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I (Marty Grant) am not related to John Hensley as far as I know.
John Hensley was born ca 1794/1800 in Buncombe Co, NC (now Yancey Co, NC). This approximate birth year is based on his age on the 1820 census (age 16-25, born ca 1794/1804), and in 1830 (age 30-39, born ca 1790/1800).
I don't know who John's parents might have been. However, I have a gut feeling that he belongs to John Hensley and 2nd wife Martha, but no solid proof to back up that connection, however, a deed dated 1819 seems to say that John (Jr) is an heir of John (Sr), but does not say so explicitly.
Presumably, John would have been at home with his parents for the 1800 and 1810 census.
In 1800, John Hensley would have been approximately 1 to 6 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.
In 1810, John Hensley would have been approximately 10 to 16 years old, so presumably enumerated in the 10-15 age group (c1794/1800) or possibly in the 16-25 group (c1784/94). 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). Since John might also have been in the 16-25 age group, I checked that as well. That adds no new suspects to the list. And of those already in the list above, only John (1765/74) and Henry had sons in that category.
A deed record in Buncombe Co, NC dated 15 Mar 1819 shows that John Hensley and William Hensley (don't know which William) made a Deed of Trust with Thomas Shepherd stating that John and William would keep the heirs of John Hensley, deceased, from having any claim to a tract of land in Buncombe County on Bald Mountain Creek, apparently land where John (Jr) now lives. (Buncombe Co, NC Deed Book 12 page 242).
John Hensley was listed on the 1820 census as head of a large household including several males and females who are too old to be his own children. I strongly suspect that these are his siblings, and this supports him being a son of John Sr who died sometime before 1820, leaving him the head of household. Some of the younger children could be his own. If so, this means that John married someone in the 1810/20 timeframe. In 1820, he had a woman age 26-44 with him (born ca 1775/94), and in 1830 apparently the same woman, age 40-49, or born ca 1780/90. This is probably his wife, which makes her just a little older than him. It is possible that this is his widowed mother instead, but she doesn't seem quite old enough. In 1820, John Hensley was listed between James Greenle and William Riddle. James Hensley (c1780) was the only nearby Hensley, listed on the same page, but several houses away.
1820 census analysis (based on available evidence): (Explanation of this census)
1820 Buncombe Co, NC pg 98 John Hensley 220100-31010 Analysis: 1 Male(s) 16-25 (1794-1804) John HENSLEY (1794/1800) s/o ? 2 Male(s) 10-15 (1804-1810) Brother? (1804/10) --> gone by 1830 Brother? (1804/10) --> gone by 1830 2 Male(s) 0-9 (1810-1820) Son? Brother? (1810/15) Son? Brother? (1810/20) --> gone by 1830 1 Female(s) 26-44 (1775-1794) Wife? (1780/90) 1 Female(s) 10-15 (1804-1810) Sister? (1804/10) --> gone by 1830 3 Female(s) 0-9 (1810-1820) Daughter? Sister? (1810/15) Daughter? Sister? (1815/20) Daughter? Sister? (1815/20)
John Hensley was listed on the 1830 census in Buncombe County, clearly in the part that would become Yancey County (in 1833). He was next door to Abram Hensley (c1800/10), who could easily be his younger brother. His neighbor on the other side was Jacob Miller. John was just a few houses from Jesse Hensley and a few more from Henry Hensley (c1781). John still apparently had some of his siblings with him, though many others were with him by now, all young enough to be his own children.
1830 census analysis (based on available evidence): (Explanation of this census)
1830 Buncombe County, NC pg 296 John Hensley 1001010000000-3121001000000 Analysis: 1 Male(s) 30-39 (1790-1800) John HENSLEY (1794/1800) s/o John 1 Male(s) 15-19 (1810-1815) Brother? Son? (1810/15) 1 Male(s) 0-4 (1825-1830) Son? (1825/30) 1 Female(s) 40-49 (1780-1790) Wife? (1780/90) 1 Female(s) 15-19 (1810-1815) Sister? Daughter? (1810/15) 2 Female(s) 10-14 (1815-1820) Daughter? (1815/20) Daughter? (1815/20) 1 Female(s) 5-9 (1820-1825) Daughter? (1820/25) 3 Female(s) 0-4 (1825-1830) Daughter? (1825/30) Daughter? (1825/30) Daughter? (1825/30)
Yancey County was formed in 1833 from part of Buncombe County, including where most of the Hensleys lived.
John Hensley died in Yancey Co, NC sometime before February 1837, for on that date, he was mentioned in Yancey County Court when it was ordered that the orphan children of John Hensley, deceased, be brought into the next court. (Yancey Co, NC Court Minutes, thanks to Sandra Fender for sharing this).
I don't know what became of John's wife, or if she died before him. The 1840 census of Yancey Co, NC was filled with Hensley's, but only two female heads of household, neither of whom was John's widow. (For reference, they were Sibba Hensley and Dorcas Hensley).
In June 1842 in Yancey County Court, J. W. McElroy was appointed guardian of Hezekiah B. Hensley, orphan, minor son of John Hensley, deceased. (Yancey Co, NC Court Minutes, thanks to Sandra Fender for sharing this).
That is the last record (so far) that I have for the John Hensley family. He had quite a few children, per the 1820 and 1830 census (though many of those were probably siblings instead), but other than Hezekiah, none have been positively identified.
John Hensley and his wife had a large number of children per the 1820 and 1830 census records. However, it is clear that some of the older ones were actually his siblings, children of his father John Hensley Sr. However, in order not to lose track of any of them, I'm including them all in this analysis.
