William Hensley (c1797) and Barbary Wolf of Washington and Sullivan Co, TN

William Hensley was born ca 1796/1797 in VA (birthplace per the 1850 census). I don't know where he was born in VA, though somewhere in South-Western Virginia seems likely, such as Washington County.

I don't know who William's parents were. The 1880 census record for William showed that both his mother and father were born in North Carolina. Sherry Cruise thinks he is a son of Robert Hensley (c1760). This fits circumstantially, and could be correct, but I have certain reservations about that (explained below).

William would presumably have been home with his parents for the 1800 and 1810 census. However, the 1800 census was lost for Tennessee and Virginia, and the 1810 census was lost for many Virginia Counties and all of eastern Tennessee.

William Hensley married Barbary Wolf sometime before 1830 (probably before 1820). Her maiden name is given on the death certificate of her son Thomas Hensley (thanks to Sherry Cruise for that). I'm not sure if there are other sources for it. Sherry also believes that Barbary may not have been William's only wife, and that he was married to someone prior to her, though no name is yet known.

Almost all the early census records for eastern TN were lost, so the first record we have for William is the 1830 census. (It might have been the first one he appeared on anyway). There were two possible entries for William in 1830, one in Hawkins Co, TN and one in Washington Co, TN. I'm not real sure which of these is which, so I'll give both here and weigh the merits of each. The same two William Hensleys were still in the same counties for 1840, so it seems highly likely these are two different families, and not just an duplication.

In 1830 Hawkins Co, TN, a William Hensley was listed on the next page from Robert Hensley (his possible father). This particular William Hensley was the right age to be the William under study here, but I don't think it is him.

The above William was still in Hawkins for the 1840 census. He was on the next page (again) from Robert Hensley, his possible father. Again, I don't think this is the same William.

The 1840 entry doesn't show a daughter the right age to be Letticia Hensley (c1838/39), so that may be a strong indication that this isn't the same William Hensley family.

The William Hensley of 1830 and 1840 Washington Co, TN seems more likely to me, but a problem with this (not really, but it is if you haven't studied all the records) is that there was a William Hensley still in that county in 1850 who's age matches the 1830 and 1840 entries, but that William in 1850 wasn't the same person who was there in 1830 and 1840 (confused?). That William Hensley of 1850 Washington Co, TN was in Yancey Co, NC prior to 1850. (See the page for William A. Hensley for more on the "other" William of Yancey Co, NC and Washington Co, TN).

A William Hensley was on the 1830 census in Washington Co, TN. He wasn't listed near any other Hensley families.

This same William was still in Washington Co, TN for the 1840 census. He was listed on the same page with Daniel Hensley.

I can't convince myself either way on which of these two different William Hensleys are the one under study here. I need to do some additional research in the counties in question to be sure. The prime problem is that the Hensley's were known to live in area at the junction of four county lines (Hawkins, Sullivan, Greene and Washington), so some Hensley's were listed in more than one of these counties without ever having moved, or having only made a tiny move. This complicates matters considerably. However, I will state that I'm partial to the Washington Co, TN William being this same William. And if I am correct in this assumption, that makes the probability of this William being a son of Robert Hensley (1760) all the less likely, as the Hawkins County William would be a better match for Robert's son. Anyway, you can see there is much room for confusion here.

In any event, regardless of whether our William was in Hawkins in 1830 and 1840, or in Washington in 1830 and 1840, he WAS in Sullivan Co, TN by 1850.

George W. Hensley was about 18 households away, and could easily be William's son. The William Hensley of Washington Co, TN in 1830 and 1840 had a son about this age.

Barbary Wolf Hensley died sometime before 1860, in either Sullivan or Washington Co, TN.

William Hensley was found on the 1860 census, back in Washington Co, TN, widowed, and with his son Thomas still living with him. No other Hensley families were listed nearby (though there were lots of other Hensleys in the same county).

I didn't find William Hensley on the 1870 census, though he was probably in Sullivan County, TN.

William was listed on the 1880 census in Sullivan County, TN with son Thomas Hensley. ** I don't have this entry typed up yet.

Children

William Hensley and Barbary Wolf had several children, based on the 1830 through 1850 census records. The "unknown children" listed below are based on the assumption that this William Hensley was the same one found in 1830 and 1840 Washington Co, TN census records and not the one in Hawkins County in 1830 and 1840.

