The Hensons of Stafford County, Virginia

The Hensons are of English descent, and they arrived in this country by the latter part of the 1600s. The spelling of the name varies from Hinson, Hynson, Hanson, to Henson. We will use the latter spelling, which is more common today. Records on these early Hensons are found in Stafford, Westmoreland, King George and Essex County, Virginia; and also Charles County, Maryland. The connection among these Hensons is still unknown.

This study focuses on the Henson family of Stafford County, Virginia. The county was formed in 1664 from Westmoreland County. The first Henson found there thus far was George Henson, who made a complaint against Capt. Malachy Peale of this county regarding land in Charles County, Maryland. Peale delivered the deed and certificate to the land. (Court records 1664-1668, pp. 243-244)

One of the early settlers in Stafford County was Joseph Henson. Perhaps he was related to George Henson, named above. On September 12, 1689, John Peale was ordered to pay Joseph Henson 120 pounds of tobacco for three days in court. (Stafford County Order Book, 1689-1693, p. 7) On 12 February 1691/2 he went to court to clear his name of charges by William Downing. William Downing had accused him publicly of being a "hog stealer." A jury heard the case, and ruled in favor of Joseph Henson. They ordered William Downing to pay Joseph Henson 100 pounds of tobacco. (COB p. 224)

The following items are found in Virginia Northern Neck Land Grants:

Bk.2, p. 4. Mr. Joseph Henson 195 A. in Stafford Co. on Potowmack Cr. wrnt. to Mr. Theodorick Bland to Surv. 2 Oct. 1694. On Reedy Br., Adj. Mr. Theodorick Bland, Thomas Meridith. 2 Oct. 1694.

Bk. 2, p. 140. Joseph Henson 391 A. upon the clift, by the Run. 16 Mar. 1694/5.

Joseph Henson was married to Elizabeth Hoyle, daughter of Charles Hoyle. This is documented in Virginia Northern Neck Land Grants:

Bk. B, p. 228. Lewis Elsey of Stafford Co. 14 June 1728 set forth that Edward Rogers of Stafford Co. died seized of 900 A. in said Co. part of 1500 A. granted said Rogers & Cha's Hoyle. Rogers the survivor by Will gave land to Anne Mathews, John Moor & James Barren. Barren, surviving Executor of Rogers, conveyed land to John Waugh of said Co. 1 Nov. 1709. Waugh & Thomas Elsey, father of above Lewis Elsey, were Joint purchasers as by Waugh's Will dated 8 Oct. 1716 which gave Thomas Elsey one moiety (half). No division in his lifetime. Inquisition 14 Aug. 1728 by George Eskridge Gent. Deputy Eschr. & 12 freeholders to Wit: Mathew Keen &c. found Edward Rogers & Chas' Hoyle in 1669 had 900 A. of said 1500 A. in Stafford Co. and Hoyle by his Will Apr. 1679 devised his right to his dau. Elizabeth Hanson. Will proved in Stafford Ct. 9 Sept. 1685 & Rogers by his Will 13 Sept. 1683 devised said 900 A. to Anne Matthews, John Moor & James Barren. Barren by Deed 1 Nov. 1709 conveyed same to John Waugh, but as Edward Rogers survived Hoyle & made not any other Legal Disposition that we hear of & dying seized thereof & leaving no heir behind as we know of, nor was he the s'd Rogers any alien, therefore we find lands Escheat. Thomas Waugh of Stafford Co. who received a moity from John Waugh his father, on 1 Jan. 1728 set forth the equitable pretensions he had to the 900 A. and Lewis Elsey & Edmond Hanson, eldest son living of Elizabeth Hanson, dau. of Cha's Hoyle and John Waugh for his bro. Thomas Waugh divided the land. Lewis Elsey 254 A. 1 R. 9 Per. adj. Waltons Patent. 6 Sept. 1729.

