Elizabeth (---) Hensley (c1765) of Grainger and Jefferson Co, TN

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

Also see the page for Elizabeth Hensley (bef 1765) of Washington Co., VA as there is a possibility they are the same person.

Elizabeth is an apparent widow, but I don't yet know who her husband was.

Elizabeth was born ca 1764/65 (per 1850 census) in Virginia (per 1850 census), county unknown. Her maiden name is also unknown.

Elizabeth married a Mr. Hensley before ca 1800, probably in Southwestern Virginia or Eastern Tennessee. I base this marriage "date" on her oldest known child (Robert Hensley), born ca 1799/1800 in Tennessee. It is quite possible she was married well before 1800, perhaps as early as the late 1780's, based on her age.

There were numerous male Hensleys in the appropriate area in that timeframe who's wives are otherwise unaccounted for. Several of these could be the husband of Elizabeth Hensley. However, I have no data strong enough to include them here even as suspects. I'll mention a few later on that are possibilities. Trent Hensley (1770/80) and Temple Hensley (1760/70) and Edmund Hensley (1770/80) come to mind as possible suspects for Elizabeth's husband, however, there is no strong evidence to support either one.

Considering her age, and the birth dates of her suspected children, it would seem that Elizabeth Hensley was in Tennessee in 1800. Unfortunately, the 1800 census was lost for all of Tennessee, so I can't say where she was, though Grainger or Hawkins County is a possibility (also Sullivan or Washington Counties).

Also based on suspected children's birth dates and places, Elizabeth and family would have been in Tennessee for the 1810 census, but once again, this census is lost for the state.

The 1820 census is lost for all of Eastern Tennessee, which is where Elizabeth and family would have most likely been residing then.

The 1830 census is the first that is still extant for Eastern Tennessee. There were lots of Hensleys in Tennessee that year, including some who who were old enough and who had an apparent wife the right age (or close to the right age). Since Elizabeth was living in Grainger and Jefferson County later on (in 1840 and 1850), it seems reasonable to look in those counties first, but no Hensleys were on the 1830 census in either county. However, in 1830 Jefferson there was a Robert Howsley and a Samuel Hanley just two houses from each other, and they were, in turn, just a couple of houses from Joseph King who married "Eliza Hensley" in 1823 in Jefferson County. Now I've checked the microfilm census records and they do clearly show Robert as "Howsley" and Samuel as "Hanley", but it is interesting for sure. Robert Howsley and his household is an exact match for Robert Hensley (c1800) son of Elizabeth Hensley.

The Samuel Hanley listed in Jefferson was age 80-89, or born ca 1740/50. This is assuming he was the oldest man in the house. The next oldest was age 40-49 (born ca 1780/90). The apparent wife (oldest female in house) was age 30-39 (born ca 1790/1800). So all in all, this doesn't fit well with Elizabeth's family.

There were also some "Housley" households in 1830 Grainger, but none that seem to be a misread Hensley.

Elsewhere in Eastern Tennessee in 1830, there were a couple of Hensley households that could be Elizabeth's family. There is a "Betsy Hensley" listed on the 1830 census in Hawkins County. "Betsy" is a common nickname for "Elizabeth", but this Elizabeth was either too old or too young to be the same one. The question of her age is that in Betsy's household, there were three adult females, one age 20-29 (born ca 1800/10), one age 40-49 (born ca 1780/90) and one aged 90-99 (born ca 1730/40). There is no way to be completely sure which of these were "Betsy". Regardless of which was "Betsy", none are an age match for our Elizabeth (c1765), so I'm fairly sure this is not her family.

Also in Hawkins is Robert Hensley (1760) with his wife aged 60-69 (born ca 1760/70) which is a perfect age match. However, for various reasons, it is unlikely that Robert was the husband of Elizabeth, as he was still living in 1850, but in Roane County. Unless he and his wife were separated, he is not likely Elizabeth's husband.

Isom Hensley (1760/70) was in Sullivan County, Tennessee in 1830. He does not seem to be the likely husband of Elizabeth, but the ages do match.

