Blanchey Hensley (c1805) of Yancey Co, NC

First of all, I don't know if Blanchey Hensley was a single mother or a widow. There are some researchers who show her maiden name to be "Allen", but I've never seen one source for that. It could be correct, but with no documentation, I'm not going with it, other than to mention it. Recent data shared with me seems to show that Blanchey was indeed a single mother (see 1841 Court record cited below). However, the 1880 census entry for her shows her as a "widow", so there is definitely conflicting information on the subject.

Blanchey Hensley (or Allen) was born ca 1804/05 in NC, presumably in Buncombe County (now Yancey County).

If she was a Hensley by birth, then I have no idea who her parents might have been. There were quite a few Hensley's in the area with daughters her age, who are otherwise unaccounted for. Bill Hensley (William E. Hensley) stated that she was a daughter of Adoniram Allen and Lucinda Riddle, but I don't know what the proof of that is.

If she were a Hensley by birth, she would probably be with her parents for the 1810, 1820 and 1830 census.

Blanchey either married a Mr. Hensley before ca 1840, or else began having children out of wedlock then. If she did marry a Hensley (and wasn't one herself), then her husband remains a mystery. If there was a husband, he died sometime between ca 1843 and 1850.

Blanchey was not listed on the 1840 census in Yancey County, though there was a large population of Hensley's listed there then. All of them are accounted for, and none of the heads of households were likely candidates for her husband. This could be an indication that she wasn't yet married at that point in 1840, but married after the census taker came around, or else she was with another family. There was a John Hensley in 1840 Buncombe County who is otherwise unaccounted for. At this point, he is the only candidate I know of for Blanchey's husband. Since evidence seems to show she was a Hensley by birth (see 1841 court record below), then Blanchey was probably still home with her parents in 1840. She would have been about 35 years old, but no Hensley household in 1840 Yancey had an extra female that age.

In February 1841, in Yancey County Court, a case of Bastardy against Wilson McMahan was called, the charge was "Bastardy on the body of Blanchy Hensley". (Thanks to Sandra Fender for sharing that record)

The above court record coincides with the birth of Blanchey's son Howard Hensley. This seems to prove that she was not married to a Hensley, but was a single mother instead, maiden name of Hensley, and that Wilson McMahan was the reputed father of her son Howard Hensley.

Blanchey was listed as Head of household in Yancey County for the 1850 census. No other Hensley's were on the same page, but there were several others not too many pages away. Blanchey's neighbors on either side were Archibald McMahan Sr and Jesse Ray Sr.

Blanchey Hensley was still in Yancey for the 1860 census, listed with James Riddle, listed as "Domestic". Interestingly, in 1850 this same James Riddle (c1821) and his wife Elizabeth (c1832) had a Nancy Hensley (c1835) residing with them. It is possible that this Nancy Hensley is another child of Blanchey. Perhaps Elizabeth, wife of James Riddle is also her child. That is just speculation though, but I think it is accurate.

Blanchey was with Abram Hensley (apparently her son) for the 1870 census in Yancey Co, NC. She was listed as age 60 (born ca 1809/10). ** I don't have this entry typed up yet.

Blanchey Hensley was in Yancey Co, NC still for the 1880 census, in Pensacola Township living with William Riddle (c1858), listed as his grandmother. Presumably William is a son of James and Elizabeth (Hensley) Riddle. ** I don't have this entry typed up yet.

Children

Blanchey Hensley seems to have had at least five children, two of whom were with her in 1850. There may be several others, but these are the only ones I am somewhat sure of.

Elizabeth Hensley was born ca 1831/32 in NC, presumably in Burke (now Yancey) County. I have no direct proof that she was a Hensley, but it seems very likely that she was, and that she was Blanchey's daughter. Other researchers seem to include her in this family as well, so I feel I'm on the right track placing her here.

Elizabeth Hensley married James Riddle sometime shortly before 1850 in Yancey Co, NC. James was born ca 1820/21 in NC.

They were on the 1850 census in Yancey, with Nancy Hensley (c1835) residing with them, probably Elizabeth's sister.

James and Elizabeth were still in Yancey for the 1860 census, with Blanchey Hensley residing with them.

I don't have any records of James and Elizabeth after 1860, but an apparent son of theirs, William Riddle, was still in Yancey in 1880, with grandmother Blanchey Hensley residing with him.

Nancy Hensley was born ca 1834/35 in Yancey Co, NC. I have no direct proof that she is Blanchey's daughter, but it seems very likely. Other researchers seem to include her in this family as well, so I feel I'm on the right track placing her here.

Nancy was with James and Elizabeth Riddle for the 1850 census, and it seems likely that Elizabeth was a daughter of Blanchey, so that makes Nancy also a likely daughter.

I did not find Nancy in 1860. She may have married or died by then. I did not find a marriage record for a "Nancy Hensley" in that time frame, at least not in Yancey Co, NC. See her own page for additional information.

John Hensley was born ca 1834/35 in Yancey Co, NC. I have no direct proof that he is Blanchey's son, but it seems very likely. He was living with another family in 1850, but in 1860 Howard Hensley (Blanchey's son) was living with him, and he himself named a child "Blanchey", so it seems to add up. Other researchers seem to include him in this family as well, so I feel I'm on the right track placing him here.

Abram Hensley was born ca 1836/37 in Yancey Co, NC. Abram seems to be a child of Blanchey Hensley. He was not with her in 1850 (nor found anywhere else that year), but by 1870, she was living with him, so that seems to show that Blanchey could be his mother. Other researchers list him as her child, so it may be correct.

