Jefferson Hensley (c1804/10) and Catherine --- of Burke and McDowell Co, NC and Gilmer Co, GA

Jefferson Hensley was born ca 1804/10 per an analysis of his census entries. The 1830 census listed him with an age of 20-29, or born ca 1800/10. And assuming he was home with his proven parents in 1820, he was probably the male entry aged 10-15, or born ca 1804/10. Those two census records agree to an approximate birth date of ca 1804/10. Jefferson was likely born in the vicinity of Tom's Creek in Burke Co, NC (now McDowell Co, NC).

For the 1810 census, Jefferson Hensley would have been about 6 years old or less, so he should be enumerated in the "Under 10" age group (born ca 1800/10). His father Amos Hensley had one male that age with him in Burke County.

For the 1820 census, Jefferson would have been between 10 and 16 years old, so he should have been enumerated in the age 10-15 category (born ca 1804/10) or possibly in the 16-25 category (born ca 1794/1804). Amos Hensley had one male with him age 10-15, which was certainly Jefferson.

Jefferson Hensley was named as a son in his father Amos Hensley's Will dated 12 Dec 1827 in Burke County, North Carolina. (from "Burke County, North Carolina Surviving Will and Probate Abstracts", shared by Laura Schreibman)

Sometime before 1830 (but not too long before), Jefferson Hensley married Catherine --- in Burke (now McDowell) Co, NC. Catherine was born ca 1806/07, presumably in the same general area. I don't know what her maiden name might be.

Jefferson Hensley was listed on the 1830 census in Burke County just two pages from his widowed mother, all in the area of present day McDowell County.

Jefferson Hensley died sometime around 1840 in Burke (now McDowell) Co, NC. There seemed to be one child born posthumously, born ca 1842/43 (per 1850 census) or ca 1841/42 (per 1860 census). Both of these dates are too much of a stretch for Jefferson to be the father, him having died in or before 1840. However, both dates may be off, or the child may be a nephew instead of Catherine's son.

Catherine Hensley was listed as head of household on the 1840 census in Burke County. She was just a few houses from her widowed mother-in-law Susan Hensley.

In 1842, McDowell County was created from a portion of Burke County including where the Hensleys lived.

For the 1850 census, widow Catherine and several of her children were listed in McDowell Co, NC. They were next door to a household containing brother-in-law William Hensley, and near other Hensley sibling-in-laws.

In the mid to late 1850's, Catherine moved her family south westerly into Gilmer County, Georgia. She was listed there on the 1860 census next door to son James and his family.

Children

Jefferson and Catherine had seven apparent children per the various census records. Five were still at home for the 1850 census, the two eldest already apparently married by then. (*NOTE: Court records have been found that prove their children, I'll add that here when I get a chance.)

Unknown Son (1825/30) Jefferson Hensley had an apparent son this age. He was home with Jefferson in 1830 (age "under 5", born ca 1825/30), and home with widow Catherine Hensley in 1840 (age 10-14, born ca 1825/30), but not with her in 1850, so probably married or dead by then.

I feel very strongly that this is Calvin L. Hensley, born 7 Jun 1829. I place him here for several reasons (all circumstantial, but compelling). First of all, his age is a perfect match. Secondly, he reported in a Pension application that he was born in McDowell County, North Carolina, which of course where Jefferson Hensley's family resided (though it was still part of Burke until 1842). Thirdly, descendants of this family recall Calvin having a sister named "Catherine" (see her below), and fourthly, Calvin named one of his sons "William Jefferson", perhaps "William" after his wife's father (who was named "William"), and "Jefferson" after his own father. So these four items, all circumstantial, form a very compelling case to connect Calvin to Jefferson. None of these reasons are conclusive proof of the connection, but certainly work very well with the evidence available.

Calvin L. Hensley's family is well documented regarding his children and descendants, thanks to the shared research of Juanita Weaver and Janice Pate and Margaret Owens. They have supplied numerous birth, death, and marriage dates for this family from Calvin on down the line.

