Marty and Karla Grant

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Thomas Hensley (1806-1897) and Elizabeth Watson of Monroe Co., TN

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Special thanks to Laura Schreibman, Laura Hensley and others for data shared on this family.

Thomas Hensley is my 4 times great uncle. His brother Samuel is my ancestor.

Thomas Hensley was born 17 Mar 1806 in Sullivan Co., TN. His birth date and location were given by him in his “Indian Wars” pension application. The same date is on his tombstone. The 1850 through 1880 census records all show him born in Tennessee as well.

Thomas is a proven son of Larkin Hensley and Sarah Childress as named in an 1816-1828 Scott Co., VA court case which named all of Larkin’s heirs, including Thomas, who was always listed last, suggesting he was the youngest. In fact he was probably born a few months after his father had died.

Within two years of Thomas’s birth the family had moved further southwest into Knox Co., TN outside of what is now Knoxville apparently in the corner of the county that borders Blount Co., TN.

Thomas’s grandfather, Larkin’s father, William Hensley (c1730-1807) also went to Knox Co., TN around that time. Thomas’s uncle, Larkin’s probable half brother, Ichabod Hensley (c1780-1830s) also moved to Knox Co., TN around then. Descendants of Thomas recall Ichabod Hensley coming to visit them when they were later living in Monroe Co., TN. However, it isn’t clear if they were referring to uncle Ichabod (c1780) or Thomas’s brother, also named Ichabod (c1794). Could have been either one.

Thomas spent his childhood and young adulthood in Knox Co., TN.

Apparently Thomas Hensley joined his older brother Samuel who moved to nearby Monroe County, TN in the mid 1820's. They were both there as early as 1828 when, as members of the Militia, they were both witnesses to a murder that took place during one of the musters. The transcript of this case (shared by Laura Schreibman) gives their testimony about the case, and while interesting, gives no Hensley family data, other than showing that Samuel and Thomas were there together.

It was around this time, (circa 1828) that Thomas Hensley married Elizabeth Watson in Monroe Co., TN. In his Indian Wars Pension application (1892) (shared by Laura Hensley), Thomas Hensley stated that he married Elizabeth Watson in Chilhowee, Tennessee. No date was given. Chilhowee is in both Monroe and Blount Co., TN, but they may have married in Blount as that is where Elizabeth was born.

Elizabeth Watson was born 20 May 1809 in Blount Co., TN (per her daughter Sarah’s death certificate in 1917 which also gave her maiden name as Watson).

Elizabeth’s father is unknown, but family tradition gives her mother's name as Sarah Ann Tipton. The 1880 census entry for Elizabeth shows her born in TN, and both parents born in North Carolina. Looking at the 1790 and 1800 census I don’t find any Tipton families in North Carolina, so it’s possible Sarah Ann wasn’t born there after all. Or, perhaps she was, but her family had moved to Tennessee prior to then.

Thomas and Elizabeth made their home in the what is called the Ball Play community, which is just east of the Tellico River, just a few miles north of Tellico Plains in north central Monroe County. His brother Samuel lived near this same general area.

Thomas Hensley was listed on the 1830 census in Monroe Co., TN. His brother Samuel was just five houses away. Thomas was listed between Benjamin Johnson and an apparent widow Sarah Grisham, neither related to him as far as is known. Johnson was, however, the brother of Samuel Hensley’s wife.

A couple of Watsons were also nearby, including Valentine Watson (1770/80) just two houses away. He is certainly old enough to be Elizabeth Watson Hensley’s father, but I have no evidence he was. A Nathaniel Watson (1800/10) was nearby as well. According to Laura Hensley, he is indeed Elizabeth’s brother as proven by a court case. I would suspect that means Valentine Watson is either their father or an uncle at least.

It should be noted that Nathaniel Watson was still in Monroe in 1840, but Valentine wasn’t. However, Nathaniel had a man Valentine’s age with him in 1840. By 1850 that older man was no longer with Nathaniel, so perhaps dead by then.

