Talbot COUNTY GA Bios Barnes, Lewis File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by James Barnes http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/talbot/bios/barnes.txt THE BARNES FAMILY HISTORY In my attempt to chronicle the history of the Barnes Family, I have received conflicting information from family members. The people that had the most accurate recollections have passed on, long ago. I hope the following information will be helpful to future generations. The earliest documented record found was Louis (Lewis) Barnes signing a loyalty oath on July 29, 1867 to register to vote. He swore allegiance to the United States and stated that he never supported the Confederacy. The 1870 U.S. Census of Talbotton, Talbot County, Georgia listed Louis Barnes as “head of household” along with his wife Jane. Members of the household included: Louis (age 37), his wife Jane (age 28). Children: Bertha (age 5), Washington (age 3), an infant (5 months old), Susan (age 49) and Benjamin (Susan’s son, age 9). Census records also listed the family of Washington Barnes and his wife Jiny (sic) living in the “Roughedge District” of Talbot County. I am assuming at this point that Washington and Louis were brothers because Susan Davenport and her son Benjamin, who lived with Louis, were later shown in the 1880 U.S. Census living with the Washington Barnes family recorded as being his Sister and Nephew. Their children were also similarly named from each family. At some period between 1873 and 1879, the family of Louis Barnes migrated to the Atlanta area. Records of the 1880 U.S. Census of Fulton County indicate that he had a wife named “Elliott”, age 35 and two sons: (George) Washington, age 13 and (James) Russell, age 8. According to the census records, Elliott was born in South Carolina, as were her parents. I have found no evidence of the whereabouts of Jane (Hunter). She might have “run off with a salesman from California” as indicated by one of my cousins. The 1900 U.S. Census of Fulton County indicates that Louis (age 67), with his wife Elliott (age 52), along with their sons: George W. (age 29), James R. (age 27) and a granddaughter named Estele Miller (age 19) were living in the “South Bend District” on Humphries Street. The “Atlanta City Directory” of 1901 shows that Louis was a “Blacksmith” by trade and operated a blacksmith shop in partnership with Benjamin F. Lindsey on McDonough Rd. Also shown, he and his family now resided at 53 Ridge Avenue in South Atlanta. There were no further listings of Louis after that time. I have been unable to determine when or where he died. He did not appear in the 1910 census record of Fulton County although I still found evidence in the city directory that the blacksmith shop still existed until 1902. Fulton County land and deed records show that between 1898 and 1905, James Russell Barnes and George Washington Barnes purchased several parcels of land in the area called “Brownsville” owned by a farmer named Frazier from Fayette County. The area was to be later commonly known as the community of “South Atlanta”. James Russell Barnes, Sr. married Mamie Elizabeth Lesesne from Georgetown, S.C. They had (7) children: Leona Charlotta, who died at age 4, Gladys Althea, Thelma Ruth, Mamie Evelyn, Naomi Ermintrude, James Russell, Jr. and Alva (Alvin) Lesesne. “Papa” and “Mama” raised their family at 65 Martin Avenue in “South Atlanta”. The house is no longer standing. “Papa” Barnes was an excellent carpenter and participated in the construction of many projects in the area. According to his daughter Naomi, some of the projects were buildings at “Spelman College, Herndon Stadium, the home of the Warden at the U.S. Penitentiary and the first home on St. Simons Island”. I have recently begun researching the “Lesesne” family from the Georgetown, S.C. area. The earliest records that I have been able to uncover show “Mama’s” grandfather listed in the U.S. Census of 1850 under “The Free Inhabitants “ in The City of Georgetown. He was a “Shopkeeper” by trade and his family were not slaves. Family members listed: Nichrean (s.b. Nazarine) age 40, James (age 11), Saml, sic (age 7), Sarah (age 15), Susan (age 5), Martha (age 5), Emma (age 5) and Molly Lesesne (age 80). Judging from Molly’s age, I am assuming that she is his Mother or Aunt. Census records of that era did not show family relationships. The 1880 U.S. Census of the “Upper Wacamaw” District shows Mamie’s family, her parents: James McCune Lesesne and Nellie Joy, her siblings; Hortnetia (Hortense), Laura and Alethea. Mama was born in 1883 and did not appear on this census. ======================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other presentation. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for FREE access. ==============