Samuel Hensley and --- and Elizabeth --- of King George, Essex, Spotsylvania and Orange Co., VA

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The author (Marty Grant) is not related to Samuel Hensley as far as can be proven. There is certainly a possibility that he is an ancestor of my ancestor Larkin Hensley (c1761-1806). 

I refer to this man as Samuel Hensley (1) in an attempt to distinguish him from the several other Samuels, as he is the first of this name in Virginia that I'm aware of. See the analysis page for the various early Samuel Hensleys of Virginia.

Special thanks to Laura Schreibman for data shared on this family.

Samuel Hensley was born before ca 1700 based on his first public record for him dated 1721, and assuming he was at least 21 then. Since he had grown children in 1732 he was probably born well before 1700, though I can't pinpoint it exactly, but probably before 1690.

I don't know who Samuel Hensley's parents were, but it seems likely that he is related to Benjamin Hensley (2) and Benjamin Hensley (3) who were in the same counties with him at various times. I don't know if the dates work out (since their birth dates are unknown), but perhaps Samuel is a son of Benjamin (2). I have no proof of this, just wild speculation.

IF Samuel is a son of Benjamin (2) (or even his brother), he was probably born in Rappahannock Co., VA. This is speculation built on other speculation, so take it for what it is worth.

Samuel's first marriage would have taken place before ca 1711 (perhaps long before), somewhere in Virginia. I have no record of his first wife's name.

At some point Mrs. Hensley died, and Samuel Hensley married his second wife Elizabeth ---. Her maiden name is unknown. I don't know when or where they married.

I have found no records for Samuel prior to 1720 so I don't know where he was before that.

On 8 Jun 1721 Samuel Hensley, William Mumford and Anthony Seale Jr appraised the Estate of William Berry, deceased in King George Co., VA.

At this time (1721) Benjamin Hensley (3) and wife Elizabeth were also in King George Co., VA. In fact there are several records showing Benjamin Hensley (3) associated with William Berry, the same man whose estate Samuel appraised in 1721. This strongly suggests Samuel and Benjamin (3) were closely related, though whether brothers or father and son, I can't say. (Benjamin (3) had an apparent son Samuel Hensley who was in Louisa Co., VA through ca 1767.)

King George was a new county in 1721, having just been formed from Westmoreland and Richmond (which is where the Benjamin Hensleys lived.)

Three years later Samuel Hensley was across the river in Essex Co., VA for on 17 Nov 1724 he was in court. John Smith and Samuel Hensley both of St. Maries (Mary's) Parish were charged with not cutting up their Tobacco according to law. [Sparacio, Ruth, Essex County Virginia Order Book 1723-1725 part 2.]

On 17 Feb 1724/1725, a case of Debt in Essex Court of the King vs. Samuel Hensly was dismissed. [Sparacio, Ruth, Essex County Virginia Order Book 1723-1725 part 2.]

Benjamin Hensley (2) had been in Essex through ca 1719. Essex County bordered King George at that time with the Rappahannock River as the border between them.

By 1728 Samuel Hensley was in Spotsylvania Co., VA. Spotsylvania bordered Essex until the formation of Caroline County in 1728 separated them. There is proof that Samuel of King George and Essex is the same man found in Spotsylvania mainly in his Will of 1732 in which he refers to himself as a resident of King George, though the Will wasn't filed there.

On 7 Aug 1728 in Spotsylvania Court, Samuel Hensly sued the estate of Isaac Johnson for a debt.

On 6 May 1729 Samuel Hensley was appointed overseer (of a road) in Spotsylvania County.

On 7 Jul 1730 Samuel Hensley petitioned the Spotsylvania court for payment for attending court 10 days as a witness in the case of John Taliaferro vs William Bickham.

Now apparently Samuel Hensley lived in the part of Spotsylvania County that became Orange County in 1734. At the time of its creation, Orange had one small section that bordered King George County. Samuel may have lived in this area for when he made his Will in 1732 he referred to himself as a resident of King George.

