Phillip Hensley (1800/10-c1849/50) and Nancy J. --- of Monroe Co., TN

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

Phillip Hensley was born between 1800 and 1810 per his ages on the 1830 and 1840 census.

I don't know where Phillip was born, though somewhere in Tennessee or possibly in Virginia. North Carolina is also a possibility.

I don't know who Phillip's parents were. I suspect that he may be a son of either Trent Hensley (1770/80) or Temple Hensley (1760/70), both of whom lived in Monroe Co, TN in 1830 (as did Phillip). It is also seems likely that Phillip is a brother to Allen Hensley (c1818), but that is not proven either. All this is based entirely on them all living near each other (seemingly).

Presumably, Phillip would have been home with his parents for the 1810 and 1820 census, but this census was lost for eastern Tennessee so I can't follow up on this.

I don't know for sure who Phillip Hensley's wife was. There was an apparent widow Nancy J. Hensley listed on the 1850 census in Monroe Co., TN. She and her children were a pretty good age match with Phillip's 1840 and 1830 census entries. However, this alone does not prove that she was his wife. One problem with this is that Nancy later married Willis Gray and all of her children were listed with the surname "Gray" from then on. This could be a census mistake for it is a common census problem where step-children are mistakenly listed under the step-father's surname. However some of them continued to use "Gray" even when married and on their own.  What does this mean? It was very unusual for children to take a step-father's surname, in fact it required a court action to legally change the name. I have a couple of theories on this subject. You decide.

Theory one: Nancy J. Hensley was Phillip's wife, perhaps a second or third wife, but the children were not his, but were Grays from a prior marriage and just listed incorrectly as Hensleys on the 1850 census, but correctly as "Gray" on later records.

Theory two: Nancy J. Hensley was not Phillip's wife, but was a Hensley by birth and a single mother and the children were Willis Gray's born out of wedlock, taking his name after they finally married.

Theory three: Nancy was Phillip Hensley's widow, and the children were his, but they were later legally adopted by Willis Gray and took his surname. If this is correct there may be Monroe County or Tennessee State Court records proving it.

I don't know which of these theories is correct. For now I'm leaning towards number one but I could easily be wrong. The rest of this commentary works from the assumption that Nancy was Phillip's widow. Keep in mind that this is tentative.

Phillip Hensley appears to have married Nancy J. --- before 1830. No marriage record was found but they may have married in Monroe County or nearby. Nancy was born ca 1809/10 (per age of 60 on 1850 census) in Tennessee, county unknown. I don't know her maiden name. (Keep in mind I'm working on the assumption that Nancy was indeed Phillip's wife.)

Phillip Hensley is listed on the 1830 census in Monroe Co, TN. There were several other Hensleys there that year, but none listed nearby.

1830 census analysis (based on available evidence): (Explanation of this census)

1830 Monroe Co, TN pg 98 Phillip Hensley 0000100000000-0000100000000
Analysis:
1 Male(s) 20-29        (1800-1810)	Philip HENSLEY (1800/1810) s/o ?
1 Female(s) 20-29      (1800-1810)	Nancy J. ___ Hensley (1809/10) wife

He was still in Monroe County for the 1840 census. Once again he was not listed near any of the other Hensleys.

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

1840 Monroe Co, TN pg 201 Phillip Hensley 1000010000000-1200010000000
Analysis:
1 Male(s) 30-39        (1800-1810)	Phillip HENSLEY (1800/10) s/o ?
1 Male(s) 0-4          (1835-1840)	Son? (1835/40) –> gone by 1850
1 Female(s) 30-39      (1800-1810)	Nancy J. ___ Hensley (1809/10) wife
2 Female(s) 5-9        (1830-1835)	Daughter? (1830/35)--> gone by 1850
					Sarah HENSLEY (1830/31) daughter
1 Female(s) 0-4        (1835-1840)	Mary HENSLEY (1839/40) daughter

Phillip apparently died between ca 1849 and 1850 in Monroe Co, TN. I base this on Nancy's last child being born ca 1848/49. If Phillip was indeed her husband then he must have died around that time. He did not appear on the 1850 census Mortality Schedule which would show all deaths from June 1849 through May 1850.

Nancy was listed as head of household on the 1850 census in Monroe County in the 15th Civil District. She had an Adaline Hensley, age 30 (born ca 1819/20) living with her, who is too old to be her daughter, but could be a sister-in-law or niece. A few households away was the Allen and Mary (---) West family which had a Catherine Hensley (c1828), who could be closely related to Phillip and Nancy (but probably not a daughter). Also with the Wests was Willis Gray (ca 1816/17), Nancy's future husband.

