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I (Marty Grant) am not related to William Henslee as far as I know.
This family used the "Henslee" spelling most often, though some records were with the "Hensley" or other spellings. See "Hensley Spellings" for a commentary on this subject.
William Henslee was born ca 1787/88 (per 1850 census) in Caswell County, North Carolina.
William Henslee is a proven child of John Henslee (bef 1755) and Rachel Cantrell, as named in John's Will dated 1816.
The 1790 census is lost for Caswell County, but William was certainly home with his parents that year.
William seems to be home with his parents for the 1800 census but his age doesn't match exactly. He would have been about 12 years old, so should have been enumerated in the 10-15 age group (born ca 1784/90). John didn't seem to have any children that age with him, but had three apparent sons "under 10", or born ca 1790/1800, one of which is probably William, though not a perfect fit.
For the 1810 census, William would have been about 22 years old, so if enumerated, he should be in the age 16-25 category (born ca 1784/94), but (as in 1810), his father John had no apparent sons that age with him this year. He did, however, have three sons age 10-15, or born ca 1794/1800. This doesn't fit, but I'm sure William was one of these.
On 23 Jan 1811, William Henslee obtained a marriage bond in Caswell County to marry Mary Milberey (or Milberry) Pleasant. All three names were given on the marriage bond, so "Milberry" must be a middle name. The bondsman was Buford Pleasant. Mary was born ca 1793/94 in Caswell County. Cindy Stamps states that Mary's father was Micajah Pleasant.
On 25 Dec 1815, Ruffin Pleasant sold 158 acres on Hico (Hyco) to William Henslee. Witnesses were James Currie and Micajah Pleasant. (Caswell Co, NC Deed Book N page 268, shared with me by Laura Schreibman)
William Henslee was named as a son in his father's Will dated 20 Mar 1816. (Caswell Co, NC Will Book G page 301, shared with me by Laura Schreibman)
On 21 Oct 1816, several of the heirs of John Henslee deeded their interest in their father's land to Buford Pleasant (their brother-in-law). The heirs were Richard Henslee, William Henslee, John Henslee, and Sally Henslee, all of Caswell County. The deed was witnessed by Thomas Garner, Micajah Pleasant, Joseph Benton and Thomas Henslee. (Caswell Co, NC Deed Book R page 443, shared with me by Laura Schreibman)
William Henslee was listed on the 1820 census in Caswell County. This census was alphabetical, so there is no way to see who his neighbors were.
1820 census analysis (based on available evidence): (Explanation of this census)
1820 Caswell Co, NC pg 63 William Hensley 400010-10010 Analysis: 1 Male(s) 26-44 (1775-1794) William HENSLEY (1787/88) s/o John 4 Male(s) 0-9 (1810-1820) Son? (1810/15) Son? (1815/20) Son? (1810/20) --> gone by 1830 Son? (1810/20) --> gone by 1830 1 Female(s) 26-44 (1775-1794) Mary M. PLEASANT Hensley (1793/94) wife 1 Female(s) 0-9 (1810-1820) Minerva HENSLEY (1811/12) daughter
William was listed on the 1830 census in Caswell County, but not too close to his brothers who were still there.
1830 census analysis (based on available evidence): (Explanation of this census)
1830 Caswell Co, NC pg 280 William Hensley 2211001000000-2201010000000 Analysis: 1 Male(s) 40-49 (1780-1790) William HENSLEY (1787/88) s/o John 1 Male(s) 15-19 (1810-1815) Son? (1810/15) --> gone by 1840 1 Male(s) 10-14 (1815-1820) Son? (1815/20) --> gone by 1840 2 Male(s) 5-9 (1820-1825) Son? (1820/25) --> gone by 1840 Son? (1820/25) 2 Male(s) 0-4 (1825-1830) Son? (1825/30) --> gone by 1840 Buford Brown HENSLEY (1829/30) son 1 Female(s) 30-39 (1790-1800) Mary M. PLEASANT Hensley (1793/94) wife 1 Female(s) 15-19 (1810-1815) Manerva HENSLEY (1811/12) daughter 2 Female(s) 5-9 (1820-1825) Daughter? (1820/25) --> gone by 1840 Daughter? (1820/25) 2 Female(s) 0-4 (1825-1830) Elizabeth HENSLEY (1828/29) daughter Daughter? (1825/30) --> gone by 1840
William Henslee moved to neighboring Orange County before 1840 (where brother Richard Henslee was living), and were there for the 1840 census, but not listed near brother Richard.
