James M. Hensley (c1821) and Sarah Davis and Ellen --- of Hawkins and Knox Co., TN and Scott Co., VA

James M. Hensley (c1821) and Sarah Davis and Ellen --- of Hawkins and Knox Co., TN and Scott Co., VA

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The author (Marty Grant) is not related to James M. Hensley as far as can be determined. He did live in the same county (Scott Co, VA) as my ancestor Larkin Hensley (c1761-1805), though many years later. He also lived in Knox Co., TN where Larkin's widow and children lived, though once again, many years later.

James M. Hensley was born ca 1820/21 per his age of 29 on the 1850 census. Census records also show that he was born in Tennessee. I would assume Hawkins County, if his parents are who I think they are.

I don't know what his "M" initial stands for, perhaps "McDavid" after his (suspected) mother's family.

He is probably a son of Isom Hensley (c1798) and Jane McDavid though I have no direct proof of that connection, but it seems likely. He was a neighbor for the 1850 census, and Isom did have an otherwise unidentified son born ca 1820-25, who according to tax records, turned 16 ca 1837, so that fits perfectly with James. This isn't conclusive proof of parentage, but it seems accurate to me.

James would have been about 9 years old by the time of the 1830 census, so he should be enumerated in the 5-9 age group (born ca 1810/25). His Hensley peers were found in both Hawkins Co., TN and neighboring Scott Co., VA for that census. Betsy Hensley in Hawkins had one boy that age. Isom Hensley (c1798) had two boys that age. Over in Scott County, Jesse Hensley (1786) had one boy that age, but he is identified; and Zachariah Hensley (1794) had two boys that age, but they are also identified. Based only on census analysis, Isom and Betsy seem the only candidates. I've already stated that I believe Isom is his father.

During this period Isom Hensley was going back and forth between Hawkins Co., TN and Scott Co., VA (or they lived so close to the border they didn't know which side they were on!) On the 1836 tax list (Scott) Isom Hensley had just one male over 16 in his household (himself, presumably). But in 1837 he had 2 white males over 16. This probably means one of his sons had just turned 16. That fits perfectly with James born ca 1821. I can't prove this is James, but it seems likely. Isom still had two males over 16 in 1838.

James Hensley was listed on the 1839 tax list in Scott Co., VA with one white male over 16 and no horses. Another James Hensley was listed there as well that year, but he was much older. Isom Hensley still had two white males over 16 in his household in 1839, but his son Michael had just turned 16 around this time, so that works out.

James M. Hensley would have been about 19 or 20 for the 1840 census. He does not appear to be home with Isom Hensley that year, nor listed on his own as far as I could find. He was probably in another household as a laborer, or a student perhaps.

On 4 Mar 1845 James M. Hensley married Sally Davis in Hawkins Co., TN. Sarah "Sally" Davis was born ca 1822/23 per her age of 27 on the 1850 census. She was born in Tennessee, presumably Hawkins County. I don't know who her parents were.

James and family were listed on the 1850 census in Scott Co., VA three houses from his suspected parents.

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)

SCOTT CO., VA Page 358   H/F #  112/ 112- - WESTERN DISTRICT Twp

HENSLEY JAMES         29 M W FARMER                     TN                   1820/1821
HENSLEY SALLY         23 F W                            TN                   1826/1827
HENSLEY STEPHEN A      3 M W                            TN                   1846/1847
HENSLEY GFIFFITH H     2 M W                            VA                   1847/1848

They were still in Scott County for the 1860 census. They were about six houses from James' brother Samuel Hensley.

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)

SCOTT CO., VA Page 275B  House/Family #  298/ 298 --  Twp  ESTILLVILLE P.O.

HENSLEY JAMES         38 M W FARMER                    26 TN                   1821/1822
HENSLEY SARAH         27 F W HOUSE WIFE                   TN                   1832/1833
HENSLEY STEPHEN A     13 M W                              TN                   1846/1847
HENSLEY GRIFFY H      11 M W                              VA                   1848/1849
HENSLEY EMANUEL        8 M W                              VA                   1851/1852
HENSLEY DAVID J        1 M W                              VA                   1858/1859

I was unable to locate the family on the 1870 census. Son Stephen was in Scott Co., VA, while Griffith and Emanuel were in Hawkins Co., TN that year.

I don't know when Sarah Davis Hensley died, but it was sometime before 1880 for on that census James has a new wife, Ellen ---, born ca 1838 in Tennessee. I don't know her maiden name, nor when or where they married.

They were listed on the 1880 census in Knox Co., TN. I wasn't certain this was the same James until I found his son Griffith listed in the same district. There is still room for doubt though. This could be some other James.

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)

KNOX CO., TN Page 397B  House/Family #    51/  53 -- 9th CIVIL DISTRICT Twp

HENSLEY JAMES                  W M  60      FARM LABORER         TN  VA  SC  1819/1820
HENSLEY ELLEN                  W F  42 WF   KEEPING HOUSE        TN  TN  TN  1837/1838
HENSLEY ADALINE                W F  12 D    AT HOME              TN  TN  TN  1867/1868
HENSLEY KIMBRO                 W M  10 S    FARM LABORER         TN  TN  TN  1869/1870
HENSLEY TINY B                 W F   7 D                         TN  TN  TN  1872/1873

I was unable to find James and family on the 1900 census.

Children of James M. Hensley. James M. Hensley and his wife Sarah Davis had four known children per the 1850 and 1860 census. He and his second wife Ellen seem to have three. See the register report for details.

