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Hensley
> Benjamin Hensley
The author (Marty Grant) is not related to Benjamin Hensley
as far as can be proven. There is certainly a possibility that he is
related to my ancestor Larkin
Hensley (c1761-1806).
I refer to this man as Benjamin Hensley (6) in an
attempt to distinguish him from the several other Benjamins, as he is the
sixth of this name that I'm aware of. See the
analysis page for the various early
Benjamin Hensleys.
Special thanks to Laura Schreibman for data shared on this
family.
Benjamin Hensley was probably born before ca 1750,
though I don't have enough information to come up with a good approximate
birth date for him. He may be much older than that, though probably not
younger. I don't know where he was born, though presumably somewhere in
Virginia.
I don't know who Benjamin's parents were, I have no strong
suspects, but it seems likely he was closely related to
Benjamin Hensley (4) of
neighboring Louisa Co., VA, but I don't think he was his son, but perhaps
his nephew instead. Since his oldest known son was named Samuel, perhaps
Benjamin (6) was a son of Samuel Hensley
(c1724) of Louisa County. This is just an educated guess though. I do
believe they are connected but can't prove anything just yet.
On 22 Jul 1748 in Albemarle Co., VA, Benjamin Henslee and Edward Hickman witnessed a
promissory note between Robert Dalton and Simon Grinton. [Weisiger,
Benjamin B. III., Albemarle County, Virginia Court Papers 1744-1783.]
That is probably
Benjamin (4) of Louisa County, though it is possible it was someone else. However,
this has two things going for it to make one believe it is that Benjamin. One Louisa and Albemarle border each other, so the distance is
not a problem. Two, Edward Hickman was the other witness. He could
be one of Benjamin's in-laws. I'm reasonably sure this record is not
referring to Benjamin (6), though if it is, he is much older than I
thought.
Benjamin Hensley was listed on a Colonial Militia
List for Albemarle Co., VA dated Sept. 1758. Although this is the right
name and the right county, there is no way to be sure
this is Benjamin (6). I rather think this is
Benjamin (5) who moved to
Halifax Co., VA just after this. It could be Benjamin (6) instead,
and if so, is the first record found for him, and the last for quite
awhile. If it is Benjamin (6) that would push his birth date back from ca
1750 to ca 1737 or earlier.
I don't know when Benjamin Hensley (6) came to Albemarle
County, nor where he lived before. Albemarle was formed in 1744 from
Goochland. There were Hensleys in most of Albemarle's neighboring counties
(Amherst, Buckingham, Cumberland, Louisa, Orange and Spotsylvania), so he
may have come out of one of those counties, or at least be closely related
to some or all of those Hensleys.
Benjamin Hensley married Susannah --- sometime
before ca 1780. It is possible she was his second wife. One proven child
of theirs was born ca 1782, and the oldest proven child of Benjamin was
born in the 1760's. That is a large range and may indicate more than one
wife. If so, I don't know who the first wife was. It is possible there was
only one spouse for it isn't impossible for one woman to have children 20
years different in age. An article written in 1876 makes a reference to a
Miss Landers as the first wife of Samuel Hensley, who married
second to Susan Taplett. I think the article is clearly referring to this
Benjamin and not someone named Samuel, but more evidence is needed. Read
for yourself, I've added some italics to point out interesting items:
HENSLEY, Samuel and Benjamin Hensley were sons of an
English family that settled on the Potomac river in Va. at an early
date. Samuel married a Miss Landers, and they had Samuel,
Jr., and William. His first wife died and he was married again to Susan
Taplett , by whom he had several children. William, son of Samuel,
Jr., by his first wife, married Elizabeth Appleberry, of Va., and they had
James, Benjamin, William Jr., Thomas, Fleming, Judith and Elizabeth. [A
History of the Pioneer Families of Missouri online at
http://www.rootsweb.com/~momontgo/families/familiesh.html]
The article refers to the family of Samuel Hensley, but I
think it really means Benjamin for the facts given fit Benjamin (6) better
than any Samuel Hensley I'm aware of. Also who were brothers Samuel and
Benjamin? Benjamin Hensley (4)
of Louisa Co., VA had an apparent brother
Samuel Hensley, also of Louisa.
However, this family didn't settle on the Potomac River as far as I can
determine, in fact I'm not aware of any early Hensleys on the Potomac. Of
course there could have been some, but I rather think the article is
referring to the Hensleys of the Rappahannock River instead.
At present I don't have a lot of records for Benjamin
Hensley (6). For instance, where was he in the 1760's through 1780ish? Was
he in Albemarle all that time? More research is needed.
Benjamin Hensley was listed on the 1785 tax list in
Albemarle Co., VA with 4 whites (himself, his wife and two children
presumably.) Other Hensleys on the list include Samuel (his son), and
William Hensley, relationship unknown.
