Ichabod Hensley (c1780/82-1830/40) and Catherine Livingston of Washington Co., VA; Knox Co., TN and Morgan Co., AL

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• 18 Jun 2009 – Revised by Marty Grant, relationship unknown. Reformatted a little bit, and a new register report.

I (Marty Grant) am not related to Ichabod Hensley as far as I know, however, there is a strong possibility he is an uncle (or at least a cousin) of mine.

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

Also refer to Ichabod Hensley - An overview and study of the four men of this name from Virginia.

Ichabod Hensley was born ca 1780/90 (per 1830 census). He first appeared on the tax list in 1798, and you had to be at least 16 to be listed, so that puts his birth at ca 1782 or before. That works out to ca 1780/82. He was likely born in Virginia, presumably in Washington County, though that is not proven. He was born in Virginia though. There were several other men named Ichabod Hensley also, all seemingly related, so it is possible that I've mixed up some of their records.

Ichabod's parents are not known for sure, but he could be the same Ichabod who is a son of my ancestors Larkin Hensley (c1767) and Sarah ---.  Court records in Scott County, Virginia show an "Ichabod C. Hensley" as part of that family. The big question has been whether this is the Ichabod in question, or if it was one of the others. So far it is still up in the air whether it was this one or not. The main problem is the "C" middle initial This Ichabod under study here has not been found on any records with a middle initial, though it is possible he had one.

For cross-reference purposes, check out the pages for the other Ichabod's: Ichabod C. Hensley (1792/94) of Hardeman Co, TN and Boone Co, MO; Ichabod C. "Byrd" Hensley (c1810) of Cabell Co, VA (WV) and Clay Co, IL; and Ichabod Hensley (c1814) of Scott Co, VA.

Icabod Hensley was listed as a Militiaman in Washington Co., VA in 1798 in 2nd Battalion, 70th Regiment (Clark, Gerald H. The Militia of Washington County, VA Officers 1777-1835 Militia Men 1798-1835. 1979). This is certainly the same Ichabod for the others were much too young or not even born yet.

Ichabod Hensley was listed on the tax lists in Washington County 1798 through 1800. 

The 1800 census is lost for Virginia and Tennessee.

Sometime around this time, Ichabod Hensley married Catherine Livingston in Washington Co, VA. Catherine was a daughter of Samuel Livingston and Phoebe Head (per other researchers). I don't have a birth date for Catherine, but she was probably born around the same time as Ichabod (1780's). I have found no primary source document proving this marriage or even that Ichabod's wife was named Catherine.

Ichabod Hensley was listed on the tax lists in Washington County 1801 through 1805.

Icabod Hensley was listed as a Militiaman in Washington Co., VA in 1804 in 2nd Battalion, 105th Regiment (Clark, Gerald H. The Militia of Washington County, VA Officers 1777-1835 Militia Men 1798-1835. 1979)

On 20 Nov 1804 Simon Hensley [son of Samuel] was recommended as a Ensign in the Washington Co., VA militia in 2nd Battalion, 105th Regiment to replace Icabod Hensley who was removed. (Clark, Gerald H. The Militia of Washington County, VA Officers 1777-1835 Militia Men 1798-1835. 1979)

Ichabod was not listed on the 1806 tax list in Washington Co., VA. Nor was he listed there in 1807, 1809 or 1810. He must have left the county during that period for all men over 16 were to be listed.

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).

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].

It is notable that the children of Larkin Hensley had moved to Knox Co., TN around the same time Ichabod did. He was clearly associated with them since he was bondsman for Rhoda Hensley's marriage in 1809. This has led some to believe that he is the same Ichabod named as an heir of Larkin Hensley, though I think he is just a little too old to be Larkin's son. My guess is that he was Larkin's nephew or younger brother, making him a 1st cousin or uncle to Rhoda.

For the 1810 census, it seems likely that Ichabod Hensley would have been listed in Knox Co, TN. However, the 1810 census is lost for Tennessee so we'll never know.

On 4 Apr 1810 Ichabod Hensley was listed on a Knox Co., TN Jury. (Knox Co., TN Court Minute Book 7 page 101)

On 20 Sep 1814 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 is Ichabod C. Hensley-1792/94 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.

Ichabod reappears on the tax lists in Washington Co., VA in 1813 and 1814, however that is almost certainly Ichabod C. Hensley (1792/94) instead, though it is possible the older Ichabod did go back there for a time. There are other records in Washington and Scott that show Ichabod C. was in the area at that time, so therefore I think the older one probably was still in Knox Co., TN during the mid and late 1810's.

