |
      November 27, 2020 |
      reply

    • Abraham Enloe is my fourth great grandparent, my grandmother was an Enloe, and I’ve heard this is true from my family

      Robert Purkey |
      April 02, 2022 |
      reply

  • My grandpa, James Parris grew up on a mountain in the Smokies near Bryson City. He tells this story to be true as well, and he says that everyone spoke about it and knew that this story was true. He says his dad and all the old folk down there talked about it all the time.

    Laura VonKampen |
    December 27, 2017 |
    reply

    • That's where I learned the story Laura. Near Bryson City.. I'm into genealogy so I did extensive research and found the story to be TRUE! Tom Lincoln was an abusive step-father and that is why "Ole Honest Abe" turned out the way he did. It is a sad story of a needless and cruel War that took the life of many both North and South..

      Bob Dean |
      October 20, 2020 |
      reply

      • Check out www.MyNameIsNacy.com I think you would find it interesting.

        Deborah Keller |
        October 21, 2020 |
        reply

      • www.MyNameIsNancy.com
        It is on kindle,Amazon, and Nook.

        Deborah Keller |
        October 21, 2020 |
        reply

      • I own the property on cherry mountain were his mother lived with two women when she was pregnant with him.

        Leslie |
        August 21, 2021 |
        reply

  • Some of this material was the basis for my twice-produced play THE BALLAD OF NANCY HANKS.

    Ludy Wilkie |
    July 18, 2018 |
    reply

  • I wrote "My Name Is Nancy" that deals with this subject. www.MyNameIsNancy.com

    Deborah Keller |
    September 27, 2018 |
    reply

    • Deborah helped with the play and said it inspired her book. I was honored by that.

      Ludy Marvin Wilkie |
      July 01, 2019 |
      reply

  • My grandfather is a Enloe and the story is still the same. And still learning about the family

    Shana |
    July 01, 2019 |
    reply

    • We’re probably distant cousins.

      Robbins Bobbitt |
      November 27, 2020 |
      reply

  • My maiden name is Enlow (with "w" instead of "e"), and I've heard this story from some of my family members. Don't know if it's true, but I'll proudly claim it! I can't think of a better person to have in one's family tree!

    Cheryl Enlow Beckwith |
    August 22, 2019 |
    reply

    • Hi Cheryl, I believe we are cousins. My dad was Joe Enloe, great grandson of Enoch Enloe. As you can see, my last name ends with an e, not a w. I have been doing my ancestry, and I know that I come from the same Enloes referred to in this article. So, with that said I believe we are related. I live in California, and have for my entire life. I would love to connect with any of my family members. In fact I have recently been acquainted with a cousin I never knew existed, which was awesome. I’d love to hear from you if you find the time.

      Sandra Enloe-Burger |
      January 01, 2020 |
      reply

      • Hello Sandra,
        Im also a great grandson of Enoch Enloe. Just wondering why you ended up in California. My father is L.A. Enloe which came from NC when he young to Texas. He had a sister that moved to California named Ruth. Just wondering if she is related to you.

        Leon Enloe |
        August 26, 2021 |
        reply

  • My 3rd great grandmother was Christiana Enloe Vernor. She was the sister of Abraham Enloe. Would like to connect with Enloe cousins. goodekenny@gmail.com

    Kenny Goode |
    August 25, 2019 |
    reply

    • Hi Kenny, I believe we are cousins and would love to connect with you. You have my email address so if you’re interested, feel free to send me an email. I’d love to hear from you. As you can see, I also reached out to Cheryl Enlow Beckwith. I believe she is a cousin also.

      Sandra Enloe-Burger |
      January 01, 2020 |
      reply

      • Hello! I am glad to know you. I live in Mississippi. Happy New Year!

        Kenny Goode |
        January 01, 2020 |
        reply

  • Very compelling. I recently visited the Bostic Lincoln Center in North Carolina and there learned of the Enloe connection.
    While there another visitor came in and explained that she is an Enloe and DNA connected her to Lincoln. She also shared photographs of a relative that had striking characteristics to the president.
    Miss Becky the museum hostess took information from this person.

    Pat |
    November 30, 2019 |
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  • I grew up with my great grandmother telling me we were kin to Abraham Lincoln...well as most take "old folk" talk as just talk...

    In 11th grade connected to a half sister from my dad that I never lnew about. She and I became fairly close...considering she was 8 yrs older and we didn't grow up together.

    She came to me one day and said she did an ancestry genealogy and that we are kin to Abraham Lincoln through his half brother Wesley Enloe. So believe the "old folk" tales guys....if you're lucky enough to hear it!!

    Jessica Stoyle |
    January 28, 2020 |
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  • I’ve grown up knowing we are related to Lincoln. I was told there was a time the family wouldn’t talk about the ‘Situation’ as it was an embarrassment on the family reputation that there was an illegitimate child that was ushered away with his mother. Obviously that changed, and times changed. Not that I feel that way, but at that time, that was how the older women folk felt about the affair. We are proud of the heritage. I’m a direct descendant the the family. My NC family tree goes from Warrington, to Durham, to Sherrill, to Enloe. Abraham’s father. My mother would share with a laugh the stories told to her by her revered Grandmother Durham. Most were narrow minded family views of the amorous affair and the ushered off girl and child. I’m sure there are numerous relatives across the NC mountains. I’d enjoy connecting with anyone who’s related.