Calvin L. Hensley married Evaline Dicy Dale on 7 Apr 1850 in Cherokee Co, NC. See their own page for additional information.

Unknown Daughter (1830/35). Jefferson Hensley had an apparent daughter this age. She was home with widow Catherine Hensley in 1840 (age 5-9, born ca 1830/35), but not with her in 1850, so probably married or dead by then.

One strong suspect for this unknown daughter is Ann E. Matilda Hensley who married Wilford Huskins. She is suspected for several reasons. First of all she was a McDowell County resident, for on 4 Nov 1847 Mr. Huskins obtained a marriage bond in McDowell County to marry her (name "Ann Hensley" on bond). This puts them in the same county at the same time, so that means she had to live there that year. They moved to Cherokee Co, NC by 1850 (where Calvin L. Hensley had also moved about the same time). By 1860 she and Wilford had returned to McDowell County. Her age is a problem though. The 1850 census gives her age as 22 (born ca 1827/28), which doesn't work since Jefferson had no apparent daughters with him in 1830, nor did widow Catherine have one this age with her in 1840. However, Ann's 1860 census entry gives her an approximate birth date of ca 1833/34 which works perfectly for this unknown daughter of Jefferson. Another researcher gave me a birth date for her of 18 Mar 1828 (don't know source), which if correct, would probably disqualify her from being a part of this family. However, in the meantime, pending proof in either direction, I'm leaving her in this family. The ca 1834 date works based on the 1860 and 1880 census records for her, so those two records, at least, give her an age compatible with being in this family.

Wilford and Ann were in Cherokee Co, NC for the 1850 census. The only other Hensley there that year was Ralzamore M. Hensley (c1814), who would be her 1st cousin once removed. They were not listed near each other. There was also Calvin L. Hensley who married in 1850 in Cherokee Co, NC, though was not found there on the 1850 census, and since he is also a suspected child of Jefferson Hensley, it all ties together neatly. ** I don't have the Huskins 1850 census entry typed up yet.

Sometime in the 1850's, the Huskins family moved back to McDowell County, and were listed there on the 1860 census. ** I don't have this entry typed up yet.

They were on the 1880 census in McDowell county. ** I don't have this entry typed up yet.

James M. Hensley was born ca 1833/34 (per 1850 census) in Burke (now McDowell) Co, NC. He was apparently home with his widowed mother in 1840 (age 5-9, born ca 1830/35), and home with her in 1850 ("James" age 16).

He married Elizabeth --- before ca 1857, either in McDowell Co, NC (no marriage record found) or in Gilmer County, Georgia. Elizabeth was born ca 1840/41 in North Carolina. I don't know her maiden name.

They were listed on the 1860 census in Gilmer County, Georgia, next door to his mother. Younger brother John Hensley was living with them.

Mary J. Hensley was born ca 1835/36 (per 1850 census) in Burke (now McDowell) Co, NC. She was apparently home with her widowed mother in 1840 (age "under 5", born ca 1835/40), and home with her in 1850 ("Mary" age 14), and home with her in 1860 ("Mary J." age 24). I have no data on her after the 1860 census.

John Hensley was born ca 1838/39 (per 1850 census) in Burke (now McDowell) Co, NC. He was apparently home with his widowed mother in 1840 (age "under 5", born ca 1835/40), and home with her in 1850 ("John" age 11), and home with his brother James in 1860 ("John" age 22). I have no data on him after the 1860 census.

Catherine Hensley was born ca 1839/40 (per 1850 census) in Burke (now McDowell) Co, NC. She was apparently home with her widowed mother in 1840 (age "under 5", born ca 1835/40), and home with her in 1850 ("Catherine" age 10), and home with her in 1860 ("Catherine" age 19). I have no data on her after the 1860 census.

According to Eva Mahan, Catherine married first to a Mr. Walker, and 2nd to a Mr. Varner, and that she died in Soddy, Tennessee in 1923. I'm not sure what county "Soddy" is in.

