Barrsville - Ellisville, Columbia County, Barrs Family History

The state then proceeded to take the evidence introduced the following witnesses who bring sworn testified as follows:

State witnesses:
Willis Perry
_______ Martin
_______ Tolbart
_______ Bar (This was William W. Barrs of Nankin Brooks County Georgia, brother of Jim C. Barrs)
_______ Knight
_______ Hall
_______ Cook

J. W. Perry sworn says I was at Ellisville at the ______ of Jno Barr on Nov. 24, 1872 about 2 hours by sun in afternoon. Plac Farnell came down to store and told me he thought there would be trouble at Barrs store. I went in at the back door - some trouble at the counter and when that got over I went back to my store. Charlie Carrell, Will Carrell, Dan Wingit, John Barr, Jim Barr. I Re that was in some trouble. It was about 1/2 hour before shooting took place. I don't recollect anything that was said. Dan Wingit started to strike me with stick. Bill Carrell told him not to do it. I went back to the store about 1/2 hour afterwards. Plack came to my store and told me to go back for there was going to be trouble - it was Jim Barrs store. I told him to go.

He said he had rather not go that Wingit didn't like him very much and might shoot him he thought I had better go and I went.

The back part of Barrs store was near the front of my store. The road that went from our store to their store had a curve in it and I went nearer way by path. I went in the back door and Jim Barrs and Bill Carrell had hold of each other and I ran right in. The house had a shed room and I went in at door of the shed room. Jim Barrs had Bill Carrell pushed up against a stove. When I got to the back door Jim Barr said damn your masonary... After that I don't rember what anyone said till the went out on piazza. Don't know as those are the exact words that Jim Barr said. As well as I remember there was Beaufort Carrell, Chas Carrell, D. Wingit and myself there.

Rack Carrell came out with pistol in hand and Jim Barr turned to him and says you damn little son of a bitch you try and shoot me? And, Beaufort Carrell said don't curse my bro for s of a b. Beau Carrell jerked out his knife and Jim Barr pulled out his pistol.

They may have had ___ out. I caught hold of Beau with right hand and Jim Barr with other and held them apart - while I was holding them a pistol fired off. Jim Barrs pistol. I jumped out in yard and fell. When I got up the men were shot. The first I noticed was Chas Carrell going towards our store and Jim Barr going N (North) on piazza. The house lay N and S and Jim Barr had his face toward house and when pistol went off I saw bullet in S (South) end of house in piazza plate. I think he was probably about 12 feet from where bullet went in plate of house. It was a derringer - it was a single barrel pistol - it shoots one time. I knew there was trouble between the men and I went there to stop it - when the pistol fired I knew I couldn't stop it and there was no use to endanger my life. I didn't see anything but what I knew to endanger my life - there was a gun passed from one hand to another but am not positive about - think Jim Barr handed it to Chas Carrell saw gun in Chas Carrell hand before shooting. He was outside the piazza before the shooting.

I don't remember seeing Chas Carrell before I took hold of Beaufort and Jim Barr. I had been there a half hour and 3 min and knew there was bad blood between em and thought someone was going to be hurt. John Barr (Jim Barrs younger brother) was in the door. I heard shots fired but they were so fast I couldn't distinguish, probably a doz guns and the blood was streaming down Jno Barrs side and I ran to him. I told him to let me cord his arm and he said no - no he was dead. I told him a could stop the blood and Bill Carrell said let me help you.

Willis stop the blood and Jno Barrs cursed him. Jno Barr said no you shot me with my pistol after I was wounded you damned coward or something to that effect. He says Plac a dead cock in the ___ by God and Plack told him no how are you shot. Chas Carrell shot me with a gun and Bill Carrell shot me 2 (also) with a pistol. I showed him where he was shot.

I think Jno Barrs was in the house before the other action. He was sitting on the counter, or standing on counter it was the last time I saw Jno Barr before I saw in standing in the door with blood running down his arm. I don't think Bill Carrell went out when Beau C. to Jim Barr was having trouble. I was between Beau and Jim Barr. My face was turned from house and did not see what was going on behind me.

Witness makes diagram of it. Chas Carrell had a gun in hand when I saw him going (Barrs) store. Witness explains diagram to Jury a min(ute) or two.

It hadn't (been) a very short time after the difficulty had subsided in house till I went out on piazza. After I jumped from piazza I saw Chas Car running with a gun. Saw Bill Carrell by side. Bill Car said he didn't shoot him twice with pistol. (reply) When _ma(?) Jno Barr in room a man said Jim Barr wanted me Bill Carrell came to Lake City and went back. I didn't see B. Carrell do anything else after the shooting that day. I have no idea how many shoots were fired - about a doz - rapid succession. I don't know which was last gun fired in this difficulty. I think Bill Carrell was there when I first went there. I didn't have any trouble in stopping dif, (difference) no one aside me. They were all drinking Jim Barr was drinking a right smart. Jno Barr was sick. There had difficult that ___. They were quarreling. Jim Barr was in quarrel - Jno Barr was in room. Ain't positive if Jim Barr was in diff. (difficulty)? Present impression was (that) Bill Car. stopped Wingit from hitting me. I don't remember what time of day Bill Carrell got there that day. I saw 3 pis (pistols) immediately after shoot. Beaufort Carrell, Bill Carrell and the small pistol of Jim Barr. Bill Carrell had a big pis (pistol) - Jno Barr said it was his. Don't know what Bill Carrell did with pistol. Don't know whether any of em was discharged. I don't know Chas Carrell shot that day. I know where he was before and after shooting. Jno Barr remarked Bill Carrell shot him twice.

