Abishai Hensley and Mary --- of Buncombe Co, NC and Calloway Co, KY

I believe this family used the "Henslee" spelling more often than "Hensley", especially in later years.

Abishai Hensley was born ca 1788/89 in Virginia (both facts per the 1850 census).

I don't know who Abishai's parents might have been. The fact that he lived in Buncombe Co, NC in 1820 and 1830 makes it seem likely he is connected to the other Buncombe County Hensley families. However, he lived in the section of Buncombe County that later became Henderson County (in 1838), and that is quite a distance from the other Hensleys, who all lived on the opposite end of Buncombe in the region that became Yancey County in 1833. This distance may not be significant, but it might mean something. For example, Abishai and Joab Hensley (suspected brothers) might not be related to the other Hensleys in the area, and they may have arrived in the area from elsewhere in NC. This is just a possibility, I have no proof to back that up. Consider the Henslee spelling of the name. None of the others in Buncombe / Yancey used that spelling, but the Caswell Co, NC Hensley's did. Just food for thought.

At this time, my prime suspect for their father is a Benjamin Hensley (bef 1755) who lived in Greenville Dist, SC in 1800 and 1810, and may be the same Benjamin living near Abishai in 1820 Buncombe Co, NC. He is a good suspect for several reasons. 1- He was near Abishai in 1820. 2- He had (per the 1800 and 1810 census) a son Abishai's age. 3- He also had a son (per 1800 and 1810 census) the age of Joab Hensley (1796), Abishai's suspected brother. 4- Both Abishai and Joab named sons "Benjamin". All of those are circumstantial, but all I can come up with at present.

Presumably, Abishai Hensley would have been home with his parents for the 1790, 1800 and 1810 census.

In 1790, Abishai would have been about 1 year old, so he should be enumerated in the "Under 16" age group (born ca 1774/1790). The fact that he was born in Virginia just 1 year before 1790, may mean that his family was still in VA in 1790, so none of the "suspects" from North Carolina in 1790 may actually be his immediate family. Unfortunately, the 1790 census was lost for Virginia, so no help there. His younger brother (suspected), Joab Hensley was born 1796 in NC, so that means the family did come to NC between ca 1789 and ca 1796.

In 1790, there were not too many Hensley's listed, but most had at least one male "Under 16", or born ca 1774/1790. I'll only list those in our area of interest. In Burke Co, NC, there was Benjamin Hensley (c1730), Henry Hensley (bef 1755), Hickman Hensley (1759), and James Hensley (bef 1755). All of these had at least one male under 16. I'd remove Hickman from the possibilities, as I believe all his children are accounted for. In Lincoln Co, NC in 1790 was a Ben Hinsly, who might be the same Benjamin later in Greenville Dist, SC, or perhaps not. But he had 3 sons under 16.

In 1800, Abishai would have been about 11 years old, so he should be enumerated in the 10-15 age group (born ca 1784/90). In Buncombe County, there were only two with at least one male that age: Henry Hensley (bef 1755), Hickman Hensley (1759). Of these, Hickman probably isn't a suspect, leaving only Henry. In neighboring Burke County we had one suspect: Benjamin Hensley (bef 1755). In 1800 Greenville Dist, SC was Benjamin Hensley (bef 1755), with two son's the right age.

In 1810, Abishai would have been about 21 years old, so he should be enumerated in the 16-25 age group (born ca 1784/94). In Buncombe Co, NC in 1810 there were only two suspects with a male this age: Henry Hensley (bef 1755), and John Hensley (1765/74). Benjamin Hensley (bef 1755) of Greenville Dist, SC had 2 sons this age in 1810.

Abishai Hensley married Mary --- ca 1810/15, presumably in Buncombe Co, NC. I don't know what her maiden name might have been. She was born ca 1791/92 in SC.

I did not find Abishai Hensley on the 1820 census, but there was an "Elisha Hensley" (clearly saying "Elisha") in Buncombe Co, NC, whom I believe was actually Abishai, and just written down wrong. I could be wrong about this, but after years of searching, I've never found an Elisha Hensley in that area, so I think this was Abishai (the names are similar too, so that helps). He was listed in Buncombe County, NC just a few houses from a Benjamin Hensley (bef 1775), who might be Benjamin Hensley (bef 1755), formerly of Burke County, or this could be a different Benjamin. Benjamin of Burke Co, NC was one of those suspected to be Abishai's father, so this may be more proof to support that possibility. They were not anywhere near any other Hensleys in 1820. His neighbors in 1820 were John McKinney and John Heatherly. Based on an analysis of these, and other neighbors, they were clearly in the section of Buncombe County that later became Henderson County (in 1838), so that puts Abishai and Benjamin far away from the other Hensley families in Buncombe. There was a Benjamin Hensley in Greenville Dist, SC in 1810 who's age matches this Benjamin in 1820 Buncombe, and who had sons the same age as Abishai and Joab Hensley, and he was not listed in Greenville in 1820, so that could be a suspect for their father. I have no data on that Benjamin so far. Since Abishai's wife was born in SC, that may be a good clue that he married there before moving to Buncombe Co, NC.

