John Hensley (c1815) and Caroline Barnett of TN and Morgan and Marshall Co, AL

John Hensley was born ca 1814/15 (per 1850 census) in Tennessee (per 1850 census). I don't know what County he might have been born in. If his parents are who I suspect, then he was likely born in Knox County, Tennessee, but that is yet to be proven.

John Hensley could be a son of Ichabod Hensley (c1780/83) and Catherine Livingston, but I have no proof to back this up, just circumstantial evidence. Primarily two facts: One: John was born in TN (as was most of Ichabod's children), and two: John married in Morgan County, Alabama, where Ichabod resided. However, that is the extent of the evidence I have connecting them. Keep in mind that it is entirely possible that John was not Ichabod's son, but a son of someone else. It does seem likely that he was a brother to Miller Hensley (c1819), though his parentage is unproven as well..

For the 1820 census, John would have been either about 5 years old, so he should be enumerated in the age "under 10" category (born ca 1810/20). However, since the 1820 census is lost for half of Tennessee (the eastern half), there is no way to determine where he might have been that year.

For the 1830 census, John Hensley would have been about 15 years old, so he should be enumerated in either the age 10-14 category (born ca 1815/20) or the age 15-19 category (born ca 1810/15). Ichabod was in Morgan County, Alabama that year, and had one apparent son age 10-14, but there is no way to be sure it is John or not, but it could be. (Ichabod also has a suspected son named Rufus, born ca 1816 who should have been home in 1830 as well). Since he only had one apparent child in the appropriate age group, it may be evidence that Ichabod was not the father of John (and Miller) Hensley. I don't know if John would have been in Tennessee still in 1830, or already in Alabama, so it is difficult to judge where he might have been.

On 16 Nov 1836, John Hensley married Caroline Barnett in Morgan Co, AL. Caroline was born ca 1819/20 in Alabama. I don't know who her parents were. She probably had a brother named Francis Barnett (c1829 AL), who was with the family for the 1850 census.

John Hensley was listed on the 1840 census in Morgan Co, AL next to his probable brother Miller Hensley (c1819). No other Hensleys were listed in Morgan County that year.

In the year 1840, Marshall County (which bordered Morgan on the east side) gained a chunk of territory from Morgan. John Hensley and family and his brother Miller and his family evidently lived in this section for they were found in Marshall County after that (either that, or they actually moved into Marshall County in the 1840's).

John Hensley and family were listed on the 1850 census in Marshall County, Alabama, but not near any of the other Hensleys who were there that year.

Caroline and children were listed on the 1860 census in Marshall County, in fact, the only Hensleys in the county that year.

I have no data on Caroline after 1860, but her two sons were still in Marshall County in 1880 (with families of their own).

Children

John and Caroline had three apparent children per the 1850 and 1860 census. I have very little additional data on any of them yet. The two sons were married with families by 1880.

Researcher List

1. John¹ Hensley , born 1814/15 in TN; died 1850/60 in Marshall Co, AL, son of Ichabod Hensley and Catherine Livingston . He married on 16 Nov 1836 in Morgan Co, AL Caroline Barnett , born 1819/20 in AL; died aft 1860 in Marshall Co, AL.

Children of John Hensley and Caroline Barnett were as follows:

+ 2 i Harvey² Hensley , born 1840/41 in Marshall Co, AL; died aft 1880 in Marshall Co, AL. He married Alabama (---) .

3 ii Sarah L² Hensley , born 1844/45 in Marshall Co, AL.

+ 4 iii John J² Hensley , born 1850 in Marshall Co, AL; died aft 1880 in Marshall Co, AL. He married Rebecca (---) .

Generation 2

2. Harvey² Hensley (John¹), born 1840/41 in Marshall Co, AL; died aft 1880 in Marshall Co, AL. He married bef 1867 in Marshall Co, AL Alabama (---) , born 1841/42 in AL.

Children of Harvey Hensley and Alabama (---) were as follows:

5 i Marietta³ Hensley , born 1866/67 in Marshall Co, AL.

6 ii William F³ Hensley , born 1870/71 in Marshall Co, AL.

7 iii Isabella³ Hensley , born 1873/74 in Marshall Co, AL.

8 iv Ida³ Hensley , born 1875/76 in Marshall Co, AL.

4. John J² Hensley (John¹), born 1850 in Marshall Co, AL; died aft 1880 in Marshall Co, AL. He married bef 1873 in Marshall Co, AL Rebecca (---) , born 1851/52 in AL.

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

9 i Walter³ Hensley , born 1872/73 in Marshall Co, AL.

10 ii Zolbee³ Hensley , born 1874/75 in Marshall Co, AL.

11 iii William³ Hensley , born 1875/76 in Marshall Co, AL.

12 iv Josie³ Hensley , born 1877/78 in Marshall Co, AL.