Benjamin was listed on a 1787 list of delinquent tax
payers in Albemarle.
Benjamin Hensley was found on the 1787 personal property
tax list in Albemarle with one slave, one horse and 2 cows. Other Hensleys
listed in that county at the time were Samuel Hensley (his son), William
Hensley, who were listed in the same district with Benjamin. In another
district were Lewis Hensley and a different William Hensley.
On 17 Jan 1788 Benjamin Hensley made his Will in Albemarle
County. He named sons John and Samuel and "rest of children" to get one
shilling each, but did not give their names. He mentioned his wife but not
by name. As executors he named son Samuel Hensley and Lawrence Suddart.
Witnesses were James Kidd, Throt Suddarth, William Shewmaker and Julius
Galding. Benjamin signed the Will with a mark.
In the above Will, son John got the tract where Benjamin
"now lives" and 30 acres, and Samuel got 147 acres already sold to him.
On 15 Mar 1796, Susannah Hensley (and James Bethel,
Jarrott Suddarth, Silvey Hensley, and Suckey Hensley) witnessed a deed in
Albemarle from William Matthews to Samuel Hensley. I assume that either
Susannah or Suckey (a nickname for "Susan") is Benjamin's widow. This is
the last record I have for her.
Children: Benjamin Hensley (6) and wife
Susannah had two children as named in Benjamin's 1788 Will: John and
Samuel. John was born ca 1780, whereas Samuel was born in the 1760's at
least. The Will mentioned other children but did not name them. Since they
only got one shilling each, you might assume they were all grown, married
and doing well for themselves in 1788.
The Albemarle records show two William Hensleys in the county, one of
them may be Benjamin's son, but which one? One of them was
William Hensley (bef 1764-aft
1823) who married Elizabeth Appleberry.
William's family has a tradition that his father was Samuel of
Albemarle who first married a Miss Landers, and second Susan Taplett,
and that Samuel and Miss Landers had sons Samuel Jr and William, and
several children by second wife. Except for the name "Samuel" this
describes Benjamin Hensley's family pretty well. I think they were
confused and substituted the name Samuel for Benjamin, and if correct,
that means that this William Hensley (married Miss Appleberry) is another
son of Benjamin Hensley (6). See his page for more on him. The gist of
that story was published in 1876, so it may be accurate considering how
close to the actual time it was written. I think it is sufficient to
include this William Hensley in Benjamin's family, pending evidence to the
contrary. There is also a deed dated 1795 where Samuel and wife and
William and wife Elizabeth sold land jointly. This suggests a close
relationship.
Unfortunately I have no information about who the other children of
Benjamin Hensley (6) were. Any Hensley of the era (1760's to 1780's)
connected to Albemarle County might be a child of his.
Samuel Hensley
William Hensley
John Hensley
(c1780)
Samuel Hensley.
Benjamin Hensley named a son Samuel in his 1788 Will and mentioned 147
acres he had sold to him. Although there were several Samuels around in
Virginia at the time, this appears to be the same Samuel who was living in
Albemarle then with wife Sibby (Sibba, Libby, etc.).
Samuel was probably born in the early to mid 1760's.
See their page for more on them.
William Hensley.
Benjamin Hensley didn't name William in his 1788 Will, but he did mention
their were other children. However, certain evidence seems to prove that
William does belong in this family. First there is the article published
in a book in 1876 which talks about this William, and I quote (italics
added by me):
HENSLEY, Samuel and Benjamin Hensley were sons of an
English family that settled on the Potomac river in Va. at an early
date. Samuel married a Miss Landers, and they had Samuel,
Jr., and William. His first wife died and he was married again to Susan
Taplett , by whom he had several children. William, son of Samuel,
Jr., by his first wife, married Elizabeth Appleberry, of Va., and
they had James, Benjamin, William Jr., Thomas, Fleming, Judith and
Elizabeth. [A History of the Pioneer Families of Missouri online at
http://www.rootsweb.com/~momontgo/families/familiesh.html]
As noted earlier, the above article has a problem. It mentions brothers
Benjamin and Samuel and then describes Samuel's marriage to Miss
Landers and second Susan Taplet. Other records make it clear (to me at
least) that this should be Benjamin and not Samuel since records do
seem to indicate that Benjamin (not Samuel) was married twice, and his
second wife was named Susan or Susannah.
Although this article is not primary evidence it helps a little.
However, a deed dated 4 Sep 1790 in Albemarle helps a lot. On that deed
Samuel Hensley and wife Sibby, and William Hensley and wife Elizabeth sold
land to James Atkinson. The land was 163 acres on Green Creek. I don't
know where they got that land, but owning/selling it jointly suggests a
close relationship. Perhaps they inherited it from their father.
