Benjamin Hensley (c1791) of VA, GA, TN and Desha and Ouachita Co, AR
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I (Marty Grant) am not related to Benjamin Hensley as far as I know.
In the following commentary, I've made several assumptions that may prove to be incorrect, but I'll explain them as I go. The main assumption is that all the records mentioned are for the same Benjamin Hensley, when they may not actually be the same person. I believe I have accurately traced this man through several counties across two states, but I'm not totally sure that all of these records pertain to the same person.
Benjamin Hensley was born ca 1790/91 (per 1850 census) in Virginia (per 1850 census) or in Georgia (per 1860 census). Since Georgia and Virginia are not bordering states, I don't know how to reconcile these conflicting birth places.
I don't know who Benjamin Hensley's parents are. I don't have any strong suspects so far.
Benjamin would have been about 9 years old for the 1800 census, so should be enumerated in the "under 10" age group (born ca 1790/1800). However, the 1800 census is lost for Virginia, Tennessee and Georgia, all of the places he might have been living.
Benjamin would have been about 19 years old for the 1810 census, so he should be enumerated in the age 16-25 category (born ca 1784/94), however, I don't know where he was living at that time, though presumably home with his parents. (The 1810 census is lost for about half of Virginia, all of Tennessee and Georgia).
Benjamin Hensley may have married someone in the 1810-20 timeframe (or possibly later than that). Unfortunately I don't know his wife's name, nor where they might have married. I would suspect Virginia, Tennessee or Georgia, but can't narrow it down any more than that.
Benjamin and family should be listed on the 1820 census somewhere in the above mentioned states. He may have been in the eastern half of Tennessee which was lost for 1820. The closest I could find was Benjamin Hensley in Caswell Co, NC and one in Jones Co, GA. Either one (or neither one) could be him.
By 1830, Benjamin Hensley was in Tennessee somewhere, because his oldest known son was born in TN ca 1827 (and he had other children born in TN in the 1830's). This means that one of the Benjamins in 1830 Tennessee census is this Benjamin. There were two in Monroe County, neither one the right age, and one in Roane who was the right age, but already identified, one in Perry County the right age, and one in Smith County who was much too old, and one in Sullivan who is already identified, one in Washington already identified, and one in Wayne County. Of all of the above, the only ones who match (and are not already positively identified) are the ones in Perry and Wayne. Both of these are reasonable matches, though the Wayne County listing seems a little better. However, since I'm not sure which is him, I'll list both here for reference.
1830 census analysis (based on available evidence): (Explanation of this census)
1830 Perry Co, TN pg 247 Benjamin Hensley 1020001000000-0220000000000 Analysis: 1 Male(s) 40-49 (1780-1790) Benjamin HENSLEY (1790/91) s/o ? 2 Male(s) 10-14 (1815-1820) Son? (1815/20) > gone 1840 Son? (1815/20) 1 Male(s) 0-4 (1825-1830) Hamilton H. HENSLEY (1826/27) son 2 Female(s) 10-14 (1815-1820) Daughter? (1815/20) > gone 1840 Daughter? (1815/20) > gone 1840 2 Female(s) 5-9 (1820-1825) Daughter? (1820/25) > gone 1840 Daughter? (1820/25) > gone 1840
1830 Wayne Co, TN pg 304 Benjamin Hensley 1100010000000-1000100000000 Analysis: 1 Male(s) 30-39 (1790-1800) Benjamin HENSLEY (1790/91) 1 Male(s) 5-9 (1820-1825) Son? (1820/25) 1 Male(s) 0-4 (1825-1830) Hamilton H. HENSLEY (1826/27) son 1 Female(s) 20-29 (1800-1810) Wife? (1800/10) 1 Female(s) 0-4 (1825-1830) Daughter? (1825/30)
Whether he was in Perry or Wayne County in 1830, by ca 1836-37, he had moved to Arkansas somewhere, possibly Desha County. I base this date on his daughter Sarah born in Arkansas ca 1836/37.