Abram Hensley married Ellender McMahan in 1853 in Yancey Co, NC. See their own page for additional information.

Howard Hensley was born ca 1839/40 in Yancey Co, NC. He was with Blanchey Hensley on the 1850 census.

Howard Hensley may be the son of Wilson McMahan who was charged with bastardy in 1841 on the body of Blanchey Hensley.

On 5 Feb 1860 Howard Hensley married Roxy Silvers in Yancey County. Roxy was born ca 1839/40 in Yancey Co, NC. I don't know who her parents were. I didn't find her on the 1850 census in Yancey County.

They were listed on the 1860 census in Yancey County just two pages from his mother Blanchey. They were residing with John Hensley (c1834) and Clarissa (Wheeler) Hensley, relationship unknown. I've thought this John was a son of Jesse Hensley, but I could be wrong, and he could be a brother of Howard instead.

I didn't find Howard and Roxy in Yancey County in 1870. Bill Hensley stated that Howard died during the Civil War.

William B. Hensley was born ca 1842/43 in Yancey Co, NC. He was with Blanchey Hensley on the 1850 census.

William was not with his mother for the 1860 census, nor did I find him elsewhere in Yancey County.

Bill Hensley stated that William never returned from the Civil War, that he was mustered out in Mobile, Alabama, but never heard from again.

Researcher List

1. Blanchey¹ Hensley , born 1804/05 in Buncombe Co, NC (now Yancey Co, NC); died aft 1880 in Yancey Co, NC. She married Not married ? (---) .

Children of Blanchey Hensley and ? (---) were as follows:

2 i Elizabeth² Hensley , born 1831/32 in Yancey Co, NC. She married bef 1850 in Yancey Co, NC James Riddle , born 1820/21 in NC.

3 ii Nancy² Hensley , born 1834/35 in Yancey Co, NC.

+ 4 iii John² Hensley , born 1834/35 in Yancey Co, NC. He married Clarissa Wheeler .

+ 5 iv Abram² Hensley , born 1836/37 in Yancey Co, NC; died aft 1880 in Yancey Co, NC. He married Ellender "Nellie" McMahan .

6 v Howard² Hensley , born 1839/40 in Yancey Co, NC. He married on 5 Feb 1860 in Yancey Co, NC Roxy Silvers , born 1839/40 in Yancey Co, NC.

7 vi William B² Hensley , born 1842/43 in Yancey Co, NC.

Generation 2

4. John² Hensley (Blanchey¹ Hensley), born 1834/35 in Yancey Co, NC. He married on 22 Jan 1852 in Yancey Co, NC Clarissa Wheeler , born 1833/34 in Yancey Co, NC, daughter of Rev John Wheeler and Rhoda (---) .

Children of John Hensley and Clarissa Wheeler were as follows:

8 i Jesse A³ Hensley , born 1855/56 in Yancey Co, NC.

9 ii John F³ Hensley , born 1857/58 in Yancey Co, NC.

10 iii Blanchey R³ Hensley , born 1860 in Yancey Co, NC.

5. Abram² Hensley (Blanchey¹ Hensley), born 1836/37 in Yancey Co, NC; died aft 1880 in Yancey Co, NC. He married on 1 Mar 1853 in Yancey Co, NC Ellender "Nellie" McMahan , born 1835/36 in Yancey Co, NC; died aft 1880 in Yancey Co, NC.

Children of Abram Hensley and Ellender "Nellie" McMahan were as follows:

+ 11 i Edwin³ Hensley , born 1853/54 in Yancey Co, NC. He married Nancy L Whitaker .

12 ii William Nelson³ Hensley , born 1855/56 in Yancey Co, NC.

13 iii McKesson³ Hensley , born 1857/58 in Yancey Co, NC.

14 iv Burgess Gaither³ Hensley , born 1858/59 in Yancey Co, NC. He married in 1870/80 in Yancey Co, NC Myra E Burleson , born 1861/62 in Buncombe Co, NC, daughter of Andrew Jackson Burleson and Hannah Caroline Carter .

15 v Mary M³ Hensley , born 1860 in Yancey Co, NC.

16 vi John³ Hensley , born 1860/61 in Yancey Co, NC.

17 vii Elizabeth Jane³ Hensley , born 1862/63 in Yancey Co, NC.

18 viii Blanchey³ Hensley , born 1864/65 in Yancey Co, NC.

19 ix Ellis³ Hensley , born 1866/67 in Yancey Co, NC.

20 x Samuel F³ Hensley , born 1870 in Yancey Co, NC.

21 xi Marcus³ Hensley , born 1871/72 in Yancey Co, NC.

22 xii David³ Hensley , born 1873/74 in Yancey Co, NC.

23 xiii Palatire³ Hensley , born 1875/76 in Yancey Co, NC.

24 xiv Louisa³ Hensley , born 1875/76 in Yancey Co, NC.

Generation 3

11. Edwin³ Hensley (Abram², Blanchey¹ Hensley), born 1853/54 in Yancey Co, NC. He married on 25 Dec 1874 in Buncombe Co, NC Nancy L Whitaker , born 1843/44 in NC.

Children of Edwin Hensley and Nancy L Whitaker were as follows:

25 i Thomas O⁴ Hensley , born 1875/76 in Buncombe Co, NC.

26 ii Sarah J⁴ Hensley , born 1876/77 in Buncombe Co, NC.