Question: Did you not use before Judge White in a Habus Corpus proceeding in this case at this last term this language about the time I saw Jno Barrs was wounded I went to him. Will Carrell said to me let me help you. Barr said to him "no you God damned coward you shot me twice after I was wounded."

I think he said "with my own pistol". Bill Carrell said, "I did not do it." Plack Farnell came up and Barr said "Plack a dead cock in the pit by God." To which question the state by its counsel objected. The court then and there made use of this remark in the presence of the Jury.

I don't think the present statement of the witness differs materially from the statement embodied in the question of counsels.

Question: Did you state before Judge Jno F. White in the habus corpus proceeding referred to that Jno Barr said to Plack Farnell that Bill Carrell shot him twice with his own pistol? Answer: Don't know whether I did or not. I am not positive. I don't remember that I swore before Judge White or not that Jim Barr held up his hands and showed him where he was shot.

Redirect:
At the time that Bill Carrell wanted to help me bind his (Jno Barrs) arm that Barr made remark. I think I put a hand on was not long. I think he had no coat. I think Bill Carrell was present at time of remark to Farnell. Don't remember if Bill Carrell made any reply to Barrs' remark. I caught hold of Barrs arm and saw it was shot all to pieces. Did not pull off his clothes saw wound of other Barr (Jim) shot in breast and shoulder. Jno Barr was shot in left armpit and hand.

Dr. Peeler sworn says: I am a physician. I was called as a phy before his (Jno Barrs) death: 23-Nov-(18)72. He was shot in ___. I saw him about sundown. I saw Jno Barr. He was on bed in room in Jim Barrs' house...arm corded. Farnell had a stick in cord. Found bone in elbow was shevered shoulder to ________. They seemed to have gone through his arm gun shot wounds 5 or 6 and did not find any other except in right hand between forefing and thumb did not examine body or breast. Suppose those on hand and arm was all he had gun shot wounds. Next morn (morning) early I returned and found he was spitting blood. I knew it could not be from wound in shoulder and arm, the arm was amputated, clean clothing (put) upon him. No sign of hemmorage from arm. Next morning found wound in left side. I think (this wound) caused spitting blood - wound were (was) from direct in front - wound in side seemed to be side shot. Ball roughed em. Ball must have entered stomach from way he was spitting blood. Am satisfied Jno Barr died from those wounds - side wound was mortal. I was there when he died - know he died from those wounds - died 23 - Nov - (18)72.

Robt Martin sworn says:
I was at Barrsville Nov 23-(18)72 in south part of this county known as Ellisville now. Mr. Jno and Jas (Jim) Barrs was shot that day - heard guns fire - I had seen Bill Carrell at my house previous to shooting. He said here that Jim Barr had cursed him for a damned thieving s of a b. He said it was right hard to take (but) said nothing farther. And (he) asked me what I though of it. He used no further words. I am certain that no other words were used.

Question: Are you satisfied that you have stated all the words used by Carrell at that time? If not, what other (words) did he use. Ans(wer): I think he said I would not stand it. It was in the morning that the conversation took place. Shooting took place in mid afternoon. I was at Perry's store when shoot commenced. I went up where shooting took place saw Jno Barr ___. I saw B. Carrell there. He was in room where Jno Barr was in a shed room. I met Chas. Carrell as I was going there between 2 stores he had a shotgun - didn't see Bill Carrell have anything at time had a pis (pistol). Don't know where he got large pistol.

Question): Did Jno Barr make any remark as to Carrell shot him. Don't recollect whether Barr said Carrell shot him. Did not hear Jno Barr remark Bill Carrell shot him.

It was about 8 o'clock (AM) when Bill Carrell was at my house. Bill Carrell lived a little SW (southwest). Bill Carrell did not have to pass my house to go to Barrsville - by himself - (on) horseback. I got to Barrsville about 2 o'clock (PM) - did not see Bill Carrell when I got there. Got there 1-1/2 hour - hadn't seen any of Carrell(s) - any Bar(rs), D. Wingit, (and) Ike Hart - (I) don't know how he went or which direction he went to Barrs (general store). I live 2 miles from Carrell and 1-1/2 miles from (Jim) Barrs. My house wasn't on road to Barrs(ville). I know Shep Hodge. Shep Hodge lived a little NE of Barrsville. About 6 pm Carrell stayed at my house 1/2 hr. He got down and came in. I was making sugar - don't remember any other conversation with him. I think he told me something about a bl (barrel) of Fl (Flour) he bought from Jim Barrs and Jim Barr put it in cart and told him he'd have it to pay for it. He couldn't have it at that price he (Jim Barrs) said. Jno Barrs cursed him for a damed thieving s of a b and it was hard to take. I am certain he said so. I just said that Barr called him a thieving s of a b. Black did ask me if he did say it was right hard to take. I didn't recollect till Mr. Black refreshed my mind. I can recall it now independent of what has been said here.

