Marty and Karla Grant

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Zachariah Hensley (c1794-1874) and Jane Magee of Washington and Scott Co., VA, Morgan and Wolfe Co., KY

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Zachariah Hensley is my 1^st cousin, 6 times removed. His father, Fielding, is a proven brother of my ancestor Larkin Hensley.

Special Thanks to Ruthe Muench and Laura Schreibman for information shared on this family.

Zachariah Hensley was born ca 1793/94 per his age of 56 on the 1850 and 76 on the 1870 census and 77 on an 1871 affidavit. Those all agree with a ca 1793/94 birth year.

Zachariah is a proven son of Fielding Hensley and Nancy Cornett as named in a 1833 court case (see Fielding’s page for more on that.)

It seems likely that Zachariah was named for the older Zachariah Hensley (c1752-aft 1774) who was probably his uncle.

If he was born ca 1794, he would have turned 16 by ca 1810 but he did not appear on the personal property tax lists with his father in Washington Co., VA for 1810, 1811 or 1812. However, by 1813 Fielding did have two males over 16 at home, one of whom was Fielding himself, the other was likely Zachariah.

Zachariah does not seem to be listed with Fielding on his 1814 tax list entry. This could be because he was in the military by then. See below.

For the War of 1812 (1812-1815), Zachariah Hensley served in Capt. Willie Jones Company, Virginia Militia (Pension File SC-14350). His pension application has some family information in it, but not much.

In 1814 Scott County was formed from the western part of Washington, taking several of the Hensleys into the new county, including Fielding, Zachariah, et al.

Zachariah Hensley is not listed on the 1815 or 1816 tax lists in Scott (or in Washington) Co., VA, nor does he seem to be residing with Fielding.

In Scott County Court in Dec 1816, Zachariah Hensley was recommended to be an Ensign in the South Battalion of the Militia. (Scott Co., VA Court Minute Book 1.)

Zachariah Hensley was listed on the 1817 tax list in Scott Co., VA with 1 white male over 16, and no horses.

On 18 Mar 1818 (from pension) Zachariah Hensley married Jane Magee in Scott Co., VA. They were married by James Gibson at the home of Samuel Magee. Jane Magee (or McGee) was born ca 1794/94 (per age of 56 on 1850 census). I don't know who her parents were, though Samuel Magee could be her father since she married in his home. I think she has a brother named Samuel also, born ca 1787. They may have a sister named Elizabeth Magee (c1799) who married Zachariah Hensley’s brother William in 1827.

Zachariah Hensley was on the 1818 tax list in Scott Co., VA with 1 white male over 16, and 1 horse.

Zach. Hensley was on the 1819 tax list with 1 white male over 16, and 1 horse.

Zach. Hensley was on the 1820 tax list with 1 white male over 16, and 2 horses.

Zachariah Hensley was listed on the 1820 census in Scott Co., VA. Unfortunately, this census was alphabetical, so I can't tell who his neighbors were.

1820 Census, Scott Co., VA p. 10/517/430, Zachariah Hensley age 26-44 (1775/1794)

000010-20010

Zach. Hensley was on the 1821 tax list with 1 white male over 16, and 1 horse.

Zach. Hensley was on the 1822 tax list with 1 white male over 16, and 4 horses.

Zach. Hensley was on the 1823 tax list with 1 white male over 16, and 3 horses.

Zach. Hensley was on the 1824 tax list with 1 white male over 16, and 4 horses.

Zach. Hensley was on the 1825 tax list with 1 white male over 16, and either 2 or 3 horses.

Zach. Hensley was on the 1826 tax list with 1 white male over 16, and 4 horses.

Zach. Hensley was on the 1827 tax list with 1 white male over 16, and 5 horses.

Zach. Hensley was on the 1828 tax list with 1 white male over 16, and 4 horses.

On 13 Nov 1828 “On the application of James Larky it is ordered that John Larky, William Agee & Zachariah Hensley be added to the viewers ...” for a new road from Hensleys Gap to the Poor Valley. (Scott Co., VA Court Minute Book).

Zach. Hensley was on the 1829 tax list with 1 white male over 16, and 6 horses.

On 9 Feb 1829, Zachariah Hensley obtained a State Land Grant of 28 acres on the North Fork of Holston River in Scott Co., VA. (Land Office Grants No. 78, 1828-1830, p. 73 (Reel 144))

Zach. Hensley was on the 1830 tax list with 1 white male over 16, and 7 horses.

Zachariah Hensley was listed on the 1830 census in Scott Co., VA. Unfortunately, this census was alphabetical, so I can't tell who his neighbors were.