Thomas Hensley had an older woman with him in 1830, born ca 1780/90. Who was she? She seems too young to be his own mother unless Sarah Childress Hensley is younger than we think. Was this Elizabeth’s mother? Or perhaps this was an aunt or other relative. Unfortunately there is no way to be sure who it was.

1830 Census, Monroe Co., TN p. 132, Thomas Hensly age 20-29 (1800/1810)

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Samuel Hensley and his brother Thomas Hensley were listed side by side on the 1836 tax list for Monroe Co., TN in the 17th Civil District. Neither had any land, but were each charged for 1 poll, and taxed 50 cents each.

Samuel Hensley, Thomas Hensley, Samuel Roddy and other relatives and neighbors in the 17th Civil District, signed a petition on 19 Nov 1837 to have the boundary with Blount County altered. Samuel Hensley and Samuel Roddy were listed as residents on the south side of the River (Tennessee River), and Thomas Hensley was on the north side of the river. ("History of Monroe Co, TN, Vol I, Part I", by Sarah G. Cox Sands, pg 371.)

Thomas Hensley was still in Monroe Co., TN for the 1840 census. The older woman (born ca 1780/90) who was with him in 1830, still seemed to be with him in 1840 also. His neighbors on either side were William B. Latemore (Lattimore), and John Rodgers (Rogers).

1840 Census, Monroe Co., TN p. 142, Thos Hensley age 30-39 (1800/10)

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Thomas and family were listed in Monroe Co., TN for the 1850 census in the 8^th Civil District. The older woman who had been with him back in 1840 and 1830 was no longer here, so perhaps she had died in the 1840s or was living elsewhere in 1850.

1850 census, Monroe Co., TN, 8^th Civil District, p. 74, house 1025, family 1025

Thomas and family were in the 15^th District for the 1860 census. Thomas' was the last name on the page, and his wife and children were listed on the next page, but the census taker gave them a different family and house number, making it appear that they lived in different households, but I'd wager this was just a census error.

1860 Census, Monroe Co., TN, 15^th Civil District, Sweetwater PO, p., 290, house 1465, house 1485

Thomas Hensley and family were listed in Monroe Co., TN on the 1870 census, though this time in the 16^th District. Did he move into a new district, or were the districts redrawn in the 1860s?

1870 Census, Monroe Co., TN, District No 16, Bell PO, p. 147, house 38, family 38

Thomas and family were in Monroe still for 1880 census also, still in District 16.

1880 Census, Monroe Co., TN, 16^th Civil District, p. 127, house 196, family 196

Elizabeth Watson Hensley died on 6 Apr 1884, and Thomas Hensley died on 4 Apr 1897, both in Monroe Co., TN. They are buried at The Ebenezer Church Cemetery in the Ball Play community.

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Children

Thomas and Elizabeth had eleven children, all but two proven by census records. These names were also recorded in a Family Bible, I think, but I haven’t seen a copy of it.

 

1.         Nancy Hensley (1829)

2.         Modean Lavina Hensley (1831)

3.         Henderson Hensley (1833)

4.         Lucinda Hensley (1835)

5.         Henry S. Hensley (1837)

6.         Sarah Ann Hensley (1839)

7.         Melvina Hensley (1841)

8.         Pryor Hensley

9.         Catherine Hensley (1845)

10.       Perrin Hensley (1846)

11.       Infant Hensley

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Nancy Hensley was born was born 2 Aug 1829 (source?) in Monroe Co., TN. She was possibly named after her father's sister Nancy Hensley Hood.

Nancy was apparently home with her parents for the 1830 census (age under 5, born ca 1825/30), and apparently home in 1840 (age 10-14, born ca 1825/30), and home in 1850 (Nancy age 19).

Nancy Hensley married Joseph Robert (“Joe Bob”) Humphreys sometime before ca 1858 in Monroe Co., TN. I found no marriage record, but this marriage was shared by the two Laura's based on family knowledge. Joseph was born ca 1817/18 in Tennessee, county unknown. Laura Hensley shares that Joe Bob’s father was John Jehue Humphreys.

