Marty and Karla Grant

[Home] [What’s New?] [Books for Sale] [Christian] [Genealogy] [Search] [Support] [About] [Contact]

Ichabod C. Hensley (c1792-1845) and Sarah Gibson Fulkerson of Washington and Scott Co., VA and Knox and Hardeman Co., TN and Howard and Boone Co., MO.

Hensley pages [Hensley Home] - [Table of Contents] - [Tennessee] - This page [Children]

Special thanks to Joyce Petty Cooper, Laura Schreibman, Dee Dee Rypka and others for data shared on this family.

Ichabod C. Hensley is my 4 times great uncle. His brother Samuel is my ancestor.

Ichabod C. Hensley was born ca 1792/1794 per his War of 1812 enlistment on 20 Sep 1814 where he was listed as 20-22 years old (or ca 1792/1794). He was probably born in what was then Washington Co., VA, but is now Scott Co., VA. He was probably born in the area of Ketrons (Catherine’s) Creek or Cove Creek.

Ichabod is a proven son of Larkin Hensley and Sarah Childress as named in an 1816-1828 Scott Co., VA court case which named all of Larkin’s heirs, including Ichabod.

It seems highly likely that Ichabod C. Hensley was named for his uncle, Ichabod Hensley (c1780). I don’t know what the “C” initial stands for. Perhaps Childress in honor of his mother? That’s just a guess though. It could stand for any number of names. What it does not stand for is Crane, Crain, etc., as in “Ichabod Crane.” That fictional character didn’t come to be until 1820, so our Ichabod C. Hensley wasn’t named for him.

There has long been some confusion about just which Ichabod Hensley was Larkin’s proven son for there were four men of this name in Virginia. Go to my page on that subject for a differentiation of them. I’m 99.9% certain that we’ve identified the correct one. However, since Ichabod C. and his uncle Ichabod were in the same counties at the same time, it isn’t always clear which one is being referenced in any given record unless the “C” initial is used. The older man had no middle initial as far as is known, which helps somewhat.

Ichabod C.’s father, Larkin Hensley, died in 1805 in Washington (now Scott) Co., VA when Ichabod was around 11 to 13. He was the oldest son in the family, therefore a lot of responsibility must have fallen on to his young shoulders. The family moved into neighboring Sullivan Co., TN by 1806, then on to Knox Co., TN by 1808.  To confuse matters, uncle Ichabod also moved to Knox Co., TN perhaps a year or two before with his father William Hensley (c1730-1807), so there are records for both Ichabod’s in Knox County.

On 16 Apr 1807 in Knox Co., TN, Ichabod Hensley was tried for petty larceny and found not guilty. (Knox Co., TN Court Minute Book 6). This is undoubtedly the older Ichabod for Ichabod C. was only about 15 at this time, though it could be him, but if so I'm sure they would have used his initial to avoid confusion.

On 18 Sep 1809 Ichabod Hensley was the bondsmen for the marriage in Knox Co., TN of Daniel Casteel and Rody Hensley (daughter of Larkin). This was the older Ichabod for Ichabod C. was too young to be a bondsman (he was only about 17 at this time).

The 1810 census is lost for Tennessee. However, one of the two Ichabod’s was back in Washington Co.,. VA for the 1810 census. There is evidence both of them returned there for a time, however it isn’t clear which one it is listed on the census. Age-wise it fits Ichabod C. better, but there’s no guarantee it’s him and not his uncle instead. I think this is the uncle, but I can’t be certain. I’ll include the entry here just in case.

1810 Census, Washington Co., VA p. 229, Ike Hensley age 16-25 (1784/1794)*

00200-00101-0-0

*Click on the name to see the original.

My analysis of the above is on the assumption this is uncle Ichabod and not Ichabod C. Hensley.

On 4 Apr 1810 Ichabod Hensley was listed on a Knox Co., TN Jury. (Knox Co., TN Court Minute Book 7 page 101) This must be the older man for Ichabod C. was 16 to 18 at the time, so not likely to be called for jury duty. If this is uncle Ichabod in April 1810 in Knox, does that mean the one in Washington in 1810 was Ichabod C. instead? It’s not impossible for both to be the older Ichabod if he moved during the year. The 1810 census was supposed to be as of August 1810, so that was four months after the jury duty, plenty of time to have moved.

Neither Ichabod was listed on the 1810, 1811 or 1812 tax lists in Washington Co., VA. However, in 1813 one of them was listed there as Ichabod Hansley with one tithable, no horses and no land.

The same one, presumably, was there in 1814 as well, this time as Achabud Hancley, 1 white tithable and one horse.

I don’t know which Ichabod those two tax list entries are for.

