BARRS

ANCESTORS AND DESCENDANTS

This data is based on the best documented and undocumented information, dates, relationships, census reports, etc. available to me in the U.S.A. and the UK.

Anyone having more accurate documented information is urged to contact me at e-mail address albarrs@wfeca.net

Posted by A. F. (Al or Alfonso) Barrs, Jr.

REVISED AND UPDATED EDITION OF OCTOBER 15, 2005

William  Barrs was born to Unknown Barrs in unknown location. Prior to William Barrs’ birth we have no validated information about the Barrs family. However, we can speculate as to where they may have lived prior to appearing in Bulkington Village in Warwickshire England in the 1400s or 1500s. Several generations lived in Bulkington Village and attended the parish church there, which is where most family history records were written and kept by church scribes.

It is worthwhile remembering that many parisheners would not read or write and depended on their church scribes to spell christian and surnames. Unfortunately, the scribes spelled individual's names phonetically or how the individual spoke them. This resuted in a variety of different spellings. This hinders family history research in that one must remember to not totally rely on name spelling during your search for ancestors. Places, dates and connections to other individuals are important too.  For example,  it took some time to find the above William Barrs becasue the church scribe in the parish churchin Bulkington Vilalge had spelled his surname as "Bares." And, we see our present day Barrs surname spelled a varitey of ways over the years. Barrs is just the final English spelling of our surname.

Perhaps our early Barrs ancestors lived in or around Market Bosworth in adjoining Leicestershire England, which is located about 16 miles north of Bulkington Village in Warwickshire. We know there were Barrs lived in Market Bosworth during the early part of the 1500s. A Michael Barrs was  born in Leicestershire in about 1540. He married in Market Bosworth and raised his family there.  I believe there is a connection but we haven't been able to verify a connection yet.

NOTE: In fact the 13th and 14th centuries are probably the centuries in which the Barrs surname went through a variety of spelling changes from the French spelling of Barre and Barres. (The earliest known Old Normandy spelling was de La Barre) In fact we have evidence that the same family used the spelling Bares, Barres, Barre, Barr and Barrs within just a few connected generations even later than the 1500s. We find the spellings of Barre, Barres and Barrs in one family within two generations. Of course again this was a scribe's interpretation of the spelling. Eventually the spelling in English finally evolved into Barrs, which was used from the early 1400 s to today.

William Barrs, our first validated ancestor,  is known to have raised his family in Bulkington Village Warwickshire. We haven't discovered any additional information about this William Barrs to date, with the exception that he was married to Elizabeth, had a son named Robert Barrs, who was probably William and Elizabeth Barrs' oldest son and died on February 20, 1560 in Bulkington Village Warwickshire England UK.

Robert Barrs was born to William and Elizabeth Barrs about 1520 in Bulkington Village Warwickshire. Robert Barrs and his wife Joan apparently moved to Toft Hamlet Warwickshire with or shortly after their oldest son Thomas and Margery Barrs moved their family from Bulkington Village to Toft Hamlet in 1612. William Barrs died in 1560 in Toft Hamlet and was buried in the Dunchurch Village parish church cemetery.

Thomas Barrs was born about 1625 in Bulkington Warwickshire England. Thomas Barrs married Margery in the early years of the 1600s, probably 1602. Thomas Barrs was the first of our Barrs family to move from Bulkington and settle in Toft Hamlet Warwickshire, which is located just a few hundred yards just south of Dunchurch Village Warwickshire England. Thomas Barrs died in Toft Hamlet and was buried in the parish phurch in Dunchurch Village where his father Robert Barrs and probably his mother Joan Barrs were buried.. Thomas and Margery Barrs had several children. Several were born in Bulkington Village and the rest were born in Toft Hamlet. The oldest son was named Abraham Barrs (Abraham Barrs of Toft) and was born in1603 in Bulkington Village Warwickshire England.

Abraham Barrs become a prominent and prosperous citizen of Toft Hamlet, in the Dunchurch Village, as well as in the parish phurch in Dunchurch Village Warwickshire England. His family would farm lands south and east of Toft Hamlet, which were still being farmed and in pasture in 2003, when I visited Toft Hamlet. His family would later also farm church controlled land southeast of Dunchurch Village. Abraham Barrs would come to be called and referred to in historic documents as “Abraham Barrs of Toft.” Other children of Thomas and Margery Barrs were Sarah Barrs born November 20, 1613 and was the first child of Thomas and Margery Barrs to be born in Toft Hamlet. John Barrs was born in Toft Hamlet on January 5, 1616 but died in 1617 at 1 year of age. Then Joseph Barrs was born in Toft Hamlet on August 7, 1618 but also died that same year 1618. Margery Barrs was then born in 1620 in Toft Hamlet.

Abraham Barrs would become Abraham Barrs of Toft after moving with his parents, Thomas and Margery Barrs,  to and settled in Toft Hamlet in the county of Warwickshire, which borders Leicestershire England. The Toft Hamlet area was and is a primary agricultural area in The Midlands of England.  Farming and livestock are still going on there today.

