Ichabod Hensley (c1780/82) and Catherine Livingston of Washington Co, VA and Knox Co, TN and Morgan Co, AL

I (Marty Grant) am not related to Ichabod Hensley as far as I know, however, there is a strong possibility he is an uncle (or at least a cousin) of mine.

Special thanks to Joyce Petty Cooper and Laura Schreibman for data shared on this family.

Ichabod Hensley was born ca 1780/90 (per 1830 census). He first appeared on the tax list in 1798, and you had to be at least 16 to be listed that year, so that puts his birth at ca 1782 or before. That works out to ca 1780/82. He was likely born in Virginia, presumably in Washington County, though that is not proven. He was born in Virginia though. There were several other men named Ichabod Hensley also, all seemingly related, so it is possible that I've mixed up some of their records.

Ichabod's parents are not known for sure, but he could be the same Ichabod who is a son of my ancestors Larkin Hensley (c1761) and Sarah ---. Court records in Scott County, Virginia show an "Ichabod C. Hensley" as part of that family. The big question has been whether this is the Ichabod in question, or if it was one of the others. So far it is still up in the air whether it was this one or not. The main problem is the "C" middle initial This Ichabod under study here has not been found on any records with a middle initial, though it is possible he had one.

Ichabod was probably home with his parents for the 1790 census, but unfortunately, this census was lost for Virginia.

"Icabod Hensley" was listed as a member of the Washington Co, VA Militia (2nd Battalion, 70th Regiment) in 1798. He was probably 15 or so at that time or close to it.

Ichabod was probably still home with his parents for the 1800 census, but once again that census is lost for Virginia.

Sometime around this time, Ichabod Hensley married Catherine Livingston in Washington Co, VA. Catherine was a daughter of Samuel Livingston and Phoebe Head (per other researchers). I don't have a birth date for Catherine, but she was probably born around the same time as Ichabod (1780's). I have found no primary source document proving this marriage or even that Ichabod's wife was named Catherine.

In 1804, Ichabod was listed as a member of the Washington Co, VA Militia (2nd Battalion, 105th Regiment).

Also in 1804 he was listed on the Washington Co, VA Tax list. He was listed with one male over age 16.

He was also listed on the 1805 tax list in Washington County he had one male over 16, and 3 horses.

He was not listed on the 1806, or 1807 tax list for Washington County, though it is likely he was still living in Virginia somewhere.

On 16 Apr 1807 Ichabod Hensley was tried in Knox Co, TN for petty larceny, but was found not guilty. Presumably, this is the same Ichabod. (Knox Co, TN Minute Book 6, Thanks to Joyce Petty Cooper for this fact).

On 18 Sep 1809 Ichabod Hensley signed as bondsman for the marriage of Rhoda Hensley to Daniel Casteel. Rhoda is a daughter of Larkin Hensley (c1761). Rhoda was either Ichabod's sister, or his niece, or at the least his cousin.

For the 1810 census, it seems likely that Ichabod Hensley would have been listed in Knox Co, TN. However, the 1810 census is lost for Tennessee.

On 4 Apr 1810, Ichabod Hensley was listed on a Knox Co, TN jury. (Knox Co, TN Minute Book 7 page 101, Thanks to Joyce Petty Cooper for this fact).

One of the Ichabods was a War of 1812 soldier from Knox Co, TN. However, while it is tempting to say it was this one, it seems more likely that it was one of the others. The record shows that it was Ichabod C. Hensley who enlisted in Capt. Reuben Tipton's Volunteer Company of Mounted Gunmen as a 3rd Sgt. The record also showed he was age 20-22 at the time (20 Sep 1814) so this particular Ichabod was born ca 1792/94. This probably means it was Ichabod C. Hensley (c1790/1800) of TN and MO. This also shows that there were two Ichabod Hensleys in Knox County at the same time.

In April 1818, Ichabod Hensley served on a jury in Knox County. (Thanks to Joyce Petty Cooper for this fact)

On 14 Oct 1819 State of Tennessee advertised for sale (by right of occupancy and pre-emption) a tract of land granted by the state for 159 1/2 acres to William Hensley. Ichabod Hensley bit $7.00 and purchased the land. (Thanks to Joyce Petty Cooper for this fact).

I don't know who this William Hensley was, but I strongly suspect it was one of the several Washington County, Virginia Williams.

For the 1820 census, Ichabod was probably still in Knox County, Tennessee, however, this census is lost for all of eastern Tennessee, including Knox County.

On 5 Oct 1820, Ichabod Hensley sold the land he purchased in 1819, to John Houser. (Thanks to Joyce Petty Cooper for this fact).