Ichabod C. Hensley was in Knox Co., TN by September 1814 for on the 20^th of that month Ichabod Hensley was listed as a 3rd Sgt on the Muster Roll of Capt. Reuben Tipton's Volunteer Company of Mounted Gunman raised in east Tennessee. He was described as aged 20-22, 5'11" tall, dark complexion, dark hair, black eyes. He was in the 40th Regiment in Knox Co., TN. The age given suggests this is Ichabod C. Hensley and not the older Ichabod. There is another record wherein Ichabod C. Hensley gives a power of attorney to someone regarding his War of 1812 service. That seems to settle the matter, it was indeed Ichabod C. and not the older Ichabod who was the War of 1812 soldier in Knox.

In 1814, Scott County was formed from the western portion of Washington County. Many of the Hensleys fell into the new county. Once Ichabod C. Hensley was through with his military service he apparently went back to Virginia for a couple of years. He wasn’t listed in either Scott or Washington Co., VA on the 1815 tax list, but was in Scott for the 1816 list. He had one white tithe over 21 (born ca 1795 or before), and one horse.

On 13 Mar 1816 Ichabod C. Hensley was listed on a jury in Scott Co., VA. (Scott Co., VA Court Minute Book 1).

On 14 Aug 1816 Ichabod Hensley purchased 305 acres of land at public auction, being land of Martin Booher sold for delinquent taxes. (Scott Co., VA Deed Book 2 page 41). I didn’t find any record of Ichabod selling this land.

It is perhaps no coincidence that the 1816-1828 lawsuit of Larkin Hensley’s heirs commenced in 1816 in Scott Co., VA. Ichabod was probably the one spearheading it since he lived there at the time whereas the rest of the family was in Knox Co., TN then.

Ichabod C. Hensley apparently left Scott Co., VA after 1816 for he does not appear on the 1817, 1818, 1819 or 1820 tax lists in Scott.

We know from his marriage records that he was in Howard Co., MO by 1818 when he married there. However, he wasn’t listed on the 1817 tax list for that county, so perhaps he was back in Knox Co., TN in 1817 before moving on to Missouri.

Looking at that 1817 tax list it’s easy to see why Ichabod moved to Howard Co., MO. Many familiar Washington and Scott Co., VA families were already there, people with whom he was probably well acquainted, and some he was related to. Examples include Anthony Head, Gavin Head, William Head, John Hensley, William Hensley and Richard Fulkerson.

Of those, Gavin Head was married to Catherine Hensley (daughter of Samuel), and would have been Ichabod’s 1^st cousin. I think the Head family and Hensleys had other connections as well. I don’t know who John and William Hensley are, but undoubtedly related. Richard Fulkerson was Ichabod’s soon-to-be father-in-law.

In April 1818, Ichabod Hensley served on a jury in Knox Co., TN. This is probably the older Ichabod, though ours was now in his 20s and could have served. It all depends on when ours went to Missouri.

On 24 Dec 1818 Ichabod C. Hensley married Sarah Gibson Fulkerson in Howard Co., MO. This marriage is recorded in the Richard Fulkerson Bible thus “I. C. Hensley and Sarah G. Fulkerson was married Dec.24,1818.”

The official marriage record is quite faded and hard to make out, but it lists them as Ichabod C. Hensley and Sarah Fulkerson, married 24 Dec 1818 by Tyre Harris, JP, and was filed 10 Feb 1819. The indexed and transcribed versions of this mangle their names pretty badly.

Sarah G. Fulkerson was born 27 Nov 1802 (per Fulkerson Bible) in Washington Co., VA, a daughter of Richard Fulkerson (1780-1852) and Susannah Livingston (1784-1828). The entire Richard Fulkerson family is well covered in the bible giving births, marriages and deaths for them, their children and many grandchildren, including the Ichabod C. Hensley family, though Ichabod's birth and death are not recorded.

The 1820 census is lost for Missouri, but the Hensleys were probably in Howard County at that time.

Boone County was formed from Howard in 1821, and the Hensleys fell into the new county.

The 1821 tax list for Boone shows Anthony Hensley, Ichabod C. Hensley and William Hensley. Anthony Hensley (c1791) is Ichabod’s uncle, I think. I’m not sure who this William Hensley is, though this is probably the same one who was in Howard Co., MO in 1817. It’s entirely possible this is Ichabod’s grandfather William, though he would have been in his 90s by then if still living.

William Hensley (1784-1867) of Albemarle, Madison, and Fluvanna Co., VA came to Boone Co., MO, but not until the mid or late 1830s, so I don’t think this is him. It could be, but he would have had to have returned to Virginia for a time, which is possible.

Ichabod C. Hensley was a Deputy Sheriff for Boone Co., MO in 1822. He was also a tax collector that year.

He was listed in various Boone County records through 1826.

It would seem they moved to somewhere in Illinois in 1826 for their daughter Martha was born there that year in November. I don’t know what county they might have been in.

