Nancy Hanks Lincoln

Nancy Hanks Lincoln
Nancy Hanks Lincoln depiction
Born	Nancy Hanks February 5, 1784 Hampshire County, Virginia, U.S. (now Mineral County, West Virginia, U.S.)
Died	October 5, 1818(1818-10-05) (aged 34) Spencer County, Indiana, U.S.
Nationality	American
Spouse(s)	Thomas Lincoln (1806–1818; her death)
Children	Sarah Lincoln Grigsby Abraham Lincoln Thomas Lincoln, Jr.
Parent(s)	Lucy Hanks
Relatives	Joseph Hanks (grandfather) John Hanks (cousin) Tom Hanks (distant cousin)

Nancy Hanks Lincoln (February 5, 1784 – October 5, 1818) is best known as the mother of United States President Abraham Lincoln. Her marriage to Thomas Lincoln also produced a daughter, Sarah Lincoln. When Nancy and Thomas had been married for just over 10 years, the family moved from Kentucky to Spencer County, Indiana. Nancy Lincoln died from milk sickness at the Little Pigeon Creek Community in Spencer County when Abraham was aged 9.

This article reflects the prevailing theories regarding Nancy Hanks Lincoln's heritage. There is information, however, published about the Shipley and Berry family and for Kentucky heritage sites that differs from the prevailing theory. This is explored in greater detail in the Nancy Hanks Lincoln heritage article.

Nancy Hanks Lincoln was born to Lucy Hanks in what was at that time part of Hampshire County, Virginia. Today, the same location is in Antioch in Mineral County, West Virginia. Years after her birth, Abraham Lincoln's law partner William Herndon reported that Lincoln told him his maternal grandfather was "a well-bred Virginia farmer or planter." According to William E. Barton in the "Life of Abraham Lincoln" and Michael Burkhimer in "100 Essential Lincoln Books", Nancy was most likely born illegitimate due to the fact that Hanks' family created stories in order to lead Abraham to believe he was a legitimate member of the Sparrow family.

It is believed that Nancy Hanks Lincoln's grandparents were Ann and Joseph Hanks and that they raised her from infancy until her grandfather died when she was about 9 years old. At the time of Nancy's birth, Joseph and his wife and children were all living on 108 acres near Patterson Creek in then-Hampshire County, Virginia. In March 1784, Joseph Hanks sold his property via a mortgage and moved his wife, 8 children, and young granddaughter Nancy to Kentucky.