William Hensley (c1800) of Caswell and Rockingham Co, NC and Troup Co, GA and Cherokee Co, AL and Saline Co, AR

William Hensley was born ca 1799/1800 (per 1850 census) in North Carolina (per 1850 census) or South Carolina (per 1860 census). He was undoubtedly born in either Caswell or Rockingham County, North Carolina, though I don't know which for sure.

I don't know who William Hensley's parents are for sure, but for several years I have had him listed as a son of David Hensley and Mary Payne, but I don't have solid proof for that. He is either David's son, or if not, then probably his nephew.

William would have been about 1 year old, or less for the 1800 census, so if he was born yet by the time of the census takers visit, he should be enumerated in the "under 10" age category (born ca 1790/1800). In North Carolina, there were lots of Hensleys in the western part of the state (Burke and Buncombe Counties), but it isn't likely he is part of that family. There were Hensleys in Caswell County, including David Hensley who had 1 son in that age group, possibly being William. John Hensley (bef 1755) had three apparent sons in this age group, but he already had a son named William, who is already identified. Those two were the only ones in 1800 Caswell with sons in the right age group. Of course, William may not have been born yet when the census taker came around.

William Hensley would have been about 10 years old by 1810, so if listed on that census he would have been in the age 10-15 category (born ca 1794/1800), or possibly in the "under 10" age group (born ca 1790/1800). There are a few matches in Caswell and Rockingham and Orange Co, NC, all part of the Mackfield Henslee family: In Caswell, Mackfield Hensley (1770/75) had two sons under 10, but I think both are identified (but not positively); John Hensley (bef 1755) had 3 sons 10-15, but as mentioned before he had a different son named William; In Orange County we have Richard Hensley (c1775) with 2 sons under 10; In Rockingham we have Enoch Hensley (c1786) with two sons under 10 (but he wasn't married until 1806, so William probably isn't his son); and David Hensley (1755/65) with one son 10-15. Of these five suspects, I think David is the most likely.

David Hensley moved his family to Franklin Co, GA by 1817. William went there also, adding more evidence that he is David's son.

On 29 May 1817, William Henslee witnessed a deed from Charles and Barsheba Sesson to David Hensley in Franklin Co, GA. (William was over 16 then, so old enough to witness a deed). (Thanks to Laura Schreibman for sharing this record)

William Hensley would have been about 20 years old by the time of the 1820 census, so he should be enumerated in the age 16-25 category that year (born ca 1794/1804). Unfortunately, the 1820 census is lost for Franklin County, Georgia.

William Hensley was listed on the 1821 tax list in Franklin Co, GA, and this was his first tax list entry, coinciding with his turning 21 that year. He was taxed for 11 Negroes, and 251 acres, and 490 acres granted to "D. Hensley". (Thanks to Laura Schreibman for sharing this record)

William Hensley also married sometime in the year 1821 (per 1850 census which gave actual marriage year), presumably in Franklin Co, GA. I believe his wife's name is Sarah Payne. She was listed as "Pain Hensley" on the 1850 census, but as "Sarah" on the 1860 census. That particular 1850 census had several occurrences of the spouse being listed by maiden name and not given name, which is unusual, but helpful! Sarah was born ca 1803/04 in Georgia. Since William's mother was also a Payne, it can be assumed that he and Sarah were cousins, though I don't know who her parents were.

In 1826, Troup County was created from former Creek Indian lands, and it looks as though William moved there around that time. This was next to Carroll County where several of his Hensley relatives had moved about the same time (they didn't border for long, because a new county was formed between them in 1830).

William Hensley was listed on the 1830 census in Troup County, Georgia. He was the only Hensley in that county that year. An older woman was residing with them, born ca 1760/70, and this is very likely William's widowed mother Mary Payne Hensley (1760/65), but it could possibly be Sarah's mother or some other relative. William's neighbors on either side were Jacob Richardson and Oliver Cleveland.

Between ca 1835 and ca 1838, William moved his family north to Cherokee County, Alabama, and was joined by several of his Hensley relatives.

For the 1840 census, William Hensley was listed in Cherokee Co, AL. He was next to C. P. Hensley who might be Champion Hensley (c1805). Several other relatives were in the county on other pages, including his widowed mother Mary Payne Hensley, several pages away. Apparent widow Mary Payne was also there, next to C. P. Hensley. Could this be Sarah's mother?

Sometime in the 1840's, William and several of his kinsmen left Alabama for Saline County, Arkansas.

William and family were listed on the 1850 census in Saline Co, AR, next door to probable daughter Sarah Hensley Crawford, and a few houses from probable son John P. Hensley (c1824). This census taker did two unusual, but interesting things. First of all, he included the marriage year in the "Married within census year" column (which is not what that column was for), and in several cases, he seemingly listed the wife by her maiden name and not her given name. In this case he listed William's wife as "Pain" (Payne).

William and family were still in Saline County for the 1860 census in Jefferson Township, just a few houses from several married children. They had several other people residing with them. Unfortunately the 1860 census did not list the relationship between people, so I don't know if these are relatives, or just boarders.

In my notes I show that William Hensley made his Will on 28 Sep 1875 in Saline Co, AR which was proven on 7 Jan 1878, meaning he died between those two dates. I don't know where I found this, as I don't seem to have the actual Will. Someone must have shared this with me and I failed to note who.

Children

William and Sarah Hensley had several children per the various census records. Most are identified by still being home in 1850 and 1860.

Unknown Daughter (1820/25). William Hensley had an apparent daughter this age. She was home with him 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, which probably means she married or died by then.