Abraham Barrs was born about 1603 in Bulkington Village. He moved with his father Thomas Barrs and  mother, Margery Barrs from Bulkington Village south about 20 miles to Toft Hamlet in1612. Abraham Barrs became a prominent farmer and citizen in Toft Hamlet and nearby Dunchurch Village, in Warwickshire England. "Toft" (It was an English custom to give prominent residents the village or hamlet name, such as Abraham Barrs of Toft.) was a small English farming hamlet located just south of Dunchurch Village in Warwick County England that exists today as an upscale but small housing development. Today the Barrs of Toft farm is in pasture with part under cultivation across a north south hightway.  (You can copy and paste the following URL address into your internet explorer web page to view pictures of Warwick and Warwickshire, the most picturesque and historic parts of England: Warwick Village http://www.picturesofengland.com/warwick/index.html and Warwickshire County: http://www.picturesofengland.com/warwickshire/index.html)

Abraham Barrs of Toft was married to Joan or Joane in about 1630 and was probably married in the St. Peter's Parish Church in nearby Dunchurch Village in Warwickshire England. Abraham Barrs of Toft and Joan fathered 7 children: Thomas Barrs, named after his father, was born in 1631, Abraham Barrs born in 1633, Nathaniel born in 1636, Alice born in 1638, Elizabeth born in 1641, Ann born in 1645 and Margaret born in 1651. Abraham Barrs was my direct ancestor. Nathaniel Barrs was "Tony" or Anthony Marston Barrs' direct ancestor. Tony Barrs was born in Nuneaton Warwickshire in 1925. He is now retired and lives in Murthly Perthshire Scotland with his daughter Sue and son-in-law Paul, who is of Scott lineage. In SEP 2003 I visited Tony and his family in Scotland and England. We toured Leicestershire and Warwickshire England following the trails of our Barrs family history. Tony Barrs is my (Al Barrs, Jr.) 9th cousin once removed. Tony has a son, David Barrs who lives with his family in Exxex England. David is my 10 cousin once removed.

Abraham Barrs (2) was born in 1633 in Toft Hamlet on the farm of his father, Abraham Barrs of Toft, and just south (About 500 feet) of Dunchurch Village, Warwickshire, England. Abraham married a woman named Joan who was born in 1640 and died in 1713. Joan's maiden name is not known at this time. Abraham and Joan Barrs had 8 children: Abraham born in 1668, Joan born in 1669, Nathaniel born in 1672, Dorothy born in 1677, John Barrs born in 1678, Elizabeth born in 1681, Elizabeth born in 1683 and Elizabeth born in 1687. [Elizabeth born 1681 and Elizabeth born in 1683 died either at birth or in early childhood.] They may have been victims of The Plague or The Black Death, which was sweeping Europe and the United Kingdom at the time. Over half the people in England perished from The Plague. Abraham Barrs died in 1715. Joan Barrs had died two years earlier in 1713.  John Barrs born 1678 was my direct ancestor.

John Barrs would become John Barrs of Toft as had his grandfather Abraham Barrs of Toft because of his prominence in the hamlet. John Barrs of Toft was born in 1678. John Barrs of Toft married Mary (Perhaps Mary Smalley) about 1716. John and Mary Barrs had 11 children: Abraham born in 1717, Mary born in 1718, Elizabeth born in 1722, Henry born in 1724, John Barrs (2) born on March 5, 1727, Rachel born about 1625 or 26 and died in 1729, Benjamine born in 1729, twins Daniel and Joseph born in 1733, Rachel born in 1735 and Susannah born in 1736 and died in 1736. Mary Barrs and daughter Susannah Barrs died during childbirth in 1776. Both are buried in the Dunchurch Cemetery adjacent to the Dunchurch Church in Dunchurch Village Warwickshire, England. John Barrs died in 1746 and Mary Barrs died in 1776. John Barrs was my direct ancestor and the first of my ancestors to immigrate to America in 1749.

My (Al Barrs) direct line ancestor and the first of our Barrs line to immigrate to America was John Barrs born March 5,1727 in Toft Hamlet, son of John Barrs of Toft. John inherited his father's property and sold it after this father's death in 1746. We have evidence that some of the children of John Barrs of Toft and Mary Barrs had a falling out over something to do with church matters. We have found that the older son, Abraham Barrs,  began attending another church in a nearby village. But, it appears that the youngest son John Barrs, born in 1727, stayed in the same church his parents attended, St. Peters Parish Church of Dunchurch Village Warwickshire England. Apparently John Barrs, born 1727, was rewarded for his faithfulness to his father and church because his father willed all of his property to him (John Barrs b. 1727). John Barrs appears to have continued to be loyal to his father until his death and then set about selling his inheritance, took the proceedings, traveled to nearby Birmingham, married Sarah Spears in the Axta Juxta parish church, traveled on to Bristol or Liverpool, bought passage on a ship sailing for America, traveled to Johnson (Dobbs-Lenoir) County North Carolina and bought plantation farmland by the year 1751-1754. We have evidence that John Barrs owned land in Johnson County North Carolina because we have evidence that he sold some land during 1755-1756. John Barrs, born 1727 in England, became John Barrs, Sr. in America when he and his wife Sarah Spears had their first son, John Barrs, Jr. about 1758 in Dobbs-Lenoir County North Carolina USA. 

John Barrs was born on March 5, 1727 in Toft Hamlet, Warwickshire, England to John Barrs of Toft and Mary. John married Sarah Spears on February 19, 1749 in Axta Juxta Hamlet in the suburbs of the city of Birmingham Warwickshire England. I have a copy of the church document listing their marriage. John and Sarah Barrs immigrated to the present day Lenoir County region of Johnson-Dobbs County North Carolina in 'The American Colonies' during 1750. John Barrs bought plantation farmland and settled down on his plantation in Johnson-Dobbs County North Carolina.  John and Sarah Barrs had about 12 children: 7 unnamed daughters were born between 1750 and 1758 and before John Barrs, Jr. was born about 1758. Leonard, Jonathan, Caleb and Clarel may have been younger brothers of John Barrs, Jr., but we cannot validate their actual birth dates, birthplaces or parent's names.

