Dorcas Hensley (c1795) of Yancey Co, NC

Dorcas Hensley was either a widow or a single mother. She was born ca 1794/95 in North Carolina, presumably in Buncombe County (in that region that later became Yancey County).

If she was a Hensley by birth, then I don't know who her parents were. There are lots of suspects. If she was a Hensley by marriage, I have no clues to what her maiden name was.

Dorcas was probably with her parents for the 1800, 1810, 1820 and 1830 census. She either married a Mr. Hensley between ca 1830 and 1834, or else that is when she began having children out of wedlock.

One possible husband for Dorcas was Abram Hensley (c1800/10), but I have no proof to support them being married.

Dorcas's husband must have died sometime around 1840 (that is when her last Hensley child was born), for she was listed as Head of Household on the 1840 census, so she was apparently very recently widowed. The only Hensley nearby was Lawrence Hensley, on the same page, but many houses away. Her next door neighbors on either side were John Higgins Sr and John Edwards (or Edmunds). She had a full household of children, including one apparent daughter born ca 1825/30, which means (if that was indeed her daughter), that she was married before 1830, and should have been somewhere on the 1830 census (presumably with her husband).

Dorcas apparently married John Gaddis ca 1841 or so in Yancey County. He was 20 years older than her, and may have been widowed also. John Gaddis was listed on the 1840 census in Yancey, with several apparent children, none of whom were still with him in 1850.

They were listed in 1850 Yancey Co, NC with both Hensley and Gaddis children in household. Since the Gaddis children were so young, I'm assuming they were Dorcas' and not from John Gaddis' first wife (who seemed to be dead already by 1840).

I haven't looked for Dorcas Hensley Gaddis in 1860 or later census records. More data may exist on her in Yancey County records.

Children

Dorcas Hensley had at least four children, per the 1840 and 1850 census, and she had at least two more by her 2nd husband John Gaddis.

Unknown Daughter (c1825/30). An apparent daughter this age was with Dorcas for the 1840 census, but not with her in 1850, so she probably had either married or died by then.

Squire Hensley was born ca 1833/34 in Yancey Co, NC. He was apparently with his widowed mother for the 1840 census, and with her and his step-father in 1850.

Squire married Milly --- ca 1850 in Yancey Co, NC (no marriage record found). She was quite possibly the same person as Emelia Sprouce (Spruice) (c1825) who is closely related to the Hensleys. I'm not sure of this, but she fits age-wise, and name-wise, and their 1860 census listing includes children who pre-date their marriage, and one of which matches a known child of Milly.

They were listed on the 1860 census in Yancey County. They were next door to William H. Spruice (Sprouce), perhaps Milly's brother. They were also next to Andrew Hensley (c1835) son of Jesse Hensley. They children with Squire and Milly are all too old to belong to them both, but could be neices and nephews, or perhaps Milly's children from a previous marriage (if she is Milly Sprouce, then that would explain it).

Jackson Hensley was born ca 1836/37 in Yancey Co, NC. He was apparently with his widowed mother for the 1840 census, and with her and his step-father in 1850. His name might be "Andrew Jackson Hensley", which was a common name in those days.

James Hensley was born ca 1839/40 in Yancey Co, NC. He was apparently with his widowed mother for the 1840 census, and with her and his step-father in 1850.

Matilda Gaddis was born ca 1841/42 in Yancey Co, NC. She was with her parents for the 1850 census.

I haven't yet checked the 1860 census for Matilda. There was a marriage record for a Matilda Gaddis and Adam Thomason dated 3 Feb 1857 in Yancey. That might be her. I'll have to check.

Baxter Gaddis was born ca 1843/44 in Yancey Co, NC. He was with his parents for the 1850 census.

Researcher List

1. Dorcas¹ (---) , born 1794/95 in NC; died aft 1850 in Yancey Co, NC She married (1) bef 1834 in Yancey Co, NC (---) Hensley , died abt 1839/40 in Yancey Co, NC; (2) in 1840/42 in Yancey Co, NC John Gaddis , born 1774/75 in NC; died aft 1850 in Yancey Co, NC.

Children of Dorcas (---) and (---) Hensley were as follows:

+ 2 i Squire² Hensley , born 1833/34 in Yancey Co, NC. He married Milley (---) .

3 ii Jackson² Hensley , born 1836/37 in Yancey Co, NC; died aft 1850 in Yancey Co, NC.

4 iii James² Hensley , born 1839/40 in Yancey Co, NC; died aft 1850 in Yancey Co, NC.

Children of Dorcas (---) and John Gaddis were as follows:

5 i Matilda² Gaddis , born 1841/42 in Yancey Co, NC.

6 ii Baxter² Gaddis , born 1843/44 in Yancey Co, NC.

Generation 2

2. Squire² Hensley (Dorcas¹ (---)), born 1833/34 in Yancey Co, NC. He married abt 1850 in Yancey Co, NC Milley (---) , born 1824/25 in NC.

Children of Squire Hensley and Milley (---) were as follows:

7 i Louisa³ Hensley , born 1849/50 in Yancey Co, NC.