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Ichabod Hensley - Analysis of several men of that name |
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martygrant.com: Home > Genealogy > Hensley > Families > Ichabod |
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There were four different men named Ichabod Hensley in Virginia. Their lives overlapped and it seems that they were all related, but who were they and how do we keep them straight and distinct? Special Thanks to Joyce D. Cooper, Ruthe Muench and Laura Schreibman for information shared on this family. All Washington County tax list records mentioned on this page were transcribed and shared by Laura and Ruthe. I later went and confirmed these records. I recommend you also read my General Commentary on Hensleys of Washington Co., VA. Four different men named Ichabod Hensley, whew, that leaves lots of room for confusion. Two were simply named Ichabod with no middle name or initial (as far as we know) while two others were named Ichabod C. Hensley. No one knows what the "C" stands for. Many people instantly think of Ichabod Crane from the Legend of Sleepy Hollow, by Washington Irving (1783-1859). However, he published his book in 1820, after the last of our Ichabods was born, so that can't be the source of the name.
# 3 Ichabod C. "Bird" Hensley (1810) and Nancy Webb of VA, IL and WV
# 4 Ichabod Hensley (1814) proven son of Fielding Hensley and Nancy Cornett of Scott Co., VA.
The Records: Since it isn't always clear which record refers to which Ichabod, I'll just give all the records in chronological order with my opinion added as to who I think the record refers to. These records are from Washington and Scott Co., VA; Knox Co., TN and a few from AL, MO and other areas. 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) [* Has to be Ichabod Hensley-1780/82 *] Ichabod Hensley was listed on the tax lists in Washington County 1798 through 1800. [* This has to be Ichabod Hensley-1780/82 *]
The 1800 census is lost for Virginia and Tennessee. Ichabod Hensley was listed on the tax lists in Washington County 1801 through 1805. [* This is Ichabod Hensley-1780/82 *]
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) [* Has to be Ichabod Hensley-1780/82 *] 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) [* Has to be Ichabod Hensley-1780/82 *] 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 21 (or 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). [* Has to be Ichabod Hensley-1780/82 *] 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]. [* Has to be Ichabod Hensley-1780/82 *] There is an entry on the Washington Co., VA 1810 census that may be Ichabod. It is written as "Ithe Hensley" though the given name is very difficult to decipher. Look at the image below.
Is this Ichabod Hensley? Could be, but there is no way to be sure. I have also theorized that this entry is for Jesse Hensley (c1786) instead, but I don't know. The census taker made his "J" and "I" exactly the same way so there is no way to be sure which this is. Whoever it is there is an older female, and two men and one woman all in the same age group. Could be a widowed mother and three kids though there is no way to know for sure who is who. If this is Ichabod it must be Ichabod C. Hensley-1792/94 and not the older one. 1810 census analysis (based on available evidence): (Explanation of this census) 1810 Washington Co, VA pg 229 Ithe Hensley 00200-00101-0-0 Analysis: 2 Male(s) 16-25 (1784-1794) Ichabod? Brother? Brother-in-law? 1 Female(s) 45 & up (before 1765) Mother? Mother-in-law? 1 Female(s) 16-25 (1784-1794) Wife? Sister? On 4 Apr 1810 Ichabod Hensley was listed on a Knox Co., TN Jury. (Knox Co., TN Court Minute Book 7 page 101) [* Has to be Ichabod Hensley-1780/82 *] Ichabod Hensley was listed on the tax lists in Washington County 1813 and 1814 [* This must be Ichabod C. Hensley-1792/94 unless the older man had returned from TN which is possible, however, it is notable that Ichabod C. would have turned 21 around 1813 coinciding with his first appearance on the tax list *]
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. [* This is Ichabod C. Hensley-1792/94 *] In 1814, Scott County was formed from the western portion of Washington County. Many of the Hensleys fell into the new county. Ichabod Hensley was not listed on the 1815, 1816 or later tax records in Washington County. Icabod Hensley was listed on the 1816 tax list in Scott Co., VA with 1 white male over 21, and 1 horse. [* This is Ichabod C. Hensley-1792/94 *] On 13 Mar 1816 Ichabod C. Hensley was listed on a jury in Scott Co., VA. (Scott Co., VA Court Minute Book 1). [* This is Ichabod C. Hensley-1792/94 *] 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). [* This is Ichabod C. Hensley-1792/94 *] Ichabod was not listed on the 1817, 1818, 1819 or 1820 tax lists in Scott Co., VA. Ichabod C. Hensley was mentioned in the court case of Sarah Hensley et al vs. Mary Benham et all, that dragged on from 1817 through at least 1819 in Scott Co., VA. The case was brought by the heirs of Larkin Hensley. [* This is Ichabod C. Hensley-1792/94 *]
