Lenoir Co, NC - Barrs Family History

Following is a summary of the results of many years of family research as 
presented in a Barrs surname history book of related historic events and 
immigrations from the first know use of the Barrs (English translation) 
surname to the present that follows my Barrs family line. The Barrs Family 
History and surrounding historic events are covered more broadly in this 440+ 
page CD Book... 

My line of Barrs first began life in America in what is now Lenoir County 
North Carolina about 1750 when John Barrs and Sarah Spears emigrated from 
Warwickshire England. 

©Copyrighted 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 All Rights and Revisions Reserved 
Because official records and the means for verifying facts of specific 
families and family members get scarcer the farther one travels back 
into the past single families tend to loose their individualized 
identify. In many cases only the surname of that and other related 
family members could be discerned. Because of this genealogical 
pheromone we have chosen to trace our family surname linage rather 
than our precise named ancestors back through time and have looked at 
historic events of the time to give us a feel for the period and 
regions in which our ancestors may have lived. 

We can only speculate that they may have participated in none, some or 
all documented historic events in which they would have been in nearby 
proximity at that particular time in history. Only our family history 
in the United States of America is verifiable, at this time, to a 
limited extent. We do now have additional verified English history of 
my Barrs family line to 1500s. So, we have chosen to update our 
posting and tell an expanded story of our family's surname as to how 
our family members may have lived, loved, fought and died in a number 
of countries for the past several hundred years. 

Our goal, in this Barrs family history CD Book, is to tell our 
family's surname history in such a manner and with a story that will 
interest young and senior family members alike. We hope this will 
encourage them to read about our family and as a result hopefully 
become more interested in doing research on their own family line of 
Barrs, or whatever surname they choose. 

Obviously our Barrs ancestors were born somewhere in Europe and 
migrated to other lands for a variety of personal and family reasons, 
which we hope to shed some light on here. The fact is, they did 
survive for many thousands of years somewhere...somehow. We at least 
know that much about them. Let us go now in search them and learn what 
they may have been doing throughout history! Al Barrs, Jr. 

SURNAMES: 

The use of surnames began around 1000 AD in the western countries of 
Europe. They began when the population increased to a point there 
became confusion with the use of only Christian, fore or first names. 
Many parents named their children after themselves causing even more 
confusion. Adding a surname to the Christian name somewhat alleviated 
the problem of individual identification and recognition. Our Barrs 
family was no exception. Abraham and his son Abraham became Abraham 
Barrs of Toft and just Abraham Barrs, which still didn't totally solve 
the problem with surnames because Abraham Barrs had a son he named 
Abraham also. Then, various deviations were added to differentiate 
between individuals without having to use birth dates. John Barrs of 
Toft, John Barrs, Sr. and John Barrs, Jr. pretty much solved the 
individual identification confusion. 

Confusing isn't it? 

It appears that our ancestors migrated to old Normandy on the west 
coast of Europe from a Scandinavian country (Probably Denmark) where 
the population farmed and were part-time sea faring sailors and 
traders as well a warriors. They were probably called "Vikings." It 
also appears that they arrived in Normandy sometime before 1000AD and 
took up farming in the warmer climate of Normandy. They later appear 
to have probably participated in the invasion of Briton (UK) shortly 
after 1000 AD. 

They appear to have remained in England after the invasion to farm and 
raise their families. The first surnames ever used were generally 
descriptive of the head of the household, such as his prowess 
(Hunter), his occupation (Farmer) or where the family lived 
(Nottingham). 

The Barrs family surname supposedly began in old Normandy as de La 
Barre, then changed to de Barre and then simply Barre in France today. 
It was translated into English first as Barres and eventually as Barrs 
sometime between 1300AD and 1500AD. Other derivatives known to have 
existed were, in England, Barres, Bars, de Bars, in Scotland Barr, in 
Ireland O'Barrs and so on. Some historic accounts say that Barre meant 
" Keeper Of The Gate Or Town." Other accounts say that it meant " 
Dweller At, Or Near, The Entrance Of A City Or Town." What do you 
think it meant? What does it mean to you today? The Barrs family motto 
appears to have been ' FORTITUDE! ' And, a number of Barrs family 
members were allowed to have their own coats of arms in France and 
England. Several survive today. 

We have no information regarding what Barrs family line these knights 
belonged to. Coats of arms just make interesting discussion and are 
colorful. Following is a historical perspective of my hypothesis on 
the regions in Europe, England and America in which we find the family 
surname de La Barre in old Normandy, later to become Barre in France 
and then in Scotland Barr and in England de Bars, Barres and later 
Barrs, and in the United States of America Barrs. Some believe the 
Barr of Scotland are a different family line all together and not 
related. 

Why did some Barr settle in Scotland, in Ayrshire, which is located in 
the Scottish and English Border Ridings? These Barr (We don't know it 
they are directly related to our Barrs family or not.) trace their 
ancestral roots back to Strathclyde Briton origin before the year 
1100AD, and become the Barr Clan of Scotland? Why did other Barre 
settle in south central England and become the Barrs? Let us explore 
together our family's surname history, not as individuals but as a 
relatively small family among many thousands of much larger families. 
Individual Barrs are important to other individual Barrs but The 
Historic Barrs Family Surname is important to all Barrs regardless of 
whether or not one can make family line connections today. But that is 
where the fun begins...

Remember at one time in history there was one person who called 
himself your surname... Barrs, de La Barre, de Bars, Barres, Barr, 
etc. in its derivative form who fathered the first Barrs children with 
his mate, your ancestral Grandmother. 

