|
Commentary on the Hensley Books by Walter Lee Hensley (deceased) |
|
martygrant.com: Home > Genealogy > Hensley > Commentaries > Walter Lee Hensley A People Called Hensley A Celebration of Family In the Fabric of American History by Walter Lee Hensley, American Heritage Press, Dayton, OH 1984 The Hensley Tree by Walter Lee Hensley, American Heritage Press, Dayton, OH 1984 This page is still under construction. IntroductionIf you know nothing about Hensley genealogy, then you will probably find these two books to be very interesting. The prose is good and the way he weaves family history into local and American history is also very good. Having said something nice, now I’ll say what I really think. These books are awful. I’m not referring to writing style for his style is fine, and I’m not referring to publication quality for they are fine books physically, nice fonts, nice layout, etc. (One minor complaint is that the books are full of spelling and grammatical errors, but I can forgive that.) These books have done more harm to Hensley genealogy than can be imagined. Many new researchers get excited when they find their Hensleys traced back to the 1500's. Unfortunately they don’t realize that the information is almost 95% wrong. Thanks to the Internet, this information is now all over the place. I am constantly being "told" by well meaning people that my data is wrong or incomplete, and they then quote me something from this book. Ahem, my data is documented, this book is not. My data is not perfect by any means, but it is based on actual documentation and over 20 years of my personal research, as well as shared documented research by many other dedicated Hensley researchers. So what is wrong with the books?Mr. Hensley includes the names, dates, spouse names, and other details about hundreds of Hensleys many of which he seems to have pulled out of thin air. No supporting documentation is included, nor indeed has any been found by myself nor other researchers. Where did he get his information? It has been suggested that he made much of it up, but I just can’t believe someone would do that. Did he have access to documentation that no one else has ever seen? I don’t think so. I think he was just a terrible genealogist. In fact, in the introductory sections of both books he made it quite clear that he was not interested in genealogy! That begs the question as to why he wrote the books in the first place. I never knew Mr. Hensley, nor have I ever communicated with anyone who did know him, so I don’t know how to determine his motivations, but I’m not here to judge his character, I can only assume he was a decent person. However his books are published and available to the public and therefore open to criticism. And they deserve some serious criticism. I feel bad about having to do it for I don't like to criticize, but in this case it is absolutely necessary. The DetailsTo avoid possible copyright issues I will not directly quote from the book, though the Fair Use aspect of Copyright law does allow it for criticism purposes. I will give references to the book so you can see for yourself. I will outline in brief the family as Mr. Hensley shows it and then comment on each person or claim. My comments will be in this color so that they stand out. I'll only comment on the Hensley of the 1700's and early 1800's. In some cases he included lines much more recent than that, but I'll skip those for the time being unless they need special comment. 1st GenerationSummarized from The Hensley Tree p. 3. William Hensley, born ca 1583 England, died 1654 Northampton Co., VA to Virginia ca 1622 with son James. No wife name given for William. Children:
Notes by Marty: There is a William Hensley in Virginia early on. He appears in a deed 28 Apr 1642 where he receives a cow. Referred to as "William Hensley of Virginia Planter" [County Court Records of Accomack-Northampton, Virginia 1640-1645, by Susie M. Ames, 1973 p. 176.] William Hensley made his Will in Northampton Co., VA on 4 Jan 1654/1655. He mentioned no wife or children. He left everything to Ann Stephens wife of William Stephens and her son and daughter William and Anne. No relationship between them and William Hensley was given. There is certainly nothing here to suggest William was the father of James Hensley below. There may be other records for this William, but I don't have them handy. However, the Will above is more than enough to show there is no evidence that William is father of James. 2nd GenerationSummarized from The Hensley Tree p. 3. James Hensley (William1), born ca 1605 England. Wife: Sarah Lyttle ca 1621 England. Children:
Notes by Marty: So far, I've found no evidence for this James Hensley at all. If he existed, I haven't found the records for him. Has anyone else? As far as the alleged children are concerned, there are importation records for a Robert in 1654, imported by John Sharp of Lancaster Co., VA. There is a William Hemsley that same year brought in by John Walton and John Bagnal who were patented land in Westmoreland Co., VA. If James came over in 1622, these can't be his kids. Summary: No evidence James existed (so far), or who his wife was (if he existed), nor who his children were. No good evidence of these children found. I have no idea how Mr. Hensley came up with this family. 3rd GenerationSummarized from The Hensley Tree p. 4. William Hensley (James2, William1), born ca 1633 Northampton Co., VA. Died 1694. Wife: Mary Lewis (1664-1720) Children:
Notes by Marty: I have no data on this William Hensley and wife Mary Lewis. The three children (Edward, James, and Joseph) are proven children of Samuel Hensley (d 1735 Orange Co., VA) as named in his Will of 1732. Mr. Hensley has the death dates and places mixed up: Joseph died 1744 in Brunswick (nor Norfolk), Edward died ca 1750 in Norfolk (not Brunswick). No data on James. Summarized from The Hensley Tree pp. 3-4. John Hensley (James2, William1), born ca 1635 Northampton Co., VA. Died 1691. Wife: Mary Louise Essix. Children:
