Sisters Agnes "Ankey" Hensley Godsey (c1763) and Milly Hensley Cornett (1760/70) of VA, TN and KY

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The author (Marty Grant) is not related to Agnes and Milly Hensley as far as can be proven. They did live in the same counties (Washington and Scott Co., VA) as my ancestor Larkin Hensley (c1761-1806). 

Special Thanks to Ruthe Muench and Laura Schreibman for information shared on this family.

Agnes Hensley (1763) and Milly Hensley (c1760/70) are proven siblings. In 1838 Agnes "Ankey" Hensley Godsey applied for a Revolutionary War Pension on behalf of her deceased husband's service. Milly Hensley Cornett testified that she witnessed their marriage in 1779 in Buckingham Co., VA and that they were sisters.

I don't know who their parents were, but they might be sisters to one or more of the Washington Co., VA Hensley patriarchs: Fielding Hensley (c1761), Robert Hensley (c1759), Joseph Hensley (1750/60-1832), Larkin Hensley (c1761-1806), Samuel Hensley (1754-1841) and William Hensley (bef 1761-aft 1810).

Children of Mr. Hensley. This particular Mr. Hensley had at least two daughters Agnes and Milly. There were probably many other children but these are all that are proven at this time.

Agnes "Ankey" Hensley (c1763)

Mildred "Milly" Hensley (1760/65)

Agnes "Ankey" Hensley was born ca 1762/63 per her age of 77 on the 1840 Pensioners Census. This date also works with an affidavit dated 1838 where she said she was 75.

She was probably born in Virginia, perhaps Buckingham County where she married in 1779. Her parents are unknown.

Every record I've seen for her shows her name as "Ankey" or "Anky" which is typically a nickname for "Agnes" which can also be a nickname for "Nancy." I've only assumed her given name is Agnes. Other researchers long before my time have also made this assumption (or perhaps they had some actual records to base it on, but I've not seen it.)

Agnes Hensley married William Godsey on 14 Jan 1779 in Buckingham Co., VA. These facts are from Revolutionary War Pension File W292 and her affidavit dated 23 Jan 1838.

William Godsey was born ca 1757/58 per an affidavit made 22 Aug 1820 where he stated he was 62 years old. (Pension File W292.) He was probably born somewhere in Virginia.

Other researchers give his parents as Thomas Godsey and Nancy (---), both of whom were killed by Indians at Cumberland Gap (TN) in 1769. Their children Elizabeth Godsey and Blackburn Godsey were also killed. Sons William and Austin survived. (I have no primary source documentation on any of this so use at your own risk.)

William Godsey enlisted for the Revolutionary War in Buckingham Co., VA.

No one named Godsey was listed on the Washington Co., VA Land Tax Lists for the period 1782-1815. None were listed on the Personal Property tax lists until 1790. During the 1790's William Godsey was listed, and by 1799 he was joined by Berryman Godsey, relationship unknown.

The 1800 census is lost for Virginia.

William Godsey was listed sporadically on the Washington tax lists from 1801 through 1810. He wasn't listed at all 1802 through 1805. He may have been over in Sullivan Co., TN at that time. By 1806 he was joined by Gilbert Godsey, relationship unknown. Gilbert was one of the defendants in the court case involving the heirs of Larkin Hensley.

William Godsey was listed on the 1810 census in Washington Co., VA between Henry Darnell Senr and Daniel Hartsock. Two houses away in one direction was Elizabeth Hensley (bef 1765), and three houses in the other was Ithe Hensley.

1810 census analysis (based on available evidence): (Explanation of this census)

1810 Washington Co, VA pg 229 Wm Godsey 22011-11101-0-0
Analysis:
1 Male(s) 45 and up    (bef 1765)	William Godsey (c1758)
1 Male(s) 26-44       (1765-1784)	Son?
2 Male(s) 10-15       (1794-1800)	Son?
					Son?
2 Male(s) 0-9         (1800-1810)	Son?
					Son?
1 Female(s) 45 & up (before 1765)	Agnes Hensley Godsey (c1763) wife
1 Female(s) 16-25     (1784-1794)	Daughter?
1 Female(s) 10-15     (1794-1800)	Daughter?
1 Female(s) 0-9       (1800-1810)	Daughter? 

William was the only Godsey found in Washington for the 1810 census. Gilbert Godsey was in Nicholas Co., KY by 1810. I don't know where Berryman was, perhaps in TN (that census is lost.)

William Godsey was not listed on the 1811 Washington tax list but he was listed in 1812, but not in 1813-1815.