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 102A  House/Family # 1429/1429  - 15th CIVIL DISTRICT

HENSLY NANCY          40 F W                            TN                   1809/1810
HENSLY ADALINE        30 F W                            TN                   1819/1820
HENSLY SARAH          19 F W                            TN                   1830/1831
HENSLY MARY           10 F W                            TN                   1839/1840
HENSLY THOMAS          8 M W                            TN                   1841/1842
HENSLY JOSEPH          1 M W                            TN                   1848/1849
 

On 19 May 1858, in neighboring Blount County, Tennessee, "Miss N. J. Hensley" married Willis Gray. Why was she listed as "Miss" or is that in fact correct? ** I don't have a copy of this original marriage record so I'm not sure if it says "Miss" or not. The published version does not include the "Miss" before her name.

Willis, as previously mentioned, was living a few houses from Nancy in 1850 Monroe County. He was born ca 1816/17 in North Carolina, and was residing with the Allen and Mary West family in 1850, which also contained a Catherine Hensley, age 22. I don't know who Willis' parents were, but it is possible that Mary West was his sister since they were about the same age and both born in North Carolina, and living together. For some reason, the Hensley children of Nancy used the "Gray" surname from this point on, except for daughter Mary who used "Hensley" on her marriage record.

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

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
 

Willis and Nancy were in Monroe County for the 1860 census in the 16th District, not far at all from the Thomas Hensley (1806) family (about 4 pages away). All of Nancy's Hensley children were listed as "Gray" in this census (a common census error.) This record shows everyone born in Georgia though it was by ditto marks from the previous family so probably an error.

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)

1860 MONROE CO, TN Page 297A  House/Family # 1563/1583 -- 16th DISTRICT

GRAY WILLIS           44 M W FARMER                   300 GA                   1815/1816
GRAY NANCY            56 F W WIFE                         GA                   1803/1804
GRAY SARAH            25 F W LABORER                      GA                   1834/1835
GRAY MARY             18 F W LABORER                      GA                   1841/1842
GRAY THOMAS           15 M W LABORER                      GA                   1844/1845
GRAY JOSEPH           10 M W                              GA                   1849/1850
 

Willis and Nancy were still in Monroe for the 1870 census, but listed in the 15th District. They were in the household of M. P. Ray, relationship unknown. They were next door to Thomas Gray, age 26, who would seem to be Nancy's son Thomas Hensley, but using the "Gray" surname.

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)

1870 MONROE CO, TN Page 144   House/Family #  112/ 112--15th DISTRICT

RAY M P               40 M W FARMER                 800   700 TN              1829/1830
GRAY WILLIS           55 M W FARMER                       100 TN              1814/1815
GRAY NANCY            60 F W KEEPING HOUSE                    TN              1809/1810
GRAY JOSEPH           20 M W FARM LABOR                       TN              1849/1850
 

I found them in neighboring Blount County for the 1880 census, in District 1. They were next door to son Thomas Gray and daughter Mary E. Hensley McCall. This census showed both of her parents born in SC.

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)

1880 BLOUNT CO, TN Page 72    House/Family #   127/ 128 -- FIRST CIVIL DISTRICT Twp

GRAY WILLICE                   W M  65    M FARMER               NC  NC  NC  1814/1815
GRAY NANCEY J                  W F  72 WF M RETIRED KEEPING HOUS TN  SC  SC  1807/1808
GRAY SARAH J                   W F  45 D  S HOUSE KEEPING        TN  NC  TN  1834/1835

I was unable to locate Willis or Nancy on the 1900 census, so they probably died between 1880 and 1900.

Children of Phillip Hensley and Nancy J. ---. Phillip and Nancy had several children per the various census records, several of whom are unidentified. Also it should be noted that several of the Hensley children used "Gray" as their surname after their mother married Willis Gray in 1858. There was also an Adaline Hensley age 30 (born ca 1820) living with them in 1850, who is too old to be their child, so probably a sister, sister-in-law, or niece.

Unknown Daughter (1830/35)

Sarah J. Hensley (c1831)

Unknown Son (1835/40)

Mary E. Hensley (c1840)

Thomas Hensley (c1842)

Joseph Hensley (c1849)

Unknown Daughter (1830/35). Phillip Hensley had an apparent daughter this age. She was with him on the 1840 census (age 5-9, born ca 1830/35), but not with widow Nancy in 1850, so possibly married or dead by then.

This could possibly be Catherine Hensley (c1828) who was just a few houses from widow Nancy in 1850, but her age given (22) would have to be off slightly. I have no further data on Catherine, so I can't say anything else about her.