    Robbins Bobbitt |
    April 04, 2020 |
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    • It has been said in the family for years that Lincoln was a relation of ours but I have never researched it for myself.

      Sonya Foster |
      April 09, 2020 |
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      • Hi Sonya, do you know how you are an Enloe? On your maternal or paternal side? It would be great to have a family tree so we can all see how we are related together,
        Robbins

        Robbins Bobbitt |
        October 27, 2020 |
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        • Hello Robbins, about a year ago i discovered my Jones family are connected to this amazing story of Abraham Lincoln and Abraham Enloe. We have a 3rd-4th cousin DNA match to Greg Enloe. Greg's father is Jefferson Halen Enloe jr. he is a direct descendant of Benjamin Matthison Enloe by way of his son Lucius Halan Enloe. I have a photo of my moms 1st cousin (paternal) that I would like to share.

          MONIQUE DURRETT |
          October 27, 2020 |
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          • Hi Monique, It's always exciting to hear our connections. I wish we had a "family tree" to lay this all out.

            Robbins Bobbitt |
            August 29, 2021 |
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    • I had always heard by family that we were related and recently had my family tree done & verified by 2 historians that I am related to Abraham Lincoln & my great great grandfather was Abram Enloe. I am so glad now to have proof of this!

      Sharon Watts |
      May 09, 2020 |
      reply

      • Hi Sharon, How are you related to Enloe? I'm curious if we are part of the same line. It's so interesting to see how we are all related to the Enloe's and Abraham Lincoln.

        Robbins Bobbitt |
        August 29, 2021 |
        reply

  • I live in the town where Abraham Enloe is buried I have passed by his grave many times. This story has been told to me all my life I believe it to be true

    Cindy Hohmann |
    May 10, 2020 |
    reply

    • Hello Cindy.
      My 4th great grandfather was Abraham Enloe. Can you please tell me what town he is buried in? And, I would like to hear your stories . His daughter, Nancy was my 3nd great grandmother and our family stories relate that she and her husband Thomas Thompson took Nancy Hanks and young Abraham to Tom Lincoln in Kentucky.

      Jerry McCaw |
      August 31, 2020 |
      reply

      • Murphy NC at the historic Harshaw Chapel cemetery

        Marji Hill |
        October 21, 2021 |
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    • Hi Cindy
      I M the Great Great Great Granddaughter of Abraham Enloe. Can you tell me the town he is buried in? I’m planning a trip there soon
      Sincerely
      Leessa Black
      High Point NC

      Leessa Black |
      July 02, 2021 |
      reply

      • Hi Lessa, I am just seeing this post. We just had homecoming in the park. There’s a little church not far from where the Enloes lived. I am sure he was probably a member of this church. You mentioned graves? There are several cemeteries in the park on the Swain county NC side. I would suggest writing the Smoky Mountain archives and let the know you are a descendant. They really gave me a lot of information on my family.

        Kim |
        September 28, 2023 |
        reply

  • Is that the graveyard in murphy nc? I believe he is my 3rd great grandfather on my mothers side. Abraham enloe was married to sarah edgerton. Wesley matthew enloe and malinda lollis were his parents. Their parents were mary malinda hyde enloe and nathan hyde and their parents were george jackson leatherwood and ethel hyde...my moms parents.

    becky williamson |
    May 23, 2020 |
    reply

  • Hello all, I'm extremely excited about this story and find it very fascinating. The reason being is that a Greg Enloe showed in the DNA match as 4th cousin to my maternal aunt and uncle along with other tested family members that are born Jones. The Enloes that connect to Greg dates back to Lucius Halen Enloe born 1834-1911. Is anyone else connected to this line of Enloes?

    MONIQUE DURRETT |
    May 31, 2020 |
    reply

    • Abraham Lincoln is my 5th great uncle. Abraham Enloe is my 6th great grandfather

      Stephen |
      December 03, 2021 |
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  • I wrote the play THE BALLAD OF NANCY HANKS, based on the story that Abraham Enloe was the biological father of Lincoln. It has been performed twice. I encourage further research on the subject.

    Ludy Marvin Wilkie |
    June 01, 2020 |
    reply

    • Hello Ludy

      My 4th great grandfather was Abraham Enloe. How can I get a copy of your play?
      I am interested in knowing what encouraged you to write the play and how you researched the factual data.

      Jerry McCaw |
      August 31, 2020 |
      reply

      • Hi Jerry, --just send me your e-mail address to ludy@shelby.net.
        I gave a box full of copies of my research notes to the Bostic, NC Lincoln museum. I worked in Rutherford County, NC as a news reporter, later a schoolteacher, and knew the play would be popular there..

        Ludy Marvin Wilkie |
        September 01, 2020 |
        reply

        • Ludy, I would also love to have a copy, if you are willing to share.

          Cindy Beam |
          October 09, 2020 |
          reply

  • Facinating and more here than gossip. I have no doge in this fight except the truth. It should not be swept under rug any more It appears that DNA testing could resolve the question of the geneology chain.

    David Ward Jones |
    June 04, 2020 |
    reply

    • It would be extremely difficult to verify Abraham Lincoln’s parentage with DNA. Lincoln has no living descendants.