Because I am a Barrs I will focus my writings here on our surname 
derivative and my line of Barrs. You should look for a connection 
along the way and plug in your direct Barrs family line and build your 
own Barrs family tree. 

The Barrs family surname's history began either in a Scandinavian 
country such as Denmark on the North Sea or in old Normandy, which is 
now located in Belgium, on the coast of what is now the English 
Channel, which is now a part of France in Western Europe. Where our 
ancestors came from exactly to old Normandy we do not know because 
families in Western Europe did not begin to use surnames until 
sometime shortly before 1000 AD. 

Here we have to rely on larger identified populations who were know to 
have settled and lived in these various regions during these time 
periods. We do know from history that the early Vikings from 
Scandinavia and Denmark settled old Normandy prior to 1000 AD. Were the 
ancient ancestors of the Barrs family Vikings farmers, traders and 
warriors too? Probably! 

We do know that the Barrs surname's appearance in Briton (England in 
the UK) happened sometime shortly after 1000 AD. Perhaps they came with 
William The Conqueror to subdue the tribes of Briton in 1066AD and 
fought in the Battle of Hastings in southern England, which William 
the Conqueror and his Normans won. And, maybe they found the nearby 
farmlands to be suitable for their farming custom and crops, and never 
went back to old Normandy. That's what I believe. The counties of 
Warwickshire, Leicestershire, Worcestershire, and Lancashire England 
were and are all beautiful landscapes in which the de La Barre of old 
Normandy would have felt at home since the were a farming family. 
In any case, we find a goodly number of Barrs in historic documents in 
this south central or Midlands farming region of Warwickshire and 
other surrounding counties in England from about 1400AD to the present 
day. 

Unfortunately for our ancestors the lack of suitable farming land, 
changing (cooler) weather patterns, famine, disease (Plague), 
lessening fertility of the soil, abundant water supplies and 
opportunity to trade would account for most of the moves the Barrs, 
who were primarily farmers even until today, made from Denmark to 
Normandy to England and finally to America around 1750. 
In the mid-1050s a variety of catastrophic event occurred that would 
have compelled families to migrate from Northern and Western Europe to 
England and later America. The first of these events may have 
triggered the decision to move further south and compelled the Barrs 
to migrate south from Denmark to Normandy where they could 
successfully raise their crops and animals. In those unforgiving days 
failed crops meant starvation and death to family members and indeed 
whole families and nations. Then warfare between Norman and Briton 
kings broke out, people began to be persecution for their religious 
belief, such as the Huguenots (Methodist today) were in early France, 
excessive taxes begin being levied against commoners, including 
farmers, restrictions on religious worship were imposed, mandatory 
state religion was instituted and cooling climates, which made farming 
difficult to impossible, drove many families, including the Barrs, to 
search for better lands in which to live and raise their families, 
crops and livestock. 

Norman feudalism became the basis for redistributing the land among 
the conquerors. The commoners could claim no land for themselves. This 
gave England a Norman-French type aristocracy. England turned away 
from Scandinavian social and political structure towards the French's 
social and political structure. After the Norman invasion of Briton 
the 'English Court' spoke French; but conducted business in the local 
language 'Medieval English' a derivative of Dutch or German-- 
eventually a friendly and amicable compromise was reached. Rabid 
extremists of the Anglo-Saxon persuasion point out that the English 
language overcame the Celtic and Roman influences, while Norman French 
never fully subdued it. 

Then, during the year 1530 AD until about 1640 AD the dreaded Black 
Plague devastated England's population as it did in Europe. Hundreds 
of thousands of people became sick and died. Entire families 
disappeared from the pages of history. Whole towns were wiped out. 
Some way the Barrs family managed to persist during this dreadful 
period. This may be the period when "FORTITUDE" became the Barrs 
family motto. Some Barrs at least survived this devastating and 
challenging period in our family's history. Could it have been that 
they lived in the country on farms and were not as susceptible to the 
rats and fleas that was rampant in villages and towns where little 
sanitation existed and people lived in proximity with animals? Or, did 
our fore bearers simply destroy the rats and fleas because they put 
crop and food supplies at risk? In any case it is obvious that some of 
our Barrs ancestors survived or you and I wouldn't be here writing and 
reading this family history summary. 

Right on top of the plague came the Potato Famine where many more 
thousands of UK citizens starved to death or migrated to other 
countries. Hundreds of thousands picked up 'lock-stock-and-barrel' so 
to speak and sailed for The Colonies in North America. Poor crops as a 
result of cooling climates in the northern hemisphere is said to be 
one cause for the devastating Potato Famine. 

Prof. Robert Ardrey (1976 Library of Congress ISBN 0-689-10672-6, pg. 
187-189) has speculated, "Through recorded history weather has moved 
in cycles. Some cycles can be short and some can be long that last for 
a century or two. Northern Europe (Including the UK) fell victim to 
such a cold cycle around 1250 AD." 

He also said, "Even in England, more than a century later (1350 AD-
1400 AD), there stood the remains of abandoned farming villages. We 
originally assumed that this depopulation was the work of the 'Black 
Plague,' but it was not. The growing season had become to short for 
crops to mature because of cool weather." 

