John G. Hensley (c1807) and Esther Johnson and Nancy E. (---) of Maury, Hickman and Lewis Co, TN

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

John G. Hensley was born ca 1806/07 in Virginia, county unknown. He was a Methodist Clergyman.

He lived in the midst of, and was obviously related to the Lewis Co, TN Hensleys, all members of the Hickman Hensley (1759) family, but his birth place of Virginia seems to show his parents made a brief detour to Virginia before finally settling in the Lewis Co, TN area. I don't know who John's parents are, but I strongly suspect that he is a son of William Hensley (c1785) and Nancy Gardner. I can't prove this, but pending other evidence, I think he belongs with them. I base this on them having an unknown son his age, and other factors, all circumstantial.

John would have been about 3 years old in 1810, so if listed with his parents, he should have been in the "under 10" age group (born ca 1800/10), but the point is moot, for this census is lost for Tennessee.

In 1820, John would have been about 13 years old, so he should be enumerated in the age 10-15 category (born ca 1804/10). All the present Lewis County, Tennessee Hensley patriarchs were enumerated in Maury and Wayne County in 1820. In Maury, William Hensley (c1785) had 2 sons in that age category, and I feel that one of them was John. There were several Hensleys in Wayne County that had an apparent son John's age, but I don't think he belongs to any of them, but for completeness, here they are: Lemuel Hensley (1780/90) with one son that age, but he had a proven son named John M. Hensley; Washington Hensley (1774/84) had one son in that age group, who is otherwise unidentified; Larkin Hensley (1779) had one son that age, but he has a proven son named John A. Hensley;  and a widow Lydia Hensley with one son that age, no data on her or her children.

Further circumstantial proof that John G. Hensley belongs to William (the only one listed in Maury in 1820) is that John married in Maury County on 19 Jan 1829 to Easter Johnson (or "Esther"). Esther was born ca 1804/05 in Kentucky. I don't know who her parents were.

Although they married in Maury in 1829, by 1830 they were in Hickman (the Hensleys lived in the corner area between Hickman and Maury in what is now Lewis County). In 1830 they were in Hickman County, on the same page with Larkin Hensley (1779) and Samuel Hensley (c1780), both probably his Uncles.

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

1830 Hickman Co, TN pg 254 John Hensley 0000100000000-1000100000000
Analysis:
1 Male(s) 20-29        (1800-1810)	John G. HENSLEY (1807/08) s/o William
1 Female(s) 20-29      (1800-1810)	Esther JOHNSON Hensley (1804/05) wife m 1829
1 Female(s) 0-4        (1825-1830)	Daughter? (1825/30)

John was still in Hickman County for the 1840 census, and listed next to Uncle Samuel Hensley (c1780) and just a few houses from Andrew Johnson, possibly a relative of John's wife Esther Johnson. John had an older female with him in 1840, born ca 1760/70. This could easily be his widowed mother-in-law, or his own widowed mother (if he is not William and Nancy's son).

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

1840 Hickman Co, TN pg 172 John Hensley 2010010000000-0110010001000
Analysis:
1 Male(s) 30-39        (1800-1810)	John G. HENSLEY (1806/07) s/o William
1 Male(s) 10-14        (1825-1830)	Son? (1825/30) * Not in 1830, --> gone by 1850
2 Male(s) 0-4          (1835-1840)	Arthur S. HENSLEY (1836/37) son
					Gabriel Perry HENSLEY (1838/39) son
1 Female(s) 70-79      (1760-1770)	Mother? Mother-in-law? (1760/70) --> gone by 1850
1 Female(s) 30-39      (1800-1810)	Easter JOHNSON Hensley (1804/05) wife
1 Female(s) 10-14      (1825-1830)	Daughter? (1825/30) --> gone by 1850
1 Female(s) 5-9        (1830-1835)	Esther Elizabeth HENSLEY (1833/34) daughter
 

In 1843, Lewis County was created from several counties, including the section of Hickman County where the Hensleys resided.

John and family were listed on the 1850 census in Lewis County, next door to James F. Hensley (c1810), a probable first cousin and near several other Hensleys.