Sometime in 1820 (probably around October when he sold the above land), Ichabod and family moved to Cotaco County, Alabama (which was renamed "Morgan" County in 1821).

On 28 Nov 1822, Ichabod Hensley "of Cotaco Co, AL" received a Land Patent for 80.67 acres in Morgan County, described as being in Section 18, Township 6-S, Range 4-W.

On 3 Mar 1823, Ichabod Hensley was made a Constable in Morgan Co, AL. (Thanks to Joyce Petty Cooper for this fact).

On 8 May 1824, Cathy Hensley was listed as a member of the Flint, Alabama Baptist Church. (Thanks to Joyce Petty Cooper for this fact).

It appears that Catherine Livingston Hensley died between 1824 and 1830, presumably in Morgan County, Alabama.

For the 1830 census, Ichabod Hensley was in Morgan County, Alabama. with 3 children still at home.

Ichabod apparently died sometime between 1830 and 1840 in Morgan County, Alabama. He was not found there (or elsewhere) on the 1840 census.

Children

Ichabod and Catherine had several apparent children, though none are proven as far as I know. However the following list is based on circumstantial evidence as well as some family tradition showing some of these as siblings to each other. Also consider John Hensley (c1815) and Miller Hensley (c1819) as somehow connected to Ichabod (they both married in Morgan County, AL). This list below is compiled based on data from the research of Joyce Petty Cooper and Laura Schreibman.

Sarah Hensley was born ca 1800 (source?), probably in Washington Co, VA. I have no proof that she is a child of Ichabod Hensley, but she seems connected somehow. She might be a sister to John Hensley (c1815) and Miller Hensley (c1819) since her husband was listed next to them on the 1840 census in Morgan Co, AL.

Sarah was presumably home with her parents for the 1800, 1810 and 1820 census, though those records are all lost for Ichabod Hensley.

On 15 Sep 1821, Sarah Hensley married Joseph Webster in Limestone Co, AL. So far I have no additional data on Joseph.

It has occurred to me that this Sarah is not a child of Ichabod at all, but someone about his same age (a possible sister, or widowed sister-in-law perhaps?). I base this on two things, first of all a "Sarah Hansley" was listed on the 1820 tax list for Morgan Co, AL, and that was just a year before this Sarah married in neighboring Limestone County. I did not find Joseph Webster on the 1830 census, but in 1840 a "J. Webster" was in Morgan County next to John and Miller Hensley, and this J. Hensley's apparent wife was born ca 1780/90 (roughly the same age as Ichabod Hensley!). If this is Sarah and her husband, then she is much older than Ichabod's children. This might not be Joseph at all in 1840, or it could be, but perhaps Sarah had died by then, and he had remarried. There are several possibilities.

There was a "J. Webster" listed on the 1840 census in Morgan Co, AL next to John Hensley (c1815) and Miller Hensley (c1819), possible siblings of Sarah. However, this J. Webster may or may not be Joseph Webster. He was born ca 1790/1800 with apparent wife born ca 1780/90. IF this is Joseph Webster and wife Sarah, then she is much older than I thought. However, there is a Joseph Webster listed on the 1840 census in neighboring Madison Co, AL. This Joseph was born ca 1810/20 with apparent wife the same age. This couple seems to be too young to be our Joseph Webster, so the "J. Webster" in 1840 Morgan is a much better suspect.

I did not find Joseph Webster on the 1850 census. There was an apparent widow Sarah Webster (c1795 VA) in neighboring Marshall County, AL, though I don't think that is Sarah Hensley Webster, but I could be wrong about that. She was in the same district as (and just 2 pages away from) Michael Hensley (c1824 TN). This may just be a coincidence though. I did not find any other Joseph or Sarah in Alabama (or in Texas where other Hensleys in this family later moved).

Phoebe Hensley was born ca 1802 (source?), probably in Washington Co, VA. I have no proof that she is a child of Ichabod Hensley, but she seems connected somehow. The only thing linking them is that she married in Limestone Co, AL in 1825, just 4 years after Sarah Hensley married there. This may show that she and Sarah were sister, or maybe not. However, I'll leave her here pending evidence to the contrary. If she is Ichabod's child, she was probably named after grandmother Phoebe Head Livingston.

Phoebe was presumably home with her parents for the 1810 and 1820 census, though those records are all lost for Ichabod Hensley.

On 11 Jul 1825 Phoebe Hensley married Harmon King in Limestone County, Alabama. So far I have no additional data on Harmon King.