The John Barrs' family lived and farmed in Johnson-Dobbs-Lenoir County North Carolina for about 80 years (2 generations) from 1750 to the 1830s. John Barrs, Sr. oldest son, John Barrs, Jr., took over running the Barrs Family Plantation, located in today's Lenoir County North Carolina, even before the death of their father, John Barrs, Sr. sometime between 1800 and 1810 AD. We find both father and son in the Federal Census report of 1800.

John Barrs, Sr. while in Johnson-Dobbs County North Carolina is recorded selling (deeding) land  to a Thomas Williamson in 1755-56.  John Barrs, before becoming Senior,  was later granted 200 acres of land for enlisting for Colonial Militia service during the American Revolutionary War, with John Young's Regiment. He enlisted on January 5, 1777 in Dobbs County North Carolina. 

John Barrs, Jr. was born about 1758 and John Barrs, born 1727, became John Barrs, Sr. in the history records from that date onward until his death sometime after 1800 and before 1810.

John Barrs, Sr. was also on the Tax List of Dobbs County North Carolina in 1769.

John Barrs, Sr. returned home to Dobbs County North Carolina in 1777 after his military service during the American Revolutionary War with Charles Young's Regiment (militia), which was officially the 10th North Carolina Regiment. Normal enlistments were for six months duration. Most men needed to be hoome at the time of crop harvesting

John Barrs, Jr. was drafted, during the American Revolutionary War, into Captain Kennedy's Company of Dobbs County North Carolina on July 26, 1777.

Anyone knowing the name of the wife of John Barrs, Jr. is asked to forward the information to me at e-mail address albarrs@wfeca.net. We believe she died at an early age (early 40s) as indicated in the Federal Census Reports in Lenoir County North Carolina.

A word about the Federal Census Reports: The USA Federal Census Reports are notorious for errors in Christian and surname spelling as well as age ranges and birth dates. The Census was taken at various times of the year depending on which state and county you are researching. You can look on the first page on the top right corner of the report to learn when that particular census was taken and by whom. Even then the date may not actually be when the information was taken but when it was written on the forms. And, many individuals would be away working or in the military and the information given was often guesswork. Where we can establish this information independently of the Census Reports we do so. If you have more accurate information please e-mail it to me at albarrs@wfeca.net.

John Barrs, Sr. was in the 1790 Dobbs County North Carolina Census Report (1790 was the first official year of the U. S. Census project. In that report the local census taker spelled John Barrs' surname as "Bars."). In the John Barrs, Sr. household was: John Barrs age 63 (born March 5, 1727 in Toft Hamlet Warwickshire); 1 male under 16; 2 males over 16 (One male would have been himself and the other John Barrs, Jr.); and 8 female household members. We believe John and Sarah Barrs had several daughters born from 1750, one year after their marriage in Birmingham Warwickshire England in February 1749 to 1758 when we believe their first son, John Barrs, Jr. was born. Several additional daughters and sons were born by the time the first (1790) U. S. Federal Census was taken. We believe John and Sarah Barrs had a total of 7 daughters and perhaps as many as 4 sons. Anyone having additional information is asked to contact Al Barrs at e-mail address albarrs@wfeca.net.

John Barrs, Sr. was again in the 1800 Lenoir County NC Census: He was 73 years of age: Household: 1 male 0-10 and 1 male 45 or older; 1 female 16-26 and 1 female 45 or older.

John Barrs, Jr. was also in the 1800 Lenoir County North Carolina Census: He was probably born about 1758: Household: 2 males 0-10; 1 male 11-16; 1 male 16-26; and 1 male 27-45: 2 females 0-10; 1 female 11-16 and 4 females 27-45: Arthur Barrs, Gideon,(I am not confident that Gideon was John Barrs, Sr. son. That son may have been William Barrs, who settled in Branchville South Carolina...Al Barrs) Dempsey and James Barrs. We don't have the names of John Barrs, Jr's daughters or wife.  Anyone with this information or knowing the Christian and maiden name of Mrs. John Barrs, Jr. is asked to contact me at albarrs@wfeca.net. We believe she may have died at an early age (early 40s) because we find no female in the appropriate age range in the Federal census reports that could have probably been his wife.

John Barrs, Sr. was born March 5, 1727 in Toft Hamlet, Warwickshire, England. He does not appear in the 1810 Lenoir County North Carolina Census Report.  He had probably died sometime after his 73rd birthday and between 1800 and 1810 in Lenoir County North Carolina.  John Barrs, Jr., the oldest son, had taken over the running of the Barrs Family Farm or Plantation  in Lenoir County NC before his father died.  John Barrs, Sr. and Sarah Spears-Barrs are believed to be buried somewhere in Lenoir County North Carolina.

John Barrs, Jr. was, I believe, born during 1758. He was in the 1810 Lenoir County North Carolina Census Report: Household: 2 males 0-10; 2 males 10-16 and 1 male 26-45: 1 female 10-16; 1 female 16-26 and 1 female over 45: Probable sons of John Barrs, Jr. were Arthur Barrs, Dempsey Barrs; Gideon or William Barrs and James Barrs.

John Barrs, Jr. was in the 1820 Lenoir County North Carolina Census: Household: 1 male age 10-15; 1 male age 16-18 and 1 male age 26-44: 1 female 10-15 and 1 female 44 or older.  John Barrs, Jr. was the oldest son of John Barrs, Sr. and Sarah Spears and one of probably four sons. 

John Barrs, Jr. and his wife (unknown name) had 4 sons: Arthur Barrs, Dempsey, Gideon or William  and James Barrs. Arthur Barrs was my G-G-G Grandfather and was born in 1792 in Lenoir County North Carolina.

