1850 Census - Wayne County, Tennessee
District #11

  510 514
  Bromley, Samuel 43 M Farmer 1000 TN
  ---, Perranna   38 F             TN Note: Maiden Name Parthenia Hensley
  ---, Jasper     19 M Farmer      TN
  ---, James      17 M Farmer      TN
  ---, Nancy      15 F             TN
  Hensley, Perry  15 M Farmer      TN
  ---, Porter     14 M             TN
  ---, Benjamin   13 M             TN
  ---, Tennessee  11 F             TN

1860 Census - Wayne County Tennessee
District #11 - 13 July 1860

  627 627
  Samuel Bromley      52 M Farmer 8000 10755 Va
  Perlina             58 F                   Tenn
  John                19 M Farm Laborer      Tenn
  Benjamin W. Hensley 21 M Farm Laborer      Tenn

From Garry Wayne Brewer's notes on the estate of Henry M. Brewer:

Another child's part of the estate of
Henry Brewer was divided into eighths and paid to P.M.Hensley, L.P.Hensley, W.G.Hensley,
B.W.Hensley,Martha Brewer, Permelia Prichard, and to "interest of May". one eighth part was not
paid.  From this information, one can surmise that a daughter of Henry and Mary Cockman Brewer
married a Hensley and had eight children, but neither she nor her husband survived her father. In
the 1850 Wayne County census, four Hensley children are living with the Samuel Bromley family,
namely Porter, Perry, Benjamin and Tennessee. Bromley's wife was Parenthia Hensley, daughter of
Lemuel Hensley Sr. and possibly an aunt of the children.    The three Hensley boys are believed to
be the P.M. L.P. and B.W. mentioned above.  A Wesley G. Hensley is found in the 1850 Wayne County
Census living in the household of Bery Rush, He is believed to be the W.G. of the estate settlement.

A.J.Brewer was appointed guardian of Tennessee Hensley, minor heir of Mary Hensley about 1852.
Tennessee Hensley died about 1867. Although over 21, for some reason she was still under
guardianship.  When her estate was inventoried, two item of note were: (1) Acct. on A.J.
Brewer-$97.67(evidently due from the guardianship):(2) Acct on H.J.Brewer-$5.50(the exact amount of
the remaining 1/8 child's part that was never paid in the Henry Brewer settlement).  Regarding the
cryptic"interest of May", in the 1850 Wayne County census, on Butler Creek, was a William J. May
with wife Rachel and children, William J. Henry C. and Mary A. May.  By 1860 apparently both parents
had died leaving the children were placed under the guardianship of Lenoir W. Cantrell. The
guardianship  stated that these are "minor heirs of Milly May". Perhaps Milly was the name by which
Rachel May was called.  This is not proof that Rachel May was the daughter of Mary Brewer Hensley,
but circumstances point in that direction.  The other two eighth parts went to Martha Brewer and
Permelia Prichard. Evident they were daughters of Mary Brewer Hensley who had married a Brewer and a
Prichard respectively. These heirs are not found in Wayne County census Records in 1850 or 1860 and
were probably living out of state. Only one clue exists as to the identify of Mary Brewer Hensley's
husband. The 1830 Wayne County census list a John Hensley with a son of the right age to be Wesley
and a wife of the right age to be Mary. The other children were not born at that time.  

From Edith Reynolds (August 24 2007):

