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I (Marty Grant) am not related to Samuel Hensley as far as I know.
Samuel Hensley was born ca 1779/80 (per 1850 census), though since his brother Larkin is proven to be born in May 1779, then I suspect that Samuel was probably born early to mid 1780 (assuming his 1850 age of "70" is accurate). Samuel was born in North Carolina (per 1850 census), presumably in that part of Burke County that later became Buncombe County (in 1791) and later became Yancey County (in 1833).
Samuel Hensley is a son of Hickman Hensley (c1759) and Agness Fisher. I have not seen direct proof of this relationship, but it fits based on circumstantial evidence. In Goodspeed's History of Tennessee (1887) he mentioned the early settlers of Lewis County, Tennessee including: "Larkin Hensley and his brothers (William, Samuel and James)". Since Larkin is a proven child of Hickman, that would make Samuel a child of Hickman also. However, Goodspeed is not a primary source, so it can't be counted as conclusive evidence, however, it is certainly believable based on other evidence, such as the close proximity between Larkin and Samuel (and the others brothers) in Tennessee. This isn't conclusive proof, but it seems more than reasonable that Samuel is a son of Hickman. I'd love to see some primary evidence though.
Samuel Hensley was probably home with his parents for the 1790 census. He would have been about 9 or 10 years old, so in the "under 16" age group (born ca 1774/90). Hickman Hensley had 4 apparent sons that age with him in Burke County in 1790.
Samuel should have been home in 1800 as well. He would have been about 19 or 20 years old, so should be enumerated in the 16-25 age group (born ca 1774/84), however Hickman only had one apparent son that age, and it was more likely Larkin (1779), so I'm guessing that Samuel was mis-enumerated in the age 10-15 category (1784/90).
Hickman and his children (including Samuel) all moved to what is now Lewis County, Tennessee around 1808. At that time the area was still part of Maury County.
I suspect that Samuel Hensley would have been listed on the 1810 census in Maury County, Tennessee, but unfortunately this census was lost for 99% of Tennessee. He may have been a head of household (he would have been about 30 years old), or still home with his father.
Samuel Hensley married widow Nancy Walker Ramsey sometime after 1814 in Hickman (now Lewis) Co, TN. Nancy was born ca 1779/80 in Virginia (both facts per 1850 census). I'm not sure what the proof is for Nancy's maiden name being "Walker". She was previously married to William Ramsey who died ca 1814 in Buncombe Co, NC (having some children including a son Nathaniel Ramsey born 1808). These facts are gathered from records shared by Dale Donnel from a 1904 statement made by William W. Walker pertaining to his grandparents. The statement also stated that widow Nancy moved to Tennessee and married "Sam Hensley", living in Tennessee and Illinois.
Although I don't have a marriage record for Samuel Hensley and Nancy (Walker) Ramsey, they married between ca 1814 and 1820. Since they were living in Wayne County, TN in 1820, perhaps they married there as well, instead of in old Hickman County. I can't be sure where they married.
Samuel Hensley was listed on the 1820 census in Wayne County, next door to brother James F. Hensley (c1790).
1820 census analysis (based on available evidence): (Explanation of this census)
1820 Wayne Co, TN pg 327 Samuel Hensley 200010-20100 Analysis: 1 Male(s) 26-44 (1775-1794) Samuel HENSLEY (1780) s/o Hickman 2 Male(s) 0-9 (1810-1820) Son? (1810/20) --> gone by 1830 Son? (1815/20) 1 Female(s) 16-25 (1794-1804) Nancy WALKER Hensley (1780/90) wife 2 Female(s) 0-9 (1810-1820) Daughter? (1810/20) --> gone by 1830 Daughter? (1815/20)
In the 1820's, Samuel (and his siblings from Wayne County) all wound up in Hickman County. I don't know if this due to changing county lines, or if they actually moved from one place to another.