In April 1818, Ichabod Hensley served on a jury in Knox County. (Thanks to Joyce Petty Cooper for this fact)

On 14 Oct 1819 the State of Tennessee advertised for sale (by right of occupancy and pre-emption) a tract of land granted by the state for 159 1/2 acres to William Hensley. Ichabod Hensley bid $7.00 and purchased the land. (Thanks to Joyce Petty Cooper for this fact).

I don't know who this William Hensley was, but I strongly suspect it was one of the several Washington County, Virginia Williams.

For the 1820 census, Ichabod was probably still in Knox County, Tennessee, however, this census is lost for all of eastern Tennessee, including Knox County. It is also lost for Alabama where he may have been already.

On 5 Oct 1820, Ichabod Hensley sold the land he purchased in 1819 to John Houser. (Thanks to Joyce Petty Cooper for this fact).

Sometime in 1820 (probably around October when he sold the above land), Ichabod and family moved to Cotaco County, Alabama. Cotaco was renamed "Morgan" County in 1821.

On 28 Nov 1822, Ichabod Hensley "of Cotaco Co, AL" received a Land Patent for 80.67 acres in Morgan County, described as being in Section 18, Township 6-S, Range 4-W.

On 3 Mar 1823, Ichabod Hensley was made a Constable in Morgan Co, AL. (Thanks to Joyce Petty Cooper for this fact).

On 8 May 1824, Cathy Hensley was listed as a member of the Flint, Alabama Baptist Church. (Thanks to Joyce Petty Cooper for this fact).

It appears that Catherine Livingston Hensley died between 1824 and 1830, presumably in Morgan County, Alabama.

For the 1830 census, Ichabod Hensley was in Morgan County, Alabama. with 3 children still at home.

1830 census analysis (based on available evidence): (Explanation of this census)

1830 Morgan Co, AL pg 214 Ichabod Hensley 0010001000000-0010100000000
Analysis:
1 Male(s) 40-49        (1780-1790)	Ichabod HENSLEY (1780/83)
1 Male(s) 10-14        (1815-1820)	Rufus HENSLEY (1815/16) son
1 Female(s) 20-29      (1800-1810)	Margaret HENSLEY (c1806) daughter
1 Female(s) 10-14      (1815-1820)	Mary HENSLEY (c1820) daughter

Ichabod apparently died sometime between 1830 and 1840 in Morgan County, Alabama. He was not found there (or elsewhere) on the 1840 or 1850 census.

Children of Ichabod Hensley and Catherine Livingston.  Ichabod and Catherine had several apparent children, though none are proven as far as I know. However the following list is based on circumstantial evidence as well as some family tradition showing some of these as siblings to each other. Also consider John Hensley (c1815) and Miller Hensley (c1819) as somehow connected to Ichabod (they both married in Morgan County, AL). This list below is compiled based on data from the research of Joyce Petty Cooper and Laura Schreibman.

1. Sarah Hensley (c1800)
2. Phoebe Hensley (c1802)
3. Susan Hensley (c1804)
4. Margaret Hensley (c1806)
5. Agness Hensley (c1808)
6. Samuel Hensley (c1814)
7. Rufus Hensley (c1816)
8. Mary Hensley (c1820)

Sarah Hensley was born ca 1800 (source?), probably in Washington Co, VA. I have no proof that she is a child of Ichabod Hensley, but she seems connected somehow. She might be a sister to John Hensley (c1815) and Miller Hensley (c1819) since her husband was listed next to them on the 1840 census in Morgan Co, AL.

Sarah was presumably home with her parents for the 1800, 1810 and 1820 census, though those records are all lost for Ichabod Hensley.

On 15 Sep 1821, Sarah Hensley married Joseph Webster in Limestone Co, AL. So far I have no additional data on Joseph.

It has occurred to me that this Sarah is not a child of Ichabod at all, but someone about his same age (a possible sister, or widowed sister-in-law perhaps?). I base this on two things, first of all a "Sarah Hansley" was listed on the 1820 tax list for Morgan Co, AL, and that was just a year before this Sarah married in neighboring Limestone County. I did not find Joseph Webster on the 1830 census, but in 1840 a "J. Webster" was in Morgan County next to John and Miller Hensley, and this J. Hensley's apparent wife was born ca 1780/90 (roughly the same age as Ichabod Hensley!). If this is Sarah and her husband, then she is much older than Ichabod's children. This might not be Joseph at all in 1840, or it could be, but perhaps Sarah had died by then, and he had remarried. There are several possibilities.

I did not find Joseph Webster on the 1830 census in Alabama.