Abishai Hensley was listed on the 1830 census in Buncombe Co, NC, clearly in the area that later became Henderson County (in 1838). He was one page from Joab Hensley (1796), his suspected brother. No other Hensleys were nearby. His next door neighbors were John Shadwick and Thomas Redding.

Abishai and family left Buncombe Co, NC in the 1830's and moved to Calloway Co, KY. They were listed in Calloway Co, KY for the 1840 census, the only Hensleys there for that year.

Abishai Hensley and family were listed on the 1850 census in Calloway Co, KY. His brother Joab Hensley was just 3 pages away.

Abishai Hensley was listed on the 1860 census in Calloway Co, KY on page 346. I don't have the actual listing yet.

Children

Abishai and Mary Hensley had ten children, per the 1830 through 1850 census records. Some are still unknown.

Unknown Daughter (1810/20). Abishai Hensley had an apparent daughter this age with him for the 1820 census, but she was gone by 1830, so either married or died by then.

Unknown Daughter (1815/20). Abishai Hensley had an apparent daughter this age with him for the 1820, 1830 and 1840 census, but she was gone by 1850, so either married or died by then.

Unknown Son (1820/25) Abishai Hensley had an apparent son this age with him for the 1830 census, but he was gone by 1840, so either married or died by then.

There were no male Hensley's this age listed on the 1840 census in Calloway Co, KY.

In 1850 Calloway Co, KY there was a B. E. Henslee (born 11 Apr 1825), but I feel strongly that he was Joab Henslee's son and not Abishai's, but I could be wrong about that.

Unknown Daughter (1820/25). Abishai Hensley had an apparent daughter this age with him for the 1830 census, but she was gone by 1840, so either married or died by then.

I'm not sure where I got it from, but someone told me about Elizabeth Hensley who married a "Canada", and that she was a daughter of Abishai. I found an Elizabeth Canada in 1850 Calloway Co, KY very near the Henslee families, and she was the right age, and born in NC. I don't know what evidence there is that Elizabeth was a Hensley though, but she does fit based on available evidence.

This Elizabeth was born ca 1820/21 in NC, presumably in Buncombe Co, NC (now Henderson Co, NC). She fits with the daughter (1820/25) that was with Abishai in 1830. Elizabeth married D. G. Canada ca 1838 or so in Calloway Co, KY.

I did not look for them on the 1840 census, but in 1850 they were very close to her parents (one page away) in Calloway Co, KY.

Unknown Daughter (1820/25). Abishai Hensley had an apparent daughter this age with him for the 1830 census, but she was gone by 1840, so either married or died by then.

Unknown Daughter (1820/25). Abishai Hensley had an apparent daughter this age with him for the 1830 and 1840 census, but she was gone by 1850, so either married or died by then.

Unknown Daughter (1825/30). Abishai Hensley had an apparent daughter this age with him for the 1830 and 1840 census, but she was gone by 1850, so either married or died by then.

B. F. Henslee was born ca 1827/28 in Buncombe (now Henderson) Co, NC. I don't know what his initials stood for, possibly "Benjamin Franklin"?

He was apparently home with his parents for the 1830 and 1840 census, and with them in 1850.

B. F. Hensley was listed on the 1860 census index in Calloway Co, KY on page 356.

Joab W. Henslee was born ca 1829/30 in Buncombe (now Henderson) Co, NC. He was probably named for his Uncle Joab Hensley.

Joab was apparently not home with his parents for the 1830 census, so probably born later that year. He was apparently with them in 1840, and with them in 1850.

Researcher List

1. Abishai¹ Hensley , born 1788/89 in VA, son of (---) Hensley . He married bef 1820 in Buncombe Co, NC (now Henderson Co, NC) Mary (---) , born 1791/92 in SC.

Children of Abishai Hensley and Mary (---) were as follows:

+ 2 i Elizabeth² Hensley , born 1820/21 in Buncombe Co, NC (now Henderson Co, NC); died 4 Aug 1857 in Calloway Co, KY. She married D G Canada .

3 ii B F² Hensley , born 1827/28 in Buncombe Co, NC (now Henderson Co, NC).

4 iii Joab W² Hensley , born 1829/30 in Buncombe Co, NC (now Henderson Co, NC); died 27 Jul 1852 in Calloway Co, KY.

Generation 2

2. Elizabeth² Hensley (Abishai¹), born 1820/21 in Buncombe Co, NC (now Henderson Co, NC); died 4 Aug 1857 in Calloway Co, KY. She married bef 1839 in Calloway Co, KY D G Canada , born 1815/16 in KY.

Children of Elizabeth Hensley and D G Canada were as follows:

5 i William W³ Canada , born 1838/39 in Calloway Co, KY.

6 ii Mary F³ Canada , born 1840/41 in Calloway Co, KY.

7 iii Martha A³ Canada , born 1843/44 in Calloway Co, KY.

8 iv C A³ Canada , born 1848/49 in Calloway Co, KY.