James Hensley (c1811) and Elizabeth and Nancy Jane of Knox and Overton Co., TN

James Hensley (c1820) and Elizabeth and Nancy Jane of Knox and Overton Co., TN

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

James Hensley was born ca 1820/21 per his age of 39 on the 1850 census. The 1870 and 1880 census give him ages (51 and 60) that show a birth ca 1818/19 or 1819/20 instead. In 1860 he was 39 or born ca 1820/21 which suggests an 1820 birth year (combined with the other entries.)

James was born in Virginia (1850, 1860 and 1880 census), county unknown. My best guess would be somewhere in Southwestern Virginia but he could be from anywhere in the state.

I don't know who James' parents were, but he could be closely related to Anthony Hensley (c1791) of Knox Co, TN or George W. Hensley (c1816) of Knox Co, TN, though the only known connection is that they were all in Knox County, Tennessee at the same time and all were born in Virginia. However, other than these two points in common, I have nothing else to tie them together. James' 1880 census entry shows that both his mother and father were born in Virginia.

Presumably, James would have been home with his parents for the 1820, 1830 and 1840 census. I suspect he was in Virginia those years, but since his parents are yet unknown, I can't trace him. Anthony Hensley (c1791) was the only Hensley in Knox County those years. Anthony is old enough to be James' dad, but he had no apparent son with him James' age on his 1830 or 1840 census entries.

James Hensley married Elizabeth --- sometime prior to ca 1842, presumably in Virginia, since his wife and oldest known child were both born in Virginia. Elizabeth was born ca 1822/23 in Virginia, county unknown. I don't know her maiden name.

Their oldest known child was born ca 1842 in Virginia, with the next child born ca 1843 in Tennessee, so it would seem that they left Virginia for Knox County, Tennessee ca 1842-43.

They were on the 1850 census in Knox County with numerous other Hensleys, though none nearby.

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 123B  House/Family #  409/ 413  - 15th Subdivision Twp

HENSLEY JAMES         29 M W                            VA                   1820/1821
HENSLEY ELIZABETH     27 F W                            VA                   1822/1823
HENSLEY WILLIAM J      8 M W                            VA                   1841/1842
HENSLEY JAMES M        7 M W                            TN                   1842/1843
HENSLEY HENRY E        5 M W                            TN                   1844/1845
HENSLEY SARAH E        3 F W                            TN                   1846/1847
HENSLEY ROBERT H       2 M W                            TN                   1847/1848
HENSLEY ISAAC F        0 M W 8/12                       TN                   1849/1850

They moved to Clinton Co., KY between ca 1857 and 1860 and were listed there on the 1860 census. They were the only Hensleys in that county.

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)

CLINTON CO, KY Page 241B  House/Family #  578/ 578 --  Twp  76 P.O.

HENSLEY JAMES         39 M W FARMER                   250 VA                 1820/1821
HENSLEY ELIZABETH     36 F W HOUSEWORK                    VA                 1823/1824
HENSLEY WILLIAM J     18 M W FARM LABORER                 VA                 1841/1842
HENSLEY JAMES M       16 M W F LABORER                    TN                 1843/1844
HENSLEY HENRY E       14 M W                              TN                 1845/1846
HENSLEY SARAH E       11 F W                              TN                 1848/1849
HENSLEY ROBERT        10 M W                              TN                 1849/1850
HENSLEY ISAAC F        8 M W                              TN                 1851/1852
HENSLEY GEORGE F       6 M W                              TN                 1853/1854
HENSLEY THOMAS         4 M W                              TN                 1855/1856
HENSLEY MARY L         3 F W                              TN                 1856/1857

I don't know when, or in what county, but Elizabeth Hensley died sometime prior to ca 1867.

James Hensley married a second time to Nancy Jane ---, possibly around 1867 and possibly in Overton County, Tennessee. Nancy was born ca 1841/42 in Tennessee. I don't know her maiden name.

Sometime prior to 1870 James and family moved to Overton County, Tennessee, which is just a few counties north west of Knox County. It borders Clinton Co., KY where they had been in 1860.

There were other Hensleys in Overton County back in the early 1800's, though there is no known connection to any of them.

James and family were on the 1870 census in Overton County.

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)

OVERTON CO, TN Page 398B  House/Family #   12/  12--15th DISTRICT Twp MONROE P.O.

HENSLEY JAMES         51 M W FARMER                       200 TN              1818/1819
HENSLEY NANCY J       28 F W KEEPING HOUSE                    TN              1841/1842
HENSLEY GEORGE W      18 M W AT HOME                          TN              1851/1852
HENSLEY THOMAS        16 M W AT HOME                          TN              1853/1854
HENSLEY MARY          14 F W                                  TN              1855/1856
HENSLEY JANE          11 F W                                  TN              1858/1859
HENSLEY JOHN           5 M W                                  TN              1864/1865
HENSLEY VINCENT        2 M W                                  TN              1867/1868
HENSLEY MARTHA         1 F W                                  TN              1868/1869

James and family were still in Overton County for the 1880 census.