Another such cycle chilled the northern hemisphere beginning about 
1600AD, in the days when William Shakespeare (In Warwickshire England) 
was writing his tragedies. Did your Barrs ancestors attend 
Shakespeare's plays? Many Barrs lived in Warwickshire, as did he. The 
Barrs of Toft Hamlet Warwickshire England were one of the three most 
well off families in Warwickshire County. That catastrophic period is 
commonly known as the "Little Ice Age." It too lasted for 
approximately a century and a half (1600 AD-1750 AD). Competent 
geologists assure us that the growing season in England would have 
been so shortened, even in the major wheat-growing regions, that 
growing food crops would have been impossible. 

Fortunately the "Little Ice Age" had run its course by 1750 AD, when 
the Industrial Revolution inaugurated our present day population 
explosion." This is the time that my line of Barrs departed England 
for The Colonies in North America. They settled in what is today 
Lenoir County North Carolina (Johnson-Dobbs-Lenoir), bought land and 
began farming. 

Once again the farmers in southern England were devastated by the 
Industrial Revolution. Forests were cut down to fuel kilns and 
factories. The air became seriously polluted, as did streams and 
lakes. This was the last straw for many of England's farm families, 
such as the Barrs. Many made the desperate decision to immigrate to 
other countries where they could farm and raise their families in 
peace, including North America. Those family acquaintances that had 
preceded them to America wrote of the "fertile and well watered 
farmlands available for the taking in the southern American colonies." 
Of course they didn't write about the hostile Native American tribes. 
Many English farmers, including the Barrs, took the desperate step and 
immigrated to America in the 1600 and 1700s. We believe our first 
direct ancestor to immigrate to America did so around 1750 and settled 
in eastern North Carolina in what became Johnson-Dobbs-Lenoir County 
North Carolina, bought farmland, built a home and outbuilding, and 
began farming cotton and tobacco on the Barrs Family Homestead in what 
is today Lenoir County NC. And he and his new wife, Sarah Spears-
Barrs, began raising a family of American Barrs. 

In the early part of the 1600s an Abraham Barrs, who was called 
Abraham Barrs of Toft ("Toft" being the small village in Warwickshire 
England in which he lived.), was born in England to unknown parents. 
We believe he may have been born in neighboring county Leicestershire, 
which had a large population of Barrs. Abraham Barrs of Toft may have 
been the son of John Barrs and Matilda Wilcocke. We know that John 
Barrs was the son of Michael Barrs and he died in 1611. Abraham Barrs 
of Toft was born about 1610. Based upon dates, names and timelines we 
(Al Barrs USA and Anthony Barrs Scotland) believe this Abraham Barrs 
was our first documented ancestral grandfather. We are searching for 
earlier Barrs in counties surrounding Warwickshire England. Abraham 
Barrs of Toft married Joan, but she may have been his second wife. 
Abraham Barrs of Toft and his wife had seven children in Village Toft 
Warwickshire England. In about the year 1633 Abraham Barrs of Toft 
fathered a son, which they named Abraham Barrs. We will call Abraham 
Barrs (2nd). Abraham Barrs (2nd) died in 1715. 

Abraham Barrs (2nd) and his wife Joan had eight children. They named 
one son John Barrs (John Barrs of Toft). John Barrs of Toft was born 
about 1678 in Toft Hamlet near Dunchurch Village in Warwickshire 
County England. John Barrs of Toft married Mary in Warwickshire 
England. One of John Barrs of Toft and Mary 's sons was named John 
Barrs. John Barrs was born March 5, 1727 in Village Toft Warwickshire 
England. He married Sarah Spears February 19, 1749 at Aston Juxta 
Birmingham in Warwick Warwickshire England. We believe John and Sarah 
continued on from Birmingham to Liverpool where they boarded a ship 
bound for North Carolina. John Barrs' father had died in 1746 and his 
older brother Abraham have inherited the Barrs family farm, but for 
some reason John Barrs received his father's inheritance. Historic 
information indicates a falling out in the Barrs family over church 
issues and the family's head decided to disinherit his older son 
Abraham and favor the youngest more faithful son John. John and 
Abraham probably had a strained relationship afterwards. John probably 
decided to dispose of his inheritance, marry his sweetheart and leave 
Warwickshire. He then decided to take his new bride, Sarah, and depart 
England for The Colonies in America to seek their fortunes unfettered. 
John Barrs and Sarah Spears arrived in America and settled in the 
Johnson-Dobbs-Lenoir County North Carolina farming region, bought 
farmland, begin farming operations and raised their family. We believe 
they disembarked in Virginia, Charles Town South Carolina or more than 
likely Wilmington North Carolina in 1750-51. 

John Barrs was first documented in America when he sold 200 acres of 
land to a William Thomason in 1755 in Dobbs County North Carolina. 
This may partially validate the date he and Sarah arrived in America. 
We believe they arrived in the year 1750 or 1751. John Barrs bought 
land, set to work clearing land, building housing, acquiring livestock 
and planting suitable crops in the fertile farmland of Dobbs County 
North Carolina. This would have taken several years work and account 
for his activities up until the recorded land sale to Mr. Thomason in 
1755. 

In the years following, John and Sarah Barrs had a number of 
children...all daughters, perhaps seven daughters. Then in about the 
year 1760 their first son was born. They give him the name John Barrs, 
Jr. It was at this time, John Barrs then become John Barrs, Sr. in 
America. John Barrs, Sr. and Sarah Spears then had a number of 
additional children. Among them was John Barrs, Jr., my ancestral 
grandfather, and perhaps Leonard Barrs, Jonathan Barrs, Caleb Barrs, 
and Clarel Barrs. We don't know the names of any of their daughters.
John Barrs, Sr. then appeared next on the "Tax List of Dobbs County 
NC" in 1768. 