      Barbara Pendleton |
      July 25, 2020 |
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    • But David what do we do with this information? I’d love to change history with our truth but I do not know how
      Sincerely
      Leessa Black
      High Point NC

      Leessa Black |
      July 02, 2021 |
      reply

      • Me too!

        Robbins Bobbitt |
        October 21, 2021 |
        reply

  • Hi David, nice to meet you, i have a photo of a 1st cousin to my mother that bears a striking resemblance to Wesley Enloe in height and body structure. His name is Dennie Vance Jones and was born 1917 to Louis Spencer Jones and Abbie Mae Taylor. He can be viewed in my Jones family tree in ancestry.com
    I wondered where the height originated from in our family.

    MONIQUE DURRETT |
    June 05, 2020 |
    reply

  • Visit the Lincoln Museum in Bostic, NC. They have a wonderful film and a plethora of materials related to Mr. Lincoln.

    Pat |
    June 05, 2020 |
    reply

  • Thanks Pat, unfortunately I currently live in Arizona and due to this virus can't travel. It is on my to do list to visit there.

    MONIQUE DURRETT |
    June 06, 2020 |
    reply

  • I did this report for an 8th grade history report. Now this was the early 80's, no internet. There was a musty book that I checked out from the library in Columbus, Ohio. I son't remember the book but I so remember what I read. That Tom Lincoln and Abraham Enloe got into a fight where Tom Lincoln bit Enloe's nose. There was some speculation as a relationship, and I was only like 11 or 12 at the time. My history teacher, Mr. Englebert questioned me and I still had the book check out and showed him. All he said was Huh, and I got an A. I just looked this up to show my kids, and I didn't know it really was a thing. If anyone is really looking into this, still. I hope this helps.

    Kim Jordan |
    July 03, 2020 |
    reply

    • Hi Kim,
      The book was “The Genesis of Lincoln” by James H Cathey
      I am the 3rd great granddaughter of Abraham Enloe. You wrote a paper that no one believes. Thanks for sharing.
      Sincerely
      Leessa Black
      High Point NC

      Leessa Black |
      July 02, 2021 |
      reply

  • I have heard this same story about my NC relatives. Nancy Hanks was employed by the Carpenter family to pay off her father's debts to them. She had a child, named Abraham, out of wedlock. Thomas Lincoln was visiting his uncle in Lincolnton (named long before Abe) and the Carpenters told him they would pay him if he would take Nancy and the child away.

    Cynthia |
    July 13, 2020 |
    reply

  • Hi Cynthia and thanks for sharing. Is your family connected to the Enloe family or the Hanks? Has anyone taken a DNA test? All of my Jones family members that has been tested all are matches to Greg Enloe amd and he's a direct descendant of Abraham Enloe. If the story is true regarding Abraham Lincoln's true paternal father then we are also partially connected to our former President. This would be a great share in our family history documents.

    MONIQUE DURRETT |
    July 13, 2020 |
    reply

  • There have been several books written on the legend, including one by Robert Vincent Enloe, a member of the Enloe family.

    Ludy Marvin Wilkie |
    July 26, 2020 |
    reply

  • Dr. Frank Enloe who was a direct decendent of Abraham Enloe left a DNA sample before his death to be matched with Abraham Lincoln's. The Family has tried for decades to resolve the issue by matching the DNA but the Government will not allow the testing. Which mean its probably true. They have the blood stained clothing and bedding from the assassination. My 3rd great-grandmother was Nancy Enloe Thompson she was sent by her father to take care of Nancy Hanks and Abraham while she was pregnant and after she delivered. My grandmother always kept in contact and was close to Nancy and Abraham. And in appreciation to her he appointed her son with a position BIA.

    Ernest Thompson |
    August 05, 2020 |
    reply

    • In my play THE BALLAD OF NANCY HANKS, it says that Nancy Hanks helped Nancy Enloe elope with John Thompson--later in Kentucky visited her. She was then married to Tom Lincoln. Because he did not take good care of her, fight erupted between Tom and Abraham Enloe--Tom bit off tip of Abraham's nose Abe Lincoln recalled how Nancy Thompson befriended his mother--gave their son a job in Bureau of Indian Affairs.

      Ludy Marvin Wilkie |
      September 01, 2020 |
      reply

      • Hello Ludy:

        Thank you for responding to my contact.

        In the book " The Genesis of Lincoln" Mr. Cathey states that my Great, great, great Grandmother Nancy and g.g.g. grandfather Thomas delivered Nancy Hanks and young Abraham to Tom Lincoln. This was the story told in my family.

        Maybe the grand folks used the delivery to elope. The story we heard is that Abraham Enloe paid Tom Lincoln to marry Nancy. Our stories say that Tom's abuse of Nancy and young Abe centered around his alcoholism and the fight did occur when Abraham Enloe went to Kentucky
        to confront Tom Lincoln. Our tales say that my grandmother did visit Nancy over the years and her son was given the BIA post by The President even though he was a Democrat.

        How can I access a copy of your play?

        Thanks again for helping m find out more about the Enloe connection.

        Jerry McCaw |
        September 01, 2020 |
        reply

    • Thank you Ernest,
      The "Government" won't allow the DNA test the same way the Government did not try Jefferson Davis for Treason!

