|
Home >
Surnames >
Hensley
> Mary Hensley
The author (Marty Grant) is not related to Mary Hensley
as far as can be proven. She did live in the same counties (Washington and
Scott Co.,
VA) as my ancestor Larkin
Hensley (c1761-1806).
Note: I'm working from the assumption that Mary was
married to a Mr. Hensley and was widowed prior to 1830. However it is
quite possible that she was a Hensley by birth and perhaps a single
mother, but I have no evidence either way, so I'll err on the side of
widowhood.
Mary "Polly" --- was born ca 1770/80 per her ages
on the 1830 and 1840 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 1830 census entry shows her with an apparent daughter born
ca 1800/10, so (assuming that this person is her daughter), she was married to
a Mr. Hensley sometime before ca 1810. The next oldest child was
born ca 1820/25, so using that as a reference point, she was certainly
married prior to ca 1825. There is no way to know if these were her
children or not.
The 1810 census shows five Hensley households in
Washington Co., VA: Samuel
Hensley (1754), William
Hensley, Fielding Hensley,
Elizabeth Hensley, and
Ithe Hensley. Samuel Hensley
wasn't Mary's husband, his family is well documented. William Hensley's
wife is named Mary. More on them in a minute. Fielding's wife was Nancy.
Neither Elizabeth nor Ithe had a female Mary's age with them in 1810.
Now, William Hensley Jr did have a wife named Mary as
proven by several deeds. The 1810 census and two deeds that same year are
the last records we have for William and Mary. Several of their suspected
children wound up in Washington Co., IN by 1820 and there was a widow Mary
Hensley listed there that same year. Some of those kids came back to
Virginia for a time, so it is entirely possible that this is the same Mary
who was widow of William Hensley.
The 1820 census shows only one Hensley in Washington Co.,
VA with a female about Mary's age:
Samuel Hensley (1754) had a
female aged 26-44 (born ca 1775/94). I don't know who that is, but I doubt
it is Mary.
In neighboring Scott County in 1820 (formed 1814 from
Washington) there are several Hensleys but only two with females close to
Mary's age: Fielding Hensley
(1761) and Zachariah Hensley
(1794), both of whom had a female 26-44 (1775/94). Neither of them had
a wife named Mary though.
I mentioned earlier that there was a Mary Hensley listed
on the 1820 census in Washington Co., IN. There is a strong
possibility that Mary of Indiana is the widow of
William Hensley Jr of
Washington Co., VA, and the same Mary listed in Virginia in 1830 and 1840,
but I have no solid proof of either possibility. Consider her census entry
for comparative purposes at least:
1820 census analysis (based on
available evidence): (Explanation of
this census)
1820 Washington Co, IN pg 207 Mary Hensley 000000-01101
Analysis:
1 Female(s) 45 & up (before 1775) Mary (—) Hensley (bef 1775)
1 Female(s) 16-25 (1794-1804) Daughter? (1794/1804)
1 Female(s) 10-15 (1804-1810) Daughter? (1804/10)
For the 1830 census Mary Hensley of 1820 was no longer
listed in Washington Co., IN, nor were any other Hensleys there that year.
Several Hensleys married in that county in the 1820's who had Scott and
Washington Co., VA ties, all of whom are thought to be children of William
and Mary.
Meanwhile, back in Washington Co., VA there is a Mary
Hensley listed on the 1830 census.
Unfortunately, this census was alphabetical, so I can't tell who her
neighbors were or if she were near any other Hensleys.
1830 census analysis (based on
available evidence): (Explanation of
this census)
1830 Washington Co, VA pg 256 Mary Hensley 1000000000000-1100100100000
Analysis:
1 Male(s) 0-4 (1825-1830) Son? Grandson?
1 Female(s) 50-59 (1770-1780) Mary (—) Hensley (1770/80), widow of ?
1 Female(s) 20-29 (1800-1810) Daughter?
1 Female(s) 5-9 (1820-1825) Daughter?
1 Female(s) 0-4 (1825-1830) Daughter?
This 1830 household is compatible with the 1820 Indiana
listing. In 1820 she had two daughters either of whom could be the older
female here in 1830 (born c1800/10). The three younger children could be
grandchildren of Mary or perhaps her own kids.
For the 1840 census, I believe Mary is listed in
neighboring Scott County, Virginia. I say believe because there is
the possibility this isn't the same person. She is listed as "Pally" which
may have meant "Polly" which is a very common nickname for "Mary" and just
written badly. It clearly does not say "Sally" though some have
misinterpreted it that way. She is listed two houses from Solomon Sells
who was associated with Samuel Hensley (1754), and one of his sons married
one of Samuel's daughters just after 1840. This probably puts Mary Hensley
in the Scott County area near the Washington County border.
1840 census analysis (based on
available evidence): (Explanation of
this census)
1840 Scott Co, VA pg 301 Pally Hensley 0000000000000-0001000010000
Analysis:
1 Female(s) 60-69 (1770-1780) Mary (—) Hensley (1770/80) widow of ?
1 Female(s) 15-19 (1820-1825) Daughter?
I was unable to find Mary "Polly" Hensley on the 1850
census. She may have died by then, or perhaps remarried or moved away.
Children of Mary Hensley. There is
no record of Mary's children, though the 1830 and 1840 census seem to show
some. The younger ones may be grandchildren instead.
Unknown Daughter (1800/10)
Unknown Daughter (1820/25)
Unknown Daughter (1825/30)
Unknown Son (1825/30)
Unknown Daughter (1800/10).
Mary Hensley had an apparent daughter this age with her in 1830, aged
20-29 (born ca 1800/10). She was gone by 1840. I don't know who this might
have been.
Unknown Daughter (1820/25).
Mary Hensley had an apparent daughter this age with her in 1830, aged 5-9
(born ca 1820/25). She was still home in 1840, aged 15-19 (born ca
1820/25). I don't know who this might have been. She could be a
granddaughter instead of a daughter.
Unknown Daughter (1825/30).
Mary Hensley had an apparent daughter this age with her in 1830, aged
under 5 (born ca 1825/30). She was gone by 1840. I don't know who this
might have been. She could be a granddaughter instead of a daughter.
Unknown Son (1825/30). Mary
Hensley had an apparent son this age with her in 1830, aged under 5 (born
ca 1825/30). He was gone by 1840. I don't know who this might have been.
He could be a grandson instead of a son.
Researcher List
Persons researching this family (contact me to
add, change or delete your listing here):
Register Report
|
