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.

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 Ferriers 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 12^th or 13^th 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

 

Old Barrs Forge in Thurlaston Warwickshire not a home...

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