Bennet C. Barnes Family
Bennet C. Barnes was born about 1824 in Alabama or Tennessee. (It appears that he was called Ben verbally and then assumptions made it be Benjamin. The initials B. C. was also used and all legal documents give his name as Bennet C. Barnes.)
He died on 13 Oct 1862 in Gainesville, Cooke, Texas. Bennet Barnes was one of the victims of "The Great Hanging at Gainesville, Texas, 1862".
Bennet married Sarah A. Rodgers about 1848.
Sarah was born in May 1831 in Alabama. She died after 1900 in Texas. She was sometimes called Sary. Sarah was blind before 1870. (Blind in both 1870 & 1880 census.) Her youngest child was born around 1862. Sarah was left a widow on the Texas Frontier with an infant, four other children and was blind by 1870.
Bennet and Sarah had the following children:
i. Simeon Barnes was born in Sep 1848 in Texas.
Simeon married Nancy C Smith on 25 Feb 1868 in Hopkins, Texas. Nancy was born in Feb 1848 in Texas.
ii. John Barnes was born about 1853 in Texas.
John married Laura Boyd on 13 Jul 1884.
iii. Susan Olive Barnes was born in 4 Feb 1857 in Wise County, Texas and died 8 April 1923 in Stephens County, Texas and buried in the Shady Grove Cemetery in Stephens County. Called “Ollie”. Susan married John Green Littlepage . John was born on 16 Jun 1854 in Texas. He died on 22 Jun 1936.
iv. Joel Densmore Barnes was born in May 1859 in Texas. He died in 1929 in Wise County, Texas. He was buried in Chico Cemetery, Wise, Texas.
Joel married Rachel Ann Perkins . Rachel was born on 9 Dec 1859 in Texas. She died on 17 Dec 1919 in Wise County, Texas. She was buried in Chico Cemetery, Wise, Texas.
v. Mary Jane Barnes was born 12 Oct 1861 in Texas and died 1 Jul 1935 in Era, Cooke, Texas. She married J. B. Stevens in 1885 and then married ?Blair.
Sources
1.George Washington Diamond's Account of the Great Hanging at Gainesville, 1862, ManuscripteEdited by Sam Acheson and Julie, The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Vol. LXVI, January, 1963, No. 3, pages 331-414, pg .397.George W. Diamond was a brother of secessionists, John R. Diamond and James J. Diamond, who was a principal in the Great Hanging. After the hangings and the adjournment of the court, Diamond was given the records for the purpose of "preserving them and so disposing of them that the history of its (Citizen's Court) transactions might be perpetuated and justice done to those who participated in its deliberations. Diamond's compilation of "memoranda" was to be offered to the public as a just vindicaton of the conduct of those whose judgements were under national criticism. The members of the court examined Diamond's account and gave their unanimous and unqualified approval. " pg 397 The State vs. C. A. Jones("HumpBack"), James Powers ("Carpenter"), Eli M. Scott, Thomas Baker ("Old Man"), Geo W Anderson, Abraham McNeese, Henry Cochran ("30"), C.F. Anderson, Wm Wernell, B.F. Barnes ("35 or 40"), Wm Rodes, and N. M. Clark ("25"). Disloyalty & Treason. The testimony against the above mentioned conspirators corresponds with the testimony herein before produced on the trial of Childs, Fields, Harper, Lock, and others. They all acknowledged their connection with the organization, and made full confession of their guilt at the gallows.
pg 398
Witness in trial against Ramey Day; Ben F. Barnes sworn.(Witness)I was at the meeting at Richie's Mill. Dr. Foster said the object of the meeting was to resue Harper; and he wanted us to take our guns and go -- myself and Ramey Dye. The reason we did not go to rescue Harper was because a messenger (Essman) told us that there were a great many soldiers in Gainesville and we were then afraid."
2. 1850 U.S. Census, Texas, Hopkins, hh 227.