J. W. Tolbart sworn (in) says:
I knew Jno Barrs in his lifetime. I saw him in last sickness. He was shot. I went to see him. I was sent for. He was lying on bed suffering from gun shot (shotgun) wounds and pistol (wounds). I was J of P (Justice of the Peace) at (that) time. I took a statement from him (Jno Barrs) as to how he rec'd wounds - he detailed to me how it occurred in state'mt (even though) he was suffering a good ___(deal) from (his) wounds. Best of my recollection he said he was satisfied he wouldn't get over these wounds - I tired to console him - he said there was no chance - con(?) - on Sat (Saturday) night - he died Mon (Monday) about 10 o'clock AM. I don't rembr (remember) any min (minutes) having pr- (previously) arrv'd (arrived) after dark (the) same day he was shot - I went in house as soon as I got there. I went into his presence (Jno Barrs). I took hold of his arm and held it and told him I had come in cop'y (company) of an officer & to make an inquiry as ____ wanted him to make a statement I don't recollect first words.

I remained all night and next day - got there a little after dark. I had been there but little while before he said he was going to die. He went on to state he was not going to get over it. I tried to console him - I think that was all about dying he said when I first went to him. He (Jno Barrs) said he had been innocent of the murder - a set of damn cowards - it was to that effect - he appeared to have right smart strength - voice seemed strong - talk rationally & intelligently - Jno Barrs said he felt satisfied he was going to die. The first words I rember him saying was that he was innocently murdered by a set of damn cowards. I don't think I was minister of the gospel or exorter - there was an affidavit made by Mr. Jim Barrs. Don't know what had become of it. I have made diligent search (for) it. The affidavit (of Jim Barrs) was made in reference to shooting of Jno Barrs.

Dr. Peeler recalled: I was with him (Jno Barrs) from dark 'till midnight on Sat (Saturday) night. I was a minister of the gospel. He did not ask for prayer. I was with him Sunday and made (He) no request for prayer. I was with him 2 or 3 hrs. in the mor (morning) & and (another) 3 hrs. in aft. (afternoon). He died between 12 (noon) or 1 o'clock PM - the only remark he (Jno Barrs) made on the subject of dying was on Monday morning when he said "I'll be game (until) the last." I carried a minister there. He was the regular pastor.

Tolbart (says) - Mr. (Jno) Barr swore to the best of my memory (saying). I was in the back room (shed) of his (Jim Barrs) store preparing to take a shave - there had been some difficulty previous, which I thought was settled. I heard the fuss & shooting in front of (the) store. I went to the front door - just as I reached the front door I was shot by Charlie Carrell with a shotgun. He was standing on the ground in front of (Jim Barrs') store - I turned sorter around inside the store and was shot by Wm Carrell who was (standing) inside of (the) store. He (Wm Carrell) opened fire on me with (a) pistol. To (the) best of my recollection (he shot) twice. I had no arms about (on) me and did not shoot any.

I (Tolbart) issued a warrant for Bill Carrell and he was arrested. He made his escape after (being) arrested - Jno Barr died - on Monday about noon I went by - about 10 o'clock. I think I was below house & store when I heard he was dead - it was just about that time he, Carrell, made his escape after (the shooting) - I know where (Jim) Barrs store was - South Columbia County Florida - I am satisfied Plac Farnell was present when this statement was made. I don't recollect (Jno) Barrs said Carrell shot him with his own pistol. I think Barr told me he had a pis & it was lying on counter or shelf. I don't know when Bill Carrell (was) arrested under pres (present) pros - I had no formal trial when Bill Carrell (was) arrested by me. I don't recollect if he demanded a trial. I committed him to jail upon evidence of Jno Barr & told him if Judge would get him out on ha cor (Habus corpus)- he didn't demand an examination. I don't know if I have assisted in the prosecution - I have the kindest feeling for Mr. Carrell.

I recollect having met you on certain occasion & told you I didn't dispose to disclose my evidence 'till required by law. I refused to tell anyone what my testimony (is) 'till I went before Judge White. I did not tell Black ____! Bars. I never told anyone what the declares were - I think I told Judge White that Plack Farnell was there - I am certain he was there. I have talked with Mr. (Jim) Barrs about this case - I've never communicated to the defense counsel or any - I gave you (defense counsel) some insight - I've been with Mr. (Jim) Barrs, Black and Jud. Ashby a good ___ (and have) board (boarded) at (the) same hotel with Plack Farnell. Plack Farnell is dead. He died last August. I'm a farmer not a preacher - used to exhort a little - ____ - I was approached that concerning my evidence before Carrell was arrested last time was approached by Mr. Shipling (Sp?)

J. W. Perry recalled says - the store (James Barrs' general store) that (where) the shooting took place was in Columbia County Florida. (Jim) Barrs' dwelling was about 100 yards from his store.

James Knight sworn says - I did not know Jno Barrs in (his) lifetime. I know he was killed (shot) and died. I was at Ellisville (Barrsville) when he died. Bill Carrell was under arrest when (Jno) Barr died. (Jno) Barr died about 10 o'clock. They held an inquest and directly after that was over he (Carrell) made his escape. Beaufort Carrell was a juror on the inquest. He (Carrell) got on his mare (horse) and rode off. Beau brought her (Mare) to him or near him. Beau is cousin to Bill - was not present at court (that) (Sheriff) Tolbart held. I don't know when he held his court. Did not hold court before he (Jno Barrs) died - (I) don't know whether he held committal before inquest. Old man Crepp & Jack Small was guarding him (Carrell).

