Robert J. Hensley and Nancy Barrett of Yancey Co, NC and Clay Co, KY

I have seen Robert listed as a son of James and Nancy Hensley, but I don't know if there is any hard evidence for it. They do fit based on circumstantial evidence. James did have a son this age, per the 1820 and 1830 census. James went to Clay Co, KY early on, and Robert got there several years later (ca 1854). However, the circumstantial evidence doesn't seem to be enough to conclude that Robert is James' son.

Including James, there are several candidates who might be Robert's parents, but not enough proof to make a determination.

Robert J. Hensley would most likely be home with his parents for the 1820 and 1830 census. In 1820 he should be in the "under 10" category (born ca 1810/20), and in 1830 in the age 10-14 category (born ca 1815/20). That helps narrow down the suspects a little bit, but not enough to come to any conclusions.

As you can see, this helps a little, but not a lot! The above two records show that James Hensley (c1780) is a possible father for Levi, but does not prove the connection.

Robert J. Hensley married Nancy Barrett on 8 Dec 1831 in Buncombe (now Yancey) Co, NC. The marriage date, location and her maiden name are proven in a Pension application that Robert filed in 1879 for the Civil War service of his son Robert B. Hensley who died in the war. He further stated that they were married by James Anderson, Justice of the Peace. (Thanks to Laura Schreibman for the Pension information).

There were only a few Barrett families in the area, but I don't know who Nancy's parents were, though I suspect she might be a child of William Barrett who was listed in Buncombe County, NC in 1830. I have no real evidence he is her father, so I could be wrong.

Robert J. Hensley was listed on the 1840 census in Yancey Co, NC. His next door neighbors were Jesse A. Peek and John Ponder. No other Hensley's were nearby. It appears he was in the part of Yancey that later became Madison County (in 1851), but he probably had moved there after marriage, for in his Pension application, he said he was married in "Yancey County". That was said in 1879, so he probably knew Madison had been formed back in 1851. He also stated later that the marriage was in "Buncombe", so he knew about the county changes.

I have no record of Robert between 1840 and 1854. I don't know where he was in those years. He left Yancey Co, NC apparently, and he arrived in Clay Co, KY by 1854, but where was he in 1850? I have not found him on any census records in 1850. He was not in Yancey Co, NC then, nor in Clay Co, KY, nor in nearby Harlan Co, KY. I checked Tennessee also, and didn't find him there. He might have been missed by the census taker, or by the indexers of the census. He could be listed, but his name badly mangled so that we can't easily find him.

Robert showed up on the 1854 tax list in Clay Co, KY. He was listed twice (or else there was someone else there with similar name). First as "R. J. Hensley", taxed for 1 white male over 21 (himself) and 1 horse. The other listing that same year was for "Robert Hensley" with the same information. This could be two different people, or a duplicate. One or both is this Robert under study, I am sure. In following years, only one was listed. (Thanks to Laura Schreibman for transcribing the Kentucky Taxlists).

"Robert J. Hensley" was listed on the 1855, 1856 and 1857 tax lists in Clay Co, KY. Each time with 1 white male over 21 (himself) and 1 horse. (Thanks to Laura Schreibman for transcribing the Kentucky Taxlists).

In 1858, Robert was listed in Clay Co, KY still, but as "Robert Hensley Jr", however, no other Robert was listed, so I'm not sure why he was "Jr". This might be a misread "Sr", to indicate a younger Robert was around as well. He still had one White male over 21, and one horse.

"R. J. Hensley" was listed on the 1859 tax list in Clay Co, KY and taxed for 1 white male over 21 (himself) and for 1 horse. (Thanks to Laura Schreibman for transcribing the Kentucky Taxlists).

Robert Hensley was listed on the 1860 census in Clay Co, KY. I don't have the listing yet for inclusion here, but I'll get it as soon as I can.

Apparently Robert's wife Nancy Barrett Hensley died on 30 Sep 1860 in Clay Co, KY (per his Pension Application).

Robert was still alive as late as 1883, and still in Clay Co, KY. He filed a Civil War Pension application 4 Apr 1879 for his deceased son Robert B. Hensley, who died in the War. He included a lot of family data in the application. He filed another statement in 1883. (Thanks to Laura Schreibman for this data).

Children

Robert and Nancy and Margaret had several children. Since I don't yet have 1850 and 1860 census data, I'm not going to give them their own sections. The names and birth dates of several of these were included in the before mentioned Pension Records.

Researcher List

1. Robert J¹ Hensley , born 1817/18 in Buncombe Co, NC (now Yancey Co, NC); died aft 1883 in Clay Co, KY He married (1) on 8 Dec 1831 in Buncombe Co, NC (now Yancey Co, NC) Nancy Barrett , born 1810/20 in Buncombe Co, NC (now Yancey Co, NC); died 30 Sep 1860 in Clay Co, KY; (2) on 25 Mar 1862 in Clay Co, KY Margaret Martin , born 1843/44 in VA.

Children of Robert J Hensley and Nancy Barrett were as follows:

2 i Robert Burton² Hensley , born 23 Feb 1841 in Yancey Co, NC; died 12 Feb 1863 in Civil War.

3 ii Henry L² Hensley , born 1845.

4 iii James M² Hensley , born 30 May 1848.

5 iv Mary L² Hensley , born 30 Jan 1850.

6 v Elisha Clingman² Hensley , born 11 Feb 1852.

7 vi Nancy C² Hensley , born 9 Mar 1854 in Clay Co, KY.

8 vii Vinetta² Hensley , born 9 Aug 1856 in Clay Co, KY.

9 viii Donna² Hensley , born 1859/60 in Clay Co, KY.

Children of Robert J Hensley and Margaret Martin were as follows:

10 i Silas² Hensley , born 1863/64 in Clay Co, KY.

Robert J. Hensley (c1817) and Nancy Barrett of Yancey Co, NC and Clay Co, KY

Children

Researcher List

Register Report