Berry R. Hensley (c1802) and Nancy --- of Burke and Yancey Co, NC

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

Berry R. Hensley was born ca 1801/02 in NC, presumably in either old Buncombe Co, NC or old Burke Co, NC, in either case, in the area that later became Yancey Co, NC.

I don't know who Berry's parents were, but for some reason or another, I have him attached to Berry Hensley Sr, and Elizabeth Littleton. I have no proof that Berry R. Hensley is their son. He sort of fits with Berry Sr on the early census records, but that isn't enough to go on. I don't think he belongs to Berry, but it is a possibility.

Berry R. Hensley was probably with his parents for the 1810 and 1820 census.  There were several Hensley families that in 1810 and 1820 had someone Berry's age with them. One of these could be Berry's father. In 1810 there were quite a few Hensley households with at least one son under 10 (born ca 1800/10). Too many to list here. In 1820 the list is a little easier to sort through, as now I am looking for a Hensley household with a male in the age 16-25 group, or someone born ca 1794/1804. That leaves only one candidate in Buncombe: Harry Hensley Sr, and one in Burke: Benjamin Hensley. However, it should be considered that the birth year we have for Berry R. Hensley (ca 1801/02) is based on his age on the 1850 census (48 years old). In 1860 he was 56, so born ca 1803/1804. If he was born ca 1804, he could also be listed in the age 10-15 category (born ca 1804/1810), which adds several more candidates per the 1820 census, including: James Hensley Sr, John Hensley (c1794/1800), Benjamin Hensley, Berry Hensley and in Burke County, Amos Hensley.

The above is still a rather small list. It also doesn't rule out Berry R. being a son of the elder Berry Hensley (doesn't prove it either.)

So, the bottom line is I don't know where Berry R. Hensley was in 1810 and 1820, though likely with his parents, whomever they were.

Berry married Nancy --- ca 1820/27 in Buncombe or Burke County. I don't know what her maiden name might have been.

Berry Hensley was listed on the 1830 census in Burke Co, NC. Judging by his neighbors, he was in the part of Burke that later became Yancey County (in 1833), but I can't say exactly what section that was. His name was badly misspelled on this record.

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

1830 Burke County, NC pg 205 Beary Hencley 2000100000000-0001000000000
Analysis:
1 Male(s) 20-29        (1800-1810)	Berry R. HENSLEY (1801/02)
2 Male(s) 0-4          (1825-1830)	John A. HENSLEY (1826/27) son
					James H. HENSLEY (1828/29) son
1 Female(s) 15-19      (1810-1815)	Nancy ___ Hensley (1806/07) wife

In 1833, Yancey County was formed from the section of Burke where Berry R. Hensley was living.

Berry Hensley was listed on the 1840 census in Yancey County, as Berry "Junr" to distinguish him from the elder Berry Hensley (who was several pages away). This does not prove they were father and son, for in those days "Jr" and "Sr" were only used to distinguish two people of the same name, whomever was older (even if only by a month or two) was designated "Sr", and the other "Jr", just to tell them apart in public records. The designation was not actually part of their name, but added on for distinction, to avoid confusion. Berry Hensley was listed next door to Ezekiel Garland and Martin Chandler. On the same page, but several houses away was Levi Hensley and James B. Hensley.

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

1840 Yancey County, NC pg 272 Berry Hensley Junr 2020010000000-1100010000000
Analysis:
1 Male(s) 30-39        (1800-1810)	Berry R. HENSLEY (1801/1802)
2 Male(s) 10-14        (1825-1830)	John A. HENSLEY (1826/27) Son
					James H. HENSLEY (1828/29) son
2 Male(s) 0-4          (1835-1840)	Solomon E. HENSLEY (1834/35) Son
					Hiram HENSLEY (1836/37) son
1 Female(s) 30-39      (1800-1810)	Nancy ___ Hensley (1806/07) wife
1 Female(s) 5-9        (1830-1835)	Martha HENSLEY (1830/31) daughter
1 Female(s) 0-4        (1835-1840)	Elizabeth HENSLEY (1840/41) daughter

For the 1850 census, Berry Hensley and family were still in Yancey Co, NC, and were not listed near any other Hensley families. Their next door neighbors were William Anglin Sr and James W. Proffitt.

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 YANCEY CO, NC Page 427B  House/Family #  618/ 651

HENSLEY BERRY R       48 M W FARMER                 500 NC                   1801/1802
HENSLEY JOHN A        23 M W LABORER                    NC                   1826/1827
HENSLEY JAMES H       21 M W LABORER                    NC                   1828/1829
HENSLEY SOLOMON R     15 M W                            NC                   1834/1835
HENSLEY HYRAM         13 M W                            NC                   1836/1837
HENSLEY SAMUEL F       4 M W                            NC                   1845/1846
HENSLEY NANCY         43 F W                            NC                   1806/1807
HENSLEY MARTHA        19 F W                            NC                   1830/1831
HENSLEY ELIZABETH      9 F W                            NC                   1840/1841
HENSLEY SOPHIA         7 F W                            NC                   1842/1843
HENSLEY MARY J         3 F W                            NC                   1846/1847

Berry and Nancy and family were still in Yancey for the 1860 census. No other Hensley households were anywhere near them. They were listed with Ledger as their Post Office.