John Barr (Jim Barrs brother) sworn (in) says, I'm a bro (brother) to Jas (James/Jim) & cousin to Jno Barrs. I saw Jno Barrs in last illness. I was with him when he died. Barrsville was not his home. (Jno Barrs) was here (at Barrsville) on a visit from S. C. (South Carolina). He had been, I think, Mon or Tues before that - He made a statement to me Sunday night before he died. He said he was dying, vomiting blood phys. (doctor was) unable to stop it (the bleeding), hemmorage he said, as near as I recollect he told me he was dying. I told him, I hope not. He said he was bleeding to death internally. He gave me directions about his bus (business) his fa (father) his body. He made a statement as to ____. I reached Barrsville about 1/2 hour by sun. I inquired where the boys were. I was told they were in the house (Jim Barrs' house). I went in the room where Jno was first. He recognized me, spoke to me and said I'm killed - said he did not know anyone had anything against him. I told him I thought he'd recover - he said no he could not. I spoke to him in reference to his wounds. He called for his arm that was cut off. Showed me how he was shot and just at that time commenced vomiting. I left him then and went into the room where Jim (Barrs) was.

(I) went back into the room where Jno (Barrs) was in about 2 hours. As soon as I went into room he called me to him - says he, Jno, I'm dying can't this bleeding be stopped? I told him I could do nothing. He says, I have in Ex (exchange) at Gains (Gainesville) ($)100.00. I then asked him to tell me the circumstance of the shooting. He said he knew there was no chance for recovery & he told me to tell his father the circum (circumstances) & where he wanted to be buried.

He said there had been a fuss in the store between Jas (Jim) Barrs & the Carrell's - he thought it had been settled & he was fixing to shave when he heard shooting in front of (the) store. He said that (he) ran to (the) door & just as he got in the door he was shot by Chas. Carrell. He said he didn't fire but turned sorter & was then shot by Wm Carrell with his (Jno Barrs') own pistol - (I) asked him why he didn't have his pistol. He said it was lying on (a) shelf (in the store). That was all (Jno Barrs said) in reference to dying. I do not know why Jno Barr was out here, hadn't heard him say. Had been with him previous - so far as I know was just out on a visit.

Robt Martin says I was present went Bill C. was committed to jail & by Mr. Tolbart (Sheriff). I don't know whether he demanded a trial. He (Carrell) was brt (brought) up for a trail. He had a trial - on affidavits of Jno & Jim Barrs. That was all (the) testimony I recollect in (this) case. Mr. Talbart said from the evidence he had in his pocket, which was the affidavits (of Jno and Jim Barrs), he committed him (Carrell) to jail. And, Mr. Talbart said, "I am a Barrs man and a friend to the Barrs."

Notes by Al Barrs, Jr., Great-Great Grandson of James (Jim) C. and Martha Elizabeth Land/Barrs:

The proceeding pages are notes of the trial made by John Arthur Carrell who was the brother of William Carrel and Charles Carrell. The original copies are in the possession of J. B. Carrell of High Springs, Florida. This trial was held in Lake City, Columbia County, Florida after Count Pulaski (Plack) Farnell had died on 16 August 1887. We believe Jim (James C.) Barrs had also died by the time of the trial. We do know that he was still alive at the time of the 1880 Suwannee County Federal Census. He, his wife and youngest child Parmelia (Amelia) were living in Suwannee County Florida.

Al Barrs' Barrs Family Line: Robert b. 1495 > William b. 1524 > Robert b. 1555 > Thomas b. 1585 > Abraham of Toft b. 1610 > Abraham b. 1633 > John of Toft b. 1678 > John, Sr. b. 1727 first to arrive in America in 1750 > John Jr. b. 1728 > Arthur b. 1792 > James C. b. 1821 > Isaac Newton b. 1849 > Oscar Marion b. 1879 > Alfonso (Sr.) 1917 > and Al (Alfonso), Jr. b. 1939

The Barrs referenced, in Mr. Carrell's notes of the trial were Jim Barrs (James C. Barrs born 1821 Twiggs County, GA). William W. Barrs who lived in Nankin Brooks County GA and was born in 1824 in Twiggs County, GA. Both were the sons of my G-G-G Grand Parents Arthur Barrs b. 1792 and Nancy Elizabeth Campbell-Barrs b. 1793. And, Jno. Barrs was visiting from South Carolina, where he had been a prosperous farmer.

James C. and Martha Elizabeth Land/Barrs' home stood within 100 yards of James C. Barrs' General Store in Barrsville, Florida in which this shooting took place. Jim Barrs was also shot in the arm and chest, probably with the "gun" ('shotgun') mentioned during the trial and recovered without severe complications while their Barrs cousin Jno Barrs visiting from South Carolina died because of an undiscovered wound in the side of his chest, which had probably entered his lung.

During the trial It was stated a couple of times that Jim Barrs had made an affidavit or deposition after the shooting. We don't know what became of Jim and Jno Barrs' affidavits. We do not know how badly James C. Barrs was wounded during the shooting. Apparently he was hit with the shotgun at least. Anyone who may have knowledge of the affidavit or deposition made by James (Jim) C. Barrs, or his and/or Elizabeth's death and/or burial site is asked to contact Al Barrs, Jr. at e-mail address albarrs@wfeca.net .

Updated and Revised January 29, 2005

BARRS FAMILY HISTORY

PREFACE

Following is an updated and revised summary of the results of many years of family research as presented in a Barrs surname CD-ROM formatted history book "One Thousand Years of Barrs Family History" of related historic events and immigrations from the first know use of the Barrs (English translation) surname to the present that follows my (Al Barrs, Jr.) Barrs family line. The Barrs Family History and surrounding historic events are covered more broadly in this 440 page CD-ROM 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 after inheriting his father's farm property and selling it in Toft Hamlet Warwickshire England.

