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Note: N336 Jane E. Hinson (instead of Henson) is enumerated with Elizabeth Smith in the 1850 Old Town Beat, Perry County, Alabama. Her age is given as 23 years. She has two sons, R.M., age 4 years and J.S.W.B. age 1 year. It shows all three were born in Alabama.
The next census, 1860 Perry Co, Al., is interesting because it shows Elizabeth Smith with her children, then Robert McLellan and Jas. S. B. and W. E. C. with dittos under the McLellan but no Henson. Robert's middle name was supposed to have been McCellan? Also in the same household are A. G. Hendrick and Jane with one child by their marriage, M. J., and it appears that A. G. Hendrick had two children from a previous marriage. Perry County records show a Gustavus Hendrick married Manerva Howie/Hewie on 15 Feb. 1844. So evidently it is a 2nd marriage for both of them and the census becomes confusing because you have the children of Elizabeth Smith as well as the children of Jane and Gustavus by their marriage and previous marriages, all living in the same household.
James and Sarah Henson are enumerated in the 1870 Township 12, Post Office Clear Creek Falls, Walker County, Alabama Census. His age is given as 21 years and born in Alabama.
The 1880 Township 12, Range 9, Census in Walker County shows James Henson, age 32, born in Alabama. It shows his father was born in Alabama and his mother in South Carolina. After his wife Sally Ingle's death and the June,1880 Census, James went to Texas and according to family legend "was not heard from again" (Newsletter #19, page 165). His children were raised by others.
Thomas Goulder Lawson married Martha Elizabeth ('Betsy') Henson daughter of James Henson and Sarah E. ('Sally') Ingles (Newsletter #19, page 165).
In a telephone converstion, 13 June 1992, Phil Henson got this information from James F. Stockman. Jim remembers his father (George E. Stockman) telling about this man named ________ Henson coming by his farm one day. " He was a big man and he was riding a big horse. The horse was about 16 hands high. Henson had his pack tied on his horse and stated that he was going to Texas." Note: George Stockman's mother was Rachel (Smith) Stockman. Rachel was a sister to Jane (Smith) Henson, the mother of James Henson.
Memories of Florence Lawson Steely (daughter of Thomas Goulder Lawson) in Lawson Family History:
"Before James Henson left for Texas he had 195 acres of land. He divided it among his children, except for Betsy. She received no land and never knew why. She sure had a sad life. They had her cooking meals at age 7. She said that she would be so tired at night and sleep so sound that she would dream of cooking. One night she got up in her sleep, made a fire in the stove and was putting on a pan of cornbread when she woke up. Green Henson (Betsy's brother) died small. Their dad (James Henson) put him in Cicero Sims' home to live. Grandfather (James Henson) sent him a knife from Texas and because he didn't send Sims' little boy a knife also, he took Green's knife and cut under his fingernails into the flesh and made them bleed. Mad at Grandad. Mama's (Betsy Henson) sister (Sarah/Susan Henson) that was blind was raped . She and the baby died at the birth. Mama lived with her cousin Martha Jackson and her husband Billy. Betsy's sister Margaret lived with the Gus Hendricks family. His daughter was the grandmother of Betsy and Margaret. The girls called her "Granny Hendricks". (NOTE; Just who she was is not clear; maiden name of James Henson's mother is not known, but her married name would have been Henson, unless James' father died and she remarried."
Mrs. Florence Lawson Steely also relates "that Granny Hendricks had a vision that James came by her bed at night, said to her - "Mother I'm killed!", then he disappeared into the darkness. This was when he was supposed to be on his way home from Texas, riding his big horse. She said he looked back at her, closed the door, and she never heard from him again." " I remember Mama's uncle (James Henson's brother) used to come to see her. Her dad (James) was a big man , fair, blue eyed and light hair. His brother Barney was dark, black eye, black hair and a little guy." On query to Mrs. Steely as to whether they might have been half-brothers because of the striking differences in build and appearance, she replied; "No , they were full brothers. They used to talk of her dad so much."
Note: " Granny" Hendricks' maiden name was Jane E. Smith. James S. Henson and Robert M. Henson were her children by her first marriage. She later married Gustavus Hendricks in Perry County, Alabama, in 1857. They moved to Walker County around 1867.
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