Marty and Karla Grant

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Benjamin Hensley (c1750-aft 1815) of Henry Co., VA, Rowan, Surry and Burke (now McDowell) Co., NC.

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I believe this Benjamin Hensley is a distant cousin of mine, but can’t prove all the connections.

As there were several Benjamin Hensleys in Virginia before 1800, you should refer to my analysis page on that subject. It is notable, that if every linkage is correct, this is the fifth Benjamin Hensley in a row. However, to distinguish him from other Benjamins, I’ll not refer to him as Benjamin V or 5, but rather as Benjamin (c1750-1815) of NC which is a little more descriptive.

Special thanks to Laura Schreibman, Don Godfrey, Joe Henslee and others for data shared on this family.

Benjamin Hensley is almost certainly a son of Benjamin Hensley (c1732-aft 1779) and Elizabeth, and thus, a grandson of Benjamin (c1706) and Elizabeth (Hickman) Hensley. However, that isn’t exactly proven, it just seems likely due to proximity, age, etc.

Benjamin Hensley was born before 1755 per his age on the 1800 census (45+). His first public records, as far as I’ve seen, is his entry on a 1768 tax list. Taxable males were usually 16 and up, so to be on this list he would have to born ca 1752 or earlier. There are other tax lists where one had to be 21 and up to be listed, so if that’s the case with this 1768 list, that would move his birth back to ca 1747 or earlier. However, I think ca 1750 is more on the mark. It also works better with his father whose estimated birth year is ca 1732, making Sr. about 18 when Jr. was born, who was probably his first born son, hence the name.

His parents were in Louisa Co., VA ca 1752, so he was likely born there. His parents moved to Halifax Co., VA by ca 1759. At that time Halifax was huge and encompassed several present day counties including all of Halifax, Pittsylvania, Henry and Patrick, and about half of Franklin. It bordered North Carolina on the south, mainly Rowan County at that time. I mention that because the Hensleys were in Rowan by 1767.

The section of Rowan where they lived later became Surry County (1770/71), then even later Stokes County (1789), and remains Stokes today.

The 1768 tax list for Rowan Co., NC shows several Hensleys. Listed were, John Hanslee 1 tithe, Benjamin Hansley and sons James and Harry 3 tithes, Benjamin Hansley Jr 1 tithe, Charles Hansley 1 tithe, and Capt. Ben Hansley 1 tithe.

That’s three Benjamin Hensleys. The one with sons James and Harry is Benjamin (c1732) father of this Benjamin. Benjamin Jr is probably his son born ca 1750. I doubt Captain Benjamin is this one, for he wasn’t really old enough to be a militia Captain at this point.

Surry County was formed in 1770, effective 1771, from the northern part of Rowan, taking the Hensleys with it. However, the 1771 tax list only shows one Benjamin Hensley and James Hensley listed. Which of the three Benjamins was it? 1732, 1750 or Captain? Unfortunately there’s no way to be certain. James, however would have been this Benjamin (1750)’s brother.

The 1772 list for Surry was the same, just one Benjamin and James.

In 1774 there was still only one Benjamin and James in Surry, but they’d been joined by Charles, Henry and John. John and Charles (c1741) were uncles to this Benjamin (1750), I think. James and Henry were his brothers.

One of the Benjamin Hensleys was back over the line in Pittsylvania Co. VA by 27 Sep 1775, for on that date he was appointed a Lieutenant in the county militia. (Pittsylvania Co., VA Deed Book 4, p. 293). Our Benjamin (c1750) would have been about 25 then, so could be the one.

It looks like the entire group of Hensleys were back in Virginia by this time.

Henry County was created in 1776, effective 1777, from western Pittsylvania County, taking in the Hensleys. At the time, Henry contained all of present day Henry, Patrick and about half of Franklin county.

A 1778 militia list for Henry Co., VA shows seven Hensleys, four of whom were Benjamins!

They were Capt. Benjamin Hensley, Henry Hensley, Benjamin Hensley Jr., James Hensley, Benjamin Hensley Sr., Hickman Hensley and Benjamin Hensley.

It seems very likely that Benjamin “Jr” is 1750, and “Sr” is his father 1732. That leaves Capt. Benjamin and just Benjamin (who could be Benjamin 1706, perhaps, though maybe not).

On 26 Aug 1779 a statement was made in Henry County court proving that Benjamin Hensley served as a Lieutenant in the Virginia Battalion in 1760. That would have been during the French and Indian War. (Bockstruck, Lloyd DeWitt, Henry Co., Virginia's Colonial Soldiers. p. 253.)