Because official records and the means for verifying facts of specific families and family members get more scarce 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, in our CD-ROM book, our family surname lineage rather than precise fore or Christian 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. We have verified English history of my Barrs family line to the 15th century in Bulkington Village Warwickshire England United Kingdom. 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-ROM 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, probably Denmark, 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 of 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 but there was a differentiation. The problem is Abraham Barrs also had a son that he named Abraham. 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. ; James 1st, James 2nd and James 3rd, for example, 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 may have been part-time sailors, traders and warriors. They were later called "Vikings." It also appears that they arrived in Old Normandy sometime well before 1000 AD and took up farming and trading in the warmer coastal climate of Normandy after the climate had deteriorated in Denmark to a level that crops would not grow well. They later appear to have participated in the invasion of Briton (UK) with William the Conqueror in 1066 or shortly thereafter. They appear to have remained in England after the invasion to farm and live in The Midlands of England, which was and still is prime farming country.

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 began in Old Normandy as de La Barre, then changed to de Barre, Barres and then simply Barre and Barres in France today. It was translated into English as Barrs sometime between 1100 AD and 1500 AD. Other derivatives known to have existed, in England, were Barres, Barre, Bars, de Bars, Barr, in Ireland O'Barrs and finally Barrs.

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 examples survive today. We have no information regarding what Barrs family member these coats-of-arms belonged to. They just make interesting discussion and are colorful historical artifacts.

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 and Barres in France and then in England de Bars, Barres, Barre, Barr, Bars and later Barrs, and in the United States of America Barrs, Barres, Barr and Barre depending upon which country the fore fathers immigrated to America from.

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 of we Barrs regardless of whether or not we can make family line connections today.

Remember, at one time in history there was a single person who called himself your surname...Barrs, de La Barre, de Bars, Barres, Barr, etc. in its derivative form who fathered your and my first Barrs ancestor with his mate, your ancestral Grandmother. Because I am a Barrs I will focus my writings on that surname derivative and my line of Barrs family members. You should look for a connection along the way and plug in your direct Barrs family line and build your own family tree.

The Barrs family surname's history began either in a Scandinavian country (Denmark) on the North Sea or in ancient Old Normandy in Belgium, on the western coast of what is now the treacherous English Channel, which is now a part of France in Western Europe. Where they came from exactly to Normandy we do not know exactly because families in Western Europe did not begin to use surnames until sometime 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 early Viking farmers from Denmark settled Old Normandy prior to 1000 AD. Were the ancient ancestors of the Barrs family Vikings farmers, traders and warriors too? Probably just farmers and traders!

We do know that the Barrs surname's appearance in Briton (England in the UK) happened sometime shortly after the Battle of Hastings in 1066 AD. Perhaps they came with William The Conqueror of Normandy to subdue the tribes of Briton in 1066 AD and fought or supported the army in the Battle of Hastings in southern England, which the Norman's won. And, maybe they found the nearby farmlands to be suitable for their farming custom and crops, and never went back to Normandy. That's what I believe. The English counties of Warwickshire, Leicestershire, Worcestershire, and Lancashire were and are all beautiful landscapes in which the de La Barre of Normandy would have felt at home and in which we can trace Barrs families today.

In any case, we find a goodly number of Barrs in historic documents in this south central farming region of Warwickshire and other surrounding counties of England from about 1400 AD (15th century) to the present day. We don't know yet just when the keeping of detailed birth, christening, marriage and death records began in England, but are told it was during the 16th century. So we can't determine exactly when the first family ancestor arrived in Briton.

Unfortunately for our ancestors the availability of suitable farm lands, more suitable weather patterns, fertility of the soil, abundant water supplies and opportunity to trade would account for most of the moves our family, who were primarily farmers even until today, made from Scandinavia to Old Normandy to England and finally to America around 1750 AD.

In the mid-1050s a variety of catastrophic event occurred worldwide that would have compelled farming and herdsman 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 Scandinavia to Old 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.

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 included the Barrs family members. This gave England a Norman-French type aristocracy. during these times 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 also did in Europe. Hundreds of thousands of people became sick and died. Entire families disappeared from the pages of history. Whole villages and 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 knew the danger of fleas and rats? Maybe they were not as susceptible to the rat and flea infestation that ran rampant in larger villages and towns where little sanitation existed and people lived in close proximity with animals and open sewers? Or, did our fore fathers simply destroy the rats and fleas because they put crop and food supplies at risk? Did the unknowingly save themselves from the dreaded Plague in so doing? In any case it is obvious that some of our Barrs ancestors survived or you and I wouldn't be here today writing and reading this family history summary.

Right on top of the plague came the Potato Famine! Many more thousands of UK citizens starved to death or migrated to other countries to keep from starving. 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 a cooling climate in the northern hemisphere is said to be one cause for the devastating Potato Famine.

Professor Robert Ardrey (1976 U. S. A. 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 (1350AD-1400AD), 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 1600 AD, in the days when William Shakespeare (In Warwickshire England) was writing his tragedies. Did our Barrs ancestors attend Shakespeare's plays? Many Barrs lived in Warwickshire, as did Shakespeare. 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 and raising a family. Actually John Barrs had inherited his father's property and after his father's death had sold his holdings, traveled to Birmingham Village, married his sweetheart, Sara Spears and both had sailed for America by 1749.

