Willis Hensley (c1805) and Sophia Tucker of Bedford, Botetourt and Augusta Co., VA

Willis Hensley (c1805) and Sophronia W. Tucker of Bedford, Botetourt and Augusta Co., VA

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Revision History:

23 Feb 2009 New page by Marty Grant, relationship unknown.

Willis Hensley was born ca 1804/05 per his age on the 1850 census (45). He was born in Bedford Co., VA most likely.

He appears to be a son of Samuel Hensley and Sally Owen for he was named in the Will of James Owen as an heir. I don't have that record so I'm not sure what it says exactly. I think he is probably listed as a nephew or grandson.

His father died while Willis was under 10 years old, and his mother remarried (to Russell Barrack) and then she died soon after that. I don't have a record of it, but Willis was probably taken in and raised by an uncle or grandparents (James Owen perhaps).

On 12 Jan 1824 Willis Hensley was bondsman for the Bedford County marriage bond of Henry F. Hensley and Susan Tucker. Henry was Willis's first cousin. Susan was soon to be Willis's sister-in-law.

In 1827 James Owen made his Will in Bedford Co., VA naming heirs James O. Hensley, Willis Hensley and Samuel Hensley (and others presumably). I haven't seen this Will so I don't know who else might have been named, or whether the Hensleys were James's grandchildren or nephews. James Owens was the name of their grandfather but this may be a younger man of the same name.

On 30 Aug 1828 Willis Hensley obtained a marriage bond in Bedford Co., VA to marry Sophrony W. Tucker, daughter of Nancy King. John L. Hensley was bondsman. He was probably Willis's first cousin.

Sophronia W. Tucker was born 15 Aug 1809 per her parents family register. She was a daughter of Jesse Tucker and Nancy Lane (who married 2nd to Powell Ownsley and 3rd to Gilliam King, see Jesse Tucker's Revolutionary War Pension File).

They are on the 1830 census in Bedford. They are on the same page with John L. Hensley but not too close.

1830 census analysis (based on available evidence): (Explanation of this census)

1830 Bedford Co., VA page 155 Willis Hensley 0010100000000-1000100100000
Slaves=010010-100000

Analysis:

1 Male 20-29	(1800/1810)	Willis Hensley (c1805)

1 male 10-14	(1815/1820)	Son? Brother? Brother-in-law? Nephew?

1 Female 50-59	(1770/1780)	Mother-in-law?

1 Female 20-29	(1800/1810)	Sophronia Tucker Hensley (1809) wife

1 female 0-4	(1825/1830)	Sarah Hensley (c1830) daughter

3 Slaves

On 23 Jan 1835 Willis Hensley was bondsman for the marriage of Granville Tucker (his brother-in-law) to Nancy B. Hensley (his 1st cousin) daughter of William Hensley.

They are on the 1840 census in Bedford in the Northern District a couple of houses from Benjamin Hensley, his uncle.

1840 census analysis (based on available evidence): (Explanation of this census)

1840 Bedford Co., VA page 281 Willis Hensley 0100010000000-2200100000000
Slaves=(page missing)

Analysis:

1 Male 30-39	(1800/1810)	Willis Hensley (c1805)

1 male 5-9	(1830/1835)	Samuel Hensley (c1832) son

1 Female 20-29	(1810/1820)	Sophronia W. Tucker Hensley (1809) wife

2 females 5-9	(1830/1835)	1-Sarah Hensley (c1830) daughter

				2-Nancy Hensley (1830/35)

2 females 0-4	(1835/1840)	1-Mary V. Hensley (c1836) daughter

				2-Emily Hensley (c1840) daughter

They are on the 1850 census in neighboring Botetourt Co., VA.

1850 census abstract: (Explanation of this census)

Botetourt Co., VA PHF 119-1073-1073 Western District No. 8
Willis Hencely	45	M	Laborer	Virginia
Sophia	36	F		"
Sarah	20	F		"
Samuel	18	M	Laborer	"
Mary V.	14	F		"
Emily	10	F		"
Belodira	6	F		"
Virginia	3	F		"

Sophronia W. Tucker Hensley died sometime in the 1850's, probably in Botetourt Co., VA.

Willis is listed on the 1860 census a couple of counties north in Augusta Co., VA. I don't know what drew them up there. He was living with his married daughter and several of the younger children were with him as well.

1860 census abstract: (Explanation of this census)

Augusta Co., VA PHF 710-1669-1632 1^st District Staunton PO
Isaac C. Meyers	40	M	Farmer	6000	840	Virginia
Mary V.	22	F
Edward N.	4	M
Isaac N.	1	M
Belvidere M. Hensley	16	F
Virginia S.	13	F
Willis	53	M
Samuel Cox	25	M

I wasn't able to find Willis Hensley on the 1870 census. His daughter Mary Meyers and her family were still in Augusta that year but he wasn't with them. I didn't find him elsewhere either.

