Henry "Harry" Hensley (c1825) and Mary --- of Washington Co, TN

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

Henry "Harry" Hensley was born ca 1824/25 in TN, presumably Washington County.

I don't know who Henry's parents were for sure, but I strongly suspect he was a son of Benjamin Hensley (c1793) and Louisa ---. He fits there very well based on circumstantial evidence. Benjamin had an apparent son Henry's age with him in 1830 and 1840. In 1850 and 1860, Henry was near Benjamin, and since "Henry" was Benjamin's fathers name, it makes sense for him to name one of his children after him.

Henry would presumably have been home with his parents for the 1830 and 1840 census.

In 1830, Henry would have been about 5 years old, so should be enumerated in the age 5-9 category (born ca 1820/25). In Washington Co, TN, Benjamin Hensley (c1793) was the only Hensley household with an apparent son that age.

In 1840, Henry would have been about 15 years old, so should be enumerated in the age 15-19 category (born ca 1820/25). There were three Hensley households with a male that age: Benjamin Hensley (c1793), Elizabeth Hensley (c1783) and William Hensley (c1797). Though Henry fits in each of these houses, for various reasons, I'm fairly sure he was with Benjamin.

Harry Hensley married Mary --- before 1849, presumably in Washington Co, TN (no marriage record found though). I don't know what her maiden name might have been.

They were listed on the 1850 census in Washington Co, TN. They were just a few houses from several other Hensleys, including Lewis Hensley (c1812), Benjamin Hensley (c1793), Olmstead (Armstrong) Hensley (c1826) and others.

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 WASHINGTON CO, TN Page 197   House/Family # 1327/1356  - 4th Subdivision

HENSLY HARRY          25 M W FARMER                 150 TN                   1824/1825
HENSLY MARY           19 F W                            TN                   1830/1831
HENSLY OLMSTED         0 M W 10/12                      TN                   1849/1850

Harry and family were still in Washington Co, TN for the 1860 census, seven houses from Armstrong Hensley, whom I strongly believe was his brother since Harry named one of his sons "Armstrong", and since they lived so close by each other and since (for various other reasons) I suspect Armstrong to be a son of Benjamin Hensley (c1793) as well. Henry was next to Barnett L. Hensley (c1833) son of William S. Hensley (c1811) and also next to Lewis Hensley (c1812) (also son of William S. Hensley).

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 WASHINGTON CO, TN Page 209   House/Family # 1107/1107 -- 18th DISTRICT

HENSLEY HENRY         33 M W FARMER             500   200 TN                   1826/1827
HENSLEY MARY          25 F W                              NC                   1834/1835
HENSLEY ARMSTRONG     11 M W                              TN                   1848/1849
HENSLEY JANE V         8 F W                              TN                   1851/1852
HENSLEY CAROLINE       6 F W                              TN                   1853/1854
HENSLEY RACHEL         4 F W                              TN                   1855/1856
HENSLEY GEORGE W       1 M W                              TN                   1858/1859
 

By 1870, Mary was listed as head of household (in Washington Co, TN), so apparently Harry died in the 1860's, perhaps due to the Civil War. Mary and family were on page 378, as was Armstrong Hensley (c1826), with several other Hensleys within one or two pages in either direction: Mary Hensley-34, Armstrong-20, Jane-17, Sarah C-15, Rachel-13, George W-11, Bovell-9, Nancy-6. (From "Hensley Households" by Laura Schreibman).

I did not Mary nor any of the children in 1880.

I have not traced this family beyond 1870. Nor have I checked into any Washington Co, TN public records, other than census and marriages. There may be a great deal of info on this family among the deeds, court minutes, wills, estates, etc.

 Children

Harry and Mary had at least seven children, as shown on the 1850, 1860 and 1870 census. I have no additional data on any of them so far.

Researcher List

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

• Lynda Hensley = B530P@aol.com (Henry-George W-)
• (Also see Benjamin Hensley (c1793) and Louisa ---)

Register Report