John F. Henson, my GGGrandfather. Depending on the census you go by, he could have been born in 1826 or 1830, in one of the following states: Alabama, Mississippi, Texas, or North Carolina. (In the 1930 census, my grandmother had listed United States for her father's place of birth, so obviously, they weren't sure either!) Alabama has been the most frequently listed so I have tried to go with that and I am getting nowhere.

This is what IS known.

His full name was John Fletcher Henson.

He shows up consistently, on the census as living in Gonzales, Texas in 1860, 1870, & 1880. I can't pin him down before that. He was a farmer.

He married Mary Ann Thompson in Gonzales in 1854, they had 4 children: Sophia, Martha, Jefferson & Frances.

He married Maria Louise Cole in Gonzales in 1878. They had the following children: Addie Bell, John Fletcher, Robert, Lillie, James R. and Carrie Louise (my grandmother, the youngest).

Maria Louise is listed as a widow in the 1900 census so John had to have died sometime between 1893 (Carrie was born March of 1894) and 1900.

So, does this ring a bell with anyone? I have to go slam my head on the trunk now.

roilr