By 1828 Ichabod C. Hensley had moved again. This time to Hardeman Co., TN. This isn't exactly near Boone Co., MO, so it was an interesting move. I wonder what drew them there? I’m not aware of any relatives who were already there. This is the Memphis, Tennessee area, so perhaps the move was simply for business reasons.

In Hardeman Co., TN Court on 8 Jan 1828 I. C. Hensley is listed as a Magistrate in Cpt. Hides Company. (Hardeman Co., TN Court Minutes Vol 2 1827-1829 pg 22).

He is listed on the 1830 census in Hardeman, the only Hensley in that county at the time.

1830 Census, Hardeman Co., TN, p. 378 Icabod Hensley age 30-39 (1790/1800)

120001-11001

On 4 Dec 1834 Ichabod C. Hensley purchased 480 acres at a Sheriff's Auction. (Hardeman Co., TN Deed Book D page 251).

They moved back to Boone Co., MO sometime after 1834 but before 1839.

Sarah G. Fulkerson Hensley died on 27 Jun 1838 (per Fulkerson Bible record). I think she died in Boone Co., MO.

On 21 Dec 1839 Ichabod C. Hensley deeded property to Peyton Collier. (Boone Co., MO Deed Book J page 564).

They are listed on the 1840 census in Boone Co., MO. William Hensley (1784) is also listed, but not nearby. Father-in-law Richard Fulkerson is listed next to Ichabod.

1840 Census, Boone Co., MO, p. 96 Ichabod C. Hensley age 40-49 (1790/1800)

1011101000000-1211000000000

Ichabod C. Hensley was not found on the 1850 census. His younger unmarried children were living with a married sibling that year, so that suggests he was dead by then. I've seen the year 1845 listed for his death, but I don't know the source for it. His death was not recorded in the Fulkerson bible. He presumably died in Boone Co., MO.

It is possible that Ichabod and family lived in that part of Boone that became Moniteau County in 1845. Several of his children were in Moniteau for the 1850 census. Of course they could have moved there instead. The Fulkersons were still in Boone in 1850 though.

---

Children

Ichabod C. Hensley and Sarah Gibson Fulkerson had seven children as proven by her parents family bible record. The next three children weren’t named in the bible for some reason. Perhaps whoever was keeping the record died or moved away before they were born?

A child was born to Anna Peters (c1800-1855), an unmarried woman, in 1815 who she named William K. Hensley. I’ve seen no official records proving it, but an 1887 article says that Ichabod Hensley was his father. Anna had several children out of wedlock, most of whom kept her surname, however she had two by Hensley men who must have officially acknowledged them for they used the Hensley surname. The other was John Hensley (1823), fathered by James Hensley, Ichabod’s 1^st cousin. There is a court record regarding James Hensley and Anna. I wonder if there is one regarding Ichabod? I haven’t seen it yet.

 

1.         William K. Hensley (1815)

2.         Oliver Hazzard Perry Hensley (1820)

3.         Clarissa Melville Hensley (1822)

4.         David Westerfield/Wesley Hensley (1824)

5.         Martha Hamilton Hensley (1826)

6.         Martin Van Buren Hensley (1829)

7.         Missouri Hensley (1831)

8.         Virginia Hensley (1832)

9.         Phineas Hensley (c1836)

10.       Daughter (1835/1840)

---

William K. Hensley was born 27 Feb 1815 in Scott Co., VA. He was apparently born out of wedlock to Anna Peters. By law, his surname should have been Peters unless officially acknowledged by his father. Since he went by Hensley, I assume there was such an acknowledgment, but I haven’t yet seen the record of it. An 1887 biographical sketch of William and family (see below) listed his father as Ichabod Hensley and mother as Anna Peters. This was written in William’s lifetime, so one would assume William himself, or a very close family member, provided the information.

If Ichabod had a hand in naming William, he was probably named for Ichabod’s grandfather William Hensley. I don’t know what the “K” initial is for.

I suspect that William remained with his mother in Scott Co., VA and didn’t go with his father to Tennessee and on to Missouri. Of course he might have, but if so, he returned to Scott Co., VA where he married Elizabeth Osborne ca 1835. She was born 9 Sep 1818 in Scott Co., VA, a child of Wood Osborne and Catherine Livingston (daughter of Peter Livingston and Elizabeth Head).

I found no official marriage record for William and Elizabeth in Scott Co., VA or nearby.

I wasn’t able to locate William Hensley on the 1840 census, though judging by the birth dates and places of their children, they should have been in Scott Co., VA at least through ca 1844.

There is a William Hensley listed there in 1840, but it’s an older man, Fielding Hensley’s son William (c1797).

