Original in possession of James Edward 'Ed' Barlow of Graham, North Carolina. If interested in contacting him, you may contact Carol Renfro, transcriber of these documents, via e-mail.

The History and Genealogy of the Barlow Family

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Their early home in the Wilderness of Virginia and Canetuckey

“Land where we learned to lisp a mother’s name—

The first beloved in life, the last forgot”

Halleck

By James W. Barlow, Georgetown Kentucky, 1887 (James is the son of Edward Callistus Barlow)

Introduction

The records embraced in the following pages are far from being a full genealogy of the Barlow families of London England. They are however the result of ten years’ labor and inquiry and if not complete, the fault must be laid at the Door of those who have taken but little, if any interest in furnishing records which would help to make the work more nearly what it should be. The traditional story of two or three brothers, from whom are descended all of a given name in the Country will hardly apply in the case of the family under consideration, for less than five persons of the name of Barlow arrived here between the year of 1695 and 1790 and settled in different states Virginia, Alabama and Tennessee, some remained in England. The name was originally spelled Barlowe, but the e has long since been droped. The present volume is devoted mainly to the descendants of Thomas Barlow of “West End” London England who arrived in 1695 in Virginia with Lord Clarendon settlers from England. I have made an effort to extend the pedigree across the Atlantic. The Family(?) Barlows are not very numerous in England but very ancient the name has been a fixed surname for more than Four hundred Years.

{Drawing of a heraldic device} The Arms and Crest The History and Genealogy Of The Barlow Family

Chapter 1

Biographical of Sir Thomas

Sir Thomas Barlow was born in London England about the year 1680 he was of noble birth & a desendant from one of the First familys in England he was a member of Parliament, and which had assembeled in 1660, in all the intoxication of joy, loyalty, & hope, which it was natural to feel at The King’s restoration, was dissolved in 1678, and separated with feelings of severe

disappointment at his utter want of conduct & principle. At that time the King was supposed to be a papist at heart, & the Duke of York who was then heir to the Throne, was an avowed papist, the people who entertained as great a horror of popery as ever, were naturally alarmed for the safety of the protestant church. He took quite a active part & had great controle as a member. He also helped to pass the memorable Habeus Corpus Law by which enactment it was rendered illegal to detain any person in prison unless he were accused of some specific offence for which he was by law subject to punishment. He was also one of the founders of the Royal Societe, the most distinguished & useful scientific association in the world. None but men of the highest attainments are admitted to this society & to be a member is a proof of great merit. Sir Thomas had a very fine estate just on the outskirts of London, which he called “West End,” [where?] he lived in grand style & splender & he maintained a splendid hospitality, entertaining his many friends, and members of the House of Lords his table was loaded down with rear [rare?] pieces of gold & silver plate, which had been handed down from a hundred years before, his wine cellars could not be surpassed by any nobleman in the land, he had his elegant coach with four in hand his footman & livery, his mounts &c [et cetera?] he had his Race Horses, his hunting Dogs and every

thing that would add to the pleasures of his family & his friends. He was a good kind man to the [people?] he was loved and honor[ed] by all who knew him for his goodness, hospitality, & generosity. he was happily married and loved his family very dearly. one Son was born to them who they named Thomas after his Father Sir Thomas. he lived with his parents at “West End” until their death. they both lived a good old age and died in Christ. they were members of the Presbyterian and was faithful to the religon to the last. Thomas their son was a very study [sturdy?] good Boy & grew up to be a useful man. At the death of his parents he took possition [possession?] of West End as he was the only heir. he married soon after and lived at the old home in almost the same style that Sir Thomas did. he was fond of his friends, his horses & his ?or? [work?]. in 1689 war was declaired between England & France, which was long tiresome. Many [a young soldier?] paid the penalty, and lost his life for his Country. The war lasted until 1697. Thomas become tired of living in England under the British yoak. he togather with Lord Clarendon & several other noblemen obtained from the King a grant of a vast tract of land, called the “Grand Model,” in Va. they sold out their large estates in England, Chartered a large [ship?]&