1830 Census, Scott Co., VA p. 14, Zacheriah Hensley age 30-39 (1790/1800)

220001-011011

Zach. Hensley was on the 1831 tax list in Scott Co., VA with 1 white male over 16, and 8 horses.

Zach. Hensley was on the 1832 tax list with 1 white male over 16, and 6 horses.

Zach. Hensley was on the 1833 tax list with 1 white male over 16, and 4 horses.

Zach. Hensley was on the 1834 tax list with 1 white male over 16, and 3 horses.

Zach. Hensley was on the 1835 tax list with 1 white male over 16, and 1 horse.

Zach. Hensley was on the 1836 tax list with 1 white male over 16, and 3 horses.

He wasn't listed on the 1837 tax list for some reason.

Zach. Hensley was on the 1838 Scott Co., VA tax list with 2 white males over 16, and 4 horses. This second white male over 16 may be his oldest son Edward or someone else.

Zach. Hensley was on the 1839 Scott Co., VA tax list with 2 white males over 16, and 3 horses.

Zachariah Hensley was listed on the 1840 census in Scott Co., VA. He wasn't listed near any of the other Hensley households. He was listed between John Goode and David McHenry.

1840 Census, Scott Co., VA p. 9/287, Zach. Hensley age 40-49 (1790/1800)

0122001-1102101

On 16 Apr 1840 James Larkey brought a suit against Nancy Hensley widow of Fielding Hensley, deceased, and administratrix of his estate, Zachariah Hensley and the other heirs of Fielding were named in the suit, thus proving they are his children.

Zachariah Hensley and family were listed on the 1850 census in Scott Co., VA. They were not listed near any other Hensley households. Zachariah’s sister, Barbara Hensley, was residing with them.

1850 census, Scott Co., VA, Western District, p. 400B, house 647, family 674

Zachariah and family left Virginia and moved to Morgan Co., KY in the 1850s joining several of their sons who preceded them there.

They were listed on the 1860 census in Morgan Co., KY. The nearest other Hensley to them was only 19 households distant, William Hensley (c1824) whose relationship to Zachariah is unknown. William was born in Kentucky and was living in Breathitt Co., VA in 1850. Although I believe almost all Hensleys are related, the connection here may be distant and their proximity coincidental.

1860 Census, Morgan Co., KY, 2^nd Division, West Liberty PO, p. 64, house 415, family 415

They were in neighboring Wolfe Co., KY for 1870 census. They may not have moved at all for Wolfe and Morgan had some border adjustments in the 1860s, and they might have lived in the area that was exchanged.

1870 Census, Wolfe Co., KY, Precinct No 1, Hazle Green PO, p. 400, house 16, family 16

Zachariah Hensley died in Wolfe Co., KY on 23 Dec 1874 as recorded in the county death register. He was listed as 82, married, a farmer, born Virginia, parents named Nancy & Fielding Hensley, father born Virginia, mother born Kentucky (which is wrong.)

Jane Magee Hensley died in Wolfe Co., KY on 8 Jan 1878 as recorded in the county death register. She was listed as 84, widowed, cause of death: old age, born Washington Co., VA, parents Samuel and Mary Magee, father born Ireland, mother born Virginia.

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Children

Zachariah and Jane have ten children, most of whom are proven by the 1850, 1860 and 1870 census records. I’ll go over them each in brief. Refer to the family group sheets for more information on them and their families.

 

1.         Elizabeth Hensley was born 15 Feb 1819 per her tombstone. She seems to be home with her parents in 1820, 1830 and 1840, and is with them in 1850. She married William Horton on 26 Jan 1853 in Scott Co., VA. She remained in Scott County when the rest of her family moved to Kentucky. She died in Scott in 1894 and is buried at the Horton Cemetery in Rye Cove. She can be found on the 1860 and 1870 census in Scott Co., VA, and perhaps on the 1880 census in Russell Co., VA though I’m not sure that’s her or not.

 

2.         Mary A. Hensley was born ca 1821/22 per her age on the 1850 and 1860 census. She was with her parents in 1830, 1840, 1850 and 1860. She married Lewis Power(s) on 27 Mar 1865 in Morgan Co., KY. They can be found on the 1870 census in neighboring Magoffin Co., KY and the 1880 census back in Morgan Co., KY. He died in Wolfe Co., KY in 1893. I don’t know when she died. It doesn’t seem that they had any children. He had some from a prior marriage.

 

3.         John M. Hensley was born Jan 1822 (per 1900 census) or ca 1822/23 per his ages on the 1860, 1870 and 1880 census, however, in 1850 he was listed 25, or born ca 1824/25. He was with his parents in 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860 and 1870. In 1880 he was with his brother Andrew, still single at age 57 in Wolfe Co., KY. in 1900 he was in neighboring Meniffee Co., KY, age 78, still single. I didn’t find him in 1910 so probably dead by then.