Samuel Hensley was listed in Hickman County for the 1830 census. He was three houses from his brother Larkin Hensley (1779), and was listed between John Higgins and Daniel Brewer.
1830 census analysis (based on available evidence): (Explanation of this census)
1830 Hickman Co, TN pg 254 Samuel Hensley 0010001000000-1310001000000 Analysis: 1 Male(s) 40-49 (1780-1790) Samuel HENSLEY (1780) s/o Hickman & Agness 1 Male(s) 10-14 (1815-1820) Son? (1815/20) 1 Female(s) 40-49 (1780-1790) Nancy WALKER Hensley (1779/80), wife 1 Female(s) 10-14 (1815-1820) Daughter? (1815/20) 3 Female(s) 5-9 (1820-1825) Daughter? (1820/25) Daughter? (1820/25) Daughter? (1820/25) --> gone by 1840 or 1825/30 1 Female(s) 0-4 (1825-1830) Daughter? (1825/30)
Samuel Hensley was still in Hickman County for the 1840 census. He was next to Daniel Brewer and John G. Hensley (1807) and near several other Hensleys.
1840 census analysis (based on available evidence): (Explanation of this census)
1840 Hickman Co, TN pg 172 Samuel Hensley 0200100100000-0022200100000 Analysis: 1 Male(s) 50-59 (1780-1790) Samuel HENSLEY (1780) s/o Hickman & Agness 1 Male(s) 20-29 (1810-1820) Son? (1815/20) > gone by 1850 2 Male(s) 5-9 (1830-1835) Son? (1830/35) > gone by 1850 Samuel HENSLEY (1833/34) son 1 Female(s) 50-59 (1780-1790) Nancy WALKER Hensley (1779/80) wife 2 Female(s) 20-29 (1810-1820) Daughter? (1815/20) > gone by 1850 Daughter? (1810/20) * Not in 1830 > gone by 1850 2 Female(s) 15-19 (1820-1825) Daughter? (1820/25) > gone by 1850 Daughter? (1820/25) > gone by 1850 2 Female(s) 10-14 (1825-1830) Daughter? (1825/30) > gone by 1850 Nancy HENSLEY (1832/33) dau
In 1843, Lewis County was created from portions of several counties, including Hickman County where Samuel Hensley lived.
Sometime in the late 1840's, possibly ca 1848, Samuel and family moved to Effingham County, Illinois. Several of Samuel's Rentfrow half-siblings had already been living there for a few years and that probably helped draw him there as he was living in close proximity to them.
Samuel Hensley and family were listed on the 1850 census in Effingham County, Illinois. Several of his Rentfrow relatives were close by. He was listed next door to Jacob Hensley (c1824), who could be his son, but is probably a nephew instead, as Samuel did not have any sons this age (per 1830 and 1840 census). If Jacob's age is off considerably, then he could fit as a son of Samuel.
1850 EFFINGHAM CO, IL Page 312 House/Family # 372/ 372 HANSLEY SAMUEL 70 M W FARMER NC 1779/1780 HANSLEY NANCY 70 F W VA 1779/1780 HANSLEY NANCY 17 F W TN 1832/1833 HANSLEY SAMUEL 16 M W FARMER TN 1833/1834
I can't locate a source for this, but someone once told me that Samuel Hensley died in 1855 in Shelby County, Illinois (which borders Effingham County), and that Nancy had died before him. If memory servers, this was based on an Estate record or something similar. More research is needed.
Samuel and Nancy had several children per the various census records. Not all are identified yet. Some of the oldest might be Nancy's from her first marriage to William Ramsey.
Unknown Son (1810/20). Samuel Hensley had an apparent son (or step-son) this age. He was with him for the 1820 census (age "under 10", born ca 1810/20), but gone by 1830, so probably married or dead by then.
It seems to me that this is probably Nathaniel Ramsey (c1808), Nancy's son by her first marriage. Even though his age is slightly off, I suspect it was still him.