      Bob Dean |
      October 30, 2020 |
      reply

      • I visited Cherokee NC a couple of months ago and went to the barn built and owned by Abraham Enloe. My great great great grandfather is Wesley Enloe. I live in High Point NC. She told us this story too. You are right that The Smithsonian in DC has blood stained sheets that Abraham Lincoln laid on and they can and have an ethical obligation to give us, the descendants what we ask for. Any of us that are lawyers should sue them to gain this information, but wouldn’t we change history?

        Leessa Black |
        December 06, 2021 |
        reply

        • Hi Leesha, thank you for sharing. I’m offering to have a Zoom meeting of anyone interested in this topic. Related or not, we have a community of like minded that have a story to tell and discuss. If anyone wants to joint the Zoom gathering , please reply to me with your email address so I can send you a link to join. I propose we truly begin discussing how we move forward with the truth, and work to honor Abe’s true heritage. Suggestions or interest, anyone?

          Robbins Bobbitt |
          December 10, 2021 |
          reply

        • Leessa, Here is a youtube link to a great podcast I just watched on the Bostic Lincoln Center, and shares so many details we are all discussing. It's great to watch. You can search youtube directly also.
          https://youtu.be/725uVeybQdg

          Robbins Warrington Bobbitt |
          January 15, 2022 |
          reply

    • Ernest, Yep so true, every word you said. Abraham Enloe is my great great great Grandfather. We’ve had article written about us and this exact same story in our local newspaper I believe I have every book written on this subject. There are just too many of us that know this story. I wish a bunch of us could go to the Smithsonian and swab that bloody sheet he was on. Only then will we know
      Please stay connected with me
      Sincerely
      Leessa Black
      High Point NC

      Leessa Black |
      July 02, 2021 |
      reply

      • Leessa Would like very much to stay in touch and share other family lore with you plus connect you with other family members we have a rich family history that is connected from before the founding of our country. My email is: thompson.ranch@yahoo.com

        Ernest Thompson |
        July 02, 2021 |
        reply

      • Hi Leessa, if you want to talk about ideas to push this information forward, I am ready! feel free to contact me anytime. My work email is robbinsbobbitt@howardhanna.com.

        Robbins

        Robbins Bobbitt |
        October 21, 2021 |
        reply

  • Nancy Enloe Thompson was my third great grandmother. My Grand Parents would relate the story of Nancy Enloe and her husband Thomas Thompson taking Nancy Hanks and young Abraham to Tom Lincoln in Kentucky. Abraham Enloe was said to have paid Tom Lincoln to take Nancy Hanks and her child in. It was said the fight between Lincoln and Enloe was a result of Enloe hearing that Lincoln was abusive to Nancy and young Abraham. I would like to connect with other related Enloe family members that have stories passed down through the generations.

    Jerry McCaw |
    August 31, 2020 |
    reply

    • Fascinating history being told here! One thing I wonder about: you say Lincoln was already a small child, or younger maybe, when he left Kentucky with his step-father and mother? This is interesting, because I watched a documentary on Daniel Boone, and it stated that he had guided Lincoln's parents from Kentucky to Illinois...no mention of a young Lincoln being there, much less born...curious.

      Dave |
      February 15, 2022 |
      reply

      • This would be lincoln's great-grandfather Abraham & his wife. Boone's and the Lincoln's came from Berks county, PA Oley/Exeter .

        M |
        October 30, 2022 |
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  • Your story follows along with what I have heard. My grandmother was born not far from the Enloe farm and her parents knew the Enloes. The story she was told her was that Nancy was from Rutherford county and became an indentured servant of the Enloes. She got pregnant and Nr. Enloe had a man from Kentucky to marry her. I had never heard of the fight or that she was as transported there by Enloe family members. Thank you for sharing that information.

    Kim |
    September 01, 2020 |
    reply

  • I have heard this story all my life. My Enloe relations hail from the Gilkey community in Rutherford County. Carl Sandberg was once proposed the notion of an Enloe lineage for Lincoln to which he replied “ I’ve never met an Enloe smart enough to be Abraham Lincoln’s father”. As for me I will choose to believe the stories.

    Brantley Enloe |
    September 27, 2020 |
    reply

  • I read this story a couple of years ago. Abraham Enloe it seems was a Carolina plantation owner and Nancy Hanks an indentured servant girl. In all the photographs I've seen of President Lincoln he does not appear to be a white man. All my life I've wondered about this. I have learned that Mr. Enloe was about 50% native American Indian. Now it all makes sense and fits together. Abe & Nancy were sent away to appease Mrs. Enloe.

    Bob Dean |
    October 15, 2020 |
    reply

  • I have always thought the same thing - he did not look Caucasian. My brother is fascinated by this story. Any proof that anyone has would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for an informative story!

    Cindy Beam |
    October 16, 2020 |
    reply

  • This is a fascinating tidbit of information. I could include that in the next production of my play THE BALLAD OF NANCY HANKS, if it is done again.
    Ludy Wilkie

    Ludy Marvin Wilkie |
    October 16, 2020 |
    reply

  • Also Abraham Lincoln got his genius from his real father, Abraham Enlow.

    Joan Mancuso |
    October 20, 2020 |
    reply

    • Enloe (with an E) not W
      It’s true really.
      Leessa Black
      High Point NC

      Leessa Black |
      July 02, 2021 |
      reply

  • Yes, An evil genius! Check out how Lincoln treated the Alaskan Indians. I only found out by visiting Alaska and chatting with an old guy who was carving out a totem pole. He seemed to take a liking to me for my deep Southern accent.

