Genealogical Memories
NOVEMBER 11, 1965
Dear Eugene, Wayne, and Mary Louise, and respective Families:
The time may come when you or your children will want to know about the ancestry along the Barnard line. I would suggest that you keep this family tree against such a day.
First, let me share with you a few genealogical memories.
George Allen Barnard, my… great grandfather, came to Western Pennsylvania from near Hartford, Connecticut about 1835 selling and repairing clocks. He took up land on Cowanshannock Creek. Later he married a widow, Rose Irwin, the mother of three children.
One of those children, David Johnston Irwin became a minister of the Presbyterian Church and served for years as pastor of the Ebenezer Presbyterian Church in Indiana County, Pennsylvania.
Another daughter married a Corbett, and lived at Reynoldsville, Pennsylvania.
Another daughter married into the Bay City, Michigan lumber Corbett clan.
This George Allen Barnard and Rose Irwin begat one son who lived, John Robinson Barnard. It is my understanding that Henry Barnard, credited with being the father of the American Public School educational system, was the brother of my great grandfather.
My grandfather married Mary Beyers and had three sons; George Allen, David Johnston (my father), and Barton Hastings.
The memo continues with Francis Barnard down to John Davis Barnard, with marriages to Sally Higley, Rosannah Johnston Irwin, Mary Esther Beyers, Eula Zoe Davis, and Esther Eva Agnew.
He also traced the line from Captain John Higley, son of Jonathan Higley and Katherine Drake, married Katherine Brewster, through Brewster Higley, Brewster Higley II, Seth Higley (Revolutionary soldier), to Sally Higley marrying George Barnard 1805.
Putting together the other information I have on George Allen Barnard, it looks to me like Rose’s first three children were from her first marriage to William Irwin, and the other three children were with George Allen Barnard.
March 2nd, 2007 at 2:44 am
It was interesting reading this and then realizing I am actually
related to these people. Since I’m California based I know
Mary Louise Largent and her family the best. Where are the rest of
you located?
Thanks!
Diane
March 2nd, 2007 at 9:48 am
Pleased to meet you, Diane!
In fact the three branches (Barnard, Barnard, and Largent) are pretty well spread across the country. Watch your email for more discussion.
March 2nd, 2007 at 4:04 pm
Diane, if you go to the genealogy section registration here:
http://www.ewbarnard.com/ancestry/newacctform.php
and sign up, I can give you special access to see the information for persons still living. Otherwise, out of respect for peoples’ privacy, you only see information on deceased persons. But if you’re related, you’re welcome to learn more about ourselves!
April 19th, 2007 at 7:21 pm
I thought this entry in Wikipedia about Dr. Henry Barnard was interesting. Could this be the same referenced Henry Barnard?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Barnard
And found this too: (possible picture?)
http://www.froebelfoundation.org/people/Barnard.html
April 20th, 2007 at 6:22 am
From Dr. Walther Barnard:
No; Henry Barnard, the first U.S. Commissioner of Education, was a descendant of John “Blacksmith” Barnard; see Part G, p. 312 of the “Francis Barnard and his Descendants” CD, version January 2007.
Assuming that John “Blacksmith” Barnard is the son of 2-Samuel Barnard, son of 1-Francis, as is asserted in the Encyclopedia of Connecticut Biography, v. 5 (see Part G, p. 162), this Henry is our distant blood relative, and the fact that Barnard DNA project participant Edward Stilson Barnard, who is also a descendant of John “Blacksmith” Barnard, has a DNA profile that differs by three from us, with the supposed common ancestor of all three of us being 1-Francis, the assertion seems valid.
The disputed claim that “Blacksmith” is a grandson of Bartholomew Barnard, who appears to have no connection to Francis, is the reason why I’d like to locate a male surnamed Barnard who descends from Bartholomew BUT NOT THROUGH “BLACKSMITH” and get him to participate in the DNA project to compare DNAs.