together with a good many other Familys sailed for old America the Home of the brave & the land of the free, bringing with them their household furnicher, silverplat, Horses hunting Dogs & slaves. All expecting to live as they lived in England, they landed & settled in Virginia After they landed they first began a settlement on the banks of the Ashley, but afterwards removed to the anc[i]ent groves covered wi- the Yellow jessamine, which marked the site of the present city Charleston Thomas tract was in Caroline Co and consisted of about five thousand acres where he moved & settled, staked & fenced of[f] his lands build- his houses, stables &c. The “Grand Model” was a form of Government for the colonies prepared in England by Lord Shaftesburg & the celebrated philosopher, John Locke; it was a magnificent scheme the “Wilderness” was divided into vast estates, with which hereditary titles were to be granted. But the model was aristocratic. It granted no rights of self government, while the settlers came into the Wilderness, for the love of “Liberty.” this was not the soil on which vain titles & empty pomp could flourish. To make the Grand Model a success, it would have been necessary to transform the Log Cabin into a baronial Castle, & the independent settlers into armed retainers. The attempt to

introduce the scheme aroused Violent opposition and at length [was] abandoned. Thomas Barlow was one of the descendants of the land graves, who received his titles in accordance with the Grand Model, which he was one of the heads of these Great Southern familys & they lived like lords keeping their packs of choice hunting Dogs & thier stables of blooded horses, & rolling to church in thier coach with four in hand out riders on horseback Thomas built him a very fine residence of brick of which he imported from England it was large & elegant; the wainscot reaching in a quaint fashion from floor to ciling were of solid mahogany, Elaborately carved & paneled, his sideboards shone with gold & silver plate that he brought from England with him, his tables were always loaded down with the luxuries of the old world Negro servants thronged about ready to perform every task All labor was done by slaves as it was considered degrading for a white man to work even the superintendence of the plantation & slaves was generally committed to overseers, while Masters dispensed a generous hospitality & occupied himself with social & political life Thomas had in his plantation about five thousand acres, and brought with him from England men who were builders Clergyman school teachers Blacksmiths shoemakers & in fact almost every traid was represented he brought also his Race Horses he had his stables track & trainers he afterwards sent some of his colts to England

to Race and won some good stakes & sold some fine Colts their sometime after they come to Virginia they had a son born to them who the named “Henry.” he was born in 1726. After he grew up to be a good size boy his father sent him to England to be Educated. he graduated with high honers and returned to Virginia the home of his childhood in birth. he was a most worthy man for his [fidelas?] & sterling worth. he loved his people & his country & was loved & honord in returne he was generuse & kind to the poore. he lived on his Fathers Estate until their death, and afterwards for for [his repeat] some Years and about the Year 1747 “Henry” married his wife Judith who was borne in Virginia in 1720 & was &was [his repeat] a decendant of the one of the best Familys who had moved from England and was one of the F.F.V’s. After some Years Henry sold off about half of his Estate to some English Emigrants who had now commenced to settle Very fast in Virginia, as large ship loads was coming over every year & plantations began to be in demand, these people who came at that time all had plenty of money & bought where they were the best pleased. later on some came over who settled on some parts of Virginia where they got for almost nothing being land that nobody wanted. “Henry” did not care for much style as his Father he lived a more retired & quiet life Although he still loved his Race Horses & hunting Dogs. He was a member of the Particular

Baptist Church & a very devout member he loved his church & was alway foremost to keep it up. The churches & member ship was very small those days His wif was also a good manager & proved a great help & comfort to him She was a faithful Christian while living in Virginia they had the following Children born to them Viz; James born 1757, Millie born 1758, Thomas born 1760, Elizabeth born 1762, Henry born 1763, Frances born 1765, & William born 1767 making seven children in all four Boys & three Girls.