Researchers believe James Hensley is the father of Lemuel and that Hickman and others cousins....at
least some family connection.... From the Hensley Family by Howard Hensley; Early settlers; Benjamin
and Samuel Hensley settled along the Potomac River in VA..Benjamin's line is thought to have migrated
to N. C. and are found on 1790 census rolls of Morgan Dist., Burke Co. Abt 1800 James and Lemuel
migrated to Wayne Co., Tenn.. Willie Mae Thomas Siegel, my aunt and sister to my mother Dexter, cited
in Ark. Pioneer and Families pages 391-392. "The father of my grandfather, Benjamin W. Hensley, is
believed to be Lemuel Hensley, who is in the 1820, 1830, 1840 census of Wayne Co., Tenn (southeastern
Wayne Co. in the area of Butler and Holly Creeks." He served in War of 1812, was a corporal, and
served 2nd regiment of mounted gunmen...MTD, under a Captain Williamson, Tenn volunteers,and fought
in battle of New Orleans. Lemuel received a bounty land grant located in Wayne Co., Tenn for his
service. There is no record that he or any member of his family ever applied or qualified for a
pension. This lack of a pension application is important for only the most destitute veterans or
their survivors were pensioned. Therefore, it can be assumed that Lemuel and his family were not
considered needy by the standards of the time. From the Hensley Family page 354 it is THOUGHT that
James is the father of Lemuel and not Hickman as presently shown in my records.... From
jehodges1...Aug. 10, 2002...Benjamin and Samuel Hensley settled with family along Potomac R. in VA
before 1800...Benjamin's family migrated to N. C. then to Wayne Co., Tenn. Benjamin's son James and
grandson Lemuel are listed 1820 Census Wayne Co., Tenn...is indicated James was son of Benjamin and
father of Lemuel.... The Wayne Co. Land that Lemuel owned was located in SE corner where Rebecca
Price Hensley's Price ancestors resided. Like most families, the Hensleys had their own cemetery not
far from the family residence. Hensley Cemetery is described as being located on the south side of
Butler Creek Road about one-fourth mile west of the intersection of Butler Creek and Cedar Grove
Road. Most of the graves in the cemetery date from the early 1800's. Other Hensleys were buried in
Macedonia Cem. along with several Butlers. If one studied the marriages of the Hensleys and Butlers,
one likely could find a relationship of some sort existed earlier between these families. Both
cemeteries are identified as being in the Whitten Quadrangle. It appears that Lemuel and his two
brothers, James and William, were in Tenn shortly before War of 1812...ages ranged from 30-40 on
1820. James and William settled in Maury Co. Tenn and Lemuel further south in Wayne Co. Whether
Lemuel was earlier in Maury Co. with his brothers is not known. Some Hensley researchers believe an
older James, son of William, was the father of these three men. Lemuel's first official record that
has been found was in Tenn when he volunteered for Rev. War. Wilma Pyles states he was born on Bald
Mt. in Yancy Co, N.C. jehodges1 Aug 2002 states that Lemuel is a son of James and a grandson of
Benjamin (Benjamin and Samuel settled with families along the Potomac River in Va before
1800...Benjamin' family migrated to N. C. then to Wayne co., Tenn.) She states he had three wife,
first believe to have a McMahon.She states he was in War of 1812. The Lemuel Hensley is in 1820, 1830
and 1840 census of Wayne County, Tenn. Lemuel Hensley served in War of 1812. According to an
instrument dated Sept. 24, 1840, registered April 3, 1841, in Deed Book E, pages 195, 196, and 197,
entitled "Agreement between the Widow and Heirs of Lemuel Hensley Deceased," the widow's name is Mary
and is believed not to be his first wife. She could be Edith's Great Great Grandmother. Lemuel was 55
when he died... John M. Hensley and Mark H. Hensley born in Wayne County, Tenn., but they came later
to Searcy Co. Ark. These children came to Ark. Wesley Green, Permelia, Martha, Porter M., Lemuel
Perry. Many Hensley, Hollis, Wiley and Albritton (sometimes as Allbritton) families are in various
counties in Virginia in the early 1700's and scattered from there. My Hensley ancestors are in
Buncombe and Burke Counties, N. C. Many Allbrittons are later in Pitt County , N. C. By 1820 my
families of these names are in southeastern Tenn. in the area of Butler and Holly Creeks and in
southwestern Lawrence County. Tenn. in the area of Shoal Creek. Those who came to Ark. all settled
close together on the Buffalo River in northwestern Searcy County, Ark. The Hensley name is of
Anglo-Saxon origin and in the book, THE ORIGIN OF 10,000 FAMILY NAMES it is said to mean "home of the
wild birds". Two of the early settlers coming to America who bore the Hensley name were Benjamin and
Samuel Hensley. They settled along the Potomac River in Va. Benamin's line is thought to have
migrated to N. C. and are found on the 1790 census rolls of Morgan Dist. of Burke Co. About 1800
James and Lemuel migrated to Wayne Co., Tenn. 