    Bob Dean |
    October 20, 2020 |
    reply

  • GREAT BOOK! But what ever happened to the War of 1812 in your time line?

    Bob Dean |
    November 24, 2020 |
    reply

  • even though he did what he did to save slaves , he still was a bad person

    Barbra Devins |
    January 23, 2021 |
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  • He only helped the slaves for political purposes. He thought they were inferior

    Cindy Beam |
    January 24, 2021 |
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  • He did not "Save" any slaves, instead they were left homeless and Hungary along with their former plantation masters. Prior to war, it was a feudalistic society. There were good Masa's and bad Masa's. I don't think Masa Abraham Enloe was very good for getting little servant girl Nancy Hanks pregnant with our 16th. President.

    Bob Dean |
    January 25, 2021 |
    reply

  • My grandmother from Heard County Ga had a sister Ellen Mooty who married Hoyt Enloe and moved to Wedowee Alabama. Aunt Ellen had 3 daughters: Kathleen, who died young; Nell, who married Stewart Smith; and Hoyt, whomarried Hugh Egerton and lived in Birmingham. I am wondering if Hoyt and Hugh were distant cousins because Abraham Enloe’s wife was an Egerton.

    Mary bowen |
    October 19, 2021 |
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    • Hoyt is a very uncommon Christian name any idea where it came from

      Dennis deakin |
      July 19, 2023 |
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    • Hoyt egerton was first cousin 4 times removed to Sarah egerton enloe wife of Abraham enloe.
      Sarah Egerton was related to British royalty (queen Victoria) so by marriage so was Abraham (enloe)Lincoln which is why the genealogy has been covered up using all royal related people.
      It is also why Abraham Lincoln was killed and John Wilkes booth and the claimed conspirators were framed for the assassination using all royalty related judges and witnesses.

      Dennis deakin |
      September 29, 2023 |
      reply

      • You can't prove he was an enloe so until then stop saying he was, this is how history and facts get screwed up and as I know our history books are all lies and no real truth on them.

        MR.BOONE |
        October 01, 2023 |
        reply

        • I am a guest on this site and the proprietors will not allow the extensive knowledge I have. Their choice not mine. The bigger picture of every aspect of the assassination is governed by British Royal intervention 100%. history teaches ‘0’%. Today judges have a computer in front of them telling them the history of those charged in front of them . Also they are told of the area they live in as to the likelihood of guilt. Thus a judge will make his decision. If you applied this to the assassination and every event around the assassination then the lies taught would not even be considered because of the royal involvement. Also that the very judges themselves were put in place and they too were royal relations.
          The proof as you call it is the bigger picture itself that those judging hare not only a part of but are those that have hidden the evidence by proving others to be guilty using royal witnesses.
          The proof you are looking for is that those seeking the proof (judges) are the assailants and for example they will not test the DNA of John Wilkes Booth Vertibrae nor will they test the DNA of the blood on such as the chair or pillow or any part of Lincoln’s blood that they have in their controll to be tested which cannot be determined to the non left Lincoln family but could be tested with the Enloe Family.
          The proof is the bigger picture ! It should not be the case that those 100% involved with every aspect are royal related and includes every location. The guilty people are the judges that determine whether the truth can be determined. They too have created the false history.

          Dennis deakin |
          October 04, 2023 |
          reply

        • I cannot respond as I wish because the proprietors of the site do not allow my reply indicating subject to modification. If you wish a response they you will need to suggest a new location to which I can reply.

          Dennis deakin |
          October 04, 2023 |
          reply

  • My maiden name is Short. My greatgrandfather farmed next to Hanks families in White Co. IL. Some are buried together in the old Riverview Cem. near Crossville and Carmi.

    Scarlett Imhoff |
    January 15, 2022 |
    reply

    • Nancy Hanks family was from Rutherford county, nc

      Kim |
      September 28, 2023 |
      reply

  • Regarding a comment that Daniel Boone guided Lincoln's parents to Kentucky---we know that Felix Walker, who had worked with Boone, was a good friend of Abraham Enloe's---he did some guide work during that time. He appears in my play THE BALLAD OF NANCY HANKS.

    Ludy Marvin Wilkie |
    February 15, 2022 |
    reply

  • I'm a direct descendant of Wesley Enloe and this story has been passed down in my family for generations.

    Isaac Enloe |
    May 22, 2022 |
    reply

    • My Mom was one of the last individuals born in the smoky mountains before it became a park. I am first descendant. You are correct Issac as this story was also passed down in my family. The Enloes were my grandparents neighbors. I have a photo somewhere of the original Enloe home in the Smokies.

      Kim |
      September 28, 2023 |
      reply

      • The Enloe Barn is still standing at the Occonaluftee Ranger Station near Cherokee NC, but I’d love to see the home if there’s a photo.
        That was my great great great grandparents’ homestead

        Isaac Enloe |
        October 04, 2023 |
        reply

  • Nancy Hanks did get pregnant while in the employ of Abraham Enlow, But it was not by any Enlow. Nor was it by Thomas Lincoln, I have 3 tintypes of Thomas in later life taken by Mathew Brady which are marked "Thomas Hanks Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln's stepfather " in Brady;s handwriting.. It also appears Abraham E.'s house was a large busy place which people,travellers not uncommonly stayed at. In 1790 George Washington appointed a general to serve in Kentucky (and the west) when there was a bit of trouble. The general was from a large family of landowners in NJ. They may have had a connection with the Enlows in Baltimore. I;am still researching this, But in spring 1808 the general's son passed his bar exam and took a trip west, maybe to investigate property his father purchased 18 years earlier?? I need to find the connection to this son who I have seen in 3 tintypes marked:" Abraham Lincoln's natural father" Spitting image and hugely tall.