I found Joseph B. on the 1850 census in Monroe, aged 32, residing with his apparent brother A. B. (or Abe) Humphreys.

Joseph and Nancy were listed on the 1860 census in Monroe Co., TN in the 16^th District.

1860 Census, Monroe Co., TN, 16^th Civil District, Sweetwater PO, p. 294, house 1520, family 1540

Nancy Hensley Humphreys died on 5 Jul 1862 (source?) in Monroe Co., TN. I don’t know where she’s buried.

Joseph B. Humphreys married Nancy Arp on 15 Mar 1866 in Monroe Co., TN. Nancy was actually a widow, her maiden name was Weaver. She’d first married Thomas Arp in 1856. He died sometime between 1860 and 1866.

I was unable to find Joseph and his second Nancy on the 1870 census. They may have been somewhere in Georgia for he died in Whitfield Co., GA on 10 Sep 1872. I don’t know the source for that date and place for his death. Nancy Weaver Arp Humphreys later went to Texas where she died in 1914.

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Modean Lavina Hensley was born 17 Jun 1831 (per tombstone) in Monroe Co., TN. Her name is interesting. It’s often listed as Modena or variations of that, but it’s “Modean” per her tombstone as well as the 1870 census.

Modean was apparently home with her parents for the 1840 census (age 5-9, born ca 1830/35), and home in 1850 (“Modina” age 17), and home in 1860 (“Lavinia” age 21), and home in 1870 (“Modean” age 30), and still home in 1880 (“Modenia” age 39).

She was with her sister Melvina for the 1900 census ("Modena" born Jun 1832, 67 years old.) In 1910 she was with her nephew Henry Hensley listed as “Modenia” age 77. She was still with Henry in 1920 listed as “Modena” age 87. (See Melvina’s entry below for abstracts of the 1900 through 1920 census records which included Modean.)

Modean never married.

She died on 14 Jun 1920 (per tombstone) in Monroe Co., TN. She is buried at Ebenezer Cemetery. I didn’t find a death certificate for her.

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Henderson Hensley was born 17 Jan 1833 (source?) in Monroe Co., TN. I don’t know who he might have been named for. Perhaps there’s a Henderson family connection on his mother’s side of the family?

Henderson was apparently home with his parents for the 1840 census (age 5-9, born ca 1830/35). 

Henderson Hensley died in October 1849 (per 1850 Census Mortality Schedule) in Monroe Co., TN. His entry on that census showed him as 17, born Tennessee, died October (1849), occupation Farmer, and that he died from a “stab in thigh” and was ill for 3 weeks before dying.

Laura Hensley tells the story of his death: “Henderson was walking home from visiting family in North Carolina, he tripped and fell cutting a gash in his leg. He made it home but did not die until a few weeks later, from infection. They said you could hear his screams from the pain up and down the valley. This is why my husband ER Hensley, MD., who was born 100 years later was not allowed to have a knife when he was a kid. He remembers well this story. I would vouch that it is the true one.”

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Lucinda Hensley was born 17 Jan 1835 (source?) in Monroe Co., TN. She was apparently home with her parents for the 1840 census (age under 5, born ca 1835/40), and home in 1850 (“Lucinda” age 15).

On 20 Feb 1860, John L. Bradley obtained a marriage bond in Monroe County to marry Lucinda Hensley. They were married on 23 Feb 1860 by Rev. John Scruggs.

John Leroy Bradley was born 1829 in Tennessee. I don't know who his parents were. There is a John Bradley, age 21, on the 1850 census in Monroe with his apparent widowed mother Permelia Bradley age 42 (born ca 1807/08 in TN). This could be this same John L. Bradley, but I don’t know that for certain.

John and Lucinda were on the 1860 census in Monroe County just a couple of houses from her sister Nancy Hensley Humphreys.