Unknown Son born ca 1815/20. An apparent son this age was with William Hensley for the 1830 (age 10-14, born ca 1815/20) and 1840 census (age 20-29, born ca 1810/20). He wasn't home with them for the 1850 census, so perhaps he had married (or died) by then, or just moved out.

I have a very strong suspicion that this is Daniel P. Hensley (c1820), who was also listed as a head of household in 1840 very near William. At that time Daniel was unmarried and living alone, but it is possible he was counted at home as well. William's son William (Jr) named one of his kids Daniel Hensley. William's suspected son George named one of his kids Daniel P. Hensley, and William's suspected daugher Eliza Jane Hensley Coats also named one "Daniel P.", so it all seems to fit. See the Daniel P. Hensley page for more on him.

Unknown Son born ca 1820/25 or ca 1825/30. In the 1830 census, William had an apparent son age "under 5" or born ca 1825/30. In the 1840 census, he had an apparent son age 5-9 (born ca 1820/25). The only way to reconcile these would be for someone born ca 1825.

I have a strong suspicion that this is George W. Hensley (c1824), who in 1850, was very near William Hensley. See his own page for more information on him.

Unknown Daughter born ca 1820/25 or ca 1825/30. In the 1830 census, William had two apparent daughters age "under 5" or born ca 1825/30. In the 1840 census, only one of them was left, but she was listed age 15-19 or born ca 1820/25. This reconciles well with someone born ca 1825 (though either census could be mistaken). Whomever this was, she was gone by 1850, so probably had married (or died) by then.

This could be Eliza Jane Hensley born ca 1828 who married James Coats in 1848 in Hawkins Co, TN. Sherry Cruise says that Eliza Jane is a child of William and Barbary, so this fits, though it also possible that Eliza Jane was listed in the c1830/35 age group in 1840 if her ca 1828 birth year is off slightly.

Unknown Daughter born ca 1825/30. She was apparently with her parents for the 1830 census, but gone by 1840, so probably had married or died by then.

Unknown Son born ca 1830/35. He was home with his parents for the 1840 census, but gone by 1850, so possibly had married or died by then, or just moved out. I have no suspects as to who this might be.

Unknown Daughter born ca 1830/35. She was home with her parents for the 1840 census, but gone by 1850, so possibly had married or died by then, or just moved out. I have no suspects as to who this might be.

There is a Paulina Hensley (c1832) in Sullivan County, TN in 1850 with the James and Lucinda Booher family. She could be this unknown daughter of William and Barbary.

William Hensley was born ca 1836/37, presumably in Washington Co, TN. He was apparently home with his parents for the 1840 census (age "under 5", born ca 1835/40), and with them for sure in 1850 ("William" age 13).

William Hensley married Catherine Roulston on 22 Jun 1855 in Washington Co, TN. Catherine was born ca 1837/38 in Tennessee. I don't know who her parents were.

They were listed in Washington Co, TN for the 1860 census with some of Catherine's relatives (possibly her siblings) residing with them. They were 10 houses from Daniel P. Hensley (c1820), William's probable brother.

They were still in Washington County for the 1870 census: William Hensley-36, Catherine-33, Sarah-13, Mary A-10, Daniel-8, Martha E-7, B. Alice-5, George W-2, Florence-1/12 (May). (From "Hensley Households" by Laura Schreibman).

Leticia Hensley was born ca 1838/39, presumably in Washington Co, TN. No one this age was with the family in 1840, so her birth year may be off slightly. She was home with her parents for the 1850 census. I didn't find her in 1860, nor did I find a marriage record for someone of this name in either Washington or Hawkins Co, TN.

Thomas J. Hensley (1840 or c1842) was born 14 Apr 1840 in Sullivan Co, TN (per his death certificate). He was home with his parents for the 1850 census ("Thomas J." age 8), and with his widowed father for the 1860 census ("Thomas" age 21).

Thomas J. Hensley married Eliza J. --- ca 1860/66 in TN, possibly Sullivan County.

He was in Sullivan in 1880, with his widowed father residing with him. ** I don't have this entry typed up yet.

He died in Washington Co, TN in 1916 according to his death certificate (thanks to Sherry Cruise for that information).

Researcher List

1. William¹ Hensley , born 1796/97 in VA; died aft 1880 in Sullivan Co, TN. He married bef 1830 in Washington Co, TN Barbary Wolf , born 1801/02 in TN; died 1850/60 in Sullivan Co, TN or Washington Co, TN.