He was "back" in Augusta for the 1880 census. He was with daughter Emma Rains. He wasn't with them back in 1870.

1880 census abstract: (Explanation of this census)

Augusta Co., VA PHF 167-36-36 Part of Pastures District
Wm J. Rains	W M	39	Husband	M	Stone Cutter	VA-VA-VA
Emma E.	W F	40	Wife	M	Keeping House	VA-VA-VA
Julia E.	W F	14	Dau	S	At home	VA-VA-VA
William A.	W M	7	Son	S	At home	VA-VA-VA
Leona M.	W F	4	Dau	S	At home	VA-VA-VA
Frederick A.	W M	1	Son		At home	VA-VA-VA
Willis Hensley	W M	76	Father-L	W	Without Occupation	VA-VA-VA

I have a death date of 19 Mar 1886 for Willis Hensley. I don't know the source of that, but it could be accurate.

Children of Willis Hensley and Sophronia W. Tucker. The 1850 through 1880 census records prove six children. One daughter Nancy is proven by her 1848 marriage bond.

Researcher List

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See page for parents Samuel Hensley and Sally Owen
Marty Grant, relationship unknown.

Register Report

First Generation

1. Willis Hensley was born in 1804/1805 in Bedford Co, VA. He died on 19 Mar 1886 in Augusta Co, VA.

Willis married Sophronia W Tucker, daughter of Jesse Tucker and Nancy Lane, on 30 Aug 1828 in Bedford Co, VA. Sophronia was born in 15 Aug 1809 in Bedford Co, VA. She died in 1850/1860 in Botetourt Co, VA.

They had the following children.

2 F i. Sarah Hensley was born in 1829/1830 in Bedford Co, VA. She died after 1850 in Botetourt Co, VA.

3 F ii. Nancy Hensley was born in 1830/1835 in Bedford Co, VA. She died after 1848 in Botetourt Co, VA.

Nancy married Alexander Harris on 18 Dec 1848 in Botetourt Co, VA.

4 M iii. Samuel Hensley was born in 1831/1832 in Bedford Co, VA. He died after 1850 in Botetourt Co, VA.

+ 5 F iv. Mary V Hensley was born in 1835/1836. She died after 1870.

+ 6 F v. Emily Hensley was born in 1839/1840. She died after 1880.

7 M vi. Belvidere M Hensley was born in 1843/1844 in Bedford Co, VA. He died after 1860 in Augusta Co, VA.

8 F vii. Virginia S Hensley was born in 1846/1847 in Botetourt Co, VA. She died after 1860 in Augusta Co, VA.

Second Generation

5. Mary V Hensley (Willis) was born in 1835/1836 in Bedford Co, VA. She died after 1870 in Augusta Co, VA.

Mary married Isaac C Meyers in 1850/1855 in Botetourt Co, VA. Isaac was born in 1819/1820 in VA. He died after 1870 in Augusta Co, VA.

They had the following children.

9 M i. Edward N Meyers was born in 1855/1856 in Augusta Co, VA. He died after 1870 in Augusta Co, VA.

10 M ii. Isaac N Meyers was born in 1858/1859 in Augusta Co, VA. He died after 1870 in Augusta Co, VA.

11 M iii. William W Meyers was born in 1860/1861 in Augusta Co, VA. He died after 1870 in Augusta Co, VA.

12 M iv. Charles E Meyers was born in 1863/1864 in Augusta Co, VA. He died after 1870 in Augusta Co, VA.

13 M v. Dana Meyers was born in 1866/1867 in Augusta Co, VA. He died after 1870 in Augusta Co, VA.

6. Emily Hensley (Willis) was born in 1839/1840 in Bedford Co, VA. She died after 1880 in Augusta Co, VA.

Emily married William J Rains before 1867 in Augusta Co, VA. William was born in 1840/1841 in VA. He died after 1880 in Augusta Co, VA.

They had the following children.

14 F i. Julia E Rains was born in 1866/1867 in Augusta Co, VA. She died after 1880 in Augusta Co, VA.

15 M ii. Emmet A Rains was born in 1868/1869 in Augusta Co, VA. He died after 1870 in Augusta Co, VA.

16 M iii. William A Rains was born in 1872/1873 in Augusta Co, VA. He died after 1880 in Augusta Co, VA.

17 F iv. Leona M Rains was born in 1875/1876 in Augusta Co, VA. She died after 1880 in Augusta Co, VA.

18 M v. Frederick A Rains was born in 1878/1879 in Augusta Co, VA. He died after 1880 in Augusta Co, VA.