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I (Marty Grant) am not related to William S. Hensley as far as I know.
William S. Hensley was born ca 1810/1811 in NC, presumably in Buncombe (now Yancey) County. I base his birth year of ca 1810/11 on his age on the 1850 census (age 39), but in 1860 he was age 47 (born ca 1812/13), so he was getting progressively younger. However, back in 1840 and 1830 he was in the ca 1800/1810 age group, so I'm guessing that he was probably born in the year 1810. That is the only way to reconcile the 1830, 1840 and 1850 census records. The 1860 record disagrees with the previously three.
William S. Hensley is a proven son of Benjamin Hensley (c1790) and Louisa ---. The primary proof is a Washington Co, TN Deed dated 12 Apr 1862 wherein several of Benjamin's heirs sell property inherited from him. (Thanks to Pamela Mashburn for sharing this information).
William S. Hensley was apparently not born yet in time for the 1810 census, as his parents had only one child then, a male born ca 1800/10, who was William's older brother John Hensley (c1808). That means that William, if born in the year 1810 (as I suspect), was born later in the year, or at least after the census taker came around.
William was apparently home with his parents for the 1820 census in Buncombe Co, NC. They had 5 apparent sons all born ca 1810/20, one of which was William S. Hensley.
William's family moved to Washington Co, TN in the 1820's, but for some reason it would appear that William remained in Buncombe Co, NC, at least for a couple of years before joining them in Washington Co, TN. They may not have lived very far apart, even though in separate states, since Washington Co, TN and Buncombe Co, NC bordered each other at that time.
William Hensley was listed as head of household on the 1830 census in Buncombe Co, NC, but listed by himself. He was listed between Samuel Wilson and William Higgins. He was just a few houses from his cousin Berry Hensley (c1783). William S. Hensley's Uncle William A. Hensley (1798) was just a few more houses away. It has occurred to me that this might William in 1830 Buncombe not be the same person as William S. Hensley. His age matches fairly closely, but he didn't use his middle initial on this record. It is possible that William S. Hensley was still at home with his parents, but I think not. As previously mentioned, in 1820 Benjamin Hensley had 5 sons in the 1810-1820 category. However, in 1830 he only had 4 sons in the equivalent categories, meaning one of the sons had moved out or died. This fits well with William still being in NC. Also, it appears that William S. Hensley married in NC ca 1830/32 as his first child was born there, so that is further proof that this "William" of 1830 Buncombe is the same person as William S. Hensley.
1830 census analysis (based on available evidence): (Explanation of this census)
1830 Buncombe County, NC pg 288 William Hensley 0000100000000-0000000000000 Analysis: 1 Male(s) 20-29 (1800-1810) William S. Hensley (1810/11) s/o Benjamin & Louisa
William S. Hensley married Mary --- ca 1830/32 in Buncombe (now Yancey) Co, NC. I don't know what her maiden name might have been. She was born ca 1803/04 in either KY (per 1850 census) or in TN (per 1870 census).
They remained in NC until ca 1834 when they went over into neighboring Washington Co, TN to be near his parents.
William S. Hensley was listed on the 1840 census in Washington Co, TN. The transcribed version of this census lists him as "William T. Hensly". I have not checked the original to see if actually says "T" or if that was just a misread "S". Besides the wrong initial, I am sure the listing is actually for William S. Hensley.
1840 census analysis (based on available evidence): (Explanation of this census)
1840 Washington Co, TN pg 232 William T. Hensly 1100010000000-1000010000000 Analysis: 1 Male(s) 30-39 (1800-1810) William S. HENSLEY (1810/11) s/o Benjamin & Louisa 1 Male(s) 5-9 (1830-1835) Barnett L. HENSLEY (1832/33) son 1 Male(s) 0-4 (1835-1840) Andrew J. HENSLEY (1835/36) son 1 Female(s) 30-39 (1800-1810) Mary ___ Hensley (1803/04) wife 1 Female(s) 0-4 (1835-1840) Darcus HENSLEY (1837/38) daughter
William S. Hensley and family were listed on the 1850 census in Washington Co, TN and listed between his Uncle William A. Hensley (1798) and his possible brother Olmstead Hensley (c1826). William's parents were just two houses away and lots of other Hensleys were nearby.
