Nancy Hanks Lincoln

Nancy Hanks Lincoln (née Hanks) was born on February 5, 1784, and died on October 5, 1818. She was the mother of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States. Her marriage to Thomas Lincoln resulted in three children: Sarah Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln, and Thomas Lincoln Jr., the latter of whom died in infancy.

Early Life and Ancestry:

Nancy Hanks was most likely born in Hampshire County, Virginia (now Mineral County, West Virginia), to Joseph and Ann Hanks. Her family initially resided on land near Patterson Creek, Virginia. When Nancy was approximately nine years old, her grandfather Joseph Hanks passed away, and her family sold their property to move to Kentucky. Subsequently, her family migrated to Nelson County, Kentucky, in 1784, settling along Pottinger's Creek in what was then Hampshire County before the family moved to Mercer County, Kentucky.

Nancy’s mother, Lucy Hanks, remarried Henry Sparrow in Mercer County, Kentucky, around 1790. Nancy was then raised by her grandmother, Ann Hanks, after her grandfather's death, until she was about nine. Following her grandmother's return to Virginia in 1793, Nancy was brought up by her aunt Elizabeth Hanks and her husband Thomas Sparrow, with whom she developed close ties. She was known as Nancy Sparrow and was characterized as intelligent, religious, and affectionate.

Marriage and Family Life:

On June 12, 1806, Nancy Hanks married Thomas Lincoln at Beechland, the home of Richard Berry, officiated by Reverend Jesse Head. Their marriage bond was signed by Richard Berry Jr., who acted as her guardian despite Nancy being of legal age. The couple resided initially in Hardin County, Kentucky, in an area known as Knob Creek Farm.

Nancy and Thomas Lincoln had three children:

- Sarah Lincoln (February 10, 1807 – January 20, 1828)

- Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865)

- Thomas Lincoln Jr. (died in infancy, 1812)

The young family was described as having Nancy as the more prominent personality; she was considered intelligent and kind, and she played a role in teaching her son Abraham his letters.

Migration to Indiana and Later Life:

In 1816, the Lincoln family moved from Kentucky to the Little Pigeon Creek Settlement in Perry County, Indiana, driven by frontier expansion and prospects for land. The move coincided with Indiana attaining statehood. The family built a homestead within the area that would become Spencer County. Around this time, Elizabeth and Thomas Sparrow, along with Dennis Hanks, also settled nearby, maintaining close relationships with the Lincoln family.

Physical Description:

William Herndon, Abraham Lincoln’s biographer, described Nancy Hanks as being of above-average height for women of her time, weighing about 130 pounds, with dark skin, dark brown hair, and small gray eyes. Her features included a prominent forehead and a sharp, angular face. Her demeanor was notably melancholic but generally cheerful and amicable. It has been noted that Nancy's appearance and mannerisms were inherited by her son, Abraham Lincoln.

Death:

Nancy Hanks Lincoln died on October 5, 1818, at approximately 34 years of age, while the family resided at Little Pigeon Creek. She was buried in the Pioneer Cemetery in Lincoln City, Indiana, which is now part of the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial. Her death has been attributed to milk sickness, caused by ingesting milk from cows that had eaten white snakeroot, or to consumption (tuberculosis). The illness was widespread in the Midwest at the time and caused numerous fatalities. There are also theories suggesting she may have died of cancer related to multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2b (MEN2B), which could have been inherited.

Her grave site includes at least 20 unmarked and eight marked graves. Her headstone was purchased in 1878 by industrialist Peter Studebaker. Nancy’s neighbors and family members, including her childhood caregivers Elizabeth and Thomas Sparrow, as well as her best childhood friend Henry Brooner, are buried nearby.

Legacy:

Nancy Hanks Lincoln is recognized for her role as the mother of Abraham Lincoln. In 1941, Katherine K. Davis composed a ballad titled "Nancy Hanks," as a tribute to her. Her life and death are commemorated at the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial in Indiana.