1840 census analysis (based on available evidence): (Explanation of this census)
1840 Orange Co, NC pg 185 William Hensley 0011100100000-0221010000000 Analysis: 1 Male(s) 50-59 (1780-1790) William HENSLEY (1787/88) s/o John 1 Male(s) 20-29 (1810-1820) Son? (1815/20) --> gone by 1850 1 Male(s) 15-19 (1820-1825) Son? (1820/25) --> gone by 1850 1 Male(s) 10-14 (1825-1830) Buford Brown HENSLEY (1829/30) son 1 Female(s) 30-39 (1800-1810) Mary Milberry PLEASANT Hensley (1793/94) wife 1 Female(s) 15-19 (1820-1825) Daughter? (1820/25) --> gone by 1850 2 Female(s) 10-14 (1825-1830) Elizabeth HENSLEY (1828/29) daughter Daughter? (1825/30) > gone by 1850 2 Female(s) 5-9 (1830-1835) Daughter? (1830/35) --> gone by 1850 Daughter? (1830/35) --> gone by 1850
They were back in Caswell County shortly after this. They were listed on the 1850 census in Caswell, a few houses from apparent widow (possibly his daughter-in-law?) Sallie Hensley (c1816).
1850 CASWELL CO, NC Page 256 House/Family # 1254/1260 - Twp HENSLEY WILL 62 M W CARPENTER CASWELL 1787/1788 HENSLEY MARY M 56 F W CASWELL 1793/1794 HENSLEY MANIRVA 38 F W IDIOTIC ORANGE 1811/1812 HENSLEY BROWN 20 M W FARMER CASWELL 1829/1830 HENSLEY ELIZABETH 21 F W CASWELL 1828/1829
They were still there for the 1860 census listed with their Post Office as Locust Hill. Martha Poteat (c1837) and John Rice (c1793) were living with them, relationship unknown.
1860 CASWELL CO, NC Page 670 House/Family # 454/ 461 -- Twp LOCUST HILL P.O. HENSLEE WILLIAM 70 M W MECHANIC 100 NC 1789/1790 HENSLEE M M 67 F W NC 1792/1793 HENSLEE W R 47 F W Idiotic NC 1812/1813 POTEAT MARTHA 23 F W NC 1836/1837 RICE JOHN 67 M W MECHANIC NC 1792/1793
I have no data on them after 1860.
William and Mary had several children per the various census records. Of these I am only certain of a few, those that were still home in 1850 and 1860. Others are unproven. They had numerous daughters, and by no coincidence, there are several unidentified female Henslees marrying in Caswell County in the 1830's and 1840's, many of whom could be William's daughters.
Minerva Henslee was born ca 1811/12 in Orange County, North Carolina (per 1850 census). She was listed as "Idiotic" on both the 1850 and 1860 census. She was apparently home with her parents in 1820 (age "under 10", born ca 1810/20), and still apparently home in 1830 (age 15-19, born ca 1810/15), but she did not seem to be home in 1840. She was back home by 1850 listed with her parents as "Manirva" age 38, born Orange. She was still home in 1860 ("M. R." age 47, born NC). I have no data on her after this.
Unknown Son (1810/20). William Henslee had an apparent son this age. He was home in 1820 (age "under 10", born ca 1810/20), but gone by 1830, so married, dead, or moved away by then.
I have no strong suspects for who this was.
Unknown Son (1810/20). William Henslee had an apparent son this age. He was home in 1820 (age "under 10", born ca 1810/20), but gone by 1830, so married, dead, or moved away by then.
I have no strong suspects for who this was.
Unknown Son (1810/15). William Henslee had an apparent son this age. He was home in 1820 (age "under 10", born ca 1810/20), and still home in 1830 (age 15-19, born ca 1810/15), but gone by 1840, so married, dead, or moved away by then.
This could be Micajah Hensley (c1811) also fits very well, and he was from Caswell County and married in 1836, all of which fits circumstantially, but I have nothing tying them directly together, he is clearly related in someway though.
Cindy Stamps thinks Micajah could fit here because Mary Pleasant's father was named "Micajah Pleasant". That makes good sense.
Unknown Son (1815/20). William Henslee had an apparent son this age. He was home in 1820 (age "under 10", born ca 1810/20), and still home in 1830 (age 10-14, born ca 1815/20), but gone by 1840, so married, dead, or moved away by then.
This might be Ruffin Hensley who died ca 1848 in Caswell County.
Unknown Son (1820/25). William Henslee had an apparent son this age. He was home in 1830 (age 5-9, born ca 1820/25), but gone by 1840, so married, dead, or moved away by then.
Unknown Son (1820/25). William Henslee had an apparent son this age. He was home in 1830 (age 5-9, born ca 1820/25), and still home in 1840 (age 15-19, born ca 1820/25), but gone by 1850, so married, dead, or moved away by then.
This might be Addison Henslee (c1820) who was in Caswell County. He fits age-wise, but I have no direct proof of the connection.
Unknown Daughter (1820/25). William Henslee had an apparent daughter this age. She was home in 1830 (age 5-9, born ca 1820/25), but gone by 1840, so married, dead, or moved away by then.
There were two Henslee women who married in the 1830's in Caswell, one Frances Henslee married Benjamin Massey in 1835. Rachel Henslee married Nathaniel McKinney in 1833. Of these, if either is this daughter, Frances would be more likely due to the dates.
Unknown Daughter (1820/25). William Henslee had an apparent daughter this age. She was home in 1830 (age 5-9, born ca 1820/25), and still home in 1840 (age 15-19, born ca 1820/25), but gone by 1850, so married, dead, or moved away by then. There were several Henslee ladies who married in Caswell in the 1840's, any one of which could be this daughter.