There was a "J. Webster" listed on the 1840 census in Morgan Co, AL next to John Hensley (c1815) and Miller Hensley (c1819), possible siblings of Sarah. However, this J. Webster may or may not be Joseph Webster. He was born ca 1790/1800 with apparent wife born ca 1780/90. IF this is Joseph Webster and wife Sarah, then she is much older than I thought. However, there is a Joseph Webster listed on the 1840 census in neighboring Madison Co, AL. This Joseph was born ca 1810/20 with apparent wife the same age. This couple seems to be too young to be our Joseph Webster, so the "J. Webster" in 1840 Morgan is a much better suspect.

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

1840 Morgan Co, AL pg 4 J. Webster 0011101000000-0000001000000
Analysis:
1 Male(s) 40-49        (1790-1800)	J. WEBSTER
1 Male(s) 20-29        (1810-1820)	Son?
1 Male(s) 15-19        (1820-1825)	Son?
1 Male(s) 10-14        (1825-1830)	Son?
1 Female(s) 50-59      (1780-1790)	Wife?
 

I did not find Joseph Webster on the 1850 census. There was an apparent widow Sarah Webster (c1795 VA) in neighboring Marshall County, AL, though I don't think that is Sarah Hensley Webster, but I could be wrong about that. She was in the same district as (and just 2 pages away from) Michael Hensley (c1824 TN). This may just be a coincidence though. I did not find any other Joseph or Sarah in Alabama (or in Texas where other Hensleys in this family later moved).

Phoebe Hensley was born ca 1802 (source?), probably in Washington Co, VA. I have no proof that she is a child of Ichabod Hensley, but she seems connected somehow. The only thing linking them is that she married in Limestone Co, AL in 1825, just 4 years after Sarah Hensley married there. This may show that she and Sarah were sister, or maybe not. However, I'll leave her here pending evidence to the contrary. If she is Ichabod's child, she was probably named after grandmother Phoebe Head Livingston.

Phoebe was presumably home with her parents for the 1810 and 1820 census, though those records are all lost for Ichabod Hensley.

On 11 Jul 1825 Phoebe Hensley married Harmon King in Limestone County, Alabama. So far I have no additional data on Harmon King.

There was a Harmon King in 1830 in Morgan Co, IN. He was born ca 1800/10 with a wife the same age, and no children. This could be the same Harmon who married Phoebe. However, I have no additional information on this Harmon, so I can't confirm or refute the idea.

Susan Hensley was born ca 1804 (source?), probably in Washington Co, VA. I have no proof that she is a child of Ichabod Hensley, but she seems connected somehow. She did marry in Morgan Co, AL when Ichabod was living there, and her family also went to Cherokee Co, TX as did some of Ichabod's children.

Susan was probably home with her parents for the 1810 and 1820 census, though those records are all lost for Ichabod Hensley.

She would have been about 26 years old in 1830, and might be home with her father Ichabod, as he did have an apparent daughter her age with him that year (age 20-29, born ca 1800/10), though it might not be her. Susan's alleged sister Agness had an "extra" female with her in 1830, and that could be Susan or sister Margaret. It is very likely one of them, though there is no way to be sure which one was where.

On 17 Jun 1837 Susan Hensley married Perry Denton in Morgan Co, AL. I have no additional data on Perry Denton.

I did not find Perry Denton on the 1840 census, nor on the 1850 census.

Notes shared with me by Laura Schreibman shows that the Dentons were in Cherokee Co, TX at some point. I have no additional data on them.

Margaret Hensley was born ca 1806 (source?), probably in Washington Co, VA. I have no proof that she is a child of Ichabod Hensley, but she seems connected somehow. She did marry in Cherokee Co, TX  when Ichabod's children were living there.

Margaret was probably home with her parents for the 1810 and 1820 census, though those records are all lost for Ichabod Hensley.

In 1830, Margaret would have been about 24 years old, so she should be enumerated in the 20-29 age group (born ca 1800/10), and Ichabod Hensley did have an apparent daughter that age.

I don't have Margaret on the 1840 or 1850 census.

Shared research shows that Margaret married a widower Jesse Blackburn Wallace on 25 Feb 1851 in Cherokee Co, TX.

Agness Hensley was born ca 1807/08 (per 1860 census) in Virginia (per 1860 census), probably in Washington County.  I have no proof that she is a child of Ichabod Hensley, but she seems connected somehow. She did marry in Morgan Co, AL and move to Cherokee Co, TX  just like other members of Ichabod's family.

Agness was probably home with her parents for the 1810 and 1820 census, though those records are all lost for Ichabod Hensley.

