Anthony Hensley (c1792) and Mary --- and Rebecca Ward of VA and TN

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The author (Marty Grant) is not related to Anthony Hensley as far as can be determined. He did live in two of the same counties (Washington Co., VA and Knox Co, TN) as my ancestor Samuel Hensley (1801-1852).

Special thanks to Eddie L. Hensley for data shared on this family and other Knox Co, TN Hensleys.

Anthony Hensley was born ca 1790/91 per his age of 59 on the 1850 census. The same census shows he was born in Virginia. I don't know what county, but it is for he appeared there on the 1812 tax list (which was the year he probably turned 21), so that suggests he was in the area while a minor, so his parents must have been there also.

I don't know who Anthony Hensley's parents were, but I suspect he is a son of one of the several Washington Co, VA Hensleys.

Anthony would have been about 9 years old by the time of the 1800 census. Unfortunately that census is lost for Virginia and Tennessee.

Anthony would have been about 19 for the 1810 census. There were five Hensleys in Washington County that year, but all five had at least one apparent son in the proper age group (aged 16-25). Samuel Hensley (1755) had two boys this age, but they are solidly identified, so neither could be Anthony. William Hensley had two boys that age. Fielding Hensley (c1761) had 1 son that age (who is generally thought to be Zachariah Hensley (c1794)); Jesse Hensley (c1785) (son of Fielding) had two boys that age with him in 1810, one being himself obviously. The other could be a brother or brother-in-law; Elizabeth Hensley (bef 1765) (an apparent widow) had one boy that age also, and he is yet unidentified.

As you can see from the above the 1810 census provides no real strong clue who Anthony's parents were, though I'd have to say it was probably either William Hensley or widow Elizabeth Hensley. Census analysis alone isn't enough to be sure either way.

Anthony Hensley was listed on the 1812 Tax list for Washington County, VA as "Anthony Hansly". He is listed with one tithe (white males 16 and up), no horses and no slaves.

Anthony Hensley was listed on the 1813 Militia list for Washington Co, VA in the 105th Regiment. (Clark, Gerald H. The Militia of Washington County, VA Officers 1777-1835 Militia Men 1798-1835. 1979)

For the War of 1812 (1812-1815), Anthony Hensley was listed as a member of the 2nd Regiment (Lillard's) of the East Tennessee Volunteers, as a Private. (Thanks to Laura Schreibman for this).

Anthony was not listed on the 1814 tax list for Washington Co, TN, nor any later ones. This strongly suggests that he had moved into Tennessee by that time. Since he served in the War of 1812 (1812-1815) from Tennessee, I believe he must have moved there ca 1814.

It isn't clear when, but sometime prior to ca 1820, Anthony Hensley married someone, possibly Mary ---. I don't know for sure that his wife was Mary, but the 1850 census (Knox Co, TN) shows Mary, age 52 (born ca 1797/98) with some Hensley children. She fits the age of Anthony's apparent wife per the 1830 and 1840 census. The problem with this is that Anthony was still alive in 1850, but half way across the state in Bedford County, and had apparently remarried in 1845. This means that either Anthony and Mary were married, but divorced at some point, or that Mary was not his wife at all. However in regard to the proof (or lack of it), I'm going to leave Mary as Anthony's wife, and just assume (pending evidence to the contrary) that she and Anthony were later divorced.

Mary was born ca 1797/98 (per 1850 census), in Tennessee (county unknown). I don't know what her maiden name might have been, nor what county she and Anthony married in. No marriage record for them was found in Knox County.

The 1820 census was lost for all of Eastern Tennessee, so if Anthony was in Knox County at that time (as I'm sure he was), his census record is lost.

Anthony Hensley was listed on the 1830 census in Knox Co, TN, the only Hensley household listed there that year (though the only male Hensley listed, he wasn't the only Hensley in Knox then, as several married daughters of my Larkin Hensley (c1761) were there then, though none of them were listed anywhere near Anthony). Anthony Hensley was listed between the households of Marcus D. Bearden and Richard Bearden. (These same surnames were near Mary Hensley in 1850). None of the other nearby names were familiar to me. There were some Barger households on the previous page, and that might be significant (see notes for possible son George Hensley below).