1. Dempsey Barrs was in the 1820 Lenoir County North Carolina Census: Household: 1 male age 0-10; 1 male age 18-25: 1 female 0-10 and 2 females 26-44. He was a son of John Barrs, Jr. and a brother of Arthur Barrs, Gideon or William and James Barrs. Dempsey also showed up in the 1830 Twiggs County Georgia Census report, as did my G-G-G Grandfather Arthur Barrs and his youngest brother James Barrs. Gideon Barrs settled in Pikes County Georgia, which was and is located two counties away from Twiggs County to the Northwest.

2. Arthur Barrs was born in Lenoir County North Carolina in 1792.  He first appeared in the 1830 Twiggs County Georgia Census.  He was married to Nancy Elizabeth Campbell, daughter of Thomas and Sarah Campbell of Lenoir County North Carolina in about 1819. Nancy Elizabeth Campbell was born in 1793 in Lenoir County North Carolina. Arthur Barrs was the oldest son of John Barrs, Jr. and a brother to Gideonor William, Dempsey and James Barrs. 

3. James Barrs [Brother to Arthur, Dempsey and Gideon or William Barrs] was born in 1795 in Lenoir County North Carolina.  He first showed up in the 1830 Twiggs County Georgia Census report. He was the youngest son of John Barrs, Jr. and brother to Arthur, Dempsey and Gideon Barrs.

4. Gideon Barrs or William Barrs [Brother to Arthur, Dempsey and James Barrs] was born in Lenoir County North Carolina and was a son of John Barrs, Jr.  Gideon Barrs appeared in the 1830 Twiggs and 1840 Pikes County Georgia Census report: Household: 1 male under 1; 1 male 30-39; and 1 female under 5; 1 female 5-9; 1 female 15-19; and 1 female 20-29.  Pikes County Georgia was and is just northwest of Twiggs and Pulaski Counties Georgia. He later appears in the Houston County Georgia Census Report. NOTE: Gideon Barrs may not have been the son of Arthur and Nancy Barrs. We now believe that son may have been William Barrs who settled in Brachville South Carolina. We know that our Barrs line were related to the Branchville Barrs.

Arthur Barrs [My G-G-G Grandfather] was in the 1830 Twiggs County Georgia Census: 2 males age 5-9 (Isaac L. Barrs and James C. Barrs.); 1 male age 10-14 (William W. Barrs); 1 male 30-39 (Arthur Barrs) and 2 females under age 5 years; 1 female age 30-39 (Nancy Barrs); and 65 slaves. Arthur and Nancy Barrs had 3 sons: Isaac L. Barrs, James C. Barrs and William W. Barrs. Arthur Barrs, my G-G-G Grandfather, died about 1843 in Twiggs County Georgia. Anyone knowing the Christian names of the two oldest Barrs daughters, who probably married in Twiggs County Georgia, is asked to contact Al Barrs.

NOTE: Because of the time of the year in which the Federal census enumeration's were taken each individual may appear 1 year older or 1 year younger than show in the final census reports depending upon the month in which they were born. 

1. Isaac L. Barrs was born 1820 in Twiggs County Georgia.
2. James C. Barrs was born in 1821 in Twiggs County Georgia.
3. William W. Barrs was born in 1824 in Twiggs County Georgia.
4. Unknown name daughter born and married in Twiggs County Georgia.
5. Unknown name daughter born and married in Twiggs County Georgia
6. Julian Barrs was born in 1838 in Twiggs County Georgia.

James Barrs [Arthur Barrs' older brother] was in the 1830 Twiggs County Georgia Census: Age 34: Household: 2 males age 0-10; 1 male age 6-10 and 1 male age 20-30; 1 female 15-20; 1 female 20-30; and 6 slaves.

Nancy Barrs, Arthur Barrs' wife (Nancy Elizabeth Campbell-Barrs), was the head of their household in the 1840 Twiggs County Georgia Census report: Household: 2 males age 10-15; 1 male age 15-20; 1 male age 40-50 and 1 female under 5 years of age; 2 females age 10-15; 1 female age 40-50; and 4 slaves. 

NOTE: Arthur Barrs was probably still living in 1840 but incapacitated to the extent his wife Nancy had taken over as the head of their household and the bulk (61) of their slaves had been transferred to James Barrs', Arthur Barrs youngest brother, household. James Barrs was Arthur's youngest brother and Nancy's brother-in-law. We believe Arthur was alive but to sick to run his plantation. We believe Arthur put his youngest brother James Barrs in charge of the farming operations on his plantation and know that Arthur had transferred 61 of his slaves to James by 1840. Nancy kept 4 slaves for household duties. G-G-G Grandfather Arthur Barrs died in 1842 or 43. Arthur Barrs is buried someplace in Twiggs County Georgia. Nancy died in 1880 in Brooks County Georgia and is buried there. She was 87 years of age. We believe she is buried in the old Columbia Primitive Baptist Church cemetery where her youngest son, William W. Barrs, and his family attended church and where William Barrs, his wife Lauraney Wood-Barrs and many of their descendants are buried. Nancy and Isaac L. Barrs, Arthur and Nancy Barrs' oldest son who died at age 30 in August 1850 in Brooks County Georgia leaving his wife Elizabeth Hinson-Barrs and 4 young children. They had lived next door to William W. Barrs household. They were probably buried with wooden markers and their exact grave locations are now know as of this update. There are many unmarked but visible graves in that cemetery. However, there are two unmarked graves at the head of William W. and Lauraney Barrs' graves. We believe these two graves are the resting place for G-G-G Grandmother Nancy Elizabeth Campbell-Barrs and her oldest son Isaac L. Barrs.
Al Barrs e-mail albarrs@wfeca.net.