On 16 Oct 1824, Agnes Hensley married John A. Love in neighboring Limestone County, Alabama. John was born ca 1803/04 in South Carolina (both facts per 1860 census). I don't know who his parents are.

John Love was listed on the 1830 census in Morgan Co, AL next door to father-in-law Ichabod Hensley. They had an extra female in the 20-29 age group (born ca 1800/10), which is most likely one of Agness' sisters, probably Margaret or Susan.

1830 census analysis (based on available evidence): (Explanation of this census)

1830 Morgan Co, AL pg 45 John Love 0000100000000-2000200000000
Analysis:
1 Male(s) 20-29        (1800-1810)	John A. LOVE (1803/04)
2 Female(s) 20-29      (1800-1810)	Agnes HENSLEY Love (1807/08) wife m 1824
					Sister? Susan HENSLEY (c1804) sister-in-law
2 Female(s) 0-4        (1825-1830)	Daughter?
					Daughter?

They were still in Morgan County for the 1840 census, but not listed near any of the other Hensleys. They had an extra male (born ca 1810/20) with them, probably one of Agness' brothers, probably Rufus Hensley (c1816) who was still single at that time.

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

1840 Morgan Co, AL pg 40 John Love 1100110000000-2120100000000
Analysis:
1 Male(s) 30-39        (1800-1810)	John A. LOVE (1803/04)
1 Male(s) 20-29        (1810-1820)	Brother? Rufus HENSLEY (1815/16) Brother-in-law?
1 Male(s) 5-9          (1830-1835)	Son (1830/35)
1 Male(s) 0-4          (1835-1840)	Son? (1835/40)
1 Female(s) 20-29      (1810-1820)	Agness HENSLEY Love (1807/08) wife
2 Female(s) 10-14      (1825-1830)	Daughter? (1825/30)
					Daughter? (1825/30)
1 Female(s) 5-9        (1830-1835)	Daughter? (1830/35)
2 Female(s) 0-4        (1835-1840)	Daughter? (1835/40)
					Daughter? (1835/40)
 

I did not find them on the 1850 census. They may have been en-route to Texas when the census taker came around, and got missed, not appearing in Alabama nor in Texas.

They were listed on the 1860 census in Cherokee Co, TX, though not near their Hensley relatives who also moved there.

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 CHEROKEE CO, TX Page 517   House/Family # 1383/1383 -- BEAT NO 8 Twp  RUSK P.O.

LOVE JOHN A           56 M W FARMER             900  1000 SC                   1803/1804
LOVE AGNES            52 F W HOUSEKEEPING                 VA                   1807/1808
LOVE CHARLES T        16 M W                              AL                   1843/1844
EVANS JOHN H          14 M W                              AL                   1845/1846
LOVE NICEY A          14 F W                              AL                   1845/1846
LOVE LAURA M          12 F W                              AL                   1847/1848
 

I have no data on them after this.

Samuel Hensley was born ca 1813/14 in Tennessee, probably Knox County. He is not a proven child of Ichabod Hensley, but it seems likely that he is his child.

Samuel Hensley married Orleana Stover on 8 Feb 1838 in Lawrence Co, AL, and lived in Morgan Co, AL and moved to Cherokee Co, TX ca 1850-53.

See his own page for additional information.

Rufus Hensley was born ca 1815/16 in Tennessee, probably Knox County. He is not a proven child of Ichabod Hensley, but it seems likely that he is his child.

Rufus Hensley married Mary Watkins on 22 Feb 1844 in Limestone Co, AL, and lived in Morgan Co, AL and moved to Cherokee Co, TX ca 1850-53.

See his own page for additional information.

Mary Hensley was born ca 1820 (source?) in Tennessee or possibly Alabama. She is not a proven child of Ichabod Hensley, but it seems likely that she is his child. She married in Morgan Co, AL, and Ichabod did have an apparent daughter her age (per 1830 census).

Mary was apparently home with Ichabod for the 1830 census (age 10-14, born ca 1815/20).

Mary Hensley married James Moseley on 5 Jan 1840 in Morgan Co, AL. I have no data on James so far.

I don't have them on the 1840 or 1850 census yet.

To contact someone on the list, cut and paste their email address into your email program and then manually remove the spaces which are there for a little bit of spam protection.

• Jean Branum = bjbranum @ tampabay.rr.com (Ichabod-Samuel-)
• Joyce Petty Cooper = Contact me for her address
• Ellen Hensley Enlow = clyde-enlow @ excite.com (Ichabod-Samuel-)
• Marty Grant, relationship unknown.
• Annette Moore Ryan = Allrirish @ aol.com (Ichabod-Samuel-Jane-)