Manuscript genealogy on the latter leaves of an octavo account book, the early leaves containing the author's accounting notes. 21.5x14 cm (8½x5½"), full calf, spine lacking.
An important manuscript genealogy of the Hanks family tracing the genealogy of Abraham Lincoln, through Lincoln’s mother, Nancy Hanks Lincoln, back to 1700 with the arrival at Plymouth, Massachusetts of Uriah Hanks, his wife Lurancy and their two sons Benjamin and Jacob. The genealogy offered was written by Byron M. Hanks and dated June 20, 1874. There are also tipped in pages written by Edwin Paige Hanks of Van Honesville, New York dated May 26, 1874. Of these pages Byron Hanks comments “Written so much better than I can – I will not attempt to copy but paste it in this book.” Edwin Paige Hanks “pasted in” pages are the genealogy of the male children of Uriah and Lunancy Hanks. Those children being William, Benjamin, Richard White, John Uriah and Silas. Byron M. Hanks continues the genealogy beginning with William Hanks, Benjamin Hank’s son with hundreds of names, births, deaths, marriages, professions, places of residence, etc. The journal begins with 41 pages of general accounting of Byron M. Hanks with the first entry being July 1, 1866 and the last being March 12, 1873. The genealogy of the Hanks family begins on page 138 and continues through page 149, then continues on pages 229-230 and 236–258. Abraham Lincoln is mentioned three times. The first being on page 142 “…this was probably Jacob (Hanks) and from him probably came the Hanks of Ky and among them Nancy Hanks the mother of President Lincoln….” Secondly on page 251 “Progenitors of Abraham Lincoln, President of the U.S.” and thirdly on page 253 “Nancy Hanks children by Thomas Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States.” The author Byron M. Hanks was born on June 14, 1824 to Ansel Hanks and Isabella Murray. The provenance of the Genealogy of the Hanks Family comes down through Senator James Wadsworths family. His wife Alice was the daughter of John Hay who in his early 20’s was President Lincoln’s private secretary. The book was purchased from the Wadsworths by Mr. George Feely of Caledonia, New York who was the private liquidator of the Wadsworths estate in Geneseo, New York.