William Hensley (abt. 1783 - 1878)

Born about 1783 in Burke, North Carolina, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Nancy (Gardner) Hensley — married 1800 in Maury Co, TN

Descendants

Died 1878 at about age 95 in Lewis, Tennessee, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Jayme Hart [send private message], Franco Hensley [send private message], and T Buckley [send private message]

Biography

William Hensley was born ca 1784/85 (per 1850 census) or ca 1782/83 (per 1860 census) in North Carolina, presumably in that part of Burke County that later became Buncombe County (in 1791) and later became Yancey County (in 1833).

William Hensley is a son of Hickman Hensley (c1759) and Agness Fisher. I have not seen direct proof of this relationship, but it fits based on circumstantial evidence. In Goodspeed's History of Tennessee (1887) he mentioned the early settlers of Lewis County, Tennessee including: "Larkin Hensley and his brothers (William, Samuel and James)". Since Larkin is a proven child of Hickman, that would make William a child of Hickman also. However, Goodspeed is not a primary source, so it can't be counted as conclusive evidence, however, it is certainly believable based on other evidence, such as the close proximity between Larkin and William (and the others brothers) in Tennessee. This isn't conclusive proof, but it seems reasonable that William is a son of Hickman. I'd love to see some primary evidence though.

William Hensley was probably home with his parents for the 1790 census. He would have been about 5 years old, so in the "under 16" age group (born ca 1774/90). Hickman Hensley had 4 apparent sons that age with him in Burke County in 1790.

William should have been home in 1800 as well. He would have been about 15 years old, so should be enumerated in the 10-15 age group (born ca 1784/90). Hickman was in Buncombe Co, NC that year and had two apparent sons in that age group, one of them possibly William.

Hickman and his children (including William) all moved to what is now Lewis County, Tennessee around 1808. At that time the area was still part of Maury County.

I don't know if William married in North Carolina before moving west, or if he married after arriving in Tennessee. However, he married Nancy Gardner sometime prior to ca 1810. Nancy was born ca 1782/83 in Virginia, county unknown. I don't know what the source is for her maiden being "Gardner". It may be incorrect, or perhaps it is right, but I'd like to have a good source for it.

Based on the birth places of some of William's older children, it would appear that they moved around a little bit, or at least traveled some. Suspected son John G. Hensley was born ca 1807 in Virginia and daughter Nancy was born ca 1812 in North Carolina. Son James was born between those two ca 1810 in Tennessee. If all three of these are indeed children of William (I'm 100% sure on Nancy, 99% sure on James, and about 60% sure on John G.), then William Hensley and family left North Carolina in the 1800-1807 timeframe for a brief stay in Virginia, perhaps Washington County, then to present Lewis County, Tennessee by 1810, then a brief trip back to North Carolina ca 1812, then back to Tennessee by 1813. Of course, it might only have been Nancy who was travelling around, visiting relatives or such.

I suspect that William Hensley would have been listed on the 1810 census in Maury County, Tennessee, but unfortunately this census was lost for 99% of Tennessee.

William Hensley was listed on the 1820 census in Maury County, in fact, the only Hensley in the county that year.

William Hensley was listed in Maury County for the 1830 census. He was just three houses from his brother James F. Hensley (c1790), and listed between John Johnson and James Grinder.

William Hensley was in Maury County for the 1840 census. He was next to James Hensley (1810), his probable son, and just four houses from James F. Hensley (c1790), his brother.

In 1843, Lewis County was created from portions of several counties, including Maury County where William Hensley lived.

William and Nancy were listed on the 1850 census in Lewis County, Tennessee residing with their son Abel T. Hensley (1822) and his wife.

William and Nancy were still in Lewis for the 1860 census, two houses from brother Larkin Hensley (1779).

Nancy died between 1860 and 1870, presumably in Lewis County.

William Hensley was listed on the 1870 census in Lewis County with his daughter Nancy Hensley Sharp and her family.

William Hensley died after 1870, presumably in Lewis County, Tennessee.

Sources

• http://www.martygrant.com/genealogy/hensley/hensley-william-lewis-tn.htm

Acknowledgments

• WikiTree profile Hensley-194 was created through the import of My Family Tree.ged on 27 February 2011 by [unknown]
• WikiTree profile Hensley-750 was created on 19 August 2013 by T Buckley