 

4.         Edward A. Hensley was born ca 1823/24 per his age on the 1850, 1860 and 1870 census. He seems to be home with his parents in 1830 and 1840, but by 1850 had already moved to Kentucky. The proof that he is indeed a child of Zachariah is that Edward’s children were living with Zachariah in 1870. Furthermore, Joseph, a proven son of Zachariah, was living with Edward in 1860. Edward married Rose Ann Trimble before 1850 in Morgan Co., KY. Her maiden name is proven by the death certificates of some of their children. Edward can be found on the 1850 and 1860 census in Morgan Co., KY and the 1870 and 1880 census in Wolfe Co., KY. I didn’t find him in 1900 so perhaps dead by then.

 

5.         Andrew Campbell Hensley was born ca 1827/28 per his ages on the 1850 and 1880 census, or ca 1826/27 per his ages on the 1860 and 1870 censuses. Those can all be reconciled to ca 1827. He seems to be with his parents on the 1830 and 1840 census. He preceded them to KY where he was listed in 1850 with the William Trimble family (parents of his brother Edward’s wife.) He was with his own parents in 1860 and 1870. In 1880 he was head of household in Wolfe Co., KY with his brother John and sister Nancy residing with him. He was 52 and single at the time. I was unable to find him on the 1900 or 1910 census, so probably died between 1880 and 1900.

 

6.         Harvey F. Hensley was born 10 Feb 1829 (per his tombstone). He seems to be with his parents in 1830 and 1840. In 1850 he is living with his brother Edward in Morgan Co., KY, age 20, listed as a Clerk. I originally read this entry as “Harry” which is a common nickname for “Henry.” However, upon my second reading I though it might actually say “Harvey” instead of Harry. Further investigation seems to support that it is indeed Harvey. H. F. Hensley married Lucinda J. Brawner on 27 Oct 1857 in neighboring Owsley Co., KY. They were in Owsley for the 1860 census. They moved to Parker Co., TX by ca 1864 and were listed there on the 1870 census. Harvey died there in 1879, Lucinda in 1909.

 

7.         Nancy C. Hensley was born ca 1832/33 per her age on the 1850 and 1880 census, or ca 1831/32 per her age in 1870. Those all reconcile to ca 1832. She seems to be with her parents in 1840 and is definitely with them in 1850. On 23 Dec 1852, Nancy C. Hensley married Charles Rice in Scott Co., VA. Charles Rice has been a bit illusive. On the 1850 census in Scott County there was a Charles Rice age 60 with wife Polly. They were both still in Scott for the 1860 census, so he isn't the one. Another Charles in Scott in 1850 was just a child age 6, so he’s far too young to be the one. Charles (Sr) had a son Charles Lewis Rice (c1833), but he was still home with his parents in 1860, no sign of Nancy, so he isn't the one either, unless they separated or something, which is possible, of course. Nancy was not found on the 1860 census. However, by 1870 she was in Wolfe Co., KY with her parents listed as Nancy Rice age 38. In 1880 she was still in that county, now living with her brothers Andrew and John Hensley, listed as Nancy Rice, 47, widowed. I didn’t find her on the 1900 census so perhaps dead by then.

 

8.         Joseph C. Hensley was born ca 1833/34 per his age of 16 on the 1850 census. He appears to be home with his parents for the 1840 census, and was definitely with them in 1850. For the 1860 census he was with his brother Edward in Morgan Co., KY listed as a merchant. I couldn't find him in 1870. By 1874 he was in Parker Co., TX where his brother Harvey had also gone. He married there on 31 Dec 1874 to Fannie Sweatt. They were in Parker for the 1880 census. Fannie died in 1898 in Ward Co., TX. I didn’t find Joseph on the 1900 census. Two of his daughters were in Ward with relatives on their mothers side. Joseph was on the 1910 and 1920 census in Roger Mills Co., OK. He died there in 1920.

 

9.         Jane Hensley was born ca 1835/36 per her age of 14 on the 1850 census. She appears to be home with her parents for the 1840 census and with them in 1850 in Scott Co., VA. She was not with them in 1860, nor found elsewhere, but was back with them for the 1870 census. I didn't find her in 1880, nor did I find a marriage record for her in the 1870s.

 

10.       Margaret Hensley was born ca 1843/44 per her age of 6 on the 1850 census. She was with her parents in 1850, 1860 and 1870. I didn't find her in 1880, nor did I find a marriage record for her in the 1870s.

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Click here for family group sheets of this family. Other notes and sources might be listed there.

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Revised: February 2, 2022

Copyright © 1996-2022 Marvin A. Grant, Jr. All Rights Reserved.

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