John Hensley (c1796) and Margaret (McMahan) of Yancey Co, NC

I don't know who John's parents were. There are several suspects, but none that I can prove.

Presumably, John would have been at home with his parents for the 1800, 1810 and perhaps 1820 census.

In 1810, John Hensley would have been approximately 14 or 15 years old, so presumably enumerated in the 10-15 age group (c1794/1800). There were several Hensley households in 1810 Buncombe County with a male this age, including: Henry Hensley (bef 1755), John Hensley (1765/74), Washington Hensley (1774/84), and Colbert Hensley (1760/65). Since John's approximate birth year could also put him in the age 16-25 group (born ca 1784/94), that should be considered also. However, this adds no new suspects to the list. Henry and John both had apparent sons that age as well.

Of those in 1810, I think we can eliminate Washington Hensley as a suspect because he moved to Wayne Co, TN before 1820, and in 1820 still had his son of John's age with him. (Of course if it was John, he could have came back to NC). Colbert can also be eliminated for a variety of reasons. That only leaves Henry and John Hensley as prime suspects. Based on various things I've seen, I suspect that both John and Henry had sons named "John", who were roughly the same age. The question then, is which was this John?

John Hensley would be approximately 24 or 25 in 1820. That would put him in the 16-25 age group (c1794/1804). There was a John Hensley this age listed as head of household in 1820. He had a huge family, and I think that John is the son of John (Sr), and the family members are his siblings, plus his own wife and children. I don't believe it is this John Hensley under study here, but I could be wrong.

In 1820 Buncombe, Henry Hensley Sr had an apparent son age 16-25. This leads me to believe that Henry is the father of this John under study here. Of course, some more proof would be helpful.

Henry was the only one in 1820 who had an apparent son the right age. The John Hensley who was head of household in 1820 was the correct age also, but with his apparently large family, it doesn't seem to be this John (who married late in life).

In 1830, John Hensley would have been approximately 34 or 35. That means who should be in the 30-39 age group (c1790/1800). Since it is very likely his parents were dead by then (especially if he was a son of Henry, as I'm starting to suspect), then he would be on his own, or with some other family.

The 1830 census for Buncombe County shows many Hensley households, but none with someone John's age. As in 1820, there was a John Hensley in 1830 who was head of household with an apparent family. I suspect that is the other John Hensley.

Yancey County was created in 1833 from part of Buncombe, including where most of the Hensley's lived.

In 1840, John Hensley would have been about 44 or 45 years old. There were lots of Hensleys in Yancey County that year. There was a listing for a John Hensley in his 40's, who appeared to be living alone. This is most certainly the John Hensley under study here. He was listed between Samuel Flemming and Thomas Silver. There were no other Hensley families nearby.

John Hensley married Margaret McMahan ca 1840/42 in Yancey Co, NC. I've seen her maiden name listed as "McDavid", and as "McMahan". In 1850, there were two McMahan children residing with them, so that may be an indication that she was previously married to a McMahan, or was one by birth. David Hensley told me that her name was listed as "McMahan" on the death certificate of their son Baxter. Death certificates are often wrong about maiden names of mothers, but it is something to go on at least. There was a Stephen McMahan listed near John Hensley in 1840, on the same page. He had 3 girls the same age as Margaret with him in 1840, so he could be her father. Margaret was born ca 1816/17. Bill Hensley (William E. Hensley) told me that Margaret was a daughter of James and Eleanor --- McMahan.

John and Margaret were listed on the 1850 census in Yancey County. They were 16 houses away from Berry Hensley (c1783), No other Hensleys were close by. Their next door neighbors were William Robeson and James Wilson. John and Margaret had two McMahan children with them, both age 11, so either twins, or not siblings to each other. They predate John and Margaret's marriage, so they could be her children by previous marriage, or born out of wedlock, or they might be orphaned nephews. Wilson McMahan, one of the sons, later used "Hensley" as his surname. Bill Hensley stated that both of these are children by Greenberry Silver.

John and Margaret were still in Yancey for the 1860 census. Wilson McMahan was still with them, but listed as a Hensley this time. Jesse Hensley was next door.

I didn't find this family in 1870 or 1880 in Yancey County, though some of the children were still around those years.

Children

John and Margaret had at least eight children by 1860. Margaret may have had two McMahan children as well. Since I have very little additional data on any of these children, they will not get their own sections.

Researcher List

1. John¹ Hensley , born 1795/96 in Buncombe Co, NC (now Yancey Co, NC); died aft 1860 in Yancey Co, NC. He married in 1840/42 in Yancey Co, NC Margaret McMahon , born 1816/17 in Buncombe Co, NC (now Yancey Co, NC); died aft 1860 in Yancey Co, NC.

Children of John Hensley and Margaret McMahon were as follows:

+ 2 i Wilson M McMahon² Hensley , born 1838/39 in Yancey Co, NC. He married Harriett M Proffitt .

3 ii Archibald A² McMahan , born 1838/39.

+ 4 iii Silas E² Hensley , born 1841/42 in Yancey Co, NC. He married Anabella Elkins .

5 iv Jane A² Hensley , born 1844/45 in Yancey Co, NC.

6 v Goodson McD² Hensley , born 1845/46 in Yancey Co, NC.

7 vi Martha S² Hensley , born 1846/47 in Yancey Co, NC.

8 vii Mary E² Hensley , born 1848/49 in Yancey Co, NC.

9 viii William A² Hensley , born 1849/50 in Yancey Co, NC.

10 ix James P² Hensley , born 1851/52 in Yancey Co, NC.

11 x Baxter² Hensley , born 1856/57 in Yancey Co, NC.

Generation 2

2. Wilson M McMahon² Hensley (John¹), born 1838/39 in Yancey Co, NC. He married on 16 Nov 1865 in Yancey Co, NC Harriett M Proffitt , born 1847/48 in NC, daughter of David Proffitt and Elizabeth (---) .

Children of Wilson M McMahon Hensley and Harriett M Proffitt were as follows:

12 i Ella³ Hensley , born 1866/67 in Yancey Co, NC.

13 ii Zebulon V³ Hensley , born 1867/68 in Yancey Co, NC.

14 iii Fannie E³ Hensley , born 1870 in Yancey Co, NC.

15 iv Altha M³ Hensley , born 1872/73 in Yancey Co, NC.

16 v Augustine F³ Hensley , born 1874/75 in Yancey Co, NC.

4. Silas E² Hensley (John¹), born 1841/42 in Yancey Co, NC. He married on 16 Mar 1862 in Yancey Co, NC Anabella Elkins , born 1844/45 in Yancey Co, NC.

Children of Silas E Hensley and Anabella Elkins were as follows:

17 i William G³ Hensley , born 1862/63 in Yancey Co, NC.

18 ii Salona P³ Hensley , born 1865/66 in Yancey Co, NC.

19 iii George W³ Hensley , born 1867/68 in Yancey Co, NC.

20 iv Thomas C³ Hensley , born 1870/71 in Yancey Co, NC.

21 v Turner A³ Hensley , born 1872/73 in Yancey Co, NC.

22 vi Nancy L³ Hensley , born 1874/75 in Yancey Co, NC.

23 vii Wilson M³ Hensley , born 1877/78 in Yancey Co, NC.