"1850 Census of Hopkins Co. Texas _227
Bennet BARNS 26 M Farmer $80 Alabama
Sary BARNS 19 F Alabama
Simon BARNS 1 M Texas."
3. 1860 U.S. Census, Texas, Wise County, pg 25/317, hh 116/168, 2 Jun 1860.
"Barnes, Bennet C., 36, m, Farmer, 320/700, Alabama
" , Sarah A., 30, f, Alabama
" , Simeon, 10, m, Texas
" , John, 6, m, Texas
" , Olive, 3, f, Texas
" , Joel, 1, m, Texas
" , Tennessee, 10, f, Texas (This is probably a niece, daughter of William & Rebecca Waits Barnes, who were killed by Indians in 1854.)
Source Citation: Year: 1860; Census Place: , Wise, Texas; Roll: M653_1308; Page: 317;."
4. Land/Deed Records.
3. 1860 U.S. Census, Texas, Wise County, pg 25/317, hh 116/168, 2 Jun 1860.
"Barnes, Bennet C., 36, m, Farmer, 320/700, Alabama
" , Sarah A., 30, f, Alabama
" , Simeon, 10, m, Texas
" , John, 6, m, Texas
" , Olive, 3, f, Texas
" , Joel, 1, m, Texas
" , Tennessee, 10, f, Texas (This is probably a niece, daughter of William & Rebecca Waits Barnes, who were killed by Indians in 1854.)
Source Citation: Year: 1860; Census Place: , Wise, Texas; Roll: M653_1308; Page: 317;."
4. Land/Deed Records.
"WISE & DENTON Counties Texas_Texas General land Office in Austin.
SIMON P BARNES S. BARNES 73 _BC BARNES B. BARNES 124
Grantee: Bennet C. Barnes
Patentee: Bennet C. Barnes
SIMON P BARNES S. BARNES 73 _BC BARNES B. BARNES 124
Grantee: Bennet C. Barnes
Patentee: Bennet C. Barnes
Patent Date: 01 Jun 1859 _Acres: 160 _District: Fannin _County: Denton _File: 2727 Patent #: 330 Patent Volume: 24 Class: Fan. 3rd.
_District surveyors from Cooke County in the north and Denton County to the east mapped out the area, most of which was drawn from Cooke County. Wise County was officially established by legislative act on January 23, 1856, and was named in honor of Henry A. Wise, a United States Congressman from Virginia, who, during the 1840s, supported the annexation of Texas
Grantee: Bennet C. Barnes_
Patentee: Bennet C. Barnes_Patent Date: 01 Jun 1859_Acres: 160_District: Fannin This is in Denton County. _File: 2727_Patent #: 330_Patent Volume: 24_Class: Fan. 3rd.
Grantee: B. C. Barnes_Patentee: Hrs. of B. C. Barnes_Patent Date: 09 Apr 1873_Acres: 160
This correlates to:_District: Fannin B.C. Barnes Survey, A-124, Wise County, Texas_County: Wise This document is filed in Volume 6, Page 590,
File: 1597_Patent #: 78_Patent Volume: 20_Class: Fan. Scrip.
Grantee: B. C. Barnes_Patentee: Hrs. of B. C. Barnes Dec'd_Patent Date: 21 Jan 1960_Acres: 160 This is a Correction Patent pertaining to the above_District: Fannin
This document is filed in Volume 230, Page 372
County: Wise_File: 1597_Patent #: 474_Patent Volume: 29-B_Class: FAN. SCR.
General Warranty Deed dated November 3, 1874 from Sarah Barnes to G W Perkins recorded in Volume 6, Page 591
It appears to cover the entire 160 acre survey.
General Warranty Deed dated July 24, 1884 from S R Barnes to G W Perkins recorded in Volume 12, Page 114"
5. 1870 U.S. Census, Texas, Hopkins County.