In one of the continuations of the above case, Ichabod was listed in a different order and with a middle initial:
On 24 Dec 1818 Ichabod C. Hensley married Sarah Gibson Fulkerson in Howard Co., MO. [* This is Ichabod C. Hensley-1792/94 *] On 14 Oct 1819, a land grant of 159 1/2 acres to William Hensley was sold for delinquent taxes in Knox Co., TN. Ichabod Hensley purchased the land at auction. The land was a grant (# 1388) to William Hensley. (Knox Co., TN Deed Book S1 page 22) [* Has to be Ichabod Hensley-1780/90 *] The 1820 census shows no Ichabod Hensley anywhere. Unfortunately this census is lost for all of eastern Tennessee including Knox County. It is also lost for Missouri and Alabama. On 5 Oct 1820 Ichabod Hensley sold 159 1/2 acres to John Houser in Knox Co., TN. [* Has to be Ichabod Hensley-1780/90 *] The Boone Co., MO tax list for 1821 shows William Hensley and Ichabod C. Hensley. (Boone County was formed in 1821 from Howard Co., MO) [* This is Ichabod C. Hensley-1792/94 *] On 28 Nov 1822 Ichabod Hensley of Cotaco County, Alabama received a land patent of 80.67 acres in Morgan Co., AL in Section 18, Township 6-S, Range 4-W. (Alabama Land Patents Book 1160 page 260). (Cotaco County was renamed Morgan County in 1821.) [* Has to be Ichabod Hensley-1780/90 *] 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). [* This is Ichabod C. Hensley-1792/94 *] On 14 Jan 1929 Ichabod C. Hensley obtained a marriage bond in Clay Co., IL to marry Nancy Webb. John Miller was bondsman. [* This is Ichabod C. Hensley-1810 *] The 1830 census shows Ichabod Hensley in Morgan Co., AL and one in Hardeman Co., TN. "Bird" Hensley is listed in Clay Co., IL in 1830. This is the first record that we can use to clearly differentiate between the three oldest Ichabods. The one in Morgan Co., AL was aged 40-49 (born ca 1780/90); the one in Hardeman Co., TN was 30-39 (born ca 1790/1800), and Bird Hensley was 20-29 (born ca 1800/10). Fielding's son Ichabod was too young to be listed in 1830, though he was probably home with his parents. Achabud Hensley was listed on the 1833 tax list in Scott Co., VA. He had one white male over 16. [* This, and the rest of the Scott County records are for Ichabod Hensley-1814 son of Fielding *] Achabud Hensley was listed on the 1834 tax list in Scott Co., VA. He had one white male over 16 and 1 horse. On 4 Dec 1834 Ichabod C. Hensley purchased 480 acres at a Sheriff's Auction. (Hardeman Co., TN Deed Book D page 251). [* This is Ichabod C. Hensley-1792/94 *] Acebud Hensley was listed on the 1835 tax list in Scott Co., VA. He had one white male over 16 and either 2 or 3 horses. On 1 Feb 1835 Ichabod Hensley married Mariah Ramey in Scott Co., VA by James Kerr. Ichabod Hensley was listed on the 1836 tax list in Scott Co., VA. He had one white male over 16, and 1 horse. Ichabod Hensley was listed on the 1837 tax list in Scott Co., VA. He had one white male over 16. Icabod Hensley was listed on the 1839 tax list in Scott Co., VA. He had one white male over 16, and 2 horses. The 1840 census shows Ichabod C. Hensley in Boone Co., MO aged 40-49 (born ca 1790/1800); Ichabod Hensley in Scott Co., VA aged 20-29 (1810/20); and Bird Henslee in Clay Co., IL age 20-29 (1810/20). Interestingly there is an Ichabod Henkle in Lee Co., IA. Is that a misspelled Hensley? I don't think so, but it is possible. The 1850 census shows Bird Hensley in Cabell Co., VA (WV), 39 (c1810/11 VA); Ichabod Hensley in Scott Co., VA aged 36 (c1813/14 VA); and no others. The two oldest Ichabods had died by 1850. Summary: The above records clearly show four different men. The youngest one (son of Fielding) is not a problem for he remained in Scott Co., VA his entire life. The next oldest one (of Clay Co., IL and Cabell Co., VA/WV) probably never lived in the Washington/Scott County area. That leaves the two oldest men to sort out. The 1830 census shows that Ichabod was the oldest, born ca 1780/90 while Ichabod C. was born ca 1790/1800. After ca 1820 both men were in different states Ichabod in Alabama; Ichabod C in western TN and MO. Ichabod C. lived in Hardeman Co., TN and apparently went back and forth to Howard (later Boone) Co., MO which isn't exactly nearby. On the other hand it is possible there were two different Ichabod's involved in those two counties, but I don't think so. There are other records of Ichabod Hensley in Missouri, but I'm not presenting those here since we know which Ichabod that was. The hardest part to sort out is which one was in Knox County, Tennessee, or were both in Knox County at the same time. The one who enlisted for the War of 1812-1815 in 1814 was listed as aged 20 to 22. That puts his birth at ca 1792/94. That fits well with Ichabod C. Hensley (1790/1800). This is further supported by a power of attorney made later by Ichabod C. Hensley of Hardeman Co., TN in order to collect a pension based on that service. That record proves that the War of 1812 soldier was Ichabod C. and not the older Ichabod. For further information refer to the pages for each of the individual Ichabods:
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