James Barrs 1840 Twiggs County Georgia Census: Age 44: Household: 1 male age 5 or under; 1 male age 10-15; 1 male age 15-20; 1 male age 40-50; 1 female 20-30 and 61 slaves.  James Barrs had taken over the plantation farming operations of his older brother Arthur Barrs in Twiggs County Georgia and had the bulk of Arthur's slaves in his household by the time of the 1840 Federal census.  This census information validates that James and Arthur Barrs were definitely brothers!

James Barrs ended his days in Pulaski County Georgia where he died sometime after 1870, probably 1872.  He had at least two wives and at least three children during his long lifetime. His first wife's name is unknown but is believed to have been of the Grandberry family since their first son was named George Grandberry Barrs. His last wife was Ann E. Pipkin of Pulaski County Georgia.

One son was named George Grandberry Barrs, whose descendants live in Georgia today.  Two younger sons were named James Barrs and John Barrs. Both James and Ann Barrs are listed in the 1870 Pulaski County Georgia Census Report along with two males (James Barrs' Grand Sons) named James Grover Barrs age 6 and William Joshua Barrs age 14.

James and Ann Barrs raised his grandsons after their father and mother's death. George Grandberry was killed shortly after the War Between the States ended (in 1866) at Coley's Station Pulaski County Georgia. He was stabbed during an altercation with another individual. He attained the rank of 2nd Lieutenant in the CSA Infantry and was discharged in 1865.

James Grover Barrs and William Joshua Barrs were James Barrs' grand sons and the children of George Grandberry Barrs and Elizabeth Cole. George Grandberry and Elizabeth Cole were married on August 26, 1852.  James Barrs and Ann E. Pipkin had taken William Joshua and John Grover into their home to raise after their mother had died and their father was killed at Coley's Station, Pulaski County Georgia.  William Joshua married Susan Coley and then later Susan's sister Malinda Coley after Susan's death.  James Grover married Sarah Eleanor Manning. William Joshua had a son named James Colquit Barrs.  Most of James Colquit Barrs family still lives in Georgia with some scattered through out other states.

James C. Barrs [My G-G Grandfather] at age 29 was in the 1850 Lowndes County Georgia Census. He and his family were in the household of Samual Porter. In James C. Barrs' household was his wife Martha Elizabeth Land, sons Henry age 6, William age 3 and my Great Grandfather Isaac Newton Barrs age 1 were in the household of Solomon Porter, age 41 a farmer born in North Carolina. James C. Barrs was listed as an 'Overseer' for Mr. Porter. James C. Barrs middle name was "Campbell" after his Mother's maiden name.

Members of Great Grandparents James C. Barrs, born in Twiggs County Georgia in 1821, and Elizabeth Barrs (Martha Elizabeth Land a Daughter of Henry Land. Martha Elizabeth Land had 3 brothers and 3 sisters in the 1830 Twiggs County GA Census Report. The Henry Land family lived near Elam Hinson. Elam Hinson's daughter Elizabeth Hinson married Isaac L. Barrs, oldest child of Arthur and Nancy Elizabeth Campbell-Barrs)  born in North Carolina in 1821, household were James Henry L. Barrs age 6 born 1845 in Georgia (Lowndes County); William T. Barrs (Taylor) age 3 born 1848 in Georgia (Lowndes County) and Isaac Newton Barrs [My Great Grandfather] age 1 born 1849 in Georgia (Lowndes County).

NOTE: Lowndes County was divided into Lowndes and Brooks County in 1858 while James C.  Barrs, his immediate family and several cousins and/or nephews were living in Wakulla County Florida where he was operating a 'Salt Works' at the mouth of the St. Marks River with a number of Mr. Porter's slaves. Evidence of the old Salt Works are still visible on the east side of the river at the gulf.

James C. Barrs and his family went to Wakulla County Florida sometime before 1857.  At that time he was an 'Overseer' for Mr. Solomon Porter of Lowndes County Georgia. He took a number of Mr. Porter's slaves, several of his kin (cousins and nephews) and his family to the east side of the mouth of the St. Marks River in Wakulla County Florida on the Gulf of Mexico. He was operating 'Salt Works' on the coast at the mouth of the St. Marks River from about 1855 to 1863, or until the Salt Works were destroyed by Union gunboats and Federal Marine troops during the War Between the States.

James C. Barrs and his family returned to The Nankin District of Brooks County Georgia after the Salt Works were destroyed where he enlisted at Quitman Georgia in the CSA 11th Calvary Georgia State Guards. James C. Barrs' brother William W. Barrs and his oldest son James Henry L. Barrs (Leonard) also enlisted at the same time in the 11 Georgia Calvary for enlistments of 6-months. The youngest son of James C. and Martha Elizabeth Barrs, Henry J. Barrs, was born in Wakulla County Florida in 1857. By age 14 he was called "Andrew" J. Barrs. His descendants knew him as "Ander." James Henry L. Barrs, James C. and Elizabeth's oldest son, and James C. Barrs' youngest and only living brother also enlisted in the CSA 11 Calvary Georgia State Guards.

Andrew J. Barrs bought Federal Homestead land in Lafayette County Florida on May 12, 1899 in Gainesville Florida. Andrew J. Barrs was the youngest son of James C. Barrs and Martha Elizabeth Land-Barrs. Andrew J. Barrs date of death is not known at this time. He was buried in the Day Lafayette County Cemetery in a vault with no headstone. I have been told by one of his grandchildren that he was the first buried in the Day Cemetery and that it was called the Barrs Cemetery for some time afterwards.

One of James C. Barrs' cousins who went to Wakulla Florida with him, James M. Barrs, joined the CSA Florida 5th Infantry Company I, in Wakulla County Florida during July of 1863. The Company was called "The Wakulla Tigers."  James M. Barrs was wounded at the Battle of Gettysburg on July 2, 1863 and was discharged on April 26, 1865. James M. Barrs was married to Elizabeth Prince on March 19, 1865 in Leon,  Wakulla County, Florida and returned to farming. James M. and Elizabeth Barrs are believed to be buried someplace in Wakulla County Florida.

