Marty and Karla Grant

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Simon Hensley (1785-1826) and Mary Arnold (1792-1857) of Washington Co., VA, Montgomery and Miami Co., OH, and Sangamon and Warren Co., IL

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Simon Hensley is my 1^st cousin, 6 times removed, but that’s conditional on whether or not his father Samuel is indeed the brother of my ancestor Larkin Hensley, which I haven’t completely proven.

Much information on this family is from: History of the early settlers of Sangamon County, Illinois: Centennial record, John Carroll Power, Sarah A. Power, Old Settlers' Society of Sangamon County (Ill.) Publisher - Edwin A. Wilson & Co., 1876. pp 370-371. Hereinafter referred to as Early Settlers of Sangamon for short.

Simon Hensley was born 26 Feb 1785 (per Early Settlers of Sangamon) in Washington Co., VA. He is a proven son of Samuel Hensley (1754-1841) and Eleanor Elliott, as named in Samuel’s Will.

Simon is not listed on the 1801 tax list. However, his father, Samuel, had two male tithes over 16 that year, one being Samuel himself, and the other probably Simon, for this is the year he would have turned 16.

Simon may be with his father again on the 1802 tax list. Samuel had two male tithes over 16 that year, one being Samuel himself, and the other probably Simon, who would be about 17 then.

Simon is likely with his father on the 1803 tax list. Samuel had three male tithes over 16 that year, one being Samuel himself, and probably Simon, now about 18, plus one other unidentified.

Simon is likely with his father for 1804 tax list. Samuel had three male tithes over 16 that year, one being Samuel himself, and the next one probably Simon, now about 19. The third one is probably brother Thomas (1788) who would have turned 16 that year.

On 20 Nov 1804 Simon Hensley was recommended as a Ensign in the Washington Co., VA militia in 2^nd Battalion, 105^th Regiment to replace Icabod Hensley who was removed. (Clark, Gerald H. The Militia of Washington County, VA Officers 1777-1835 Militia Men 1798-1835. 1979).

Simon is probably with his father on the 1805 tax list. Samuel had three male tithes over 16 that year, those being Samuel himself, and probably Simon, now 20, and Thomas, now 17.

On 19 Nov 1805 Simon Hensley was recommended as a Lieutenant in the Washington Co., VA militia in room of Samuel Wilson, who does not accept. (Clark, Gerald H. The Militia of Washington County, VA Officers 1777-1835 Militia Men 1798-1835. 1979).

Simon is probably still with his father for the 1806 tax list. Samuel had four male tithes over 16 that year, those being Samuel himself, probably Simon, now 21, Thomas, now 18 and one other unidentified male, born ca 1790 or earlier.

On 18 Dec 1806 Nicholas Hensley was recommended as a Lieutenant in the Washington Co., VA militia, 2^nd Battalion, 105^th Regiment in the place of Simon Hensley who refused to accept the position. (Clark, Gerald H. The Militia of Washington County, VA Officers 1777-1835 Militia Men 1798-1835. 1979);

Simon Hensley makes his debut on the personal property tax lists in 1807. He is listed with one white tithe over 16 (himself), and no horses.

There was no 1808 tax list.

He was not listed on the 1809 or 1810 tax lists.

Simon does not appear on the 1810 census on his own, nor does he seem to be with his father’s household. He is probably residing with another family, and thus not a head of household, or he may have left the county by this time.

He is not on the 1811 through 1820 tax lists in Washington Co., VA. Where was he?

We know he was in Ohio by 1820, for, according to Early Settlers of Sangamon, he married Mary Arnold on 2 Feb 1820 near Dayton, Montgomery Co., OH. However, the article is contradicted by the actual marriage record which shows that Simion Hensley married Polly Arnold in Miami Co., OH on 23 Feb 1820. They were married by Andrew Wyatt, Justice of the Peace.

That’s a different county and date than given in the book. It should be noted that Miami County was formed from Montgomery, though in 1807, long before Simon Hensley married there. The date difference is close enough, though one wonders where they got the information for the article. I’ll use the official record.

Note the different name, Simion vs. Simon. This is a problem, for the two names, while they look similar, are not pronounced alike. Simion is Sim - ee - on while Simon is Sigh-mon. Very different. Which is his correct name? I’m not actually sure.

Early Settlers of Sangamon gives Mary Arnold’s birth date as 24 Aug 1792, born in Ohio. Neither her county of birth, nor her parents’ names were included.

The Hensleys are listed on the 1820 census in Miami Co., OH. There are no known relatives listed nearby. The only Arnold is David Arnold (1775/94), several pages away.

1820 Census, Miami Co., OH, p. 78, Bethel Township, Simon Hensley age 26-44 (1775/1794)

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Early Settlers of Sangamon states, “They had two children in Ohio, and moved to Sangamon county, Ill., arriving in the fall of 1823, in what is now Island Grove township, north of Spring creek, where two children were born.”