There are two William Peters listed, one of them listed as William Jr, and next door to William Hensley’s mother Ann Peters. I suspect that is William K. Hensley, though I could be wrong. However, the enumerations are perfect for this to be William Hensley.

1840 Census, Scott Co., VA, p. 21, William Peters, Jr age 20-29 (1810/20)

20001-00001

According to other researchers, William K. Hensley/Peters moved to Pulaski Co., KY ca 1845 and remained there until ca 1849. This was undoubtedly because her parents moved there at the same time. In fact, the Osborne’s were listed on the 1850 census in Pulaski. However, I have not been able to find the Hensleys. The same researchers mentioned earlier say they moved to Putnam Co., IN ca 1849 and remained there until 1853. However, judging by the birth places of some of the children, it seems they were back in Kentucky for some of that period.

I didn’t find them on the 1850 Putnam Co., IN census either, nor anywhere else under the Hensley or Peters surname.

They moved to Decatur Co., IA by ca 1853.

They are listed on the Iowa State census for 1856 in Decatur County, just a couple of households from William’s half brother John Hensley (son of James Hensley and Ann Peters).

1856 State Census, Decatur Co., IA, Franklin Township, p. 34, house 4, family 4

They are on the 1860 census in Decatur Co., IA. Son Martin was listed next door. Son James had returned to Putnam Co., IN.

1860 Census, Decatur Co., IA, Franklin Township, Garden Grove PO, p. 165, house 1239, family 1146

They are still in Decatur for the 1870 census.

1870 Census, Decatur Co., IA, Franklin Township, — PO, p. 8, House 56, family 57

They were still in Decatur for the 1880 census.

1880 Census, Decatur Co., IA p. 193, Franklin Township, no house or family numbers.

They are listed on the 1885 Iowa state census.

1885 State Census, Decatur Co., IA, Franklin Township, p. 347, house 128, family 131

Township 70, Range W, Section 13 (or 18?).

William K. Hensley died on 28 Jun 1898 in Decatur Co., IA. Elizabeth, his wife, died about seven months later on 11 Jan 1899. They are buried at the Winters Cemetery in Decatur County.

From “Biographical and Historical Record of Ringgold and Decatur Counties, Iowa.” Chicago, Lewis Publishing Company, 1887, p. 580.

 

W. K. Hensley is a native of Virginia, born in Estillville, Scott County, February 27, 1815, a son of Ichabod and Anna (Peters) Hensley. He remained in his native State until thirty years of age, and then went to Pulaski County, Kentucky where he bought a farm, and lived four years. In 1849 he moved to Indiana, and lived four years on rented land in Putnam County, and in 1853 came to Iowa, and bought 160 acres of land on section 13, Franklin Township, Decatur County, where he has since lived. This land he has improved and now has a pleasant home and is surrounded by all that makes life a pleasure. Mr. Hensley was married in his native State, to Miss Elizabeth Osbourn, who was born September 9, 1819, daughter of Wood and Catherine (Livingston) Osbourn. To Mr. and Mrs. Hensley have been born ten children, seven of whom are living — Martin, James, Rhoda A., ,Martha J., William, Edward and Arthur. The deceased are — John, Livingston and Mary. Mrs. Hensley is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and one of the efficient workers in the church at Garden Grove. In politics Mr. Hensley affiliates with the Democratic party.

---

Oliver Hazzard Perry Hensley was born 19 Jan 1820 (per his grandfather Richard Fulkerson’s Bible). I don't know where he was born, though Howard (now Boone) Co., MO is most likely.

He was obviously named for War of 1812 hero Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry (1785-1819) who died just a few months before this one was born.

Oliver was seemingly with his parents for the 1830 census aged 5-9 (1820/25) and also apparently home in 1840 aged 20-29 (1810/20).

I wasn't able to find him on the 1850 census anywhere, nor any censuses after that. It would seem that he died in the 1840s. However, his death wasn’t recorded in the Fulkerson bible.

---

Clarissa Melville Hensley was born 4 Mar 1822 (per her grandfather Richard Fulkerson Bible), in Missouri (per 1850 census), presumably in Boone County. I don't know who, if anyone, she was named for. For those interested, Moby Dick author Herman Melville was only three years old when Clarissa was born, so she wasn't named for him!

Clarissa seems to be with her parents for the 1830 census age 5-9 (1820/25) and with them still in 1840 aged 15-19 (1820/25).

Clarissa apparently married James Hayter prior to 1850 either in Boone or Moniteau Co., MO. I found no marriage record for them in either county. It’s entirely possible they weren’t married at all, but she was living with him in 1850 and listed under his surname, though she was back to being a Hensley by 1860. That indicates they got divorced, or weren’t actually married in the first place. It’s certainly feasible that Mr. Hayter had simply taken her and her siblings in after the death of her parents, or perhaps she was a hired servant in his household. However, pending evidence to the contrary, I’m going to assume they were married.

