George Washington Hensley and Ruth Edwards of Buncombe and Yancey Co, NC and Harlan Co, KY

Special thanks to Diane Coates for sharing the birth and death dates for several members of this family.

George Washington Hensley was born ca 1808/09 in Tennessee. I don't know what county, but Washington County seems most likely. He later lived in Buncombe Co, NC (now Yancey Co, NC). I have a birth date of 22 Oct 1809 for George, but I have no idea what the source for it is.

I don't know who George Hensley's parents were. Several others list him as a child of Henry Hensley and Mary Howard. I don't know what proof there is of that connection, but it fits based on circumstantial evidence.

Including Henry Hensley, there are several suspects to choose from for George's parents.

George W. Hensley would most likely be home with his parents for the 1810, 1820 and 1830 census. In 1810 he should be in the "under 10" category (born ca 1800/10), and in 1820 in the age 10-15 category (c1804/10), and in 1830, in the 20-29 category (ca 1800/10). That helps narrow down the suspects a little bit, but not enough to come to any conclusions.

In 1810 there were several Hensley households in Buncombe with at least one male under age 10 (born ca 1800/10). However, it should be considered that since George was born in TN in 1809, he might still be in TN in 1810 with his family. Unfortunately the 1810 census is lost for Tennessee.

That is too many choices, but it helps narrow it down a little. Henry fits as a suspect based on the 1810 census.

In 1820, there were only four Hensley households with at least one male age 10-15 (c1804/10), which might be George W. Hensley. This does not include any in Tennessee, as the 1820 census was lost for all of eastern Tennessee. In Buncombe County, NC we have: James Hensley (c1780), John Hensley (c1794/1800), Benjamin Hensley (c1790), and Berry Hensley (c1783) (unlikely). That narrows down the list of suspects considerably, but still does not prove who George's parents were. It should also be noted that three of the suspects from 1810 were not found in 1820 (Henry, Lewis and Colbert), though they were back in Buncombe by 1830. They should still be considered possibilities.

George would presumably be with his parents in 1830, in the age 20-29 category (born ca 1800/10). Only Berry Hensley (c1783) and Henry Hensley (c1781) had a male this age with them in 1830. Since Berry's son of that age is accounted for, that only leaves Henry as a prime suspect. Census analysis alone is not enough to draw the conclusion that Henry is George's father though.

George Washington Hensley married Ruth Edwards ca 1830 in Buncombe (now Yancey) Co, NC. Her maiden name of "Edwards" is given in the birth record of their daughter Rachel in 1853.

In 1833, Yancey County was formed from the section of Buncombe where the Hensleys lived.

They were still in Harlan for the 1860 census. David Earnest (c1820) was residing with them. Perhaps related to Wilson Hensley's first wife.

Children

George and Ruth had 11 children by 1860 and possibly one more per the 1840 census. I have birth dates for several of these thanks to Diane Coates.

Johannah Hensley was born 22 Sep 1830 (per Diane Coates) in Buncombe (now Yancey) Co, NC. She was apparently home with her parents for the 1840 census.

Hannah married Leonard Scott before ca 1847 in Yancey Co, NC. They moved to Harlan Co, KY ca 1849/1850, apparently at the same time as her parents.

They were listed on the 1850 census in Harlan Co, KY, though not particularly close to her parents.

They were also on the 1860 census in Harlan Co, KY, just 10 houses from her parents.

William Burton Hensley was born 18 Mar 1832 (per Diane Coates) (ca 1831/32 per 1850 census) in Buncombe (now Yancey) Co, NC. He was apparently home with his parents for the 1840 census. He was with them in 1850.

Burton Hensley married Levina --- ca 1855 in Harlan Co, KY. I don't know what her maiden name might be.

Wilson Hensley was born 22 Apr 1834 (per Diane Coates) (or ca 1833/34 per 1850 census) in Yancey Co, NC. He was apparently home with his parents for the 1840 census. He was with them in 1850 and 1860.