1860 Census, Monroe Co., TN, 16^th Civil District, Sweetwater PO, p. 294, house 1525, family 1545

* Both J. L. and Lucinda were marked as having been married within the census year.

They were still in Monroe for the 1870 census and listed just a few houses from her parents.

1870 Census, Monroe Co., TN, District No 16, Ball PO, p. 147, house 34, family 34

Lucinda Hensley Bradley died ca 1877 in Monroe Co., TN. Laura Schreibman says that Lucinda was thrown from a horse and died. She is buried at the Ebenezer Cemetery. She apparently has no stone.

John and children were still in Monroe for the 1880 census.

1880 Census, Monroe Co., TN, 16^th Civil District, p. 131, house 269, family 269

On 3 Mar 1886, John L. Bradley obtained a marriage license in Monroe Co., TN to marry Melvina Hensley, which was his late wife’s sister. They were married 13 Mar 1886 by B. P. Reagan, Justice of the Peace. Melvina was 44 at the time and that was her first marriage. Benjamin P. Reagan was married to Catherine Hensley.

John Bradley was listed on the 1890 veteran’s census in Monroe Co., TN, 16^th Civil District. He was listed as a private in Company D, 3^rd Tennessee Mounted from 12 Jul 1864 to 25 Dec 1864. This would be Union service, not Confederate.

John L. Bradley died in 1894 in Monroe Co., TN. He is buried at Ebenezer Cemetery. His stone says “John L. Bradley 1829-1894.”

Melvina outlived him by 34 years. See her section below for more on her.

On a side note, John L. Bradley’s sister Mary Ann “Polly” Bradley married my wife’s 1^st cousin (several times removed), William B. Mangis (Mangus) and soon moved to Illinois.

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Henry S. Hensley was born 5 Feb 1837 (source?) in Monroe Co., TN. I don’t know who he might have been named for. Perhaps someone on his mother’s side of the family?

He was apparently home with his parents for the 1840 census (age under 5, born ca 1835/40), and still home in 1850 (“Henry” age 11).

On 19 Mar 1860, Henry Hensley got a marriage license in Monroe Co., TN to marry Dolly Jane Grant. They were married on 21 Mar 1860 by J. R. Wyly, Justice of the Peace.

Dolly was born 27 Apr 1839 (source?) in Blount Co., TN, daughter of John Grant and Sarah Morris. [Note: I have written and published a book on this Grant family. Click here for details.]

Henry and Dolly were listed on the 1860 census in Monroe County next door to sister Sarah Hensley Humphreys.

1860 Census, Monroe Co., TN, 16^th Civil District, Sweetwater PO, p. 292B, house 1507, family 1527

* They are listed as having married during the census year.

They were still in Monroe for the 1870 census, though in the 17th District this time.

1870 Census, Monroe Co., TN, District No 17, Ball PO, p. 156B, house 80, family 80

Both Henry S. Hensley and wife Dolly Jane Grant Hensley died during the 1870s, sometime between ca 1872 and 1880. I don’t know where they are buried.

Three of their orphaned children were listed on the 1880 census with various uncles and aunts from their mother’s side of the family. The other two children weren’t found in 1880, but were still living then, just not listed for some reason.

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Sarah Ann Hensley was born 14 Apr 1839 (per tombstone) in Monroe Co., TN. I would guess she was named for her two grandmothers, both named Sarah.

Sarah Ann was apparently home with her parents for the 1840 census (age under 5, born ca 1835/40), and still home in 1850 (“Sarah” age 9).

On 24 Mar 1860, Moses Humphreys obtained a marriage license in Monroe Co., TN to marry Sarah A. Hensley. They were married that same date by Rev. Martin Isbill.

Moses was born 5 Feb 1835 (per tombstone) in Tennessee. Presumably he is related to Joseph Robert Humphreys who married Nancy Hensley, Sarah’s older sister.. His parents are Nathaniel T. Humphreys and Mary “Polly” Hammontree. This is confirmed by the 1850 census where Moses, age 14, is living with Nathaniel and Polly in Monroe. It’s also confirmed by Moses’s death certificate.