James was born ca 1819/20 in Tennessee, both per his 1850 census entry. It’s likely that he is a brother to Thomas Jefferson Hayter who was married to Clarissa’s sister Martha, and also later to another sister, Virginia. They were neighbors in 1850 after all. If not siblings they are at least cousins. Andrew Hayter (c1822 TN) was also near them in 1850, perhaps another brother.

1850 census, Moniteau Co., MO, District No. 58, p. 43, house (cut off) family 591

Note Virginia and “Fineace” (Phineas). Those are Clarissa’s younger siblings, both Hensleys, though listed as Hayter’s here.

If James and Clarissa were in fact a married couple, something happened in the early 1850s to break them up, for by 1860 she was a Hensley again and he was married to someone else. According the 1860 census his wife was named Cynthia M. Hayter, born ca 1830 in Missouri. At first I thought “Cynthia M.” and “Clarissa M.” might be the same person, as the names are similar enough for it to be a census error, however, they are not the same person. There is a marriage record for them dated 28 Dec 1851 in Moniteau Co., MO, James Hayter and “Sintha Ann Powell.”

That doesn’t answer the question as to whether James and Clarissa were married or not. If they were, they were divorced by 1851.

Clarissa was listed on the 1860 census in Lykins Co., Kansas Territory living with her sister Missouri Hensley Rider. Lykins (or Lykens) was in eastern Kansas, bordering Missouri.

1860 Census, Lykens Co., KS Territory, Richland Township, Marysville PO, p. 181, house 155, family 142

Kansas became a state in 1861. That same year Lykins County was renamed Miami County.

I was unable to find Clarissa on the 1870 census. Her sister Missouri was back in Missouri by 1870, in Ray County, but Clarissa wasn’t living with her at census time.

She may have died in the 1860s in Kansas, or perhaps back in Missouri. Or, perhaps she married someone during that period and we just haven’t located the record yet in order to trace her further.

---

David Wesley or Westerfield Hensley was born 9 Sep 1824 (per his grandfather Richard Fulkerson’s Bible), probably in Boone Co., MO. The bible record has him as “Westerfield” Hensley, while other records indicate Wesley, which may just be a shortened version of Westerfield.

I don't know who he was named for. There is a town in Suffolk, England named Westerfield.

He seems to be with his parents for the 1830 census age 5-9 (1820/25) and with them still in 1840 aged 15-19 (1820/25).

When I couldn’t locate “Westerfield” Hensley on the 1850 or later census records, I assumed he must have died in the 1840s. However, via some diligent sleuthing, Dee Dee Rypka was able to track him down. She found him in 1850 Holt Co., MO under the name “Daniel W.” and also in 1870 as D. W. Hensley and 1880 as David W. Hensley.

Proof that David W. Hensley is the same person as Westerfield is based on several things. One, in 1850 he was living with possible relatives from his mother’s side of the family. That’s a strong indicator. Two, the death certificate for his son James Hensley shows D. W. Hensley born “Memphis, Tenn.” Of course Hardeman Co., TN is where Memphis is, and we know that Ichabod Hensley lived there, though I don’t know that David was actually born there. He could have been, but most records show he was born in Missouri.

While the above is compelling, the best evidence is that David W. Hensley shares the exact same birth date (per his tombstone) as does Westerfield Hensley per the Richard Fulkerson bible record. That’s the clincher. It’s the same man.

In 1850 he was living in Holt Co., MO which is in the northwest corner of Missouri, pretty far from Boone County. He is listed as “Daniel” though it could say David instead, but looks more like Daniel. These two names are often hard to distinguish. It depends on the handwriting.

1850 census, Holt Co., MO, District No 38, p. 180, house 267, family 267

This is quite a large household! Who are these people to David Hensley? Ezekiel Hobbs (1807-1884) married Mariah Ball (1808-1888) in Boone Co., MO in 1827. So, we know they’re from the same place as the Hensleys. We also know that David Hensley married their daughter Rebecca shortly after 1850. But are they also related?

David A. Williams was married to Mary Hobbs, daughter of Ezekiel, so that’s who he is.

Who is Agnes Head? The Hensleys and Heads go way back to Washington Co., VA. David’s maternal great grandmother was a Head, though this isn’t her, but obviously somehow related. At her age she could be the mother of either Ezekiel or Mariah or perhaps an aunt of one of them. She was either a widow or single woman. She was listed on the 1840 census back in Boone Co., MO with just herself aged 50-59 (1780/90) and a man the same age, but she was the head of household. The total number of people in the household is listed as just one, so perhaps the mark in the males age 50-59 was a mistake, and she was actually living alone.

Looking back at 1830 Boone Co., MO census there is no listing for Agnes Head. However, there is Alfred Head (1790/1800) with apparent wife in the same age group as he (not Agnes), and Gavin Head who we already know was married to Catherine Hensley, who would be David’s cousin.