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 LEWIS CO, TN Page 786   House/Family #   63/  63  - Civil District 6

HENSLEY JOHN G        43 M W METH CLERGY           2100 VA                   1806/1807
HENSLEY ESTHER        45 F W                            KY                   1804/1805
HENSLEY ELIZABETH E   16 F W                            TN                   1833/1834
HENSLEY GABRIEL P     11 M W                            TN                   1838/1839
HENSLEY MARTHA A       9 F W                            TN                   1840/1841
HENSLEY ARTHUR S      13 M W                            TN                   1836/1837
HENSLEY MARY C         2 F W                            TN                   1847/1848
 

John and family were still in Lewis for the 1860 census, and listed next door to William Hensley (c1785) and Nancy Gardner, his suspected parents. He was also just 2 houses from Larkin Hensley (1779).

1860 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)
1860 LEWIS CO, TN Page 521   House/Family #  260/ 260 -- DISTRICT 6

HENSLEY JOHN          54 M W CLERGYMAN (M C)   2000  1200 TN                   1805/1806
HENSLEY EASTER        56 F W                              TN                   1803/1804
HENSLEY ARTHER        23 M W STUDENT                      TN                   1836/1837
HENSLEY MARTHA        19 F W                              TN                   1840/1841
HENSLEY MARY C        12 F W                              TN                   1847/1848
BOOKER DAVID          11 M W                              TN                   1848/1849
 

John and Easter were still in Lewis for the 1870 census:

1870 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)
1870 LEWIS CO, TN Page 131B  House/Family #   56/  56--6th DISTRICT

HENSLEY JOHN          63 M W FARMER                2000   600 VA              1806/1807
HENSLEY EASTER        61 F W KEEPS HOUSE                      KY              1808/1809
 

Easter Johnson Hensley died sometime between 1870 and 1880 in Lewis Co, TN.

John G. Hensley married Nancy E. --- between 1870 and 1880, presumably in Lewis County. I did not find a marriage record for them there. Nancy was born ca 1830/31 in Tennessee. I don't know her maiden name.

In 1880, John and Nancy were listed in Cane Creek Township in Lewis County. ** I don't have this entry typed up yet.


Children

John and Easter had at least 5 children per the various census records. I don't know if John and Nancy had any children together. They had none as of 1880.

Unknown Daughter (1825/30)

Unknown Son (1825/30)

Elizabeth Esther Hensley (c1834)

Arthur S. Hensley (c1837)

Gabriel P. Hensley (c1839)

Martha A. Hensley (c1841)

Mary C. Hensley (c1848)


Unknown Daughter (1825/30). John G. Hensley had an apparent daughter this age. She was with him in 1830, age "under 5" (born ca 1825/30), and still home in 1840 (age 10-14, born ca 1825/30), but gone by 1850, so probably married or dead by then.

There were two female Hensley marriages recorded in Lewis County in the 1840's, and perhaps one of them is this unknown daughter. The first was Rebecca A. Hensley who married Matthew Clayton in 1846. The second was Tabitha Hensley who married John K. Webb in 1846. I didn't find either of these couples on the 1850 census in Lewis County, so I can't say if either are this unknown daughter.


Unknown Son (1825/30). John G. Hensley may have had a son this age, but I suspect this was not a child of his, but someone just living with them. No one this age was with him in 1830, but in 1840 there was a male age 10-14, (born ca 1825/30) with him, but gone by 1850, so probably married or dead by then. I suspect this could be a nephew, or hired laborer instead of a son, but that is far from proven. If he was born late in 1830 (after the census was taken) that could explain his absence from the 1830 census.


Elizabeth Esther Hensley was born ca 1833/34 in Hickman (now Lewis) Co, TN. She was apparently home with her parents in 1840 (age 5-9, born ca 1830/35), and still home in 1850 ("Elizabeth E." age 16), but gone by 1860, so probably married or dead by then.

I found a marriage record for an "Esther E. Hensley" and Jesse E. Dabbs on 16 Aug 1854 in Lewis Co, TN. I think this is the same person but am not totally sure yet. Jesse was born ca 1835/36 in Tennessee, son of John and Winney (---) Dabbs.

They were in 1860 Lewis Co, TN next door to widow Sarah Hensley widow of Hickman Hensley (1815).

1860 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)
1860 LEWIS CO, TN Page 518   House/Family #  217/ 217 -- DISTRICT 6

DABBS JESSEE          25 M W FARMER                   200 TN                   1834/1835
DABBS EASTER          24 F W                              TN                   1835/1836
DABBS JOHN W           4 M W                              TN                   1855/1856
 

I don't have them in 1870 yet, but by 1870 several Dabbs children were residing with Elizabeth's brother Gabriel Hensley, suggesting that she may have died by then. More research is needed to be sure if this is correct or not. One of them with Gabriel is certainly Elizabeth's child John W. Dabbs, so the rest presumably are as well.


