Richard Henslee (c1775) and Sarah Johnson of Caswell and Orange Co, NC and Franklin and Putnam Co, GA

This family used the "Henslee" spelling most often, though some records were with the "Hensley" or other spellings. See "Hensley Spellings" for a commentary on this subject.

The North Carolina Archives (in the Private Manuscript collection) has a couple of personal letters that Richard Henslee wrote about his religious experiences. They contain a little bit of genealogical data, but not much.

Richard Henslee was born ca 1774/75 (per 1850 census) or 9 Jan 1775 (per a letter he wrote in 1857) in Caswell County, North Carolina.

Richard Henslee is a proven child of John Henslee (bef 1755) and Rachel Cantrell, as named in John's Will dated 1816. I don't know of any probable namesakes for him, as there were no "Richard" Henslees in the family prior to him. He may have been named after a maternal ancestor or other relative or friend.

Richard Henslee would have been about 11 years old by the time of the State Census taken 1786 in Caswell County. His father John Henslee had 3 apparent sons "under 21" with him for that census, one of them certainly was Richard..

The 1790 census is lost for Caswell County, but Richard was certainly still home with his parents that year.

According to personal letters written by Richard, he did a good bit of traveling around in the 1790's and early 1800's prior to his marriage in 1808. During this timeframe he became a Minister of the Gospel and began preaching. He mentions being in Georgia during that timeframe too.

In one of his letters Richard mentions that he was engaged to be married in 1795, but his fiance died before their marriage. He didn't give her name though.

On 14 Feb 1795, Richard Henslee was bondsman for the marriage of Robert Lackey and Sarah Mitchell in Caswell County.

He may have been back home with his parents for the 1800 census. He would have been about 25 year sold then, and his father had two sons in age 16-25 age group (born ca 1774/84) with him in 1800, one of them was probably Richard.

On 11 Nov 1800, Richard Henslee and his father John Henslee were witnesses to a deed from William Carter to Joseph Benton. (Caswell Co, NC Deed Book M page 83, shared by Laura Schreibman)

Laura Schreibman for a Richard Hensley on an 1801 tax list in Franklin County, Georgia. Since this Richard stated in one of his letters that he had lived in Georgia briefly, this may very well be him.

Richard must have been preaching and / or living in nearby Granville County for a time, for he married there. On 30 May 1808 he obtained a marriage bond in Granville County to marry Sarah Johnson. Sarah was born ca 1787/88 in North Carolina, perhaps in Granville County. I don't know who her parents were.

They were listed on the 1810 census in Orange Co, NC which borders Caswell County, and they remained here many years. (Note: I grew up in Orange County, North Carolina. Marty Grant). Their neighbors in 1810 were Stephen Ellis and Thomas Wilson. An "extra" older male was living with them, perhaps a younger brother of Richard or Sarah, or other relative or boarder.

On 5 Jan 1811, John Henslee and Richard Henslee witnessed a deed from John Sawyer to Joseph Pennix. (Caswell Co, NC Deed Book R page 362, shared with me by Laura Schreibman)

Richard was named as a son in his father's Will dated 20 Mar 1816. (Caswell Co, NC Will Book G page 301, shared with me by Laura Schreibman)

On 21 Oct 1816, several of the heirs of John Henslee deeded their interest in their father's land to Buford Pleasant (their brother-in-law). The heirs were Richard Henslee, William Henslee, John Henslee, and Sally Henslee, all of Caswell County. The deed was witnessed by Thomas Garner, Micajah Pleasant, Joseph Benton and Thomas Henslee. (Caswell Co, NC Deed Book R page 443, shared with me by Laura Schreibman)

Richard Henslee was listed on the 1820 census in Orange County. He was listed between John Dunn and William Carnell Sr.

Richard was listed on the 1830 census in Orange County. He was next door to John Dunn and Henry Melone.