There was a Harmon King in 1830 in Morgan Co, IN. He was born ca 1800/10 with a wife the same age, and no children. This could be the same Harmon who married Phoebe. However, I have no additional information on this Harmon, so I can't confirm or refute the idea.

Susan Hensley was born ca 1804 (source?), probably in Washington Co, VA. I have no proof that she is a child of Ichabod Hensley, but she seems connected somehow. She did marry in Morgan Co, AL when Ichabod was living there, and her family also went to Cherokee Co, TX as did some of Ichabod's children.

Susan was probably home with her parents for the 1810 and 1820 census, though those records are all lost for Ichabod Hensley.

She would have been about 26 years old in 1830, and might be home with her father Ichabod, as he did have an apparent daughter her age with him that year (age 20-29, born ca 1800/10), though it might not be her. Susan's alleged sister Agness had an "extra" female with her in 1830, and that could be Susan or sister Margaret. It is very likely one of them, though there is no way to be sure which one was where.

On 17 Jun 1837 Susan Hensley married Perry Denton in Morgan Co, AL. I have no additional data on Perry Denton.

Notes shared with me by Laura Schreibman shows that the Dentons were in Cherokee Co, TX at some point. I have no additional data on them.

Margaret Hensley was born ca 1806 (source?), probably in Washington Co, VA. I have no proof that she is a child of Ichabod Hensley, but she seems connected somehow. She did marry in Cherokee Co, TX when Ichabod's children were living there.

Margaret was probably home with her parents for the 1810 and 1820 census, though those records are all lost for Ichabod Hensley.

In 1830, Margaret would have been about 24 years old, so she should be enumerated in the 20-29 age group (born ca 1800/10), and Ichabod Hensley did have an apparent daughter that age.

Shared research shows that Margaret married a widower Jesse Blackburn Wallace on 25 Feb 1851 in Cherokee Co, TX.

Agness Hensley was born ca 1807/08 (per 1860 census) in Virginia (per 1860 census), probably in Washington County. I have no proof that she is a child of Ichabod Hensley, but she seems connected somehow. She did marry in Morgan Co, AL and move to Cherokee Co, TX just like other members of Ichabod's family.

Agness was probably home with her parents for the 1810 and 1820 census, though those records are all lost for Ichabod Hensley.

On 16 Oct 1824, Agnes Hensley married John A. Love in neighboring Limestone County, Alabama. John was born ca 1803/04 in South Carolina (both facts per 1860 census). I don't know who his parents are.

John Love was listed on the 1830 census in Morgan Co, AL next door to father-in-law Ichabod Hensley. They had an extra female in the 20-29 age group (born ca 1800/10), which is most likely one of Agness' sisters, probably Margaret or Susan.

They were still in Morgan County for the 1840 census, but not listed near any of the other Hensleys. They had an extra male (born ca 1810/20) with them, probably one of Agness' brothers, probably Rufus Hensley (c1816) who was still single at that time.

I did not find them on the 1850 census. They may have been en-route to Texas when the census taker came around, and got missed, not appearing in Alabama nor in Texas.

They were listed on the 1860 census in Cherokee Co, TX, though not near their Hensley relatives who also moved there.

Samuel Hensley was born ca 1813/14 in Tennessee, probably Knox County. He is not a proven child of Ichabod Hensley, but it seems likely that he is his child.

Samuel Hensley married Orleana Stover on 8 Feb 1838 in Lawrence Co, AL, and lived in Morgan Co, AL and moved to Cherokee Co, TX ca 1850-53.

Rufus Hensley was born ca 1815/16 in Tennessee, probably Knox County. He is not a proven child of Ichabod Hensley, but it seems likely that he is his child.

Rufus Hensley married Mary Watkins on 22 Feb 1844 in Limestone Co, AL, and lived in Morgan Co, AL and moved to Cherokee Co, TX ca 1850-53.

Mary Hensley was born ca 1820 (source?) in Tennessee or possibly Alabama. She is not a proven child of Ichabod Hensley, but it seems likely that she is his child. She married in Morgan Co, AL, and Ichabod did have an apparent daughter her age (per 1830 census).

Mary was apparently home with Ichabod for the 1830 census (age 10-14, born ca 1815/20).

Mary Hensley married James Moseley on 5 Jan 1840 in Morgan Co, AL. I have no data on James so far.

Researcher List

1. Ichabod¹ Hensley , born 1780/83 in Washington Co, VA; died 1830/40 in Morgan Co, AL. He married abt 1799 in Washington Co, VA Catherine Livingston , born in Washington Co, VA; died bef 1830 in Morgan Co, AL, daughter of Samuel Livingston and Phoebe Head .