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

1830 Knox Co, TN pg 316 Anthony Hensley 1000010000000-1110010000000
Analysis:
1 Male(s) 30-39        (1790-1800)	Anthony HENSLEY (1790/91) s/o William (1772)
1 Male(s) 0-4          (1825-1830)	William HENSLEY (1828/29) son
1 Female(s) 30-39      (1790-1800)	Mary ___ Hensley (1797/98) wife
1 Female(s) 10-14      (1815-1820)	Sarah A. Malinda HENSLEY (1819/20) daughter m 1833
1 Female(s) 5-9        (1820-1825)	Eliza HENSLEY (1824) daughter
1 Female(s) 0-4        (1825-1830)	Daughter? (1825/30)

Anthony Hensley was still in Knox County for the 1840 census, and once again, he was the only Hensley head of household listed in that county.  He was listed between John Little and Andrew Ballard.

1840 census analysis (based on available evidence): (Explanation of this census)

1840 Knox Co, TN pg 42 Antony Hensley 2010001000000-0111001000000
Analysis:
1 Male(s) 40-49        (1790-1800)	Anthony HENSLEY (1790/91) s/o William (1772)
1 Male(s) 10-14        (1825-1830)	William HENSLEY (1828/29) son
2 Male(s) 0-4          (1835-1840)	John HENSLEY (1834/35) son
					Jacob L. HENSLEY (1838/39) son
1 Female(s) 40-49      (1790-1800)	Mary ___ Hensley (1797/98) wife
1 Female(s) 15-19      (1820-1825)	Eliza HENSLEY (1824) daughter m 1848
1 Female(s) 10-14      (1825-1830)	Daughter? (1825/30) --> gone by 1850
1 Female(s) 5-9        (1830-1835)	Louinda HENSLEY (1830/31) daughter? --> gone by 1850

Between 1840 and 1845, something must have happened between Anthony and Mary, for Anthony married again on 1845, though Mary was still alive as late as 1850. This must mean that they divorced, or that I am mistaken about them having been husband and wife at all. A look into the court records for Knox County in the 1840-1845 timeframe might answer this question.

On 14 Oct 1845, Anthony Hensley married (or obtained a marriage bond to marry) Rebecca Ward in Lincoln County, Tennessee. Lincoln County is halfway across the state from Knox County, so I can't imagine how (or why) Anthony wound up there. I have no additional data on Rebecca, not her birth date or parents names. The 1840 census shows five Ward households in Lincoln County, including an apparent widow Rebecca Ward (c1800/10). Was she the one Anthony married? Perhaps so. Her census entry showed six apparent children (1 boy, 5 girls.)

There were Hensleys in Lincoln County in 1840 Azariah Hensley (c1800/10), Joseph Hensley (c1804) and Peter V. Hensley (1810/15). Joseph and Azariah were out of Caswell Co., NC. No data on Peter Hensley.

Anthony and family were in Bedford County (borders Lincoln) by 1850. Rebecca apparently died between 1845 and 1850, for she was not with Anthony in 1850. There were other Hensleys in Bedford before Anthony arrived there, but I don't know of any connection. They did not seem to live in the same part of Bedford County. (See pages for Franklin Hensley (c1813) and Harris Hensley (c1820) for more on the other Bedford Hensleys).

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 BEDFORD CO, TN Page 210   House/Family #   50/  50  - 20th Civil District Twp

HENSLEY ANTHONY       59 M W SHOE MAKER                 VA                   1790/1791
HENSLEY RUFUS          4 M W                            TN                   1845/1846
 

I did not find Anthony Hensley on the 1860 census in Tennessee, or in other states. I couldn't find his son Rufus either. I also checked for them both in 1870 with no success.

Mary (---) Hensley, who we've assumed was Anthony's first wife, was still in Knox Co, TN for the 1850 census, and living with daughter Sarah and her husband. Numerous other Hensleys were nearby, most fairly young, and living with other families. Were these her children?

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 KNOX CO, TN Page 234   House/Family # 1994/2003  - 15th Subdivision Twp

BEAN HENRY A          30 M W FARMER                     TN                   1819/1820
BEAN SARAH A M        30 F W                            TN                   1819/1820
BEAN MARY J J          9 F W                            TN                   1840/1841
BEAN JOHN A            7 M W                            TN                   1842/1843
BEAN SARAH A M         4 F W                            TN                   1845/1846
BEAN GEORGE W          3 M W                            TN                   1846/1847
HENSLEY MARY          52 F W                            TN                   1797/1798
HENSLEY JACOB L       11 M W                            TN                   1838/1839
 

I do not have Mary Hensley on the 1860 census. She may have died before then, or perhaps I have just missed her. She was not with the Bean family in 1860 nor with son Jacob Hensley.

