Albert James Hendry was born September 24, 1836, Thomas County, Georgia. He was a son of James Edward Hendry and Lydia (Carlton) Hendry and a grandson of William Hendry and Nancy (McFail) Hendry and John Carlton and Nancy Ann (Alderman) Carlton.

In Hillsborough County, Florida on October 5, 1854, he married Sarah Jane Moody, born March 14, 1840, Columbia County, Florida, daughter of Benjamin Moody and Nancy (Hooker) Moody. Rev. Levi Pearce officiated.

During the Third Seminole War, Albert served in Capt. William B. Hooker's Company. He was mustered into state service January 3, 1856 as a private and into federal service February 18, 1856. He probably served until August 1856. He is also believed to have served in Capt. Leroy G. Lesley's Company.

A. J. and Sarah Hendry, Martha [?], age 7, Charles, were recorded in household # 222/175 in Fort Meade in the 1860 census of Hillsborough County, dated June 19. With the creation of Polk County from Hillsborough and Brevard counties in 1861, Albert became a citizen of it and was listed as a taxpayer in 1861 Polk County. A cattleman, Albert had registered in Hillsborough County on 5 June 1854 his mark and brand, crop & half crop in one ear, crop in the other 68. The 1862 Polk County Tax Roll listed George W. & Albert J. Hendry with 590 head of cattle.

During the Civil War, he enlisted as a private on April 10, 1862 in Company E, Seventh Florida Infantry, CSA. He also served in Capt. Francis A. Hendry's Company A, First Florida Cow Cavalry.

Albert J. Hendry in 1867 reported owning over 1,0000 head of cattle in Polk County. A. J. Hendry [transcription has J. J., but most likely A. J. was listed as a registered voter of 1871 Polk County. By 1872 he had moved to Fort Green, Manatee County where he was listed in 1872 as being taxed on 80 acres and 25 hogs; in 1873, 1 horse and 25 hogs. In the 1870s he was a member of the board of school trustees at Fort Green. In January 1877, he was appointed a justice of the peace by Governor Drew.

Sarah Jane Moody Hendry died April 8, 1891. Albert James Hendry died on August 8, 1901 at Fort Green. They are buried in Fort Green Methodist Cemetery.

George W. Hendry recounted of his brother and sister-in-law in 1900:

"A. J. Hendry has lived at Fort Green, in DeSoto County [now Hardee County] for over thirty years. He owns a nice home, with valuable land and grove property; has cared for his large family of children, bringing them up to become respectable men and women, and kept them above want.
"In most of his early life he was a stock man, but like most of us old pioneers, had serious reverses, and now in our old days we drink the cup of poverty. The freezes did the work for us all, sweeping away a lifetime's labor and savings, leaving us poor, which seems to be the inevitable doom of all pioneers in all countries.
"Mr. Hendry has always been a hardworking man, honest and hospitable to the last degree. He is now in his 64th year. He is not very well preserved, but getting along fairly well under the circumstances.
"Mrs. Hendry was a long and patient sufferer from consumption and died at the age of about fifty years. She was a faithful wife, a loving mother and a good neighbor; a devoted Christian, she died as she had lived, in the full assurance of faith in a future glorious reward. She did her part in bringing up her large family of children, both boys and girls, to respectable manhood and womanhood, and lived to see most of them grown and married. She left an example worthy of imitation. Her daughters have all made nice women; most of them are married and doing well, exemplifying those excellent traits of character taught them by their mother a heritage more valuable than gold or silver, and more lasting than the perishable things of the world."

Issue of Albert James Hendry and Sarah Jane (Moody) Hendry:
1. William W. Hendry, born June 15, 1856; died before June 1860.
2. Charles Edward Hendry, born Nov. 17, 1858; died Oct. 4, 1905; married on Feb. 8, 1888 Feriba Idella Altman.
3. Mary Helen Hendry, born Feb. 4, 1860; died March 30, 1955; married in Manatee County, Fla. on Jan. 29, 1879 Henry Bascom Carlton, son of James C. Carlton and Martha Piety (Grantham) Carlton.
4. Florence V. Hendry, born 1862.
5. Albretta J. "Allie" Hendry, born Feb. 13, 1866; died 1892; married in Manatee County on Sept. 5, 1886 Willie J. Bryant.
6. Robert Wesley Hendry, born April 1, 1868; died March 18, 1946, Parrish, Fla.; married on Dec. 22, 1892 Martha "Mattie" Caroline Holloway.
7. Jessie Hendry, born Dec. 27, 1870; died Dec. 22, 1904; married on April 27, 1896 Archibald Thomas Carlton.
8. Lula Estelle Hendry, born March 4, 1872; married on Nov. 23, 1893 James A. Ryan.
9. Samuel Marion Hendry, born June 22, 1875; died July 22, 1957; married in 1901 Meddie Mae Albritton.
10. Cora E. Hendry, born June 12, 1877.
11. Francis Asbury Hendry, born July 10, 1883; died April 6, 1932; married on Sept. 2, 1902 Nellie Green.
12. Fred Moody Hendry, born Dec. 1888; died 1925; married on Feb. 3, 1907 Viola Altman.

This is adapapted from my John and William Sons of Robert Hendry.

January 2, 2009