"Name: Sarah A Barnes
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1829; Age in 1870: 41; Birthplace: Alabama
Home in 1870: Precinct 5, Hopkins, Texas; Post Office: Charleston
Race: White; Gender: Female Whether deaf & dumb, blind, insane/idiotic: BLIND
Value of real estate: none
Household Members: Name, Age
Sarah A Barnes, 41
John Barnes, 15
Ollie Barnes, 13
Jane Barnes, 8
Source Citation: Year: 1870; Census Place: Precinct 5, Hopkins, Texas; Roll: M593_1592; Page: 166;."
6. 1880 U.S. Census, Texas, Wise County.
"Name: Sarah A. Barnes;
Home in 1880: Precinct 2, Wise, Texas;
Age: 48 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1832 Birthplace: Alabama
Relation to Head of Household: Self (Head)
Father's birthplace: Alabama Mother's birthplace: Indiana;
Occupation: Keeping House; Marital Status: Widowed Race: White;
Gender: Female; Health: BLIND
Household Members: Name Age
Sarah A. Barnes 48
John B. Barnes 23
Joel D. Barnes 21
Mary J. Barnes 17
T. B. Emerson 22
Source Citation: Year: 1880; Census Place: Precinct 2, Wise, Texas; Roll: T9_1333; Family History Film: 1255333; Page: 121.1000; Enumeration District: 126; .
Source Information: Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1880 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2005."
7. 1900 U.S. Census, Texas, Wise County.
"Name: Sarah A Barnes
Home in 1900: Justice Precinct 7, Wise, Texas Age: 65 Birthplace: Alabama
Relationship to head-of-house: Mother Race: White
Household Members: Name Age
Joel D Barnes 41 Racheal A Barnes 40 James D Barnes 12
John W Barnes 16 Jessie G Barnes 15 Ollie M Barnes 12
Sarah A Barnes 65
Source Citation: Year: 1900; Census Place: Justice Precinct 7, Wise, Texas; Roll: T623 1681; Page: 11A; Enumeration District: 150."
8. Family Information.
"Simeon R. Barnes (b.Sep 1848-Texas; d.Aft 1900-Last seen Johnston County,Oklahoma)
spouse: Nancy C Smith (b.Feb 1848-Texas; m.25 Feb 1868, Hopkins County, TX; d.Aft 1900-Last seen Johnston County,Oklahoma)
Children: 1. Sara Jane "Jennie" Barnes (b.5 Aug 1869;d.7 Jan 1907-Charlie,Clay County,Texas) sp: George Henry Jones (b.12 Jan 1866-Delta County Texas;m.3 Mar 1887;d.27 Sep 1940-Charlie,Clay County,Texas) 2. Louis B Barnes (b.Feb 1871-Texas;d.Aft 1900-Last seen Johnston County,Oklahoma) 3. William J Barnes (b.1874-Texas) 4. John R Barnes (b.1876-Texas) 5. Samantha Barnes (b.1878-Texas) 6. Mary Barnes (b.Oct 1882-Texas)1900 Chickasaw territory with wife Nancy, son Louis and daughter Mary. His mother, Sarah A Barnes and children were in Hopkins co in 1870. Simeon and Nancy were in Wise Co in 1880 as was his mother, Sarah and family....."
9. 1900 U.S. Census, Texas, Wise County.
"Name: Sarah A Barnes Home in 1900: Justice Precinct 7, Wise, Texas Age: 65 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1835 Birthplace: Alabama Relationship to head-of-house: Mother Race: White Household Members: Name Age Joel D Barnes 41 Racheal A Barnes 40 James D Barnes 12 John W Barnes 16 Jessie G Barnes 15 Ollie M Barnes 12 Sarah A Barnes 65 Source Citation: Year: 1900; Census Place: Justice Precinct 7, Wise, Texas; Roll: T623 1681; Page: 11A; Enumeration District: 150."
10. 1910 U.S. Census.
11. 1920 U.S. Census.