William Hensley was born ca 1842/43 (per 1850 census) or ca 1841/42 (per 1860 census), in McDowell Co, NC. His date of birth (based on these two census records) seem to place his birth more than a year after his father's death, so that means that either his approximate birth date is wrong; or that Jefferson and Catherine are not his parents; or that he was born to Catherine out of wedlock, well after the death of her husband. I don't know which is the case.

William was home with his widowed mother in 1850 ("William" age 7, born NC), and with her still for the 1860 census ("William" age 18, born NC). I have no data on him after the 1860 census.

Researcher List

1. Jefferson¹ Hensley , born 1804/10 in Burke Co, NC (now McDowell Co, NC); died bef 1840 in Burke Co, NC (now McDowell Co, NC), son of Amos Hensley and Susannah (---) . He married in 1820/28 in Burke Co, NC (now McDowell Co, NC) Catherine (---) , born 1806/07 in NC; died aft 1860 in Gilmer Co, GA.

Children of Jefferson Hensley and Catherine (---) were as follows:

+ 2 i Calvin Lycurgus² Hensley , born 7 Jun 1829 in Burke Co, NC (now McDowell Co, NC); died 11 Apr 1910 in Unaka, Cherokee Co, NC; buried in Zion Hill Cem, Turtletown, Polk Co, TN. He married (1) Evaline Dicy Dale ; (2) Eliza Ann Richards ; (3) Callie Bates .

+ 3 ii Ann Eliza Matilda² Hensley , born 1833/34 in Burke Co, NC (now McDowell Co, NC); died aft 1880 in McDowell Co, NC. She married Wilford Huskins .

+ 4 iii James M² Hensley , born 1833/34 in Burke Co, NC (now McDowell Co, NC); died aft 1860 in Gilmer Co, GA. He married Elizabeth (---) .

5 iv Mary J² Hensley , born 1835/36 in Burke Co, NC (now McDowell Co, NC); died aft 1860 in Gilmer Co, GA.

6 v John² Hensley , born 1838/39 in Burke Co, NC (now McDowell Co, NC); died aft 1860 in Gilmer Co, GA.

7 vi Catherine² Hensley , born 1839/40 in Burke Co, NC (now McDowell Co, NC); died aft 1860 in Gilmer Co, GA.

8 vii William² Hensley , born 1842/43 in McDowell Co, NC; died aft 1860 in Gilmer Co, GA.

Generation 2

2. Calvin Lycurgus² Hensley (Jefferson¹), born 7 Jun 1829 in Burke Co, NC (now McDowell Co, NC); died 11 Apr 1910 in Unaka, Cherokee Co, NC; buried in Zion Hill Cem, Turtletown, Polk Co, TN. He married (1) on 7 Apr 1850 in Cherokee Co, NC Evaline Dicy Dale , born 7 Mar 1832 in Burke Co, NC; died 21 Jan 1898 in Unaka, Cherokee Co, NC; buried in Zion Hill Cem, Turtletown, Polk Co, TN, daughter of William Dale and Mary Ann York ; (2) on 1 Jan 1899 in Fannin Co, GA Eliza Ann Richards , born 11 Mar 1862; died 6 Jul 1906 in Fannin Co, GA; (3) on 18 Aug 1907 in Unaka, Cherokee Co, NC Callie Bates .

Children of Calvin Lycurgus Hensley and Evaline Dicy Dale were as follows:

9 i Mary Ann³ Hensley , born 26 Jan 1851 in Cherokee Co, NC; died 31 Mar 1912 in Polk Co, TN; buried in Zion Hill Cem, Turtletown, Polk Co, TN.

10 ii William Jefferson³ Hensley , born Jan 1853 in Cherokee Co, NC; died in Cherokee Co, NC; buried in Liberty Baptist, Shoal Creek, Cherokee Co, NC.

11 iii John H³ Hensley , born 1 Dec 1855 in Monroe Co, TN; died 11 Aug 1902 in Cherokee Co, NC; buried in Liberty Baptist, Shoal Creek, Cherokee Co, NC.

12 iv James G³ Hensley , born 18 Jan 1858 in Monroe Co, TN; died 14 Nov 1912 in Cherokee Co, NC; buried in Liberty Baptist, Shoal Creek, Cherokee Co, NC.

13 v Joseph Lycurgus³ Hensley , born 7 Feb 1860 in Monroe Co, TN; died 31 Oct 1947 in Hamilton Co, TN; buried in Millsaps Cem, Soddy Daisy, Hamilton Co, TN.

14 vi Jacob D³ Hensley , born Nov 1862 in Monroe Co, TN; died aft 1910 in IL.

15 vii Charles J³ Hensley , born 17 Nov 1864 in Monroe Co, TN; died 1935 in Polk Co, TN; buried in Zion Hill Cem, Turtletown, Polk Co, TN.

16 viii Emma Jane³ Hensley , born 1866/67 in Polk Co, TN; died in AR.

17 ix Thomas A³ Hensley , born 22 Oct 1870 in Polk Co, TN; died 3 Jul 1937 in Polk Co, TN; buried in Zion Hill Cem, Turtletown, Polk Co, TN.

18 x Alice Evaline³ Hensley , born 2 Jan 1875 in Polk Co, TN; died 13 Aug 1958 in NJ; buried in Zion Hill Cem, Turtletown, Polk Co, TN.

3. Ann Eliza Matilda² Hensley (Jefferson¹), born 1833/34 in Burke Co, NC (now McDowell Co, NC); died aft 1880 in McDowell Co, NC. She married on 4 Nov 1847 in McDowell Co, NC Wilford Huskins , born 1824/25 in Burke Co, NC; died aft 1880 in McDowell Co, NC.

Children of Ann Eliza Matilda Hensley and Wilford Huskins were as follows:

19 i James W³ Huskins , born 1847/48 in McDowell Co, NC.

20 ii Alfred L³ Huskins , born 1850 in Cherokee Co, NC.

+ 21 iii John W³ Huskins , born 1851/52 in McDowell Co, NC. He married Matilda (---) .

22 iv Mary³ Huskins , born 1853/54 in McDowell Co, NC.

+ 23 v C M³ Huskins , born 1855/56 in McDowell Co, NC. He married Salina (---) .

24 vi Martha J³ Huskins , born 1856/57 in McDowell Co, NC.

25 vii William³ Huskins , born 1860 in McDowell Co, NC.

26 viii Julia³ Huskins , born 1864/65 in McDowell Co, NC.

27 ix Lula³ Huskins , born 1864/65 in McDowell Co, NC.

28 x Wilford³ Huskins , born 1865/66 in McDowell Co, NC.

29 xi Elmira³ Huskins , born 1872/73 in McDowell Co, NC.

30 xii Lilly A³ Huskins , born 1874/75 in McDowell Co, NC.

4. James M² Hensley (Jefferson¹), born 1833/34 in Burke Co, NC (now McDowell Co, NC); died aft 1860 in Gilmer Co, GA. He married in 1850/57 in Gilmer Co, GA Elizabeth (---) , born 1840/41 in NC.

Children of James M Hensley and Elizabeth (---) were as follows:

31 i John³ Hensley , born 1856/57 in Gilmer Co, GA.

32 ii William³ Hensley , born 1859/60 in Gilmer Co, GA.

Generation 3

21. John W³ Huskins (Ann Eliza Matilda² Hensley, Jefferson¹), born 1851/52 in McDowell Co, NC. He married in 1870/80 in McDowell Co, NC Matilda (---) , born 1844/45 in NC.

Children of John W Huskins and Matilda (---) were as follows:

33 i Mary J⁴ Huskins , born 1880 in McDowell Co, NC.

23. C M³ Huskins (Ann Eliza Matilda² Hensley, Jefferson¹), born 1855/56 in McDowell Co, NC. He married in 1870/80 in McDowell Co, NC Salina (---) , born 1860/61 in NC.

Children of C M Huskins and Salina (---) were as follows:

34 i John B⁴ Huskins , born 1880 in McDowell Co, NC.