It is thought that James is the father of Lemuel and records show that Lemuel is the father of John
M., Marcus Howard, Pernina Hensley Bromley, Nancy D. Hensley McBride, Presley W. ,William L. Hensley
and others by a second marriage. The above is all from Aunt Willie Mae Siegel He is listed with
descent in WFT Vol 20, tree 1595; WFT Vol 22, tree 2464. He was in 2 Regiment, MTD, ; 1812,
Williamson's Tenn Volunteers He was a corporal, and he served under a Captain Williamson. He fought
in the Battle of New Orleans. 

Death before this will filed: Copy of will of Lemuel Taylor Hensley STATE OF TENNESSEE, WAYNE COUNTY,
SEPTEMBER 24, 1840 Know all men by these present, that one, Mary Hensley, John M. Hensley, Samuel
Bromley and his wife Pernina, William L. Hensley, Mark H. Hensley, Presley W. Hensley, Andrew Jackson
McBride and Nancy D. McBride, his wife, and widow and heirs of Lemuel Hensley, Deceased, late of the
county of Wayne and State of Tennessee, for the purpose of preventing lawsuits, strife and
litigations about the property, and distribution of said Estate, do mutually agree to the following
divisional settlement of said Estate, to wit: John Hensley takes a Negro man called Payaton, and a
Negro woman named Nannie, to him and his heirs forever: Samuel Bromley and his wife Pernina takes a
Negro boy named Sam and a Negro girl named Mary, to have and hold to them and their heirs forever.
William L. Hensley takes Peter, a Negro man, to have and to hold to him and his heirs forever, and
also the Wacousta Filly, to make share of Negro property equal. Mark H. Hensley takes a Negro man
named Jim and a Negro girl named Evaline, to have and to hold to him and his heirs forever. He is
also to have One Hundred Dollars, to be paid by John M. Hensley, Wm. L. Hensley, Samuel Bromley, and
Presley W. Hensley, twenty-five dollars each. Presley W. Hensley takes a Negro boy named Peter, and
one named Andy, to have and to hold to him and his heirs forever. Andrew Jackson McBride and Nancy D.
McBride, his wife, takes a Negro girl named Margaret and one named Lethy, to have and to hold to them
and their heirs forever. They are also to have One Hundred Dollars, to be paid by John M. Hensley,
William L. Hensley, Samuel Bromley and Presley W. Hensley, twenty-five dollars each. Mary Hensley has
reserved her portion out of the personal property of said Estate, an old grey mare, a young mare, at
sixty-five dollars, and ten dollars to make said mare seventy-five dollars to be hereinafter paid by
John M. Hensley, ten head of Sheep, six choice of Cows and Calves, and is to be delivered to her at a
suitable time for saving. Twelve Hundred pounds of good Pork, fifteen year-old shoats, two Sows and
Pigs, one Gilt, fifty barrels of Corn, two Plows and one set of Gear, twenty bushels of Wheat, Bacon
enough to do her, the Cotton and Potatoes except for five rows, two stacks of fodder and two of Oats,
all the household kitchen and furniture and all in the house and kitchen except one bed and furniture
to be given to Mrs. McBride, all the turkeys on the farm except four, all the chickens, Ducks and
Geese, eight gallons of Whiskey, five Bee gums, two hoes and enough leather to shoe the famly, we
convey to her and her heirs forever, and agree that the said Mary shall hold forever, free and quit
of our claim, forty-five acres and sixty Poles of land to be laid off of the East end of an eighty
acre tract, Grant No. 1950, beginning on an Ash and running West so far that running South to the
original South boundary and East and North with the same to the beginning will make the said
forty-five acres and sixty poles. If there should be an excess in the tip of land when surveyed out,
we give her an equal benefit with ourselves to be laid off in said eighty acre tract by a parallel
line the whole length of the western boundary of the forty-five acre and sixty pole tract in the same
proportion as the excess divided by four will make, the said tract of forty-five acres and sixty
poles being the tract including the late residence of Lemuel Hensley, Deceased on Butlers Creek in
the County of Wayne and State of Tennessee, and the said Mary in consideration of said property
releases all further claim on the estate. Samuel Bromley and his wife Pernina agree to take a ten
acre tract, Grant No. 27003, and the balance of the eighty acre tract so far as will his forty-five
acre and sixty poles, he also being entitled to his proportion of the excess, if any. Andrew J.
McBride, and wife Nancy D., agree to take their forty-five acres and sixty poles, North of Mary
Hensley's tract upon Swanegan Branch of Butler's Creek, and they also entitled to any excess there
may be. Presley W. Hensley agrees to take his tract of forty-five acres and sixty poles on Swanegan
Branch above the tract of Andrew J. McBride and wife, also having a benefit of any excess there may
be in said tracts, the true interest and meaning of this contract and agreement being to make the
said four tracts equal in quantity. In Testimony whereof, we have hereunto act our hands and affixed
our hand and seals the date above. The balance of the personal property, we will divide equally among
ourselves, excluding the Widow, and we will refund equally if necessary, to pay debts, the Widow
excepted. Texas-Wm. Davis Mary (X) (Her mark) Hensley P. W. Hensley Sam Bromley Wm. L. Hensley
Pernina (X) (Her mark) Bromley J. M. Hensley A. J. McBride Mark H. Hensley Nancy D. (X) (Her mark)
McBride Isom R. Guinn 