Moses and Sarah Ann were listed on the 1860 census in Monroe County next door to her brother Henry Hensley.

1860 Census, Monroe Co., TN, 16^th Civil District, Sweetwater PO, p. 292B, house 1508, family 1528

* They are listed as having married during the census year.

I was unable to locate this family on the 1870 census in Monroe or elsewhere.

They were “back” in Monroe County for the 1880 census.

1880 Census, Monroe Co., TN, 13 Civil District, p. 110, house 247, family 249

For the 1900 census, they were next door to sisters Melvina and Modean in Monroe County.

1900 Census, Monroe Co., TN Sixteenth Civil Dist, Acorn (town), p. 231, house 60, family 64

* (Sic)

They were on the 1910 census in Monroe next to brother Perrin Hensley and sister Catherine Hensley Reagan.

1910 Census, Monroe Co., TN 16^th Civil District No 16, p. 173B, house 39, family 40

Sarah Ann Hensley Humphreys died on 6 Jan 1917 (per tombstone) and is buried at the Ebenezer Baptist Church Cemetery in Monroe Co., TN.

Moses Humphreys died just two weeks later on 21 Jan 1917. He is buried beside her.

Moses and Sarah Ann only had one child, Perry N. Humphreys (1861-1862) who died at age 11 months and is buried at Ebenezer.

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Melvina Hensley was born 17 Jun 1841 (per tombstone) in Monroe Co., TN.

She was home with her parents for the 1850 census (“Malvina” age 7), and with them in 1860 (“Melvina” age 16), still home in 1870 (Melvina age 251), and still home in 1880 (Melvinia age 30).

On 3 Mar 1886, John L. Bradley obtained a marriage license in Monroe to marry Melvina Hensley. They were married on 13 Mary 1886 by B. P. Reagan, Justice of the Peace. Benjamin Reagan was Melvina’s brother-in-law, married to Catherine Hensley.

John Leroy Bradley was previously married to Lucinda Hensley (1835-1877), Melvina’s sister, thus she married her widower brother-in-law. She was 44 at the time of this, her first marriage. See Lucinda’s section above for more on John.

John L. Bradley died in 1894 (per tombstone) and is buried at Ebenezer in Monroe Co., TN.

Melvina is listed as head of household on the 1900 census in Monroe. Her sister Modean was with her, as were two nieces, one of whom, Dollie, is technically also her step-daughter.

1900 Census, Monroe Co., TN Sixteenth Civil Dist, Acorn (town), p. 231, house 59, family 63

Melvina and sister Modean were on the 1910 census in Monroe with nephew Henry Hensley, next to sister Catherine Hensley Reagan.

1910 Census, Monroe Co., TN 16^th Civil District No 16, p. 173B, house 37, family 38

Melvina was on the 1920 census still with Dollie Hensley, widow of Henry Hensley. Sister Modean was also there.

1920 Census, Monroe Co., TN, Part of 4 Civil District, p. 246B/247A, house 42, family 42

* (Sic)

Melvina Hensley Bradley died on 13 Mar 1928 and is buried at Ebenezer in Monroe Co., TN.

She never had any children.

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Pryor Hensley was probably born between his sisters Melvina (June 1841) and Catherine (Sep 1845), though we can’t be certain of that.

Laura Hensley says he died while a “young boy.” That would put his death before the 1850 census. 

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Catherine Hensley was born 17 Sep 1845 (source?) in Monroe Co., TN. She may have been named for her aunt, also named Catherine Hensley.

She was home with her parents for the 1850 census (Catherine age 4), and with them in 1860 (Catherine age 12).

Catherine Hensley married a Mr. Smith sometime in the 1860s. I couldn’t find a marriage record for them.