"Name: Joel D Barnes_Home in 1920: Chico, Wise, Texas Age: 60 years Estimated Birth Year: abt 1860 Birthplace: Texas Relation to Head of House: Head Father's Birth Place: Alabama Mother's Birth Place: Alabama Marital Status: Married Race: White Sex: Male Home owned: Own Occupation: Cobler at a shoe shopAble to read: Yes Able to Write: Yes Household Members: Joel D. Barnes, O, F, M, W, 60 yrs, M(?), Texas, Alabama, Alabama, cobler, shoe shop Source Citation: Year: 1920;Census Place: Chico, Wise, Texas; Roll: T625_1860; Page: 7A; Enumeration District: 163."
12. Texas Death CertificateName: Ollie Barnes Littlepage
Death date: 08 Apr 1923; Death place: 12 Mi. N.E. Moran, Stephens, Texas
Gender: Female; Race: White
Age at death: 67 years 2 months 4 days
Birth date: 04 Feb 1857; Birth place: Wise County, Tex.
Marital status: Married; Occupation: Housekeeper
Father name: Bennet Barnes; Father birth place: Tennessee
Mother name: Sarah Rodgers; Mother birth place: Alabama
Burial place: Shady Grove, Stephens Co.; Burial date: 09 Apr 1923
Film number: 2074802; Digital GS number: 4170539
Image number: 892; Reference number: cn 13372
Collection: Texas Deaths, 1890-1976; www.familysearch.org
13. Texas Death Certificate
Name: Mary Jane Blair
Death date: 01 Jul 1935
Death place: Era, Cooke, Texas
Gender: Female; Race or color (on document): White
Age at death: 73 years 8 months 19 days
Birth date: 12 Oct 1861 Birth place: Texas
Marital status: Widowed; Occupation: No Trade
Father name: Ben Barnes
Mother name: Sarah Rodgers
Burial place: Rosston; Burial date: 02 Jul 1935
Informant: G. B. Stevens of Era, Texas
Film number: 2116623; Digital GS number: 4030353
Image number: 198; Reference number: 32172
Collection: Texas Deaths, 1890-1976; http://www.familysearch.org/
Please add any family stories or histories for this family. How did Bennet's widow survive after his hanging? She had five young children, the youngest just a toddler and she was going blind.
5. 1870 U.S. Census, Texas, Hopkins County.
"Name: Sarah A Barnes
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1829; Age in 1870: 41; Birthplace: Alabama
Home in 1870: Precinct 5, Hopkins, Texas; Post Office: Charleston
Race: White; Gender: Female Whether deaf & dumb, blind, insane/idiotic: BLIND
Value of real estate: none
Household Members: Name, Age
Sarah A Barnes, 41
John Barnes, 15
Ollie Barnes, 13
Jane Barnes, 8
Source Citation: Year: 1870; Census Place: Precinct 5, Hopkins, Texas; Roll: M593_1592; Page: 166;."
6. 1880 U.S. Census, Texas, Wise County.
"Name: Sarah A. Barnes;
Home in 1880: Precinct 2, Wise, Texas;
Age: 48 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1832 Birthplace: Alabama
Relation to Head of Household: Self (Head)
Father's birthplace: Alabama Mother's birthplace: Indiana;
Occupation: Keeping House; Marital Status: Widowed Race: White;
Gender: Female; Health: BLIND
Household Members: Name Age
Sarah A. Barnes 48
John B. Barnes 23
Joel D. Barnes 21
Mary J. Barnes 17
T. B. Emerson 22
Source Citation: Year: 1880; Census Place: Precinct 2, Wise, Texas; Roll: T9_1333; Family History Film: 1255333; Page: 121.1000; Enumeration District: 126; .
Source Information: Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1880 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2005."
7. 1900 U.S. Census, Texas, Wise County.