I assume they moved into neighboring Sullivan Co., TN around 1812 or shortly afterwards.

The 1820 census is lost for eastern Tennessee, including Sullivan County. They were in that county then for on 22 Aug 1820 William Godsey made an affidavit there for his Revolutionary War Pension.

They were listed on the 1830 census in Sullivan Co., TN.

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

1830 Sullivan Co, TN pg 314 Wm Godsy 0000200001000-0000000010000
Analysis:
1 Male(s) 70-79        (1750-1760)	William Godsey (c1758)
2 Male(s) 20-29        (1800-1810)	Son?
					Son?
1 Female(s) 60-69      (1760-1770)	Agnes Hensley Godsey (c1763) wife

William Godsey died in Sullivan Co., TN on 12 Feb 1831 (per pension file W292).

On 16 Jan 1838, Milly Cornett of Clay Co., KY made an affidavit for her sister Ankey regarding William Godsey's Revolutionary War Service. (File W292).

For the 1840 census Agnes was listed on the pensioners census in Sullivan Co., TN living in the household of Jacob Miller, relationship unknown.

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

1840 Sullivan Co, TN pg 133 Jacob Miller 0000100100000-0101001001000
      Revolutionary Pensioner: Ankey Godsey, 77
Analysis:
1 Male(s) 50-59        (1780-1790)	Jacob Miller
1 Male(s) 20-29        (1810-1820)	Son?
1 Female(s) 70-79      (1760-1770)	Agnes Hensley Godsey (c1763) wd/o William
1 Female(s) 40-49      (1790-1800)	Wife?
1 Female(s) 15-19      (1820-1825)	Daughter?
1 Female(s) 5-9        (1830-1835)	Daughter?

I was unable to find Agnes Hensley Godsey on the 1850 census, so she may have died between 1840 and 1850. I was unable to locate the Jacob Miller family in 1850 either, at least not in Sullivan Co., TN. There were lots of Jacob Millers elsewhere as you can imagine.

In his pension affidavit dated 1820, William Godsey stated that he had 11 children all of whom had married and gone from home. No primary documentation has been located proving any of their children (as far as I know), but I have a list of the 11 children as named in Goose Eggs a booklet by William Godsey, 1965. I have no proof that these are indeed children of William and Agnes, but I have no reason to think the list is inaccurate.

Mildred "Milly" Hensley was probably born in the 1760's, assuming she was about the same age as her sister Ankey Hensley Godsey. We know for sure that she was born before 1779 and was old enough then to remember her sisters marriage that year.

She was probably born in Virginia, perhaps Buckingham County where she was in 1779. Her parents are unknown.

She married a Mr. Cornett before 16 Jan 1838 for on that date she made an affidavit from Clay Co., KY on behalf of her sister Anky Hensley Godsey. In that affidavit she proves they are sisters and that Hensley is their maiden name. Unfortunately her spouse is not mentioned. Others told me she was married to a William Cornett, while still others say Nathaniel Cornett. I have not looked into this myself until now.

The Cornetts seemed to have arrived in Washington County between 1787 and 1788 for none were listed on the 1787 personal property tax list, but several appeared in 1788 and several were listed each year for several years after. They were almost always spelled Cornet.

1787 - None

1788 - Nathaniel; Samuel; William; Rodger; and "The old man" Cornet. (really says that! Must refer to William Sr)

1789 - Nathaniel, William Jr., Samuel. (Land: William, 400 acres)

1790 - Nathaniel, Roger, Samuel, William Sr. and William Jr. (Land: William, 400 acres)

1791 - Rodger, Nathaniel, Samuel, William Jr. and William Sr. (Land: William, 100 acres)

1792 - Nathaniel, William Sr., Samuel and Roger. (Land: William, 100 acres)

1793 - Nathaniel, William, and Samuel. (Land: William, 100 acres)

1794 - Nathaniel, William Sr., and Roger.  (Land: William, 100 acres)

1795 - Nathaniel and Roger.  (Land: William, 100 acres)

1796 - Nathaniel and Roger.  (Land: William, 100 acres)

1797 - Roger, Nathaniel and William. (Land: William, 100 acres; Nathaniel, 220)

1798 - None.  (Land: William, 100 acres; Nathaniel, 220)

1799 - None.  (Land: William, 100 acres; Nathaniel, 220)

1800 - John and Nathaniel.  (Land: William, 100 acres; Nathaniel, 220; William, 50)

1801 - John.  (Land: William 100 and 50; Nathaniel, 220; Mary, 100)

1802 - None. (Land: Mary 100; William 100, 59, 50)

1803 - John, Mary, Nathaniel, and William. (Land: Mary 100; William 100, 59, 50)

1804 - John, William, Nathaniel and William. (Land: Mary 100, 50; William 100, 59, 50; Nathaniel 220)

1805 - Nathaniel, John, and Mary. (Land: Mary 100, 50; William 100, 59, 50; Nathaniel 220)

1806 - Mary, John and William. (Didn't check land records for them after 1805)

1807 - None

1808 - No list

1809 - John, William and William Sr.

