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Hensley
> Catherine Hensley
The author (Marty Grant) is not related to Catherine Hensley
as far as can be determined. Catherine did live in the same county (Monroe Co,
TN) as my ancestor Samuel Hensley
(1801-1852).
Catherine Hensley was born ca 1827/28 per her age of 22 on the
1850 census. She was born in Tennessee, perhaps in Monroe County where she
was living in 1850.
I don't know who Catherine Hensley's parents are. In fact the only
record I have for her is her 1850 census entry:
- 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)
1850 MONROE CO, TN Page 102 House/Family # 1421/1421 - 15th CIVIL DISTRICT Twp
WEST ALEN 52 M W FARMER NC 1797/1798
WEST MARY 52 F W NC 1817/1818
WEST STEPHEN 17 M W FARMER TN 1832/1833
WEST HENRY 14 M W TN 1835/1836
WEST BURTON 10 M W TN 1839/1840
HENSLY CATHERINE 22 F W TN 1827/1828
GRAY WILLIS 33 M W FARMER NC 1816/1817
This census entry is all we have for Catherine, however, it does provide
some interesting clues.
One, they are only 8 households away from Nancy Hensley and family
(Nancy is thought to be the widow of
Phillip Hensley.)
Second, consider Willis Gray who was living in the same house with
Catherine. He married widow Nancy Hensley in 1858. These two items seem to
clearly show that Catherine Hensley is somehow connected to Phillip and
Nancy Hensley.
Third, consider the West family. Why was Catherine living with them in
1850? Were they her parents? Grand-parents? Uncle and Aunt? Other?
I have several theories about these three items but none can be proven
completely.
Theory one: Catherine Hensley (c1828) is a daughter of Phillip Hensley
(1800/10). This could be true, but the 1830 census shows Phillip Hensley
(in Monroe Co., TN) with no daughters at all. In 1840 he had three, but
none were an age match for Catherine. If she is Phillip's daughter then
she is the oldest, and perhaps she was from a marriage prior to Nancy and
her mother died and she was raised by grandparents instead (the Allen West
family.) This sort of thing wasn't uncommon. However it is just a theory
which I can't prove.
Theory two: Catherine Hensley (c1828) is a daughter of Allen and Mary
West. She married a Mr. Hensley who died prior to 1850 leaving her a widow
with no children. This would explain why she was with the Wests in 1850.
Theory three: Catherine Hensley (c1828) is a sister or niece of Phillip
Hensley. The age difference between her and Phillip seems to preclude them
being siblings, but such things were possible if they had different
mothers.
I can't prove any of the above theories, but I prefer number one or
two.
Census analysis often helps but in this case there isn't enough
information to be sure of anything. Assuming Catherine's age of 22 on the
1850 census is correct, then she was born ca 1827/28. For the 1830 census
she would have been about 2 years old, so should be enumerated in the
under 5 age group (born ca 1825-30). Allen West had one female that
age with him that year in Monroe Co., TN. Was it Catherine Hensley? No way
to know for sure.
There were several Hensleys in Monroe Co., TN in 1830 also and some of
them had girls her age. Phillip Hensley did not have any daughters at home
for this census. Samuel Hensley
(1801) had two girls that age (both of whom are identified with
documentation.) Thomas Hensley
(1806) had one girl that age (identified with documentation.)
Temple Hensley (1760/70) had
one girl that age who is unidentified. The other Hensleys had no girls her
age in 1830.
For the 1840 census Catherine would have been about 12 years old, so
should be listed in the 10-14 age group (born ca 1825-30). Allen
West had no girls that age in 1840, though he had one 15-19 (born
ca 1820-25), but that doesn't quite match.
Thomas Hensley (1806) had
one girl that age (identified), and his brother
Samuel Hensley (1801) still had
two girls in that range, both identified. The other Hensleys in Monroe had
no girls in that age group.
As already noted, Catherine was with the Allen West family in 1850.
I was unable to find Catherine Hensley on the 1860 census, nor did I
find a marriage record for her in Monroe Co., TN (or elsewhere) in the
1850's.
I was unable to find Allen West on the 1860 census, but I found an
apparent widow Mary West in neighboring Blount Co., TN that year. I
am pretty sure that is Allen's widow. Catherine
was not living with her in 1860.
There were several Catherine's (various surnames) in Blount and Monroe Counties in 1860
who were the right age to be the same person, but no way to know if any of
them are indeed the same person.
Researcher List
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