Thus, I can’t identify Agnes Head at this time, but she was almost certainly related to David W. Hensley via his mother’s mother’s family, and perhaps also via the Hensley side.

David W. Hensley married Rebecca V. Hobbs in the 1850s, presumably in Holt Co., MO. As noted, she is a child of Ezekiel and Mariah Hobbs. I didn’t find a marriage record, but they were married prior to ca 1857 I believe.

The family moved to Washington Territory by 1860, but I was unable to find them on that census. They lived in the eastern part which consisted of two really large counties then, Walla Walla and Spokane (recently called Shoshone). They were probably somewhere in that vast territory, or perhaps were still en route to the territory at census time, and thus missed.

They are on the 1870 census in Walla Walla County.

1870 Census, Walla Walla Co., Washington Territory, French Town Precinct, Walla Walla PO, p. 255, house 51, family 52

In 1875 Columbia County was formed from eastern Walla Walla. The Hensleys either fell into the new county, or moved there prior to the 1880 census.

1880 Census, Columbia Co., WA, T 9 N R 40 E, p. 139, house 241, family 241

They moved a bit north sometime after 1880, to Rockford, Spokane Co., WA where David died on 18 Nov 1891. He is buried at the Fairview Cemetery in Rockford.

Widow Rebecca is on the 1900 census in Rockford.

1900 Census, Spokane Co., WA, Village of Rockford, p. 144, Spring Street, house 264, family 267

She’s still in Rockford for the 1910 census.

1910 Census, Spokane Co., WA, McIntosh Township, Rockford (town), p. 136b, Willow (street), house 87, family 88

Rebecca V. Hobbs Hensley died on 20 Apr 1915 and is buried at the Fairview Cemetery in Rockford.

---

Martha Hamilton Hensley was born 29 Nov 1826 per the Fulkerson bible. Her tombstone gives her birth as 27 Nov 1827 which is almost exactly a year off from the bible record. I don’t know which record is more accurate, though I’d assume the bible entry was recorded close to her birth so it is more of a primary source than a tombstone.

She was born in Illinois per the 1850 census. I don’t know which county. I don’t know who, if anyone, she was named for.

She would have moved to Hardeman Co., TN with her parents by 1828, then back to Boone Co., MO sometime later.

On 19 Aug 1847, Martha Hensley married Thomas Jefferson Hayter in Boone Co., MO. He was born 4 Sep 1817 in Tennessee. I don’t know who his parents are, but I suspect he’s a brother to James M. Hayter who may, or may not have married Martha’s sister Clarissa Hensley.

They are on the 1850 census in Moniteau Co., MO, next door to the aforementioned James and Clarissa.

1850 census, Moniteau Co., MO, District No. 58, p. 43, house (cut off) family 590.

Martha Hensley Hayter died on 14 Aug 1855 in Moniteau Co., MO and is buried at the Sweetwater Christian Church Cemetery there. (Thanks to Dee Dee Rypka for finding that.)

It appears that Martha only had two children, a daughter Missouri, probably named for her own sister of that name, and William D. Hayter (1853-1856).

I was unable to find Thomas Jefferson Hayter on the 1860 census. He was still living, for he married Martha’s sister Virginia on 8 Mar 1870 in Moniteau Co., MO. See her section for more.

---

Martin Van Buren Hensley was born 20 Feb 1829 (per Fulkerson Bible). He was born in Tennessee according to the 1850 and 1860 census, so probably in Hardeman County.

He was obviously named for Martin Van Buren (1782-1862) who at the time of his namesakes birth, was Governor of New York, but already a famous political figure throughout the country. He was to become Secretary of State under President Andrew Jackson just a month after young Van Buren Hensley was born. Of course he became the 8^th U.S. President nearly a decade afterwards.

Van Buren Hensley seems to be with his parents for the 1830 census age under 5 (1825/30), and home in 1840 age 10-14 (1825/30).

By 1850 he was a few counties south in Texas Co., MO living with another family. He was the only Hensley in that county at the time. I’m not 100% certain this is the same person, but there’s a reasonable chance it’s him.

1850 census, Texas Co., MO, District No 98, p. 15, house 201, family 201

Dee Dee Rypka, a descendant of Van Buren Hensley, researched the Gilmore family to see if there was a connection. She found that Caswell Gilmore married Martha Gross, and that his parents were Wilburn Gilmore and Kezia McKinney. She noted that when Caswell was born (ca 1830), his parents were next door neighbors to Francis Hensley (c1779) in Cole Co., MO. That is either a very interesting coincidence or evidence of a connection to that Hensley family. Francis is a proven son of Davis Hensley (c1750-1814), who while related to our Hensleys, is a rather distant cousin. It should also be noted that no member of the Davis Hensley family lived in Tennessee as far as is known, and that’s where this Van Buren Hensley was born. Thus, I chalk this up to a coincidence. I could be wrong of course!