Arthur S. Hensley was born ca 1836/37 in Hickman (now Lewis) Co, TN. He was apparently home with his parents in 1840 (age "under 5", born ca 1835/40), and still home in 1850 ("Arthur S." age 13), and home in 1860 ("Arther" age 23).

Arthur S. Hensley married Cynthia Elizabeth Pogue on 20 Jun 1866 in neighboring Maury County, Tennessee. She was born ca 1837/38 in Tennessee. I don't know her parents were yet.

For the 1870 census, Arthur and family were in Lewis County next to brother Gabriel Hensley, and two houses from their parents.

1870 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)
1870 LEWIS CO, TN Page 131B  House/Family #   58/  58--6th DISTRICT

HENSLEY ARTHER        33 M W FARMER                 600   200 TN              1836/1837
HENSLEY ELIZABETH     32 F W KEEPS HOUSE                      TN              1837/1838
HENSLEY JOHN W         3 M W                                  TN              1866/1867
 

Arthur and family were still in Lewis County for the 1880 census. ** I don't have this entry typed up yet.


Gabriel P. Hensley was born ca 1838/39 in Hickman (now Lewis) Co, TN. He was apparently home with his parents in 1840 (age "under 5", born ca 1835/40), and still home in 1850 ("Gabriel P." age 11).

"G. P. Hensley" married Tabitha Lankford on 11 Dec 1856 in Lewis Co, TN. Census records give her name as "Labicey", so that is either a middle name, or else "Tabitha" was a misread "Labicey" on the marriage record. She was born ca 1838/39 in Tennessee. I don't know who her parents were.

Gabriel and family were listed on the 1860 census in Lewis Co, TN.

1860 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)
1860 LEWIS CO, TN Page 514   House/Family #  153/ 153 -- DISTRICT 5

HENSLEY GABRIEL       21 M W FARMER             500   500 TN                   1838/1839
HENSLEY LABICEY       21 F W                              TN                   1838/1839
HENSLEY BENJAMIN       3 M W                              TN                   1856/1857
HENSLEY THOMAS         1 M W                              TN                   1858/1859
 

Labicey died sometime between ca 1868 and 1870, presumably in Lewis Co, TN.

Gabriel and children were listed on the 1870 census in Lewis County next door to his parents. Several "Dabbs" children were with them also, and I suspect those are children of Gabriel's sister E. E. Hensley and her husband Jesse Dabbs.

1870 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)
1870 LEWIS CO, TN Page 131B  House/Family #   57/  57--6th DISTRICT

HENSLEY GABRIEL P     31 M W FARMER                       300 TN              1838/1839
HENSLEY BENJAMIN      13 M W WORKS ON FARM                    TN              1856/1857
HENSLEY THOMAS         9 M W                                  TN              1860/1861
HENSLEY LEE B          8 M W                                  TN              1861/1862
HENSLEY JEFFERSON      2 M W                                  TN              1867/1868
DOBBS JAMES            6 M W                                  TN              1863/1864
DOBBS JOHN W          15 M W WORKS ON FARM                    TN              1854/1855
DOBBS ARTHER           8 M W                                  TN              1861/1862

On 15 Sep 1870, Gabriel Hensley married Mary Higgins in Lewis Co, TN. I think this is Mary, daughter of James Higgins and Nancy Hensley, daughter of Larkin Hensley (1779). She was born ca 1850 in Lewis Co, TN.

Gabriel and family were listed on the 1880 census in Lewis Co, TN in Palestine Township, with his widowed mother-in-law Nancy (Hensley) Higgins residing with them. ** I don't have this entry typed up yet.


Martha A. Hensley was born ca 1840/41 in Hickman (now Lewis) Co, TN. She was home with her parents in 1850 ("Martha A." age 9) and still home in 1860 ("Martha" age 19), but gone by 1870 so probably married or dead by then.

I found a marriage record for a "Martha A. Hensley" dated 30 Jan 1866 to John W. Lindsey in Lewis Co, TN. I'm assuming this is the same Martha, but I have no further data on them to be sure.


Mary C. Hensley was born ca 1847/48 in Lewis Co, TN. She was home with her parents in 1850 ("Mary C." age 2) and still home in 1860 ("Mary C." age 12), but gone by 1870 so probably married or dead by then.

I found a marriage record for a "Mary C. Hensley" dated 24 Oct 1866 to Monroe A. Campbell in Lewis Co, TN. I'm assuming this is the same Mary, but I have no further data on them to be sure.


