Robert Hensley (c1800) and Mary --- of Grainger, Jefferson and Putnam Co, TN

Robert's father isn't yet known, but his mother was apparently Elizabeth Hensley (c1765) who was living with him in 1850 Jefferson Co, TN. The fact that she was living with him would strongly suggest that she is his mother, though she could be an Aunt or other relative instead.

Robert was presumably home with his parents for the 1800, 1810 and 1820 census, but, unfortunately, those census records were lost for all of Tennessee (except 1820 which was just lost for Eastern Tennessee).

Robert Hensley married Mary --- sometime before 1830, possibly in Washington County, Tennessee. Mary was born ca 1810/11 somewhere in Tennessee. I don't know her maiden name.

There is a Robert Hensley listed on the 1830 census in Washington County, Tennessee who might be this same Robert. The enumerations are not an exact match, but I have not found any other listing for this Robert, nor have I been able to identify the Robert in Washington County in 1830 as someone else. So, whether this is the same Robert or not, I'll give the listing here for reference. He was on the page previous to Benjamin Hensley (c1790). Robert was listed between Andrew Jones and William Seabolt. The flaw with this listing being the same Robert, is that his wife is slightly too old (but close enough) and a daughter is listed who was not with them in 1840 (but she could have died or married by then).

There is also a suspicious entry on the 1830 Jefferson County, Tennessee census for a "Robert Howsley" who is an exact match for Robert Hensley and family. It clearly says "Howsley", but it could still be him. The census records on file are always a hand copy made by the census taker (the originals are almost all lost), so errors are always present. This Robert Howsley was two houses from a Samuel Hanley who was just two houses from Joseph King (who married Eliza Hensley in 1823). All this makes it look like this is indeed the same person as Robert Hensley, though mis-enumerated. More research is needed to be sure, one way or the other. Here is the entry, just in case:

Robert was in nearby Grainger County, Tennessee for the 1840 census. He was on the next page from Isaac Hensley (1810/20) who is probably his brother, as Isaac had a female the same age as Elizabeth Hensley (c1765) living with him then. Robert was just a few households from Isaac, though on the next page. (Robert named one of his sons "Isaac", thus further evidence they could be brothers).

Robert and family were in neighboring Jefferson County, Tennessee for the 1850 census. Robert's apparent mother Elizabeth (c1765) was residing with them. An apparent sister Sally Hensley (c1812) (and her children) was also with them in the same household, but with a different family number. This means they lived under the same roof, but were counted as separate family units.

Robert and family moved to Putnam Co, TN by 1860 and were listed there on that census. Robert's oldest son Isaac was in neighboring White Co, TN in 1860.

Robert Hensley apparently died between 1860 and 1870, presumably in Putnam County or perhaps White County, Tennessee.

Widow Mary Hensley was listed on the 1870 census in neighboring White County with her son Isaac: Isaac N. Hensley-40 TN, Safina J-31 KY, Richard H-8, TN, James A-4 TN, Mary E-7/12 TN, Mary-65 TN. (From "Hensley Households" by Laura Schreibman).

By 1880, Mary had moved with her son Isaac to neighboring Smith County, Tennessee and were listed on the census there that year. Mary was listed as 80 years old (born ca 1799/1800). ** I don't have this entry typed up yet.

Children

Unknown Daughter (1825/30). Robert Hensley of 1830 Washington County, Tennessee had an apparent daughter this age with him that year. She was not with him in 1840, so she either died or had married by then. This is assuming that the Robert in 1830 Washington County is the same Robert later in Grainger and Jefferson County.

Isaac N. Hensley was born ca 1829/30 in Tennessee, possibly Grainger or Washington County. He did not seem to be home with his parents in 1830 (if the Washington County listing is indeed the same family). He did seem to be home in 1840, age 5-9 (born ca 1830/35), and he was home in 1850 ("Isaac" age 15, which is clearly an incorrect age, based on later records).

Isaac Hensley's parents moved to Putnam County, Tennessee in the 1850's and Isaac was in neighboring White County, Tennessee by 1860. He was listed on the 1860 census in White County with a Barclay family, relationship unknown (perhaps none).