This is a rather unique document because it was drawn up by mutual agreement between Mary Hensley,
widow of Lemuel Hensley, deceased and his children for specific "purposes of preventing lawsuits,
strife and litigation about the property and distribution of the estate." William L. Hensley was the
"Eturney". Do you suppose this meant that the Hensley children were or were not congeniel? In 1841,
most of Lemuel's children and their families were among those tho composed a wagon train traveling
from their homes in Wayne Co., Tenn headed for California...some stoped in Arkansas. Word Hensley
supposedly means home of the wild birds (from jehodges1 Lemuel was married at least twice...had 13
children...first to Nancy Duncan (or poss. McMahan) believed to have six children by Nancy Duncan and
seven by Mary Ophelia Brewer. Lemuel appeared in the 1820 census of Wayne County Tenn. and shows his
household: 5 boys and 1 girl under 10 years old, 1 male between 10-16 yrs. old, 1 man between 26-45
and 1 woman between 26-45. He also had 1 slave. In the 1830 census, he had as follows: 2 males
between 0-5, 1 male 5-10, 2 males 10-15, 1 male 15-20, and 1 male 40-50, 3 females 0-5, 1 female
20-30. There were five slaves. The ages of adult females from 1820 to 1830 indicate he had different
wives. P#99 In 1840 census, he had 2 males 0-5, 2 males 5-10, 1 male 50-60, 1 female 0-5, 2 females
5-10, 1 female 10-15, 1 female 40-50. There were 11 slaves. Sources: Broderbund Family Archive #315,
Ed. 1 Census Index; U. S. Selected Counties, 1830. Lois Reed e mail LReed44980 gave same information
that I had. Aug. 8,2002, from jehodges1 She states that his first marriage was to unknown
McMahon...have no proof. She also gave Bald Mountain, Yancy Co., as birth place in North Carolina. I
had N.C. stated he migrated to Wayne Co. Tenn. prior to 1825..had three wives..total 16 children.
Lemuel fought in war of 1812. Burial: Ruth White, Dowelltown, Tenn, Feb 5, 1994, letter to Nick
Cimino "We visited where Lemuel, Mark's father, was supposedly buried in southeast Wayne Co. near the
Alabama line. He died between June 30th and Sept. 24, 1840. The rockstone says Sept. 17, 1830. But it
is so weathered, we could not read more and lots of times they carved the wrong dates. "A child
Rachel is listed to Lemuel and Mary by a Brewer...wonder if infant death? Do not have her listed.
Deeds show that the Hensleys like other families commonly married those in their neighborhood: EX:
they were also associated by marriage with James Cooper family...listed among heirs of James Cooper
1838 were John (Jack) Hensley and Jane Hensley, his wife, formerly a Cooper. This reference is found
in a deed to Benjamin Lankford who about 1849 resided near Dover, Pope Co., Ark. Winesses to deed
were Robert Grinder and John Dabbs, who signed by mark. The Grider/Grinder family and Hensley family
members also intermarried later in ARK. In 1820 John Hensley sold by deed to James Cooper "one
improvement and a quantity of corn, four cows and calves, one two and four years old and two young
yearling steers the same in consideration of $105 cash.. Samuel McBride , whose relative married a
Hensley, witnessed the deed. John Hensley, oldest son of Lemuel, also owned 50 acres on Tract Creek
as shown by deed from Lydia Hensley, Wayne Co., 1825, Record Book A p. 118. This particular land was
part of Land Grant #18719 which had been conveyed to Lydia Hensley by John L. Smith of Maury Co.,
Tenn. Joshua Briley and John Hensley witnessed this deed. Briley's signature was indicated by his
mark, but John Hensley is asumed to be able to sign his name since there was no reference to his
signing by mark. In 1833, Benjamin Hensley, Wayne Co., Tenn sold lot #42 in town of Waynesboro to
Alexander B. Alexander. This deed was witnessed by Rees W. Porter and James C. Alderson The names of
those individuals with whom Hensleys conducted business are significant, because it shows the
Hensleys were educated at least enough to sign their names, but also because it is with these same
families in most cased with whom they intermarried and traveled across the nation (See WayneCo., Tenn
deed abstracts and census records 1820, 1830, 1840.) Kathy Gregory, March 29, 2006 on her web site
stated she couldn't prove but thinks her ancestor Benjamin Hensley thru his son William Hensley who
married Clarissa Malinda Sanders that Benjamin and Lemuel Taylor Hensley are either brothers or first
cousins... Imogene Hensley, Searcy Co. Ark. Ancestor Exchange April 2006 states birth abt 1781 death
abt 1845... Garry Brewer has a child Rachel born to Mary and Lemuel but no date or other info...I do
not have this child. Betty Renfroe site: "Letter from Ruth White, Dowelltown, Tenn, 5 Feb. 94..We
visited where Lemuel, Mark's father was supposedly buried in southeast Wayne Co., near the Alabama
line. He died between June 30 and Sept. 4, 1840. Rock stone says Sept. 17, 1839. But, it is so
weathered we could not read more and lots of times they carved the wrong dates." Brewer book states
four sons and four daughters. I only have 3 daus.