Children of Anthony Hensley and Mary and Rebecca Ward.  Anthony Hensley had several children with him per the 1830 and 1840 census records, and only one child with him in 1850 (apparently from his 2nd marriage). His apparent ex-wife Mary (not proven) had one child with her in 1850, and they were both living with another apparent child, now married. These three (Sarah, Jacob and Rufus) are the only children I would say are conclusively Anthony's, however there were several others in Knox Co, TN who married there in the 1830's through 1850's, some of whom could be Anthony's. There are too many of them for them all to be his, but quite a few of them were found in Knox on the 1850 census very close to Mary Hensley, Anthony's assumed ex-wife. This suggest they were all related to Anthony one way or another.

Sarah A. Malinda Hensley (c1820)

Unknown Daughter (1820/25)

Unknown Daughter (1825/30)

Unknown Son (1825/30)

Unknown Daughter (1830/35)

Unknown Son (1835/40)

Jacob L. Hensley (c1835)

Rufus Hensley (c1846)

Sarah A. Malinda Hensley was born ca 1819/20 in Tennessee, presumably Knox County. Since Mary Hensley (c1798) was living with Malinda in 1850, I think that makes it likely that they are mother and daughter.

Malinda was probably home with parents in 1820, but that census record is lost. She was apparently home with her parents for the 1830 census (listed in the age 10-14 category, born ca 1815/20).

On 20 Nov 1833, James Poe married "Malinda Hensley" in Knox Co, TN (or that is the date of the marriage bond, I'm not sure which). I have no data on James Poe so far.

I did not find James Poe on the 1840 census in Knox County. There was one in Franklin County and one in Rutherford County. Neither of those counties are near Knox.

James Poe died sometime prior to 1841, for on 1 Oct 1841 "Malinda Poe" married Henry Bean in Knox Co, TN. Henry A. Bean (or Henry H. Bean) was born ca 1819/20 in Tennessee.

Henry and Malinda and family were listed on the 1850 census in Knox Co, TN. Mary Hensley (c1798), Malinda's presumed mother was living with them, as was Jacob L. Hensley (c1839), her presumed brother. Several other Hensleys were listed very close by.

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 KNOX CO, TN Page 234   House/Family # 1994/2003  - 15th Subdivision Twp

BEAN HENRY A          30 M W FARMER                     TN                   1819/1820
BEAN SARAH A M        30 F W                            TN                   1819/1820
BEAN MARY J J          9 F W                            TN                   1840/1841
BEAN JOHN A            7 M W                            TN                   1842/1843
BEAN SARAH A M         4 F W                            TN                   1845/1846
BEAN GEORGE W          3 M W                            TN                   1846/1847
HENSLEY MARY          52 F W                            TN                   1797/1798
HENSLEY JACOB L       11 M W                            TN                   1838/1839
 

Sarah A. Malinda Hensley Bean died in Feb 1860 in Knox County, per the 1860 Census Mortality Schedule which listed her as "Sarah A. M. Bean" age 40, married, died Feby in District 11.

For the 1860 census Henry and children were in District 11, next door to brother-in-law Jacob 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 KNOX CO, TN Page 231   House/Family #  136/ 135 -- DISTRICT 11 Twp

BEAN HENRY A          40 M W FARMING                  354 TN                   1819/1820
BEAN MARY J           20 F W                              TN                   1839/1840
BEAN JONN A           16 M W                              TN                   1843/1844
BEAN SARAH A M        15 F W                              TN                   1844/1845
BEAN GEORGE W         13 M W                              TN                   1846/1847
BEAN CASANDER          8 F W                              TN                   1851/1852
BEAN WILLIAM L         1 M W                              TN                   1858/1859 

Henry A. Bean married again on 3 Sep 1860 to Harriet E. Clark in Knox Co, TN.

They were listed on the 1870 and 1880 census in Knox Co., TN.

