Samuel W. Hensley (c1800/10) and Nancy Austin and Ann Eliza Jones of Bedford Co., VA

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• 23 Feb 2009 New page by Marty Grant, relationship unknown.

He appears to be a son of Samuel Hensley and Sally Owen for he was named in the Will of James Owen as an heir. I don't have that record so I'm not sure what it says exactly. I think Samuel is probably listed as a nephew.

His father died while Samuel was under 10 years old, and his mother remarried (to Russell Barrack) and then she died soon after that. I don't have a record of it, but Samuel was probably taken in and raised by an uncle (James Owen perhaps).

In 1827 James Owen made his Will in Bedford Co., VA naming heirs James O. Hensley, Willis Hensley and Samuel Hensley (and others presumably). I haven't seen this Will so I don't know who else might have been named, or whether the Hensleys were James's grandchildren or nephews.

By the 1830 census Samuel would have been 21 or older since he married later that year without parental (or guardian) consent. He was not listed as head of household so he must have been residing with someone else. Only one of the Hensley households included an "extra" male in his 20's, and that was Benjamin Hensley (1765/70). That would be Samuel's uncle so that could be him living there, but no way to know for sure.

On 13 Sep 1830 Samuel W. Hensley obtained a marriage bond in Bedford to marry Nancy Austin, daughter of Richard Austin. Moses Austin was bondsman. The marriage date wasn't given.

Nancy Austin was under 21 since she needed her father's consent, so she was born ca 1810 or later. I can't narrow it down much better than that. Her father was Richard Austin per the marriage bond. I don't know who her mother was. Moses Austin (the bondsman) was probably her brother.

Nancy Austin Hensley appears to have died ca 1838 in Bedford Co., VA.

On 15 Dec 1838 Samuel Hensley obtained a marriage bond in Bedford Co., VA to marry Ann Eliza Jones, daughter of Jesse Jones. Jonas Austin was bondsman. (He might be one of Samuel's brothers-in-law.) They were married on 19 Dec 1838 by William Harris.

Ann Eliza Jones was born ca 1810/20 per her age on the 1840 census (20-29). She is a child of Jesse Jones per her marriage bond. I don't know her mother's name.

They are on the 1840 census in Bedford in the Northern District, not listed near any other Hensleys. An older woman was in the household with them. I don't know who that might be. Perhaps an aunt or widowed mother-in-law.

1840 census analysis (based on available evidence): (Explanation of this census)

1840 Bedford Co., VA page 298 Samuel Hensley 1001010000000-1000100100000
Slaves=(page missing)

Analysis:

1 Male 30-39	(1800/1810)	Samuel W. Hensley (1800/10)

1 male 15-19	(1820/1825)	Son? Nephew?

1 male 0-4	(1835/1840)	James M. Hensley (c1835) son

1 Female 50-59	(1780/1790)	Mother-in-law?

1 Female 20-29	(1810/1820)	Ann Eliza Jones Hensley (1810/20) wife

1 female 0-4	(1835/1840)	Sarah Hensley (c1838) daughter

I wasn't able to find Samuel or Ann Eliza on the 1850 census. Samuel's two children (by Nancy Austin) were living with Moses Austin (their uncle) in Bedford. I found Ann Eliza's father Jesse still in Bedford, but she wasn't with him, nor any of her children (if she had any). It would appear that Samuel Hensley had died in the 1840's, and Ann Eliza too, or else she remarried to someone yet unidentified.

As noted the children are on the 1850 census in Bedford Co., VA with Moses Austin (their uncle). No other Hensleys are nearby. Rebecca Austin appears to be Moses' daughter or sister, not his wife (per 1860 census which lists her as "Miss").

1850 census abstract: (Explanation of this census)

I found Moses and Rebecca on the 1860 census in Bedford, but the Hensleys were not with them at this time, nor listed elsewhere as far as I could find.

1. James Hensley (c1835)
2. Sarah Hensley (c1838)

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• See page for parents Samuel Hensley and Sally Owen
• Marty Grant, relationship unknown.