There is a Harlan Co, KY marriage record dated 5 May 1853 between "Wilson Hensley age 19, born Yancey Co, NC, to Leticia Earnest, age 16, born Harlan Co, KY. She must have died before the 1860 census, as Wilson was back at home then, apparently widowed. A death record dated 12 Sep 1856 in Harlan Co, KY seems to be for Leticia. It is for "Lutishy Hensley" age 20. Reported by Luke Noe.

Back in 1850, Luke Noe and wife Nancy had Leticia Earnest residing with them, and another Earnest child. It looks like they may be Nancy's children by a previous marriage, making Luke Noe their step-father.

Also, Luke Noe had two small Hensley children residing with him in 1860, probably children of Wilson and Leticia.

There is a Harlan Co, KY marriage record dated 8 Aug 1860 between Wilson Hensley and Nancy Hensley. Nancy Hensley could be the Nancy born ca 1843/44 and daughter of Samuel Hensley. I'm not totally sure if that is who it is, but that is the best choice as far as I can see. Another possibility is Nancy, born ca 1846, daughter of Enos Hensley, though she seems just a tad too young to be the one.

Mary Ann "Polly" Hensley was born ca 1836/37 in Yancey Co, NC. She was apparently home with her parents for the 1840 census. She was with them in 1850. She was gone from their household by 1860, so probably had married or died by then.

There was a marriage dated 19 Feb 1857 in Harlan Co, KY between "Polly Hensley" and Nehemiah Osborn. I feel sure this is the same Mary Hensley.

They were on the 1860 census in Harlan Co, KY. Their were two Daniel children with them, don't know who they were.

Unknown Son (c1835/40). George W. Hensley had an apparent son this age with him in the 1840 census, but he was gone by 1850. That may mean he died young, or just was a boarder of some kind and not a child.

George Washington Hensley was born 8 May 1841 (per Diane Coates) (or ca 1840/41 per 1850 census) in Yancey Co, NC. He was home with his parents for the 1850 and 1860 census.

There are two marriage records in Harlan County, one of which may be this George. The first dated 22 Jan 1860 was between "G. W. Hensley" and Sally Lewis. The second was dated 21 Jul 1861 between "Wash Hensley" and Sally Smith. I don't have enough additional data yet to determine which (if either) of these was this same George Washington Hensley. I believe the second one is more likely to be this George than the first.

Henry Francis Hensley was born 6 Feb 1843 (per Diane Coates) (or ca 1842/43 per 1850 census) in Yancey Co, NC. He was home with his parents for the 1850 and 1860 census.

Eunice Jane Hensley was born ca 1845/46 in Yancey Co, NC. She was home with her parents for the 1850 and 1860 census.

James Madison Hensley was born ca 1848/49 in Yancey Co, NC. He was home with his parents for the 1850 and 1860 census.

Martha Hensley was born 10 Apr 1851 (per Diane Coates) (or ca 1850/51 per 1860 census) in Harlan Co, KY. She was home with her parents for the 1860 census.

Rachael Hensley was born 14 Feb 1853 (per Harlan Co, KY Birth Records) or 17 Aug 1853 (per Diane Coates, her date seems more correct than birth record) and died 18 Nov 1853, both in Harlan Co, KY. Her birth record gave her name as Rachel Hensley, born on Catrons Creek, daughter of Washington Hensley and Ruth Edwards.

Her death record, dated 18 Nov 1853, gives her age as 3 months, daughter of Washington and Ruth Hensley, and that she died of "Croup". If only 3 months old, then an August birth date is probably correct.

Josephus Hensley was born 16 Jan 1855 per Diane Coates) (or ca 1854/55 per 1860 census) in Harlan Co, KY. He was home with his parents for the 1860 census.

Researcher List

1. George Washington¹ Hensley , born 22 Oct 1809 in TN; died aft 1860 in Harlan Co, KY He married in 1830 in Buncombe Co, NC (now Yancey Co, NC) Ruth Edwards , born 1814/15 in Buncombe Co, NC.

Children of George Washington Hensley and Ruth Edwards were as follows:

+ 2 i Johannah² Hensley , born 22 Sep 1830 in Buncombe Co, NC (now Yancey Co, NC). She married Leonard Scott .