Unknown Son (1825/30). William Henslee had an apparent son this age. He was home in 1830 (age "under 5", born ca 1825/30), but gone 1840, so married, dead, or moved away by then.
This might be Calvalo Hensley (c1827) who was born in NC and moved to Greene Co, MO with members of the Thomas Henslee family (William's brother). This may not be William's son at all, but I thought I'd mention him as a suspect.
Unknown Daughter (1825/30). William Henslee had an apparent daughter this age. She was home in 1830 (age "under 5", born ca 1825/30), and still home in 1840 (age 10-14, born ca 1825/30), but gone by 1850, so married, dead, or moved away by then. There were several Henslee ladies who married in Caswell in the 1840's, any one of which could be this daughter.
I strongly suspect this is Mary Henslee who married Rainey Massey in 1846 in Caswell County, for he later married Elizabeth Henslee in late 1850. However, his 1850 census entry gives his wife as "Eliza" age 22. Now this is either a different couple, or else her name is "Mary Eliza Henslee" which is possible, and a common name in that timeframe, so entirely feasible. If my supposition is correct, then Mary Eliza Henslee born ca 1827/28 is this unknown daughter of William Henslee. She married Rainey Massey on 2 Nov 1846.
They were listed on the 1850 census in Caswell County. She must have died before November of 1850, for in that month Raney married her sister Elizabeth Henslee.
Elizabeth Henslee was born ca 1828/29 in Caswell County, North Carolina. She 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 was home with them in 1850 ("Elizabeth" age 21, born "Caswell").
She is probably the same Elizabeth Henslee who on 12 Nov 1850 in Caswell County married Raney Massey probably the same one who had previously married Mary Henslee (in 1846). I have no data on them after this.
Buford Brown Henslee was born ca 1829/30 in Caswell County, North Carolina. He was apparently home with his 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 was home with them in 1850 ("Brown" age 20, born "Caswell").
He married Annis Underwood on 10 Nov 1853 in Caswell County. She was born ca 1830/31 in Caswell County (presumably).
They were in Caswell County for the 1860 census but not near his parents. A couple of apparent siblings of Annis were residing with them.
1860 CASWELL CO, NC Page 633 House/Family # 151/ 153 -- Twp BLACKWELL P.O. HENSLEE B B 30 M W FARMER 300 NC 1829/1830 HENSLEE A 29 F W NC 1830/1831 UNDERWOOD T 26 F W NC 1833/1834 UNDERWOOD J 31 F W NC 1828/1829
I don't have them in 1870 yet.
Buford Brown Henslee was dead before 1880, for Annis was listed as a widow on that census in Caswell County. ** I don't have this entry typed up yet.
Unknown Daughter (1830/35). William Henslee had an apparent daughter this age. She was home in 1840 (age 5-9, born ca 1830/35), but gone by 1850, so married, dead, or moved away by then. There were several Henslee ladies who married in Caswell in the 1840's, any one of which could be this daughter.
Unknown Daughter (1830/35). William Henslee had an apparent daughter this age. She was home in 1840 (age 5-9, born ca 1830/35), but gone by 1850, so married, dead, or moved away by then. There were several Henslee ladies who married in Caswell in the 1840's, any one of which could be this daughter.
Persons researching this family (click here for data on how to get on or off of this list):
1. William1 Hensley, born 1787/88 in Caswell Co, NC; died aft 1860 in Caswell Co, NC, son of John Hensley and Rachel Cantrell. He married on 23 Jan 1811 in Caswell Co, NC Mary Milberry Pleasant, born 1793/94 in Caswell Co, NC; died aft 1860 in Caswell Co, NC.
Children of William Hensley and Mary Milberry Pleasant were as follows:
2 i Manerva2 Hensley, born 1811/12 in Orange Co, NC.
+ 3 ii Mary Eliza2 Hensley, born 1827/28 in Caswell Co, NC; died 1850 in Caswell Co, NC. She married Raney Massey.
4 iii Elizabeth2 Hensley, born 1828/29 in Caswell Co, NC. She married on 12 Nov 1850 in Caswell Co, NC Raney Massey, born 1825/26 in Caswell Co, NC.
5 iv Buford Brown2 Hensley, born 1829/30 in Caswell Co, NC; died bef 1880 in Caswell Co, NC. He married on 10 Nov 1853 in Caswell Co, NC Annis Underwood, born 1830/31 in Caswell Co, NC; died aft 1880 in Caswell Co, NC.
Generation 2
3. Mary Eliza2 Hensley (William1), born 1827/28 in Caswell Co, NC; died 1850 in Caswell Co, NC. She married on 2 Nov 1846 in Caswell Co, NC Raney Massey, born 1825/26 in Caswell Co, NC.
Children of Mary Eliza Hensley and Raney Massey were as follows:
6 i Mary E3 Massey, born 1846/47 in Caswell Co, NC.
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