Unknown Daughter (1820/25). Anthony Hensley had an apparent daughter this age. She was with him in 1830 (age 5-9, born ca 1820/25), and with him still in 1840 (age 15-19, born ca 1820/25). She was not with Anthony or Mary in 1850, so presumably she married or died in the 1840-50 timeframe. There were three marriages for female Hensleys in the 1840's in Knox Co, TN. James N. Crawford and Caroline Hensley (married 1846); Eliza Hensley and John A. Johnson (m 1848) and Eliza J. Hensley and Leander Hubbs (Hobbs) (m 1846). One of these three could be this daughter.

Of these, Eliza Hensley Johnson was born ca 1821/22 (which fits age-wise), but born in Virginia, which doesn't quite work, but might be accurate. Eliza and her husband John A. Johnson were not close to Mary Hensley et all in 1850, but were roughly 150 households away.

Eliza J. Hensley Hobbs was born ca 1828/29 which does not fit here, but does fit in the next "unknown daughter" age group below. If this Eliza belongs to Anthony and Mary, then the other Eliza can not, unless they named two daughters "Eliza", which is unlikely.

Caroline Hensley Crawford is mostly unknown to me at present. I have no additional data on her or husband James N. Crawford. I did not find them in 1850 Knox County.

Of the above, Eliza Hensley Johnson is the only one who fits (pending more data on Caroline), but for some reason, I don't feel she is the one. Data shared with me by another researcher shows that this Eliza Hensley Johnson is buried in the same cemetery in Anderson Co, TN where Jacob L. Hensley (c1839) is buried, probably indicating they are related, though not proving they are siblings.

Unknown Daughter (1825/30). Anthony Hensley had an apparent daughter this age. She was with him in 1830 (age "under 5", born ca 1825/30), and with him still in 1840 (age 10-14, born ca 1825/30). She was not with Anthony or Mary in 1850, so presumably she married or died in the 1840-50 timeframe. There were three marriages for female Hensleys in the 1840's in Knox Co, TN. James N. Crawford and Caroline Hensley (married 1846); Eliza Hensley and John A. Johnson (m 1848) and Eliza J. Hensley and Leander Hubbs (Hobbs) (m 1846). One of these three could be this daughter.

Of these, Eliza J. Hensley Hobbs was born ca 1828/29 which fits here, and Eliza was reasonably close to Mary Hensley et al, (40 households away).

Caroline Hensley Crawford is mostly unknown to me at present. I have no additional data on her or husband James N. Crawford. I did not find them in 1850 Knox County.

Of the above, Eliza J. Hensley Hobbs is the only one who fits (pending more data on Caroline), and I'm somewhat confidant that she does belong in this family, but I'm not ready to commit to that yet.

Unknown Son (1825/30). Anthony Hensley had an apparent son this age. He was with him in 1830 (age "under 5", born ca 1825/30), and with him still in 1840 (age 10-14, born ca 1825/30). He was not with Anthony or Mary in 1850, so presumably he married or died in the 1840-50 timeframe, or was just living elsewhere.  The only male Hensley marriage recorded in Knox County in the 1840's was that of George W. Barger Hensley who married in August 1840. George was born ca 1815/16 in Virginia, so he does not fit at all.

There were some other male Hensleys in 1850 Knox County who were living with other families. One of them, Henderson Hensley (c1828) fits age-wise. He was born in TN and residing with Andrew and Sarah (---) Knott, though nowhere near the other Hensleys. His age is a good match, but other than that, I have nothing that connects him to the Anthony Hensley family so far.

There was a William A. Hensley (c1829) who was residing near Mary Hensley et al in 1850, and he was living with the George W. Barger Hensley mentioned before. At first glance you would assume they must be brothers, but that is not necessarily the case. They could be 1st cousins instead. If so, then William is a prime suspect to be this unknown son of Anthony and Mary.

Henderson (c1828) and William A. Hensley (c1829) are the only two suspects for this unknown son of Anthony Hensley. Of these two, I'd say William is more likely, but can't prove it either way.

Unknown Daughter (1830/35). Anthony Hensley had an apparent daughter this age. She was with him in 1840 (age 5-9, born ca 1830/35). She was not with Anthony or Mary in 1850, so presumably she married or died in the 1840-50 timeframe. As mentioned before, there were three female Hensleys who married in the 1840-50 timeframe in Knox County. Though from what I've found, none of them were this age.

