HAIRSTON FAMILY HISTORY AND GENEALOGY - Hairston.org

Jane "Jenny" HAIRSTON

HAIRSTON.org ID#988, b. 16 October 1767, d. 28 October 1839

Father*

Robert Hairston¹ b. b 1724, d. b 2 Jun 1791

Mother*

Ruth STOVALL b. a 1731, d. 3 Mar 1808

Birth*

Jane "Jenny" HAIRSTON was born on 16 October 1767 in Virginia.^2,3

She was the daughter of Robert Hairston and Ruth STOVALL.¹

Marriage*

Jane "Jenny" HAIRSTON married Capt. Joshua RENTFRO, son of Joseph RENTFRO and Mary (surname unknown), on 22 August 1785 in Henry, Virginia; by Minister William Lovell.^3,4

Will

In Robert Hairston's will dated 26 May 1790 in Franklin, Virginia, Jane "Jenny" HAIRSTON was named as an heir; Robert's daughter Sarah "Sally" Hairston died before his will was written.^1,5

Court Record*

In May Court 1798, a bill of sale from Ruth Hairston to Jenny Rentfro wife of Joshua Rentfro was presented to court. - Franklin County Order book 1793-1799, page 337. FSL #7898091, image 238.

Deed*

On 5 October 1807, Joshua Rentfro and his wife Jane, sell 40 acres on Long Lick Creek to John Lewis. - Washington Deed Book 1803-1820. FSL #7901325, image 160.

Deed

On 1 February 1808, Joshua and Jane Rentfro sell land to Amis Graham. - Washington Deeds 1792-1811. FSL #7900657, image 811.

Death Spouse*

Her husband, Capt. Joshua Rentfro, died in 1815.

Census 1820*

She appeared on the census of 1820 in Breckinridge, Kentucky, Jane Renfro, Males: 26-44 1, Females: under 10 1, 10-15 1, 45+ 1, slaves 9.⁶

County Name*

1823 - Meade County from Breckinridge and Hardin.

Marriage

She witnessed the marriage of Benjamin Allen PEARSON and America Hairston RENTFRO on 26 November 1829 in Meade, Kentucky; Benjamin A. Pearson obtained a license to marry America H. Rentfro on 23 November 1829.⁷

Census 1830*

Jane "Jenny" HAIRSTON appeared on the census of 1830 in Meade, Kentucky, Jane Rentfro, Males: 20-29 1, Females: 5-9 1, 15-19 1, 6-69 1, slaves 3.⁸

Death*

She died on 28 October 1839 in Kentucky at age 72.^2,9,3

Burial*

She was buried in Parr-Frans Cemetery, Wolf Creek, Meade, Kentucky;

Photo: Find A Grave by Shirley Brown.^2,10,11

NOTE*

GENEALOGY NOTES - HAIRSTON.ORG: The source of the name of "Peter the Immigrant's" wife is from a 1940 letter from Mr. William Boone Douglass to Mrs. W. N. Hairston (Elizabeth Seawell Hairston, author of "The Hairstons and Penns and their Relations", 1940. William Boone Douglass is the great-grandson on Jane "Jenny" Hairston Rentfro. The letter references the bible of Jane "Jenny" Hairston, Robert Hairston's daughter. In the bible she writes that she named her 5th child "Agnes", for her grandmother Hairston. PDF copy of letter attached.³

Family

Capt. Joshua RENTFRO b. 1 Jul 1757, d. 5 Sep 1815

Children

Ruth Hairston RENTFRO+³ b. 16 Oct 1786, d. 6 Apr 1830
Mary B. "Polly" RENTFRO b. 12 May 1788, d. 15 Nov 1835
Joseph RENTFRO b. 28 Feb 1790, d. 31 Oct 1840
Robert Hairston RENTFRO³ b. 3 Oct 1790, d. 26 Aug 1852
Agnus Ann Hairston RENTFRO+³ b. 15 Apr 1793, d. 26 Aug 1852
Jane Owen RENTFRO b. 31 Jan 1795, d. 1 Apr 1859
Patsy RENTFRO b. a 1799
Sarah "Sallie" Hairston RENTFRO+ b. 22 Feb 1799, d. 16 Sep 1864
Peter Hairston RENTFRO b. 7 Dec 1800
William RENTFRO b. 11 May 1804, d. 1 Oct 1817
Hardin RENTFRO b. 4 Feb 1806
Elizabeth RENTFRO b. 3 Nov 1808, d. 27 Jan 1827
America Hairston RENTFRO+ b. 27 May 1810, d. 3 Oct 1879
Amanda RENTFRO b. 2 Mar 1813

Charts

Descendant Chart
Descendant Chart Box

Sources (www.HAIRSTON.org)

[S121] Will of Robert Hairston 26 May 1790, Franklin County, Virginia Will Book #1, pages 70-71. FamilySearch IGN: 007644994, images 69-70. Inventory & Appraisel recorded February 1793. Will Book #1, pages 85-87, 1786-1812. FamilySearch IGN: 007644994, images 77-78.
[S133] Parr-Frans Cemetery, Meade County, Kentucky.
[S242] Douglas, William Boone (Great-grandson of Jane "Jenny" Hairston Rentfro and founding member The Institution of American Genealogy) wrote a letter to Mrs. N. H. Hairston (Elizabeth Seawell Hairston, author of "The Hairstons and the Penns..."), Washington, D.C., 27 December 1940.
[S67] Dodd, Virginia Anderson, Henry County, Virginia, Marriage Bonds, 1778-1849, Southern Historical Press, Inc., Greenvile, S.C. 1955.
[S3131] Salmon, John S, and Emily J. Salmon. Franklin County, Virginia, 1786-1986: A Bicentennial History. Rocky Mount, Va: Franklin County Bicentennial Commission, 1993. Print., Personal Collection - printed book.
[S1820] 1820 Federal Census - National Archives and Records Administration - Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org.
[S3698] Kentucky, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1783-1965 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Kentucky U.S. County Marriages 1783-1965 Original data: Marriage Records. Kentucky Marriages. Madison County Courthouse, Richmond, Kentucky., Ancestry.com.
[S1830] 1830 Federal Census - National Archives and Records Administration - Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org.
[S241] Spraker, Hazel Atterbury, A Genealocical History of The Descendants of George and Mary Boone Who Came to America in 1717, The Tuttle Company, Rutland, Vermont, 1922.
[S3162] Email from Faith Bishoff, 25 Oct 2001 - Faith Bishoff is a 4th great-granddaughter of Jenny Hairston Rentfro.
[S48] Photo of Grave Marker - only photos of grave markers that are contemporary to the deceased individuals death are acceptable for genealogical proof. Find-a-Grave, personal photos and other sources.

Last Edited

3 Apr 2026