Researcher List

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

See page for Isom Hensley (c1760/70-1849)

Register Report

1. James M¹ Hensley , born 1820/21 in Hawkins Co, TN; died aft 1880 in Knox Co, TN, son of Isom Hensley and Jane McDavid . He married (1) on 5 Mar 1845 in Hawkins Co, TN Sarah "Sally" Davis , born 1822/23 in Hawkins Co, TN; died bef 1880 in TN; (2) bef 1880 in Knox Co, TN Ellen (---) , born 1837/38 in TN.

Children of James M Hensley and Sarah "Sally" Davis were as follows:

+ 2 i Stephen A² Hensley , born Aug 1846 in Hawkins Co, TN; died aft 1900 in Scott Co, VA. He married Elizabeth F Jones .

+ 3 ii Griffith H² Hensley , born Jun 1848 in Hawkins Co, TN; died aft 1900 in Loudon Co, TN. He married (1) Sidney C Bradshaw ; (2) Polly A (---) .

+ 4 iii Emanuel² Hensley , born Oct 1850 in Scott Co, VA; died aft 1900 in Rhea Co, TN. He married Susan Jane Bradshaw .

5 iv David J² Hensley , born 1858/59 in Scott Co, VA; died aft 1860 in Scott Co, VA.

Children of James M Hensley and Ellen (---) were as follows:

6 i Adaline² Hensley , born 1867/68 in Hawkins Co, TN.

7 ii Kimbro² Hensley , born 1869/70 in Hawkins Co, TN.

8 iii Tiny B² Hensley , born 1872/73 in Hawkins Co, TN.

Generation 2

2. Stephen A² Hensley (James M¹), born Aug 1846 in Hawkins Co, TN; died aft 1900 in Scott Co, VA. He married on 19 Dec 1865 in Hawkins Co, TN Elizabeth F Jones , born 1848/49 in VA; died aft 1900 in Scott Co, VA.

Children of Stephen A Hensley and Elizabeth F Jones were as follows:

9 i Jacob J³ Hensley , born 1867/68 in Scott Co, VA.

10 ii Amy R³ Hensley , born Mar 1870 in Scott Co, VA.

11 iii James O³ Hensley , born 1871/72 in Scott Co, VA.

12 iv William T³ Hensley , born 1873/74 in Scott Co, VA.

13 v Nancy P³ Hensley , born 1874/75 in Scott Co, VA.

14 vi Edwin C³ Hensley , born 1876/77 in Scott Co, VA.

15 vii Mary T A³ Hensley , born Feb 1880 in Scott Co, VA.

3. Griffith H² Hensley (James M¹), born Jun 1848 in Hawkins Co, TN; died aft 1900 in Loudon Co, TN. He married (1) on 9 Feb 1865 in Hawkins Co, TN Sidney C Bradshaw , born 1847/48 in Hawkins Co, TN; died aft 1880 in Knox Co, TN, daughter of Hopson Bradshaw and Malinda (---) ; (2) in 1891/92 in Loudon Co, TN Polly A (---) , born Jan 1852 in TN.

Children of Griffith H Hensley and Sidney C Bradshaw were as follows:

16 i Sarah E³ Hensley , born 1865/66 in Hawkins Co, TN.

17 ii William J³ Hensley , born 1866/67 in Hawkins Co, TN.

+ 18 iii George C³ Hensley , born Nov 1869 in Hawkins Co, TN; died aft 1930 in Anderson Co, TN. He married Anna B Brown .

19 iv Lydia³ Hensley , born 1871/72 in Hawkins Co, TN.

20 v Mary³ Hensley , born 1873/74 in Hawkins Co, TN.

21 vi Eliza³ Hensley , born 1876/77 in Knox Co, TN.

22 vii Roxie³ Hensley , born 1878/79 in Knox Co, TN.

Children of Griffith H Hensley and Polly A (---) were as follows:

23 i Lavina³ Hensley , born Oct 1896 in Loudon Co, TN.

4. Emanuel² Hensley (James M¹), born Oct 1850 in Scott Co, VA; died aft 1900 in Rhea Co, TN. He married on 2 Feb 1869 in Monroe Co, TN Susan Jane Bradshaw , born May 1850 in Hawkins Co, TN; died aft 1900 in Rhea Co, TN, daughter of Hopson Bradshaw and Malinda (---) .

Children of Emanuel Hensley and Susan Jane Bradshaw were as follows:

24 i Mary³ Hensley , born 1868/69 in Hawkins Co, TN.

25 ii Letitia³ Hensley , born 1870 in Hawkins Co, TN.

26 iii Delia³ Hensley , born 1871/72 in Hawkins Co, TN.

27 iv Belle³ Hensley , born 1872/73 in Hawkins Co, TN.

28 v Lena³ Hensley , born 1875/76 in Hawkins Co, TN.

29 vi Headrick³ Hensley , born 1878/79 in Hawkins Co, TN.

30 vii Victoria³ Hensley , born May 1885 in TN.

31 viii Henry J³ Hensley , born Sep 1892 in TN.

Generation 3

18. George C³ Hensley (Griffith H², James M¹), born Nov 1869 in Hawkins Co, TN; died aft 1930 in Anderson Co, TN. He married on 13 May 1894 in Knox Co, TN Anna B Brown , born 1873/74 in KY; died aft 1930 in Anderson Co, TN.

Children of George C Hensley and Anna B Brown were as follows:

32 i Minnie⁴ Hensley , born 1894/95 in Loudon Co, TN.

33 ii Charles⁴ Hensley , born 1896/97 in Loudon Co, TN.

34 iii Paul D⁴ Hensley , born 1900/01 in Loudon Co, TN.

35 iv Pearl N⁴ Hensley , born 1902/03 in Loudon Co, TN.