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 YANCEY CO, NC Page 899   House/Family # 1082/1082 --  Twp  LEDGER P.O.

HENSLEY BERRY         56 M W FARMER             600   690 NC                   1803/1804
HENSLEY NANCY         53 F W                              NC                   1806/1807
HENSLEY HIRAM         23 M W FARMER                       NC                   1836/1837
HENSLEY SUSAN         17 F W                              NC                   1842/1843
HENSLEY SAMUEL        13 M W                              NC                   1846/1847
HENSLEY MARY J        10 F W                              NC                   1849/1850
HENSLEY STEPHEN        6 M W                              NC                   1853/1854

 

I did not find Berry and Nancy in 1870. They might have been in Mitchell County, NC at that time. ** I haven't checked there yet.

Berry R. Hensley was dead before 1880, for that year Nancy was listed as a widow, living with son Solomon in Mitchell Co, NC. ** I don't have this entry typed up yet.

I have no additional data on this family at present.


Children

Berry and Nancy had at least 10 children, per the 1850 and 1860 census. For the most part, I have very little data on them, but I have a little bit on some of them. See the register report below for details.


Researcher List

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


Register Report


1. Berry R1 Hensley , born 1801/02 in Buncombe Co, NC (now Yancey Co, NC); died 1860/80 in Yancey Co, NC.  He married abt 1826 in Buncombe Co, NC (now Yancey Co, NC) Nancy (---) , born 1806/07 in NC; died aft 1880 in Yancey Co, NC.

 

      Children of Berry R Hensley and Nancy (---) were as follows:

+    2          i      John A2 Hensley , born 1826/27 in Buncombe Co, NC (now Yancey Co, NC); died aft 1880 in Yancey Co, NC.  He married Rachel Elmira (---) .

      3          ii      James H2 Hensley , born 1828/29 in Buncombe Co, NC (now Yancey Co, NC); died aft 1850 in Yancey Co, NC.

      4          iii      Martha2 Hensley , born 1830/31 in Buncombe Co, NC (now Yancey Co, NC).

+    5          iv      Solomon R2 Hensley Sheriff , born 1834/35 in Yancey Co, NC; died aft 1880 in Mitchell Co, NC.  He married Harriett Burleson .

      6          v      Hiram L2 Hensley , born 1836/37 in Yancey Co, NC; died aft 1880 in Mitchell Co, NC.  He married in 1872/80 in Mitchell Co, NC Sarah A (---) , born 1832/33 in TN.

      7          vi      Elizabeth2 Hensley , born 1840/41 in Yancey Co, NC.

      8          vii      Sophia2 Hensley , born 1842/43 in Yancey Co, NC; died aft 1880 in Mitchell Co, NC.

+    9          viii      Samuel F2 Hensley , born 1845/46 in Yancey Co, NC; died aft 1880 in Mitchell Co, NC.  He married Sarah A Grindstaff .

      10         ix      Mary J2 Hensley , born 1846/47 in Yancey Co, NC.

      11         x      Stephen2 Hensley , born 1853/54 in Yancey Co, NC; died aft 1860 in Yancey Co, NC.

 

Generation 2

 

2. John A2 Hensley  (Berry R1), born 1826/27 in Buncombe Co, NC (now Yancey Co, NC); died aft 1880 in Yancey Co, NC.  He married in 1850/56 in Yancey Co, NC Rachel Elmira (---) , born 1831/32 in NC; died aft 1880 in Yancey Co, NC.

 

      Children of John A Hensley and Rachel Elmira (---) were as follows:

      12         i      Mary L3 Hensley , born 1855/56 in Yancey Co, NC.

      13         ii      Thomas C3 Hensley , born 1857/58 in Yancey Co, NC.

      14         iii      James S3 Hensley , born 1860/61 in Yancey Co, NC.

      15         iv      Nancy M3 Hensley , born 1865/66 in Yancey Co, NC.

      16         v      Edward B3 Hensley , born 1867/68 in Yancey Co, NC.

 

 

5. Solomon R2 Hensley Sheriff  (Berry R1), born 1834/35 in Yancey Co, NC; died aft 1880 in Mitchell Co, NC.  He married on 30 Dec 1869 in Mitchell Co, NC Harriett Burleson , born 1854/55 in Yancey Co, NC (now Mitchell Co, NC), daughter of A Burleson  and Vian (---) .

 

      Children of Solomon R Hensley Sheriff and Harriett Burleson were as follows:

      17         i      Alice3 Hensley , born 1870/71 in Mitchell Co, NC.

      18         ii      Lilly3 Hensley , born 1872/73 in Mitchell Co, NC.

      19         iii      Nannie3 Hensley , born 1876/77 in Mitchell Co, NC.

 

 

9. Samuel F2 Hensley  (Berry R1), born 1845/46 in Yancey Co, NC; died aft 1880 in Mitchell Co, NC.  He married on 17 Jan 1869 in Mitchell Co, NC Sarah A Grindstaff , born 1839/40 in NC, daughter of Isaac Grindstaff  and Sarah (---) .

 

      Children of Samuel F Hensley and Sarah A Grindstaff were as follows:

      20         i      Loretta3 Hensley , born 1872/73 in Mitchell Co, NC.

      21         ii      Della3 Hensley , born 1874/75 in Mitchell Co, NC.


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