William Henshaw was born on 6 March 1736 in Mill Creek, Frederick County, Virginia.

He married on 30 January 1762 to Nancy Agnes Ann Anderson. Their children, as found on approved SAR/DAR applications and/or in his Will:

• Nicholas was born on 23 February 1763 and married Margaret McConnell.
• Adam Stephens was born about 1766 and married Mary McKenny.
• Levi was born on 22 July 1769 and married Ann McConnell.
• Hiram was born on 13 September 1771 and married Mary McConnell.
• Ruhamah was born about 1775 and married Seth Duncan.
• Rebecca was born about 1778 and married Lewis Moore.
• Jonathan [date of birth unknown] married Elizabeth Stafford.
• Washington was born on 17 March 1779 and married Charlotte Malick.
• Uriah was born in 1786 and married Elizabeth McDonald.

Before the Revolution, William had as a Captain in the militia and had been present in 1774 at Pleasant Point, a battle between Virginia colonists and Native people.

In June 1775, under a Congressional resolution, Captain Hugh Stephenson mustered a company of volunteers in Berkley County to serve one year in the Continental army. William Henshaw was elected a Lieutenant by the Committee of Safety of Shepherdstown. In November 1775, he was promoted to Captain.

In a Pension Application by Private George Michael Bedinger [SW2992], he made a deposition that he was living in Shepherdstown, Berkley County, when he volunteered as a rifleman for the term of one year in the Company of Captain Hugh Stevenson with William Henshaw, his Lieutenant. The Company marched to the Siege of Boston, where they were stationed for eight months. The Company then marched to New Jersey, across from New York City, and remained there for two or three weeks. From there, they went to Staten Island until his term ran out. He also states that he wasn’t in any battles, but several skirmishes and his immediate commander was General George Washington. The Company, he said, was not part of any regiment but was used by Washington to assist on short notice and in sudden emergencies.

His Captain [Stephenson] was appointed Colonel and returned to Berkeley County to raise additional companies. However, Stephenson died soon after his return. Bedinger continued as a rifleman for two more terms, the last with Captain William Morgan, but doesn’t mention Lieutenant Henshaw again.

In his Last Will and Testament, he names his wife “Nancy” and heirs: “seven sons” Levi, Hiram, A. Stephens, Jonathan, Washington, William Slough, and Uriah. Separately, he lists a son named Nicholas. He lists his “three daughters” as Rachel, Rebecca, and Rhyomey. His will was not witnessed but was proven in court on 20 April 1800 by witnesses who recognized his handwriting.

The Patriot died on 8 July 1799 in Berkeley County, Virginia. There is a monument erected by the DAR in 1926 to honor the Patriot at Bunker Hill Cemetery in Berkeley County, West Virginia. It is unknown if he is actually buried at this location or if this is a cenotaph. According to Valley Virginia Henshaw, “Capt. William Henshaw is buried in the old graveyard of Christ’s church at Bunker Hill [WV].”

Sources:

1. Eckenrode, Hamilton J., Virginia Soldiers of the American Revolution, Virginia. Richmond: Virginia State Library and Archives, 1989, page 214.
2. The West Virginia Historical Quarterly, Vol. 4, 1904, The Henshaw Family, by Miss Valley Virginia Henshaw, pages 149-171.
3. Biography of "Captain William Henshaw," William Henshaw Chapter NSDAR, Martinsburg, West Virginia.
4. Heitman, Francis B., Historical Register of Officers of the Continental Army During the War of the Revolution, 1775-1873, Washington DC: Rare Book Shop Publishing Company, 1914, page 286.
5. Dandridge, Danske, Historic Shepherdstown, Virginia. Charlottesville: Michie Company, 1910, page 122.
6. Aler, Vernon, Aler’s History of Martinsburg and Berkeley County, West Virginia, Maryland. Hagerstown: Mail Publishing Company, 1888, pages 94, 14, 381, 389.
7. Berkeley County, Virginia [WV] Will book 1, pages 388- 390.