John Hensley (1798) and Mary Head of Washington and Scott Co., VA

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• 19 Apr 2009 – Revised by Marty Grant, relationship unknown. I mainly reformatted the page a little. No new content this time except for an updated register report. Original page created many years ago.

The author (Marty Grant) is not related to John Hensley as far as can be proven. He did live in the same counties (Washington and Scott Co., VA) as my ancestor Larkin Hensley (c1761-1806). 

Special Thanks to Ruthe Muench for information shared on this family.

John Hensley was born ca 1797/98 per his age of 52 on the 1850 census. He was born in Virginia per the same source. He may have been born in Washington County where he was living in 1850 or perhaps in the part of Washington that later became Scott County (where he also lived.)

I have not been able to determine who John's parents were. Researchers going back several decades thought he might be a son of Fielding Hensley (c1761), but the evidence is lacking. I've found nothing to prove they are closely related other than them living in the same general area.

John Hensley would have been about 12 years old by the time of the 1810 census (earlier census records are lost for Virginia.) There were only two Hensley households in Washington County at that time with boys about his age: William Hensley (1765/84) and Fielding Hensley (1761). William Hensley had two boys aged 10-15 (born ca 1794/1800). One of those could easily be John Hensley (1798). Fielding Hensley had one son in that same age group. That could be John instead. There is no way to know who these boys were based only on census analysis, but assuming that John was in the area at the time, that means that either William or Fielding are the most likely fathers for him.

John Hensley would have turned 16 around 1813 or 1814 but he did not appear on the personal property tax lists until 1818 when he was about 19 or 20.

In 1814 Scott County was formed from the western part of Washington, taking several of the Hensleys into the new county, and apparently including John.

On 12 Dec 1817 John Hensley obtained a marriage bond in Scott Co., VA to marry Polly Head. James Head was bondsman. Mary "Polly" Head was born ca 1798/99 per her age of 51 on the 1850 census. I don't know who her parents were, but James Head is likely a close relative since he was bondsman for the marriage. Their marriage wasn't listed in the marriage registers for Scott County.

John Hensley was on the 1818 tax list in Scott Co., VA with 1 white male over 16, and no horses.

John Hensley was on the 1819 tax list with 1 white male over 16, and no horses.

John Hensley was on the 1820 tax list with 1 white male over 16, and no horses.

John Hensley was listed on the 1820 census in Scott Co., VA.  Unfortunately, this census was alphabetical, so I can't tell who their neighbors were.

1820 census analysis (based on available evidence): (Explanation of this census)

1820 Scott Co, VA pg 516-529 John Hensly 100100-10100-0-0
Analysis:
1 Male(s) 16-25		(1794-1804)	John HENSLEY (1797/98)
1 Male(s) 0-9	 	(1810-1820)	Son? (1815/20)
1 Female(s) 16-25	(1794-1804)	Mary Head Hensley (1798/99) wife
1 Female(s) 0-9		(1810-1820)	Daughter? (1815/20)

John Hensley was not listed on the 1821 tax list in Scott Co., VA for some reason.

John Hensley was listed on the 1822 Scott County tax list 1 white male over 16, and 2 horses.

John Hensley was listed on the 1823 Scott County tax list 1 white male over 16, and 2 horses.

John Hensley was listed on the 1824 Scott County tax list 1 white male over 16, and 2 horses.

John Hensley was listed on the 1825 Scott County tax list 1 white male over 16, and 2 (or 3) horses.

John was not listed on the 1826 tax list for some reason.

John Hensley was listed on the 1827 Scott County tax list 1 white male over 16, and 2 horses. This is the year that John A. Hensley (c1805) first appeared on the tax lists. He used his "A" initial on most records so that helps keep the two separated.

John Hensley was listed on the 1828 Scott County tax list 1 white male over 16, and 2 horses.

John was not listed on the 1829 or 1830 tax lists in Scott County. This seems to be the time that he moved into neighboring Washington Co., VA.

John Hensley was listed on the 1830 census in Washington Co., VA.  Unfortunately, this census was alphabetical, so I can't tell who his neighbors were.

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

1830 Washington Co, VA pg 256 John Hensley 2110010000000-1110100000000
Analysis:
1 Male(s) 30-39		(1790-1800)	John HENSLEY (1797/98)
1 Male(s) 10-14		(1815-1820)	Son? (1815/20)
1 Male(s) 5-9		(1820-1825)	Son? (1820/25)
2 Male(s) 0-4		(1825-1830)	Son? (1825/30)
					Franklin HENSLEY (1829/30) son
1 Female(s) 20-29	(1800-1810)	Mary Head Hensley (1798/99) wife
1 Female(s) 10-14	(1815-1820)	Daughter? (1815/20)
1 Female(s) 5-9		(1820-1825)	Elizabeth "Betsy" HENSLEY (1824/25) daughter
1 Female(s) 0-4		(1825-1830)	Daughter? (1825/30)

John Hensley was listed on the list of Washington Co., VA Militiamen for 1833 in the 105th Regiment.

John Hensley was listed on the 1840 census in Washington Co., VA. Unfortunately, this census was alphabetical, so I can't tell who his neighbors were. The page was quite dim and hard to read.

