Stephen H. Hensley (c1823) and Margaret Black of Monroe and Warren Co., TN and Wright and LaClede Co., MO

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

Stephen H. Hensley was born ca 1822/23 per his ages on the 1850 and 1860 census. However this means that he was only about 17 when he married in 1840 and that would be very unusual. [Legally a person could not marry until age 21 unless he had his parents consent.] The 1840 census shows him in his 20's or born between 1810 and 1820. I would think that birth range is more accurate than his 1850 and 1860 entries, but the fact that those latter two are consistent seems to refute that theory. On 4 Jan 1856 he stated that he was 35 years old, so that puts his birth date at ca 1821.

Stephen was born in Tennessee, but I don't know what county. He married and lived in Monroe County for a time so perhaps he was born there, though that is just an educated guess.

I don't know what his "H" middle initial stood for.

I don't know who Stephen's parents were, but I have two prime suspects. The first is Benjamin Hensley (c1797) and Mary Gallion of Roane County, Tennessee. The main reason I suspect them is that they did have an unknown son the same age as Stephen, and many of their children moved to Wright County, Missouri, just as Stephen did. Other than those two interesting bits of circumstantial evidence, I have nothing else that helps prove (or disprove) the connection. The other possibility is that Stephen is a son of Temple Hensley (1760/70), for no other reason than he was in Monroe Co, TN in 1830 and had an apparent son the same age group as Stephen. There are probably several other possibilities as well but these two stand out.

Stephen would have probably been home with his parents for the 1830 census and since he would have been about 7 years old he should have been enumerated in the age 5-9 category (born ca 1820/25). In Monroe County, only Temple Hensley (1760/70) had an apparent son that age. Samuel Hensley (1801) also had a son that age, but he is already proven to be someone else. If we were to assume that Stephen was in Monroe in 1830, then Samuel and Temple are the only prime choices. However, he could have been in neighboring Roane County with Benjamin Hensley (c1797) who did have an apparent son age 5-9 in 1830.

On 1 May 1837 Stephen enlisted in Knox Co., TN as a Private to serve in the Cherokee and Creek Indian War under Capt. Robert A. Tilford, Regiment of Tennessee Volunteers under Col. Hunter.  He was discharged 15 Aug 1837 in TN. (This facts per an affidavit he made on 4 Jan 1856)

Stephen Hensley married Margaret C. Black (listed as "Majah Black") on 16 Jan 1840 in Monroe County, Tennessee. Margaret was born ca 1822/23 in Georgia, county unknown. I don't know who her parents were. It is very unusual for a 17 year old male to marry. Anyone under 21 had to have their parents consent to wed. ** I have not seen the original marriage record so I don't know if it includes the name of Stephen's parents or legal guardian.

Stephen Hensley was listed on the 1840 census in Monroe County, though not near any of the other Hensleys in that county that year. He was listed between John Lawson and Mary Walker. The Robert Black household was just a few houses away, and he seems old enough to be Margaret's father, though I don't know if he is.

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

1840 Monroe Co, TN pg 188 Stephen Hensley 0000100000000-0000100000000
Analysis:
1 Male(s) 20-29        (1810-1820)	Stephen H. HENSLEY (1822/23)
1 Female(s) 20-29      (1810-1820)	Margaret BLACK Hensley (1822/23) wife m 1840

Sometime during the 1840's, Stephen and Margaret moved west several counties into central Tennessee to Warren County. They were listed there on the 1850 census. There were other Hensleys in that county already, but not listed anywhere nearby, nor do I think they are closely related, if at all.  See the pages for Henry Hensley (c1783) and Sarah Bishop Hensley (c1818) for more on the other Warren County Hensleys.

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 WARREN CO, TN Page 23    House/Family #  292/ 292  - 3rd CIVIL DISTRICT

HENSLY STEPHEN        27 M W FARMER                     TN                   1822/1823
HENSLY MARGARET       27 F W                            GA                   1822/1823
HENSLY CHRISTOPHER C   9 M W                            TN                   1840/1841
HENSLY JAMES H         7 M W                            TN                   1842/1843
HENSLY CATHERAN J      5 F W                            TN                   1844/1845
HENSLY SARAH S         1 F W                            TN                   1848/1849

Stephen Hensley and family left Tennessee between ca 1854 and 1856 and moved to St. Francois Co., MO. He was there by 4 Jan 1856 for on that date he made an affidavit regarding his service in the Indian Wars in 1837. He listed himself as a resident of that county and state and aged 35 (puts his birth at ca 1820/21). He signed with a mark.

By 1860 he was in Wright Co., MO which was several counties south-west of St. Francois. I don't know what drew them there, but perhaps it was Sarah, widow of  Peter Hensley (c1812) who was already living there. I don't know if Peter and Stephen are related, but it seems likely since Sarah and Stephen were just 3 houses apart in 1860.

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 WRIGHT CO, MO Page 974   House/Family #  615/ 606 --  Twp  HARTVILLE P.O.

HENSLEY STEPHEN H       37 M W FARMER                   300 TN                   1822/1823
HENSLEY M C             37 F W                              TN                   1822/1823
HENSLEY CHRISTOPHER C   19 M W FARM LABOR                   TN                   1840/1841
HENSLEY JAMES HENDERSON 18 M W FARM LABOR                   TN                   1841/1842
HENSLEY KATHANN J       15 F W                              TN                   1844/1845
HENSLEY SARAH A         11 F W                              TN                   1848/1849
HENSLEY JERRE            7 M W                              TN                   1852/1853
HENSLEY POLMALL?         6 F W                              TN                   1853/1854
 

Stephen H. Hensley died sometime between 1860 and 1870 (perhaps due to Civil War?)

At some point in the 1860's, the family moved to neighboring Laclede County, Missouri. I don't know which county Stephen died in.

For the 1870 census, Margaret and son Philander were living with daughter Sarah and her husband Thomas Turner in Laclede County, in Lebanon Township. Son James and his family were next door.

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 LACLEDE CO., MO Page 44B H/F # 266/ 266–LEBANON TWP LEBANON P.O.

TURNER THOMAS J       21 M W FARMER                       243 MO              1848/1849
TURNER SARAH A        21 F W KEEPING HOUSE                    MO              1848/1849
TURNER MINNIE          2 F W                                  MO              1867/1868
TURNER KATE              F W 5/12 Dec                         MO              1859/1860
HENSLEY MARGARET      49 F W HOUSE WORK                       GA              1820/1821
HENSLEY PHILANDER M   15 M W AT SCHOOL                        TN              1854/1855

I did not find Margaret on the 1880 census, so she may have died between 1870 and 1880 in Laclede Co, MO, or perhaps moved somewhere else. I did find some of her children still in Laclede in 1880.

Children of Stephen H. Hensley and Margaret Black. Stephen H. Hensley and wife had six children per the 1850 and 1860 census. I've found some additional data on a few of the children.

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