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 of Toft Dunchurch Warwickshire England. Many made the desperate decision to immigrate to other countries where they hoped to find suitable land to 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 ancestor to immigrate to America did so around 1750 and settled in eastern North Carolina in what was Johnson-Dobbs and Lenoir County North Carolina today, bought farmland, built a home and outbuilding and began farming cotton and tobacco on the Barrs Family Homestead. And he (John Barrs, Sr., and his new wife, Sarah Spears, began raising a family of American Barrs.

BARRS FAMILY

NEW FAMILY MEMBER ADDITIONS (January 2005)
About 1430 Unknown Barrs, Barres or Barre born but we have no information

About 1455 Unknown Barrs, Barres, or Barre born but we have no information

About 1495 Robert Barrs was born. He may have been born in Bulkington Village in Warwickshire England. Robert Barrs married Joan. Robert and Joan Barrs had several children but we only know the name of their oldest son, William Barrs

1525 William Barrs was born in Bulkington Village in Warwickshire England. William Barrs was married in 1535 in Bulkington Village. William and presumably his wife died in Toft Hamlet in Warwickshire. William Barrs died in 1599. William Barrs and his wife were probably buried at the St. Peter's Parish Church in nearby Dunchurch Village in Warwickshire England. The oldest son of William Barrs was named Robert Barrs after his Grandfather Robert Barrs born 1495.

1555 Robert Barrs was born in Bulkington Village in Warwickshire England. Robert Barrs died in 1595 in Bulkington Village. Robert Barrs and Unknown Wife had several children born in Bulkington Village: Thomas Barrs was the oldest son. Other children were born but we do not have their names.

1585 Thomas Barrs was born about 1585 in Bulkington Village in Warwickshire England. Thomas Barrs married Margery in Bulkington Village. Thomas and Margery Barrs had two sons who were born in Bulkington Village: Abraham Barrs born in 1610 and Nathaniel Barrs born about 1612. Other children may have been born in Bulkington who were daughters that we have no records of their birth. Between Nathaniel Barrs' birth in about 1612 and the birth of their next child in Toft Hamlet the Thomas and Margery Barrs family moved to Toft Hamlet, which is located just a few hundred yards south of Dunchurch Village, where the St. Peter's Parish Church was located and still exists today, as does Toft Hamlet.

Thomas and Margery Barrs had other children born in Toft Hamlet:
Sarah Barrs, born November 20, 1613 AD in Bulkington Warwickshire England. Sarah Barrs married Thomas Dalton. John Barrs born in Toft Hamlet Warwickshire England on January 5, 1616 AD and died at age 1 in 1617 AD. Joseph Barrs born August 7, 1618 AD in Toft Hamlet Warwickshire and died in 1618 AD. Margery Barrs born 1620 AD.

Thomas Barrs married Margery in the early years of the 1600s. Thomas Barrs was the first of our Barrs family to move from Bulkington Village and settle in Toft Hamlet, which is located just south of Dunchurch Village Warwickshire England. Thomas Barrs died in Toft Hamlet and was probably one of the first Barrs to be buried in the St. Peter’s Parish Church in Dunchurch Village. Thomas and Margery Barrs had several children. Probably the oldest son was named Abraham Barrs. Abraham Barrs was born about 1610 in Bulkington Warwickshire England. Nathaniel Barrs was also born in Bulkington Village in 1612. The first child to be born in Toft Hamlet was Sarah Barrs born November 20, 1613. 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 on August 7, 1618 but also died in the same year 1618. Margery Barrs was then born in 1620 in Toft Hamlet.

In the early part of the 1600s an Abraham Barrs, which came to be called "Abraham Barrs of Toft" ("Toft" being the small village in which he lived.), was born in Bulkington Village Warwickshire England to Thomas and Margery Barrs.

Abraham of Toft married Joan. Abraham of Toft had seven children in Toft Hamlet. In about the year 1633 Abraham Barrs of Toft had a son, which was named Abraham Barrs. We will call this son Abraham Barrs (2nd). Abraham Barrs (2nd) died in 1715 at the ripe old age for the period of 82 years.

Abraham Barrs (2nd) and his wife who was also named Joan had eight children. One son, which they named John Barrs ("John Barrs of Toft"). John Barrs of Toft was born about 1678 or 79 in Toft Hamlet. John Barrs of Toft married Mary in Warwickshire England. One of John Barrs of Toft and Mary's sons was also named John Barrs. John Barrs was born March 5, 1727 on the Barrs farm in Toft Hamlet.

John Barrs married Sarah Spears on February 19, 1749 at Aston Juxta Hamlet in Birmingham Village in Warwickshire England. John Barrs' father had died in 1746 and he had inherited his father's property. John Barrs sold his inheritance in 1748 took the money, married Sarah Spears in Birmingham and depart England for The Colonies in America to seek their fortune in 1749.

The newly weds, John and Sarah Barrs, arrived in America sometime in 1749 or 1750. They traveled to Johnson-Dobbs County North Carolina bought farmlands, begin farming operations and raising their family. We believe they disembarked in Virginia, Charles Town South Carolina or Wilmington North Carolina and settled in what is today named Lenoir County North Carolina.

John Barrs was first documented in America, to the best of our research, when he sold land to a William Thomason during 1755-56 in Dobbs County North Carolina. This may partially validate the date he and Sarah's arrived in America because he would have had to have owned the land for some time before deciding to sell part. We believe they arrived in the year 1749 or 1750. In 1750 John Barrs 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 would account for his activities up until the recorded land sale to Mr. Thomason in 1755-56.