Bk. B, p. 229. Thomas Waugh by his bro. John 6 Jan. 1728 set forth that he Thomas Waugh has part of 900 A. of 1500 A. Lewis Elsey eldest son of Thomas Elsey & Edmond Hanson eldest son living of Elizabeth Hanson dau. of Charles Hoyle 6 Jan. 1728 agreed to survey & division which showed 762 A. 3 Ro. 30 Per. Grant to Thomas waugh a full 1/3 of said land (254 A. 1 Ro. 9 Per.) in Stafford Co. on Patowmack Cr. adj. Walton's Patent, Patowmack Run, Lewis Elsey. 7 Sept. 1729.

Bk. B, p. 230. Edmond Hanson 254 A. 1 Ro. 9 Per. in Stafford Co. adj. Thomas Waugh, on Accokeek Run. 8 Sept. 1729.

Joseph Henson died in 1697/8, leaving land to his sons Charles and Edmond, and perhaps others unknown. As seen above, Joseph had a will, but this writer has not found it yet. Possibly another son was Joseph, Jr. Here, then, are the known or suspected children of Joseph and Elizabeth Hoyle Henson:

1. Edmond Henson was the "eldest son." More later.

2. Joseph Henson, probable son of Joseph, Sr., sold 300 acres of land on the north side of Potomack Creek to Thomas Ellzie for 17000 pounds of good tobacco on March 6, 1706. Margaret Henson relinquished her right of dower. (Deed & Wills, 1699-1709, pp. 362-363) This is probably the same land later mentioned in the land grant records:

Bk. 5, p. 173. Mr. Thomas Elzey of Stafford Co. has 268 A. in said Co. formerly granted Mr. Gerrard Fowke at James City 15 May 1660 who assigned to John Rosier who assigned to Charles Wood who gave by Will to Joseph Hinson of said Co. Elsey bought of Hinson. Adj. land of Acton & John Brown, Potomack Cr., Thomas Fowke, Gent. 29 Dec. 1717.

Since Charles Wood gave by will land to this Joseph Henson, we suspect that Joseph had married a daughter of Charles Wood.

3. Charles Henson. Charles appears in the estate records on June 15, 1737, helping to appraise the estate of Thomas Hampton. (WB M, p. 239) Over the next several years he helped appraise the estates of John Toward, Katherine Seddon, Timothy Oneal and John Savage. Charles was listed on the quit rent rolls for 1723, when he paid 48 pounds of tobacco for his 190 acres. He was listed again on the quit rent rolls of 1742, as having 190 acres. On February 21, 1749, he wrote his will as follows: (WB M, p. 19)

In the Name of God I Charles Hinson of County of Stafford Overwharton Parish being sick...do make my last Will & Testament and first my soul to hands of God. Item I give to Elizabeth Olefor one feather bed & furniture. Item I give to my loving wife Joyce all rest of my Estate enduring her natural life & after my wife's decease I bequeath to Elizabeth Olefor of Lancaster County, Daughter of Mathew Olefor my Plantation on So side of Accokick run by estimation 100 acres. Item I give after my wife's decease to Joseph Henson the plantation I now live on after my wife's decease the rest of my Estate to be sold & the money to be equally divided between my Brother Edmonds five children Vizt: Joseph, Izbell, Mary, Lazrus, Ann. Lastly I appoint my loving wife Joyce be my sole Executor 21st February 1749/50.

Presence William Mathews, Charles X Hinson

Garner Burges, Wm. Lunsford

Charles Henson "departed this life" on February 22, 1750, according to the Overwharton Parish Register.

At Court held for Stafford County March 13, 1750 Last Will & Testament of Charles Hinson presented into Court by Joyce Hinson, Exrx named proved by oaths of witnesses admitted to record Certificate granted for Probate...

It appears, from the above, that Charles and Joyce Hinson had no children of their own. And apparently Joyce remarried, for according to the Overwharton Parish Register, Joyce Hinson married James Crap on June 3, 1750.

