Peter Hensley and Sarah (---) of TN, AL and Wright Co., MO

Peter Hensley and Sarah (---) of TN, AL and Wright Co., MO

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The author (Marty Grant) is not related to Peter Hensley as far as can be determined.

Peter Hensley was born ca 1811/12 per his age of 38 on the 1850 census. He was born in Tennessee (proven by same source), county unknown.

I don't know who Peter's parents were, but it would appear that he is closely related to Stephen H. Hensley (c1823) who lived just three houses from his widow's family on the 1860 census. I would guess that he was Peter's brother, I can't prove that but it seems likely. Stephen was born in TN (county unknown), lived in Monroe Co., TN in the 1840's, Warren Co., TN in the 1850's, and came to Wright Co., MO in the 1850's. Peter might have connections to those counties as well but I haven't found them yet.

The 1820 census is lost for eastern Tennessee, but the 1830 census is extant. Peter would have been about 18 then, so probably wasn't a head of household yet. Several of the Hensleys in Tennessee had apparent sons in his age group (15-19) on the 1830 census. No way to know which of them (if any) were him.

Peter Hensley married Sarah (---) sometime before ca 1834 based on the birth date of their first known child. I would assume they married in TN since the oldest children were born there (ca 1834, 1836 and 1838.)

I have not found absolute proof that Sarah (of 1850, 1860 and 1870 Wright Co., MO) is the wife/widow of Peter Hensley but it seems very likely. Some of her children were born in Alabama (ca 1840 and later), and Peter was listed on the 1840 census in Cherokee Co., AL where the other Hensleys of 1840 Alabama are all identified. Sarah was listed as an apparent widow on the 1850 census in Wright Co., MO. Peter was listed on the Mortality Schedule of that same census as having died in that county in March 1850. All circumstantial evidence, but very strong and very compelling. Also his 1840 census enumerations are an excellent match for her family members.

The 1840 census shows "P. Hensley" in Cherokee County, Alabama. He is in the same county with several Henslee families, though not listed near them. His surname is spelled with the "ey" on this census where they are all spelled "ee." They are: William Henslee, C.P. Henslee, J. J. Henslee, Mary Henslee and D. S. Henslee. These were all of the same family, children and grandchildren of David Henslee (1755/65) and Mary Payne. William, John and David S. were his sons, Mary was his widow, Charles P. was his grandson. They all came from Caswell County, North Carolina originally. I don't suspect that Peter was related to them, or at least not as far as I can tell.

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

1840 Cherokee Co, AL pg 132 P. Hensley 3000100000000-1000100000000
Analysis:
1 Male(s) 20-29        (1810-1820)	P. Hensley (1810/20)
3 Male(s) 0-4          (1835-1840)	James Hensley (c1836) son
					William Hensley (c1838) son
					Christian M. Hensley (c1840) son
1 Female(s) 20-29      (1810-1820)	Sarah (—) Hensley (c1815) wife
1 Female(s) 0-4        (1835-1840)	Eliza Hensley (c1834) daughter

The family left Alabama for Wright Co., MO between ca 1846 and ca 1849.

The 1850 Census Mortality Schedule for Wright County shows Peter Hensley, 38, died March of Pneumonia.

Sarah and the children were listed on the 1850 census in Wright County. They were the only Hensleys in the county at the time.

1850 census abstract: (Explanation of this census)
(Note: The dates at the end of each line are not part of the original census, but are approximate birth years based on age)

WRIGHT CO, MO Page 271B  House/Family #  533/ 533  - DISTRICT 102

HENSLEY SARAH         35 F W                            TN                   1814/1815
HENSLEY ELIZA         16 F W                            TN                   1833/1834
HENSLEY JAMES         14 M W                            TN                   1835/1836
HENSLEY WILLIAM       12 M W                            TN                   1837/1838
HENSLEY CHRISTIAN     10 M W                            AL                   1839/1840
HENSLEY MARIAH         8 F W                            AL                   1841/1842
HENSLEY JULINA         6 F W                            AL                   1843/1844
HENSLEY TENIA          4 F W                            AL                   1845/1846
HENSLEY SARAH          0 F W 6/12                       MO                   1849/1850

Sarah and family were still there for the 1860 census. Her son James was listed as head of household. As noted before, they were just three houses from Stephen H. Hensley (c1823) and family. The only other Hensleys in the county at this time were her married sons and their families.

1860 census abstract: (Explanation of this census)
(Note: The dates at the end of each line are not part of the original census, but are approximate birth years based on age)

WRIGHT CO, MO Page 975   House/Family #  618/ 609 --  Twp  HARTVILLE P.O.

