~ Bio BARBARA ANGELL-HENSLEY ~ by B. Bradford 4G Granddaughter ~ Updated 8/1/2019

Barbara Angell is one of the 13 proven children of Charles Angell and Sibella (maiden name unproven), born on the Angell Plantation located in Sauratown Twp., Surry Co. (now Pine Hall, Stokes) North Carolina. Her father owned a large plantation of 640+ acres which straddled both the north and south sides of the Dan River. The southern section of the plantation is where Belews Creek ran through which is now under water with the 1972 construction of the dam / power plant thus creating Belews lake. Barbara met Henry Hensley in Surry Co., (now Stokes) NC just before the outbreak of the Revolutionary War. They married before 1772 in Surry Co. (she was noted as "Barbra Hansly" in her father's Will which was written in July 1772) and moved over the state line up to neighboring Henry Co., VA to start a family. Henry joined the Henry Co., VA militia for which he later received a Bounty land on the frontier for his service. After the War, sometime before 1790, he and Barbara moved down to the Caney River Settlements of now Yancey Co., and started a farm on their 200 acre parcel. Her two sisters, Jemima and Frances also married Hensley brothers and left Surry Co. Jemima married James Hensley and he and brother Henry served as jurors to build roads cutting through the wilderness for development. On Oct. 28, 1820, Henry sells the 200 acre farm to their son William for $500 dollars. In 1821, Henry sells their slave "Dice" for $500 to son William. With these two transactions, it was clear that Henry was sick and wanted his son William to be set up financially to take care of the farm and his widow wife. Henry died about 1823 and William assumed head of the household and property and Barbara and Zania were living with his family. William served as Deputy Sheriff for a few terms in newly formed Yancey Co. but got into some trouble when he leveraged his 200 acre farm as a bond he posted for Sherrif Charles Capon Baker who absconded funds. William had to pay the bond and shortly afterwards left Yancey Co., NC with his family, mother and sister and moved over the state line into Tennessee settling at the summit of Spivey mountain where over time he acquired 500 acres. The family is noted in the 1850 Wash. Co., TN census, Barbara Angel-Hensley age 95 and daughter Zania Hensley age 57 living with William A. Hensley "Blacksmith". Barbara died sometime before 1860 as she was gone during the census. The Cemetery was once part of William Allison Hensley property. The children of Henry Hensley and Barbara Angell:

1) Nancy b. 1774 (md. William Jesse Lewis; moved to Madison Co., NC)

2) George Washington - b. 1775 (md. Lucinda; moved to Wayne Co.TN)

3) James - b. Feb. 15, 1779 (md. Nancy Anderson; moved to Clay Co., KY); buried Hensley Cem. Red Bird River

4) Henry Halen b. 1781 (md. Mary Howard; remained in Yancey NC); suspected buried Hensley Cem. Bee Log

5) Lewis (md. Nancy Howard, sister to Mary Howard; moved to Harlan Co., KY); at age 62, killed by his brother-in-law (Mary's brother) Samuel Howard Jr. --stabbed to death in 1844. Jury acquitted - self defense.

6) Benjamin- b. 1791 (md. Louisa Shelton; 1824 acquired 62 acres in the Flag Pond, Unicoi Co., TN)

7) Barbara - b. Dec. 27, 1792 (md. Holland Higgins; moved to Flag Pond, TN; buried Higgins Chapel Cem.)

8) Zania - b. 1794 (never married; moved w/brother William & mother to Spivey, TN)

9) William Allison - (md. Lucinda Higgins d/o Holland Higgins and unknown); took over farm on Caney River on Sang Fork; then bef. 1840 moved to Spivey, TN)