John Barrs, Sr. then enlisted during 1776 in Charles Young's Regiment 
of Dobbs County, NC Militia during the American Revolutionary War for 
Independence. He returned to Dobbs County NC in 1777 after serving 
honorably with The Colonial Army of General George Washington. He 
received land instead of money for his service in the Dobbs County 
Militia. 

John Barrs, Jr. also served during 1777-78 in Captain Kennedy's 
Company of Dobbs County, NC Militia. 

John Barrs, Sr. appeared in the first USA Federal Census Report of 
1790 in Dobbs County North Carolina. The Census Taker spelled his name 
"Bars." In the John Barrs, Sr. household were 2 males age 16 or older, 
probably himself and John Jr., 1 male under 16 years of age and 8 
females. The other sons, even though younger than John Jr, had left 
the Barrs Family Homestead for jobs elsewhere by 1790 and/or had 
become heads of their own households and moved to other counties of 
North Carolina. 

As was English custom, John Barrs, Jr., the oldest son, had stayed on 
the Barrs Family Homestead. He inherited all of his father's holdings 
in America. He lived with or near his parents and was probably 
operating the farming enterprises after his father had become to old 
and perhaps to ill to carry on their extensive farming operations. 
Between 1800 and 1810 John Barrs, Sr. died and was buried in Lenoir 
County North Carolina, which had been divided from Dobbs County in 
1791. 

John Barrs, Jr. is thought to have built his own home, married and 
become the head of his own household by 1800, but we believe he was 
still living on and operating his father's original plantation. In the 
1800 Lenoir County North Carolina Federal Census Report he and his 
father are each heads of their own separate households in the same 
county. 

John Barrs, Sr., in the 1800 Lenoir County NC census report, had in 
his household 2 males less than 10 years of age, 1 male between the 
ages of 10 and 16, 1 male between the ages of 26 to 45 and one male 
over 45 years of age. He also had 2 females under the age of 10, 1 
female between 10 and 16 and 4 females between the ages of 26 and 45. 
John Barrs, Jr., was in the 1800 Lenoir County NC census and had in 
his household 1 male under the age of 10 and 1 male between the ages 
of 26 and 45. He also had 1 female between the ages of 16 and 26 and 1 
female over the age of 45. 

It appears that John Barrs, Sr. had died by the time the 1810 census 
was taken. 

John Barrs, Jr. appeared in the 1810 Lenoir County NC census. In his 
household were 2 males under 10 years of age (probably Dempsey Barrs 
and James Barrs), 2 males between the ages of 10 and 16 (probably 
Arthur Barrs, my G-G-G Grandfather and Gideon Barrs), and 1 male 
between the ages of 26 and 45 (probably John Barrs, Jr. himself). 
John Barrs, Jr. also had in his household 1 female between the ages of 
10 and 16, 1 female between the ages of 16 and 16, 1 female over the 
age of 45 and 1 slave. 

John Barrs, Jr. appears again in the 1820 Lenoir County NC census. In 
his household was 1 male between the ages of 10 and 15, 1 male between 
the ages of 26 and 45 and 1 male over 45 years of age. He also had in 
his household 1 female between the ages of 10 and 16 and one female 
over the age of 45. He also had 3 'forieners not naturalized' in his 
household, probably farm workers or overseers. These may have been 
indentured servants or family members from England. We believe his 
wife had died at an early age because no female of comparable age 
appears in the 1820 census report unless he was married to an older 
woman, which does appear in the census reports. This older woman may 
be the mother of John Barrs, Jr., Sarah Spears-Barrs. Or she may have 
been the mother-in-law of John Barrs, Jr. Consequently we do not know 
who the wife of John Barrs, Jr. was. We are still searching old Lenoir 
County NC history records for her name and linage. The said story is 
most historic records in Lenoir County have been burned when the court 
house was burned on several occasions.

Dempsey Barrs appeared as the head of his own household in the 1820 
Lenoir County NC census. He had in his household 1 male between the 
ages of 10 and 15, and 1 male between the ages of 26 and 45. He also 
had in his household 2 females under the age of 10 and 2 females 
between the ages of 16 and 26. 

A Betsey Barrs also appears in the 1820 Lenoir County NC census. In 
her household there was 1 male between the ages of 10 and 16 and she 
appears between the ages of 16 to 26. We don't know her maiden name or 
which Barrs she had married. She may have been married to a Barrs who 
had been killed or died. 

It is believed that all of the sons of John Barrs, Jr. moved to the 
state of Georgia after the death of their father in Lenoir County 
North Carolina between 1820 and 1840. We believe John Barrs, Jr. 
remained in Lenoir County NC, died and was buried there with his 
parents between 1830 and 1840. 

Family members of John and Sara Barrs lived in the Lenoir County North 
Carolina region from 1750 to today and are intertwined with other area 
families. 

Sons of John Barrs, Jr:

• Arthur Barrs (My G-G-G Grandfather) born 1792 appeared as the head 
of his own household in the 1830 Twiggs County Georgia census. In his 
household were 2 males between the ages of 5 and 9 (probably William 
and James M. Barrs), 1 male between the ages of 10 and 14 (probably my 
G-G Grandfather James C. Barrs) and 1 male between the ages of 30 to 
39 (Arthur Barrs). He also had in his household 2 females under the 
age of 5 (One born 1838 is believed to be Julyan F. Barrs, who married 
Daniel Farnell in 1858 in Madison FL), and 1 female between the ages 
of 30 and 39 (G-G-G Grandmother Nancy Campbell-Barrs born 1793). I 
believe Nancy Barrs' maiden name was Campbell and her mother was Sarah 
Campbell. Sarah Campbell and her children lived near John Barrs, Jr. 
in Lenoir County NC. Arthur Barrs also had in his household 23 male 
slaves and 27 female slaves. 

