Thomas Barnes

  Noted events in his life were:

• Family Death, 1662. Perhaps the darkest side of colonial church life was the universal belief in witchcraft... In 1662 his wife, Mary, was indicted for witchcraft. She was "conflicted of entertaining familiarity with Satan" and put to death. Not only did Thomas Barnes lose his wife, but he had to pay Daniel Garrett, jailkeeper at Hartford, twenty-one shillings besides fees which, the old record says, "goodman Barnes is to see discharged."

...in his grief he could not ignore the fact that a wife was essential on any colonial farm... during the same year in which the first Mary Barnes was hanged, he entered into an agreement with John Andrus of Farmington to marry his daughter, Mary...
"The Town Records indicate that Thomas Barnes was not one of the Original Proprietors of Hartford but rather became a Proprietor between 1636 and 1639.* This raises inferences. For instance, he may not have been quite of legal age when he reached Hartford. If not a stranger, he was sponsored for by a friend until he should reach his maturity and hold land in his own name. By some shenanigan he had reached America owing the master of his vessel and was indentured until this should be worked out, as by helping to guard camp at night and to care for the livestock while the caravan was moving to Hartford. He was one of the 'servants' whom Steward William Gibbon took along later in 1636, to put up buildings for their wealthy master 'mr' George Willis.........

*In 1636, claims to shares in property vouched for by certificates of ownership in modern legal entities called corporations were unknown. Hence the similar claims of the first settlers in Hartford, to all the undivided lands, were in an immense unwieldy partnership. By 1638/9 these partners totaled 91 original owners (proprietors) plus 41 who had been admitted tentatively to ownership. At least the 41 claimed so. Among these 'proprietors by Courtesie,' Thomas Barnes is listed as the 10th. In a subsequent list his name appears as the 4th in order (Hfd. Town Votes; pp. 19 and 23)." On page 43, ".....the name Thomas Barnes appears in it as the tenth in order from the beginning. Inferentially the order is that in which lots had been granted 'by the Townes Courtesie'. The 41 -group is considered as including the Proprietors by Courtesy, that is, as grantees who received rights from the Town conditioned upon their becoming substantial settlers. Such a grantee must put up a house on his place within one year and either live there four years or become liable to lose his grant...."

It appears that Thomas Barnes owned several parcels of land in Hartford. He had homesteaded 2 1/2 acres; had a bonus lot of 1/3 acres; 2 acres (more or less) 'abuttinge vpon the cow pasture..on the North & the highway leading from the ...Swampe to the middle oxpasture on the South; and 'one parcell of Swamp on the East fide of the great River containinge by Estimascon foure acres more or lefse abuttinge vpon the great River on the West & the land now common on the East & Paul Pecks land on the South & Seth Grants land on the North'.

From John C Van Buskirk <jvanbus1@twcny.rr.com>
I understood from the Barnes Yearbook that Thomas was a big strong guy who had done well fighting in the Pequot War, and that he was given the lot on the edge of town (downtown now) because the neighbors felt better if he was there to defend them if there was another attack, thus the "courtesy".

From loisbrlmrl@erols.com

• will, 9 Jun 1688.

• Immigration, 2 Sep 1635. On Sept. 2, 1635 at the Port of London, England, 101 passengers, including Thomas Barnes age 20, boarded a ship. (In 1634 the Archbishop Laud of London began a reign of terror, and Capt. Johnson took 21,200 persons the year following). If this was Thomas Barnes of Hartford and Farmington, he was b. c. 1615 probably in Essex Co., England.

In 1965 I visited the site of the Thomas Barnes property in the town of Farmington. I was surprised to find the home built in 1680 still standing, and in good repair. It stands just southwest of the cemetery, back from the street, hidden from view by a "new" house built in 1785. Several fine homes stand on the rest of the property.

[In 2003, Ann Marr visited the site. Main Street, Farmington is very well kept - the inhabitants obviously take great pride in their historic homes. Facing the cemetery entrance, the house refered to above is to the right, next door to the cemetery.