In an indenture made on the 9th and 10th of February 1757 between William Rosse and Michael Wallace the document mentions the 173 acres previously owned by Charles Hinson, land given him by "his Father Joseph Hinson late of County Stafford by his Last Will & Testament bearing date 14th March 1697/8." (DB P, pp. 147-149)

* * *

Edmond Henson, as seen above, was the oldest son of Joseph and Elizabeth Hoyle Henson. We believe he was born about 1682, for he was conducting business as an adult in 1704. He inherited land from his father's estate in 1697/8. He sold some of his land in 1705. Here is Sparacio's abstract of the Indenture:

This Indenture made the 22d day March 1704 between Edward (sic) Hinson of Parish Overwharton in county Stafford of the one part & Robert Carter of Christ Church Parish in county Lancaster...Witnesseth that Edmond Hinson for sum 7000 pounds of Tob. & cask...have sold Robert Carter 391 acres of land upon North side Potomack Run and bounded...beginning upon the Clift by the run side & extending thence N=45 degrees E=266 poles thence N=45 degrees W=2276 poles thence South 45 degrees W=188 poles to the run thence down the run according to the several courses & meanderes thereof to the beginning the tract of 391 acres being granted unto Joseph Hinson the father of ye sd Edmond Hinson by deed from the Propietors officed bearing date ye 16th day March 1694/5 as by the sd deed relation being thereunto had...tract of 391 acres given to Edmond by his fathers will... (Deed & Will Abstracts of Stafford County, 1699-1709, pp. 173- 176)

Edmond Henson appears among "Names Extracted from Northern Neck Land Grants, Surveys & Transfers for Stafford County to Ca 1780." He is listed in 1729 as living on Accotinct Creek. Edmund Hinson appeared in the court records in December 1733. He submitted a bill to the estate of John Toward for money owed him. His name appeared on the Quit Rent Roll of 1742, as having 150 acres. He died on November 13, 1742, according to the Overwharton Parish Register. On May 10 of that year his estate was inventoried by William Mills, John Wheeler, and John Payton. (WB M, p.360)

Edmond's wife was Elizabeth, last name unknown. We assume that Edmond and Elizabeth married about 1720, for the known children were born after that. If this is so, then Edmond was about 38 years old at the time, and Elizabeth much younger. Elizabeth died in 1761, and her will was submitted for probate on December 8, 1761: (Will Abstracts Stafford Co., Va. 1748-1767, by Sparacio)

In the Name of God Amen the 16th November 1761 I Elizabeth Hinson of Stafford County in Parish of Overwharton being very sick but of sound sence ordain this my last will & Testament... commend my Soul to God. It is my desire to make George Bell my Executor to settle amongst my children to be disposed of as follows. Item I give to Jos: Hinson the son of Edmond Hinson one cow & calf. To Ann Elton the Daughter of James Elton one small Trunk. To Mary Thrailkeld the Daughter of Edmond Hinson I leave the bed & bed stead & furniture whereon I lie. To Lazarus Hinson the son of Edmond Hinson I leave all my cotton that is spun and unspun. To Ann Bell daughter of Edmd. Hinson I leave one horse call'd Champion & saddle & all my wearing cloaths. To Mary Bell the Daughter of George Bell I leave my hat. To Elizabeth Bell the Daughter of George Bell I leave one Bed and Furniture. To John Latham the son of Margt. Latham I leave one heifer & her increase. To Mary Latham I leave three Barrells of corn & the third part of the meat that is in the house. To Jos: Hinson I leave one bed & furniture, and all my other goods & chattels to be equally divided among my children. And it is my desire that Mr. Henry Tyler & Mr. John Ftizhugh to divide all my goods & and other Estate equally amongst my children...

Will Thrailkeld, Eliza. X Hinson

John Bell, Charles Bell

At Court held for Stafford County December 8th 1761 Will present by George Bell...proved...admitted to record...Cert. granted for obtaining probate...