Mr. Hensley was apparently dead by 1840, or at least it seems that way. I did not find Elizabeth Hensley listed as a head of household in 1840, but someone her age was listed with Isaac Hensley (1810/20) in 1840 Grainger County, Tennessee, just a few houses from her apparent son Robert Hensley (c1800). Of course there is no way to be positive that this was Elizabeth, but it seems very likely to me.

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

1840 Grainger Co, TN pg 122 Isaac Hensley 0000100000000-0000000001000
Analysis:
1 Male(s) 20-29        (1810-1820)	Isaac HENSLEY (1810/20)
1 Female(s) 70-79      (1760-1770)	Elizabeth ___ Hensley (1764/65) mother?

Isaac Hensley was not found in 1850, but by then Elizabeth was living with her son Robert Hensley in neighboring Jefferson County, Tennessee. An another apparent child Sally Hensley (c1812) (and her children) was also with them in the same household, but with a different family number. This means they lived under the same roof, but were counted as separate family units.

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 JEFFERSON CO, TN Page 420B  House/Family # 1295/1340  - 13th DISTRICT Twp

HENSLEY ROBERT        50 M W LABORER                    TN                   1799/1800
HENSLEY MARY          39 F W                            TN                   1810/1811
HENSLEY ISAAC         15 M W                            TN                   1834/1835
HENSLEY RICHARD       13 M W                            TN                   1836/1837
HENSLEY ELIZABETH     11 F W                            TN                   1838/1839
HENSLEY ELIZABETH     85 F W                            VA                   1764/1765

1850 JEFFERSON CO, TN Page 420B  House/Family # 1295/1341  - 13th DISTRICT Twp

HENSLEY SALLY         38 F W                            TN                   1811/1812
HENSLEY JOHN          12 M W                            TN                   1837/1838
HENSLEY JOSEPH M       0 M W 3/12                       TN                   1849/1850

I did not find Elizabeth Hensley on the 1860 census, so she had probably died by then.

Children

Elizabeth Hensley apparently had several children. Some of those listed below may be daughters-in-law, instead of daughters, but they are somehow connected to Elizabeth. There are probably others as well. One additional child might be Eliza Hensley who married Joseph King in 1823 Jefferson Co, TN. An Edith Hensley (ca 1808 NC) was near Sarah Hensley (c1812) in 1860, and she may be tied in with this family somehow, perhaps a daughter or daughter-in-law.

Robert Hensley (c1800)

Isaac Hensley (1810/20)

Sarah "Sally" Hensley (c1812)

Elizabeth (Crow) Hensley (c1821)

Robert Hensley was born ca 1799/1800 in Tennessee, county unknown. Since Elizabeth (c1765) was residing with him in 1850, it seems very likely that he was her son.

Robert Hensley married Mary --- before 1830. See their own page for additional information on them.

Isaac Hensley was born ca 1810/20 presumably in Tennessee. Since Elizabeth (c1765) seems to have been residing with him in 1840, it seems very likely that he was her son. Other than this record (1840 census) I have no data on Isaac. He was not found on the 1850 census in Tennessee.

It is possible that Isaac died in the 1840-50 timeframe, or else moved away somewhere yet unknown. He could also be the husband of apparent widow Elizabeth (Crow) Hensley listed below, though it is not know if he married or not.

Sarah "Sally" Hensley was born ca 1811/12 in Tennessee, county unknown. Since she was residing with Elizabeth (c1765) in 1850, it seems very likely that she was her daughter, or at least a daughter-in-law. See Sarah's own page for additional information.

Elizabeth (Crow) Hensley was born ca 1820/21 in Virginia, county unknown. It quite likely that Elizabeth was not a daughter of Elizabeth (c1765), but a connection does seem likely, and it seems to me that perhaps the younger Elizabeth's unknown husband was a son of the elder Elizabeth. See her own page for additional information.

Researcher List

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

• Also See the pages for each of the children:
• Elizabeth Hensley (c1765)
  • Robert Hensley (c1800) and Mary ---
  • Isaac Hensley (1810/20)
  • Sarah "Sally" Hensley (c1812)
  • Mr. Hensley and Elizabeth Crow (c1821)

Register Report

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