    James Ritchie |
    July 04, 2022 |
    reply

    • Do you have pictures of the tintypes you can share? I’d enjoy seeing them!

      Robbins Bobbitt |
      July 07, 2022 |
      reply

  • My great-grandmother, Bertha McClure Stoyle....from Sarah Enloe....Benjamin Enloe...son of Abraham Enloe..... She always said we were kin to Abraham Lincoln. She was raised in western, NC. Although she passed away many years ago, I believe her to be true.....

    Jess |
    July 15, 2022 |
    reply

    • It is true. My family knew the Enloes.

      Kim |
      September 28, 2023 |
      reply

  • Where does Nancy Hanks daughter and Abe’s older sister fit into all of this?

    Lauri |
    June 13, 2023 |
    reply

  • Just stories, where is the DNA to back it up?

    MR.BOONE |
    August 25, 2023 |
    reply

    • I am unaware of any DMA from Abraham Lincoln. Hopefully someone else can chime in on this point.

      Robbins W Bobbitt |
      August 29, 2023 |
      reply

    • Great question Boone we have been wanting to settle this issue for years. Maybe you should ask your senator and congressmen. Dr. Frank Enloe who was a direct decedent of Abraham Enloe left a DNA sample before his death to be matched with Abraham Lincoln's. The Family has tried for decades to resolve the issue by matching the DNA but the Government will not allow the testing. Which mean its probably true. They have the blood stained clothing and bedding from the assassination. My 3rd great-grandmother was Nancy Enloe Thompson she was sent by her father to take care of Nancy Hanks and Abraham while she was pregnant and after she delivered. My grandmother always kept in contact and was close to Nancy and Abraham. And in appreciation to her he appointed her son with a position BIA.

      Ernest Thompson | August 05, 2020

      Ernest Thompson |
      August 30, 2023 |
      reply

    • The custodians/government will not allow DNA to be tested. The subject has been approached multiple times.

      Deborah Keller |
      August 31, 2023 |
      reply

      • I guess we should ask to see the blood laden articles and sneak a sample.

        MR.BOONE |
        September 03, 2023 |
        reply

        • Apologies for my none response to your note about the enloe evidence. The proprietors of the site will not let me respond indicating subject to modication

          Dennis deakin |
          October 04, 2023 |
          reply

  • There is testing on a dress of the women in the box @ ford's theater. It was tested to see if abraham was related to Robert e. Lee.(they found Abraham lincoln is not related to Robert e. Lee). My father came from the Lee's from Abe Lincoln's line. (3rd cousin 4x)

    Matthew R Morgan |
    September 01, 2023 |
    reply

    • Not surprising since Lincoln's "line" was only with George Henry Reed Jr. his son with Ann Rutledge. She was fauxdemised, but actually lived with Reed about 100 miles east. What happened was George and Ann were engaged about 1830, but George asked her to wait one year as he had a business prospect out west. Three years pass with no word at all from George and Abe is interested in his pretty girl with the bad luck who's fiancee was likely eaten by grizzly bears, scalped by Indians or worse. On Abe's 25 birthday, Feb 12 1834 they announce their engagement. Later that summer, just before the planned wedding , when Ann is carrying Abe's baby who should return but her first love? Yes, George lived!. Abe stepped aside. They raised the boy as George Jr. but he looked exactly like a guy 100 miles west of them. All of his "known" and a few early "unknown" children were all his step children by the tall handsome dashing redhead Reuben Chandler Johnson, Lincoln's best friend at West Point who's mistress was Mary Todd. He was the elder brother of Eastman Johnson, the wealthy child artist and prodigy who painted at all the royal courts of Europe and was trained at age 6 by Henry Clay as a child spy. In 1842 at age 17 Eastman had an office in the capitol to paint and photograph eminent personages, but he also set up our first spy network. Sick of leaks, also designed a new dome to keep his office dry. Reuben was his 2 man at the agency. Eastman and his sister Judith were the ones in the box at Ford's that night. Those 3 are the impetus and the reason Lincoln had a successful political career. They supplied the loving wife and family. The children of Mary Todd and Reuben Chandler Johnson were Eleanora Johnson (Mrs James Pratt) raised by Reuben's parent's as their youngest daughter. John Serratt, Samuel Stephenson Waters ( these two raised by Eastman and his girlfriend and fellow spy Elisabeth Buckley Waters, aka Mary Serratt), Betty Todd Lincoln, the cause of Mary and Abe's wedding postponement and then first step child but hidden with Mary's father and step mother when Lincoln's political career began as she was older than the wedding date. She went to Mary's dad and step mom in VA. This was the source of the early animosity between Robert Todd Lincoln and his step father. He lost his sister. Edward Baker Lincoln was fauxdemised by Johnson and embedded in VA as a spy in the same place. Willie was also fauxdemised, but as he was pretty young, he went to the isolated Amana religious community in Iowa.Tad, Mary's last with Reuben dath was faked as well, but a few years .after the war

      James B. Ritchie |
      September 18, 2023 |
      reply

      • FYI, George Henry Reed later
        married Betty Todd Lincoln his totally unrelated "step" sister.