By all accounts James C. Barrs and some or all of his family were traveling back and forth between Wakulla County Florida and Lowndes-Brooks County Georgia during the period he was operating the Salt Works on the Gulf of Mexico in northwest Florida. He would have been delivering salt to south Georgia and no doubt made the trip to pick up supplies for The Salt Works crew and his own family. There are roads that still exist today which are referred to as "Salt Roads" that were used to transport salt from the Gulf of Mexico to Georgia and beyond.

James C. Barrs at age 39 is listed as an "Overseer" in the 1860 Brooks County Georgia Census report: Household: Elizabeth (Martha Elizabeth Land) 39 born 1821 in NC; James Henry L. Barrs age 15 born Lowndes County GA; William T. Barrs age 12 born Lowndes County GA; Isaac Newton Barrs [My Great Grand Father] age 9 born Lowndes County GA: Francis Marion Barrs age 6 born Lowndes County GA; John Wesley Barrs age 5 born Lowndes County GA; Henry J. (aka Andrew or "Ander") Barrs age 3 born Wakulla County FL; and Parmelia Barrs age 1 born Brooks County GA.

James C. Barrs purchased 320+ acres of land under the 1830 Federal Homestead Act in Taylor County Florida on February 1, 1861. This acreage is in alignment with the major 'Salt Road' that ran from Wakulla County Florida to south central Georgia. James C. Barrs gave his residence address as  'Lowndes County Florida' when purchasing the property in Tallahassee Florida.  Why did he give 'Lowndes County Florida ' as his residence?

Today we know that The Nankin District, where G-G Grandfather James C. Barrs and his family had lived before, during and after having been in Wakulla County Florida off and on from the mid 1850's to 1863, is definitely in Georgia today, but it is barely across the state line from Florida. It is only 16 miles north from Madison Florida. The question is, was James C. Barrs' family home in The Nankin District considered to have been in Georgia or Florida in the 1850's and before James C. Barrs and his family traveled to Wakulla County Florida? Would he have know about the change of status for the area that occurred during his absence or that Lowndes County had divided into Brooks County in 1858?

Historic records show that The Nankin District was within a Florida and Georgia state governments boundary disputed area as a result of the Spanish seceding Florida to the United States that included the southern portion of Lowndes-Brooks County Georgia and Madison County Florida. Brooks County Georgia was not divided from Lowndes County until 1858 and while the James C. Barrs family was known to have been in Wakulla County Florida. Today The Nankin District of Georgia is just over the Florida state line inside Brooks County Georgia.

According to the writings of Samuel Moore, a young CSA War Between the States veteran, of his experience during and after The War, "We (He and 'Jim Barrs') walked (in 1865) from Madison Florida the 16 miles to Mr. Jim Barrs home where he let me spend the night before sending one of his sons and me on a mule to my home in Quitman Georgia the next day." Quitman was 12 miles north of The Nankin District and James C. Barrs' home.

NOTE: There have been at least three James C. Barrs in the family that I have found so far: My G-G Grandfather James Campbell Barrs, James Carl Barrs and James Colquitt Barrs. James Campbell Barrs was the son of Arthur Barrs and Nancy Elizabeth Campbell-Barrs. James Carl Barrs was the son of James C. Barrs'  youngest son Henry J. or Andrew J. aka Ander Barrs. And, James Colquitt Barrs was a descendant of Arthur Barrs' youngest brother James Barrs and his son George Grandberry Barrs.

James C. Barrs, my G-G Grandfather probably sold his Taylor County property within several years of his being releases from the Union Military Prison at Fort Delaware on Pea Island in the Delaware River after the War Between the States had ended in 1865.  He was released from Fort Delaware Union Military Prison in 1865.  We don't know what motivated him to make the decision to move his family to south Suwannee-Columbia County Florida instead of Taylor County Florida. He may have sold the Taylor County FL property to finance a General Store and the establishment of the town of Barrsville Florida in south Columbia County Florida around 1871. And, there was and still are Barrs living in Taylor County, Suwannee, Madison, Columbia and Lafayette County Florida. Some Barrs families still live in the Brooks County Georgia area of The Nankin District and many are buried in the old Columbia Baptist cemetery in Nankin.  James Carl Barrs was buried in the Perry  Cemetery in  Taylor County Florida. He was a Grandson of G-G Grandparents James Campbell Barrs and Martha Elizabeth Land-Barrs and son of Ander Barrs.

James C. Barrs served in the CSA during the War Between the States.  He enlisted three times! He first enlisted in the home militia before the war. Then he enlisted again, at age 42, on August 4, 1863 at Quitman, Brooks County Georgia in Captain Wiley W. Groover's 11th Georgia Calvary, Georgia State Guards Company for a normal enlistment period of 6 months along with his only living brother William W. Barrs and his oldest son James Henry L. Barrs.

After serving out his enlistment in 1864 he then again enlisted on May 6, 1864, and again at Quitman Georgia in Company E, 1st Regiment (Symon's Regiment) Georgia Infantry State Reserves for the duration of the war. He was appointed 4th Sergeant. He was serving at Fort McAllister Georgia (Near and northwest of Savannah Georgia. Ft. McAllister is today a state park.) on December 13, 1864 when Union General Sherman's overwhelming large force of 9,000 troops, on their infamous 'March to the sea' campaign, over ran and captured the fort being defended by 250 troops at twilight on December 13, 1864 and took all CSA troops captive who were not killed at the conclusion of the battle. 

