George W. Barger Hensley (c1816) and Laura Henson of TN and MO

Home > Surnames > Hensley > George W. Hensley

The author (Marty Grant) is not related to George Hensley as far as can be determined. He did live in the same county (Knox Co, TN) as my ancestor Samuel Hensley (1801-1852).

Thanks to Susan Tate for information shared on this family.

George W. Barger Hensley was born ca 25 May 1817 (per Susan Tate). His ages on the census are contradictory, but relatively close to this birth-date.

He was born in Virginia, county unknown, but I would guess southwestern Virginia somewhere like Washington or Scott County.

I do not know who George's parents are. His 1880 census entry shows both parents born in Virginia so that is a clue.

His marriage record gave his name as "George W. Barger Hensley". There were several "Barger" households nearby in 1850, so this name suggests some sort of relationship to them. It has occurred to me that this "extra" name represents George's parentage. It is possible that he was born out of wedlock between a Barger and a Hensley, thus the use of both names. However, it may be just an extra middle name, as sometimes happened in those days. He is probably related to Anthony Hensley (c1791) who was also in Knox County. There was a William Hensley (c1829 TN) with George in 1850, and it seems reasonable that this was a younger brother, or at least a nephew or cousin. In 1850, George was just a few houses from Mary Hensley (c1798), possible wife of Anthony Hensley suggesting a close relationship. Also nearby was the Nicholas Barger (c1803) family, which included a young John Hensley (c1835) with them, further suggesting some Hensley-Barger relationship.

George was presumably with his parents for the 1820, 1830 and 1840 census, but not knowing who his parents were, I can't confirm this. Anthony Hensley (c1791) was the only Hensley in Knox County in 1830 and 1840, and in both cases he had no apparent son George's age.

At some point prior to 1840, George moved to Knox County, Tennessee. He may have been there since childhood, but that is unknown at this time. However, he was in Knox County by 13 Aug 1840, for on that date he married Laura Matilda Henson (full name given on marriage record.) They were married by A. Looney, JP.

She was born 12 Jan 1814 per Susan Tate. She was born in Tennessee, possibly in Knox County. I don't know who her parents were, but there were many Hensons near the Hensleys later on. Assuming she was in Knox by that time, she may be a child of one of the several Henson families listed there for the 1830 census. That year there were several Hensons there, but only one with an apparent daughter her age, and that was William Henson (1760/70) who had one daughter age 10-14 (born ca 1815/20), and 2 age 15-19 (born ca 1810/14), any of which could be Laura. Even though I have no definite proof, it seems reasonable to me that she was a child of William and Charity (---) Henson, who were just a few houses away from them in 1850. George and Laura named children "William" and "Charity" so that lends credence to my theory that she was a child of William and Charity. Susan Tate believes that Laura was a child of William and Charity.

George and Laura and family were on the 1850 census in Knox County. They were five houses from Mary (---) Hensley, possibly the wife of Anthony Hensley (c1791). As previously mentioned, William Hensley (c1829) was also residing with George. He could be a younger brother.

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 KNOX CO, TN Page 233B  House/Family # 1989/1998  - 15th Subdivision Twp

HENSLY GEORGE         34 M W FARMER                 700 VA                   1815/1816
HENSLY LAURA M        36 F W                            TN                   1813/1814
HENSLY SUSAN E         9 F W                            TN                   1840/1841
HENSLY AUGUSTUS C      7 M W                            TN                   1842/1843
HENSLY CHARITY         6 F W                            TN                   1843/1844
HENSLY BRADFORD D      4 M W                            TN                   1845/1846
HENSLY LUCY A          2 F W                            TN                   1847/1848
HENSLY WILLIAM        21 M W FARMER                     TN                   1828/1829
 

They moved to Dallas Co., MO in the 1850's (sometime after ca 1855) and were listed there on the 1860 census. Joseph B. Hensley (1810) formerly of Hawkins and Roane Co, TN and Hardin Co., IL also moved there in the 1850's. That might be coincidence, but they could be related. They were not listed near each other in 1860 though.

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)

DALLAS CO, MO Page 181   House/Family #   41/  41 -- BENTON Twp  BUFFALO P.O.

HENSLEY GEORGE        41 M W FARMER            2000   500 VA                 1818/1819
HENSLEY LAURA E       46 F W HOUSE WORK                   TN                 1813/1814
HENSLEY SUSAN         19 F W HOUSE HAND                   TN                 1840/1841
HENSLEY AUGUSTA       17 M W FARM HAND                    TN                 1842/1843
HENSLEY MARK          12 M W                              TN                 1847/1848
HENSLEY LUCY A        11 F W                              TN                 1848/1849
HENSLEY WILLIAM P      7 M W                              TN                 1852/1853
HENSLEY SARAH M        7 F W                              TN                 1852/1853
HENSLEY MARY C         5 F W                              TN                 1854/1855

By 1870 they had moved south a few counties to Taney County, Missouri and were listed on the census there that year.

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)

TANEY CO, MO Page 331   House/Family #  107/ 107--JASPER Twp FORSYTH P.O.
      
HENSLEE GEORGE G      57 M W FARMER                2300  1050 VA              1812/1813
HENSLEE LAURA M       59 F W KEEPING HOUSE                    TN              1810/1811
HENSLEE LUCY A        22 F W AT HOME                          TN              1847/1848
HENSLEE WILLIAM P     19 M W WORKS ON FARM                    TN              1850/1851
HENSLEE MARY C        15 F W AT HOME                          TN              1854/1855
HENSLEE MARCUS D      23 M W WORKS ON FARM m Sep              TN              1846/1847
HENSLEE MARY F        17 F W m Sep                            MO              1852/1853

In 1880 George and Laura were listed on the census in Taney County, in Jasper Township.

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)

TANEY CO, MO Page 240   House/Family #    98/  98 -- JASPER Twp

HENSLEY GEORGE W               W M  61    M FARMER               VA  VA  VA  1818/1819
HENSLEY LAURA M                W F  67 WF M KEEPING HOUSE        TN  VA  VA  1812/1813
HARILL SARAH B                 W F  20 SE S SERVANT              TN  TN  TN  1859/1860
EVANS M?                       W M  20 BO   WORKS ON FARM        MO  MO  MO  1859/1860

I have no data on them after this.

Children of George W. Hensley and Laura Matilda Henson. George and Laura at least 8 children per the 1850 through 1880 census records. I don't have much additional data on any of them yet.

Researcher List

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

• Scott Hensley =
• Susan Tate =

Register Report