| Notes |
- "Heads of families at the first Census of the United States taken in the years 1790." Records of the State enumerations: 1782 to 1785 for the state of Virginia, Government Printing Office 1908 "A complete set of the schedules for each state, with a summary for the counties, and in many cases towns, was filed in the State Department, but unfortunately they are not now complete, the returns for the states of Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, Tennessee, and Virginia having been destroyed when the British burned the Capitol at Washington during the War of 1812."
Although there are a few Harrisons included in the 1790 Virginia Census, there are no Hennessees. The Census is missing all counties in Virginia in which our families are known to have lived, including, but not limited to: Augusta, Bedford, Botetourt, Tazewell, Washington, Wythe, etc.
It is confusing that Kentucky is listed in the 1790 Census as it was part of Virginia at that time and did not become a State until 1792.
"Hennessee Family History" by D. A. Hennessee, p. 1: "It is not known at this point weather Patrick had siblings. Given the average size of the families in the 18th century, it would seem likely that he did. there are several Hennessees appearing in census records and tax rolls during the late 18th century in and around the Virginia and North Carolina areas."
In some credible publications, such as the Burke County Historical Society, Patrick's name was listed as "Sr" which would indicate he may have had a son of the same name.
"Wiseman Family and Allied Lines" by Eugene M. Wiseman, p. 448: Patrick Hennessee, Sr. was born ca 1745 in Ireland and his will was proved in Oct 1796 in Burke County, North Carolina. He was believed to have arrived in Norfolk, Virginia about 1740 and moved from there to Burke County."
This researcher could not confirm any information on Patrick being born in Virginia or Ireland or his entry into America and publications have been found to list both birth places. Publications have also listed Patrick's birth year to be 1735, 1745 and 1750. It is believed the information of his birth has been verbally handed down in family folk lore.
It is not possible for Patrick to arrive in Norfolk, Virginia 5 years prior to his birth. Eugene Wiseman may have found documents for another Patrick Hensey arriving in Norfold, Virginia as he writes. "He may be kin to the Patrick Hensey who was listed in Virginia Colonial Militia 1651-1776 of Bedford County, VA in 1758." He may have gotten this information from verbal accounts of descendants as he also writes: "His wife is believed to be Ailsey McCowell, also born in Ireland according to the testimony of her grandson." This researcher was also not able to find any other spelling of McCowell instead of MCDowell. The Patrick Hensey he writes about who was in the Virginia Colonial Militia may be the Partick Hensey who is our ancestor as he did own property and live in Bedford County in 1778.
"Hennessee Family History" by D. A. Hennessee, p. 1: " Patrick's will was proven October, 1796, in Tryon County, NC." Fact: Tryon ceased to exist as a county in 1799 when it was divided into Lincoln County and Rutherford County, which are just south of Burke County. Tryon did remain a town to present day and therefore this information may be difficult to prove.
Additional information that points to Patrick Hensey who was in the Virginia Colonial Militia being the Partick Hensey who is our ancestor was obtained during an interview with Alfred Hennessee in Lawton, Oklahoma in 2005. Alfred had been researching the Hennessee family history for many years and traveled to Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee collecting information and documents. During this interview, Alfred stated that Patrick Hennessee was born about 1735. He served in Washington's Militia for the State of Virginia and was given land because the Militia did not have enough money to pay all of the men who served. It was verified that this was a practice of the Militia, during and after the American Revolutionary War. "State and Federal Benefit Payments to and Land Grant Programs for U. S. Military Veterans, 1775-1966: a Chronology" by The Library of Saint Louis, "1779- Virginia legislature authorizes payment of $750 and 100 acres of land for men enlisting in the Virginia militia for three year terms of service.....1781- Virginia relinquishes its claim to lands northwest of the Ohio River. In exchange, it receives the right to issue bounty land warrants and patents to its Revolutionary War veterans in the "Virginia Military District of Ohio," which opens for settlement in 1784. It continues to issue bounty land warrants and patents there until 1803, when Ohio becomes a state. 1783- North Carolina approves a bounty land grant program for Revolutionary War veterans who served two years or more in the North Carolina Line (militia service does not qualify a man for this program). Privates get 640 acres, while officers get between 2,560 acres and 12,000 acres depending on last rank held. Warrants in this program are issued between 1783-1841. Land reserved for this program lies the present-day state of Tennessee. Land patents during the period 1783-1797 were issued by North Carolina, while patents for the period 1799-1841 were issued by the state of Tennessee." I could not find a Hennessee or any spelling of any name starting with "Hen" in the Revolutionary War at all. I searched DAR, SAR, Federal Archives, etc.
Alfred Hennessee also provided a document he had written stating that Tom Hennessee was the father of Patrick S Hennessee and was born in Ireland, however I could find no other source for this.