        James B. Ritchie |
        September 18, 2023 |
        reply

  • Enlow's are kin in that they are descended from the man who adopted the name Abraham Enlow (which was nothing like his real name) after his wife died and he took a second wife. He was over 60 and his second wife was 35 years younger. He faked his death and they made a clean getaway to Kentucky and started having a load of little kids they called Enlows. In 1808 his son from New Jersey comes to visit his dad and all his little half bros and sisters. He was about 22 himself. He is the one who carried on with Nancy Hanks. My other discovery is that Abraham Lincoln attended West Point using his real father and grandfather's name. He served at Vera Cruz in the Mexican War.

    James B. Ritchie |
    September 18, 2023 |
    reply

    • Do you documentation validating your information? My Grandmother and Grandfather knew the Enloes and they knew the story well. Since their descendants were alive during the same time as my grandparents. It’s a well known fact in the Smoky Mountains the Enloes had an indentured servant named Nancy Hanks and when she got pregnant he had his cousin to take her to Kentucky. Where she married a Lincoln man. President Lincoln looks just like old man Enloe. I would love to read new information. Can you list your sources please and thank you.

      Kim |
      September 28, 2023 |
      reply

      • Yes, I have images of the elderly Mr.Enloe identified with his original name as well as Enloe. He was on his second wife 30 years younger when he moved to Kentucky and started another family. It was his 24 year old son, visiting from NJ to see his father who used the alias Enloe, and the new little brood of his half brothers and half sisters who fooled around with Nancy Hanks. His name was not Enloe. Lincoln looks just like him too!

        James B. Ritchie |
        October 04, 2023 |
        reply

  • The reason that Lincoln’s origin was historically thrown into doubt was because the Enloes and more relevant his wife Egerton, Were British Royalty.
    Queen Victorias daughters husbands grandmother was an Egerton.
    It is not that simple, genealogically the royal family would intermarry over centuries and the Egerton were no different. Kings and Queens would also have multiple mistresses and lovers they were only human. The fact that Enloe and Egerton were married meant that regardless of infidelity they were royalty related.
    It was vitally important that Abraham Lincoln’s genealogy was not only hidden but hidden using Royal relations so that nobody would then associate the assassination of Abraham Lincoln with royalty let alone even look or question the official story of the assassination.
    All of the politicians witnesses and judges around the assassination were also Royal relations and the claimed conspirators and John Wilkes Booth proved to be the assailants to ensure the question of royalty would never be seen. John Wilkes Booth was neither at Fords theatre nor were the conspirators hung, guilty.
    Abraham Enloe Lincoln was German royalty the actual assassins was of the Scottish Stuart royalty. Alternative assailant either way be intertwined with Lincoln’s genealogy or the assassination.The world could not be allowed to associate royalty involvement because quite simple England had been banished from America at independence. Queen Victorias empire which covered 1/3 of the world was established by intermarriage of her children so Abraham enloe Lincoln was so born. The British empire started before queen Victoria and mistresses of kings were involved. Elizabeth brunton was the aunt of Laura Keene and brunton was an actress who became countess Craven who after being a the kings mistress then married Lord Craven, who owned the land of the Carolina’s in the last bastion of England in America then called Craven county. After independence there were 200 established royal related families still living in America and who were compliant to the British royal families. Generational breeding for the future was common practice of royalty to command the British empire and Abraham enloe Lincoln was so born for the purpose.
    Those British families and the English government interchanged from the Scottish royals to the English and indeed German royals which was queen Victoria. Britain was having its own civil wars and differing kings and queen royalties and associated families were beheaded ,their lands taken and they banished to America.
    The real killer of the German royalty related Abraham Enloe Lincoln was killed from the box below facilitated by Laura Keene ,John Thompson ford and James Johnson Gifford and indeed the family of Edwin Stanton ,the confederate Todd’s and the family of Frances Adeline Seward wife of William h Seward also claimed to have been attacked which he was not. James tanner the Stanton stenographer was a relation of Edwin Stanton’s family and Frances Adeline Stewart and the British royals.
    James Tanner wrote the history which was to be taught as fact and also wrote the transcription words of the conspirators trial.
    Edwin Stanton was related to the same royalty as Lincoln but his wife was not.
    William H Seward worked alongside Lincoln but his wife’s family was the Stuart royals who had been banished from their lands in Scotland now again to have their lands taken by not adhering to the Union.
    Abraham Lincoln’s policies of taking lands from those not loyal to the north, benefitted him greatly through the purchase of government bonds enriched by those taken lands. Lincoln’s finances were finalized after the assassination by judge David Davis who had Learned his law alongside Edwin Stanton. Salmon Portland chase also related dealt with lincolns finances whilst he was living. By rightly freeing slaves Lincoln also armed the slaves as soldiers against the same masters of whom the richest of which were assossiated with the slave owning Stuart kings prior to the German royalty.
    Another royal was John Amor Bingham of the conspirators trial who on his deathbed told his doctor that if the people knew what really occurred it would have have destroyed the republic. The reason being that either side of the American government were British royalty be it the German royal Abraham Enloe Lincoln or their Scottish royal British civil war opponent who were the confederate presidents.
    The only person John armor Bingham told was Edwin Stanton who subsequently committed suicide because he had led the jury and the murder of the conspirators having been fed information by his Stuart associated family.
    Those Stuart’s were the Binghams family of lady Diana Spencer. Of the Spencer Churchill and Hannibal hamlins family who facilitated the house in acushnet to be purchased by Laura keen, the deeds of which were being processed 3 weeks before the assassination. Keenes own health was deteriorating and she need to supply for her family.
    Laura keenes first husband was the godson of Queen Victorias favorite naval commander the Duke of Wellington.
    After the assassination Laura keenes daughter married another royal relation Albert Rawson who was trained in law by William h Seward. Lawson however became an artist and made his money by painting royal portraits most famously being those of Queen Victoria and her her husband the German Prince Albert again whose daughter then intermarried as previously said with the Egertons.
    History of the assassination and the genealogy of Abraham enloe Lincoln because the assassination was carried out by the American Stuart related royalty, killing Abraham Lincoln he being the British civil war enemy of the Stuart’s in America by the German royals now in charge of England, so either way the American government were British royalty related north and south.
    So neither side are going to allow the proof of either Lincoln’s genealogy because it will point to all of the participants of the trial judges and witnesses and politicians that then set up and hung innocent people.
    Relations of Doctor Mudd had the same problems of his guilt and the same murdering government will not test the vertebrae of the claimed john Wilkes Booth which would prove that it was not he, as history proports.
    Abraham Lincoln was shot from the box below by the lifting of a floor hatch resting the poor ballistic derringer ( derringer was the husband of Mary Lincoln aunt) on the provided chair ensuring the exact projection of the bullet in his brain. The history taught by the killing government that of a single bullet derringer has been calculated to have a 1 in 100 chance of entering Lincoln’s head in the manner the bullet did and not only does history teach this ridiculous fete but Booth also expected to get away with it having a horse available.
    The real killer of Abraham enloe Lincoln merely walked out of the box below rode away and exchange his horse alongside the north canal in Washington on his way back to Kentucky. Whist troops were sent south on a predetermined escape route including the Surratt house which had been visited to and reported by contraband smugglers and used to be Booths escape.
    This escape route I have, as do I have the man who held the horse of the real killer who was a relation to the Stuart royalty . That man holding the horse was Benjamin Maddox. Whose story is also available and was released from point lookout prison in November 1864 with his family paying Lincoln 1600 dollars for his release.