Children of Ichabod Hensley and Catherine Livingston were as follows:

2 i Sarah² Hensley , born 1800. She married on 15 Sep 1821 in Limestone Co, AL Joseph Webster , born 1790/1800.

3 ii Phoebe² Hensley , born 1802. She married on 11 Jul 1825 in Limestone Co, AL Harmon King .

4 iii Susan² Hensley , born 1804 in Washington Co, VA. She married on 17 Jun 1837 in Morgan Co, AL Perry Denton .

5 iv Margaret² Hensley , born 1806 in Washington Co, VA. She married on 25 Feb 1851 in Cherokee Co, TX Jesse Blackburn Wallace .

+ 6 v Agness² Hensley , born 1807/08 in Washington Co, VA; died aft 1860 in Cherokee Co, TX. She married John A Love .

+ 7 vi Samuel² Hensley , born 1813/14 in TN; died aft 1860 in Cherokee Co, TX. He married Orleana Stover .

+ 8 vii Rufus² Hensley , born 1815/16 in TN; died aft 1880 in Cherokee Co, TX. He married Mary Watkins .

9 viii Mary² Hensley , born 1820. She married on 5 Jan 1840 in Morgan Co, AL James Moseley .

Generation 2

6. Agness² Hensley (Ichabod¹), born 1807/08 in Washington Co, VA; died aft 1860 in Cherokee Co, TX. She married on 16 Oct 1824 in Limestone Co, AL John A Love , born 1803/04 in SC; died aft 1860 in Cherokee Co, TX.

Children of Agness Hensley and John A Love were as follows:

10 i Charles T³ Love , born 1843/44 in Morgan Co, AL.

11 ii Nicy A³ Love , born 1845/46 in Morgan Co, AL.

12 iii Laura M³ Love , born 1847/48 in Morgan Co, AL.

7. Samuel² Hensley (Ichabod¹), born 1813/14 in TN; died aft 1860 in Cherokee Co, TX. He married on 8 Feb 1838 in Lawrence Co, AL Orleana Stover , born 1819/20 in AL; died aft 1860 in Cherokee Co, TX.

Children of Samuel Hensley and Orleana Stover were as follows:

+ 13 i John³ Hensley , born 1838/39 in Morgan Co, AL. He married Emily (---) .

14 ii Malinda³ Hensley , born 1840/41 in Morgan Co, AL.

15 iii Mary S³ Hensley , born 1842/43 in Morgan Co, AL.

16 iv Sarah Margaret³ Hensley , born 1844/45 in Morgan Co, AL.

17 v Jane³ Hensley , born 1846/47 in Morgan Co, AL.

18 vi Rebecca A³ Hensley , born 1847/48 in Morgan Co, AL.

19 vii Madison³ Hensley , born 1848/49 in Morgan Co, AL.

20 viii C³ Hensley , born 1849/50 in Morgan Co, AL.

21 ix M³ Hensley , born 1852/53 in Cherokee Co, TX.

22 x E³ Hensley , born 1854/55 in Cherokee Co, TX.

23 xi Elijah³ Hensley , born 1855/56 in Cherokee Co, TX.

24 xii G W³ Hensley , born 1860 in Cherokee Co, TX.

8. Rufus² Hensley (Ichabod¹), born 1815/16 in TN; died aft 1880 in Cherokee Co, TX. He married on 22 Feb 1844 in Limestone Co, AL Mary Watkins , born 1815/16 in AL; died aft 1880 in Cherokee Co, TX.

Children of Rufus Hensley and Mary Watkins were as follows:

25 i C Elizabeth³ Hensley , born 1843/44 in Morgan Co, AL. She married in 1860/80 in Cherokee Co, TX (---) Page , died bef 1880 in Cherokee Co, TX.

26 ii Mary Ann³ Hensley , born 1846/47 in Morgan Co, AL.

27 iii Samuel³ Hensley , born 1850/51 in Morgan Co, AL.

28 iv W Thomas³ Hensley , born 1853/54 in Cherokee Co, TX. He married bef 1880 in Cherokee Co, TX Nannie (---) , born 1858/59 in TX.

29 v J W³ Hensley , born 1855/56 in Cherokee Co, TX.

30 vi Francis³ Hensley , born 1857/58 in Cherokee Co, TX.

Generation 3

13. John³ Hensley (Samuel², Ichabod¹), born 1838/39 in Morgan Co, AL. He married in 1850/60 in Cherokee Co, TX Emily (---) , born 1840/41 in AL.

Children of John Hensley and Emily (---) were as follows:

31 i L⁴ Hensley , born 1860 in Cherokee Co, TX.