This record obviously does not apply to Benjamin (1750), but to his father instead.

Only one Benjamin Hensley was still in Henry by the time of the 1783 tax list. That one was gone by 1784.

Benjamin Hensley married someone, name unknown before ca 1776. They may have married in Surry Co, NC or in Henry Co, VA. We haven’t found any record of his wife’s name.

Benjamin and his siblings moved into Western North Carolina in the 1780's, settling in what was then part of Burke County. At the time Burke was pretty large, but by 1791, Buncombe County was split off taking most of the Hensleys into that county. Benjamin, however, remained in the part that was still Burke County.

He lived on Tom’s Creek which is in present day McDowell County (formed 1841).

The 1787 State Census for Burke Co., NC shows four Hensley households there, but unfortunately the pages are damaged and only the surname is visible, so it isn’t immediately obvious which one of them is Benjamin.

Name	Males under 21 or over 60	Females	Blacks 12 to 50	Blacks under 12 or over 50
---- Hensley	3	2
---- Hensley	3	4
---- Hensley	2	4
---- Hensley	3	4

Looking at the above there is no way to be sure which of these is Benjamin. However, we know these listings were probably for Benjamin, James, Henry “Harry,” and Hickman, all sons of Benjamin (1732). Benjamin (c1750) would have had at least two sons, so that would mean three males in the household, so that eliminates one of the above entries, but doesn’t help with the other three.

Benjamin Hensley was listed on the 1790 Federal Census in Burke County, NC, probably in the part of Burke that later became McDowell County. His probable brothers were also in Burke that year, but not nearby. They lived in the section that became Buncombe County in 1791. Benjamin has a full household, indicating lots of children.

1790 Census, Burke Co., NC, p. 101, 10^th Company, Ben Hensly age 16+ (bef 1774)

3-3-3-0

In 1791, Buncombe County was created from the section of Burke County where all the other Hensleys lived, but that did not include where Benjamin lived.

On 27 Nov 1792, Benjamin Hensley received a state land grant for 100 acres in Burke Co., NC on both sides of Tom’s Creek above Col. Wofford’s land. (North Carolina Patent Book 80, p. 42, Land Grant 1559, File 1588).

On the same date, 27 Nov 1792, he received another 100 acres “above” his other survey, also on both sides of Tom’s Creek. (North Carolina Patent Book 80, p. 23, Land Grant 1502, File 1531).

Benjamin Hensley was listed on a 1796 tax list in Burke County in Captain Lain's company on the "east side of ridge.”

Benjamin was listed on the 1797 Burke tax list in Burke in Captain Joseph Dodson's company.

On an undated list (but pre-1800 according to the notation), Benjamin Hensley, Amos Hensley and Benjamin Hensley were listed in Captain Dodson's company. This list would have to be in the 1790s for sons Amos and Benjamin to be listed. Benjamin (1776) would have turned 16 around 1792. If the tax list required 21 and up, that would be ca 1797 for him.

Benjamin Hensley was listed on the 1800 census in Burke County. Unfortunately, this census was alphabetical, so I can't tell who his neighbors were. His son Benjamin (1776) was listed several pages away.

1800 Census, Burke Co., NC p. 755, Benjamin Hinsile age 45+ (bef 1755)

01101-10001-0-0

In July 1801, Both Benjamin Hensley Sr and Benjamin Jr were exempted from paying their 1800 poll tax (reason not given). (Burke Co, NC Court Minutes, shared by Laura Schreibman)

On 8 Dec 1802, Benjamin Hensley received a state land grant for 100 acres in Burke on “Left hand fork of Tom’s Creek.” The land was entered on 20 Feb 1801. (North Carolina Patent Book 110, p. 69, Land Grant 3182, File 3172).

The actual entry for the above says 25 Feb 1801, not 20 Feb 1801, and also refers to the land as “above Benjamin Hensley’s line in said creek.” The survey was made 14 Aug 1801. Joshua Curtis and Amos Hensley were chain bearers. Amos was almost certainly Benjamin’s son. Curtis was a neighbor.

Benjamin was still in Burke County for the 1810 census. He listed two houses from son Amos Hensley (1775/80). Other neighbors that I recognize make it clear they were living in the area that later became McDowell County.

1810 Census, Burke Co., NC p. 328, Ben. Hensly age 45+ (before 1765)

01001-01001-0-0

*Not with them in 1800.