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)

OVERTON CO, TN Page 326B  House/Family #   226/ 235 -- 12th CIVIL DISTRICT Twp

HENSLEY JAMES                  W M  60    M FARMING              VA  VA  VA  1819/1820
HENSLEY JANE                   W F  37 WF M KEEPING HOUSE        TN  TN  TN  1842/1843
HENSLEY MARY                   W F  23 D  S AT HOME              TN  VA  TN  1856/1857
HENSLEY JANE                   W F  20 D  S AT HOME              TN  VA  TN  1859/1860
HENSLEY JOHN                   W M  14 S  S                      TN  VA  TN  1865/1866
HENSLEY V                      W M  12 S  S                      TN  VA  TN  1867/1868
HENSLEY ANN                    W F  10 D  S                      TN  VA  TN  1869/1870
HENSLEY MARGARET               W F   7 D  S                      TN  VA  TN  1872/1873
HENSLEY H B                    W F   3 D  S                      TN  VA  TN  1876/1877
HENSLEY W L                    W F   2 D  S                      TN  VA  TN  1877/1878

I was unable to find James on the 1900 census.

Children of James Hensley and Elizabeth --- and Nancy Jane ---. James and wife Elizabeth and wife Nancy Jane had 16 children per the 1850-1880 census records. I have been able to find some additional data on a few of them.

Researcher List

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

Linda Gulbrantson =
Roger D. Hensley = (James-George-)

Register Report

1. James¹ Hensley , born 1819/20 in VA; died aft 1880 in Overton Co, TN. He married (1) bef 1842 in VA Elizabeth (---) , born 1822/23 in VA; died 1862/67 in Overton Co, TN; (2) in 1862/67 in Overton Co, TN Nancy Jane (---) , born 1841/42 in TN; died aft 1880 in Overton Co, TN.

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

2 i William J² Hensley , born 1841/42 in VA; died aft 1860 in Clinton Co, KY.

3 ii James M² Hensley , born 1842/43 in Knox Co, TN; died aft 1860 in Clinton Co, KY.

+ 4 iii Henry Elbert² Hensley , born 1844/45 in Knox Co, TN; died aft 1880 in Overton Co, TN. He married Martha J (---) .

5 iv Sarah E² Hensley , born 1846/47 in Knox Co, TN; died aft 1860 in Clinton Co, KY.

6 v Robert H² Hensley , born 1847/48 in Knox Co, TN; died aft 1880 in Overton Co, TN.

+ 7 vi Isaac F² Hensley , born Oct 1849 in Knox Co, TN; died aft 1900 in Fentress Co, TN. He married Martha (---) .

+ 8 vii George W² Hensley , born 1853/54 in Knox Co, TN; died aft 1880 in Clinton Co, KY. He married Matilda (---) .

9 viii Thomas² Hensley , born 1855/56 in Knox Co, TN; died aft 1870 in Overton Co, TN.

10 ix Mary L² Hensley , born 1856/57 in Knox Co, TN; died aft 1880 in Overton Co, TN.

11 x Jane² Hensley , born 1860 in Overton Co, TN; died aft 1880 in Overton Co, TN.

12 xi John² Hensley , born 1864/65 in Overton Co, TN; died aft 1880 in Overton Co, TN.

Children of James Hensley and Nancy Jane (---) were as follows:

13 i Vincent² Hensley , born 1867/68 in Overton Co, TN.

14 ii Martha Ann² Hensley , born 1868/69 in Overton Co, TN.

15 iii Margaret² Hensley , born 1872/73 in Overton Co, TN.

16 iv H B² Hensley , born 1876/77 in Overton Co, TN.

17 v W L² Hensley , born 1877/78 in Overton Co, TN.

Generation 2

4. Henry Elbert² Hensley (James¹), born 1844/45 in Knox Co, TN; died aft 1880 in Overton Co, TN. He married in 1860/67 in Overton Co, TN Martha J (---) , born 1845/46 in TN.

Children of Henry Elbert Hensley and Martha J (---) were as follows:

18 i James R³ Hensley , born 1866/67 in Overton Co, TN.

19 ii Columbus³ Hensley , born Aug 1869 in Overton Co, TN.

20 iii Louisa³ Hensley , born 1871/72 in Overton Co, TN.

21 iv Parilla³ Hensley , born 1874/75 in Overton Co, TN.

22 v Mary E³ Hensley , born 1877/78 in Overton Co, TN.

23 vi Giller A³ Hensley , born Apr 1880 in Overton Co, TN.

7. Isaac F² Hensley (James¹), born Oct 1849 in Knox Co, TN; died aft 1900 in Fentress Co, TN. He married in 1870/76 in Overton Co, TN Martha (---) , born 1858/59 in TN; died 1889/1900 in TN.

Children of Isaac F Hensley and Martha (---) were as follows:

24 i Paylow³ Hensley , born 1875/76 in Overton Co, TN.

25 ii Arther C³ Hensley , born 1877/78 in Overton Co, TN.

26 iii Arta³ Hensley , born Oct 1883 in Overton Co, TN.

27 iv Mata³ Hensley , born Sep 1886 in Overton Co, TN.

28 v Otto³ Hensley , born Oct 1889 in Overton Co, TN.

8. George W² Hensley (James¹), born 1853/54 in Knox Co, TN; died aft 1880 in Clinton Co, KY. He married in 1870/79 in Overton Co, TN Matilda (---) , born 1850/51 in TN.

Children of George W Hensley and Matilda (---) were as follows:

29 i Mary E³ Hensley , born 1878/79 in Overton Co, TN.