Rufus Hensley (c1816) and Mary Watkins of TN and Limestone and Morgan Co, AL and Cherokee Co, TX

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

 

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

I (Marty Grant) am not related to Rufus Hensley as far as I know, however, there is a strong possibility he is a cousin of mine.

Rufus Hensley was born ca 1815/16 (per 1850 census) in Virginia (per 1850 census) or Tennessee (per 1860 census). I suspect Tennessee is correct. I don't know what County he might have been born in. If his parents are who I suspect, then he was likely born in Knox County, Tennessee, but that is yet to be proven.

I have Rufus Hensley as a son of Ichabod Hensley (c1780/83) and Catherine Livingston, but I have no proof to back this up. I believe this is the theory of Joyce Petty Cooper, a descendant of Ichabod. I'm not sure what she had for proof connecting them, but I think her theory is reasonable.  At least is seems to be supported based on circumstantial evidence. Primarily two facts: One: Rufus was born in TN (as was most of Ichabod's children), and two: Rufus lived in Morgan County, Alabama, where Ichabod resided.  However, that is the extent of the evidence I have connecting them. Keep in mind that it is entirely possible that Rufus was not Ichabod's son, but a son of someone else. It does seem very likely that Rufus was a brother to Samuel Hensley (c1814) who was near him in Morgan County, AL and also they went to Cherokee Co, TX about the same time and lived near each other there. Since Samuel is also thought to be a child of Ichabod, that adds more weight to Rufus being his son also.

For the 1820 census, Rufus would have been either about 4 years old, so he should be enumerated in the age "under 10" category (born ca 1810/20). However, since the 1820 census is lost for half of Tennessee (the eastern half), there is no way to determine where he might have been that year.

For the 1830 census, Rufus Hensley would have been about 14 years old, so he should be enumerated in age 10-14 category (born ca 1815/20). Ichabod was in Morgan County, Alabama that year, and had one apparent sons that age. I don't know if it is Rufus or not, but it could be.

For the 1840 census, Rufus would have been about 24 years old, so he should be enumerated in the age 20-29 category (born ca 1810/20). However, I did not find him listed as a head of household, so he was probably living with someone else that year, perhaps a married sibling. His sister Agness Hensley Love (wife of John Love) had an extra male age 20-29 with them, and it seems reasonable that it was Rufus.

On 22 Feb 1844, Rufus Hensley married Mary Watkins in neighboring Limestone Co, AL. Mary was born ca 1815/16 in Alabama. I don't know who her parents were.

Rufus Hensley and family were listed on the 1850 census in Morgan County, Alabama, about four pages from possible brother Samuel Hensley (c1814).

1850 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)
1850 MORGAN CO, AL Page 216B  House/Family #  277/ 264

HENSLY RUFUS          35 M W OVERSEER                   VA                   1814/1815
HENSLY MARY           34 F W                            AL                   1815/1816
HENSLY ELIZABETH       5 F W                            AL                   1844/1845
HENSLY MARY A          3 F W                            AL                   1846/1847
 

Rufus and family left Alabama and moved to Cherokee County, Texas between 1850 and ca 1853. Rufus' probable brother Samuel also moved there at the same time.

Rufus was listed on the 1860 census in Cherokee Co, TX in Beat Number 4 (Rusk Post Office), just 2 pages from brother Samuel.

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 CHEROKEE CO, TX Page 464B  House/Family #  708/ 708 -- BEAT NO 4 Twp  RUSK P.O.

HENSLEY RUFUS         44 M W FARMER                   400 TN                   1815/1816
HENSLEY MARY          34 F W HOUSEKEEPING                 AL                   1825/1826
HENSLEY C E           16 F W                              AL                   1843/1844
HENSLEY M A           13 F W                              AL                   1846/1847
HENSLEY SAMUEL         9 M W                              AL                   1850/1851
HENSLEY W T            6 M W                              TX                   1853/1854
HENSLEY J W            4 M W                              TX                   1855/1856
HENSLEY FRANCIS        2 M W                              TX                   1857/1858
 

I don't have them on the 1870 census yet.

They were still in Cherokee Co, TX for the 1880 census. ** I don't have this entry typed up yet.

Children

Rufus and Mary had several apparent children per the 1850 and 1860 census. I have very little additional data on any of them yet.

Researcher List

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

Register Report

1. Rufus1 Hensley , born 1815/16 in TN; died aft 1880 in Cherokee Co, TX, son of Ichabod Hensley  and Catherine Livingston .  He married on 22 Feb 1844 in Limestone Co, AL Mary Watkins , born 1815/16 in AL; died aft 1880 in Cherokee Co, TX.

 

      Children of Rufus Hensley and Mary Watkins were as follows:

      2          i      C Elizabeth2 Hensley , born 1843/44 in Morgan Co, AL.  She married in 1860/80 in Cherokee Co, TX (---) Page , died bef 1880 in Cherokee Co, TX.

      3          ii      Mary Ann2 Hensley , born 1846/47 in Morgan Co, AL.

      4          iii      Samuel2 Hensley , born 1850/51 in Morgan Co, AL.

      5          iv      W Thomas2 Hensley , born 1853/54 in Cherokee Co, TX.  He married bef 1880 in Cherokee Co, TX Nannie (---) , born 1858/59 in TX.

      6          v      J W2 Hensley , born 1855/56 in Cherokee Co, TX.

      7          vi      Francis2 Hensley , born 1857/58 in Cherokee Co, TX.

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