A young CSA Private, Samuel Moore, was 15 years of age when he joined the CSA. He wrote an account of his war experience at age 19, "The fort was not surrendered, but overrun and captured in battle." His writings can be found in the history of Jefferson County Florida and Brooks County Georgia. Reference: Undaunted: The History of Port McAllister, Georgia by William E. Christman 1996. Copies can be ordered from the museum at Ft. McAllister Georgia State Park.

James C. Barrs, after being captured in hand to hand combat along with the other defenders of Ft. McAllister, was sent first to Hilton Head South Carolina, where he was hospitalized with Typhoid fever. He was then transferred to the Union's Fort Delaware Military Prison until his release, after signing 'The Oath' on July 18, 1865. He was assigned to Prisoner Barracks No. 14 of Ft. Delaware, according to the Fort Delaware Society.

In October of 1865 he arrived back at his home in The Nankin District of Brooks County Georgia after having traveled by leaky boat with young Samuel Moore to Jacksonville Florida, walking, riding the train to Madison Florida and then walking the 16 miles north from Madison Florida to Jim Barrs' home in The Nankin District of Brooks County Georgia.

James C. Barrs' family said that they were surprised to see him again because they had given him up for dead.  Before he would go into his home he striped off all of his tattered clothes, took a hot bath, and put on clean clothing, according to one of his sons, John Wesley Barrs.

James C. Barrs served on a Brooks County Georgia committee to help destitute widows from The War Between the States during April of 1866, as reported by The Nankin District newspaper. William W. Barrs, James C. Barrs' youngest brother served as Chairman of the Committee.

James Barrs [Uncle to James C. Barrs] at age 74 was in the Pulaski County, Georgia Census: Born 1795 in North Carolina (Lenoir County, NC) with property valued at $100.  He has a younger wife age 55, Ann E. Pipkin with 2 grandsons William Joshua Barrs age 14 and James Grover Barrs age 6 in his household. William Joshua and James Grover were the sons of James Barrs ' oldest son George Grandberry Barrs and his wife Elizabeth Cole.

James C. Barrs at age 49 was in the 1870 Brooks County Georgia Census: Household: Elizabeth (Martha Elizabeth Land) age 49; James Henry L. Barrs was no longer in the household (Probably married and believed to have been living in Hillsboro County Florida where he also helped establish a town and became a citrus grower.): William T. (Taylor) Barrs age 23; Isaac Newton Barrs [My Great Grandfather] age 20; Francis Marion Barrs age 18; John Wesley Barrs age 16; Andrew J. Barrs age 14 (Henry J. Barrs born 1857 in Wakulla County Florida) and Parmelia Barrs age 12 (She married John Gilley of Suwannee County Florida.) and was later called "Amelia." She and John Gilley are buried in the Santa Fe Cemetery just north off US 27 highway in Hildreth Florida.  Amelia (Parmelia) was still in her parents household in Suwannee County Florida at the time of the 1880 Federal Census.

James C. Barrs and some family members moved to south Suwannee-Columbia County Florida around 1870-71. Jim Barrs built or bought and operated the Barrs General Store and established Barrsville Florida. James C. Barrs' General Store was located in Barrsville Columbia County Florida on the Old Military and Telegraph Road, which lay some fourteen (14) miles south from Lake City Columbia County Florida and eight (8) miles north from the Santa Fe River.  Just to the west lies the old Ichetucknee Methodist Memorial Cemetery where I believe James C. and Martha Elizabeth Barrs are buried beside their son, John Wesley Barrs, his wife and a young daughter. Only John Wesley Barrs and his family have headstones. We believe James C. and Martha Elizabeth Barrs were buried with wooden markers which have long since disappeared in the moist hammock climate of the cemetery.

The Barrsville area had originally been settled by a Mr. Giles Underwood Ellis in 1845 and was called "Ellisville Florida" before it died out. Ellisville today is located at the intersection of Interstate 75 and highway US 441 and several miles east of the original Ellisville settlement. However the Ellisville of today is not the site of old Ellisville or Barrsville. The old town site is several miles due west of present day Ellisville, who got its namesake from Mr. Ellis. The proposed railroad from Lake City to Fort White was the motivation for several small towns to spring up along its proposed route. Unfortunately the railroad was never built and most of the little settlements eventually died out. Leno Florida, the present day site of Florida O'Leno State Park, was one of those settlements that failed to survive the absence of the railroad.

James C. Barrs established Barrsville and chartered a U. S. Postal Office in 1871. The U. S. Post Office in Barrsville Columbia County Florida existed intermittently from June 8, 1871 to March 9, 1882. The Barrs family no doubt had hoped that the establishment of a railroad would make them and their town prosperous.  Several towns established on the potential rail line, such as Leno, declined when the railroad did not materialize. (See USGenWeb.org Columbia County Florida Web site for Barrsville, Florida history at http://www.rootsweb.com/%7eflcolumb/barrsville.htm)

Isaac Newton Barrs (My Great Grandfather), a son of James C. Barrs and Martha Elizabeth Land-Barrs, was a member of the 'Offices of The Nankin District, S. of T,' Brooks County Georgia during April 1872, as reported in The Nankin District newspaper. Isaac Newton Barrs did not go with his parents to Suwannee-Columbia County Florida but stayed in Brooks County Georgia. He met and married a Brooks County Georgia girl in 1873, Mary Elizabeth Boyet.