Researcher List

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


Register Report


1. John G1 Hensley Rev , born 1806/07 in VA; died aft 1880 in Lewis Co, TN.  He married (1) on 19 Jan 1829 in Maury Co, TN (now Lewis Co, TN) Esther Johnson , born 1804/05 in KY; died 1870/80 in Lewis Co, TN; (2) in 1870/80 in Lewis Co, TN Nancy E (---) , born 1830/31 in TN.

 

      Children of John G Hensley Rev and Esther Johnson were as follows:

+    2          i           Elizabeth Esther2 Hensley , born 1833/34 in Hickman Co, TN (now Lewis Co, TN).  She married Jesse E Dabbs .

+    3          ii           Arthur S2 Hensley , born 1836/37 in Hickman Co, TN (now Lewis Co, TN); died aft 1880 in Lewis Co, TN.  He married Cynthia Elizabeth Pogue .

+    4          iii          Gabriel P2 Hensley , born 1838/39 in Hickman Co, TN (now Lewis Co, TN); died aft 1880 in Lewis Co, TN.  He married (1) Tabitha Laticey Lankford ; (2) Mary J Higgins .

      5          iv          Martha A2 Hensley , born 1840/41 in Hickman Co, TN (now Lewis Co, TN).  She married on 30 Jan 1866 in Lewis Co, TN John W Lindsey .

      6          v          Mary C2 Hensley , born 1847/48 in Lewis Co, TN.  She married on 24 Oct 1866 in Lewis Co, TN Monroe A Campbell .

 

Generation 2

 

2. Elizabeth Esther2 Hensley  (John G1), born 1833/34 in Hickman Co, TN (now Lewis Co, TN).  She married on 16 Aug 1854 in Lewis Co, TN Jesse E Dabbs , born 1835/36 in TN, son of John Dabbs  and Winney (---) .

 

      Children of Elizabeth Esther Hensley and Jesse E Dabbs were as follows:

      7          i           John W3 Dabbs , born 1855/56 in Lewis Co, TN.

 

 

3. Arthur S2 Hensley  (John G1), born 1836/37 in Hickman Co, TN (now Lewis Co, TN); died aft 1880 in Lewis Co, TN.  He married on 20 Jun 1866 in Maury Co, TN Cynthia Elizabeth Pogue , born 1837/38 in TN; died aft 1880 in Lewis Co, TN.

 

      Children of Arthur S Hensley and Cynthia Elizabeth Pogue were as follows:

      8          i           John W3 Hensley , born 1866/67 in Lewis Co, TN.

      9          ii           Easter J3 Hensley , born 1871/72 in Lewis Co, TN.

      10         iii          James A3 Hensley , born 1872/73 in Lewis Co, TN.

      11         iv          Luther A3 Hensley , born 1874/75 in Lewis Co, TN.

      12         v          Francis3 Hensley , born 1876/77 in Lewis Co, TN.

 

 

4. Gabriel P2 Hensley  (John G1), born 1838/39 in Hickman Co, TN (now Lewis Co, TN); died aft 1880 in Lewis Co, TN.  He married (1) on 11 Dec 1856 in Lewis Co, TN Tabitha Laticey Lankford , born 1838/39 in TN; died 1868/70 in Lewis Co, TN; (2) on 15 Sep 1870 in Lewis Co, TN Mary J Higgins , born 1850 in Lewis Co, TN, daughter of James Higgins  and Nancy Hensley .

 

      Children of Gabriel P Hensley and Tabitha Laticey Lankford were as follows:

      13         i           Benjamin B3 Hensley , born 1856/57 in Lewis Co, TN.  He married on 14 Feb 1878 in Lewis Co, TN Nancy E Clayton , born 1859/60 in TN.

      14         ii           Thomas3 Hensley , born 1858/59 in Lewis Co, TN.  He married in 1870/80 in Lewis Co, TN Malinda (---) , born 1859/60 in TN.

      15         iii          Lee B3 Hensley , born 1861/62 in Lewis Co, TN.

      16         iv          Jefferson3 Hensley , born 1867/68 in Lewis Co, TN.

      17         v          (---)3 Hensley .

 

      Children of Gabriel P Hensley and Mary J Higgins were as follows:

      18         i           James R3 Hensley , born 1872/73 in Lewis Co, TN.

      19         ii           Margaret E3 Hensley , born 1874/75 in Lewis Co, TN.

      20         iii          Lavada3 Hensley , born 1880 in Lewis Co, TN.


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