They were still in Orange County for the 1840 census. Strangely, Richard seemed to be listed twice, in two different households. The way it appears is that his wife and children were in one, with him not there, and he himself in another household, though both listed in his name. The first listing seemed to contain his wife and children, but not Richard himself. They were next to John Dunn (same neighbor as in 1820 and 1830) and William Lea. In his other listing, it seemed to be Richard, and perhaps his wife, though her age is wrong, and 2 sons or other boarders. Both listings are given below.

Richard and family were in Orange County for the 1850 census, but by now it was just him, wife Sarah and daughter Emaline. The rest of his children were elsewhere, several having moved to Georgia already (where he soon followed). They were in the North West District which would border Caswell County where his family had originated.

Sarah Johnson Hensley died sometime between 1850 and 1860. I don't know if she died before or after the family moved to Putnam County, Georgia. They moved to Putnam to join some children who were already there.

Richard was listed on the 1860 census in Putnam County, Georgia residing with his son William. His son J. L. and daughter Elizabeth were also in the household with them.

Cindy Stamps tells me that Richard was still around for the 1870 census, and still in Putnam, and listed as age 95, with daughter Nancy J. Henslee (age 48) with him, and they are in the household of daughter Elizabeth Mansfield.

Children

Richard and Sarah had several children per the various census records, but only a few are proven.

Unknown Son (1804/10). Richard Henslee had an apparent son this age. He was home in 1810 (age "under 10", born ca 1800/10), and home in 1820 (age 10-15, born ca 1804/10), but gone by 1830, so probably married or dead by then.

There were no Henslee marriages recorded in Orange County in the 1820's, so I don't know if this son married there then moved away, or what. I have no clue who this might be.

Unknown Son (1810/15). Richard Henslee had an apparent son this age. He was home in 1820 (age "under 10", born ca 1810/20), and home in 1830 (age 15-19, born ca 1810/15), but gone by 1840, so probably married or dead by then.

I believe this is probably Spivey Hensley (c1811), but have no direct proof that he is Richard's son.

Elizabeth C. Henslee was born ca 1814/15 (per 1850 census) in Orange County, North Carolina. She was apparently home in 1820 (age "under 10", born ca 1810/20), and apparently home in 1830 (age 15-19, born ca 1810/15), and apparently home in 1840 (age 20-29, born ca 1810/20).

On 13 Mar 1849, John G. Mansfield obtained a marriage bond in Orange County to marry "Elizebeth Henslee". John was born ca 1819/20 in North Carolina, possibly in Orange County. I don't know who his parents were.

They moved to Sumter County, Georgia between 1849 and 1850 and were listed there on the 1850 census in the household of her brother William B, Henslee.

For the 1860 census, Elizabeth, (now widowed but with no apparent children) was still with her brother William, though the entire family had moved to Putnam County, Georgia by then. Her widower father Richard was also in the same household and other relatives as well.

J. L. Henslee was born ca 1817/18 (per 1860 census) in Orange County, North Carolina. He was apparently home in 1820 (age "under 10", born ca 1810/20), and apparently home in 1830 (age 15-19, born ca 1810/15), and apparently home in 1840 (age 20-29, born ca 1810/20). I don't know what his initials stood for. Although I have him as "J". L. Henslee, he may actually be "I". L. Henslee, and if so, then perhaps this is Iverson Henslee.

For the 1860 census he was living with his brother William in Putnam County, Georgia.

J. L. Henslee married F. A. --- before ca 1865 in Putnam County, Georgia. I don't know her maiden name (nor given name for that matter).

They were on the 1880 census in Putnam County, Georgia. ** I don't have this entry typed up yet.

William B. Henslee was born ca 1819/20 in Orange Co, NC. He left Orange County in the late 1840's and moved to Sumter Co, GA and later to Putnam County, GA.

Nancy J. Henslee was born ca 1822/23 (per 1850 census) in Orange County, North Carolina. She was apparently home in 1830 (age 5-9, born ca 1820/25), and apparently home in 1840 (age 15-19, born ca 1820/25).

Nancy was in neighboring Person County, North Carolina with brother Spivey Hensley for the 1850 census.

For the 1860 census she was living with her sister Emeline Mansfield in Putnam County, Georgia.