Chapter II

Now kind reader if you will bear with me a little while and allow me to add a few lines of advice, those who I have just mentiond the Children of Henry & Judith are our Ancesters from which we descended in a direct line. I will endeavor to give you a true & correct History of each Child so far as it can possibly be obtained, giving dates births marriages names & death &c of each branch & generation down to the present date but allow me to say at the start out that only one or two of the children will figure much in the History although I will try to give you a correct account of each one, & I assure you nothing has afforded me more pleasure than I have had hunting up writing this Record

& looking into & tracing the Grand old Family back some Hundreds of Years & I feel proud of the History of our Fore Fathers as they have been handed down let it ever be our watch word to keep it as pure & honorable never-no-never allow it to become spotted with disgrace & as I now hand it down to you, treasure it & keep it pure let honesty industry & good will to mankind be your watch word, & when you come to die, hand it down to your children & teach them the same lesson that our Fore Fathers taught us, & charge them to be true to their God themselves, & mankind. dissimulation in Youth, is the forerunner of perfidy in old age, its first appearance, is the fatal omen of growing depravity & future shame, Kind readers, I assure you if we possess not the powers of self government, we shall be the prey of every loose inclination that chances to arise. Pampered by continual indulgence, all our passions will become mutinous & headstrong desire not reason will be the ruling principle of our conduct Absurdly we spend our time in contending about the trifles of a day, while we ought to be preparing for a higher existence, How little do they know of the true happiness of life who are strangers to that intercourse of good office & kind affections, which by a pleasing charm attaches Men to one another & circulates rational enjoyment from heart to heart If we view ourselves with all our imperfections & failing in a just light, we shall rather be surprised at our enjoying so many good things than discontented

because there are any which we want, True cheerfulness makes a man happy in himself, & promotes the happiness of all around him, it is the clear & calm sunshine of a mind illuminated by piety & Virtue, Whenever Views of interest, & prospects of return, mingle with the feelings of affection, sensibility acts an imperfect part, & entitles us to small share of commendation, Let not your Expectations from the Years that are to come rise too high; & your disappointments will be fewer & more easily supported, to live long ought not to be our wish so much as to live well, by continuing too long on Earth, We might only live to witness a greater number of melancholy scenes, & to Expose ourselves to a wider compass of human woe, how many pass away some of the most valuable Years of their lives, lost in a whirlpool of what cannot be called pleasure so much as mere giddiness & folly, look around you with attentive Eye, & weigh characters well before you connect yourselves too closely with any who court your society, the true honor of man consists not in the multitude of riches, or the Elevation of rank, for experience shows that these may be possessed by the worthless as well as by the deserving. beauty of form has often betrayed its possessor, the flower is easily blasted it is short-lived at the best & trifling at any rate in comparison with the higher, & more lasting beauties of the mind, A contented temper opens a clear

sky and brightens every object around us, it is in the sullen & dark shade of discontent that noxious passions like venomous animals breed & prey upon the heart, thousands whom indolence has sunk into contemptible obscurity, might have come forward to usefulness & honor if idleness had not frustrated the effect of all their powers. Sloth is like the slowly flowing putrid stream which stagnates in the marsh breeds venomous animals & poisonous plants & infects with pestilential Vapours the whole Country round it. disappointments derange & overcomes Vulgar minds the patient & the wise by a proper improvement frequently makes them contribute to their high advantage, Whatever fortune may rob us of it cannot take away what is most valuable the peace of a good conscience & the cheering prospect of a happy conclusion to all the trials of life in a better world be not over come by the injuries you meet with so as to pursue revenge, by the disasters of life so as to sink into despair, by the evil Examples of the world so as to follow them into sin, overcome injuries, by forgiveness, disasters by fortitude evil Examples by firmness of principle. Sobriety of mind is one of these Virtues which the present condition of human life strongly inculcates. the uncertainty of its enjoyments checks presumption the multipicity of its dangers demand perpetual caution, Moderation Vigilance, & self government are duties incumbent on all, but especially such as are

beginning the journey of life. the charms & comforts of virtue are inexpressible & can only be justly conceived by those who possess her. the consciousness of divine approbation & support & the steady hope of future happiness communicates a peace & joy to which all the delights of the world bear no resemblance. If we know how much the pleasures of this life deceive & betray their unhappy votaries & reflected on the disappointments in pursuit the dissatisfaction in engagement or the uncertainty of possession which everywhere attend them, We should cease to be enamored with such brittle & transient joys & now let me say we should wisely fix our hearts on those Virtuous attainments which the world can neither give nor take away.