Some other family trees online have information that makes sense:
Amanda Bradley's Patrick Samuel Hennessee b 1745/1750 in Dublin, Ireland (this would make sense of why we can't find him in the U.S.) d Oct 1796 in Burke County, NC. Spouse Ailsey McDowell b 1748 in Ireland d 1837
Summers Meador Giles Minott tree by hockmanwife shows Patrick Hennessee b 1745 in Burke County, NC (also makes more sense than Virginia) d 10/25/1795. Residence in 1790 was Burke County, NC.
1790 Census does show Patrick Hensy in Burke County, NC with 1 free white male over 16, 1 free white male under 16, 1 free white female and 3 other persons with no details. I can only assume these were slaves as the family had slaves listed on other census records.
- The Hennessee Name: The name Hennessee originally appeared in Gaelic as O hAonghusa, which means "descendant of Angus". Just like the English language, the Gaelic language of Ireland was not standardized in the Middle Ages. Therefore, one's name was often recorded under several different spellings during the life of its bearer. Spelling variations revealed in the search for the origins of the Hennessee family name include Hennessey, Henasey, Henasay, Henchy, Henchey, Henchie, Hinchy, Hinchey, Hinchie, Henesey, Henessy, Henesy, Hennesey and many more. In early times the name was often spelled phoneticly. First found in County Offaly where they held a family seat from very ancient times. They were a family who were lords of Clann Cholgan,
"Wiseman Family and Allied Lines" by Eugene M. Wiseman, p. 448: "The Hennessy family is descended from Milesius, King of Spain, through the line of his son Heremon. The founder of the family was Eogan, ancestor of the Northern HyNials, and son of Nial of the Nine Hostages, King of Ireland, 379 A.D. The Ancient name was Heodhasas, and signifies "Despair". It was taken from Aengus, a chieftain of the clan. The possessions of the sept were located in the present counties of Tipperary, Westmeath, and Kings. The O'Hennessys were Chiefs of Hy-Mac-Uais, now the Barony of Moygoish, in Westmeath. The O'Hennessys were also Chiefs of Clan Colgan. This district was situated in the barony of Lower Phillipstown, adjoining the conspicuous hill of Gorgham, in King's Country. (From "Genealogy of Irish Families by John Rooney, p. 286)"
"Irish Pedigrees" p. 483: gives a description of the coat of arms of the Clan Colgan of King's Country, Ireland.
"The Heritage Book of Burke County, NC" by The Burke County Historical Society, p. 329: "The Hennessee (O'hennessa, Hennesey, Hency) family is of Irish decent, a sect of the Colgon Clan of Ireland. They have been in Burke County, NC for at least 200 years, possibly longer. Patrick Hennessee, Sr. was the beginning of the family in Burke County.
"Clans and Families of Ireland and Scotland" by C. Thomas Cairney, p. 82: "The Ui Failghe, closely related to the Eile, had probably separated from them by A.D. 516, the year of the defeat of the Eile at Druim Derge by the Southern Ui Niell. The Ui Failge descend from Failge Berraide, who a few years earlier had won the battle of Fremainn Mide (A.D. 510). This victory probably accounts for their being able to remain in the more northerly portion of Offaly while their cousins, the Eile, were forced to migrate south. The chief families of the Ui Failghe include the O’Connors of Offaly, the O’Mooneys, MacColgans, O’Hennesseys, O’Holohans, O’Dempseys and O’Dunnes.
The O’Connors (O Conchobhair) of Offaly were a powerful and warlike sept of the northeast of what is now County Offaly. They descend from Conchobhar, son of Fionn, Lord of Offaly, who died in A.D. 979. From their stronghold at Dangan, now Philipstown, they successfully defended their territory from the English of the Pale (i.e. County Dublin) for more than 300 years. They were finally dispossessed by the English about 1550. The O’Mooneys (O Maonaigh) of around Ballymooney in County Offaly are a branch of the O’Connors.
The Clann Cholgan included the families of MacColgan, O’Hennessy and O’Holohan. The MacColgans (Mac Colgan) were chiefs of the territory around Kilcolgan in the extreme northeast of County Offaly. The O’Hennessys (O hAonghusa) shared the lordship of Clann Cholgan (i.e., their clan-name was applied to the territory they possessed) with their kinsmen the O’Holohans (O hUallachain). Their territory comprised the present barony of Lower Philipstown, a district adjoining the hill of Croghan, near Kilbeggan, and lying just east of the O’Connors in northeast Offaly. A branch of the O’Hennessys were chiefs of Gailenga Beg, the district between Dublin and Tara, until they were dispersed into Offaly as a result of the Anglo-Norman invasion. Some of the O’Hennessys spread early into Tipperary and Glare. In County Glare they are now known as Henchy or Hensey." Note: This researcher found this book to be full of history of the first Hennessee families.
