Michael Hensley (c1825) and Christina Fowler of Greene and Washington Co, TN

martygrant.com: Home > Genealogy > Hensley > Families > Michael

 

[Commentary] [Children] [Researcher List] [Register Report] [A Note about sources] [How to contact me] [Home]

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

Michael Hensley was born ca 1824/25 (per 1860 census) in TN, probably in Sullivan County, or perhaps Greene County. He apparently lived in that border area where the four counties came together (Greene, Sullivan, Washington and Hawkins).

He was called "Red Mike" to distinguish himself from his 1st cousin "Black Mike" Michael Hensley (c1823). (Thanks to Jim Brown for that information).

I believe Michael Hensley is as a son of Benjamin Hensley and Mary Ann McDavid, but I have no direct proof of this. It fits based on circumstantial evidence. They were neighbors, and Benjamin did have an apparent so this age in 1830 and 1840. If the are not father and son, then I'd suspect they are still closely related.

Michael would have been about 5 years old in 1830, so if listed with his parents that year, he would be in either the "under 5" age group (born ca 1825/30) or in the age 5-9 group (born ca 1820/25). Benjamin did have an apparent son this age (5-9) in 1830 Sullivan County, Tennessee.

Michael Hensley would have been about 15 years old in 1840, so if listed on that census, he should be in the 10-14 (born ca 1825/30) or age 15-19 (born ca 1820/25) category. Benjamin Hensley was in Greene County that year, and did have one son age 15-19, so that is possibly Michael Hensley.

Michael Hensley married Christina Fowler sometime between 1840 and ca 1848. I didn't find a marriage record for them, so they may have married in Sullivan County instead (early marriage records lost). Christina's maiden name was shared by Jim Brown. I'm not sure what the proof is. I don't know who her parents were. Her age was vastly different from census to census, so I'm not sure when she was born, but here are the options: ca 1831/32 (per 1860 census); ca 1824/25 (per 1870 census), or ca 1828/29 (per 1880 census). I believe the 1900 census gives "May 1825", but I'll have to verify that.

I have not been able to locate Michael and Christina on the 1850 census. Since they lived in that four-county border area, they may have been missed because each census taker thought they were in one of the "other" counties. Just a guess though.

They were in Washington County, Tennessee for the 1860 census in Haggard's District. They were not listed near any other Hensleys, though Washington County was full of them.

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 WASHINGTON CO, TN Page 78    House/Family #  551/ 551 -- HAGGARD'S DISTRICT

HENSLEY MICHAEL       35 M W FARMER                       TN                   1824/1825
HENSLEY CHRISTINA     28 F W DOMESTIC                     TN                   1831/1832
HENSLEY SARAH         12 F W                              TN                   1847/1848
HENSLEY MARY E         8 F W                              TN                   1851/1852
HENSLEY WILLIAM A      6 M W                              TN                   1853/1854
HENSLEY ALEY J         5 F W                              TN                   1854/1855
HENSLEY JOSEPH H       1 M W                              TN                   1858/1859
 

For the 1870 census, Michael and family were back in Greene Co, TN. They were listed on the same page with several close relation, including his father Benjamin Hensley. The abstract gives: Michael Hensley-49, Christiene-45, William-17, Alice-14, Joseph-9, James-8, Ester-7, Thomas-5, Benjamin-4, Stuart-2, all born TN. Page 370. (From "Hensley Households" by Laura Schreibman).

By 1880, Michael and family were listed in neighboring Washington County, Tennessee. He was in very close proximity to many of his Hensley relatives. ** I don't have this entry typed up yet.

I have no data on Michael and family beyond 1880.

Children

Michael and Christine had twelve children per the various census records. I have very little additional data on any of them yet, so not enough to give them their own sections here.

Researcher List

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

Register Report

1. Michael "Red Mike"1 Hensley , born 1824/25 in Sullivan Co, TN; died aft 1880 in Washington Co, TN, son of Benjamin Hensley  and Mary Ann McDavid .  He married in 1840/48 in TN Christina Fowler , born 1831/32 in TN; died aft 1880 in Washington Co, TN.

 

      Children of Michael "Red Mike" Hensley and Christina Fowler were as follows:

      2          i      Sarah2 Hensley , born 1847/48 in Greene Co, TN.

      3          ii      Mary E2 Hensley , born 1851/52 in Greene Co, TN.

+    4          iii      William A2 Hensley , born 1853/54 in Greene Co, TN.  He married Sarah A (---) .

      5          iv      Alsy J2 Hensley , born 1854/55 in Greene Co, TN.

      6          v      Joseph H2 Hensley , born 1858/59 in Washington Co, TN.

      7          vi      James M2 Hensley , born 1861/62 in Greene Co, TN.

      8          vii      Ester2 Hensley , born 1862/63 in Greene Co, TN.

      9          viii      Thomas2 Hensley , born 1864/65 in Greene Co, TN.

      10         ix      Benjamin2 Hensley , born 1865/66 in Greene Co, TN.

      11         x      Stuart Van Zant2 Hensley , born 1867/68 in Greene Co, TN.

      12         xi      John2 Hensley , born 1871/72 in Washington Co, TN.

      13         xii      Martha2 Hensley , born 1873/74 in Washington Co, TN.

 

Generation 2

 

4. William A2 Hensley  (Michael "Red Mike"1), born 1853/54 in Greene Co, TN.  He married in 1870/75 in Washington Co, TN Sarah A (---) , born 1858/59 in TN.

 

      Children of William A Hensley and Sarah A (---) were as follows:

      14         i      Mollie A3 Hensley , born 1874/75 in Washington Co, TN.

      15         ii      Debbie J3 Hensley , born 1875/76 in Washington Co, TN.

      16         iii      James F3 Hensley , born 1877/78 in Washington Co, TN.

      17         iv      Matthew3 Hensley , born 1878/79 in Washington Co, TN.

      18         v      Elijah3 Hensley , born 1878/79 in Washington Co, TN.

martygrant.com: Home > Genealogy > Hensley > Families > Michael