John Hensley (1765/72) of Burke, Buncombe and Yancey Co, NC

John Hensley was born ca 1765/1772, either in Virginia or more likely in Rowan Co, NC (now Surry Co, NC). I base his approximate birth year on several things. First of all, he was listed as age 26 and up but under 45" on the 1800 census, so that shows he was born between ca 1755 and 1774. The 1810 census shows him in the same age category, so born ca 1765/1784. Combine the two, and they can be reconciled at ca 1765/1774. Add to this his first court entry in 1793, and assuming he had to be 21 to be chosen for a jury, then he was born sometime ca 1772 or before. Combine all these elements, and I came up with ca 1765/1772 as his approximate birth year.

John Hensley might be a child of Benjamin and Elizabeth Hensley. I have seen no direct evidence of this, but he was associated with Benjamin's proven sons Henry Hensley, Hickman Hensley and James Hensley. It is entirely possible that John was a grandson of Benjamin instead of his son. He was young enough to be a child of Henry Hensley and / or James Hensley (but not Hickman who was born in 1759). It is also possible that John was a child of some other Hensley, though obviously connected to this same bunch.

I don't know where John was born precisely, but it was most likely in North Carolina. Benjamin and several other Hensleys were in Rowan (now Surry) Co, NC by 1768, and if John was born ca 1765/1772, then that likely puts him in that area when born.

There was an older John Hensley in the area, who might be the namesake for this John, or possibly even his father. The older John was on the 1768 Tax List in Rowan Co, NC (so born before ca 1747, if 21 then). He was also on the 1774 tax list in Surry Co, NC. I have no other record for the older John, but based on the dates, it can't be this same John Hensley of Buncombe and Yancey Co, NC.

John Hensley (if born in NC), moved with his parents to Henry Co, VA in the Revolutionary War timeframe (ca 1778), and after the war, in the mid 1780's, moved with his parents and siblings to what is now the Yancey and Madison County area of western North Carolina, but was then part of Burke County.

The 1787 State Census for Burke County, NC shows four Hensley households listed, however, the edge of the pages were damaged, so none of the given names survived, so I can't really tell which was which. However, one of these was certainly Henry Hensley. The other three were probably Hickman, James and Benjamin Hensley. I don't believe any of the listings were for John Hensley.

John Hensley married someone (name unknown) ca 1787 or so in Burke Co, NC (now Yancey Co, NC). I don't know what her name might have been.

John Hensley was listed on the 1790 census in Burke County, NC in the 12th Company. He was listed between John Renfren (probably "Rentfrow") and James Langford. Several relatives were very close by as well, including Henry Hensley (2 houses away), and a little further away, but in the same company was James Hensley and Hickman Hensley (possibly his brothers).

In 1791, Buncombe County was created from the section of Burke County where John Hensley and family resided.

In Jan 1793, James Hensley, John Hensley and others were ordered to appear as Jurors for the next court, the Apr 1793 term. (Buncombe Co, NC Court Minutes, published in Old Buncombe Co, NC Genealogical Society Journal).

In April 1793, Henry Hensley, John Hensley and others were ordered to appear as Jurors for the next court, the July 1793 term. (Buncombe Co, NC Court Minutes, published in Old Buncombe Co, NC Genealogical Society Journal).

In July 1793, John Hensley was listed on a Petit Jury. (Buncombe Co, NC Court Minutes, published in Old Buncombe Co, NC Genealogical Society Journal).

In Court in July 1793, it was ordered that Colbert Hensley, John Hensley, Harry Hensley and others were to be a jury to view and lay off a road from Hintons Mill the nearest and best way to Austin Choates on Ivy River. (Buncombe Co, NC Court Minutes, published in Old Buncombe Co, NC Genealogical Society Journal).

In April 1794, it was ordered that Henry Hensley, James Hensley, John Hensley, Colbert Hensley and others were to be a jury to view and lay off a road from Hintons Mill on Caney River the nearest and best way to Austin Choates on Ivy River. (Buncombe Co, NC Court Minutes, published in Old Buncombe Co, NC Genealogical Society Journal).

Sometime in the 1790's, it would seem, that John's wife died, and he married a second time to Martha --- in Buncombe (now Yancey) Co, NC. I have no clue what her maiden name was.