+ 3 ii William Burton² Hensley , born 18 Mar 1832 in Buncombe Co, NC (now Yancey Co, NC); died 14 Mar 1906 in Harlan Co, KY. He married Levina (---) .

+ 4 iii Wilson² Hensley , born 22 Apr 1834 in Yancey Co, NC; died 17 Apr 1912 in Harlan Co, KY. He married (1) Leticia Earnest ; (2) Nancy Hensley .

+ 5 iv Mary Ann "Polly"² Hensley , born 1836/37 in Yancey Co, NC. She married Nehemiah Osborne .

6 v George Washington² Hensley , born 8 May 1841 in Yancey Co, NC; died 21 Jul 1918 in Laurel Co, KY.

7 vi Henry Francis² Hensley , born 6 Feb 1843 in Yancey Co, NC; died 4 Oct 1920 in Harlan Co, KY.

8 vii Eunice Jane² Hensley , born 1845/46 in Yancey Co, NC.

9 viii James Madison² Hensley , born 1848/49 in Yancey Co, NC.

10 ix Martha² Hensley , born 10 Apr 1851 in Harlan Co, KY; died 12 Aug 1913 in Claiborne Co, TN.

11 x Rachael² Hensley , born 17 Aug 1853 in Harlan Co, KY; died 18 Nov 1853 in Harlan Co, KY.

12 xi Josephus² Hensley , born 16 Jan 1855 in Harlan Co, KY; died 5 Aug 1897 in Harlan Co, KY.

Generation 2

2. Johannah² Hensley (George Washington¹), born 22 Sep 1830 in Buncombe Co, NC (now Yancey Co, NC). She married in 1840/47 in Yancey Co, NC Leonard Scott , born 1824/25 in VA.

Children of Johannah Hensley and Leonard Scott were as follows:

13 i James Gilbert³ Scott , born 1846/47 in Yancey Co, NC.

14 ii Wilson³ Scott , born 1849/50 in Harlan Co, KY.

15 iii Burton³ Scott , born 1852/53 in Harlan Co, KY.

16 iv Rebecca³ Scott , born 1854/55 in Harlan Co, KY.

17 v John³ Scott , born 1856/57 in Harlan Co, KY.

18 vi Washington³ Scott , born 1859 in Harlan Co, KY.

3. William Burton² Hensley (George Washington¹), born 18 Mar 1832 in Buncombe Co, NC (now Yancey Co, NC); died 14 Mar 1906 in Harlan Co, KY. He married in 1850/56 in Harlan Co, KY Levina (---) , born 1836/37 in KY.

Children of William Burton Hensley and Levina (---) were as follows:

19 i Jackson³ Hensley , born 1855/56 in Harlan Co, KY.

20 ii Albert³ Hensley , born 1856/57 in Harlan Co, KY.

21 iii Emily³ Hensley , born 1858/59 in Harlan Co, KY.

4. Wilson² Hensley (George Washington¹), born 22 Apr 1834 in Yancey Co, NC; died 17 Apr 1912 in Harlan Co, KY. He married (1) on 5 May 1853 in Harlan Co, KY Leticia Earnest , born 1836/37 in Harlan Co, KY; died 12 Sep 1856 in Harlan Co, KY, daughter of (---) Earnest and Nancy (---) ; (2) on 8 Aug 1860 in Harlan Co, KY Nancy Hensley .

Children of Wilson Hensley and Leticia Earnest were as follows:

22 i Garrett³ Hensley , born 1853/54 in Harlan Co, KY.

23 ii Nancy³ Hensley , born 1856/57 in Harlan Co, KY.

5. Mary Ann "Polly"² Hensley (George Washington¹), born 1836/37 in Yancey Co, NC. She married on 19 Feb 1857 in Harlan Co, KY Nehemiah Osborne , born 1832/33 in NC.

Children of Mary Ann "Polly" Hensley and Nehemiah Osborne were as follows:

24 i Hannah³ Osborne , born 1856/57 in Harlan Co, KY.

George Washington Hensley (c1809) and Ruth Edwards of Buncombe and Yancey Co, NC and Harlan Co, KY

Children

Researcher List

Register Report