John L. Hensley (c1803) and Elizabeth Damron of Bedford and Rockbridge Co., VA

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Contents: Children | Researcher List | Register Report

Revision History:

29 May 2009 - Updated register report with new data on son John G. Hensley from 1870 and 1880 census.
25 Feb 2009 New page by Marty Grant, relationship unknown.

John L. Hensley was born ca 1802/03 per his age on the 1850 census (47). He was born in Bedford Co., VA most likely. I don't know what his "L" initial stood for. It is sometimes misinterpreted as an "S" instead, but the original records I've looked at all show it as an "L" on close inspection.

I don't know who his parents are for certain. He is probably a son of William Hensley (c1775) and Sarah Eubank for they did have an unidentified son about John's age with him in 1810, and John did name his first two children William and Sarah. This isn't conclusive proof, but he really doesn't fit anywhere else.

John would have been about 7 for the 1810 census. William Hensley (c1775) had two apparent sons under 10 (born ca 1800/10) with him on that census in Bedford Co., VA. James Hensley (c1763) might be listed on that census in Bedford. His surname is obscured, but it looks like "Hensley." In any event he has three boys under 10, so that fits for John to be one of them.

By 1820 John would have been about 17 years old. William wasn't found that year. James was in neighboring Botetourt County by then. He had 3 boys age 16-25 (born ca 1794/1804). John could be one of those, but I don't think so.

On 30 Aug 1828 Willis Hensley obtained a marriage bond in Bedford Co., VA to marry Sophrony W. Tucker, daughter of Nancy King. John L. Hensley was bondsman. He was Willis's first cousin.

On 27 Sep 1828 John L. Hensley obtained a marriage bond in Bedford Co., VA to marry Elizabeth Damron, daughter of Phebe Damron. Killis E. King was bondsman.

Elizabeth Damron was born ca 1804/05 per her age on the 1850 census. She was a daughter of a Mr. Damron (who died before 1828) and Phoebe (---) Damron according to the marriage bond.

They are on the 1830 census in Bedford. They are on the same page with Willis Hensley but not too close.

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

1830 Bedford Co., VA page 155 John L. Hensley 0000100000000-1000100000000
Slaves=000000-000000

Analysis:

1 Male 20-29	(1800/1810)	John L. Hensley (c1803)

1 Female 20-29	(1800/1810)	Elizabeth Damron Hensley (c1805) wife

1 female 0-4	(1825/1830)	Sarah A. Hensley (c1830) daughter

0 Slaves

They are on the 1840 census in Bedford in the Northern District, but not listed near any of the other Hensleys.

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

1840 Bedford Co., VA page 282 John L. Hensley 1100010000000-1110100000000
Slaves=(page missing)

Analysis:

1 Male 30-39	(1800/1810)	John L. Hensley (c1803)

1 male 5-9	(1830/1835)	William H. Hensley (c1832) son

1 male 0-4	(1835/1840)	John Hensley (c1837) son

1 Female 20-29	(1810/1820)	Elizabeth Damron Hensley (c1805) wife

1 female 10-14	(1825/1830)	Sarah A. Hensley (c1830) daughter

1 female 5-9	(1830/1835)	Catherine Hensley (c1835) daughter

1 female 0-4	(1835/1840)	Nancy Hensley (c1839) daughter

? Slaves

They are on the 1850 census in neighboring Rockbridge Co., VA, the only Hensleys in that county at the time.

1850 census abstract: (Explanation of this census)

Name	Age	Sex	Race	Occupation	Real $	Birth Place
Rockbridge Co., VA PHF 456&456B-1086-1099 51 District
John Hensley	47	M		Shoemaker		Va
Elizabeth	41	F				"
Sarah A.	20	F				"
William H.	18	M				"
Catharine	15	F				"
John	13	M				"
Nancy	11	F				Va
James	9	M				"
Willis	7	M				"
Yandelew	6	F				"
George	4	M				"
Elizabeth V.	1	F				"

They are still in Rockbridge for the 1860 census.