"Name: Sarah A Barnes
Home in 1900: Justice Precinct 7, Wise, Texas Age: 65 Birthplace: Alabama
Relationship to head-of-house: Mother Race: White
Household Members: Name Age
Joel D Barnes 41 Racheal A Barnes 40 James D Barnes 12
John W Barnes 16 Jessie G Barnes 15 Ollie M Barnes 12
Sarah A Barnes 65
Source Citation: Year: 1900; Census Place: Justice Precinct 7, Wise, Texas; Roll: T623 1681; Page: 11A; Enumeration District: 150."
8. Family Information.
"Simeon R. Barnes (b.Sep 1848-Texas; d.Aft 1900-Last seen Johnston County,Oklahoma)
spouse: Nancy C Smith (b.Feb 1848-Texas; m.25 Feb 1868, Hopkins County, TX; d.Aft 1900-Last seen Johnston County,Oklahoma)
Children: 1. Sara Jane "Jennie" Barnes (b.5 Aug 1869;d.7 Jan 1907-Charlie,Clay County,Texas) sp: George Henry Jones (b.12 Jan 1866-Delta County Texas;m.3 Mar 1887;d.27 Sep 1940-Charlie,Clay County,Texas) 2. Louis B Barnes (b.Feb 1871-Texas;d.Aft 1900-Last seen Johnston County,Oklahoma) 3. William J Barnes (b.1874-Texas) 4. John R Barnes (b.1876-Texas) 5. Samantha Barnes (b.1878-Texas) 6. Mary Barnes (b.Oct 1882-Texas)1900 Chickasaw territory with wife Nancy, son Louis and daughter Mary. His mother, Sarah A Barnes and children were in Hopkins co in 1870. Simeon and Nancy were in Wise Co in 1880 as was his mother, Sarah and family....."
9. 1900 U.S. Census, Texas, Wise County.
"Name: Sarah A Barnes Home in 1900: Justice Precinct 7, Wise, Texas Age: 65 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1835 Birthplace: Alabama Relationship to head-of-house: Mother Race: White Household Members: Name Age Joel D Barnes 41 Racheal A Barnes 40 James D Barnes 12 John W Barnes 16 Jessie G Barnes 15 Ollie M Barnes 12 Sarah A Barnes 65 Source Citation: Year: 1900; Census Place: Justice Precinct 7, Wise, Texas; Roll: T623 1681; Page: 11A; Enumeration District: 150."
10. 1910 U.S. Census.
11. 1920 U.S. Census.
"Name: Joel D Barnes_Home in 1920: Chico, Wise, Texas Age: 60 years Estimated Birth Year: abt 1860 Birthplace: Texas Relation to Head of House: Head Father's Birth Place: Alabama Mother's Birth Place: Alabama Marital Status: Married Race: White Sex: Male Home owned: Own Occupation: Cobler at a shoe shopAble to read: Yes Able to Write: Yes Household Members: Joel D. Barnes, O, F, M, W, 60 yrs, M(?), Texas, Alabama, Alabama, cobler, shoe shop Source Citation: Year: 1920;Census Place: Chico, Wise, Texas; Roll: T625_1860; Page: 7A; Enumeration District: 163."
12. Texas Death CertificateName: Ollie Barnes Littlepage
Death date: 08 Apr 1923; Death place: 12 Mi. N.E. Moran, Stephens, Texas
Gender: Female; Race: White
Age at death: 67 years 2 months 4 days
Birth date: 04 Feb 1857; Birth place: Wise County, Tex.
Marital status: Married; Occupation: Housekeeper
Father name: Bennet Barnes; Father birth place: Tennessee
Mother name: Sarah Rodgers; Mother birth place: Alabama
Burial place: Shady Grove, Stephens Co.; Burial date: 09 Apr 1923
Film number: 2074802; Digital GS number: 4170539
Image number: 892; Reference number: cn 13372
Collection: Texas Deaths, 1890-1976; www.familysearch.org
13. Texas Death Certificate
Name: Mary Jane Blair
Death date: 01 Jul 1935
Death place: Era, Cooke, Texas
Gender: Female; Race or color (on document): White
Age at death: 73 years 8 months 19 days
Birth date: 12 Oct 1861 Birth place: Texas
Marital status: Widowed; Occupation: No Trade
Father name: Ben Barnes
Mother name: Sarah Rodgers
Burial place: Rosston; Burial date: 02 Jul 1935
Informant: G. B. Stevens of Era, Texas
Film number: 2116623; Digital GS number: 4030353
Image number: 198; Reference number: 32172
Collection: Texas Deaths, 1890-1976; http://www.familysearch.org/
Please add any family stories or histories for this family. How did Bennet's widow survive after his hanging? She had five young children, the youngest just a toddler and she was going blind.