More proof, though circumstantial, is that William Hensley moved his
family to Kanawha Co., VA (now WV), as did John Hensley (c1780), who is a
proven son of Benjamin and Susannah. This doesn't prove they are brothers,
but it is one more bit of evidence in favor of that.
See William's page for more on his family.
John Hensley
(c1780) Benjamin Hensley named his son John in his 1788 Will.
He named him first which might make you think he was the oldest, but he
was actually the youngest, only about 8 at the time.
John Hensley remained in Albemarle awhile, but by the 1820's moved to
Kanawha Co., VA (now WV) where his older brother William had recently
moved. John was later found in Putnam Co., VA (now WV) where he died
in 1870.
The record of his second marriage in 1862 is revealing, it shows he was
born in Albemarle Co., VA and his parents were Benjamin and Susan. This
proves this is the same John named in Benjamin's 1788 Will.
See his own page for more information.
Researcher List
Persons researching this family (contact me to
add, change or delete your listing here):
- Doug Hensley =
(Benjamin-)
- Barb Lynn =
(Benjamin-William-)
Register Report
1. Benjamin1
Hensley
, born abt 1740/45; died 1788 in
Albemarle Co, VA. He married (1) bef 1764 in Albemarle Co, VA
(---) Landers
, died bef 1780 in Albemarle Co,
VA; (2) bef 1780 in Albemarle Co, VA Susannah (---)
, died aft 1796 in Albemarle Co,
VA.
Children
of Benjamin Hensley and (---) Landers were as follows:
+ 2
i Samuel2
Hensley
, born bef 1764 in Albemarle Co,
VA; died 1802/10 in Albemarle Co, VA. He married Sibba
(---)
.
+ 3
ii William2
Hensley
, born bef 1764 in Albemarle Co,
VA; died aft 11 Jul 1823 in Kanawha Co, VA (WV). He married
Elizabeth Appleberry
.
Children
of Benjamin Hensley and Susannah (---) were as follows:
+ 4
i John2
Hensley
, born 1779/80 in Albemarle Co,
VA; died 7 Feb 1870 in Putnam Co, WV. He married (1) Frances
Smith
; (2) Lydia Smith
.
Generation 2
2. Samuel2
Hensley
(Benjamin1),
born bef 1764 in Albemarle Co, VA; died 1802/10 in Albemarle Co, VA.
He married bef 1785 in Albemarle Co, VA Sibba (---)
, born bef 1765 in Albemarle Co,
VA; died aft 1810 in Albemarle Co, VA.
Children
of Samuel Hensley and Sibba (---) were as follows:
5
i Sarah3
Hensley
, born in Albemarle Co, VA.
3. William2
Hensley
(Benjamin1),
born bef 1764 in Albemarle Co, VA; died aft 11 Jul 1823 in Kanawha Co,
VA (WV). He married bef 1782 in Albemarle Co, VA Elizabeth
Appleberry
, born bef 1775 in Albemarle Co,
VA; died aft 1820 in Kanawha Co, VA (WV).
Children
of William Hensley and Elizabeth Appleberry were as follows:
6
i Benjamin3
Hensley
, born 1781/82 in Albemarle Co,
VA; died 1860/70 in Putnam Co, VA (WV).
7
ii William3
Hensley
, born 1787/88 in Albemarle Co,
VA; died aft 1870 in Jefferson Co, MO.
8
iii James3
Hensley
, born 1788/89 in Albemarle Co,
VA; died aft 1870 in Jefferson Co, MO.
9
iv Samuel3
Hensley
, born 1794/95 in KY; died 4 Apr
1862 in Kanawha Co, VA (WV).
10
v Thomas A3
Hensley Rev
, born 1795/96 in Albemarle Co,
VA; died aft 1870 in Montgomery Co, MO.
11
vi Flemming3
Hensley
, born 14 Feb 1799 in Albemarle
Co, VA; died aft 1870 in Jefferson Co, MO.
12
vii Judith3
Hensley
, born in Albemarle Co, VA.
13
viii Elizabeth3
Hensley
, born in Albemarle Co, VA.
4. John2
Hensley
(Benjamin1),
born 1779/80 in Albemarle Co, VA; died 7 Feb 1870 in Putnam Co, WV.
He married (1) bef 1815 in Albemarle Co, VA Frances Smith
, born 1792/93 in VA; died 17
Dec 1860 in Putnam Co, VA (WV); (2) in 1861 in Putnam Co, VA (WV)
Lydia Smith
, born 1792/93 in Nelson Co, VA;
died aft 1870 in Putnam Co, WV.
Children
of John Hensley and Frances Smith were as follows:
14
i James A3
Hensley
, born 1819/20 in Kanawha Co, VA
(WV).
15
ii Cassandra3
Hensley
, born 1823/24 in Kanawha Co, VA
(WV).
16
iii Frances3
Hensley
, born 1825/26 in Kanawha Co, VA
(WV).
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