Early Settlers of Sangamon further states, “Simon Hensley died Aug. 12, 1826, in Sangamon county, and his widow married Aug. 22, 1827, to Josiah Kirkpatrick. They had two children.”

If the dates are all correct, Simon was 34 when he married Mary Arnold in 1820, and that seems to be his first marriage. She was 27.

He was 41 when he died in 1826. There is an entry for him at Find a Grave showing him buried at Wood Wreath Cemetery in Sangamon Co., IL. It may be an unmarked grave for there is no tombstone photo or transcription.

The official record shows Josiah Kirkpatrick married Polly Hensley on 21 Aug 1827 in Sangamon Co., IL. That differs by one day from the article. Perhaps the official record is the marriage license date and not the actual wedding date. I’ve only seen an index entry, not the actual document, so I’m not certain. He was born ca 1797 in Tennessee (both per 1850 census).

They are listed on the 1830 census in Sangamon Co., IL. They were next door to a James Arnold (1790/1800). Mary’s brother perhaps?

1830 Census, Sangamon Co., IL, p. 209, Josiah Kirkpatrick age 30-39 (1790/1800)

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At some point in the 1830s they moved north west to Warren Co., IL and were listed there on the 1840 census.

1840 Census, Warren Co., IL, p. 178, Josiah Kirkpatrick age 40-49 (1790/1800)

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They were still in Warren for the 1850 census. None of the children were living with them by this time.

1850 census, Warren Co., IL, 103 [District or Township], p. 52-, house 719, family 719

Early Settlers of Sangamon states, “Mrs. Mary A. Kirkpatrick died, in 1857.” Her tombstone gives 1 Oct 1857. She is buried at Roseville Cemetery in Warren Co., IL.

 On 9 Sep 1858, Josiah Kirkpatrick married Mrs. Eliza D. Kinkade (Kincaid) in McDonough Co., IL (borders Warren).

They are listed on the 1860 census in Warren.

1860 Census, Warren Co., IL, p. 236B, Swan Township, Swan Creek PO, house 341, family 341

Josiah is still in the same place for the 1870 census.

1870 Census, Warren Co., IL, Swan Township, Swan Creek PO, p. 267, house 30, family 30

Josiah Kirkpatrick died on 16 Mar 1872 (per tombstone) or 18 Mar 1872 (Per Early Settlers of Sangamon.). He is buried at Roseville Cemetery in Warren Co., IL.

Eliza died on 22 Dec 1877 and is buried back in McDonough Co., IL at Camp Creek Cemetery.

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Children

Early Settlers of Sangamon lists four children for Simon Hensley and Mary Arnold, and two for Mary and her second husband, Josiah Kirkpatrick. I’ve seen no other evidence that all these are their children. However, I have no reason to doubt the article is accurate for it was written within the lifetime of some of the children, presumably with the assistance of at least one of them.

 

“JOHN, born Jan. 20, 1821 in Ohio, married in Sangamon county: Thursday, between Christmas and New Year, Dec., 1861, to Leanah Lynch. She was born Jan. 12, 1841, in Pickaway county, Ohio. They had six children-MARY and JAMES died young. KATIE, WILLIAM, SAMUEL and HARRY, live with their parents, in Cartwright township, four miles east of Berlin.

 

SAMUEL, born June 16, 1822, in Ohio, is unmarried, and lives with his brother John.

 

JAMES, born Jan. 2, 1824, in Sangamon county, died Aug. 18, 1831.

 

GEORGE, born Dec. 13, 1825, in Sangamon county, married, in 1857, to Calista Huber, a native of Ohio. They have three children, MARY J., HORACE and BELLE, and live near Topeka, Kansas.

 

Simon Hensley died Aug. 12, 1826, in Sangamon county, and his widow married Aug. 22, 1827, to Josiah Kirkpatrick. They had two children

 

JACOB KIRKPATRICK, born Oct. 5, 1828, in Sangamon county, married Huldah Atkinson. They have three children, HENRY, WILLIAM and MARY, and live-1873-near Roseville, Warren county, Ill.

 

MARY A. KIRKPATRICK, born Aug. 19, 1831, in Sangamon county, married Dr. Remer Sanders. They have two children, MARINDA and CLARA, and reside near Avon, Fulton county, Ill. Dr. Sanders is a practicing physician, now-1873-on a tour to Europe.”

I’ve traced the Hensley children as far as I could. I have not traced the Kirkpatrick children since I’m not related to them.

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Click here for family group sheets of this family. Other notes and sources might be listed there.

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Revised: January 23, 2022

Copyright © 1996-2022 Marvin A. Grant, Jr. All Rights Reserved.

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