• Dempsey Barrs also appeared as the head of his own household in the 
1830 Twiggs County Georgia census. In his household was 1 male under 
age 5, 1 male between the ages of 5 and 9, 1 male between the ages of 
10 and 14, 1 male between the ages of 20 and 29. He also had in his 
household 1 female between the ages of 10 and 14. Apparently his wife 
had died before the 1830 census. 

• James Barrs born 1795 appeared for the first time as the head of his 
own household in the 1830 Twiggs County Georgia census report. In his 
household were 2 males under age 5 (John born 1823 and George 
Grandberry born 1825), 1 male between the ages of 5 and 9 (James 
Barrs, Jr.), and 1 male between the ages of 20 and 29 (James Barrs 
himself). James Barrs' known sons names were John, George Grandberry 
and James. He also had in his household 1 female between the ages of 
15 and 19 and 1 female between the ages of 20 and 29. James Barrs was 
married three times. The name of his first wife is unknown. His second 
wife's name was Caroline and his third and last wife was Ann E. Pipkin 
who he married in Pulaski County Georgia. His children were by his 
first wife.

• Gideon Barrs appeared as the head of his own household in the 1830 
Pike County Georgia census. Pike County GA is located just to the 
northwest of Twiggs County GA where his 3 brothers (Arthur, Dempsey 
and James Barrs) had settled. In his household was 1 male under the 
age of 5 and 1 male between the ages of 30 and 39. He also had in his 
household 1 female under the age of 5, 1 female between the ages of 5 
and 9, 1 female between the ages of 15 and 19, and 1 female between 
the ages of 20 and 29. He also had in his household 7 slaves. 
Arthur Barrs did not appear in the 1840 Twiggs County GA census as the 
head of his household. He may have been seriously ill or bedridden for 
some unknown reason. Nancy Barrs, Arthur's wife, was listed as the 
head of their household by 1840. And, the majority of their slaves 
appear to have been transferred to the household of Arthur's younger 
brother James Barrs. Arthur Barrs is believed to have died in Twiggs 
County GA in 1843. Arthur Barrs is buried in Twiggs County GA.
Nancy Barrs appears in the 1840 Twiggs County Census as the head of 
the Arthur Barrs' household. In her household were 2 males between the 
ages of 10 and 15 (probably William and James M. Barrs), 1 male 
between the ages of 15 and 20 (probably my G-G Grandfather James C. 
Barrs [I believe his middle name was Campbell after his mother's 
family surname.]), and 1 male between the ages of 40 and 50 (This 
person may or may not have been Arthur Barrs. I believe it was Arthur 
Barrs. Nancy was born of Irish parents in America, but we don't know 
where exactly. Nancy also had in her household 1 female between the 
ages of 10 and 15, 2 females between the ages of 15 and 20 and 1 
female between the ages of 50 and 60. One daughter was Julyan F. Barrs 
born 1838. She also has 2 male slaves and 1 female slave in her 
household. G-G-G Grandmother Nancy Barrs eventually went to live on 
the farm of her more prosperous son William Barrs in Lowndes-Brooks 
County Georgia where she lived to the age of 87 and died in 1880. We 
believe she is buried in an unmarked grave near William Barrs and his 
wife Luraney Wood-Barrs in the old Columbia Primitive Baptist Church 
cemetery in Nankin Brooks County GA.

The church and cemetery were established by 1833...well before Nancy 
Barrs passed away in 1880.

James Barrs was also in the 1840 Twiggs County GA census. In his 
household was 1 male under 5 years of age, 1 male between the ages of 
10 and 15, 1 male between the ages of 15 and 20, (John born 1823, 
George Grandberry born 1825 and James Barrs, Jr.) and 1 male between 
the ages of 40 and 50. He also had in his household 1 female between 
the ages of 30 and 40. He also had in his household 57 slaves. We 
believe these included his brother Arthur Barrs' former slaves, which 
were transferred just before Arthur Barrs' death in 1843.
 
Dempsey Barrs appeared in the 1840 Houston County GA census. In his 
household were 2 males under the age of 5, 1 male between the ages of 
5 and 10, and 1 male between the ages of 50 and 50. He also had in his 
household 1 female between the ages of 10 and 15, and 1 female between 
the ages of 40 and 50. He has no slaves in his household. He was 
probably working for a farmer as an overseer. With Arthur Barrs' death 
in 1843 in Twiggs County Georgia the new generation of Barrs sons 
(James C., William and James M. Barrs) decide to again move further 
south. They, along with their mother Nancy Barrs moved to Lowndes 
County GA and all appeared in the 1850 Lowndes County GA census 
report. 

James C. Barrs appeared in the 1850 Lowndes County GA census in the 
household of Solomon Porter and was listed as an 'overseer.' Appearing 
in the 1850 Lowndes County GA census with G-G Grandfather James C. 
Barrs age 30 (actually 29) was his wife Martha Elizabeth Land age 30 
(actually 29) born in North Carolina (Her parents were born in 
Virginia) and their only 3 children at the time: Henry (James Henry 
L.) age 6, William T. age 3 and my Great Grandfather Isaac Newton 
Barrs age 1. 