Van Buren married Malinda (---) before ca 1856 in either Missouri or Kansas. She was born ca 1835/6 in Missouri. I don't know her maiden name.

They moved to Atchison Co., KS in the 1850s. Van Buren Hensley is listed as a voter in Kansas on 29 Nov 1854, county not specified.

They are listed on the 1860 census in Atchison. The Parker Morris family seemed to be living with them, or perhaps the census taker just forgot to change the house and family number. Parker Morris was in Kenton Co., KY back in 1850 with wife Louisa, who apparently died prior to 1860. I don’t think they are Malinda Hensley’s parents for they had no daughter of her name with them back in 1850.

1860 Census, Atchison Co., Kansas Territory, Walnut Township, Sumner PO, p. 104, house 1312, family 1305

They weren't the only Hensleys in Atchison in 1860. Thomas Hensley (c1823) and family was there, but not in the same township. No known connection to the Ichabod Hensley family. They lived in Jackson Co., MO prior to moving to Kansas.

Van Buren and family were still in Atchison for the 1870 census. He was listed as being born in Illinois on this record. They were the only Hensleys in the county at this time.

1870 Census, Atchison Co., KS, The Township of Walnut, Oak Mills PO, p. 365, house 176, family 176

It seems that both Martin Van Buren Hensley and wife Malinda died in the 1870s, presumably in Atchison Co., KS.

Several of the unmarried children were still in Atchison for the 1880 census, living with other families as laborers or servants.

Their youngest child, Virginia (1871-1901), was living in Colorado Springs in 1880 with a widowed Polley Hayes (c1842) listed as an adopted daughter. I don’t know if Mrs. Hays was related to Virginia or not, but she did apparently take her in and raise her. She too was from Atchison Co., KS (listed there in 1860).

---

Missouri Hensley was born 10 Oct 1831 (per Fulkerson Bible). Despite her name, she was actually born in Hardeman Co., TN.

She seems to be with her parents for the 1840 census age 5-9 (1830/35).

The above was all I had on Missouri Hensley for a long time. Lee Ryder wrote me and told me of a Missouri Hensley who married William E. Rider in Jackson Co., MO in 1847 which could be this same person. More recently, Kyle Wear found the same marriage and after looking into that we determined it was indeed Ichabod’s daughter of the same name. The proof is that in 1860, Missouri’s sister Clarissa M. Hensley was residing with her.

On 28 Oct 1847 William Rider married Missouri Hensley in Jackson Co., MO. Jackson County is several counties to the west of Boone Co., MO. Kansas City is located in Jackson County.

William E. Rider was born ca 1825/26 in Tennessee. I don’t know who his parents were.

They are listed on the 1850 census in Jackson Co., MO.

1850 census, Jackson Co., MO, Blue Township, p. 315, house 3, family 3

By 1860 they’d moved a rather short distance to Lykins Co., Kansas Territory. Lykins (or Lykens) was in eastern Kansas, bordering Missouri, so not all that far from where they’d been. Missouri’s sister Clarissa Hensley was living with them.

1860 Census, Lykens Co., KS Territory, Richland Township, Marysville PO, p. 181, house 155, family 142

Kansas became a state in 1861. That same year Lykins County was renamed Miami County. However, it was around that same time that they moved back to Missouri.

They are on the 1870 census in Ray Co., MO with borders Jackson Co., MO on the north.

1870 Census, Ray Co., MO, Camden Township, Richmond PO, p. 380, house 474, family 474

Missouri Hensley Rider died between 1870 and 1873, presumably in Ray Co., MO.

William E. Rider married Mary E. McCoy on 2 Nov 1873 in Ray Co., MO.

They are listed on the 1880 census in Ray Co., MO.

1880 Census, Ray Co., MO, Camden Township, p. 424B, house 14, family 16

William E. Rider died on 28 Feb 1881 and is buried at the Craven Cemetery in Ray Co., MO.

I wasn’t able to find Mary on the 1900 census.

Mary E. McCoy Rider died on 22 Dec 1900 in Kansas City, MO, age 69.

---

Virginia Hensley was born 1 Sep 1832 per tombstone. She was not named in the Fulkerson Bible for some reason, nor were her younger siblings. She was born in Missouri according to the 1850 and 1870 census records, so probably in Boone County. The 1860 census lists her birthplace as Mississippi, but that’s probably an error.

She seems to be with her parents for the 1840 census, aged 5-9 (1830/35).

She was with her sister Clarissa in 1850 in Moniteau Co., MO, but listed under her sisters surname (Hayter) by mistake ("Virginia" age 16, born MO).