In the years following, John and Sarah Barrs had a number of children...all daughters, perhaps seven daughters were born before their first son. Then in about the year 1758 their first son was born. They give him the name John Barrs, Jr. And 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.

John Barrs, Sr. then appeared next on the "Tax List of Dobbs County NC" in 1768. John Barrs, Sr. 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, Sr's oldest son, 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. In his 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 generally the English custom, John Barrs, Jr., the oldest son, had stayed on the Barrs Family Homestead, lived with his parents and was probably operating the farming enterprises after his father had probably become to old and perhaps 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 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 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 'foreigners not naturalized' in his household. 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 census unless he was married to an older woman, which does appear in the census reports, but we believe to be a mother or mother-in-law. 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 lineage, but most public records have been burned during the Revolutionary or Civil Wars. Only records help by private individuals exist today and for which we are grateful, because it is from these that we were able to learn as much as we have about John Barrs Senior and Junior.

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 Betsy 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 if her maiden or married surname was Barrs. And, we don't know what her husband's name was, if she had a husband. She may have been married to a Barrs who had been killed or died.

We believe that all of the sons of John Barrs, Jr. moved to the state of Georgia after the death of their parents 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.

It appears John and Sara Barrs' family lived in the Lenoir County North Carolina region for about 100 years, between 1750 and 1850.

Arthur Barrs (My G-G-G Grandfather) 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 James C. and William W. Barrs), 1 male between the ages of 10 and 14 (probably Isaac L. 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, and 1 female between the ages of 30 and 39 (G-G-G Grandmother Nancy Barrs). I believe Nancy Barrs' maiden name may have been Campbell. He 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 (Probably James M. Barrs), 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 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, 1 male between the ages of 5 and 9, and 1 male between the ages of 20 and 29. 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. One son was named George Grandberry Barrs and one John Barrs. The name of his first wife or wives is/are unknown, however I believe her maiden name was Grandberry.

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 died in 1843 so we believe he was seriously ill or bedridden for some unknown reason in 1840. Nancy Barrs (Nancy Elizabeth Campbell-Barrs), Arthur's wife, was listed as the head of their household in the 1840 Census. And, the majority of their 50 slaves appear to have been transferred to the household of Arthur's younger brother James Barrs.

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 James C. and William W. Barrs), 1 male between the ages of 15 and 20 (Isaac L. Barrs and 1 male between the ages of 40 and 50 (This person is believed to have been Arthur Barrs. He may have been a relative of Nancy Barrs. Nancy Barrs was Irish, was born in America and her parents were both Irish. She also had in her household 1 female between the ages of 10 and 15 (Julian or Julia Barrs), 2 females between the ages of 15 and 20 (Unknown daughters) and 1 female between the ages of 50 and 60 (Nancy Barrs). 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 youngest son William W. Barrs in Lowndes-Brooks County Georgia where she lived to the age of 87 and died in 1880 in Nankin Brooks County GA.

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, 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 include about 45 or 46 of Arthur Barrs' former slaves, which were transferred just before or after Arthur Barrs' death.

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 (Isaac L., James C. and William W. Barrs) decide to again move further south. Then, along with their mother Nancy Barrs and her youngest child, Julia 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. 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 and their only 3 children at the time: Henry (James H. L.) age 6, William T. age 3 and my Great Grandfather Isaac Newton Barrs age 1. We believe James C. Barrs middle name was 'Campbell' since that name appears in later generations of my line of Barrs and it was his mother's maiden name. My aunt Mollie Barrs-Fielding's middle name was 'Campbell.' Aunt Mollie Fielding was named after her Grand Father James C. Barrs.

William W. Barrs also appeared in the 1850 Lowndes County GA census. Appearing in the 1850 Lowndes County GA census with William W. Barrs age 27 was his Mother Nancy Elizabeth Campbell-Barrs and his young sister Julia Barrs age 15, Lauraney Wood his wife born 1836.

Isaac L. Barrs did not appear in the 1850 Lowndes County GA census, which was taken in August of 1850 and he had died in August 1850. Isaac L. Barrs' wife and widower, Elizabeth Hinson-Barrs appeared in the Census with their 4 children: Joseph age 4, Francis age 3, James T. age 3 and Martha age 1.

James Barrs, Arthur Barrs' youngest brother, failed to appear, to our knowledge, in the 1850 and 1860 Federal Census. 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 when the Barrs families began to leave Twiggs County GA between 1840 and 1850. We believe he may have been living in Pulaski County GA from about the mid to late 1840's. His first wife's name is unknown, but was probably a Grandberry. She gave James Barrs 3 sons born in Twiggs County GA: John Barrs born 1823, George Grandberry Barrs born 1825 and the James Barrs 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. (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.

James Barrs born 1795 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 James Colquitt Barrs Family Reunion was held in St. Simons Island GA on July 28, 2001.

James C. Barrs traveled through Taylor County FL from Lowndes County in the mid-1850s with his family and a number of slaves to operate a Salt Works on the Gulf of Mexico in Wakulla County FL. With him was a first cousin James M. Barrs. The Salt Works was located at the mouth of the St. Marks River. We believe it was on the east side of the St. Marks River because the old salt work evaporation ponds can still be seen in aerial photographs today. One son, Henry 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 Georgia to Wakulla County FL until Union gunboats destroyed all of the Salt Works on the Gulf of Mexico during the War Between the States in the early 1860s.