Children of William Hensley and Barbary Wolf were as follows:

+ 2 i Daniel P² Hensley , born 1819/20 in Washington Co, TN. He married (1) Sarah Klouse ; (2) Louisa (---) .

+ 3 ii George W² Hensley , born 1823/24 in TN. He married Margaret (---) .

+ 4 iii Mary² Hensley , born 1827/28 in Washington Co, TN. She married Walter Blevins .

5 iv Eliza Jane² Hensley , born 1828 in Washington Co, TN. She married on 11 May 1848 in Hawkins Co, TN James Coats .

+ 6 v William² Hensley , born 1836/37 in Washington Co, TN. He married Catherine Roulston .

7 vi Leticia² Hensley , born 1838/39 in Washington Co, TN.

+ 8 vii Thomas J² Hensley , born 14 Apr 1840 in Washington Co, TN; died 30 Jun 1916 in Washington Co, TN. He married Eliza J (---) .

Generation 2

2. Daniel P² Hensley (William¹), born 1819/20 in Washington Co, TN. He married (1) on 3 Dec 1842 in Washington Co, TN Sarah Klouse , born 1822/23 in Washington Co, TN; died 1850/60 in Washington Co, TN; (2) in 1850/60 in Washington Co, TN Louisa (---) , born 1826/27; died 1860/70 in Washington Co, TN.

Children of Daniel P Hensley and Sarah Klouse were as follows:

9 i Elizabeth³ Hensley , born 1842/43 in Washington Co, TN.

+ 10 ii Eliza J³ Hensley , born 1843/44 in Washington Co, TN. She married James H Meek .

11 iii Margaret E³ Hensley , born 1844/45 in Washington Co, TN.

12 iv Susan M³ Hensley , born 1846/47 in Washington Co, TN.

13 v Mary C³ Hensley , born 1848/49 in Washington Co, TN.

14 vi James H³ Hensley , born 1850 in Washington Co, TN.

15 vii Nancy S³ Hensley , born 1850/51 in Washington Co, TN.

3. George W² Hensley (William¹), born 1823/24 in TN. He married in 1840/46 in Sullivan Co, TN Margaret (---) , born 1825/26 in NC.

Children of George W Hensley and Margaret (---) were as follows:

16 i Daniel P³ Hensley , born 1845/46 in Sullivan Co, TN.

17 ii Thomas J³ Hensley , born 1847/48 in Sullivan Co, TN.

4. Mary² Hensley (William¹), born 1827/28 in Washington Co, TN. She married on 17 Jan 1847 in Washington Co, TN Walter Blevins , born 1825/26 in TN.

Children of Mary Hensley and Walter Blevins were as follows:

18 i William³ Blevins , born 1848/49 in Washington Co, TN or Sullivan Co, TN.

6. William² Hensley (William¹), born 1836/37 in Washington Co, TN. He married on 22 Jun 1855 in Washington Co, TN Catherine Roulston , born 1837/38 in TN.

Children of William Hensley and Catherine Roulston were as follows:

19 i Sarah³ Hensley , born 1856/57 in Washington Co, TN.

20 ii Mary A³ Hensley , born 1858/59 in Washington Co, TN.

21 iii Daniel³ Hensley , born 1861/62 in Washington Co, TN.

22 iv Martha E³ Hensley , born 1862/63 in Washington Co, TN.

23 v B Alice³ Hensley , born 1864/65 in Washington Co, TN.

24 vi George W³ Hensley , born 1867/68 in Washington Co, TN.

25 vii Florence³ Hensley , born May 1870 in Washington Co, TN.

8. Thomas J² Hensley (William¹), born 14 Apr 1840 in Washington Co, TN; died 30 Jun 1916 in Washington Co, TN. He married bef 1867 in Sullivan Co, TN Eliza J (---) , born 1829/30 in TN.

Children of Thomas J Hensley and Eliza J (---) were as follows:

26 i Elizabeth³ Hensley , born 1866/67 in Sullivan Co, TN.

27 ii Florence³ Hensley , born 1868/69 in Sullivan Co, TN.

Generation 3

10. Eliza J³ Hensley (Daniel P², William¹), born 1843/44 in Washington Co, TN. She married on 17 Jan 1866 in Washington Co, TN James H Meek , died 1866/70 in Washington Co, TN.

Children of Eliza J Hensley and James H Meek were as follows:

28 i William⁴ Meek , born 1867/68 in Washington Co, TN.