From the Farmington Library
The land for the cemetery was given by Thomas Barnes to the town for a burying ground in 1661: in 1687 additional land was donated for the same purpose.

"The earliest land record we find for Thomas Barnes is in 1650, when he had 10 acres on which his dwelling house with out-houses, barns, yards and gardens stood, on Town Path 'through which a highway lyeth, with the river on the west, Richard Brownson's land on the east, John Tayllcots land south and Moses Ventrus land north.'

When Joseph Barnes sold the family homestead to Samuel Hooker, Jr., in 1710 it was bounded on the north by the burying ground, showing that Thomas Barnes lived on the east side of the street, about where Mrs. Stephen Lawrence now lives.

... Although library records indicate that Thomas Barnes built the house on this property around 1680, records quoted on the previous page show that a house was already standing on this land in 1650. What happened to the earlier house is not known.

Although Thomas Barnes died in 1681, records indicate that title was not offically passed to his son Joseph until in 1687."

The Barnes-Mix House, as the property is known, is a five-bay Georgian style building. "The main block of this house was built around 1785 by Squire John Mix, while a portion of the rear ell may date from 1685. The first house to stand on this lot was built by Joseph Barnes around 1685 shortly after his marriage to Abigail Gibbs. He received 'the parcel on which his dwelling house now standeth' from his brother, Benjamin Barnes in 1687."

The 1685 ell is small by today's standards, being perhaps the size of a one-car garage, and the roof sags in the middle like a swayback horse. From the look of it, the current owners are busy this summer scraping paint preparatory to repainting the building.]

From Colony Records
We do not have the exact date Thomas Barnes of Hartford and Farmington came to the New World. A careful examination indicates that, unlike most of the settlers of Hartford, he did not come from Newtown, now Cambridge, Massachusetts. The records are quite complete for checking this fact. It is believed he set sail from England to the West Indes on the second of September, 1635 on the ship William and John and transported to St. Christophers or St. Kitts. It is believed he may have arrieved in New England on one of those trading schooners which carried the products of colonial New England to the West Indies and returned with basic necessities for colonial existence - namely, rum and molasses...

The first definite knowledge of Thomas Barnes of Hartford is the fact that he took part in the Pequot War which commenced in 1636. For this service he received an allotment of land in Soldier's Field, so called, in Hartford. Later in life he received from the General Court of 1671 fifty acres as an additional bonus for his services in the Pequot struggle...

The residence site of Thomas Barnes in Hartford was a plot of six acres situated at what is now the corner of Albany Avenue and High Street. His title to this land first appears of record in 1640. He remained in Hartford only six years. Possibly he was not satisifed with his position in that community. He was not an original proprietor of Hartford but owned land by what was known as "courtesy right." "Inhabitance as were Granted lotts to have onely at the Townes Courtesie with liberty to fetch wood & keepe Swine or Cowes By proportion on the Common."

It is probable that economic reasons weighed more heavily with Thomas Barnes when he decided to remove to the Tunxis Valley...

With relatively few exceptions, the relations between the colonial settlers of Farminton and the Tunxis Indians were peaceful... in 1651 the General Court appointed Thomas Barnes a sergeant of the Farmington Training Band... his sons, Joseph and Benjamin, took part in this conflict [King Philip's War], later receiving grants for their services...

Farmington, of which Thomas Barnes was one of the proprietors, comprised what are are now the towns of Farmington, Bristol, Southington, New Britain, Plainville, Burlington and Avon. In all, there were eighty-four proprietors in early Farmington, and most of them settled on what is now Main Street, which was the first thoroughfare through the colonial village... all the original holdings ran from the street to the river... The residence of Thomas Barnes was nearly opposite the old cemetery now seen on Main Street, Farmington. Although the village land grants on Main Street, Farmington, were limited in acreage, none of the eighty-four original proprietors lacked sufficient land. Everyone, including Thomas Barnes, received various grants in all the present towns which originally were included within the boundaries of Farmington.

[The earliest mention of Bristol is in the town records of Farmington, when Thomas Barnes, among others, was granted land in Poland. Tradition is that the name Poland came from an Indian who lived on the bank of the stream there.]