3 comments:
How did Sarah get along beset as she was by blindness by 1870? The records cited here only go to 1880. The 1900 census shows that she was living with her son Joel Densmore Barnes in Wise County, where she is listed as his mother. Since she doesn't appear with him on the 1910 census, presumably she died between the two census years. Joel (d. 1929) and his wife are buried in Chico Cemetery. It seems likely that his mother would be also, though FAG and the other databases I have checked don't list her. Someone should check the newspaper archives for her death.
Given the concern shown on this blog for Sarah Barnes, I started out looking for traces of her among her children. In doing so I couldn’t help but be struck by the last listed name on her 1860 census, Tennessee Barnes. It was striking because it was out of chronological order and researchers have surmised that this was a niece. Indeed, she was the daughter of Bennet Barnes’ brother William, whose wife Rebecca was killed by the Comanches in Hopkins County in 1854. (Her father disappeared after 1860, probably killed, during the War.)
Her parentage is proven by her appearance with William and Rebecca Barnes on the 1850 census for Hopkins County, where she is listed as Tempee Barnes, ae. 1. The charm of this unexpected reduction of “Tennessee” to “Tempee,” combined with the pathos of her orphanhood to make me pursue her records. In 1867, at the age of 17, she married Lucian Thompson Owens (1848 KY - 1933 Wise Co. TX), a sturdy farmer, and with him had what appears to be a normal family, with six of her seven known children growing to adulthood, marrying, and having children of their own, one of whom was called Tennie after her grandmother. Though Tempee died in 1888 at the age of 37, her marriage record held one more surprise, confirmed by her FAG memorial: Her full name was Tennessee Gift Barnes, doubtlessly a reflection of the hope her parents felt while living in Tennessee in the 1840s. It’s a lovely name and surely brought her Aunt Sarah some consolation. Children are, after all, the gift of hope.
Note to the Moderator: I'd like to include an image of Tempee's fine gravestone. Is that possible?
Given the concern shown on this blog for Sarah Barnes, I started out looking for traces of her among her children. In doing so I couldn’t help but be struck by the last listed name on her 1860 census, Tennessee Barnes. It was striking because it was out of chronological order and researchers have surmised that this was a niece. Indeed, she was the daughter of Bennet Barnes’ brother William, whose wife Rebecca was killed by the Comanches in Hopkins County in 1854. (Her father disappeared after 1860, probably killed, during the War.)
Her parentage is proven by her appearance with William and Rebecca Barnes on the 1850 census for Hopkins County, where she is listed as Tempee Barnes, ae. 1. The charm of this unexpected reduction of “Tennessee” to “Tempee,” combined with the pathos of her orphanhood to make me pursue her records. In 1867, at the age of 17, she married Lucian Thompson Owens (1848 KY - 1933 Wise Co. TX), a sturdy farmer, and with him had what appears to be a normal family, with six of her seven known children growing to adulthood, marrying, and having children of their own, one of whom was called Tennie after her grandmother. Though Tempee died in 1888 at the age of 37, her marriage record held one more surprise, confirmed by her FAG memorial: Her full name was Tennessee Gift Barnes, doubtlessly a reflection of the hope her parents felt while living in Tennessee in the 1840s. It’s a lovely name and surely brought her Aunt Sarah some consolation. Children are, after all, the gift of hope.
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