Is it possible that one of history's most towering figures owes his greatness to a woman shrouded in mystery? Indeed, the life of Nancy Hanks Lincoln, the mother of Abraham Lincoln, is a testament to the profound impact a parent can have, even when their own story is veiled in obscurity. Her influence on the future president, though cut short by tragedy, is undeniable. Nancy Hanks Lincoln, the woman who bore the sixteenth President of the United States, remains an enigma in many respects. Born on February 5, 1784, her early life is a tapestry of fragmented details and conflicting accounts. Some records place her birth in Hampshire County, (West) Virginia specifically, in a humble cabin nestled along Mike's Run, at the base of New Creek Mountain, in what is now Mineral County, West Virginia. Other accounts suggest Campbell County in southwestern Virginia as her birthplace. Adding to the mystery, the identity of her father has never been definitively established, a void that has fueled speculation and debate for generations.

Category	Information
Full Name	Nancy Hanks Lincoln
Birth Date	February 5, 1784
Birth Place	Hampshire County, (West) Virginia (conflicting accounts exist)
Death Date	October 5, 1818
Death Place	Little Pigeon Creek Settlement, Spencer County, Indiana
Cause of Death	Milk Sickness
Burial Location	Next to Nancy Rusher Brooner, Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial, Indiana
Spouse	Thomas Lincoln (married June 1806)
Children	Abraham Lincoln, Sarah Lincoln, Thomas Lincoln Jr.
Occupation	Homemaker
Legacy	Mother of Abraham Lincoln, instilled values of honesty, compassion, and intellectual curiosity in her son.
Reference	National Park Service - Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial