Joab Hensley (Henslee) (c1796) and Nancy (Justice) of Buncombe Co, NC and Greene Co, AR and Calloway Co, KY

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

It looks like this family used the "Henslee" spelling more often than the Hensley spelling, at least in later records.

Joab Hensley was born ca 1795/96 in NC, presumably in Buncombe Co, NC, possibly in the section that became Henderson County in 1838. (He lived in that section in 1830, but may not have been born there). His birth date on his tombstone is given as 29 Jan 1796.

I don't know who Joab's parents might have been. There are several possible choices. I'm fairly sure that Abishai Hensley (1789) was his brother. At this time, my prime suspect for Joab and Abishai's father is a Benjamin Hensley (bef 1755) who lived in Greenville Dist, SC in 1800 and 1810, and may be the same Benjamin living near Abishai in 1820 Buncombe Co, NC. He is a good suspect for several reasons. 1- He was near Abishai in 1820. 2- He had (per the 1800 and 1810 census) a son Joab's age. 3- He also had a son (per 1800 and 1810 census) the age of Abishai Hensley, Joab's suspected brother. 4- Both Abishai and Joab named sons "Benjamin". All of those are circumstantial, but all I can come up with at present.

Presumably, Joab would have been at home with his parents for the 1800, 1810 and 1820 census.

In 1800, Joab Hensley would have been approximately 4 years old, so he would have been enumerated in the "Under 10" age group (born ca 1790/1800). The 1800 Buncombe Co, NC census shows a total of six Hensley households, with five of them having a male his age, including: Colbert Hensley (1760/65)Henry Hensley (bef 1755), Hickman Hensley (1759), John Hensley (1765/74), and Washington Hensley (1774/84). This does not mean that one of the above has to be his father, but it is a place to start. Benjamin Hensley (bef 1755) in Greenville Dist, SC had a son Joab's age in 1800..

In 1810, Joab Hensley would have been approximately 14 years old, so presumably enumerated in the 10-15 age group (c1794/1800). There were several Hensley households in 1810 Buncombe County with a male this age, including: Henry Hensley (bef 1755), John Hensley (1765/74), Washington Hensley (1774/84), and Colbert Hensley (1760/65). Benjamin Hensley (bef 1755) in Greenville Dist, SC had a son Joab's age in 1810.

In 1820, Joab would have been approximately 24 years old, so should be enumerated in the 16-25 age group (born ca 1794/1804). In 1820 Buncombe, only Henry Hensley Sr had an apparent son age 16-25. For various reasons, I think I already know who that child was, and that it was not Joab.

Joab Hensley married Nancy --- ca 1820/22 in Buncombe Co, NC. I have her maiden name as "Justice", but don't know what the proof for that is. She was born 21 Jan 1800 (per tombstone). Backing up to the 1820 census, there were 8 Justice families listed in Buncombe County, but only James D. Justice, George Justice, and William Justice had anyone Nancy's age with them. Joab and Nancy named a son "William J. Hensley", so that might be a clue if his middle name was "Justice". Just a theory though.

Joab Hensley was listed on the 1830 census in Buncombe County, clearly in the part that would become Henderson County in 1838. No other Hensley's were nearby, although suspected brother Abishai Hensley was on the next page, and in the same apparent area. Joab's neighbors in 1830 were John Wallis and James Byers. I believe that Joab and Abishai moved into this area in the 1820's, and were not from there, but probably from the upper end of Buncombe that later became Yancey County, as that is where most of the other Hensley's resided. I'm not aware of any other Hensleys before Joab and Abishai who resided in the Henderson County area.

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

1830 Buncombe County, NC pg 219 Joab Hensley 1300010000000-1000010000000
Analysis:
1 Male(s) 30-39        (1790-1800)	Joab HENSLEY (1796) s/o ? Brother of Abishai
3 Male(s) 5-9          (1820-1825)	Meredith W. HENSLEY (1822) son 
					William J. HENSLEY (1824) son
					B.E. HENSLEY (1825) son
1 Male(s) 0-4          (1825-1830)	Benjamin G. HENSLEY (1828) son
1 Female(s) 30-39      (1790-1800)	Nancy (JUSTICE) Hensley (1800) wife
1 Female(s) 0-4        (1825-1830)	Daughter? (1825/30)
 

Joab Hensley and family left Buncombe Co, NC for Calloway Co, KY between ca 1830 and 1834. They left their (temporarily it seems) and moved to Greene County, Arkansas by 1840, but were back in Calloway Co, KY by ca 1843.

Joab Hensley was listed on the 1840 census in Greene County, Arkansas. They were the only Hensley's there.

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

1840 Greene Co, AR pg 144 Joab Henslee 1023001000000-3010001000000
Analysis:
1 Male(s) 40-49        (1790-1800)	Joab HENSLEY (1796)
3 Male(s) 15-19        (1820-1825)	Meredith W. HENSLEY (1822) son
					William J. HENSLEY (1824) son
					B. E. HENSLEY (1825) son
2 Male(s) 10-14        (1825-1830)	Benjamin G. HENSLEY (1828) son
					J. H. HENSLEY (1828/29) son
1 Male(s) 0-4          (1835-1840)	James J. HENSLEY (1837/38) son
1 Female(s) 40-49      (1790-1800)	Nancy (JUSTICE) Hensley (1800) wife
1 Female(s) 10-14      (1825-1830)	Daughter? (1825/30) > gone by 1850
3 Female(s) 0-4        (1835-1840)	Nancy C. HENSLEY (1833/34) daughter
					Rebecca HENSLEY (1835/36) daughter
					Sarah Ann HENSLEY (1839/40) daughter

 

Joab Hensley and family moved back to Calloway Co, KY by ca 1843.

Joab Hensley and family were listed on the 1850 census in Calloway County, KY. He was about 4 pages from his suspected brother Abishai Hensley.

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 CALLOWAY CO, KY Page 409   House/Family #  141/ 143  - District No. 2

HENSLEE JOAB Sr       54 M W FARMER                 600 NC                   1795/1796
HENSLEE NANCY         50 F W                            NC                   1799/1800
HENSLEE M W           27 M W SCHOOL TEACHER             NC                   1822/1823
HENSLEE WILLIAM J     25 M W FARMER                 300 NC                   1824/1825
HENSLEE B C           22 M W FARMER                     NC                   1827/1828
HENSLEE J H           21 M W                            NC                   1828/1829
HENSLEE NANCY C       16 F W                            KY                   1833/1834
HENSLEE REBECCA       14 F W                            KY                   1835/1836
HENSLEE J S           12 M W                            KY                   1837/1838
HENSLEE SARAHANN      10 F W                            KY                   1839/1840
HENSLEE JOSEPHUS J     7 M W                            KY                   1842/1843
 

They were on the 1860 census in Calloway Co, KY on page 193: Joab Hensley-64, Nancy-64, James J-20, David Holly-15. (From "Hensley Households" by Laura Schreibman).

According to Cemetery records (thanks to Laura Schreibman), we know the birth and death dates for several members of this family. They show that Joab Henslee died on 16 Aug 1878 and Nancy, his wife, died on 24 Dec 1885, both in Calloway Co, KY.

I have no data on the family beyond this point.


Children

Joab and Nancy had 11 Children, 9 of whom were still home as of the 1850 census. The other two are not proven to be their children, but they fit really well. I have birth and death dates for many of these from cemetery records in Calloway Co, KY shared with me by Laura Schreibman. Most of these are buried at the Salem Cemetery, Calloway County.

Meredith W. Henslee (1822)

William J. Henslee (1824)

Unknown Son (1820/25)

Benjamin G. Henslee (1828)

J. H. Henslee (c1829)

Unknown Daughter (1825/30)

Nancy C. Henslee (c1834)

Rebecca Henslee (c1836)

James J. Henslee (c1838)

Sarah Ann Henslee (c1840)

Josephus J. Henslee (c1843)


Meredith W. Henslee was born 25 Jun 1822 (per his tombstone) in Buncombe (now Henderson) Co, NC. Meredith was apparently home with his parents for the 1830 and 1840 census, and still with them in 1850.

Meredith was still in Calloway Co, KY for the 1860 census, but I don't have the listing yet. He was on page 280.

Meredith died on 24 Aug 1865 in Calloway Co, KY (date per his tombstone).


