Catherine Hensley (c1828-aft 1850) of Monroe Co., TN

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The author (Marty Grant) is not related to Catherine Hensley as far as can be determined. Catherine did live in the same county (Monroe Co, TN) as my ancestor Samuel Hensley (1801-1852).

Catherine Hensley was born ca 1827/28 per her age of 22 on the 1850 census. She was born in Tennessee, perhaps in Monroe County where she was living in 1850.

I don't know who Catherine Hensley's parents are. In fact the only record I have for her is her 1850 census entry:

1850 census abstract: (Explanation of this census)

(Note: The dates at the end of each line are not part of the original census, but are approximate birth years based on age)

1850 MONROE CO, TN Page 102   House/Family # 1421/1421  - 15th CIVIL DISTRICT Twp

WEST ALEN             52 M W FARMER                     NC                   1797/1798
WEST MARY             52 F W                            NC                   1817/1818
WEST STEPHEN          17 M W FARMER                     TN                   1832/1833
WEST HENRY            14 M W                            TN                   1835/1836
WEST BURTON           10 M W                            TN                   1839/1840
HENSLY CATHERINE      22 F W                            TN                   1827/1828
GRAY WILLIS           33 M W FARMER                     NC                   1816/1817

One, they are only 8 households away from Nancy Hensley and family (Nancy is thought to be the widow of Phillip Hensley.)

Second, consider Willis Gray who was living in the same house with Catherine. He married widow Nancy Hensley in 1858. These two items seem to clearly show that Catherine Hensley is somehow connected to Phillip and Nancy Hensley.

Third, consider the West family. Why was Catherine living with them in 1850? Were they her parents? Grand-parents? Uncle and Aunt? Other?

I have several theories about these three items but none can be proven completely.

Theory one: Catherine Hensley (c1828) is a daughter of Phillip Hensley (1800/10). This could be true, but the 1830 census shows Phillip Hensley (in Monroe Co., TN) with no daughters at all. In 1840 he had three, but none were an age match for Catherine. If she is Phillip's daughter then she is the oldest, and perhaps she was from a marriage prior to Nancy and her mother died and she was raised by grandparents instead (the Allen West family.) This sort of thing wasn't uncommon. However it is just a theory which I can't prove.

Theory two: Catherine Hensley (c1828) is a daughter of Allen and Mary West. She married a Mr. Hensley who died prior to 1850 leaving her a widow with no children. This would explain why she was with the Wests in 1850.

Theory three: Catherine Hensley (c1828) is a sister or niece of Phillip Hensley. The age difference between her and Phillip seems to preclude them being siblings, but such things were possible if they had different mothers.

I can't prove any of the above theories, but I prefer number one or two.

Census analysis often helps but in this case there isn't enough information to be sure of anything. Assuming Catherine's age of 22 on the 1850 census is correct, then she was born ca 1827/28. For the 1830 census she would have been about 2 years old, so should be enumerated in the under 5 age group (born ca 1825-30). Allen West had one female that age with him that year in Monroe Co., TN. Was it Catherine Hensley? No way to know for sure.

There were several Hensleys in Monroe Co., TN in 1830 also and some of them had girls her age. Phillip Hensley did not have any daughters at home for this census. Samuel Hensley (1801) had two girls that age (both of whom are identified with documentation.) Thomas Hensley (1806) had one girl that age (identified with documentation.) Temple Hensley (1760/70) had one girl that age who is unidentified. The other Hensleys had no girls her age in 1830.

For the 1840 census Catherine would have been about 12 years old, so should be listed in the 10-14 age group (born ca 1825-30). Allen West had no girls that age in 1840, though he had one 15-19 (born ca 1820-25), but that doesn't quite match.

Thomas Hensley (1806) had one girl that age (identified), and his brother Samuel Hensley (1801) still had two girls in that range, both identified. The other Hensleys in Monroe had no girls in that age group.

As already noted, Catherine was with the Allen West family in 1850.

I was unable to find Catherine Hensley on the 1860 census, nor did I find a marriage record for her in Monroe Co., TN (or elsewhere) in the 1850's.

I was unable to find Allen West on the 1860 census, but I found an apparent widow Mary West in neighboring Blount Co., TN that year. I am pretty sure that is Allen's widow. Catherine was not living with her in 1860.

There were several Catherine's (various surnames) in Blount and Monroe Counties in 1860 who were the right age to be the same person, but no way to know if any of them are indeed the same person.

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