Emaline Henslee was born ca 1822/23 (per 1850 census) in Orange County, North Carolina. She was apparently home in 1830 (age 5-9, born ca 1820/25), and apparently home in 1840 (age 15-19, born ca 1820/25). She was home with her parents for the 1850 census ("Emeline" age 27, born NC).

On 7 Jan 1852, James L. Mansfield obtained a marriage bond in Orange Co, NC to marry Emeline Henslee. It is possible that he was a brother to John G. Mansfield who had married Emeline' sister 3 years earlier. James was born ca 1829/30, presumably in Orange Co, NC.

They left Orange County, North Carolina for Putnam County, Georgia in the mid 1850's and were listed there on the 1860 census. Her father and several siblings were there that year also, but not listed close by. An apparent sister "N. Hensley" was living with them.

Unknown Son (1820/25). Richard Henslee had an apparent son this age. He was home in 1830 (age 5-9, born ca 1820/25), and home in 1840 (age 15-19, born ca 1820/25), but gone by 1850, so probably married or dead by then.

There were no male Henslee marriages recorded in Orange County in the 1830's, so I don't know if this son married there then moved away, or what. I have no clue who this might be.

Researcher List

1. Richard¹ Hensley Rev , born 9 Jan 1775 in Caswell Co, NC; died aft 1870 in Putnam Co, GA, son of John Hensley and Rachel Cantrell . He married on 30 May 1808 in Granville Co, NC Sarah Johnson , born 1787/88 in NC; died 1850/60 in Orange Co, NC.

Children of Richard Hensley Rev and Sarah Johnson were as follows:

2 i Elizabeth C² Hensley , born 1814/15 in Orange Co, NC; died aft 1860 in Putnam Co, GA. She married on 13 Mar 1849 in Orange Co, NC John G Mansfield , born 1819/20 in Orange Co, NC; died 1850/60 in Putnam Co, GA.

+ 3 ii J L² Hensley , born 1817/18 in Orange Co, NC; died aft 1880 in Putnam Co, GA. He married F A (---) .

+ 4 iii William B² Hensley , born 1819/20 in Orange Co, NC; died aft 1860 in Putnam Co, GA. He married E S (---) .

5 iv Nancy² Hensley , born 1822/23 in Orange Co, NC; died aft 1860 in Putnam Co, GA.

+ 6 v Emaline² Hensley , born 1822/23 in Orange Co, NC; died aft 1860 in Putnam Co, GA. She married James L Mansfield .

Generation 2

3. J L² Hensley (Richard¹), born 1817/18 in Orange Co, NC; died aft 1880 in Putnam Co, GA. He married in 1860/65 in Putnam Co, GA F A (---) , born 1839/40 in GA.

Children of J L Hensley and F A (---) were as follows:

7 i M M³ Hensley , born 1864/65 in Putnam Co, GA.

8 ii S A³ Hensley , born 1870/71 in Putnam Co, GA.

4. William B² Hensley (Richard¹), born 1819/20 in Orange Co, NC; died aft 1860 in Putnam Co, GA. He married in 1850/56 in Putnam Co, GA E S (---) , born 1834/35 in GA.

Children of William B Hensley and E S (---) were as follows:

9 i S F³ Hensley , born 1855/56 in Putnam Co, GA.

10 ii J J³ Hensley , born 1856/57 in Putnam Co, GA.

11 iii William B³ Hensley , born 1857/58 in Putnam Co, GA.

12 iv J C³ Hensley , born 1860 in Putnam Co, GA.

6. Emaline² Hensley (Richard¹), born 1822/23 in Orange Co, NC; died aft 1860 in Putnam Co, GA. She married on 7 Jan 1852 in Orange Co, NC James L Mansfield , born 1829/30 in Orange Co, NC.

Children of Emaline Hensley and James L Mansfield were as follows:

13 i J C³ Mansfield , born 1852/53 in Orange Co, NC.

14 ii J W³ Mansfield , born 1854/55 in Orange Co, NC.

15 iii N J³ Mansfield , born 1856/57 in Putnam Co, GA.

16 iv J D³ Mansfield , born 1859 in Putnam Co, GA.