The rational for my believing G-G Grandfather James C. Barrs middle 
name was 'Campbell' is the fact that the name appears in later 
generations of my line of Barrs. My Great Aunt Mollie C. Barrs-
Fielding's middle name was 'Campbell.' I believe G-G-G Grand Mother 
Nancy Barrs' maiden name was Campbell and Aunt Mollie Fielding was 
named after her Grand Father James C. Barrs since she was the oldest 
of Issac Newton and Mary Elizabeth Boyt-Barrs children. There is also 
additional evidence in the cemetery of the old Columbia Primitive 
Baptist Church in Nankin Georgia where G-G-G Grandmother Nancy Barrs' 
son William Barrs and his family are buried. 

William Barrs born 1824 also appeared in the 1850 Lowndes County GA 
census. Appearing in the 1850 Lowndes County GA census with William 
Barrs age 27 was his young wife Luraney Wood born 1836 and his Mother 
Nancy Barrs born 1793 as well as his youngest sister Julyan F. Barrs, 
called Julia Barrs. Julia married Daniel Farnell in 1858 in Madison 
FL.

James M. Barrs born 1829 did not appear in the 1850 Lowndes County GA 
census but we believe his wife, Elizabeth Barrs appears with 4 of 
their children: Joseph age 4, Francis age 3, James T. age 3 and Martha 
age 1. James M. Barrs may have been away working or in the military 
service. He may have been in Wakulla County Florida running Salt Works 
there. We believe James M. Barrs middle name may have been 'Marion' 
since that name appears several times in later generations of my line 
of Barrs. My grandfather Oscar M. Barrs' middle name was 'Marion', as 
was his uncle Francis Marion Barrs. And, my younger brother's first 
name is Marion, Marion LaVern Barrs. There is also additional evidence 
in the cemetery of the old Columbia Primitive Baptist Church in Nankin 
Georgia where G-G-G Uncle William Barrs, his family and we believe his 
mother Nancy Barrs was buried. William Barrs' oldest child Florence 
Barrs married Francis Marion Lane.

James Barrs appear in the 1850 Twiggs County GA Census. He is married 
to his second wife Caroline. She is listed at age 39 born 1811. He 
reappears first, after having been in the 1840 Twiggs County GA 
census, in the Pulaski County GA census of 1860. His son George 
Grandberry Barrs was married to Elizabeth Cole in 1852 in Pulaski 
County GA so we assume he may have moved to Pulaski County GA in 1851 
after the rest of the Barrs families had left Twiggs County GA and 
moved to Lowndes County Georgia. His first wife's name is unknown, but 
she gave him 3 sons born in Twiggs County GA: John Barrs born 1823, 
George Grandberry Barrs born 1825 and the unknown youngest son born 
between 1836 and 1839. 

George Grandberry Barrs married Elizabeth Cole in 1852 in Pulaski 
County GA. George Grandberry Barrs died in 1866 as the result of 
having been stabbed in the back at Coley's Station in Pulaski County 
GA after his discharge from military service. (It is rumored that he 
was stabbed in the back by a 'shoe-carver' over a dispute about a 
woman at Coley's Station Pulaski County Georgia.) He is buried at 
Coley's Station Pulaski County GA. He attained the rank of 2nd 
Lieutenant in the CSA Infantry.

James Barrs then married Ann E. Pipkin of Pulaski County GA and his 
grandsons James Grover Barrs and William Joshua Barrs, were living in 
his household after their parent's, George Grandberry Barrs and 
Elizabeth Cole, had passed away. 

James Grover Barrs married Sarah Eleanor Manning. 

William Joshua Barrs married Susan Coley and then later her sister 
Malinda Coley. William Joshua Barrs named one of his sons James 
Colquitt Barrs, born on November 23, 1880. Many of James Colquitt 
Barrs descendants still live today in and around Bleckley County 
Georgia. The rekindled James Colquitt Barrs Family Reunion was held in 
St. Simons Island GA on July 28, 2001 and in Brunswick Georgia in 
2002. 

James C. Barrs traveled through Taylor County FL from Lowndes County 
in the mid-1850s with his family, younger brother James M. Barrs and a 
number of slaves to operate a Salt Works on the Gulf of Mexico in 
Wakulla County FL. The Salt Works was located at the mouth of the St. 
Marks River. The Salt Works were located on the east side of the St. 
Marks River and the Gulf of Mexico. One son of James C. Barrs and 
Martha Elizabeth Land-Barrs, Henry (Arthur) J. Barrs was born in 
Wakulla County in 1857. James C. Barrs et al probably used the St. 
Marks River and the 'Old Salt Road' to Georgia to transport salt to 
market, and bring supplies and people from The Nankin District of 
Georgia to Wakulla County FL until Union naval gunboats destroyed all 
of the Salt Works on the Gulf of Mexico during the War Between the 
States in the early 1860s. 

In 1861 James C. Barrs returned to his home in Nankin Georgia. He and 
his brother William Barrs enlisted in the Brooks County Militia, which 
became the 81st Battalion. James C. Barrs and his oldest son, James 
Henry L. Barrs born 1845 road their horses to Quitman Georgia to 
enlisted in 1863 with Captain Wiley W. Groover's 11th Georgia Calvary, 
Georgia State Guards, Company "D" CSA for a regular 6-month 
enlistment. 