There was a Louinda Hensley born ca 1830/31 in TN, residing with Robert Johnsine (Johnson?) (c1812) and Elizabeth Johnsine (c1775) in Knox Co, TN. She was roughly 100 households from Mary Hensley (c1798) et al, but she could be this unknown daughter.

Besides Louinda, I have no suspects to identify this unknown daughter.

Unknown Son (1835/40). Anthony Hensley had an apparent son this age. He was with him in 1840 (age "under 5", born ca 1835/40). He was not with Anthony or Mary in 1850, so presumably he married (unlikely) or died in the 1840-50 timeframe or was living elsewhere.

There are two suspects for this unknown son. There was a William Hensley (c1834/35) who was residing with Elcana and Margaret Shipe in 1850 Knox Co, TN, about 20 households from Louinda Hensley, mentioned above.

The other suspect is John Hensley (c1834/35) who was with Nicholas and Mary Barger in 1850 Knox Co, TN. He was only 9 households from Mary Hensley (c1798), so he is the more likely suspect in my view.

Another possible is Richard F. Hensley (c1836) who was in Knox County also, though not found in 1850.

Jacob L. Hensley was born ca 1838/39 in Knox Co, TN. He was apparently with his parents for the 1840 census (age "under 5", born ca 1835/40). He was with his mother Mary in 1850 Knox Co, TN.

Jacob L. Hensley married Catherine Clowers on 2 Jun 1858 in Knox Co, TN. They were married by J. F. Bunker, MG (Minister of the Gospel). Isaac Price was bondsman.

She was born ca 1838/39, presumably in Knox Co, TN. I don't know her parents.

Jacob and Catherine were listed in Knox Co, TN for the 1860 census next door to brother-in-law Henry Bean's family in District 11.

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 KNOX CO, TN Page 231   House/Family #  137/ 136 -- DISTRICT 11 Twp

HENSLEY JACOB         21 M W LABOUR                    50 TN                   1838/1839
HENSLEY CATHARINE C   21 F W                              TN                   1838/1839

Jacob and Catherine moved to neighboring Anderson Co, TN by 1870 and were listed there on that census.

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)

ANDERSON CO, TN Page 79    House/Family #   47/  47--8th DISTRICT Twp ROBERTSVILLE P.O.

HENSLEY JACOB         25 M W FARMER                       225 TN              1844/1845
HENSLEY CATHRON       28 F W KEEPING HOUSE                    TN              1841/1842
HENSLEY JOHN E         9 M W                                  TN              1860/1861
HENSLEY JAMES H        4 M W                                  TN              1865/1866
HENSLEY ELEN C         1 F W                                  TN              1868/1869

I found them in 1880 still in Anderson Co, TN.

1880 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)

ANDERSON CO, TN Page 79    House/Family #    40/  40 -- 8th CIVIL DISTRICT Twp

HENSLEY JACOB                  W M  44    M FARMER               TN  TN  TN  1835/1836
HENSLEY CATHARINE              W F  45 WF M KEEPING HOUSE        TN  TN  TN  1834/1835
HENSLEY JOHN                   W M  18 S  S FARMING              TN  TN  TN  1861/1862
HENSLEY JAMES                  W M  14 S  S FARMING              TN  TN  TN  1865/1866
HENSLEY WILLIAM                W M   8 S  S                      TN  TN  TN  1871/1872
HENSLEY HENRY C                W M   6 S  S                      TN  TN  TN  1873/1874
HENSLEY CHARLES S              W M   3 S  S                      TN  TN  TN  1876/1877

I couldn't find them on the 1900 census.

Rufus Hensley was born ca 1845/46 in either Lincoln or Bedford Co, TN. Presumably he was the only child born to Anthony Hensley and his second wife Rebecca Ward. Rufus was with Anthony for the 1850 census in Bedford Co, TN.

I did not find Rufus after 1850.

Researcher List

Persons researching this family (Contact me to add, change or delete your listing here):

• Marie Brown = (Anthony-Jacob-Joseph-)
• Mary Beth Hensley Buerkle = (Anthony-William-James-)
• Eddie L. Hensley =  (Anthony-Jacob L-)

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