1850 WASHINGTON CO, TN Page 198 House/Family # 1341/1370 - 4th Subdivision HENSLY WILLIAM S 39 M W FARMER 300 NC 1810/1811 HENSLY MARY 46 F W KY 1803/1804 HENSLY BENET L 17 M W FARMER NC 1832/1833 HENSLY ANDREW 14 M W TN 1835/1836 HENSLY DORCAS 12 F W TN 1837/1838 HENSLY ELIZABETH 9 F W TN 1840/1841 HENSLY NANCY 4 F W TN 1845/1846
William S. Hensley and family were still in Washington Co, TN for the 1860 census. They were two houses from William's parents, Benjamin and Louisa.
1860 WASHINGTON CO, TN Page 207B House/Family # 1086/1086 -- 18th DISTRICT HENSLEY WILLIAM S 47 M W FARMER 600 400 NC 1812/1813 HENSLEY MARY 51 F W NC 1808/1809 HENSLEY DARCUS 21 F W NC 1838/1839 HENSLEY ELIZABETH 18 F W NC 1841/1842 HENSLEY NANCY 15 F W NC 1844/1845 HENSLEY JACKSON 8 M W NC 1851/1852 HENSLEY ISAAC 2 M W TN 1857/1858 NORTON SUSAN 32 F W TN 1827/1828
William S. Hensley died in the 1860/70 timeframe, presumably in Washington Co, TN. His death may have been a result of the Civil War.
Widow Mary Hensley was listed on the 1870 census, residing with her son Andrew J. Hensley. I don't have the full listing, but they were on page 379: Andrew J. Hensley-34, Darcus-30, Mary-62. (From "Hensley Households" by Laura Schreibman).
I have no additional data on this family beyond this point.
William S. Hensley and Mary had seven known children, as proven by the 1850 and 1860 census records. I have very little data on them, so I will not give them their own sections here at this time.
Persons researching this family (click here for data on how to get on or off of this list):
1. William S1
Hensley , born 1810/11 in
Buncombe Co, NC (now Yancey Co, NC); died 1860/70 in Washington Co, TN (now
Unicoi Co, TN), son of Benjamin Hensley
and Louisa (---) .
He married in 1830/32 in Buncombe Co, NC (now Yancey Co, NC) Mary
(---) , born
1803/04 in KY; died aft 1880 in Unicoi Co, TN.
Children
of William S Hensley and Mary (---) were as follows:
+
2
i
Barnett L2
Hensley , born 1832/33 in
Buncombe Co, NC (now Yancey Co, NC); died aft 1880 in Unicoi Co, TN.
He married Lucinda Hensley .
3
ii
Andrew J2
Hensley , born 1835/36 in
Washington Co, TN (now Unicoi Co, TN).
4
iii
Dorcas2
Hensley , born 1837/38 in
Washington Co, TN (now Unicoi Co, TN).
5
iv
Elizabeth2
Hensley , born 1840/41 in
Washington Co, TN (now Unicoi Co, TN).
6
v
Nancy2
Hensley , born 1845/46 in
Washington Co, TN (now Unicoi Co, TN).
7
vi
Jackson2
Hensley , born 1851/52 in
Washington Co, TN (now Unicoi Co, TN).
8
vii
Isaac2
Hensley , born 1857/58 in
Washington Co, TN (now Unicoi Co, TN).
Generation 2
2. Barnett L2
Hensley
(William S1),
born 1832/33 in Buncombe Co, NC (now Yancey Co, NC); died aft 1880 in Unicoi
Co, TN. He married on 22 Dec 1859
in Washington Co, TN (now Unicoi Co, TN) Lucinda Hensley , born 1837/38 in
Washington Co, TN (now Unicoi Co, TN); died aft 1880 in Unicoi Co, TN,
daughter of Lewis Hensley
and Elizabeth Metcalf .
Children
of Barnett L Hensley and Lucinda Hensley were as follows:
9
i
Martha J3
Hensley , born 1860/61 in
Washington Co, TN (now Unicoi Co, TN).
10
ii
Hiram Cornelius3
Hensley , born 1861/62 in
Washington Co, TN (now Unicoi Co, TN).
11
iii
Rubarney3
Hensley , born Mar 1870 in
Washington Co, TN (now Unicoi Co, TN).
12
iv
Nancy3
Hensley , born 1872/73 in
Washington Co, TN (now Unicoi Co, TN).
13 v Joseph B3 Hensley , born 1874/75 in Washington Co, TN (now Unicoi Co, TN).