Marty and Karla Grant
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John Hensley (c1734/37-c1797) and Hannah of Spotsylvania and Orange Co., VA
[Hensley Home] - [Table of Contents] - [Virginia] - John Hensley (c1734/37-c1797)
As there were several John Hensleys in Virginia before 1800, you should refer to my analysis page on that subject.
Special thanks to Laura Schreibman and Suzanne Baird for data shared on this family.
John Hensley was likely born between 1734 and 1737 in Spotsylvania Co., VA. I’ll explain later why I chose that particular date range.
John is a proven son of Samuel Hensley (Jr) and his wife Martha Snell, as named in his father’s 1765 Will. Samuel and Martha married in 1727.
On 4 Mar 1734 John Snell of St. George Parish, Spotsylvania Co., VA deeded 100 acres to Samuel Hensley, Martha Hensley and Kathren Hensley of same place. Witnesses were G. Home and William Henslee.
I mention this deed because Kathren (Catherine) was a child of Samuel and Martha, thus a sister of John. Since neither John nor his brother James were included in this deed, it may be because neither were born yet. Of course there could have been other reasons they were left out.
John’s father Samuel Hensley made his Will in Spotsylvania County on 7 Jan 1765. He named his wife Martha, daughter "Catey Estis (formerly Catey Hensley)" and mentioned Grand daughter Patty Estes. He also named his "two sons" John and James Hensley. Executors were wife Martha and son John Hensley. Witnesses were Benjamin Johnston, Thomas Hutcherson and Thomas Perry. The Will was proven on 5 Aug 1765, so he had died by that date.
For John to be an executor, one might assume he was at least 21 at the time, so born before 1744.
On 28 Apr 1758, the Orange County court ordered that John Hensley be paid for attending court 8 days and traveling back and forth from Spotsylvania 6 times, 33 miles, as a witness on behalf of John Walker in the case by Walker against Thomas Gully. (Orange Co., VA Order Book 6 page 381, shared by Suzanne Baird.)
The above shows that John was at least old enough to testify in court by 1758, so if 21, then born before 1737. Combine this record with the 1734 deed that he was not mentioned on, we get a birth of ca 1734/1737. Of course that could be off a bit.
John Hensley married someone, name unknown, in Spotsylvania Co., VA before 1775, perhaps as early as the late 1750's.
She must have died before 1777, for on 22 Feb 1777 he made a deed to his soon to be wife, Hannah Wood, apparently a widow. John Hensley, of St. George Parish, Spotsylvania Co., VA for love and affection unto Hannah Wood, he deeded her and Nancy Dudley Wood, her daughter, his entire estate, both real and personal, after his death. William Wood witnessed, relation to Hannah unknown. (Spotsylvania Co., VA Deed Book J, no page no.)
Apparently it wasn’t all wedded bliss, at least not at first. On 19 Jun 1778, John Hensley took an ad out in The Virginia Gazette:
"This is to give notice, I have been lately married to one Hannah Wood in Spotsylvania county. She behaved herself so, I have quitted her. I do hereby forewarn all persons dealing with her on my account. Given under my hand this 23d day of May, 1778. JOHN HENSLEY”
The above was his way of saying he wouldn’t be responsible for any debts she incurred.
Of course this ad only gives his side of the story, so we shouldn’t draw any conclusions about what might have happened. In any event, they remained married as a 1785 deed shows.
I did not find John Hensley on the 1782 personal property tax lists in either Orange or Spotsylvania Co., VA, his known residences. He wasn’t listed in either of those places in 1783, 1784, or 1785 either. I wonder where he was during this time? I haven’t checked every county.
On 6 Dec 1785, James Hensley and wife Catherine, of St. George Parish, Spotsylvania Co., VA, and John Hensley and wife Hannah, of same place, deeded 105 acres to William Spindle of Caroline Co., VA for £60, being land sold by John Snell to Samuel Hensley (their father) in 1734. Another tract was also included, being 60 acres bought by James Hensley from Thomas Estes in Spotsylvania. There were no witnessed to the deed. (Spotsylvania Co., VA Deed Book L, no page no.)
