Abram Hensley (c1800/10) of Buncombe and Yancey Co, NC

martygrant.com: Home > Genealogy > Hensley > Families > Abram


[Commentary] [Children] [Researcher List] [Register Report] [A Note about sources] [How to contact me] [Home]


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

Abram (or "Abraham") Hensley was born ca 1800/10 in Buncombe Co, NC (now Yancey Co, NC). This is based on his age on the 1830 census (age 20-29, born ca 1800/10).

I don't know who Abram's parents were. There are several possibilities. I've done some census analysis to try to narrow the suspects down a little, but that isn't conclusive, but it should be somewhat helpful. Presumably, he would have been home with his parents for the 1810 and 1820 census (assuming he wasn't an orphan and raised by someone else).

In 1810, Abram would have presumably been enumerated in the "under 10" age group (born ca 1800/10). In 1810 there were several Hensley households in Buncombe with at least one male under age 10 (born ca 1800/10). One of these might be parents of Abram Hensley: James Hensley (c1780), John Hensley (c1765/74), Washington Hensley (1774/84), James Hensley (bef 1755), Benjamin Hensley (c1790), Berry Hensley (c1783), Henry Hensley (c1781), Colbert Hensley (c1760/65), and Lewis Hensley (c1784/90). Those are too many choices!

In 1820, Abram Hensley could have been in either the age 10-15 group (born 1804/1810), or in the 16-25 group (1794/1804), depending on when he was born exactly. In 1820, there were only four Hensley households with at least one male age 10-15 (c1804/10), which might be parents of Abram Hensley: James Hensley (c1780), John Hensley (c1794/1800), Benjamin Hensley (c1790), and Berry Hensley (c1783).  That narrows down the list of suspects considerably, but still does not prove who his parents were. Since he might have been in the age 16-25 (c1794/1804) category in 1820 instead, that adds one more possibility: Harry Hensley Sr (bef 1755).

Of course the above does not mean he had to be a child of one of those listed. There are other possibilities as well. (For example, he could have been orphaned, and raised by other relatives, or his father could have died, and his mother remarried, and he was in the household of a step-father).

Abram Hensley married someone ca 1825/30 in Buncombe Co, NC (now Yancey Co, NC). I don't know who she was, but they had at least one child (born ca 1825/30) so that is what I base the probable marriage years on.

Abram Hensley was listed on the 1830 census in Buncombe County, NC next door to John Hensley (c1794/1800) and Daniel Heddrick. It is noteworthy that John Hensley (c1794/1800) had someone Abram's age with him in 1820. This might make them brothers or father and son (though this latter choice doesn't seem likely due to their closeness in age).  Abram's name was abbreviated on this census as "Abrm", while in most other cases the name "Abraham" was written out by this census taker, or abbreviated as "Abr". This makes me reasonably sure that his name was "Abram" and not "Abraham", but this isn't conclusive.

1830 census analysis (based on available evidence): (Explanation of this census)

1830 Buncombe County, NC pg 296 Abrm Hensely 0000100000000-2000100000000
Analysis:
1 Male(s) 20-29        (1800-1810)	Abram HENSLEY (1800/10) s/o ?
1 Female(s) 20-29      (1800-1810)	Wife? (1800/10)
2 Female(s) 0-4        (1825-1830)	Daughter? (1825/30)
					Daughter? (1825/30)

Yancey County was created in 1833 from the section of Buncombe where most of the Hensleys resided.

I did not find Abram Hensley on the 1840 census in NC or other nearby states. There was an "Abraham Hinsley" listed on the 1840 census for Washington Co, Missouri. However, his 1840 census records do not correlate with Abram's 1830 census record, so I don't feel they are the same person.

Since I didn't find Abram in 1840 (or 1850), I can only imagine two scenarios. One: He died after 1830 in NC or elsewhere. Or two: He used more than one name, and "Abram" wasn't the name he normally went by.

Assuming that he died, I did find a widow in 1840 Yancey Co, NC who fits somewhat. I'm referring to Dorcas Hensley (c1796). Dorcas was listed on the 1840 census as an apparent widow, with several children born after 1830, but one daughter born ca 1825/30. Abram had two girls in that age group, so that is the only match between Abram in 1830 and Dorcas in 1840. Dorcas was older than Abram's apparent wife, so it doesn't really match up, but should be considered a possibility that she was his wife.

I have no additional data on Abram Hensley beyond the 1830 census.


Children

Abram Hensley and his wife had two children per the 1830 census.

Unknown Daughter (1825/30)

Unknown Daughter (1825/30)


Researcher List

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


Register Report

Nothing to report so far


martygrant.com: Home > Genealogy > Hensley > Families > Abram