He then re-enlisted and served "for the duration" in 1864-65 with 
Company "E", 1st Regiment (Symon's), Georgia Infantry State Reserves 
CSA and was appointed 4th Sergeant. He was captured along with the 
entire garrison at Ft. McAllister, Georgia "at twilight" on December 
13, 1864 defending against the attack of Union General Sherman's army 
on their infamous "March to the Sea." G-G Grandfather James C. Barrs 
was released on June 16, 1865, from Ft. Delaware Union Military 
Prison, after taking "The Union Oath" (Not to ever again take-up arms 
against the United States of America). His family, in The Nankin 
District of Brooks County GA, was surprised to see him arrive back 
home in 1865 because they had given him up for dead. One of his sons, 
John Wesley Barrs, said later, that his Dad refused to go into their 
house even though he had walked 16 miles from Madison FL to Nankin GA, 
before he took a hot bath, burned his old ragged clothes and put on 
clean clothing. Within 5 years he would migrate again. This time he 
would settle in the south end of Columbia County Florida near 
Ichetucknee Springs, begin farming, operated a general store and 
founded Barrsville, Florida with a USA Post Office. 

James C. Barrs, born 1821 in Twiggs County GA was listed in the 1860 
Brooks County GA census (Brook County was divided from Lowndes County 
in 1858). In his household, located in The Tallokas District, which is 
north of Quitman Georgia, were his wife Martha Elizabeth Barrs, born 
1821 in North Carolina and their children: James Henry L., born 1845 
in Lowndes County GA, William T., born 1848 in Lowndes County GA, my 
Great Grandfather Isaac Newton born 1849 in Lowndes County GA, Francis 
Marion born 1852 in Lowndes County GA, John Wesley born 1853 in 
Lowndes County GA, Henry J. (Andrew J.) born 1857 in Wakulla County FL 
and Parmelia (Amelia) born 1859 in Brooks County GA. 

William Barrs, at age 46 and born 1824 in Twiggs County GA was also in 
the 1860 Brooks County GA Census. In his household also located in The 
Tallokas District of Brooks County GA, was his wife 'Raney' Luraney 
Wood age 30 born 1836 and their first child Isabella Florence born 
1859 in Brooks County GA. Also in his household were two hired hands 
John Robinson, 19 'Hireling' and G.B. Vickery, 27 'Hireling.' 
James M. Barrs is not in the 1860 census that we can find. He is 
believed to have been in military service. We next find him enlisting 
in the "Wakulla Tigers" of Wakulla County Florida. He enlisted in July 
of 1863 and was mustered Out April 26, 1865. He was wounded at 
Gettysburg on July 2, 1863. After being mustered out in 1865 he 
returned to Leon County Florida, which is adjacent and just northwest 
of Wakulla County FL and married Elizabeth Prince. He settled down and 
went back to farming in Leon County Florida. We believe Elizabeth 
Prince was his second wife and that his first wife, Elizabeth Barrs 
had died during the War Between the States years.

James C. Barrs was still in Brooks County GA at the time of the 1870 
census. He had in his household the following family members: His wife 
Martha Elizabeth Land and their children: (James Henry L. had left his 
father's household by 1870. He settled in Hillsborough County Florida, 
helped establish Flora, FL, became a Citrus Farmer, married Nancy Ann 
Ramsey and died before 1890.) William T., Isaac Newton, Francis 
Marion, John Wesley, Henry (Andrew) J., and Parmelia (Amelia). 
William Barrs was also still in Brooks County GA at the time of the 
1870 census. He had in his household the following family members: His 
wife Luraney (Raney) Wood-Barrs and their children Florence 
(Isabella), John, William, Jr., James and his mother Nancy Barrs. 
James C. Barrs and Martha Elizabeth Land-Barrs and part of their 
family moved to south Columbia County FL around late 1870-72 after 
having sent several of his sons down to clear land for farming, built 
a home and outbuildings. James C. Barrs owned a general store, 
established Barrsville Florida and incorporated a United States Post 
Office. In 1872 there was a fatal shooting in front of James C. Barrs' 
general store in which he was wounded in the 'breast and arm' by a 
shotgun blast and a cousin Jno (John) Barrs who was visiting his 
cousins James C. Barrs, from South Carolina was fatally wounded by a 
pistol ball. 

The murder trial of Jno Barrs of South Carolina was held in Lake City 
Columbia County FL in August of 1887. We believe Francis Marion, John 
Wesley and Parmelia Barrs accompanied their parents from Nankin in 
Brooks County GA to south Columbia County GA by way of the 
Withlacoochee, Suwannee and Santa Fe Rivers to the area of the 
Ichetucknee River, which flows from a spring into the Santa Fe River, 
on a cotton barge. We believe they settled on what is today the Wire 
Road and about 8 miles in a northerly direction from the Santa Fe 
River and 14 miles in a southerly direction from Lake City FL. A Mr. 
Ellis had originally settled the area in 1845, but he had abandoned 
his town called Ellisville when the expected rail line was never 
built. This is the area where James C. Barrs established Barrsville FL 
about 1871-2. 

James C. Barrs survived his shotgun wounds of 1872 and was in the 1880 
Suwannee County FL census. Suwannee County adjoins Columbia County FL 
and several Barrs families live in both of the adjoining counties. 
Some may even live on the farm James C. Barrs' sons cleared in 1870. 
In his household was his wife Martha Elizabeth Land and their only 
daughter and youngest child Amelia (Parmelia) Barrs. 