William J. Henslee was born 15 Jul 1824 (per his tombstone) in Buncombe (now Henderson) Co, NC. William was apparently home with his parents for the 1830 and 1840 census, and still with them in 1850.

I don't have William on the 1860 census, but he died in Calloway Co, KY on 29 Jun 1891 per his tombstone.


Unknown Son (1820/25). Joab had an apparent son this age per the 1830 and 1840 census, but he was gone from his household by 1850.

It seems very likely that this is Balas E. Henslee, born 11 Apr 1825 in Buncombe (now Henderson Co, NC).

B. E. married Alphafeda --- ca 1849/50 in Calloway Co, KY. I don't know what her maiden name might be.

They were listed on the 1850 census in Calloway Co, KY, just nine houses from his probable parents. There was a Cuthbirt Lawrence residing with them. It is possible that he is a brother to Alphafeda, but that is just a guess.

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 CALLOWAY CO, KY Page 410   House/Family #  150/ 152  - District No. 2

HENSLEE B E           25 M W FARMER                 300 NC                   1824/1825
HENSLEE ALPHAFEDA     20 F W                            KY                   1829/1830
HENSLEE SUSAN          0 F W 2/12                       KY                   1849/1850
LAWRENCE CUTBIRTH     17 M W LABORER                    KY                   1832/1833

B. E. Hensley was in Calloway Co, KY for the 1860 census on page 199. I don't have the full listing yet.

He died on 28 Oct 1892 per his tombstone in Calloway Co, KY.


Benjamin G. Henslee was born 9 Feb 1828 (per his tombstone) in Buncombe (now Henderson) Co, NC. Benjamin was apparently home with his parents for the 1830 and 1840 census, and still with them in 1850.

Benjamin was listed on the 1860 census in Calloway Co, KY on page 346.

He died in Calloway Co, KY on 28 Nov 1860 per his tombstone. His tombstone also lists him as "Dr", presumably indicating he was a Doctor.


J. H. Henslee was born 18 Jan 1828 (per his tombstone), but this conflicts with his brother Benjamin's birth date the same year, and one month later. J. H.'s age in 1850 shows him born ca 1828/29, so perhaps his birth date should be 18 Jan 1829. He was born in Buncombe (now Henderson) Co, NC.

I don't know what the initials "J. H." are for. He was apparently home with his parents for the 1830 and 1840 census, and still with them in 1850.

I don't have J. H. on the 1860 census, but he died in Calloway Co, KY on 21 May 1870 per his tombstone.


Unknown Daughter (1825/30). Joab Hensley had an apparent daughter this age per the 1830 and 1840 census. She was gone from his household by 1850.

Janet Sibole, a researcher of this family, says that Joab had a daughter named Ellinor who married a Dalton.

I found a Ellinor E. Dalton, wife of Caswell Dalton, residing in 1850 Calloway Co, KY, just 2 houses from Joab Henslee and family. I feel sure this is the same Ellinor that Janet was speaking of, but I don't know what the evidence is for her being a Hensley, nor child of Joab. She fits perfectly, based on age, birth place and proximity to Joab Hensley, so it sounds like a good possibility that she is a child of Joab and Nancy.

Ellinor E. Henslee was born ca 1829/30 in Buncombe (now Henderson) Co, NC. She married Caswell C. Dalton ca 1846 in Calloway Co, KY. They were listed on the 1850 census just 2 houses from her parents.

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 CALLOWAY CO, KY Page 409B  House/Family #  143/ 145  - District No. 2

DALTON CASWELL C      30 M W FARMER                     VA                   1819/1820
DALTON ELINOR E       20 F W                            NC                   1829/1830
DALTON JOHN W          3 M W                            KY                   1846/1847
DALTON ELIZA           1 F W                            KY                   1848/1849
 

I don't have any additional data on this family.


Nancy C. Henslee was born ca 1833/34 in Calloway Co, KY. She was apparently home with her parents for the 1840 census, and still with them in 1850.

She was gone from their household by 1860, so probably had married or died in the 1850/60 timeframe.


Rebecca Henslee was born ca 1835/36 in Calloway Co, KY. She was apparently home with her parents for the 1840 census, and still with them in 1850.