Unknown Male (c1804/10). John Hensley had an apparent male this age with him in the 1820 census (age 10-15, born ca 1804/10), but he was gone by 1830. This is almost certainly not a child of John, due to their closeness in age. However, this is probably his brother, as John's father John Sr had a male child this age with him back in 1810.
This could easily be Abram Hensley (c1800/10) who was residing next door to John in 1830. There are several other unclaimed male Hensleys who fit this age group, so I can't say with any certainty who this was. (See below for several other possibilities).
Unknown Male (c1804/10). John Hensley had an apparent male this age with him in the 1820 census (age 10-15, born ca 1804/10), but he was gone by 1830. This is almost certainly not a child of John, due to their closeness in age. However, this is probably his brother, as John's father John Sr had a male child this age with him back in 1810.
Like the other male in this same age group (see above), I can't say who his was. The other one might have been Abram or any number of people. Here are some known male Hensleys from this area who fit this age group, and who are otherwise unconnected to parents: Blasen Jim Hensley (c1800/10), George W. Hensley (1809) (not likely), Jesse Hensley (c1804), Lawrence Hensley (c1809), Samuel Hensley (c1800), Samuel Hensley (c1805) (not likely), and William M. Hensley (c1810).
Unknown Female (c1804/10). John Hensley had an apparent female this age with him in the 1820 census (age 10-15, born ca 1804/10), but she was gone by 1830. This is almost certainly not a child of John, due to their closeness in age. However, this is probably his sister , as John's father John Sr had a female child this age with him back in 1810.
I have no clues (currently) who this might be.
Unknown Son (c1810/20). John Hensley had an apparent son this age with him in the 1820 census (age "under 10", born ca 1810/20), but he was gone by 1830. This may or may not be a son of John Hensley (Jr). Depending on when he was born exactly, it might be John's brother instead.
I have no clues who this might be.
Unknown Son (c1810/15). John Hensley had an apparent son this age with him in the 1820 census (age "under 10", born ca 1810/20), and in 1830 (age 15-19, born ca 1810/15). This may or may not be a son of John Hensley (Jr). Depending on when he was born exactly, it might be John's brother instead.
There are several Hensleys in the area who were born in this timeframe who's parents are not proven. These are the suspects: Bannister Hensley (c1811), Benjamin Hensley (c1814), Fielding Hensley (c1813), William H. Hensley (c1813), and William M. Hensley (c1810). Any of these (or none of these) could be a son, or younger brother, of John Hensley.
Unknown Daughter (c1810/15). John Hensley had an apparent daughter this age with him in the 1820 census (age "under 10", born ca 1810/20), and in 1830 (age 15-19, born ca 1810/15). This may or may not be a daughter of John Hensley (Jr). Depending on when she was born exactly, it might be John's sister instead.
I have no clue who this might be.
Unknown Daughter (c1815/20). John Hensley had an apparent daughter this age with him in the 1820 census (age "under 10", born ca 1810/20), and in 1830 (age 10-14, born ca 1815/20). This may or may not be a daughter of John Hensley (Jr). Depending on when she was born exactly, it might be John's sister instead.
I have no clue who this might be.
Unknown Daughter (c1815/20). John Hensley had an apparent daughter this age with him in the 1820 census (age "under 10", born ca 1810/20), and in 1830 (age 10-14, born ca 1815/20). This may or may not be a daughter of John Hensley (Jr). Depending on when she was born exactly, it might be John's sister instead.
I have no clue who this might be.
Unknown Daughter (c1820/25). John Hensley had an apparent daughter this age with him in the 1830 census (age 5-9, born ca 1820/25).
I have no clue who this might be.
Unknown Son (c1825/30). John Hensley had an apparent son this age with him in the 1830 census (age 0-4, born ca 1825/30).
This almost certainly has to be Hezekiah B. Hensley who was referred to as a "minor" in 1842. A minor was anyone under the age of 21, so in 1842, a minor would have to have been born between ca 1821 and 1842. This is the only son that John had (pre 1830) that could still be a minor in 1842. Of course, John may have had additional children born between 1830 and 1837, and Hezekiah could fall in that timeframe as well.
Assuming this is Hezekiah B. Hensley, the only other record I've found for him is his entry on the 1860 census in Nicollet County, Minnesota. He was listed there as age 38 (born ca 1821/22) in North Carolina, occupation = Soldier, his wife was Mary --- age 40 (born ca 1819/20), born Finland, and they had one child: Anna age 10 (born ca 1849/50) born in New York. I suspect since this child was born in NY ca 1850, then Hezekiah must have been stationed in New York for the 1850 census, but not listed.
Unknown Daughter (c1825/30). John Hensley had an apparent daughter this age with him in the 1830 census (age 0-4, born ca 1825/30).
I have no clue who this might be.
Unknown Daughter (c1825/30). John Hensley had an apparent daughter this age with him in the 1830 census (age 0-4, born ca 1825/30).
I have no clue who this might be.
Unknown Daughter (c1825/30). John Hensley had an apparent daughter this age with him in the 1830 census (age 0-4, born ca 1825/30).
I have no clue who this might be.
Persons researching this family (click here for data on how to get on or off of this list):
1. John1
Hensley , born 1794/1800 in
Buncombe Co, NC (now Yancey Co, NC); died 1830/37 in Yancey Co, NC, son of
John Hensley
and Martha (---) .
He married bef 1837 in Yancey Co, NC ? (---) , born
1780/90; died aft 1830 in Yancey Co, NC.
Children
of John Hensley and ? (---) were as follows:
2 i Hezekiah B2 Hensley , born 1825/30 in Buncombe Co, NC (now Yancey Co, NC); died aft 1860 Nicolett Co, MN.