Sarah J. Hensley a.k.a. Gray was born ca 1830/31 in Monroe Co, TN. Although she was apparently born a Hensley, she began using Gray as her surname after her mother married Willis Gray in 1858. Sarah was apparently home with her parents for the 1840 census (age 5-9, born ca 1830/35), and home with her widowed mother in 1850 ("Sarah Hensley", age 19), and with her mother and step-father in 1860 ("Sarah Gray" age 25).

She may have been listed twice on the 1860 census, for just a few houses from her mother was the Caty Skidmore family containing a "Sarah Hensley" age 30. Since I have not been able to identify this Sarah as someone else, it may actually be the same person. She was probably living here as hired domestic help, or they might be related somehow.

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)

1860 MONROE CO, TN Page 298   House/Family # 1592/1612 -- 17th DISTRICT

SKIDMORE CATY         35 F W                              TN                   1824/1825
SKIDMORE THOMAS        6 M W                              TN                   1853/1854
SKIDMORE ROBERT        4 M W                              TN                   1855/1856
SKIDMORE NANCY         2 F W                              TN                   1857/1858
HENSLY SARAH          30 F W                              TN                   1829/1830
 

In 1870, Sarah was living with her brother Thomas in Monroe Co, TN, listed as "Sallie Gray" age 30.

In 1880, Sarah was back with her parents, listed in Blount County as "Sarah J. Gray" age 45.

Since she was still single in 1880, I suppose she never married.

Unknown Son (1835/40). Phillip Hensley had an apparent son this age. He was with him on the 1840 census (age "under 5", born ca 1835/40), but not with widow Nancy in 1850, so possibly dead by then.

Mary E. Hensley was born ca 1839/40 in Monroe Co, TN. Mary was apparently home with her parents for the 1840 census (age "under 5", born ca 1835/40), and home with her widowed mother in 1850 ("Mary Hensly", age 10), and with her mother and step-father in 1860 ("Mary Gray" age 18).

On 17 Jun 1869, "Mary E. Hensly" married William W. McCall in Monroe Co, TN. William Wallace McCall was born ca 1836/37 in Tennessee. I don't know who his parents were.

They were in Monroe County, Tennessee for the 1870 census in the 15th District, just a few houses from Mary's mother and step-father.

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)

1870 MONROE CO, TN Page 143   House/Family #   94/  94--15th DISTRICT

McCALL WALLACE        33 M W FARMER                       175 TN              1836/1837
McCALL MARY           28 F W KEEPING HOUSE                    TN              1841/1842
McCALL NANCY           0 F W 3/12 (MAY)                       TN              1869/1870

For the 1880 census they had joined Mary's parents over in neighboring Blount County, and were listed next to them there in District 1. ** I don't have this entry typed up yet.

Thomas Hensley a.k.a. Gray was born ca 1841/42 in Monroe Co, TN. Thomas was home with his widowed mother in 1850 ("Thomas Hensly", age 8), and with mother and step-father in 1860 ("Thomas Gray" age 15). From this point on, he seemed to use "Gray" as his surname.

Thomas Gray married Catherine W. Ballew 1 Apr 1867 in Monroe Co, TN. Catherine was born ca 1844/45 in Tennessee. I don't know who her parents are.

Thomas and family were listed on the 1870 census next door to his mother and step-father in Monroe County. His sister Sarah Hensley - Gray was living with them.

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)

1870 MONROE CO, TN Page 144   House/Family #  113/ 113--15th DISTRICT

GRAY THOMAS           26 M W FARMER                           TN              1843/1844
GRAY CATHERIN         25 F W KEEPING HOUSE                    TN              1844/1845
GRAY LUCY              3 F W                                  TN              1866/1867
GRAY JANE              1 F W                                  TN              1868/1869
GRAY SALLIE           30 F W                                  TN              1839/1840
 

Thomas and family (still "Gray") were next door to his parents still in 1880, but they had all moved to neighboring Blount County. ** I don't have this entry typed up yet.

Joseph Hensley aka Gray was born ca 1848/49 in Monroe Co, TN. Joseph was home with his widowed mother in 1850 ("Joseph Hensly", age 1), and with mother and step-father in 1860 ("Joseph Gray" age 10). From this point on, he seemed to use "Gray" as his surname. He was still with parents in 1870 ("Joseph Gray" age 20).

Joseph C. Gray married Elizabeth J. Smallen on 2 Sep 1874 in Monroe Co., TN. She was born ca 1854/55 in TN.

I found them on the 1880 census in Monroe Co, TN. ** I don't have this entry typed up yet.

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