1810 - William, John and Mary.

The 1810 census shows in Washington Co., VA: John Cornett (bef 1765) and spouse (1784/94), and William Cornett (bef 1765) and spouse (1765/84). This William died ca 1815 leaving widow Lucy and 8 children: Nathaniel, William, Samuel, Roger, Nancy, Mary, Sarah, and Lucy. That makes it pretty clear this William isn't Milly Hensley's husband.

In 1810 in Clay Co., KY there is: Lidia Cornett (1784/94), Robert Cornett (1765/84), Roger Cornett (1765/84), Samuel Cornett (1765/84) and Will Cornett (bef 1765). Of these we can exclude Lidia since she is a female. That leaves Robert, Roger, Samuel and Will as possible husbands for Milly. In each case in 1810 the spouse was the same age group as the husband. This assumes she was living in Clay County already by then.

For the 1820 census there were no Cornetts in Washington Co., VA nor in Scott County which was formed in 1814 from Washington. There were plenty in Clay Co., KY though: Archibald Cornet (1775/84) and spouse (1794/1804); Roger Cornet (bef 1775) and spouse (bef 1775); Robert Cornet (bef 1775) and spouse (1775/94); Nathaniel Cornet (bef 1775) and spouse (bef 1775); Samuel Cornet (bef 1775) and spouse (bef 1775); and William Cornet Jr (1775/94) and spouse (1794/1804).

Of these which was Milly Hensley's husband? Due to her age (born 1760's) we can eliminate Archibald Cornett, Robert Cornett and William Cornett Jr. (Why was there no William Sr listed?). That leaves Roger, Nathaniel and Samuel Cornett as prime suspects.

The 1830 census shows several Cornetts in Clay Co., KY: William Cornet (1790/1800) and spouse (1800/10); Henry Cornet (1800/10) and spouse (1810/15); Roger Cornet (1760/70) and spouse (1770/80) and another woman (1730/40); Robin Cornet (1770/80) and two older women (1770/80) and (1760/70); (Note: Henry Hensley (c1801) was just a few houses from all these Cornetts.) and Samuel Cornet (1800/10) and spouse (1800/10).

Of the above list the only one that fits is Robin Cornet who has two older women with him, one presumably his wife, the other who knows? Notice who is missing from 1820: Archibald and Nathaniel. Archibald is too young to be a suspect, but Nathaniel is a good match.

We know Milly Hensley Cornett was in Clay Co., KY in 1838 for that is when she made the affidavit for sister Ankey Hensley Godsey.

The 1840 census shows seven Cornett households in Clay Co., KY.  Most were too young, but Robert Cornet (1770/80) and wife (1770/80) and Rodger Cornet (1770/80), no spouse.

No sign of Milly Hensley Cornett on the 1850 census.

A list of William Cornett's family shows that he is the progenitor of most, if not all of the Clay Co., KY Cornetts:

William Cornett died 1810-1815 in Scott Co., VA leaving wife Lucy and these children

1. Nathaniel Cornett (bef 1775-aft 1820 Clay Co., KY)
2. William Cornett (c1762 Henrico Co., VA - 1836 Perry Co., KY) wife Mary Everage
3. Samuel Cornett (c1765/75-aft 1820 Clay Co., KY)
4. Roger Cornett (1765/70-1840/50 Clay Co., KY)
5. Nancy Cornett (c1782-1852) married Fielding Hensley (c1761)
6. Mary Cornett
7. Sarah Cornett married James Thomas
8. Lucy Cornett married John Brown

Milly Hensley ties into one of those Cornetts for sure, but which one? It isn't William Sr nor William Jr. That really only leaves Nathaniel, Samuel and Roger. There are other Cornetts around too, but I'm leaving them out for now.

Ruthe Muench showed that Nathaniel Cornett was married to "Mildred Hensley" but I haven't found any supporting documentation for that, but that does work with the slim evidence I've found so far. I'm going to leave Nathaniel as Milly's husband until evidence is found that proves it or refutes it.

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