Sampson Hensley (c1779) of Washington Co., VA

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The author (Marty Grant) is not related to Sampson Hensley as far as can be proven. He did live in the same county (Washington Co., VA) as my ancestor Larkin Hensley (c1761-1806). 

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

Sampson Hensley was born ca 1779 or earlier. I base this on his first public record being dated 1800, and assuming he was at least 21 then. He was probably born in Virginia though I have no record of his birth place.

I have not been able to determine who Sampson's parents were.

Sampson Hensley was not listed on any of the pre 1800 Washington Co., VA tax lists. That is probably because he was too young, or perhaps because he didn't live in the area yet.

On 21 May 1800 Fielding Hensley was recommended as a Lieutenant in the Washington Co., VA militia in 2nd Battalion, 70th Regiment to replace William Carmack who was resigned. Sampson Hensley replaced Fielding as Ensign. (Clark, Gerald H. The Militia of Washington County, VA Officers 1777-1835 Militia Men 1798-1835. 1979)

The above does not suggest any particular relationship between Fielding and Sampson, but it does suggest they knew each other at least since they were in the same militia unit. That is also the first record found for Sampson Hensley. I assume you had to be at least 21 to be a militia officer.

On 20 Nov 1804 Samuel Wilson was recommended as a Lieutenant in the Washington Co., VA militia in place of Sampson Hensley who didn't accept the offered promotion. (Clark, Gerald H. The Militia of Washington County, VA Officers 1777-1835 Militia Men 1798-1835. 1979)

Sampson appears on the personal property tax lists in Washington County in 1807 through 1810. His entry in 1809 shows one tithable, but the "1" is so dim it appears to have been erased, though it may have just been smudged instead.

Sampson was not listed on the 1810 census in Washington Co., VA. There were five Hensley households listed, he could have been residing with one of them.

Sampson appears on the personal property tax lists in Washington County in 1811 through 1815. On each of these he was listed with no white tithes, meaning he was either exempt for some reason, or that he didn't actually reside in the county. It may also signify that he was dead, but his estate wasn't settled yet.

Sampson Hancely was listed on the 1816 tax list in Washington Co., VA with no tithes, 2 horses and no slaves.

I have no further record of him. It looks like he may have died ca 1810-11. That would explain why his personal property was listed a few more years, but no white male tithables.

The 1820 census shows no Sampson Hensley listed anywhere in the United States (though some parts of this census are lost.)

It is clear from the tax lists that Sampson Hensley lived in the part of Washington County that remained Washington County after the 1814 creation of Scott County (which took the majority of Hensleys).

There was a younger Sampson Hensley (c1800) who was from Washington Co., VA and later moved to Washington Co., IN. He was probably named for this elder Sampson who may have been his father or uncle.

Children of Sampson Hensley. I have no record of Sampson Hensley marrying or having children.

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