1880 is the last date we know of the whereabouts of G-G Grandparents 
James C. and Martha Elizabeth Barrs. We believe James C. Barrs died 
between the date of the shooting in Barrsville in 1872 and the trial 
in 1887, because mention was made during the trial by a witness (JP) 
that Jim Barrs had made an affidavit shortly after the shooting, but 
that he, the Justice of the Peace, had lost Mr. Barrs affidavit...and 
James C. Barrs didn't testify during the trial. And, we can't find 
Martha Elizabeth Land-Barrs after 1880 in any records.

We speculate that James C. Barrs and Martha Elizabeth Land-Barrs may 
be buried in the old Methodist Church's Ichetucknee Memorial Cemetery 
where their son John Wesley, his wife Laura Elma Martha Sandford and a 
young daughter are buried. We expect that they were probably buried 
with wood markers on their graves, which have long since rotted away. 
We hope to obtain permission to research the old Ichetucknee Methodist 
Church records in Gainesville Florida to see if there is any reference 
to their funeral or use ground penetrating radar to determine is they 
were buried next to their son John Wesley Barrs' family. 

Isaac Newton Barrs, my Great Grandfather, born 1849 in Lowndes County 
GA married Mary Elizabeth Boyt, born in Brooks County GA, in 1873 
(Brooks was divided from Lowndes in 1858). They moved to Day Lafayette 
County FL around 1875. They lived there for the rest of their lives. 
All of their children were born in Day Lafayette County Florida.
Mary Elizabeth Boyt-Barrs died in 1925 from blood poison as the result 
of a chicken spurring her that she was preparing for a meal. Isaac 
Newton Barrs lived until 1933. Both are buried in the Day Baptist 
Cemetery in Lafayette County FL. In 1904 Isaac Newton Barrs built a 
'large general store' in Day FL. Newton and Elizabeth Barrs had 5 
children while living in Day Lafayette County FL: Mollie Campbell 
Barrs-Fielding born 1875, William Newton Barrs born 1877, my 
Grandfather Oscar Marion Barrs born 1879, Eddie Julius Barrs born 
1881, Illa Effie Barrs-Evans born 1884, and Gilley Orel Barrs-Parker 
born 1887. 

Oscar Marion Barrs, by Grandfather, born 1879 in Day Lafayette County 
FL married Bertha Lee Newman, born 1885 to George Cross Newman, Sr. 
who was born 1832 in Tallapoosa Indian Territory, Tallapoosa County 
Alabama today and Lucy Virginia Grissman who was born 1844 in Richmond 
Virginia, and died in 1900. In 1905 Grandfather Oscar bought 80+ acres 
of 1820 Federal Homestead Act land northeast of Day Town Lafayette 
County Florida and began tobacco farming. In 1907 he and a partner, 
Mr. Evans, built a General Store and Livery Stable in Day Town FL. He 
died in 1940 and Grandmother Bertha died in 1970 in Day FL. Oscar and 
Bertha Barrs had 7 children: Virgie Mae Barrs born 1902 but died in 
1904, Ethel Phylessia Barrs-Fielding born 1904, Bessie Mae Barrs-
Buchanan born 1907, Oscar Denard Barrs born 1911, my Father Alfonso 
Barrs, (Sr.) born 1917, Homer Tasso Barrs born 1921 and Hazel Vivian 
Barrs-Duberly-Rine born 1924. 

Alfonso Barrs (Sr.), called 'Fonso' by relatives and friends was born 
in 1917 and married Evia Adetha Bell in 1936. Fonso and Adetha had 4 
children: Evia Loye Barrs-Statler born 1937, Alfonso Barrs, Jr. born 
1939, Marion LaVern Barrs born 1944 and Wayman Franklin born 1947. 
I, Alfonso Barrs, Jr. called 'A.F.' by relatives and friends and 'Al' 
by business associates was born on Grandfather Oscar Barrs' farm on 
March 11, 1939. Dad had built a small two bedroom board-n-batten house 
and he and Mom settled down to farm and raise a family. Unfortunately, 
Grandfather Oscar died in 1940 when I was 1 year old and Grandma 
Bertha decided to sell their farm to Mr. Driver, whose family still 
owns it today, and move into Day. Locals today still call where we 
lived 'The Old Fonso Place'. I began elementary school in Tallahassee 
Leon County Florida, attended the Day Junior High School in Day Town 
Lafayette County FL, the Umatilla Junior High School in Lake County 
FL, and attended and graduated from the DeLand Senior High School in 
DeLand Volusia County FL in 1958. I attended and was awarded a BS 
degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, a BS degree from the 
University of Central Florida and a Masters Degree from Florida State 
University. I was certified by the Florida Department of Education as 
a Teacher of Technical Subjects and a Director of Vocational Training 
Programs / Centers. My wife, Priscilla Lee Jones (Sue) of over 45 
years and I are retired now and live on our farm in Jackson County FL. 
We have 3 daughters and 11 grandchildren. 

Footnote: Anyone desiring more information and specific dates, i. e. 
months and dates of births, deaths, etc, family tree, get an 
invitation to the Barrs Family History Website, or if you would like 
to get a copy of my Barrs Family History CD Book draft manuscript 
titled, One Thousand Years of Barrs Family History: 1000 AD to 2000 AD 
send me an e-mail message at albarrs@wfeca.net. 
Al Barrs, Jr. 
By Al Barrs, Jr. ©Copyrighted July 5, 2001 All Rights Reserved. 
Updated and Revised October 6, 2002
- END -

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This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by
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