This is probably Mary P. Hensley (c1825) who married John H. Wallace in 1846, as she was widowed and living with William in 1860.

Unknown Son (1820/25). William Hensley had an apparent son this age. He was home with him in 1830 (age "under 5", born ca 1825/30), and still home in 1840 (age 15-19, born ca 1820/25), but gone by 1850, which probably means he married or died by then. This two entries (1830 and 1840) don't exactly agree with each other, but that can be reconciled if this son was born ca 1825.

I'm reasonably sure that this is John P. Hensley (c1824) who was two houses from William in 1850, and very nearby in 1860 also. See his own page for more on him.

Unknown Son (1825/30). William Hensley had an apparent son this age. He was home with him in 1830 (age "under 5", born ca 1825/30), but gone by 1840, which probably means he was dead by then, or just living with someone else.

Joseph David Hensley was born ca 1828/29 in Troup Co, GA. He was apparently home with his parents in 1830 Troup County "under 5" (born ca 1825/30), and still home in 1840 (age 15-19, born ca 1820/25) and still home in 1850 ("David" age 21, born GA).

David married Susan A. --- sometime between 1850 and ca 1853 in Saline Co, AR. Susan was born ca 1826/27 in Tennessee. I don't know her maiden name.

They were listed on the 1860 census in Saline County next to brother John P. Hensley and just a few houses from his parents.

Unknown Daughter (1830/35). William Hensley had an apparent daughter this age. She was home with him in 1840 (age 5-9, born ca 1830/35), but gone by 1850, which probably means she had married or dead by then.

I think this is probably Sarah Hensley, born ca 1832/33 in Georgia (probably Troup County). She married William A. Crawford on 5 Oct 1848 in Saline County, Arkansas. William was born ca 1827/28 in Tennessee. I don't know who his parents are.

They were still in Saline Co, AR for the 1860 census, but not near any of her Hensley relations. They had some other children with them who are probably a nephew and niece.

Rufus C. Hensley was born ca 1834/35 in Troup Co, GA. He was apparently home with parents in 1840 (age "under 5", born ca 1835/40), and home in 1850 ("Rufus", age 15, born GA) and still in 1860 ("Rufus C." age 24, born GA).

William M. Hensley was born ca 1837/38 in Cherokee Co, AL. He was apparently home with parents in 1840 (age "under 5", born ca 1835/40), and home in 1850 ("William", age 12, born AL) and still in 1860 ("William M." age 21, born AL).

Samuel F. Hensley was born ca 1840/41 in Cherokee Co, AL. He was home in 1850 ("Samuel", age 9, born AL) and still in 1860 ("Samuel F." age 18, born AL).

Researcher List

1. William¹ Hensley , born 1799/1800 in Caswell Co, NC; died 1875/78 in Saline Co, AR, son of David Hensley and Mary Payne . He married in 1821 in Franklin Co, GA Sarah Payne , born 1803/04 in GA.

Children of William Hensley and Sarah Payne were as follows:

+ 2 i John P² Hensley , born 1823/24 in Franklin Co, GA. He married Hannah Roddy .

+ 3 ii Mary P² Hensley , born 1824/25 in Franklin Co, GA. She married John H Wallace .

+ 4 iii Joseph David² Hensley , born 1828/29 in Troup Co, GA; died aft 1860 in Saline Co, AR. He married Susan A (---) .

+ 5 iv Sarah² Hensley , born 1832/33 in Troup Co, GA. She married William A Crawford .

6 v Rufus C² Hensley , born 1834/35 in Troup Co, GA.

7 vi William M² Hensley , born 1837/38 in Cherokee Co, AL.

8 vii Samuel F² Hensley , born 1840/41 in Cherokee Co, AL.

Generation 2

2. John P² Hensley (William¹), born 1823/24 in Franklin Co, GA. He married on 28 Oct 1849 in Saline Co, AR Hannah Roddy , born 1831/32 in TN, daughter of Isaac Roddy and Mary (---) .

Children of John P Hensley and Hannah Roddy were as follows:

9 i Ann E³ Hensley , born 1852/53 in Saline Co, AR.

10 ii Sarah³ Hensley , born 1855/56 in Saline Co, AR.

3. Mary P² Hensley (William¹), born 1824/25 in Franklin Co, GA. She married on 3 Sep 1846 in Floyd Co, GA John H Wallace , died .

Children of Mary P Hensley and John H Wallace were as follows:

11 i William B³ Wallace , born 1848/49 in Floyd Co, GA.

4. Joseph David² Hensley (William¹), born 1828/29 in Troup Co, GA; died aft 1860 in Saline Co, AR. He married in 1850/53 in Saline Co, AR Susan A (---) , born 1826/27 in TN.

Children of Joseph David Hensley and Susan A (---) were as follows:

12 i William A³ Hensley , born 1852/53 in Saline Co, AR.

13 ii John W³ Hensley , born 1854/55 in Saline Co, AR.

14 iii Mirah E³ Hensley , born 1856/57 in Saline Co, AR.

15 iv Sarah S³ Hensley , born 1859 in Saline Co, AR.

5. Sarah² Hensley (William¹), born 1832/33 in Troup Co, GA. She married on 5 Oct 1848 in Saline Co, AR William A Crawford , born 1827/28 in TN.

Children of Sarah Hensley and William A Crawford were as follows:

16 i Laura C³ Crawford , born 1848/49 in Saline Co, AR.

17 ii Mary D³ Crawford , born 1851/52 in Saline Co, AR.

18 iii Mattie³ Crawford , born 1853/54 in Saline Co, AR.

19 iv William H³ Crawford , born 1856/57 in Saline Co, AR.