Mr. Smith died before 28 Apr 1869, for on that date Benjamin P. Regan obtained a marriage license in Monroe to marry Catherine Smith. There was no “return” so we don’t know what date they actually got married, though certainly within a few days of the marriage license.

Ben was born 12 Feb 1830 (per tombstone) in Tennessee, perhaps in Monroe County. He was listed in Monroe on the 1850 census with his parents Jeremiah Reagan (c1784) and Rachael (c1793), both born Virginia. He was listed as Benjamin, age 19, born Tennessee.

I wasn’t able to find Ben on the 1860 census. His father had died by then, but his mother Rachel was listed in Monroe that year, but Ben wasn’t with her.

I was unable to find Benjamin and Catherine Reagan on the 1870 census in Monroe Co., TN nor elsewhere.

They were “back” in Monroe for the 1880 census.

1880 Census, Monroe Co., TN, 13 Civil District, p. 110, house 252, family 254

They are still in Monroe for the 1900 census. Both of their ages were way off, suggesting that perhaps their young niece was the one who provided the information to the census taker.

1900 Census, Monroe Co., TN, Fourteenth Dist, p. 205, House 36, family 37

Benjamin P. Reagan died on 14 Jan 1909 in Monroe and is buried at the Eleazer Cemetery.

Catherine is on the 1910 census in Monroe next to sisters Modean and Melvina on one side, and sister Sarah Hensley Humphreys on the other. She has two nieces with her.

1910 Census, Monroe Co., TN 16^th Civil District No 16, p. 173B, house 38, family 39

She is still in Monroe for the 1920 census.

1920 Census, Monroe Co., TN, Part of 4 District, p. 230, house 110, family 110

It would seem that Catherine Hensley Smith Reagan died between 1920 and 1930, presumably in Monroe Co., TN. I was unable to find a death certificate for her in Tennessee, nor was she listed on the 1930 census as far as I could locate.

Furthermore, I found no burial information on her.

The 1900 census indicates that Catherine had one child, but it was deceased by then. I don’t know if this was with Mr. Smith or her 2^nd husband, Mr. Reagan. However, the 1910 census contradicts this by listing her as never having gave birth to a child.

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Perrin Hensley was born 5 Jun 1846 (per tombstone) in Monroe Co., TN. I don’t know who, if anyone, he might have been named for. At the time of his birth, Perrin (and a variation, Perrion) was a very rare given name and surname in Tennessee.

He was home with his parents for the 1850 census (“Perrin” age 2), and with them in 1860 (“Parion” age 10), and still home in 1870 (“Perrin” age 21).

On 11 Sep 1874, Perrin Hensley obtained a marriage bond in Monroe to marry “Miss Lou Britton.” They were married 17 Sep 1874 by Thomas J. Burris, Justice of the Peace.

Louise Catherine Britton was born 13 Aug 1860 (per tombstone), daughter of Albert Britton and Mary A. Robinson. It isn’t known if these Brittons are related to John Britton (or Brittain) who married Catherine Hensley in 1822 (see Thomas Hensley’s parents page for more on her. She was Thomas’s sister.)

Perrin and Louisa were listed on the 1880 census in Monroe County, in District 16 next door to his parents.

1880 Census, Monroe Co., TN, 16^th Civil District, p. 127, house 197, family 197

They are in Monroe for the 1900 census.

1900 Census, Monroe Co., TN, Sixteenth Civil Dist, p. 231B, house 70, family 74

Louise Catherine Britton Hensley died on 1 Jan 1910 (per tombstone) and is buried at the Ebenezer Cemetery.

Perrin is on the 1910 census in Monroe next to sister Sarah Humphreys and near his other sisters.

1910 Census, Monroe Co., TN 16^th Civil District No 16, p. 173B, house 40, family 41

Perrin Hensley died on 1 Jul 1915 and is also buried at Ebenezer, beside his wife Lou.

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Infant Hensley. The last child born to Thomas and Elizabeth died as an infant according to Laura Hensley. Name and gender not known.

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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 20, 2022

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

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