John Hensley was listed on the 1800 census in Buncombe Co, NC. Unfortunately this census was alphabetical, so I can't tell who his neighbors were.

John Hensley died in Buncombe (now Yancey) Co, NC between 1810 and 1815. This is proven by a Buncombe Co NC deed dated 23 Sep 1815 where Charles Hensley, Miss Polly Hensley and Miss Peggy Hensley, heirs of John Hensley, deceased, received full satisfaction of their father's estate from their step-mother Martha Hensley. (Though it was dated 1815, it was recorded in 1833).

There were several deed transactions in the early 1830's pertaining to John and Martha Hensley's property, so it would seem that perhaps Martha lived until that time, and the settling wasn't all completed until her death. However, I have not located her on the 1820 or 1830 census, so she was probably residing with someone else, and not a head of household herself, or perhaps she remarried.

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).

The record above jibes perfectly with the fact that John Hensley (Jr) seemed to have an extra large family for the 1820 census, and to a lesser extent, the 1830 census. This probably means that his siblings resided with him until married. It is possible that the William Hensley named on the 1819 record was another child of John (Sr), but I don't know which William that could be. The only William I know of who was old enough in 1819 was William A. Hensley (1798).

Children

John Hensley and his first wife may have only had three children, if the 1815 deed is to be taken as showing "all the heirs" of John and his first wife. It does not state that the three named were "all" the heirs (as far as I know, I have not seen the original record). However, it would appear to me that the three named (Charles, Polly and Peggy) are the only three John had with his first wife. He had several children with his second wife Martha, but only John Hensley (Jr) is known for sure.

Unknown Daughter (1784/90). John Hensley had an apparent daughter this age. In 1790 he had 3 females with him, one presumably his wife, the other two daughters. No ages were given, so all we know from that record was that she was born before 1790. In 1800, John had two apparent daughters age 10-15 (born ca 1784/90). Both were gone by 1810, so married or died by then.

This could be either Mary "Polly" Hensley or Margaret "Peggy" Hensley who were both single in 1815, and listed as heirs of John Hensley. If this were one of those two, where were they in 1810, if still single in 1815?

Unknown Daughter (1790/1800). John Hensley had an apparent daughter this age with him in 1800 (age "under 10", born ca 1790/1800). She was gone by 1810, so probably had married or died by then.

Charles B. Hensley was born ca 1795/96 in Buncombe (now Yancey) Co, NC. His approximate birth year is based on his age on the 1850 census (age 54), but this is slightly off from what I suspect his real birth year was: ca 1790/1794. I base this on him being a proven child of John Hensley (per the 1815 deed mentioned earlier), and the fact that John had two sons born in the 1790's. One being Charles, the other being John Jr. The problem is that Charles was supposed to be from the first marriage, and John from the second (if I understand it correctly), but the records show one son born ca 1790/94 and another born ca 1794/1800. John Jr is shown to be in the 1794/1800 category based on other records, so I think that Charles' age is off slightly in 1850. Unfortunately he died before the 1860 census, so we have no other census record to use to help narrow it down (the 1830 and 1840 census both show ca 1790/1800 for his birth range).

In 1800, John (Sr) had two apparent sons "under 10", or born ca 1790/1800. One of these was Charles, the other John Jr. In 1810 he had one son age 16-25 (born ca 1784/94) and one age 10-15 (born ca 1794/1800). In 1820, John Jr was listed as head of household, age 16-25 (born ca 1794/1804), so the only way to reconcile all of this, is to put Charles in the ca 1790/94 age group.

Charles Hensley married Rhoda --- ca 1820/22 in Buncombe Co, NC. See his own page for additional information.

John Hensley was born ca 1794/1800 in Buncombe (now Yancey) Co, NC. He was apparently with his father in 1800 (age "under 10", born ca 1790/1800) and with him in 1810 (age 10-15, born ca 1794/1800).

After John Sr's death (ca 1810-1815), John Jr apparently kept all his brothers and sisters with him, and he was listed as head of household on the 1820 census with a very large family, most too old to be his own children.

Unknown Daughter (1794/1800). John Hensley had an apparent daughter this age with him in 1800 (age "under 10", born ca 1790/1800). She was still home in 1810, age 10-15 (born ca 1794/1800). Though her father died ca 1810/15, she was apparently not residing with her brother John for the 1820 census, so probably had married or died by then.