She was gone from their household by 1860, so probably had married or died in the 1850/60 timeframe.


James J. Henslee was born ca 1837/38 in Calloway Co, KY. He was apparently home with his parents for the 1840 census, and still with them in 1850 and 1860.

In 1850, he was listed as "J. S. Henslee", but in 1860 as "J. J. Hensley". I've seen the original 1850 census, so I can vouch for what it says, but the 1860 census was a transcript.


Sarah Ann Henslee was born ca 1839/40 in Calloway Co, KY. She was apparently home with her parents for the 1840 census, and still with them in 1850.

She was gone from their household by 1860, so probably had married or died in the 1850/60 timeframe.


Josephus J. Henslee was born ca 1842/43 in Calloway Co, KY. He was home with his parents for the 1850 census.

He was gone from their household by 1860, so probably had married or died in the 1850/60 timeframe.


Researcher List

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


Register Report


1. Joab1 Hensley , born 29 Jan 1796 in Buncombe Co, NC; died 16 Aug 1878 in Calloway Co, KY, son of (---) Hensley .  He married in 1820/23 in Buncombe Co, NC (now Henderson Co, NC) Nancy Justice , born 21 Jan 1800 in Buncombe Co, NC (now Henderson Co, NC); died 24 Dec 1885 in Calloway Co, KY.

 

      Children of Joab Hensley and Nancy Justice were as follows:

      2          i      Meredith W2 Hensley , born 25 Jun 1822 in Buncombe Co, NC (now Henderson Co, NC); died 24 Aug 1865 in Calloway Co, KY.

      3          ii      William J2 Hensley , born 15 Jul 1824 in Buncombe Co, NC (now Henderson Co, NC); died 29 Jun 1891 in Calloway Co, KY.

+    4          iii      B E2 Hensley , born 11 Apr 1825 in Buncombe Co, NC (now Henderson Co, NC); died 26 Oct 1892 in Calloway Co, KY.  He married Alphafeda (---) .

      5          iv      Benjamin G2 Hensley , born 9 Feb 1828 in Buncombe Co, NC (now Henderson Co, NC); died 28 Nov 1860 in Calloway Co, KY.

      6          v      J H2 Hensley , born 18 Jan 1828/29 in Buncombe Co, NC (now Henderson Co, NC); died 21 May 1870 in Calloway Co, KY.

+    7          vi      Ellinor E2 Hensley , born 1829/30 in Buncombe Co, NC (now Henderson Co, NC).  She married Caswell C Dalton .

      8          vii      Nancy C2 Hensley , born 1833/34 in Calloway Co, KY.

      9          viii      Rebecca2 Hensley , born 1835/36 in Calloway Co, KY.

      10         ix      James J2 Hensley , born 1837/38 in Calloway Co, KY.

      11         x      Sarah Ann2 Hensley , born 1839/40 in Calloway Co, KY.

      12         xi      Josephus J2 Hensley , born 1842/43 in Calloway Co, KY.

 

Generation 2

 

4. B E2 Hensley  (Joab1), born 11 Apr 1825 in Buncombe Co, NC (now Henderson Co, NC); died 26 Oct 1892 in Calloway Co, KY.  He married in 1840/50 in Calloway Co, KY Alphafeda (---) , born 1829/30 in KY.

 

      Children of B E Hensley and Alphafeda (---) were as follows:

      13         i      Susan3 Hensley , born 1850 in Calloway Co, KY.

      14         ii      M C3 Hensley , born 1850/53 in Calloway Co, KY.

      15         iii      Elizabeth3 Hensley , born 1853/54 in Calloway Co, KY.

      16         iv      Nancy E3 Hensley , born 1855/56 in Calloway Co, KY.

 

 

7. Ellinor E2 Hensley  (Joab1), born 1829/30 in Buncombe Co, NC (now Henderson Co, NC).  She married in 1840/47 in Calloway Co, KY Caswell C Dalton , born 1819/20 in VA.

 

      Children of Ellinor E Hensley and Caswell C Dalton were as follows:

      17         i      John W3 Dalton , born 1846/47 in Calloway Co, KY.

      18         ii      Eliza3 Dalton , born 1848/49 in Calloway Co, KY.


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