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a.
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Note: s of Nancy, wife of Alexander H. Harris, this is the logical conclusion from the available information.
A. Alexander H. Harris' wife's name was Nancy.
B. On the death certificate of Nancy Harris, her daughter, Martha A. Smith, indicated that she was born in Virginia and that her maiden name was "Henlsel". However, there is no such surname of "Henlsel" anywhere in the country in the 1850 Census or other censuses. Therefore, "Henslel" clearly was an incorrect entry on the death certificate. Logically, the name could have beeb "Hensel" or, possibly, Hensley. I have concluded that her maiden name was "Hensley" based on the following information.
C. There is a Marriage Bond record (VA State Lib, microfilm #?, pg. 473) on 18 Dec 1848 for an Alexander Harris and Nancy Hensley with Father Willis Hensley, witness and surety.
D. Our Alexander Harris is listed in the 1850 VA Census with wife Nancy and 4 month old daughter Martha. This Alexander Harris was the only Alexander Harris family in the country with a wife named Nancy.
E. Since no other Alexander Harris with a wife Nancy was found in the 1850 Census, it is logical to assume that the Alexander Harris and Nancy Hensley who married in 1848 were the same couple with baby Martha in the 1850 VA Census.
F. Lastly, in the 1880 VA Census, Willis Hensley was living in Augusta County in the household of his son-in-law, William J. Rains, age 39. In 1850, this same William J. Rains, age 8, was living with our Alexander Harris and his wife Nancy and daughter Martha.
2. All information and sources for the family, ancestors and descendants of Willis Hensley (other than for daughter Nancy -my research) was taken from the Ancestry.com file posted by Lynne Hundley (Family_Hunter@att.net)
3. Lynne Hundley's notes and sources
BIOGRAPHY [my reasoning is based on 1830-50 censuses -- see below]:
Willis Hensley & Sophia/Sophronia Tucker are probably the parents ofSarah Anne Snyder, wife of Henry C. Snyder. Her headstone identifies heras Sarah Hensley Snyder. Willis & Sophia's daughter Sarah, age 20 at the1850 census, is the right age for Henry C.'s wife, born March 1829.Willis & Sophia are found in Bedford Co. at the 1830-1840 censuses, whichis consistent with Sarah Snyder's Bedford Co. birth place. They lived inBotetourt Co. at the 1850 census -- providing the opportunity for Sarahto meet Henry C. Snyder and marry him in 1853 (though the Bedford Countylocation for the marriage is so far unexplained).
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BEDFORD CO., Marriage Bond, 1824:
12 Jan. 1824 -- [Gen. Soc. Utah, Bedford Co. Marriage Bonds, pg. 69]:
Henry F. Hensley & Susan Tucker, daughter of Nancy King.
[bond or witness?]: Willis Hensley.
BEDFORD CO., Will -- Heir, 1827:
wr.12 Sept. 1827/pro.26 Nov. 1827 -- Bk. 6, pg. 431-433 [VaStLib,microfilm 26]:
James Owen: Daughter Hensley's children: Elizabeth Johnson, Peggy Gatewood, Willis Hensley, Samuel Hensley, [Isine O. or James O.] Hensley.
BEDFORD CO., Marriage Bond, 1828:
30 Aug. 1828 -- Marriage Bonds [LDS, microfilm 896772]:
Willis Hensley & Sophrony Tucker.
Consent: Nancy Tucker, mother. Bond: Gilliam King [step-father].
BEDFORD CO., Will, 1830:
wr. 25 Dec. 1829/pro. 25 Jan. 1830 -- Bk. 7, pg. 237-238 [VaStLib,microfilm 27]:
Gilliam King of Bedford Co. Nephew William King, residing in the WesternCo.
To Willis Hensley -- the remainder of the tract where my dwelling housestands.
To wife Nancy [????] to continue in my dwelling house with her son-in-lawWillis Hensley during her life/widowhood. To wife Nancy -- her choice ofa [???] calf from my stock and the bed and furniture we lie on.
My black man Jacob, after just payment of my debts, be set at liberty andbe permitted to occupy the house that Willis Hensley has lately built.
Exec.: Thomas Lals.
BEDFORD CO., Census, 1830:
1830 -- pg. 155, 3 up [Hampton, microfilm 194]:
Willis Hensley: male: 10-15 yrs., 1; 20-30 yrs., 1. Female: 0-5 yrs., 1;20-30 yrs., 1; 50-60 yrs., 1.
Slaves, male: 10-24 yrs., 1; 55-100 yrs., 1. Female: 0-10 yrs., 1. Total8.
BEDFORD CO., Census, 1840:
1840 -- pg. 281, 2 up [Hampton, microfilm 550]:
Willis Hensley: male: 5-10 yrs., 1; 30-40 yrs., 1. Female: 0-5 yrs., 2;5-10 yrs., 2; 20-30 yrs., 1.
Total, 7; agriculture, 3.
BOTETOURT CO., Marriage Bond, 1848:
18 Dec. 1848 -- pg. 473 [VaStLib, microfilm #?]:
Alexander Harris & Nancy Hensley. Father Willis Hensley, witness andsurety.
BOTETOURT CO., Census, 1850:
28 Aug. 1850 -- pg. 119, #1073/1073, lines 29-36 [Hampton, microfilm 936]: Willis Hencely, 45 yrs., laborer; Sophia, 36 yrs.; Sarah, 20 yrs.;Samuel, 18 yrs., laborer; Mary V., 14 yrs.; Emily, 10 yrs.; [Belodira](female), 6 yrs.; and Virginia, 3 yrs.
BOTETOURT CO., Death, 1855:
17 Sept. 1855 -- Death record, 13-85 [Court House -- copy in mypossession]:
Sopiah Hensely, 41 yrs., 11 mos., 13 days; cause of death: dropsy.Parents: James & N. Tucker; born Bedford Co.; wife of Willis Hensely,info from husband.
AUGUSTA CO., Census, 1860:
9 Oct. 1860 -- pg. 710, #1669/1632, lines 30-37 [Hampton, microfilm 1333]:
Isaac C. Myers -- Staunton p.o.: 40 yrs., farmer, $6,000, $840; Mary V.,22 yrs.; Edward N., 4 yrs.; Isaac N., 1 yr.; Belvedere M. Hensley (female), 16 yrs., school; Virginia S., 13 yrs., school; Willis, 53 yrs.;Samuel Cox, 25 yrs. All born VA.
AUGUSTA CO., Death, 1886:
19 March 1886 -- death certificate, line 12 [Virginia Bureau of VitalStatistics]:
Willis Hensley, 86 yrs., cause
Note: 1. Information indicating that Willis Hensley and Sopharonia "Sophia" Tucker were the parent
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