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Hensley
> Elizabeth Hensley
The author (Marty Grant) is not related to Elizabeth Hensley
as far as can be proven. She did live in the same county (Washington Co.,
VA) as my ancestor Larkin
Hensley (c1761-1806).
Since I have only found ONE record for Elizabeth Hensley,
there is a question as to whether she was a Hensley by birth, or a widow
Hensley. I'm going to work from the assumption that she is a widow. That
means a lot of what I think about Elizabeth is based on assumptions, one
built on top of another, so keep that in mind.
Elizabeth --- was born before 1765 per her age on
the 1810 census. I don't know where she was born, but somewhere in
Virginia is the most likely place, though of course there are other
possibilities.
Her 1810 census entry shows her with an apparent son born
ca 1784/94, so (assuming that this person is her son), she was married to
a Mr. Hensley sometime before ca 1794.
Who was her husband then? If we assume she was in the
Washington Co., VA area early on, then the suspects are limited. Using ca
1794 as a possible marriage date, what male Hensleys were in Washington
around that time? Let us use the 1794 tax list as a guide. These men were
listed: Samuel Hensley, William Hensley Jr., Fielding Hensley, Nicholas
Hensley, William Hensley and Capt. Joseph Hensley.
Of those,
Samuel Hensley (1754-1841) was in Washington County on up until his
death in 1841, so he wasn't Elizabeth's husband.
William Hensley Jr is a son of Joseph, and he moved to KY just after 1794
and his wife was named Lucy, so he isn't Elizabeth's husband.
Fielding Hensley (c1761) was in the area until his death in the
1830's, and his wife is Nancy Cornett, so he isn't a suspect.
Nicholas Hensley (c1765)
was in the area until ca 1809 when he moved to KY where he died in the
1840's, so that removes him from consideration.
Joseph Hensley
(1750/60-1832) was in the area just a year or two more after 1794
before moving to KY where he died. Records prove his first wife was Jane,
second wife Nancy.
That only leaves William Hensley (Sr) from the 1794 list
as a suspect for Elizabeth's husband. Of course more analysis is needed.
Read on.
Let us move to the 1795 tax list. The only new entry is Larkin
Hensley (bef 1761-1806) who's wife was Sarah, so he isn't likely the
one.
In 1804 there was Fielding, Nicholas, Ichabod, William Sr,
William Jr, Samuel and Larkin. The 1805 list showed the same names.
The 1806 list was a little different, showing Samuel,
Fielding, Nicholas, William Sr and William Jr, just as before, but new
listings include Jesse and Sarah Hensley. Missing from 1806 Larkin and
Ichabod. Records show that Larkin died about this time, and that Sarah is
his widow. Ichabod moved to Tennessee.
The 1807 list shows some of the same names from 1806:
Samuel, Fielding, William Sr, Nicholas and William Jr. New names are
Simeon and Thomas (sons of Samuel), and Sampson. Missing are Jesse (still
around but not listed for some reason), and Sarah (moved to TN).
There is no 1808 list, but in 1809 we see some
differences. Listed, same as before, are Sampson, Nicholas, Samuel, Jesse,
William and Fielding. No new names. Missing are Simon and Thomas (who were
both still around, just not listed for some reason), and one of the
Williams.
The only name missing (without explanation) in 1809 is
William Hensley Sr. He does not appear on any additional Washington County
records.
Analysis of the 1794 through 1809 tax list data seems to
show only one Hensley who could have been Elizabeth's husband, and that is
William Hensley Sr. This
is far from conclusive, but it is a good working theory.
Elizabeth Hensley herself does not appear on the
early Washington Co., VA Personal Property Tax lists. This
probably means she had no taxable property or in those earlier years
(before 1810) or she was with her husband (William Sr?) so not listed by
name. He was not listed in 1809, but neither was she.
Elizabeth Hensley was listed on the 1810 census in
Washington Co., VA. She was in close proximity to several Hensleys
and Hensley related families:
Ithe Hensley was five houses away.
William Godsey (husband of Agnes Hensley) was two houses away.
Elizabeth's household contained two women aged 45 and up. There is no way
to know who this other woman was, but possibilities include her mother, a
sister or sister-in-law or some other relative. It should be noted that
Agnes Hensley (c1763) is not
listed in 1810. It could be her.
1810 census analysis (based on
available evidence): (Explanation of
this census)
1810 Washington Co, VA pg 229 Elizabeth Hensley 00100-00002-0-0
Analysis:
1 Male(s) 16-25 (1784-1794) Son? (1784/94)
2 Female(s) 45 & up (bef 1765) Elizabeth (—) Hensley (bef 1765)
Sister? Sister-in-law? (bef 1765)
Elizabeth Hensley was not listed on the 1810
personal property tax list, though the 1810 census clearly shows she had a
male over 16 living with her. He should have been listed, and perhaps he
was. There is no way to know if he was a Hensley or someone else.
Elizabeth Hensley does not appear on any of the 1811 or
later tax lists in Washington Co., VA or in the Scott Co., VA tax lists (Scott County was formed
in 1814 from the western part of Washington, taking several of the
Hensleys into the new county.)
The 1810 census is the first and last sure record I have
for Elizabeth Hensley.
Now for some more speculation. Many of the Washington and
Scott Co., VA Hensleys had connections in eastern Tennessee (Hawkins,
Sullivan, Greene, Monroe, Knox Counties, among others.) There is a widow
Elizabeth Hensley
(1765) in Jefferson Co., TN. She was born in Virginia, and there are
some possible connections of her family to the south west Virginia
area, so it is entirely possible that this is the exact same person. I
don't have anything solid enough to tie the two Elizabeth's into one
person, but here are the pros and cons:
Pros
-
Both are named Elizabeth Hensley
-
Birth dates are compatible
-
The one in 1850 Jefferson Co., TN was born in Virginia. I
assume Elizabeth of Washington Co., VA was too.
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The one in 1850 Jefferson Co., TN had a son named Robert
with wife Mary. There is a marriage in Washington Co., VA for a Robert C.
Hensley to Mary Roberts in 1835. Same couple? If so that is further
linkage.
Cons
-
Elizabeth is an extremely common name
-
There were many many Hensleys from Virginia who wound up
in TN, not all from south western Virginia.
-
Robert Hensley with wife Mary, seem to have a son born ca
1830, which pre-dates an 1835 marriage. Of course he might be Robert's
from a previous marriage.
-
None of Robert and Mary's known children were born in
Virginia, though the Robert who married Mary Roberts there lived there a
couple of years.
-
Robert was born ca 1799/1800. Elizabeth of 1810 VA had no
apparent son that age with her on the 1810 census.
See, based on the evidence, or lack thereof, I can't
conclude that Elizabeth Hensley of 1810 Washington Co., VA is the widow of
William Hensley Sr, though I feel strongly that she probably is. I also
can't conclude that Elizabeth of 1810 Washington is the same Elizabeth
(1765) who later lived in Jefferson Co., TN, though they certainly could
be the same person, but I sort of doubt it, but I'm open to it if evidence
can be found other than my speculations.
Children of Elizabeth Hensley. There is
no record of Elizabeth's children, though the 1810 census shows a male
born ca 1784/94 living with her. He could be her son, but if so, I don't
know who he is.
Researcher List
Persons researching this family (contact me to
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