Sunday, August 10, 2008

Second Generation - Adam Barnes

      Adam Barnes, son of James and Keturah Shipley Barnes was the next of our line. He was born on "Shipley's Choice" in Anne Arundel County/Maryland between 1700 and 1710. 
      He spent most of his childhood on "Eve's Dowry", which his father purchased in 1712. In early manhood, he went up to the northern frontier of Anne Arundel County (now Howard County) and bought a tract of land called "Henry's Park", near the middle of Patuxent River, March 22, 1732. This is near West Friendship, Maryland. He also bought two adjoining propeties - "The Invasion" on May 27, 1747, and "Cumberland" on May 8, 1751. 
      In 1738, he was a vestryman of Christ Church, Queen Caroline Parish. 
      In 1732, he married Hannah Dorsey, daughter of John and Honor Dorsey (Darcy?) who was born August 26, 1709. Together they had nine children: James, John, Sophia (Petticord), Ruth (Stevens), Susannah (Linthicum), Henry, Patience (Norwood), Hannah (Hood) and Michael. His son, John, is our predecessor.          
      Adam died testate before February 1779.  Hannah died by September 11, 1792 when her estate was appraised .  James Barnes was her administrator, making him probably the eldest child and names for his grandfather.   John was undoubtedly named for his mother's father, John Dorsey.

Saturday, August 9, 2008

The Beginnings in Maryland - James Barnes

      This family history of the Barnes family of Maryland was compiled by John Ezra Barnes in the 1940s and by his niece, Audrey Barnes Shane, in the 1960s.  The first six generations have been ammended by this blogger and the Sixth and Seventh generations added are solely the work of this blogger.  In future, stories will be written about individual family members.

      Our Barnes family represents a direct line from James Barnes of Anne Arundel County, Maryland, first in records at the end of the 1600s. He most likely immigrated from England around 1670-1680, either with family or as an indentured servant. A James Barnes did arrive in Maryland on the "Cecelius" from Bristol/England in 1676 and this could be our progenator. Whoever James was, he married quite well. His wife, Keturah Shipley born around 1683 in Anne Arundel County, Maryland was the daughter of Adam Shipley and Lois Howard. James and Keturah were married before 1698 and had nine children between 1699 and June 1717, seven sons and two daughters.
      We are descended from the second son, Adam Barnes (named for his grandfather Adam Shipley). The children were, in order of birth: Richard, Robert, Adam, James, Peter, Joshua, Ketura (who married Richard Shipley), Susanna and Nathan. It is possible that Richard was named for his Grandfather Barnes, however not proven. It is also possible that Susannah was named for her paternal grandmother, again not proven. There are baptism records for Susannah and Nathan. The other children are proven by their appearance in wills and land documents.