The family tree of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, reveals a rich, multigenerational story rooted in early colonial America. The chart highlights Lincoln’s ancestry from the Lincoln, Hanks, and Sparrow families—three major bloodlines that shaped the heritage of one of America’s most iconic leaders. It also traces the descendants of Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln, ending with the last direct Lincoln descendant.
1. The Early Lincoln Line
The Lincoln family in America begins with Samuel Lincoln Sr., who represents the earliest known ancestor on the chart. His descendants gradually spread across New England and later moved into frontier territories.
Key early Lincoln ancestors include:
- Samuel Lincoln Jr.
- Jedediah Lincoln
- Enoch Lincoln
- Mordecai Lincoln Sr.
- Mordecai Lincoln Jr.
- John Lincoln
From these early roots emerged the two main branches leading to Abraham Lincoln’s direct lineage.
2. Abraham Lincoln’s Paternal Line
The paternal family tree moves through:
Captain Abraham Lincoln (1744–1786)
A frontier settler who lost his life during a Native American attack in Kentucky. He is the grandfather of the future president.
Thomas Lincoln (1778–1851)
Abraham’s father, a farmer and carpenter known for his resilience on the developing American frontier.
Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865)
Born in a log cabin in Kentucky, he would rise to become:
- 15th President of the United States
- Leader who preserved the Union during the Civil War
- The president who issued the Emancipation Proclamation
This branch of the family represents the backbone of Lincoln’s heritage—frontier settlers, soldiers, and hardworking landowners.
3. The Hanks and Sparrow Families (Maternal Line)
On Abraham Lincoln’s mother’s side, the chart reveals the Hanks and Sparrow families.
Key ancestors include:
- John Hanks Sr. (1681–1740) – Patriarch of the Hanks family
- Joseph Hanks and Ann Lee
- James Sparrow (1739–1789) and Elizabeth Hanks (adopted into the Sparrow family)
Nancy Hanks (1784–1818)
Abraham’s mother, remembered as gentle, intelligent, and influential in shaping Lincoln’s early character. Her mysterious origins have long been debated, but the chart includes the leading family connections as understood by historians.
The maternal side represents humble, deeply American frontier families, strongly tied to early Kentucky settlements.
4. Mary Todd and the Todd–Harlan Line
Abraham married Mary Todd Lincoln (1818–1882), a member of the socially prominent Todd family of Kentucky.
Their marriage joined the Lincoln line to the influential Harlan and Beckwith families.
5. The Children of Abraham and Mary Lincoln
The Lincolns had four sons:
- Robert Todd Lincoln (1843–1926) –
Statesman, U.S. Secretary of War, and the only child who survived into adulthood. - Eddie Lincoln (1846–1850) – Died young.
- Willie Lincoln (1850–1862) – Died during the Civil War in the White House.
- Tad Lincoln (1853–1871) – Died in adolescence.
Their early deaths deeply affected the Lincoln family and contributed to Mary Todd Lincoln’s emotional struggles.
6. Lincoln’s Later Descendants
The line continues through Robert Todd Lincoln, who had children of his own, including:
- Mary Lincoln (1869–1938)
- Jessie Lincoln (1875–1948)
- Charles Isham (1883–1919)
- Mamie Lincoln (1869–1938)
- Jack Lincoln (1873–1890)
- Warren Beckwith (1874–1955)
- Mary Beckwith (1898–1975)
- Robert Beckwith (1904–1985) –
Widely regarded as the last direct descendant of Abraham Lincoln.
After Robert Beckwith’s death, the Lincoln bloodline ended, making him the final carrier of Abraham Lincoln’s direct lineage.
7. The Extended Connections (Hanks Line Descendants)
The chart also highlights distant relatives connected through the Hanks family, including notable modern individuals who share distant ancestry—showing how far the larger Hanks–Lincoln family tree extends.