Unknown Daughter (1810/20). Samuel Hensley had an apparent daughter (or step-daughter) this age. She was with him for the 1820 census (age "under 10", born ca 1810/20), but gone by 1830, so probably married or dead by then.
This might be a Ramsey daughter of Nancy and her first husband.
Unknown Son (1815/20). Samuel Hensley had an apparent son this age. He was with him for the 1820 census (age "under 10", born ca 1810/20), and still with him in 1830 (age 10-14, born ca 1815/20), and still home in 1840 (age 20-29, born ca 1820/20), but gone by 1850, so probably married or dead by then.
A prime suspect is Hickman Hensley (c1815) who was in Effingham Co, IL with Samuel in 1850, and after Samuel's death moved back to Lewis Co, TN. I don't have any direct proof that Hickman is Samuel's son, but he is the only suspect who fits.
Unknown Daughter (1815/20). Samuel Hensley had an apparent daughter this age. She was with him for the 1820 census (age "under 10", born ca 1810/20), and still with him in 1830 (age 10-14, born ca 1815/20), and still home in 1840 (age 20-29, born ca 1820/20), but gone by 1850, so probably married or dead by then.
Unknown Daughter (1820/25). Samuel Hensley had an apparent daughter this age. I suspect this one was born ca 1820. She was with him for the 1830 census (age 5-9, born ca 1820/25), and still home in 1840 (age 20-29, born ca 1810/20), but gone by 1850, so probably married or dead by then.
Unknown Daughter (1820/25). Samuel Hensley had an apparent daughter this age. She was with him for the 1830 census (age 5-9, born ca 1820/25), and still home in 1840 (age 15-19, born ca 1820/25), but gone by 1850, so probably married or dead by then.
Unknown Daughter (1820/25). Samuel Hensley had an apparent daughter this age. She was with him for the 1830 census (age 5-9, born ca 1820/25), and still home in 1840 (age 15-19, born ca 1820/25), but gone by 1850, so probably married or dead by then.
Unknown Daughter (1825/30). Samuel Hensley had an apparent daughter this age. She was with him for the 1830 census (age "under 5", born ca 1825/30), and still home in 1840 (age 10-14, born ca 1825/30), but gone by 1850, so probably married or dead by then.
Unknown Son (1830/35). Samuel Hensley had an apparent son this age. He was with him for the 1840 census (age 5-9, born ca 1830/35), but gone by 1850, so probably married or dead by then.
This might be Jacob Hensley (c1824), though the age does not match at all. Jacob was living next door to Samuel in 1850, and named one of his sons "Samuel".
Nancy Hensley was born ca 1832/33 in Hickman (now Lewis) Co, TN. She was probably home with her parents for the 1840 census, though no one her age was listed, but an "extra" female age 10-14 (born ca 1825/30) was listed, and that is probably her. She was with her parents for the 1850 census ("Nancy" age 17, born TN).
I have no data on her after 1850.
Samuel Hensley was born ca 1833/34 in Hickman (now Lewis) Co, TN. He was apparently home with his parents for the 1840 census, age 509 (born ca 1830/35). He was with his parents for the 1850 census ("Samuel" age 16, born TN).
I have no data on him after 1850.
Persons researching this family (click here for data on how to get on or off of this list):
1. Samuel1
Hensley
, born 1779/80 in Burke Co, NC (now Yancey Co,
NC); died abt 1855 in Shelby Co, IL, son of Hickman Hensley
and Agness Fisher
.
He married in 1814/20 in Hickman Co, TN (now Lewis Co, TN) Nancy
Walker
, born 1779/80 in VA;
died 1850/55 in Shelby Co, IL.
Children
of Samuel Hensley and Nancy Walker were as follows:
2
i
Nancy2
Hensley
, born 1832/33 in Hickman Co, TN (now Lewis Co,
TN).
3 ii Samuel2 Hensley , born 1833/34 in Hickman Co, TN (now Lewis Co, TN).
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