Unknown Son (1804/10). John Hensley had an apparent son this age with him in 1810 (age "under 10", born ca 1800/10). Though his father died ca 1810/15, this child was apparently residing with his brother John for the 1820 census, listed in the 10-15 age group (born ca 1804/10). He was gone from John Jr's household by 1830, so probably married or dead by then.

Unknown Daughter (1800/10). John Hensley had an apparent daughter this age with him in 1810 (age "under 10", born ca 1800/10). Though her father died ca 1810/15, she was apparently not residing with her brother John for the 1820 census, so probably had married or died by then.

Unknown Daughter (1804/10). John Hensley had an apparent daughter this age with him in 1810 (age "under 10", born ca 1800/10). Though her father died ca 1810/15, she was apparently residing with her brother John for the 1820 census, listed in the 10-15 age group (born ca 1804/10). She was not with John Jr in 1830, so probably had married or died by then.

Unknown Son (1810/15). John Hensley might be the father of this person. John Hensley Jr had an apparent brother this age with him in 1820 (age "under 10", born ca 1810/20) who was still with him in 1830 (age 15-19, born ca 1810/15). He was not with John Jr in 1840 though, so probably had married or died by then. This person is probably too old to be John Jr's son, so I'm guessing that he was a brother instead.

Unknown Son (1810/20). John Hensley might be the father of this person. John Hensley Jr had an apparent brother this age with him in 1820 (age "under 10", born ca 1810/20) who was not with him still in 1830, so probably had married or died by then. This person is probably too old to be John Jr's son, so I'm guessing that he was a brother instead.

Unknown Daughter (1810/15). John Hensley might be the father of this person. John Hensley Jr had an apparent sister this age with him in 1820 (age "under 10", born ca 1810/20) who was still with him in 1830 (age 15-19, born ca 1810/15). She was not with John Jr in 1840 though, so probably had married or died by then. This person is probably too old to be John Jr's daughter, so I'm guessing that she was a sister instead.

Researcher List

1. John¹ Hensley , born 1765/72 in Rowan Co, NC (now Surry Co, NC); died 1810/15 in Buncombe Co, NC, son of Benjamin Hensley (Jr) and Elizabeth (---) . He married (1) bef 1790 in Burke Co, NC ? (---) ; (2) in Buncombe Co, NC (now Madison Co, NC) Martha (---) , died aft Jan 1833.

Children of John Hensley and ? (---) were as follows:

2 i Mary "Polly"² Hensley , born 1784/90 in Buncombe Co, NC (now Yancey Co, NC).

3 ii Margaret "Peggy"² Hensley , born 1784/90 in Buncombe Co, NC (now Yancey Co, NC).

+ 4 iii Charles B² Hensley , born 1795/96 in Buncombe Co, NC; died abt 1858 in Madison Co, NC. He married Rhoda (---) .

Children of John Hensley and Martha (---) were as follows:

+ 5 i John² Hensley , born 1794/1800 in Buncombe Co, NC (now Yancey Co, NC); died 1830/37 in Yancey Co, NC. He married ? (---) .

Generation 2

4. Charles B² Hensley (John¹), born 1795/96 in Buncombe Co, NC; died abt 1858 in Madison Co, NC. He married in 1820/22 in Buncombe Co, NC (now Madison Co, NC) Rhoda (---) , born 1797/98 in Buncombe Co, NC.

Children of Charles B Hensley and Rhoda (---) were as follows:

+ 6 i Lucinda³ Hensley , born 8 Jul 1822 in Buncombe Co, NC (now Madison Co, NC); died 31 May 1914 in Madison Co, NC. She married Nealey Tweed .

+ 7 ii Beverly³ Hensley , born 1824/25 in Buncombe Co, NC (now Madison Co, NC); died abt 1864 in Civil War. He married Minerva Jane Haire .

8 iii John³ Hensley , born 17 Sep 1826 in Buncombe Co, NC (now Madison Co, NC); died 8 May 1900 in Madison Co, NC. He married on 10 Nov 1867 in Madison Co, NC Matilda Shelton .

9 iv George³ Hensley , born 1826/27 in Buncombe Co, NC (now Madison Co, NC).