Part of the land of Thomas Barnes was situated in what was first known as Pole-land, later abbreviated to Poland. This was the first name for the section now known as Bristol. It was so named by coopers who were looking for hoop-poles... We may assume that section termed Pole-land; and contained an unusually abundant supply of oak and hickory, for these were the favorite woods of colonial coopers.

In the settlement of Farmington, Thomas Barnes was a Freeman, or Proprietor. This must have made life much more satisfactory than the life he found in Hartford. Outside of his military office, we do not find the name of Thomas Barnes mentioned in the early town offices of Farmington. Probably this is due to the fact that, like many a first immigrant, he was apparently illiterate. At least, in two original documents, Thomas signed his name with an "X".

The records of the Farmington Church show that Thomas Barnes was the twentieth member to join that congregation.

...The second original document of Thomas Barnes of Farmington that has come down to us is his will. So far as we know, this document is the only one in which the Barnes name is spelled "Barens." In the bequests to his son, Ebenezer, we find reference to land at Rattle-Snake Hill. This today bears the title of Rattlesnake Mountain and is that particular hill of the Talcott range which on its northern side is crossed by the so-called Farmington cut-off.

From Thomas Barns and John Andrews of Farmington, Conn. by J.E. Andrews, Esq.

Thomas married Mary Andrews, daughter of John Andrews and * Mary Barnes, on 23 Mar 1663 in Farmington, Connecticut. (Mary Andrews was born on 15 Apr 1643 in Farmington, Connecticut, christened on 16 May 1658 in Farmington, Connecticut and died in Apr 1676 in Farmington, Connecticut.)

  Noted events in their marriage were:

• Marriage Agreement, 23 Mar 1662. March 23, 1662
3
it having plesed the lord in the dispanashon of his profidans too me and myne soo too ordar it that thar is lykele to be an afynity betwixt Thomas Barns of Farming Toune and John John Andros of the same toune By the maryge of the aforesaid Barns with the daughter of the aforesaid John Andros the covine and agremant betwixt the aforesaid John Andros and Thomas Barns consarning the pramisys ar as foullouth:

Furst that the aforesaid Barns does give too his tandar (intended ?) wife his now dwelling hous and orchard and house lot that is now inclosed with all the apurtynanses belonging too it to be her one dispose deuaring the tyme of her natarall lyfe.

2) the aforesaid Barns dooth covinant too and with the aforesaid John Androus too lefe to his tandar wife in case that he shall dye before his wife: : I say too lefe too hur a nice and comforaball maayntynanse for hur sallf acording too the istate that the lord hath or shall blas us with all and allso I doo bynnd my sallf too lefe with my loving wife so much istate as is met and comfurtabill for the bringing up of such childrun as the lord shall be plesed to give to us to bring them up acoring too the Rulls of the gospull.

3) The aforesaid Thomas Barns doos convinant and agre too and with the aforesaid John Andros that he will lefe to his tandar wife in case that he shall dye before his wife hallf the moofabills in the house or hous holld goods for his wife to make use of them for for hure one comfort deuaring the tim of her natarall life: : at the end thur of what shall be remayning of thum too returne too gather with the hous and hom lot and orchard with the apurtynansis belonging to thum too be dispose of acording too the last wish and testymant of the aforesaid Thomas Barns.

4) the aforesaid Thomas Barns doos convinant too and with the aforesaid John Andros too give to his tandar wif a joyntar that shall be at hur dipos to give and bequeth to hom she ples after the deaces of her husbun : : it being hur one pacullar rit which Joyntar contayns a parsall of land by istymashun six ackars more or los lying in a parsall of land cald the allebow (elbow) a buting on the revire north and on the revur south and on the land of Moses vantras east and west.