Samuel Hensley made his Will on 28 Feb 1731/1732. He referred to himself as Samuel Hansley of King George County and Hanover Parish. He said whereas "my sons by my former wife are grown to years capable of getting their own living and considering by estate to be barely sufficient for the raising of my younger children" it was his desire that "my sons William, Joseph and Edward Hanslee" be content with one Shilling Sterling each.

He also named his wife Elizabeth who received his plantation in Spotsylvania during her life, and afterwards it was to go to his sons James and George Hansley. He mentioned a son Samuel whom he gave a heifer. He named his Wife Elizabeth as Executrix. Samuel signed the Will with a mark, witnessed by Joseph Berry, and Thomas Suttle.

Meanwhile, between the time of the Will (1732), and the date of his death (1735), Orange County was formed (1734) from the western portion of Spotsylvania County. His Will was proven in Orange County court on 17 Feb 1735 by his widow Elizabeth and the two witnesses. Elizabeth along with William Bohannon and Abraham Bledsoe made an Administration Bond on 2 Feb 1735.

I don't know when or where Elizabeth died, though after Feb 1735, possibly in Orange Co., VA.

Children: Samuel Hensley (1) had six sons proven by his 1732 Will. If he had any daughters he didn't mention them. The three oldest sons were by his "former wife" and old enough to make their own living (so probably over 21 then), and the two younger sons were probably under 21 at the time. Son Samuel (2) may have been the oldest of the children by the second wife, certain evidence seems to suggest that is the case.

William Hensley

Joseph Hensley

Edward Hensley

Samuel Hensley (bef ca 1706)

James Hensley (aft ca 1711)

George Hensley (aft ca 1711)

William Hensley was probably the oldest son of Samuel Hensley since named first in his Will. Since he was old enough in 1732 to be on his own, he was probably over 21 then, so born ca 1711 or earlier (perhaps much earlier.)

I have no absolute proof, but it seems likely this is the same William Hensley found in both Culpeper and Orange County records in the 1740's and 1750's with a wife Jane. This particular William died in 1777 in Culpeper Co., VA. See their page for more information.

Joseph Hensley was probably the second son of Samuel Hensley since named second in his Will. Since he was old enough in 1732 to be on his own, he was probably over 21 then, so born ca 1711 or earlier (perhaps much earlier.)

Other researchers believe this is the same Joseph Hensley who died in Brunswick Co., VA in 1744. That may be the case for in that year Brunswick covered a huge territory from its present location all the way to the mountains. See his own page for additional information.

Edward Hensley was probably the third son of Samuel Hensley since named third in his Will. Since he was old enough in 1732 to be on his own, he was probably over 21 then, so born ca 1711 or earlier (perhaps much earlier.)

Edward Hensley moved to Norfolk Co., VA where he died in 1750. See his page for more information.

Samuel Hensley was probably the oldest son of Samuel Hensley and his second wife Elizabeth since he married in 1727, so if 21 already he was born ca 1706 or earlier.

Samuel Hensley married Martha Snell in 1727 in Spotsylvania and he lived in that county until his death in 1765. See his page for more information.

James Hensley was apparently born after 1711 (but before 1732) for he was called young in his father's Will.

Not much is known of James, he may be the same one listed on a 1735 record in Norfolk Co., VA (where his brother Edward had moved) and perhaps the same James listed in Louisa Co., VA in 1750 in conjunction with Benjamin Hensley (4), though that might be a different James.

See his page for more information.

George Hensley was apparently born after 1711 (but before 1732) for he was called young in his father's Will.

George married Sarah Richardson and they lived in Spotsylvania Co., VA where he died in 1775. See his page for more information.

Researcher List

Persons researching this family (contact me to add, change or delete your listing here):

• Thomas R. "Tom" Hensley = (Samuel-George-Richardson-)

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