Isaac Hensley married Safina Jane Sims in White County on 6 Sep 1860. Jane was born ca 1838/39 in Kentucky. I don't know who her parents were.

They were listed on the 1870 census in White County, with Isaac's mother Mary residing with them. Isaac N. Hensley-40 TN, Safina J-31 KY, Richard H-8, TN, James A-4 TN, Mary E-7/12 TN, Mary-65 TN. (From "Hensley Households" by Laura Schreibman).

By 1880, Isaac and family moved to neighboring Smith County, Tennessee and were listed on the census there that year. Isaac's mother Mary was listed with them. ** I don't have this entry typed up yet.

Richard Hensley was born ca 1836/37 in Grainger County, Tennessee. He seemed to be home with his parents in 1840, age "under 5" (born ca 1835/40), and he was home in 1850 ("Richard" age 13).

Richard Hensley's parents moved to Putnam County, Tennessee in the 1850's and Richard did as well.

Richard married Eliza --- before ca 1855 in either Putnam County or possibly Jefferson County. Eliza was born ca 1835/36 in Tennessee. I don't know her maiden name.

I didn't find them in 1870 or 1880 in Tennessee, so perhaps they left the state.

Elizabeth Hensley was born ca 1838/39 in Grainger County, Tennessee. She seemed to be home with her parents in 1840, age "under 5" (born ca 1835/40), and she was home in 1850 ("Elizabeth" age 11).

Elizabeth Hensley married William Wigginton on 3 Dec 1858 in White County, Tennessee. He was born ca 1837/38.

William and Elizabeth were with her parents for the 1860 census in Putnam County, Tennessee. (See the listing above in the parents section).

I don't have them on the 1870 census. I did find son Isaac Wigginton on the 1880 census in White County next to Isaac Hensley.

Researcher List

1. Robert¹ Hensley , born 1799/1800 in TN; died 1860/70 in Putnam Co, TN or White Co, TN, son of (---) Hensley and Elizabeth (---) . He married bef 1830 in TN Mary (---) , born 1810/11 in TN; died aft 1880 in Smith Co, TN.

Children of Robert Hensley and Mary (---) were as follows:

+ 2 i Isaac N² Hensley , born 1829/30 in Grainger Co, TN; died aft 1880 in Smith Co, TN. He married Safina Jane Sims .

+ 3 ii Richard² Hensley , born 1836/37 in Grainger Co, TN. He married Eliza (---) .

+ 4 iii Elizabeth² Hensley , born 1838/39 in Grainger Co, TN. She married William Wigginton .

Generation 2

2. Isaac N² Hensley (Robert¹), born 1829/30 in Grainger Co, TN; died aft 1880 in Smith Co, TN. He married on 6 Sep 1860 in White Co, TN Safina Jane Sims , born 1838/39 in KY.

Children of Isaac N Hensley and Safina Jane Sims were as follows:

5 i Richard H³ Hensley , born 1861/62 in White Co, TN.

6 ii James A³ Hensley , born 1865/66 in White Co, TN.

7 iii Mary E³ Hensley , born 1869/70 in White Co, TN.

8 iv Fannie³ Hensley , born 1873/74 in White Co, TN.

9 v William³ Hensley , born 1876/77 in Smith Co, TN.

10 vi Vina³ Hensley , born 1876/77 in Smith Co, TN.

3. Richard² Hensley (Robert¹), born 1836/37 in Grainger Co, TN. He married in 1850/55 in Putnam Co, TN Eliza (---) , born 1835/36 in TN.

Children of Richard Hensley and Eliza (---) were as follows:

11 i James³ Hensley , born 1854/55 in Putnam Co, TN.

12 ii Robert³ Hensley , born 1858/59 in Putnam Co, TN.

4. Elizabeth² Hensley (Robert¹), born 1838/39 in Grainger Co, TN. She married on 3 Dec 1858 in White Co, TN William Wigginton , born 1837/38 in TN.

Children of Elizabeth Hensley and William Wigginton were as follows:

13 i Isaac³ Wigginton , born 1859 in Putnam Co, TN; died aft 1880 in Smith Co, TN.

14 ii Newton³ Wigginton , born 1859 in Putnam Co, TN.