5) the aforesaid Thomas Barns dooth convinant too and with the afore said John Androus to putt out all of his chilran axsupting his son bunjyman barns only and if that the afore said barns together with the desire of his his wife shall se it comfurtabull for him sallf and his wif and child he hath luburty and poure to cep (keep) his dautar hany (Hannah) barns at home with him to be surfvisabil to him untull that she depart her natarall lif or till god shall dispos of hur in maridg. This aforesaid wif of Thomas barns hath poure now too give the joyntar abof spusifd or when she ples but the agre or agre (?) of it or not too injoy it tull aftur the deses of the aforesaid barns. In witness too the promisis I hafe set too my hand an synd and delivurd this in the presans of witnus Sam Stell

The mark T of Thomas barns

Thomas Barnes' Will (Hartford Probate Records Vol. VI)
A Deede of Gifts made by Thomas Barens SenrJune 9, 1688
These may... all concerned that I Thomas Barens Senior of ffarmington in Connecticut in New England for and in consideration of my matarall love, and good affection to my wife and children hereafter mentioned, and for other good causes me hereunto movinge have fiven and granted as followeth: ...In primis To my beloved wife Mary Barens I give the use and Improvement of halfe my home lot, dwelling house, orchards, Barn and yardes Lyinge and geinge in the towne ship of ffarmington, a(nd) also the use and improvement of halfe my land in paquabuck meadow and Conchee. The use of the land and houseinge above mentioned, I give to my afovesaid wife duringe the terme of her natarall life, and then too turne to my sons as shall bee hereafter mentioned... to hi also agive halfe my teame tacklinge, and haffe my Quickstocke, also halfe of my household goods, and utensills belonging to husbandry. The particulary abode mentioned, according to the tenor expressed I give to my beloved wife provided shee shall paye or cause to be payed The one halfe of all my just debts.

To my son Thomas Barens, I give the one halfe of my house lott, dwellinge house orchards, Barnes and yards lyinge and geinge within the township of ffarmington. also give halfe my land in paquabuck meadow and Concheel, with halfe my quick stocke, and halfe my household staff. Also halfe my teame tackling and utensills belonging to husbandry, and all my other tooles And implements, to be enterfed upon and possessed by him (my son Thomas) at and after my decease... moreover I give to my son Thomas Barens The other halfe of my homelot House, barne orchards and yards, Lying in ffarmington but not to be entered upon possessed and disposed of my him as his own proper estate untill his mother shall be deceased. The particulars above emntioned, according to the tenor expressed I give to my sone Thomas Barens, provide hee shall paye or cause to be payed The one halfe of my just debts.

To my son Ebenezer Barnes, I give the one halfe of the rest of my land in paquabuck meadow and in Conchee to be entered ujpon, possessed and improved and disposed of by him as his own proper estate, from and fater the time of his mother's decease and not till then:.. To my son Ebenezer I also give my four acre lot Lying at Rattle..Snake Hill; and the one halfe of the rest of myh wood lands, or out lands Lying with in ffarmington bounds. To be entered upon and possessed by him as his proper estate, when he shall come to age of twenty and one years. The other halfe of these last mentioned wood lands or outlands I give to my son... Thomas barens only my son Ebenezer shall have Liberty to make choise of any one division among my outlands, which may be most accommadable to his settlement.

To my children which are already gon from mee and disposed in marriage, I have formerly given according to my abillity, with which I expect they shall acquiese... The Lands mentioned in the premises To be given to my sons Thomas, and Ebenezer, according to the termes and Tenor befour expressed I due by these give and grant unto them, with all ye proviledges, appurtenances and profitts thereto belonging, for them the said Thomas and Ebenezer Barens thgeir (Heores), executors adminstrators and assigns, to have and to holde, from and after my decease and their mothers (as is above expressed) forever, without any eviction ejection claims or molestation from or by any person, or persons whatsoever, claiming or that may claime the same from mee, the said Thomas Barens, by any manner of way, or means whatsoever, in Confirmation whereof I have subjoined my hande and sett to my seale as followeth Witnes To Ye Hand by me
John Hooker
Thomas Barens ("X") his marke

The outside of the will says"
March 7th 1689/90
John Hooker of farmingtowne (per)sonall apeared before me and made oath that he was (per)sonally present at the sighning of this within written testament that it was the voluntary ackt of Thomas barens Senior decess
before me William Lewis
Comss'r
(Ye) day aforesaid

From Barnes Genealogies