Richard F. Hensley (1835) and Susanna Huling of Knox Co., TN

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The author (Marty Grant) is not related to Richard F. 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 born after he left there.

Richard F. Hensley was born Dec 1835 per the 1900 census. I'm not entirely sure that 1900 entry is for the same person, but that birth date does roughly agree with his census ages: 17 in 1850 (c1832/33); 24 in 1860 (c1835/36);  35 in 1870 (c1834/35) and 47 in 1880 (c1832/33).

He was born in Tennessee, county unknown. He was in Knox County later on, but I don't know if he was born there.

I don't know what his middle initial of "F" stands for. The 1880 census showed it as "H" instead, whereas the 1850 and 1870 census show no middle initial at all. The marriage record and the 1860 census both show "F" so that seems to be more accurate.

Richard's parents are unknown, but he might be related to some of the other Knox County Hensleys, such as William A. Hensley (c1829), who named one of his sons "Richard".

Richard's 1880 and 1900 census records show both parents born in Tennessee.

Richard was presumably home with his parents for the 1840 census, but I don't know where they were then. Anthony Hensley (c1791) in Knox County had two apparent sons this age (born ca 1835/40). He was the only Hensley household in Knox that year, though there were lots of other Hensleys in neighboring and nearby counties.

For the 1850 census Richard was living in Knox County with James W. Craig and family, relationship unknown. They were next door to the William Hulon family, probably related to his future wife.

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)

KNOX CO, TN Page 85B   H/F #  545/ 550- - 31st SUBDIV Est DIST Twp

CRAIGE JAMES W        47 M W FARMING               1200 VA                   1802/1803
CRAIGE JANE           52 F W                            VA                   1797/1798
CRAIGE HUGH L         19 M W FARMING                    TN                   1830/1831
CRAIGE SARAH JANE     17 F W                            TN                   1832/1833
CRAIGE RACHEL AMANDA  13 F W                            TN                   1836/1837
HENSLEY RICHARD       17 M W FARMING                    TN                   1832/1833

Richard F. Hensley married Susanna M. Huling on 6 Oct 1853 in Knox County. The abstracted marriage record shows her name as "Hewlett", but Doug Huling told me that Susanna's maiden name should be "Huling" instead of "Hewlett". I've not seen the documentation, but his data seems sound. Huling is one of those names that is spelled different ways in different records. They were married by David Nelson, JP, and L. D. Hobbs was bondsman. David Nelson also married John A. Hensley to Elizabeth Henderson in 1856, and L. D. Hobbs might be Leander Hobbs who married Eliza Hensley in 1846.

Susannah was born Nov 1839 (per 1900 census) in North Carolina, county unknown. I don't know who her parents were. I can't find her on the 1850 census.

Richard and Susanna were listed on the 1860 census in Knox County in District 10. They were the only Hensleys in that district. All the others lived in District 11.

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 KNOX CO, TN Page 209   House/Family #   88/  88 -- DISTRICT 10 Twp Concord PO

HENSLEY RICHARD F     24 M W FARMER                   400 TN                   1835/1836
HENSLEY SUSANNA M     23 F W                              NC                   1836/1837
HENSLEY MARTHA P       5 F W                              TN                   1854/1855
HENSLEY CORDELIA A     3 F W                              TN                   1856/1857
 

Richard and family were still in Knox for the 1870 census with future son-in-law William Nipper living with them. They were in the same district and with the same Post Office as William R. Hensley (1838) son of Allen Hensley (c1818), and also Eliza W. Hensley (c1820). I don't know how they might all be related.

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)

KNOX CO, TN Page 201   House/Family #  282/ 277--CIVIL DISTRICT NO 10 Twp CONCORD P.O.

HENSLEY RICHARD       35 M W FARMER                1100   200 TN              1834/1835
HENSLEY SUSANNA       36 F W KEEPING HOUSE                    NC              1833/1834
HENSLEY MARTHA        15 F W                                  TN              1854/1855
HENSLEY CORDELIA      13 F W                                  TN              1856/1857
HENSLEY OMAR           4 M W AT HOME                          TN              1865/1866
NIPPER WILLIAM        24 M W FARM HAND                    200 TN              1845/1846

They were still in Knox for the 1880 census, and still in the 10th District. By now they were the only Hensleys in that district. A nephew Samuel Prosser (or Propes) was living with them. I think his mother was a sister to Susanna for a Sarah L. Hulen married James R. Propes in Knox in 1856 and widow Sarah was just a few houses from the Hensleys in 1880.

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 380   House/Family #   131/ 132 -- 10th CIVIL DISTRICT Twp

HENSLEY RICHARD H              W M  47    M FARMER               TN  TN  TN  1832/1833
HENSLEY SUSAN M                W F  44 WF M KEEPING HOUSE        NC  NC  NC  1835/1836
HENSLEY OMAR L                 W M  12 S  S FARM LABORER         TN  TN  NC  1867/1868
PROSSER SAMUEL D               W M  16 NE S FARM LABORER         TN  TN  NC  1863/1864

I was unable to locate Richard or Susan on the 1900 census. I found what might be them on that census in White Co., TN. This is just a few counties west of Knox. The names are right and the ages are close, but I'm not totally sure this is them or not. One problem is that Susan is listed born in TN (though parents born NC), and she is listed as having given birth to no children, and their number of years married was reported as 32 (should be 37 or thereabouts.) If it isn't them, then I have no idea who this is.

1900 census abstract: (Explanation of this census)

(Note: The birth dates given in 1900 were part of the original census record)

WHITE CO, TN Pg: 265 Sh:  SD:  H-F:  151- 151 Twp: 11th CIVIL DISTRICT

HENSLEY RICHARD                HD W M DEC 1835  64 M 32       TN  TN  TN
HENSLEY SUSAN                  WF W F NOV 1839  60 M 32       TN  NC  NC

I wasn't able to find them on the 1910 census.

Children of Richard F.. Hensley and Susanna Huling.

Richard and Susanna had three children per the various census records. I don't have much additional data on them.

Researcher List

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

• Doug Huling = (from Susannah's brother James Huling)

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