On 23 Nov 1812, Amos Henslee obtained a land grant in Burke County on both forks of Tom's Creek adjoining Benjamin Henslee Sr and Benjamin Henslee Jr and John Henslee.

Benjamin Hensley "Sr" was listed on the 1815 tax list in Burke County in Captain Dobson's Company, on Tom's Creek, with 0 polls (probably meaning he was too old to be taxable), and had 200 acres worth $300.

This 1815 tax record is the last I have for Benjamin. He must have died between 1815 and 1820, or else moved away somewhere, yet unknown. It seems more likely that he died in Burke County, since his children were still there after that. A survey made for Amos Hensley in 1820 includes Benjamin Hensley as a chain carrier, but no “Jr” or “Sr” is listed, suggesting the elder Benjamin was dead by then, so no need to try to distinguish them.

I did find a Benjamin Hensley in neighboring Buncombe Co., NC on the 1820 census who is age compatible. I once believed this was Benjamin (1750), but I eventually figured out that was a different Benjamin entirely, one who lived in Lincoln Co., NC in 1790, Greenville Dist., SC in 1800 and 1810. He is probably closely related, but I don’t know how just yet.

Our Benjamin (c1750) therefore probably died between 1815 and 1820. I don’t know when his wife died, perhaps during that same time period.

---

Children

Benjamin Hensley (c1750and wife have no proven children, however, they were closely associated with Benjamin (c1776), Amos (c1775/78) and a John Hensley (no dates), all of whom are probably his sons.

The 1790, 1800 and 1810 census records indicate several children for Benjamin and Mrs. Hensley. Unfortunately, no Will or estate records, or anything else like that has been located to positively identify any of Benjamin’s children.

One thing of note is that members of this family seemed to prefer the Henslee spelling over the more common Hensley one. That could have more to do with the various clerks in old Burke Co., NC and how they spelled it on the records, it eventually becoming standard for this branch of Hensleys.

 

1.         Son born before 1774. This apparent son was home in 1790, aged 16+, but gone by 1800. No one this age was listed as head of household in Burke in 1800. If this was a son of Benjamin, he either died before 1800 or moved away. It’s just as possible this was one of his brothers instead, as we don’t know where Colbert Hensley and John Hensley were at this time, and either would fit here, age-wise.

2.         Son born before 1774. This apparent son was home in 1790, aged 16+, but gone by 1800. No one this age was listed as head of household in Burke in 1800. If this was a son of Benjamin, he either died before 1800 or moved away. It’s just as possible this was one of his brothers instead, as we don’t know where Colbert Hensley and John Hensley were at this time, and either would fit here, age-wise.

3.         Son born 1774/1790. This apparent son was home in 1790, aged under 16, but gone by 1800 so married or dead by then or just moved out. This is almost certainly Benjamin Hensley (c1776) who was listed as Benjamin Jr on several records with the elder Benjamin, his presumed father.

4.         Son born 1774/1790. This apparent son was home in 1790, aged under 16. He was still home in 1800, aged 16-25 (born ca 1774/1784). This is almost certainly Amos Hensley (c1775/78) who was a neighbor of Benjamin Sr and Jr on Tom’s Creek.

5.         Son born 1784/1790. This apparent son was home in 1790, aged under 16, (born ca 1774/90). He was still home in 1800, aged 10-15 (1784/90). He was gone by 1810 so married or dead by then, or just moved out. This could be the John Hensley who was mentioned as a neighbor on an 1812 land grant. However, I have no other record of this John. He didn’t appear on the 1810 census in Burke Co., NC.

6.         Daughter born before 1790. This apparent daughter was home in 1790, no ages given. She was gone by 1800 so either married, dead or just moved out by then.

7.         Daughter born before 1790. This apparent daughter was home in 1790, no ages given. She was gone by 1800 so either married, dead or just moved out by then.

8.         Daughter born ca 1794/1800. This apparent daughter was home in 1800, aged under 10 (c1790/1800), and still home in 1810 aged 10-15 (c1794/1800). I have no other data on her.

9.         Son born ca 1794/1800. This person was not with the family in 1800, but was with them in 1810 aged 10-15 (c1794/1800). Perhaps he was born in 1800 and missed on the 1800 census. Or, perhaps he’s not a son of theirs at all, but was a grandson, or nephew or other person (hired laborer?) simply residing with the family in 1810.

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For Family Group Sheet and other notes see my database page for Benjamin Hensley

Revised: September 4, 2021

Copyright © 1996-2021 Marvin A. Grant, Jr. All Rights Reserved.

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