1860 census abstract: (Explanation of this census)

Rockbridge Co., VA PHF 54-1197-1197 2^nd District Lexington PO
John L. Hensley	56	M	Shoemaker	50	Va
Eliza	51	F			"
S. Ann	27	F			"
Wm H.	25	M	Carpenter	25	"
John G.	22	M	"		"
C. Fanny	20	F			"
Jos. D.	18	M			"
Nancy B.	16	F			"
Y. Georgianne	15	F			"
Geo. E.	13	M			"
Eliza. V .	10	F			"
Jas. W .	8	M			"

I wasn't able to find John L. Hensley on the 1870 census. There were no Hensleys at all in Rockbridge that year. I couldn't find him elsewhere, nor any of his family members.

I couldn't find them in 1880 either.

Children of John L. Hensley and Elizabeth Damron. The 1850 and 1860 census records prove 11 children.

Researcher List

To contact someone on the list, cut and paste their email address into your email program and then manually remove the spaces which are there for a little bit of spam protection.

See page for probable parents James Hensley (c1763) and Sarah Hatcher
Marty Grant, relationship unknown.

Register Report

First Generation

1. John L Hensley was born in 1802/1803 in Bedford Co, VA. He died after 1860 in Rockbridge Co, VA.

John married Elizabeth Damron, daughter of Damron and Phoebe, on 27 Sep 1828 in Bedford Co, VA. Elizabeth was born in 1804/1805 in Bedford Co, VA. She died after 1860 in Rockbridge Co, VA.

They had the following children.

2 F i. Sarah Ann Hensley was born in 1829/1830 in Bedford Co, VA. She died after 1860 in Rockbridge Co, VA.

3 M ii. William H Hensley was born in 1831/1832 in Bedford Co, VA. He died after 1860 in Rockbridge Co, VA.

4 F iii. Catherine Hensley was born in 1834/1835 in Bedford Co, VA. She died after 1850 in Rockbridge Co, VA.

+ 5 M iv. John G Hensley was born in 1836/1837. He died after 1880.

6 F v. C Fanny Hensley was born in 1838/1839 in Bedford Co, VA. She died after 1860 in Rockbridge Co, VA.

7 M vi. Joseph D Hensley was born in 1840/1841 in Bedford Co, VA. He died after 1860 in Rockbridge Co, VA.

8 M vii. Nancy B Hensley was born in 1842/1843 in Bedford Co, VA. He died after 1860 in Rockbridge Co, VA.

9 F viii. Yandelew Georgiann Hensley was born in 1843/1844 in Bedford Co, VA. She died after 1860 in Rockbridge Co, VA.

10 M ix. George E Hensley was born in 1845/1846 in Rockbridge Co, VA. He died after 1860 in Rockbridge Co, VA.

11 F x. Elizabeth V Hensley was born in 1848/1849 in Rockbridge Co, VA. She died after 1860 in Rockbridge Co, VA.

12 M xi. James W Hensley was born in 1851/1852 in Rockbridge Co, VA. He died after 1860 in Rockbridge Co, VA.

Second Generation

5. John G Hensley (John L) was born in 1836/1837 in Bedford Co, VA. He died after 1880 in Augusta Co, VA.

John married Elizabeth S before 1863 in VA. Elizabeth was born in 1839/1840 in VA. She died after 1880 in Augusta Co, VA.

They had the following children.

13 F i. Henrietta Hensley was born in 1862/1863 in VA. She died after 1880 in Augusta Co, VA.

14 F ii. Sarah E Hensley was born in 1867/1868 in VA. She died after 1880 in Augusta Co, VA.

15 F iii. Yandelew Hensley was born in 1867/1868 in VA. She died after 1870 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia Co, PA.

16 M iv. Robert Hensley was born in 1870/1871 in VA. He died after 1880 in Augusta Co, VA.