Abel T. Hensley (1822) and Margaret Tarrant of Lewis Co, TN

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I (Marty Grant) am not related to Enoch H. Hensley as far as I know.

Abel T. Hensley was born 19 Jan 1822 (per tombstone) in Tennessee, probably in Maury County (now Lewis County) where he was living later on. I don't know what the "T" middle initial stood for. I've also seen his first name listed as "Abraham", but most records show him as "Abel", so I'm not sure how to reconcile that. His tombstone simply has "A. T. Hensley".

Abel T. Hensley is a son of William Hensley (c1785) and Nancy Gardner. who were living with him in 1850 (strongly suggesting they were his parents). Abel seems to be a twin brother to Enoch H. Hensley (1822) as they share the same birth date.

Abel T. Hensley was probably home with his parents for the 1830 census, and should be in the 5-9 age group (born ca 1820/25), but for some reason in William's household, Abel and twin brother Enoch were apparently enumerated in the "under 5" age group (born ca 1825/30). This is a common census problem.

Abel was probably still home with his parents in 1840. He should be in age 15-19 group (born ca 1820/25), and sure enough, William Hensley had two apparent sons that age with him in 1840.

I did not find a marriage record, but Abel T. Hensley married Margaret Tarrant sometime between 1840 and 1850. They had no children listed in 1850, so perhaps they had not been married long by the time of that census. I'm presuming they married in Lewis County, but for some reason the marriage record did not get recorded. Margaret's maiden name is proven by her death certificate listing her parents as "William Tarrant" and "Catherine Sharp". Other researchers tell me that her father was not "William", but James Tarrant. I don't know what this is based on, so I'm not sure which is correct. Since Death Certificates are often wrong about the parents of the deceased, it isn't hard to accept that her parents could be listed incorrectly, however, since I don't know anything about the Tarrant family, I'll leave it up in the air for now. Margaret Tarrant was born 12 Feb 1831 (per death certificate).

Abel and Margaret were listed on the 1850 census in Lewis County, Tennessee. His parents William Hensley (c1785) and Nancy Gardner were residing with them.

1850 census abstract: (Explanation of this census)
(Note: The dates at the end of each line are not part of the original census, but are approximate birth years based on age)
1850 LEWIS CO, TN Page 783   House/Family #   40/  40  - Civil District 5

HENSLEY ABEL T        28 M W FARMER                 100 TN                   1821/1822
HENSLEY MARGARET      18 F W                            TN                   1831/1832
HENSLEY WILLIAM       65 M W NONE                  1500 NC                   1784/1785
HENSLEY NANCY         67 F W                            VA                   1782/1783
 

Abel and family were still in Lewis for the 1860 census next door to brother Enoch Hensley.

1860 census abstract: (Explanation of this census)
(Note: The dates at the end of each line are not part of the original census, but are approximate birth years based on age)
1860 LEWIS CO, TN Page 514   House/Family #  164/ 164 -- DISTRICT 5

HENSLEY ABEL T        38 M W FARMER                       TN                   1821/1822
HENSLEY MARGARETT     28 F W                              TN                   1831/1832
HENSLEY LUTHER         7 M W                              TN                   1852/1853
HENSLEY BASKI          6 M W                              TN                   1853/1854
HENSLEY CASSEMMA       4 F W                              TN                   1855/1856
HENSLEY THOMAS F       0 M W 10/12                        TN                   1859/1860
 

Abel and family were still in Lewis County for the 1870 census and in the midst of several siblings.

1870 census abstract: (Explanation of this census)
(Note: The dates at the end of each line are not part of the original census, but are approximate birth years based on age)
1870 LEWIS CO, TN Page 124B  House/Family #   12/  12--5th DISTRICT

HENSLEY A T           48 M W FARMER                 500   500 TN              1821/1822
HENSLEY MARGARET      38 F W KEEPING HOUSE                    TN              1831/1832
HENSLEY LUTHER        18 M W WORKS ON FARM                    TN              1851/1852
HENSLEY BASKI         16 M W WORKS ON FARM                    TN              1853/1854
HENSLEY CASANDER      15 F W AT HOME                          TN              1854/1855
HENSLEY WILLIAM C      7 M W AT HOME                          TN              1862/1863
HENSLEY JANE           5 F W                                  TN              1864/1865
HENSLEY GILBERT L      3 M W                                  TN              1866/1867
 

They were still in Lewis County for the 1880 census in District 5. ** I don't have this entry typed up yet.

Abel T. Hensley died on 15 Nov 1890 (per tombstone). He is buried at the Southern Methodist Cemetery.

I have not looked for Margaret Tarrant Hensley on the 1900 and 1910 census, but she was probably in Lewis County those years.

Margaret died on 8 Feb 1916 in Lewis Co, TN per her death certificate. (Online at the Lewis Co, TN GenWeb pages).

Children

Abel and Margaret had at least 9 children per the various census records. I don't have much additional data on any of them so far.

Researcher List

Persons researching this family (click here for data on how to get on or off of this list):

Register Report

1. Abel T1 Hensley , born 19 Jan 1822 in Maury Co, TN (now Lewis Co, TN); died 15 Nov 1890 in Lewis Co, TN; buried in Southern Methodist Cem, Lewis Co, TN, son of William Hensley  and Nancy Gardner .  He married in 1840/50 in Lewis Co, TN Margaret Tarrant , born 12 Feb 1831 in TN; died 8 Feb 1916 in Lewis Co, TN.

 

      Children of Abel T Hensley and Margaret Tarrant were as follows:

      2          i      Luther2 Hensley , born 1852/53 in Lewis Co, TN.

      3          ii      Baski2 Hensley , born 1853/54 in Lewis Co, TN; died aft 1880 in Perry Co, TN.

      4          iii      Cassandra2 Hensley , born 1855/56 in Lewis Co, TN; died aft 1860 in Lewis Co, TN.

      5          iv      Thomas F2 Hensley , born 1859 in Lewis Co, TN; died aft 1860 in Lewis Co, TN.

      6          v      William C2 Hensley , born 1861/62 in Lewis Co, TN.

      7          vi      Jane J2 Hensley , born 1864/65 in Lewis Co, TN.

      8          vii      Gilbert2 Hensley , born 1867/68 in Lewis Co, TN.

      9          viii      Luler2 Hensley , born 1871/72 in Lewis Co, TN.

      10         ix      Deller2 Hensley , born 1874/75 in Lewis Co, TN.

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