Mary Ophelia Brewer is believed to be the second (possible third) wife of Lemuel Hensley. She is not
the mother of all his children. James H. Brewer in March 1994, said that Lemuel and Mary (his last
wife) raised eight children. He assumed that the reason all the children are not mentioned in the
agreement is that they were minors and were to be provided for by Mary's portion of the estate. One
of the items she was given was "enough leather to shoe the family." Also, at one place, it mentions
"her and her heirs". Mary must have died before 1850 as the children are in two or three different
families in the 1850 census. He is positive Mary Brewer had children, Some have tried to say in this
family that she married one of Lemuel's sons. Also, that she made the agreement with old Lemuel's
children by a previous marriage; thus she had to have been the wife of old Lemuel. All of these eight
children are hers because it is proven by her father's estate settlement...each one got 1/8 of Mary's
part. From jehodges1 Aug. 8, 2002, states her middle name as Ophelia. I did not have it. She also
gave her place of birth as Tennessee. So I added state to place of birth, but no proof.

Children of LEMUEL HENSLEY and MARY BREWER are:

8. vii. WESLEY GREEN9 HENSLEY, b. 10 Jan 1829, Wayne Co.,Tenn; d. 22 Aug 1888, Searcy County, Ark..

9. viii. PERMELIA CORDELIA HENSLEY, b. Jun 1830, Wayne Co.,Tenn; d. 20 Nov 1908, Sanger, Denton Co.,
Texas.

10. ix. MARTHA ELIZABETH (J.?) HENSLEY, b. 1832, Wayne Co.Tenn; d. Apr 1864, Searcy Co., Ark..

11. x. PORTER MARION HENSLEY, b. 12 May 1833, Wayne Co., Tenn; d. 06 Jan 1920.

12. xi. LEMUEL PERRY HENSLEY, b. Mar 1834, Wayne Co., Tenn; d. 27 Sep 1920.

13. xii. BENJAMIN WHITE HENSLEY, b. 26 Sep 1837, Wayne County, Tenn.; d. 18 Sep 1921, Son Lovett's
house. Leslie, Searcy Co., Ark..

14. xiii. TENNESSEE HARRINGTON HENSLEY, b. 1839, Wayne Co., Tenn.