I'm not sure where he was in 1840, as there was only one Benjamin Hensley listed in all of Arkansas for that census, and he was in Desha County. His age was 30-39, or born ca 1800/10 which is too young to be this Benjamin, unless he was just enumerated wrong. The ages for his children aren't a good match either so I'm not at all sure this Benjamin in Desha Co, AR is the same person who was later in Ouachita County, however, he is a strong suspect in spite of the mismatched enumerations. This Benjamin in 1840 Desha was next to Enoch W. Hensley (c1810), possibly a close relative, (younger brother or son?).
1840 census analysis (based on available evidence): (Explanation of this census)
1840 Desha Co, AR pg 114 Benjamin Hensley 0200110000000-1000010000000 Analysis: 1 Male(s) 30-39 (1800-1810) Benjamin HENSLEY (1790/91) 1 Male(s) 20-29 (1810-1820) Son (1815/20) 2 Male(s) 5-9 (1830-1835) Hamilton H. HENSLEY 1826/27) son Lewis HENSLEY (1834/35) son 1 Female(s) 30-39 (1800-1810) Wife? 1 Female(s) 0-4 (1835-1840) Sarah E. HENSLEY (1836/37) daughter
Benjamin's wife apparently died between 1840 and 1850, somewhere in Arkansas, either Desha or Ouachita County.
By 1850, Benjamin had moved westward about halfway across Arkansas to Ouachita County (assuming it was the same Benjamin in Desha in 1840). He was listed there on the 1850 census, the only Hensley listed there. Possible son Lewis Hensley was listed out of order, so that is either just a census mistake, or indication that he was a nephew or grandson instead.
1850 OUACHITA CO, AR Page 75 House/Family # 36/ 36 - LIBERTY Twp HENSLY BENJAMIN 59 M W BLACKSMITH VA 1790/1791 HENSLY HAMILTON H 23 M W BLACKSMITH TN 1826/1827 HENSLY SARAH E 13 F W AR 1836/1837 HENSLY JOHN 6 M W AR 1843/1844 HENSLY LEWIS 15 M W LABORER TN 1834/1835
Benjamin married Cassy --- in the 1850-60 timeframe, presumably in Ouachita County, Arkansas. Cassy was born ca 1819/20 in Arkansas (both facts per 1860 census). I don't know her maiden name.
Benjamin was listed on the 1860 census in Ouachita County next door to son Hamilton and his wife.
1860 OUACHITA CO, AR Page 218 House/Family # 97/ 98 -- CANEY Twp HENSLEY BENJAMIN 70 M W FARMER 600 500 GA 1789/1790 HENSLEY CASSY 40 F W AR 1819/1820 HENSLEY JOHN 16 M W AR 1843/1844
I have no data on them after 1860.
Benjamin and wife had four children with them on the 1850 census. He seem to have several other children with him back in 1840 and 1830 (depending on which census record is his). I don't have much additional data on any of the known children.
Persons researching this family (click here for data on how to get on or off of this list):
1. Benjamin1
Hensley
, born 1790/91 in VA or GA; died aft 1860 in
Ouachita Co, AR. He married (1)
bef 1827 in Wayne Co, TN (---) ?
, died 1844/50 in Ouachita Co, AR; (2)
in 1850/60 in Ouachita Co, AR Cassey (---)
, born 1819/20 in AR.
Children
of Benjamin Hensley and (---) ? were as follows:
2
i
Hamilton H2
Hensley
, born 1826/27 in Wayne Co, TN.
He married in 1850/60 in Ouachita Co, AR Susan (---)
, born 1819/20 in IL.
3
ii
Lewis2
Hensley
, born 1834/35 in Wayne Co, TN.
4
iii
Sarah E2
Hensley
, born 1836/37 in Ouachita Co, AR.
5 iv John2 Hensley , born 1843/44 in Ouachita Co, AR.