Armstrong Hensley (c1826) and Barbary Higgins of Washington and Unicoi Co, TN

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

Armstrong Hensley was born ca 1825/26 in Washington Co, TN (now Unicoi Co, TN). I've seen his given name listed various ways, including "Armstrong", "Armisted", "Olmstead", and other ways. I'm not sure that "Armstrong" is the correct spelling or pronunciation.

I don't know who Armstrong's parents were for sure, but I strongly suspect he was a son of Benjamin Hensley (c1793) and Louisa ---. He fits there very well based on circumstantial evidence. Benjamin had an apparent son his age with him in 1830 and 1840. In 1850 and 1860 Armstrong was near Benjamin.

Armstrong would presumably have been home with his parents for the 1830 and 1840 census.

In 1830, Armstrong would have been about 4 years old, so should be enumerated in the age "under 5" category (born ca 1825/30). In 1830 Washington Co, TN, there were several Hensley households with a male child this age, including Benjamin Hensley (c1793). William Hensley (c1797) also had a son this age. John Hensley (c1808) also had a son this age, but he is already accounted for.

In 1840, Armstrong would have been about 14 years old, so should be enumerated in the age 10-14 category (born ca 1825/30). There were three Hensley households with a male that age: John Hensley (c1808), but his son that is already accounted for; Benjamin Hensley (c1793), and Pleasant Hensley (c1799). Though Armstrong fits in each of these houses, for various reasons, I'm fairly sure he was with Benjamin.

On 22 Feb 1846, Armstrong Hensley obtained a marriage bond in Washington Co, TN to marry Barbary Higgins. They were married on 22 Jul 1846. Barbary was born ca 1821/22 in Buncombe (now Yancey) Co, NC. She was a child of Holland Higgins and Barbara Hensley (daughter of Henry Hensley Sr). If Armstrong is a son of Benjamin Hensley, as I suspect, that would make him and Barbary 1st cousins.

On the 1850 census, Armstrong and family were listed next door to his suspected parents Benjamin and Louisa Hensley. Their neighbors on the other side was probable brother William S. Hensley (c1811).

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 WASHINGTON CO, TN Page 198   House/Family # 1340/1369  - 4th Subdivision

HENSLY OLMSTEAD       24 M W FARMER                     TN                   1825/1826
HENSLY BARBARY        28 F W                            NC                   1821/1822
HENSLY JAMES W         7 M W                            TN                   1842/1843
HENSLY MARY            4 F W                            TN                   1845/1846
HENSLY BENJAMIN        3 M W                            TN                   1846/1847

Armstrong Hensley was listed on the 1860 census in Washington Co, TN next door to Lucinda Hensley (c1820), relationship unknown.

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 WASHINGTON CO, TN Page 209B  House/Family # 1114/1114 -- 18th DISTRICT

HENSLEY ARMSTRONG     37 M W FARMER             500   200 TN                   1822/1823
HENSLEY BARBARA       39 F W                              NC                   1820/1821
HENSLEY JAMES W       17 M W                              NC                   1842/1843
HENSLEY MARY          15 F W                              NC                   1844/1845
HENSLEY BENJAMIN      13 M W                              NC                   1846/1847
HENSLEY BARNET        10 M W                              NC                   1849/1850
HENSLEY JOHN           9 M W                              TN                   1850/1851
HENSLEY ELLIS          5 M W                              TN                   1854/1855
HENSLEY SAMUEL         4 M W                              TN                   1855/1856
HENSLEY ELIZABETH      0 F W 8/12                         TN                   1859/1860
 

Armstrong and family were on the 1870 census in Washington Co, TN on page 378: Armstrong Hensley-50, Barbary-49, James-26, Barnett-19, John-16, Ellis-14, Samuel-12, Sylvania-1. (From "Hensley Households" by Laura Schreibman).

In 1875, Unicoi County was created from the southern portion of Washington County. Many of the former Washington County Hensleys were in the bounds of the new county.

Armstrong Hensley and family were listed on the 1880 census in Unicoi Co, TN. ** I don't have this entry typed up yet.

I have no data on the family beyond this point.


Children

Armstrong and Barbary had at least nine children per the 1850 through 1870 census records. I have very little additional data on any of them yet.


Researcher List

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


Register Report


1. Armstrong1 Hensley , born 1825/26 in Washington Co, TN (now Unicoi Co, TN); died aft 1880 in Unicoi Co, TN.  He married on 22 Jul 1846 in Washington Co, TN (now Unicoi Co, TN) Barbara Higgins , born 1821/22 in Buncombe Co, NC (now Yancey Co, NC); died aft 1880 in Unicoi Co, TN, daughter of Holland Higgins  and Barbara Hensley .

 

      Children of Armstrong Hensley and Barbara Higgins were as follows:

      2          i      James W2 Hensley , born 1842/43 in Washington Co, TN (now Unicoi Co, TN).  He married on 20 Mar 1877 in Yancey Co, NC Mary Hensley , born 1829/30 in NC.

      3          ii      Mary2 Hensley , born 1845/46 in Washington Co, TN.

+    4          iii      Benjamin2 Hensley , born 1846/47 in Washington Co, TN (now Unicoi Co, TN).  He married Sarah (---) .

+    5          iv      Barnett2 Hensley , born 1850 in Washington Co, TN (now Unicoi Co, TN).  He married Eliza J (---) .

      6          v      John2 Hensley , born 1850/51 in Washington Co, TN (now Unicoi Co, TN).

      7          vi      Ellis2 Hensley , born 1854/55 in Washington Co, TN (now Unicoi Co, TN).

      8          vii      Samuel2 Hensley , born 1855/56 in Washington Co, TN (now Unicoi Co, TN).

      9          viii      Elizabeth2 Hensley , born 1859 in Washington Co, TN (now Unicoi Co, TN).

      10         ix      Sylvania2 Hensley , born 1868/69 in Washington Co, TN (now Unicoi Co, TN).

 

Generation 2

 

4. Benjamin2 Hensley  (Armstrong1), born 1846/47 in Washington Co, TN (now Unicoi Co, TN).  He married bef 1870 in Washington Co, TN (now Unicoi Co, TN) Sarah (---) , born 1849/50 in GA.

 

      Children of Benjamin Hensley and Sarah (---) were as follows:

      11         i      Barbara Jane3 Hensley , born 1869/70 in Washington Co, TN (now Unicoi Co, TN).

      12         ii      Sampson3 Hensley , born 1870/71 in Washington Co, TN (now Unicoi Co, TN).

      13         iii      Nancy L3 Hensley , born 1872/73 in Washington Co, TN (now Unicoi Co, TN).

      14         iv      William D3 Hensley , born 1875/76 in Unicoi Co, TN.

      15         v      Mary A3 Hensley , born 1877/78 in Unicoi Co, TN.

 

 

5. Barnett2 Hensley  (Armstrong1), born 1850 in Washington Co, TN (now Unicoi Co, TN).  He married in 1870/78 in Unicoi Co, TN Eliza J (---) , born 1861/62 in TN.

 

      Children of Barnett Hensley and Eliza J (---) were as follows:

      16         i      John A3 Hensley , born 1877/78 in Unicoi Co, TN.

      17         ii      Martha J3 Hensley , born 1880 in Unicoi Co, TN.


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