Notes by Marty: I have no data on John Hensley and Mary Louise Essix. It is extremely unlikely that a woman (or a man) would have a middle name in this time period. They were very uncommon. Note that he lists all three children with middle names. As just stated it is highly unlikely for people born in the 1600's to have middle names (though not unheard of.) Summarized from The Hensley Tree p. 4. Robert Hensley (James2, William1), born ca 1638 Northampton Co., VA. Died Lancaster Co., VA ca 1695. Wife: Mary Sharp m ca 1654. No children mentioned. Notes by Marty: No data on Robert Hensley of the 1600's except the one transported in 1654 by John Sharp. Perhaps Mr. Hensley saw this and concluded somehow that Robert was a son-in-law of John Sharp. Summarized from The Hensley Tree pp. 4-5. James Hensley (James2, William1), born ca 1642 Northampton Co., VA. Died 1702. Wife: Susanna Newcomb (1665-1730) in Henrico Co., VA. Children:
Notes by Marty: No data on James Hensley or Susanna Newcomb. Who are these children? I've seen no evidence of them. A name like "Whitman" Hensley ought to be easily located. There were lots of Benjamin Hensleys in Virginia early on, but don't know which one this was supposed to be. 4th GenerationSummarized from The Hensley Tree p. 5. Benjamin Francis Hensley (John3, James2, William1), born ca 1671 in Northumberland Co., VA. Died Orange Co., VA 21 Apr 1757. Wife unknown. Children:
Notes by Marty: "Benjamin Francis Hensley" is a very unlikely name for the 1600's and early 1700's. He has a specific death date for him 21 Apr 1757 in Orange Co., VA. Where did he find that? There was more than one Benjamin Hensley in Virginia early on. However, I don't know of one who died in 1757 or thereabouts. I can't make positive identification on any of these children. I'm aware of no Benjamin with wife Jane from this period, nor a Francis Hensley at all. Jane Hensley and William Hensley are also unknowns, though there were several Williams around. I know of none married to a Mary Lou Rice (an unlikely name for the time period.) William Henry Hensley (John3, James2, William1), born in Northampton Co., VA. Died 17 Mar 1735 in Orange Co., VA. Wife: Elizabeth Reid (c1678-c1695) Children:
Notes by Marty: "William Henry Hensley" is an unlikely name for this era. He has a specific death date of 17 Mar 1735 in Orange Co., VA. I wonder what the source of that is? The children present a problem. I can't match them up with any known persons of similar names. The dates don't work at all. I've never come across a Francis Hensley from this era. There was a Revolutionary War soldier of that name, but he wouldn't have been of this generation. Summarized from The Hensley Tree pp. 5-6. Samuel Thomas Hensley (John3, James2, William1), born ca 1683 in Northampton Co., VA. Wife: Mary Richardson (dau of Thomas Richardson and sister of William Richardson) Children:
Notes by Marty: Here Mr. Hensley is almost accurate for once. There is a Samuel Hensley who died 1735 in Orange Co., VA. He was twice married, his first wife is unknown, second wife Elizabeth. By his first wife he had William, Joseph and Edward who were all grown in 1731 (when Samuel made his Will). Mr. Hensley mentions these three. Samuel and his second wife had James, George and Samuel. The dates Mr. Hensley uses don't work, neither birth nor death. He also includes a Minney Hensley who married John Carter. She was not named in Samuel's Will. 5th GenerationSummarized from The Hensley Tree p. 6. Samuel Hensley (Samuel Thomas4 John3, James2, William1), born 1712 Essex Co., VA. Died 1765 Spotsylvania Co., VA. Wife: Martha Snell m 4 Feb 1730 Spotsylvania Co., VA. Daughter of John and Mary Snell. Children:
Notes by Marty: Samuel Hensley married Martha Snell on 3 Mar 1727, so he got the date wrong, but the place is correct. Samuel died ca 1765, so he got that right too. He did fairly well on this family, excepting the wedding date. Summarized from The Hensley Tree pp. 6-7. George Hensley (Samuel Thomas4 John3, James2, William1), born 1720 Essex Co., VA. Died 1788 Spotsylvania Co., VA. Wife: Sarah Richardson m 9 Jan 1719. Dau of William and Mary Richardson. Children:
Notes by Marty: George Hensley died ca 1775 in Spotsylvania Co., VA, not 1788. His wife was Sarah Richardson. George left a Will naming wife Sarah, children: Richardson, George, William, Susannah, Sarah wife of James Carter, Mary and Catherine. Apparently Mr. Hensley wasn't aware of this Will. Despite that he did okay on this generation, not perfect, but okay. 6th GenerationThis page is still under construction. Summarized from The Hensley Tree p. 7. Benjamin Hensley (Benjamin5, Benjamin Francis4, John3, James2, William1), born 1723 Spotsylvania Co., VA. Died 11 Jan 1821 Orange Co., VA. Wife Elizabeth Jane Bean d/o Lewis & Millie Bean. Children:
Summarized from The Hensley Tree p. 7. John Hensley (Benjamin5, Benjamin Francis4, John3, James2, William1), born 1721 Spotsylvania Co., VA. Died 1794 Orange Co., VA. Wife Sallie Bean (c1723-1774) d/o Lewis & Millie Bean. Children:
SummaryTo summarize, I think Mr. Hensley may have started with some valid data, and then either got incredibly confused and mixed up with it, or just speculated endlessly in trying to tie a bunch of diverse Hensleys together. Since so many of the names and dates can't be confirmed from any known sources, that begs the question as to where he came up with it. Did he indeed just make some of it up? I find that hard to believe, but it has happened before. I prefer to think he was just very mixed up and included lots of speculation without specifically presenting it as such, thereby making it appear to be factual instead of theoretical. This is the kindest explanation I can come up with. Make up your own mind about it, but please don't use any of his data for it is so messed up that you could spend years trying to sort it out. It is better to not even acknowledge it, and instead work from actual documentation and come to your own conclusions. |
martygrant.com: Home > Genealogy > Hensley > Commentaries > Walter Lee Hensley