After the Salt Works were destroyed James C. Barrs enlisted at Quitman GA 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 Florida to Nankin Georgia, before he took a hot bath, burned his old ragged clothes and put on clean clothing.

James C. and Martha Elizabeth would move their family from the Tallokas District in Brooks County GA to the Nankin District in Brooks County. Within a few years he would sell his 320+ acres of land in Taylor County FL and move most of his family again. By 1871 he would settle in the south of Suwanne-Columbia County Florida and begin farming, open a general store and found Barrsville, Florida with a USA Post Office.

James C. Barrs, born 1821 in Twiggs County GA was in the 1860 Brooks County GA census (Brook County was divided from Lowndes County in 1858). In his household, located in The Tallokas District, 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) born 1857 in Wakulla County FL and Parmelia (Amelia) born 1859 in Brooks County GA.

William W. 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 oldest 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.' Isabella Florence Barrs would marry Francis Marion Lane in Brooks County GA.

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 the household by this census) William T., Isaac Newton, Francis Marion, John Wesley, Henry (Andrew) J., and Parmelia (Amelia).

William W. 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 Lauraney (Raney) and their children Florence (Isabella), John, William, James and his mother Nancy Elizabeth Campbell-Barrs.

James C. and Martha Elizabeth Barrs and part of their family (William T., Francis Marion, John Wesley and Parmelia) moved to south Suwanee-Columbia County FL around late 1870 William T., Francis M. and John W. had been sent ahead the previous year to buy and clear land for farming, built a home and outbuildings. After James C. and Martha Elizabeth and Parmelia arrived at their new home James C. Barrs would buy a general store and the community would come to be called Barrsville. It later incorporated a United States Post Office. In 1872 there was a fatal shooting in James C. Barrs' general store in which he was wounded in the 'breast and arm' by a shotgun blast and a cousin Jno Barrs who was visiting his cousin Jim C. Barrs, from South Carolina was fatally wounded with a pistol. Jno Barrs died several days later in the home of James and Elizabeth Barrs in Barrsville FL.

The murder trial of Jno Barrs of South Carolina was held in Lake City Columbia County FL in August of 1887. William T., Francis Marion, John Wesley and Parmelia Barrs accompanied their parents from south Brooks County GA to south Suwannee-Columbia County GA by way of a cotton barge on the Withlacoochee, Suwannee and Santa Fe Rivers to the area of the Ichetucknee River, which flows from a spring into the Santa Fe River. We believe they settled on what is today the Wire Road and about 8 miles northerly from the Santa Fe River and 14 miles southerly 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.

James C. Barrs survived his shotgun wounds of 1872 and was in the 1880 Suwannee County FL census along with his wife Elizabeth and their youngest child and only daughter Amelia (Parmelia) Barrs. Suwannee County adjoins Columbia County FL and several Barrs families live in both of the adjoining counties. Some may even today live on the farm cleared and owned by James C. Barrs earlier.

This is the last we know of G-G Grandparents James C. and Martha Elizabeth Barrs. We speculate that they 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 to see if there is any reference to their funeral.

One of James C. and Martha Elizabeth Barrs' sons, Isaac Newton Barrs and his wife Mary Elizabeth Boyet or Boyett, my great grandparents, moved from The Nankin District in Brooks County GA (About 16 miles north of Madison FL) to Lafayette County FL (About 20 miles in a southerly direction from Madison FL). They probably traveled (by barge or river boat) pretty much the same route Isaac Barrs parents, James C. and Martha E. Barrs had traveled a few years earlier, to Lafayette County FL. They probably traveled down the Withlacoochee and Suwannee Rivers and disembarked at a well documented landing about 3 miles east of Mayo Junction and Day Lafayette County FL on the Suwannee River. Day was a cotton gin town in those days with a growing population of farmers, workers and merchants. Day Town was situated on the east bank of Brewer Lake and about 3 miles west of the world famous Suwannee River.

Isaac Newton Barrs, my Great Grandfather, born 1849 in Lowndes County GA married Mary Elizabeth Boyet or Boyett, born in Brooks County GA, in 1873 in Brooks County GA (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.

Great grandmother Mary Elizabeth Boyet-Barrs died in 1925 from blood poison as the result of a chicken spurring her that she was preparing for a meal. Great grandfather Isaac Newton lived until 1933 in the home of his oldest child Mollie C. Barrs-Fielding. It is they who we have our first photographs of the Barrs family taken beside his general store in Day FL about 1917-18. Both grandparents are buried in the Day Baptist Cemetery. In 1904 Isaac Newton Barrs built a 'large general store' in Day FL. Isaac and Elizabeth 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 James 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 County Alabama and Lucy Virginia Grissman who was born 1844 in Richmond Virginia, in 1900. In 1905 Grandfather Oscar bought 80+ acres of 1820 Federal Homestead land northeast of Day Town Florida and began tobacco farming. In 1907 he and a partner 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-Stateler 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 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. 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. He 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 43 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., or if you would like to request a copy of my family tree or a copy of my Barrs Family History CD Book titled, One Thousand Years Of Barrs Family History: 1000 AD to 2000 AD is welcome to send me an e-mail message at albarrs@wfeca.net . Revised and updated January 30, 2005 by Al Barrs.

I charge nothing for the CD-ROM but do require ten dollars up front to cover my direct cost...sorry no COD, I have been burned a few time sending the book to distant cousins who never paid for it.

Al Barrs
January 30, 2005