Instead Isaac Newton Barrs and his wife Mary Elizabeth Boyet (Boyette or Boyett) moved to Lafayette County Florida sometime between 1874 and 1879. Isaac Newton and Mary Elizabeth Barrs settled in Day (Day Town) Lafayette County Florida where he "built a large general store in 1904."  There was a Cotton Gin in Day. Other sons, along with James C. and Martha Elizabeth's youngest child and only daughter Parmelia Barrs-Gilley, did go to Suwannee-Columbia County Florida with their parents around 1870. Francis Marion and John Wesley settled in Suwannee County near their parents. The youngest son, Andrew J. Barrs, settled in Lafayette County Florida with his brother Isaac Newton Barrs. He was a farmer.

We know that John Wesley, Francis Marion and Parmelia (Amelia) Barrs settled in Suwanne and Columbia Counties Florida.  James C. and Martha Elizabeth, and Amelia Barrs were living in Suwannee County Florida during the 1880 Federal Census.  The location of Barrsville and where they were probably living in 1880 is located on the east Suwannee and west Columbia County's border.

Isaac Newton Barrs married Mary Elizabeth Boyet on January 12, 1873 in Brooks County Georgia. Mary Elizabeth was born March 11, 1857 in Lowndes County Georgia. She died of blood poisoning in 1925. He died in 1933 in the home of their daughter Mollie Campbell Barrs-Fielding.

Oscar Marion Barrs (My Grandfather) was born January 5, 1879 in Day, Lafayette County Florida to Isaac Newton Barrs and Mary Elizabeth Boyet-Barrs.

Oscar Marion Barrs [My Grandfather] was in the 1910 Lafayette County Florida Census: Household: Wife, Bertha Lee Newman born in Suwannee County Florida; Virigie Mae Barrs born 1902 and died in 1904; Ethel Phylessie Barrs born 1904; Bessie Mae Barrs born 1907; Oscar Denard Barrs born 1911; Alfonso Barrs, (Sr.) [My Father] born 1917; and Hazel Vivian Barrs born 1924. Oscar was a Lafayette County Commissioner around 1910.

Alfonso ('Fonso') Barrs, (Sr.) was born on January 24, 1917 on the farm of Oscar Marion and Bertha Lee Barrs. Dad died in Volusia County Florida on January 26, 1960. Dad and Mom were married on April 16, 1936. Mom's was named Evia Adetha Bell. Her parents were Wilford Franklin Bell and Maude Anne Morgan. Mother passed away on February 16, 1998 while living on Lake Kathryn in Lake County Florida. Dad, Fonso and Mom, Adetha, are buried in the Day Florida Cemetery adjacent to Grandparents Oscar and Bertha Barrs.

I, A. F. or Al (Alfonso) Barrs, Jr., was born on March 11 on the farm of Oscar and Bertha Barrs to Fonso and Adetha Barrs. Dad and Mom had 4 children. My sister, Evia Loye is the oldest and only girl, I am the oldest son and there are two younger sons, Marion LaVern and Wayman Franklin Barrs. My wife, Priscilla Lee Jones, was born in Volusia County Florida. We were married on November 28 in DeLand Volusia County Florida in the Second Baptist Church of DeLand Florida. We have three daughters: Deborah Lee was born in DeLand Volusia County Florida; Susan Elaine born in DeLand Florida and Terri Ann born in Tallahassee Leon County Florida.  Priscilla, who I call 'Sue', and I have 10 Grand Children and 1 Step Grand Child. We now (2005) have our first Great Granddaughter.

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Sue and I are now retired and living the good life on our farm in Jackson County Florida in the Florida Panhandle.  I served as a corporate executive, private university director, community college dean and corporate training design and delivery executive until I took early retirement from Ryder System, Inc. in February of 1997 to become a gentleman farmer, gardener, family history researcher, fisherman and hunter.

I can be contacted by e-mail at albarrs@wfeca.net or by snail-mail at 4731 Georgia Road, Greenwood, Florida 32443-1839. Any Barrs, Bell, Morgan, Newman, Toole, Green, Grissman or Bush family information or pictures are appreciated.  I will scan and sent your originals back to you.

NOTE: BARRS is the English translation of the French surname BARRE and BARRES.  The surname appears to have originated before 1000 AD in Old Normandy as de La Barre, was shortened to de Barre in France, used as Barres in early France and England and to Barrs in England around 1200 AD. In Ireland it is spelled O'Barrs. Old Normandy is know to have been settled and populated by Viking farmers well before 500 AD who immigrated south from the Scandinavian countries of primarily Denmark but also Sweden and Finland because of the cooling weather and shortened growing seasons in their homelands.

We now have a Barrs DNA Project and encourage all Barrs males to have their DNA profiled to determine which Barrs line they descended from in Europe. Information can be found at the following Internet Websites:

www.ftdna.com
www.worldfamilies.net/surnames/b/barrs

My first Barrs ancestor to immigrate to America was John Barrs (Sr.) and Sarah Spears in 1750 from England. The Barrs families of Toft Hamlet Warwickshire England were prominent farmers and horse breeders in The Midlands of England, which is near Dunchurch in Warwickshire England for the early 15th century. They also built and operated a Forge (Blacksmith) in Thurlaston in Warwickshire and were Ferrier and animal doctors (veterinarian). One became a veterinarian surgeon. Our Barrs came to Toft Hamlet in Warwickshire from Bulkington Warwickshire England, which is about 20 miles north of Toft Hamlet around 1612. I believe they came to Bulkington from the area about 16 miles north called Market Bosworth in Leicestershire England sometime during the 12th or 13th century. I also believe the surname went though a variety of spelling changes during that period, which has made our research more difficulty. The name originated in Old Normandy as de La Barrs, evolved into Barre and Barres in France and survived for a couple of generations in England as Barres, Barre and Barr before becoming Barrs, which has survived to today as the official English spelling.

Al Barrs albarrs@wfeca.net

 Barrs Forge Thurlaston England

The Old Barrs Forge in Thurlaston Warwickshire is today a private home...

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