HENSLEY JAMES         23 M W FARMER                   150 TN                 1836/1837
HENSLEY SARAH         44 F W                              NC                 1815/1816
HENSLEY WILLIAM       22 M W FARMER                       TN                 1837/1838
HENSLEY JULENA        15 F W                              AL                 1844/1845
HENSLEY TENY A        13 F W                              AL                 1846/1847
HENSLEY MADISON       20 M W FARMER                    80 AL                 1839/1840
HENSLEY SARAH         17 F W                              TN                 1842/1843
HENSLEY WILLIAM A      0 M W 1/12                         MO                 1859/1860

For the 1870 census, Sarah was living with her daughter Eliza and her husband Thomas Moore, still in Wright County. I don't know if it is coincidental or not, but by 1870 there were other Hensleys in Wright County including Calvin B. Henslee (c1813 NC). He was of the Caswell Co., NC bunch.

1870 census abstract: (Explanation of this census)
(Note: The dates at the end of each line are not part of the original census, but are approximate birth years based on age)

WRIGHT CO, MO Page 480B  House/Family #  812/ 812-- Twp HARTSVILLE P.O.

MOORE THOMAS          40 M W FARMER                 300   800 TN            1829/1830
MOORE ELIZA           36 F W KEEPING HOUSE                    TN            1833/1834
MOORE JOHN             9 M W                                  MO            1860/1861
HENSLEY SARAH         55 F W KEEPING HOUSE                    MO            1814/1815

It took me awhile, but I finally found Sarah on the 1880 census, listed under the surname "Helsley" for some reason. Her son James was also listed that way. Probably just a census error, though it is possible they changed their name for some reason. Daughter Eliza was a few houses away. Both Eliza and James had young Carlton living with them, in Eliza's case the relationship was listed as "cousin." James had a young one and an "E. Carlton" 36 (female) born TN. No relationship given. I don't know how the Carltons relate to the Hensleys exactly, but perhaps it is through Sarah and not through the Hensleys at all.

1880 census abstract: (Explanation of this census)
(Note: The dates at the end of each line are not part of the original census, but are approximate birth years based on age)

WRIGHT CO, MO Page 482B  House/Family #   125/ 139 -- MONTGOMERY TOWN Twp

AUSTIN TERALBINE?              W F  32    W KEEPING HOUSE        AL  TN  TN  1847/1848
AUSTIN FRANCIS M               W M   9 S  S                      MO  KY  AL  1870/1871
AUSTIN WILLIAM                 W M   8 S  S                      MO  KY  AL  1871/1872
AUSTIN ARMINEY B               W F   6 D  S                      MO  KY  AL  1873/1874
AUSTIN JAMES M                 W M   3 S  S                      MO  KY  AL  1876/1877
HELSLEY SARAH                  W F  65    W                      NC  NC  NC  1814/1815

I have no data on Sarah after this.

Children of Peter Hensley and Sarah ---. Peter and wife had eight children per the various census records. I've found some additional data on a few of the children.

Researcher List

Persons researching this family (contact me to add, change or delete your listing here):

None so far

Register Report

1. Peter¹ Hensley , born 1811/12 in TN; died Mar 1850 in Wright Co, MO, son of (---) Hensley . He married bef 1834 in TN Sarah (---) , born 1814/15 in NC; died aft 1880 in Wright Co, MO.

Children of Peter Hensley and Sarah (---) were as follows:

+ 2 i Eliza² Hensley , born 1833/34 in TN; died aft 1880 in Wright Co, MO. She married Thomas Moore .

3 ii James² Hensley , born 1835/36 in TN; died aft 1880 in Wright Co, MO.

4 iii William² Hensley , born 1837/38 in TN; died aft 1860 in Wright Co, MO.

+ 5 iv Christian Madison² Hensley , born 1839/40 in AL. He married Sarah (---) .

6 v Mariah² Hensley , born 1841/42 in AL; died aft 1850 in Wright Co, MO.

7 vi Julina² Hensley , born 1843/44 in AL; died aft 1860 in Wright Co, MO.

8 vii Tenia A² Hensley , born 1845/46 in AL; died aft 1880 in Wright Co, MO. She married in Wright Co, MO (---) Austin .

9 viii Sarah² Hensley , born 1849/50 in Wright Co, MO; died aft 1850 in Wright Co, MO.

Generation 2

2. Eliza² Hensley (Peter¹), born 1833/34 in TN; died aft 1880 in Wright Co, MO. She married in 1850/60 in Wright Co, MO Thomas Moore , born 1832/33 in TN; died 1870/80 in Wright Co, MO.

Children of Eliza Hensley and Thomas Moore were as follows:

10 i John W³ Moore , born 1860/61 in Wright Co, MO.

5. Christian Madison² Hensley (Peter¹), born 1839/40 in AL. He married in 1850/60 in Wright Co, MO Sarah (---) , born 1842/43 in TN.

Children of Christian Madison Hensley and Sarah (---) were as follows:

11 i William A³ Hensley , born 1860 in Wright Co, MO.