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

1840 Washington Co, VA pg 218 John Hensely 1122001000000-2011001000000
Analysis:
1 Male(s) 40-49		(1790-1800)	John HENSLEY (1797/98)
2 Male(s) 15-19		(1820-1825)	Son? (1820/25) 
					Son? (1820/25) 
2 Male(s) 10-14		(1825-1830)	Franklin HENSLEY (1829/30) son
					Son? (1825/30)
1 Male(s) 5-9		(1830-1835)	John HENSLEY (1831/32) son
1 Male(s) 0-4		(1835-1840)	Lilburn HENSLEY (1836/37) son
1 Female(s) 40-49	(1790-1800)	Mary Head Hensley (1798/99) wife
1 Female(s) 15-19	(1820-1825)	Elizabeth HENSLEY (1824/25) daughter
1 Female(s) 10-14	(1825-1830)	Ann HENSLEY (1831/32) daughter
2 Female(s) 0-4		(1835-1840)	Mary HENSLEY (1833/34) daughter
					Margaret HENSLEY (1839/40) daughter

John Hensley and family were listed on the 1850 census in Washington Co., VA just a couple of houses from the widow of Samuel Hensley (1754) and other members of that family.

1850 census abstract: (Explanation of this census)

John Hensley died sometime between 1850 and 1860 either in Washington or Scott Co., VA.

Mary and some of the children were listed on the 1860 census in Scott Co., VA. They were three houses from William Hensley (c1824), perhaps one of her sons. The youngest child with her was William Hensley, age 4. He was much too young to be her own child, but is probably a grandson instead.

1860 census abstract: (Explanation of this census)

Mary was listed on the 1870 census in Scott County in Fulkerson Township. She was next door to widow Hannah R. Hensley Darnell (c1824), and an unidentified widow Mary Hensley (c1838).

1870 census abstract: (Explanation of this census)

Mary was listed on the 1880 census with her daughter Elizabeth in Scott County.

1880 census abstract: (Explanation of this census)

Mary "Polly" Head Hensley died sometime between 1880 and 1900, presumably in Scott Co., VA.

Children of John and Mary (Head) Hensley. John Hensley and wife Mary Head have a large family. The 1850 census shows them with nine children. Later records show that at least one of those kids (Margaret) was actually a child of Elizabeth (c1822), apparently born out of wedlock. Some of the other younger children could also belong to Elizabeth. The 1820, 1830 and 1840 census show a few other children who are not yet identified. I don't have much to say about most of the children, but I have some comments on the unknown children. Follow the links below.

1. Unknown Son (1815/20)
2. Unknown Daughter (1815/20)
3. Unknown Son (1820/25)
4. Unknown Son (1825/30)
5. Unknown Daughter (1825/30)
6. Elizabeth Hensley (c1822)
7. Franklin Hensley (c1830)
8. Ann Hensley (c1832)
9. John Hensley (c1832)
10. Mary Hensley (c1834)
11. Lilborn Hensley (c1837)
12. C. Jane Hensley (c1839)
13. Frances A. Hensley (c1841)
14. Ann Hensley (c1850) - probably grandchild
15. William Hensley (c1856) - probably grandchild

Unknown Son (1815/20). John Hensley and Mary Head had an apparent son this age. He was home with them for the 1820 census aged under 10 (born ca 1810/20), and still home in 1830, aged 10-14 (ca 1815-20). Since they were married in Dec. 1817, we can assume this child was born between 1818 and 1820. This son was not home with them in 1840 unless he was enumerated in the 15-19 age group (ca 1820/25) which could be if he was born in 1820. They had an "extra" son that age in 1840 so it might be him. Of course it could be a boarder or someone else instead.

The 1840 census does not show any new Hensley households with a man this age (except Ichabod Hensley-1813, who is a proven son of Fielding Hensley.)

I didn't find any likely suspects in the area in 1850 who might be this unknown son of John & Mary.

Unknown Daughter (1815/20). John Hensley and Mary Head had an apparent daughter this age. She was home with them for the 1820 census aged under 10 (born ca 1810/20), and still home in 1830, aged 10-14 (ca 1815-20). Since they were married in Dec. 1817, we can assume this child was born between 1818 and 1820. This daughter was not home with them in 1840, so probably married or dead by then.

There are just two recorded marriages for female Hensleys in Scott County in the 1830's, both married the same day by the same man (James Kerr). Malinda Hensley (c1819) who married George Head, and Isabel Hensley who married Robert Burks. They married on 6 Aug 1835.

Malinda is a perfect age match for this unknown daughter of John, but at present I have no way to connect her to John. She and her husband moved to Knox Co., KY in the 1840's. I don't think she is the one, but could be wrong.

Hannah R. Hensley (c1818) who married Henry Darnell is also a perfect age match. Strong evidence in her favor is that on the 1870 census Hannah was listed next door to widow Mary Head Hensley in Scott Co., VA.

Unknown Son (1820/25). John Hensley and Mary Head had an apparent son this age. He was home with them for the 1830 census aged 5-9 (born ca 1820/25), and still home in 1840, aged 15-19 (ca 1820/25).This son was not home with them in 1850.

There is a William Hensley (c1824) who was in Scott Co., VA. In 1860 he was listed just three houses from Mary, widow of John Hensley. That doesn't mean that he is their son, but it is a good clue.

Unknown Son (1825/30). John Hensley and Mary Head had an apparent son this age. He was home with them for the 1830 census aged under 5 (born ca 1825/30), and still home in 1840, aged 10-14 (ca 1825/30).This son was not home with them in 1850.

There is a Wilburn Hensley (c1828) in Scott County. There are no other likely suspects in the area in 1850 or 1860. I tend to think Wilburn is a son of James Hensley (c1804) though, but can't prove that either.

Unknown Daughter (1825/30). John Hensley and Mary Head had an apparent daughter this age. She was home with them for the 1830 census aged under 5 (born ca 1825/30), and still home in 1840, aged 10-14 (ca 1825/30).This daughter was not home with them in 1850 so probably married or dead by then.

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• Marty Grant, relationship unknown.