Here, then, are the children of Edmond and Elizabeth Hinson in the order as presented in Charles Hinson's will:

1. Joseph Henson, named for his grandfather, was probably born about 1721 in Stafford County. He settled in Culpeper County for a time. According to Henson Pioneers by Leslie Henson, Joseph came from Culpeper County to North Carolina after 1770, settled in Randolph County, later Rutherford County.

2. Isabella "Isabel" Hinson probably was born about 1723. She married James Yelton on November 13, 1743. (Parish Register) According to Jeffrey Duvall, a descendant, Isabel and James Yelton had the following children: Charles G., James, Ann, Mary, William and Amelia. Isabel died on February 13, 1781, in Stafford County.

3. Mary Henson was born about 1725. She married Henry Threlkeld on November 3, 1748. (Parish Register) They settled in Culpeper County and are ancestors of this writer.

4. Lazarus Hinson was born about 1727. Court records indicate his wife was Sarah. William Allason, a Scotch merchant in Falmouth, Stafford County, kept detailed accounting records, which listed customer relationships. He noted in ledgers B through G that Mrs. Sarah Hinson was "sister to Snodel Lathem." Hence, we believe that Sarah Hinson was nee Lathem. This helps explain the will of Elizabeth Hinson (see above) and the naming of some Lathems as heirs. They were in-laws. Lazarus and Sarah Hinson's known children are: (1) Elizabeth was born on March 31, 1753. (Parish Register) (2) Sarah was born on November 21, 1755. Perhaps there were others too. On May 22, 1762, "We the subscribers met & prais'd Laz. Hinsons Dec'd estate in current money..." The appraisers were will Routt, George Bell and James Bell. (WB O, 487-488)

5. Ann Hinson was born about 1729. She married George Bell on April 15, 1745.

* * *

Other Hensons are also mentioned in Stafford County court records. On August 31, 1698, there was a reference regarding John Hanson and Thomas Patman regarding an apprenticeship. On October 13, 1703, Robert and Andrew Henson were mentioned in a deed. (W-Z p. 186) On July 10, 1706, the will of William Wood was proved. He made a bequest to his niece, Anne Hinson, "when she comes of age." (Bk Z, p. 347) On October 26, 1726, Ann Hopkins, aged 30, deposed that she was the daughter of Mary Hinson, wife of John Hopkins, and the heir of William Wood. The 100 acres she was bequeathed had been in Stafford County, but was now considered a part of King George County. The mother, Mary Hinson, was a sister to the late William Wood. (DB1, p. 314. See Gen. of Va. Families, "Tylers Qtly., " Vol. I, pp. 86-87)

On November 19, 1725, William Henson married Susanna Roth, and this was recorded in St. Paul's Parish Register, 1715-1798. William was later mentioned in a court entry in WB M, pages 339-340: "1740 William Henson - to paid John Bell for going after you...to cash to bear his expences, to cash carried away with you, to 1 bridle, do 1/21 razor do 2/. to your taking up 200 pounds tobacco at 10/. to 1 pair leather spancels 1/6. to absent time 22 days which is 44 days." "At a court held for Stafford County Sept. 14, 1742 Peter Daniel Gent produced and made oath to an account against his servant William Henson for 22 days runaway time and four pounds nine shillings and ten pence expences and made oath thereto. It is therefore ordered that said servant serve his master for the same according to law."

Another Hinson prominent in the records of the time was George Hinson. He married Margaret Burchell on December 29, 1746. They had a daughter, name not given, on October 4, 1747. They had another daughter, Lettice, on May 21, 1750. They had another daughter, Mary, on October 28, 1752. Margaret, George's wife, died shortly thereafter, on November 22, 1752. George remarried, this time to Sarah Sullivan, on February 4, 1753. They had a son, Elijah, on May 27, 1754. These records are in

the Overwharton Parish Register.

* * *

Compiled by Jim G. Faulconer, 5200 Oakbrooke Drive, Kettering, OH 45440. March 18, 2000. ( JFaulconer@aol.com )