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Samuel Hensley was born ca 1790. I base this on his age in 1830
giving his birth at ca 1780/90 and in 1840 at ca 1790/1800. The only way
to reconcile these two is to assume he was born ca 1790. He may have
been born in Tennessee, presumably in Sullivan County, but his birth
place is unproven. He could have been born in Virginia just as easily.
He is probably a son of
Isom Hensley (c1760/70), though I have no direct proof of that
connection, but it seems likely. He was nearby for the 1830 and 1840
census, and Samuel did name one of his sons after him, apparently.
Samuel was probably home with his parents for the 1790, 1800 and 1810
census, but unfortunately these records were lost for Tennessee, and
most of Virginia also.
Samuel Hensley married Catherine McDavid ("Caty McDavid" on
marriage record) on 30 Aug 1815 in Scott Co, VA. Jim Brown and others
tell me she was a sister of Mary Ann and Jane McDavid who married
Samuel's brothers Benjamin and Isom Jr, making her a daughter of Michael
McDavid. Their marriage record included a consent from Michael for his
daughter to marry Samuel Hensley. Robert McCullah and
Temple Hensley were witnesses. I don't know who Temple is related,
but I suspect he could be a brother to Isom Hensley, and therefore an
Uncle to Samuel Hensley.
Samuel was probably in Sullivan or Greene Co, TN at the time of the
1820 census, but unfortunately this census was lost.
Samuel Hensley was found on the 1830 Greene Co, TN census. There were
no other Hensley families listed in Greene County that year.
1830 census analysis (based on available evidence): (Explanation
of this census)
1830 Greene Co, TN pg 207 Samuel Hensley 0110001000000-1000010000000
Analysis:
1 Male(s) 40-49 (1780-1790) Samuel HENSLEY (c1790) s/o Isom
1 Male(s) 10-14 (1815-1820) John A. HENSLEY (1819/20) son
1 Male(s) 5-9 (1820-1825) Samuel HENSLEY (1825/26) son
1 Female(s) 30-39 (1790-1800) Catherine McDAVID Hensley (1799/1800) wife
1 Female(s) 0-4 (1825-1830) Daughter? (1825/30) --> gone by 1840
For the 1840 census, Samuel Hensley was still in Greene Co, TN, yet
also listed in Russell Co, VA. It is possible that this represents two
different families, but a close analysis seems to show them being the
same family. His father
Isom Hensley was just one page away in Greene County. I'll give both
listings for Samuel for comparison. Since Samuel's children were in
Russell in 1850 it makes it more likely that both listings are for the
same family, and that he either moved during the 1840 census year, or
else lived in both counties.
1840 census analysis (based on available evidence): (Explanation
of this census)
1840 Greene Co, TN pg 57 Samuel Hensley 1102001000000-0100001000000
Analysis:
1 Male(s) 40-49 (1790-1800) Samuel HENSLEY (c1790) s/o Isom
2 Male(s) 15-19 (1820-1825) John A. HENSLEY (1819/20) Son --> Hd 1850
Samuel HENSLEY (1825/26) Son --> Hd 1850
1 Male(s) 5-9 (1830-1835) Isham HENSLEY (1829/30) Son
1 Male(s) 0-4 (1835-1840) Mathias HENSLEY (1837/38) Son
1 Female(s) 40-49 (1790-1800) Catherine McDAVID Hensley (1799/1800)
1 Female(s) 5-9 (1830-1835) Daughter? (1830/35)
The 1840 Greene Co, TN listing is a very good match for what we know
about Samuel. However, the 1840 Russell Co, VA listing is not a perfect
match, but I still think it is him, pending proof to the contrary. He
was listed between Thomas Mason and Fielding Isaacs.
1840 census analysis (based on available evidence): (Explanation
of this census)
1840 Russell Co, VA pg 29 Samuel Henslay 0101101000000-1111101000000
Analysis:
1 Male(s) 40-49 (1790-1800) Samuel HENSLEY (c1790) s/o Isom
1 Male(s) 20-29 (1810-1820) John A. HENSLEY (1819/20) son
1 Male(s) 15-19 (1820-1825) Samuel HENSLEY (1825/26) son
1 Male(s) 5-9 (1830-1835) Isham HENSLEY (1829/30) son
1 Female(s) 40-49 (1790-1800) Catherine McDAVID Hensley (1799/1800) wife
1 Female(s) 20-29 (1810-1820) Daughter?
1 Female(s) 15-19 (1820-1825) Daughter?
1 Female(s) 10-14 (1825-1830) Daughter? (1825/30)
1 Female(s) 5-9 (1830-1835) Daughter? (1830/35)
1 Female(s) 0-4 (1835-1840) Daughter?
As you can see, the 1840 Russell Co, VA census fits with Samuel's
known sons, and his wife, but all the extra females are a mystery. The
reason I think this is the same Samuel (of Greene Co, TN) is that on the
1850 census, Samuel and Catherine's three sons were listed in Russell
Co, VA.
I did not find Samuel and Catherine on the 1850 census, not in Greene
Co, TN nor Sullivan Co, TN nor Russell Co, VA. However, in Russell Co,
VA on page 330 were the households of John A. Hensley (30) and his wife
and children. On the same page in another household was Samuel Hensley
(24) and wife Nancy, and Isham Hensley (20), with both Samuel and Isham
born in TN. At a glance it would be a safe assumption to say that John
A., Samuel and Isham are brothers.
The 1860 census shows no Hensleys in Russell Co, VA. However, John A.
Hensley and Isham Hensley both were found on the 1860 census in Sullivan
Co, TN living together, and on the same page with
Benjamin Hensley who was their father's brother. And most
importantly, residing with John and Isham was an apparent widow
Catherine Hensley age 60. I don't know where she might have been in
1850, but she was with two of her children in 1860.
Catherine was with her son Mathias on the 1870 census in Scott Co.,
VA: (thanks to Jim Brown for pointing this out): Mathias Hensly, 38 TN,
Margaret 19 VA, Andrew J. 11, TN, Diannah 1 TN, Catherine 75 VA.
Catherine McDavid Hensley died sometime after 1870 presumably in
Scott Co., VA.
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