"Kegley's Virginia Frontier: The Beginning of the Southwest - The Roanoke of Colonial Days: 1740-1783" by F. B. Kegley, p. 322: "New London in Bedford became a new western frontier town. Lots were laid off in 1761 and a good percentage of the purchasers came from the up country. The original owners were Col. Win, Callaway, James Callaway, Richard Doggett, Alexander Sayers, Wm. Bumpass, John Thompson, William Ingles, William Christian, Ambrose Bramblett, Thomas Walker, Alexander Borland, Mathew Talbot, Patrick Henacie, Col. Richard Callaway, John Callaway, John Layne, Howard Mead, Wm. Mead, Nath. Guest, James Niel, Col. John Smith, Henry Donald, Joshua Early, Mead & Howard, the Courthouse No. 10. Besides a sufficient number of stores there was an Academy of learning in operation as early as 1765. And in the Community of the Peaks there grew up a large congregation of Scotch Irish and Eastern Virginia dissenters who were working their way toward the Southwest. Among the members were the Armstrongs, Boyds, Ewings, Evans, Beards, Dooleys, Campbells, Todds, Carters, Reads, Harveys, Howards, Hills, Mitchells, McFarlands, Triggs, Sharps, Kennedys and Stones." I downloaded the entire 854 page book and copied this directly from the book. Although many people online use this quote to show Patrick Hennessee was from Virginia, this was the only record of a Hennessee name in the entire book. I also could not find this name in any of the other books about Virginai in the 1700s.
"Burke county, North Carolina, Land Records and more Important Miscellaneous Record: 1751-1809, Vol. III, p. 103: "John and Mary Ballew vs. Hensey, October 15, 1780. Affidavit of said Ballews: In 1780 he was at Patrick Henesy's on Catawba River and saw a field of mares, and Henesy said his sons in law sent them, and later saw a similar mare delivered to Mr. Wm. Heartgrove." Note: This implies Patrick had daughters.
"In 1761, Patrick was granted ownership of a Land Grant in Bedford County, Virginia. Later in 1774-1775, records list many purchases for him around the Catawba River. Also the "Petition To North Carolina Congress" 1775; co-signatories are David Crockett & Patrick Hennesey." Note: This researcher finds the David Crockett in this document can not be the Davy Crockett as the popular title "King of the Wild Frontier" who represented Tennessee in the U.S. House of Representatives, served in the Texas Revolution, and died at the age of 49 at the Battle of the Alamo as this Davy Crockett was not born until 1786. It also could not be his father as his name was John.
Burke County, North Carolina land records indicate Patrick was a plantation owner.
Item Name Ref Date Reference
70 Patrick II Hennessee Grant 5647 03 Oct 1831 Catawba River
470 Patrick II Hennessee Grant 5615 26 Jan 1830 Catawba River S
1173 John Hennessee Grant 2295 14 Jan 1794 Catawba River N
20 Patrick Hennessee Grant 0267 02 Oct 1778 Catawba River S
63 Patrick Hennessee Grant 2304 14 Jan 1794 Wards Branch
67 Patrick Hennessee Grant 0226 28 Jan 1778 Catawba River S
479 Patrick Hennessee Grant 0320 11 Dec 1778 Lower Creek Mouth
Additional land entries for Burke County, North Carolina 1778-1779
Entry # Settler or Enterer Acres Description
22 Patrick HENNESSEE 150 N side of Catawba River from mouth of Lower Crk. to mouth of Middle Creek, both sides of river
185 Patrick HENNESSEE 300 South side of Catawba River below mouth of Hunting Creek
292 Patrick HENNESSEE 150 South side of Catawba River, joining William WAKEFIELD and Arthur LOCKHART's improvements
Found online by: JDudleyWeaver:
The Hennessees trace their heritage to Clan Colgon of Ireland. They have been in Burke County, North Carolina, for more than two hundred years. Patrick Hennessee was the first of the family in Burke County. His birth date is unknown, but his will was probated October 1796. He had land entries in 1778, most of which was on both sides of the Catawba River. He also held land grants in Rutherford County in 1775. He had two sons, James and John. James married and moved to McMinnville, Tennessee between 1810-1812. John Hennessee's date of birth is unknown, but he died in 1844 and is buried in Fairfield Cemetery, Lenoir, NC. John purchased his brother's land on the Catawba River when James had relocated to Tennessee. John and his wife, Elizabeth, had four children, one of whom was Patrick, born 1793. Patrick died August 29, 1845, and is buried in Suddenth famly cemetery on the north side of the Catawba River, Burke County. Patrick married Nancy Suddenth (1799-1889). They lived their lives in Burke County and owned a large plantation on the south side of the Catawba River across from her brother, Col. John Suddenth. Patrick and John operated a ferry across the river. Patrick and Nancy had eleven children. Most of the Hennessees of Burke County are descendents of these.
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1745 - 1796 (51 years)
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