That John and Hannah were listed together on the above deed does not guarantee they had reconciled, only that the were still married.
John was again “missing” on the 1786, 1787, and 1788 personal property tax lists in both Orange and Spotsylvania.
He finally appears on the 1789 personal property tax list in Orange Co., VA, with 1 white tithe (himself), 1 slave, and no horses.
He is listed again on the 1790 personal property tax list in Orange Co., VA, with 1 white tithe (himself), 1 slave, and no horses.
The 1790 census is lost for Virginia, but he probably would have been listed in Orange.
John Hensly is listed on the 1791 personal property tax list in Orange Co., VA, with 1 white tithe (himself), 1 slave, and 2 horses.
John Hensly is listed on the 1792 personal property tax list in Orange Co., VA, with 1 white tithe (himself), 1 slave, and 3 horses.
John Hensley is listed on the 1793 personal property tax list in Orange Co., VA, with 1 white tithe (himself), 1 slave, and 4 horses.
John Hensley is listed on the 1794 personal property tax list in Orange Co., VA, with 1 white tithe (himself), 1 slave, and 3 horses.
John Hensley is listed on the 1795 personal property tax list in Orange Co., VA, with 1 white tithe (himself), 1 slave, and 3 horses.
John Hensley is listed on the 1796 personal property tax list in Orange Co., VA, with 2 white tithes (himself and a son, presumably), 1 slave, and 3 horses. His probable son, Cedar Hensley would have turned 21 right around then.
John is not listed on the 1797 personal property tax list, nor in 1798, 1799 or 1800. However, his wife Hannah appears for the first time in 1797, suggesting he died before then. Using the dates his taxes were last paid and when hers were, he apparently died between 28 Mar 1796 and 24 Apr 1797, in Orange Co., VA.
Hannah Hensley is listed on the 1797 personal property tax list in Orange Co., VA, with 1 white tithe (probably Cedar Hensley), 1 slave, and 3 horses.
Hannah Hensley is listed on the 1798 personal property tax list in Orange Co., VA, with 1 white tithe (probably Cedar Hensley), 1 slave, and 3 horses.
Hannah Hensley is listed on the 1799 personal property tax list in Orange Co., VA, with 2 white tithes (probably Cedar Hensley and Cypress Hensley), 1 slave, and 1 horse. Cypress Hensley apparently turned 21 around this time.
The 1800 census is lost for Virginia.
Hannah Hensley is listed on the 1800 personal property tax list in Orange Co., VA, with 1 white tithe (probably Cypress Hensley, assuming Cedar was elsewhere), 1 slave, and 2 horses.
Hannah Hensley is listed on the 1801 through 1807, 1809 and 1810 personal property tax lists in Orange Co., VA. She is also listed in 1811 and 1812, but not in 1813.
She may have died between 1812 and 1813.
John Hensley and his first wife had at least one child, I believe. That child, Cedar Hensley born ca 1775, isn’t actually proven to be his, but considering he probably named another one Cypress, it seems very likely the tree motif isn’t a coincidence.
Hannah Wood had at least one daughter, Nancy Dudley Wood, by her first husband. Nancy was born before 1777.
Hannah and John Hensley seem to be the parents of Cypress Hensley born ca 1778.
There were two Hensley marriages in Orange that may be other children of John and Hannah:
Mary Hensley married Alexander Vinniard in 1809. John Hensley was bondsman for their marriage, presumably the same John Hensley who married Elizabeth Oliver there in 1811.
For Family Group Sheet and other notes see my database page for John Hensley & first wife, John Hensley & Hannah.
Revised: November 12, 2021
Copyright © 1996-2021 Marvin A. Grant, Jr. All Rights Reserved.
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