10 v Wesley³ Hensley , born 1830/31 in Buncombe Co, NC (now Madison Co, NC); died 5 Sep 1900. He married in Madison Co, NC Nancy Shelton .

+ 11 vi William³ Hensley , born 1832/33 in Yancey Co, NC (now Madison Co, NC); died 30 Jan 1925 in Greene Co, TN. He married Mary "Polly" Dudley .

12 vii Margaret³ Hensley , born 1840/41 in Yancey Co, NC (now Madison Co, NC). She married on 16 Oct 1855 in Madison Co, NC Alexander Shelton .

+ 13 viii Ephraim M³ Hensley , born 1844/45 in Yancey Co, NC (now Madison Co, NC); died 5 Jul 1916 in Madison Co, NC. He married Ailsey Shelton .

14 ix Lena³ Hensley , born 1850 in Yancey Co, NC (now Madison Co, NC).

5. John² Hensley (John¹), born 1794/1800 in Buncombe Co, NC (now Yancey Co, NC); died 1830/37 in Yancey Co, NC. 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:

15 i Hezekiah B³ Hensley , born 1825/30 in Buncombe Co, NC (now Yancey Co, NC); died aft 1842.

Generation 3

6. Lucinda³ Hensley (Charles B², John¹), born 8 Jul 1822 in Buncombe Co, NC (now Madison Co, NC); died 31 May 1914 in Madison Co, NC. She married in 1835/40 in Yancey Co, NC (now Madison Co, NC) Nealey Tweed , born 1815/16 in NC.

Children of Lucinda Hensley and Nealey Tweed were as follows:

16 i Elisha J⁴ Tweed , born 1839/40 in Yancey Co, NC (now Madison Co, NC).

17 ii Emily⁴ Tweed , born 1840/41 in Yancey Co, NC (now Madison Co, NC).

18 iii Martha J⁴ Tweed , born 1842/43 in Yancey Co, NC (now Madison Co, NC).

19 iv Albert L⁴ Tweed , born 1844/45 in Yancey Co, NC (now Madison Co, NC).

20 v Joshua S⁴ Tweed , born 1846/47 in Yancey Co, NC (now Madison Co, NC).

21 vi John W⁴ Tweed , born 1850 in Yancey Co, NC (now Madison Co, NC).

7. Beverly³ Hensley (Charles B², John¹), born 1824/25 in Buncombe Co, NC (now Madison Co, NC); died abt 1864 in Civil War. He married in 1840/45 in Yancey Co, NC (now Madison Co, NC) Minerva Jane Haire , born 1820/21 in NC.

Children of Beverly Hensley and Minerva Jane Haire were as follows:

22 i Isabel S⁴ Hensley , born 1844/45 in Yancey Co, NC (now Madison Co, NC).

23 ii Zachary T⁴ Hensley , born 1847/48 in Yancey Co, NC (now Madison Co, NC).

24 iii Lucinda⁴ Hensley , born 1850 in Yancey Co, NC (now Madison Co, NC).

25 iv Burgess⁴ Hensley , born 1852/53 in Madison Co, NC.

26 v Abraham⁴ Hensley , born 1855/56 in Madison Co, NC.

27 vi Reuben⁴ Hensley , born 1857/58 in Madison Co, NC.

11. William³ Hensley (Charles B², John¹), born 1832/33 in Yancey Co, NC (now Madison Co, NC); died 30 Jan 1925 in Greene Co, TN. He married on 9 Jan 1853 in Madison Co, NC Mary "Polly" Dudley , born 1832/33 in TN.

Children of William Hensley and Mary "Polly" Dudley were as follows:

28 i Nealy⁴ Hensley , born 1853/54 in Madison Co, NC.

29 ii Henry⁴ Hensley , born 1855/56 in Madison Co, NC.

30 iii Thomas⁴ Hensley , born 1857/58 in Madison Co, NC.

31 iv Rhoda⁴ Hensley , born 1860 in Madison Co, NC.

13. Ephraim M³ Hensley (Charles B², John¹), born 1844/45 in Yancey Co, NC (now Madison Co, NC); died 5 Jul 1916 in Madison Co, NC. He married on 12 Oct 1864 in Madison Co, NC Ailsey Shelton .

Children of Ephraim M Hensley and Ailsey Shelton were as follows:

32 i Charles⁴ Hensley , born 1867.