    Dennis deakin |
    September 28, 2023 |
    reply

    • I have never ever heard anything about this and I am an avid history buff, also abraham had no middle name so you saying enloe as his middle name is wrong and so far there is no way to prove any facts of him being an enloe, as far as I am concerned the Boones and Lincolns lived together on the same land in Pennsylvania, so the Boones and Lincolns are claiming him, no one else can at the moment or anytime soon. Also you mentioned the Carolinas and lord craven....fun fact, I am from amd live in craven county, New Bern to be exact and know it's history well.

      MR.BOONE |
      October 01, 2023 |
      reply

      • The truth and the bigger picture is told by the ancestors relationship to all concerned being related to royalty. You will not find it because history on the subject is false to hide the Royalty involvement to whom the presidents and judges determining that history are also related. The bigger picture is extensive and re writes history, this cannot be told in a few paragraphs.what I do have is the Royal relationships to everyone and every aspect of the assassination of which the history taught indicates none.

        Dennis deakin |
        October 04, 2023 |
        reply

      • Thank you for your responses please continue with them but I do have extensive information. For example In New Bern was the families of the Quaker families of Edwin Stanton and indeed the Houston’s who were also involved. The Houston’s connections are multiple yet history does not say that they were in America in the 17th century went back to Ireland and returned to America as the Sam Houston family.
        Some of the Houston stayed and moved from Delaware to South Carolina then upt North Carolina then on to Ohio. They too are connected to the Todd’s Enloes rathbones and Harris families.

        Dennis deakin |
        October 04, 2023 |
        reply

      • Imagine please if the American people new that all of the American presidents were British royalty. Only in the last few years have people been told by the brother of princess Diana mother of the future king of England at her funeral, that, they were related to George Washington. Also in the last few years only a 12 year old American girl determined that all of the American presidents were related to British Royalty. This information was not available in the early to mid 19th century except to those determining pensions and indeed the DAR. The foremost family concerning that ancestral history was the stoddard family that worked under Abraham Lincoln and they new about both southern and Union progressive families more than anyone. They too were extensively confederate.
        When John armor Bingham a judge of the conspirators trial told Edwin Stanton of a secret if known by the Americans were known it would have destroyed the republic. That secret was the royal involvement ocontrolling the American government to which Stanton’s wife was a prominent member. Stanton thus committed suicide in the knowledge that he had promoted the death of the innocent conspirators.

        Dennis deakin |
        October 04, 2023 |
        reply

  • www.MyNameIsNancy.com

    Deborah Keller |
    October 04, 2023 |
    reply

  • Hi Robbins, nice to meet you. How can I send you the photo I have? My email is mkdurrett@gmail.com please feel free to contact me anytime.

    MONIQUE DURRETT |
    August 29, 2021 |
    reply

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