1850 census, Moniteau Co., MO, District No. 58, p. 43, house (cut off) family 591

On 5 Jan 1853 H. B. Sartin married Virginia Hensley in Moniteau Co., MO. The old DAR application I mentioned lists him as “Ferrel H. B. Sartain.” The same source shows his death on 10 Oct 1858 in Moniteau. (Thanks to Dee Dee Rypka for sharing the DAR application information. No applicant name was listed.)

Virginia is listed on the 1860 census in Moniteau, an apparent widow. She is next door to Joshua Sartin (c1830 TN), perhaps a brother of her late husband. David Sartin Sr. (c1800 TN) and wife Euphama (c1809 TN) are a few houses away. They could be H. B.'s parents, or perhaps an uncle and aunt at least. Virginia's brother Phineas Hensley was about four houses away. Virginia is listed as born in Mississippi on this census.

1860 Census, Moniteau Co., MO, Township 45, Range 14, California PO, p. 233, house 1656, family blank

On 8 Mar 1870, Virginia Sartin married Thomas J. Hayter in Moniteau Co., MO. This was her widowed brother-in-law whose first wife was Martha H. Hensley (see her section for more on him prior to 1870).

I was unable to find them on the 1870 census, though they should have been in Moniteau Co., MO at that time.

Thomas J. Hayter died on 8 Jan 1880 in Moniteau Co., MO and is buried at the Sweetwater Christian Church Cemetery. (Thanks to Dee Dee Rypka for pointing that out.)

Virginia Hayter is listed on the 1880 census in Moniteau next to her son George Sartin.

1880 Census, Moniteau Co., MO, El Dorado Walker Township, p. 485, house 66, family blank

* Tennessee was written first, but Missouri was written over it, or vice versa.

Virginia is listed on the 1900 census in Moniteau, or at least I think it is her. She is living with son Andrew L. Hayter (1871). However, he was not with her back on the 1880 census, perhaps he was “farmed out” after the death of his father. It is also possible this Virginia is not the same person, but I believe it is.

1900 Census, Moniteau Co., MO, Walker Township, p. 112B, house 67, family 68

Virginia Hensley Sartin Hayter died on 26 Aug 1903 and is buried at the Sweetwater Cemetery.

---

Phineas Hensley was born 1835/36 per his age on the 1850 census (14). He was not mentioned in the Fulkerson Bible record. He was born in Tennessee according to the 1850 census, probably Hardeman County.

He appears to be home with his parents for the 1840 census, aged under 5 (c1835/40). He was on the 1850 census in Moniteau Co., MO with his sister Clarissa in 1850, though listed under the wrong surname.

1850 census, Moniteau Co., MO, District No. 58, p. 43, house (cut off) family 591

He was in Moniteau for the 1860 census living with the David Sartin, Jr. family. David could be a brother to H. B. Sartin who married his sister Virginia Hensley in 1853.

1860 Census, Moniteau Co., MO, Township 45, Range 14, California PO, p. 233/233B, house 1660, family blank.

On 20 Jun 1869 "Finis" Hensley married Sarah J. Chance in Moniteau Co., MO. She was born ca 1844/46 in North Carolina (both facts per 1880 census).

I wasn't able to find them on the 1870 census. Their oldest child (per 1880 census) was born ca 1870/71 in Illinois, so perhaps that’s where they were for the 1870 census. However, I wasn’t able to find them there.

They were in neighboring Cole Co., MO for the 1880 census. I did check there in 1870 to see if they were there back then, but I couldn’t find them.

1880 Census, Cole Co., MO, Marion Township, p. 128B, house 262, family 262

Phineas Hensley died on 6 Oct 1898 in Moniteau Co., MO. Online source: via Ancestry.com: Weant, Kenneth E., comp. Moniteau County, Missouri Deaths, 1858-1931 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2004. Original data: Weant, Kenneth E., comp. Moniteau County, Missouri 5015 Deaths Reports and Chronological Index to Selected Articles from Misc. Moniteau County Papers California, Missouri, 6 Oct 1858 to 28 December 1899. Volume 1. Missouri: Kenneth E. Weant, 2000.

I wasn’t able to find Sarah or the two sons on the 1900 census.

---

Unknown Daughter born c 1835/1840. An apparent daughter this age was with Ichabod Hensley on the 1840 census. She wasn’t named in the Fulkerson bible (nor were her next two older siblings). She may have died prior to 1850, or perhaps married someone yet unidentified.

---

Click here for family group sheets of this family. Other notes and sources might be listed there.

---

Revised: January 19, 2022

Copyright © 1996-2022 Marvin A. Grant, Jr. All Rights Reserved.

[Home] [What’s New?] [Books for Sale] [Christian] [Genealogy] [Search] [Support] [About] [Contact]