Chapter III

Let all the good thou doest to man A gift be—not a debt:

And he will more remember thee

The more thou dost forget. Do it as one who knows it not

But rather like a Vine, That year by year brings forth its grapes

And cares not for the wine! A horse when he has run his race, A Dog, when tracked the game, A bee when it has honey made— Do not their deeds proclaim. Be silent then, and like the vine, Bring forth what is in thee; It is thy duty to be good And man’s to honor thee. ___________ England treated the settlers of Virginia as an inferior Class of People. Her intention was to make and keep the colonies dependent. The Law was framed to favor the English manufacturer and merchant at the Expence of the colonist. The Navigation Acts compelled the American farmer to send his produce across the ocean to England and to buy his goods in British markets. American manufactures were prohibited. Iron works were denounced as common “nuisances.” Even William Pitt, the Friend of America, declared that she had no right to manufacture even a nail for a horseshoe, except by permission of Parliament. they resisted this measure, declaring that Taxation

without representation is tyranny. The houses of British officials were mobbed, prominent Loyalists were hung in effigy. People agreed not to use any article of British manufacture. Associations called the “Sons of Liberty,” were formed to resist the Law. Bells were tolled, flags raised at halfmast and business was suspended. Samuel and John Adams, Patrick Henry and James Otis, by their stiring and patriotic speeches aroused the people over the whole land. The Tea was thrown to the sharks in Boston Harbor. Patrick Henry spoke to the verge of what the British alleged was crime and treason. Washington drew his sword beneath the old Elm tree at Cambridge. The land heaved with the tumultuous throbbings of the Pulse of Liberty. To be slaves or to be freemen, was the alternative. Those opposed to royalty were termed Whigs and those supporting it Tories. Everywhere were repeated the thrilling words of Patrick Henry, “Give me liberty or give me death,” and the Revolution War commenced and lasted from 1775 until 1781. Thomas Barlow, Sir Henry’s Son and of whom we are direct descendants, was in this war. He tracted [tracked] the snow with his blood at Valley

Forge, he was at Trenton and Princeton; at Morristown, in the Jerseys and at Yorktown of which I will give account in another chapter.

Chapter IV

Sir Henry Barlow lived at his plantation in Carlina Co Va until After the Revolutionary War was over and after that long and bloody strife, he thought of old Kaintucky. his children was all grown and married off. He had heard so much of the Dark and bloody hunting grounds—as the Indians had dubbed it, with wilderness of timber, its beautiful valleys and large cain breaks with soil so rich and fertil, he determined and made up his mind to sell his plantation in Va and bring his family to Ky, although it was a very long dangerous and tiresome trip as the state had not been settled only by a very few who had pushed themselves through about a year before and had built a few Forts. The State had not been admitted into the Union, and George Washington had just been made President of the United

States, and we are told by our early ancestors of Ky that they were astonished at its very great fertility, not as shown in the blue grass, which now characterizes this region, but in the tall cane brakes which covered it unbroken, except by the Buffalo trails which traversed them, and in the mighty forest growth and great abundance of game. Ky at that time was the favorite hunting grounds of many Savage Tribes, but the Exclusive property of no single one, and probably because of its productiveness of game, it was also the dark and bloody grounds of the savages who contended for its rich spoils, the introduction ot the live stock, by the settlers caused the gradual extermination of the cane, which was almost the only under growth on the rich lands, and its place was soon monopolized all over the region, by what has now a world-wide reputation as “Blue Grass” so that at this time the cane is found growing only in spots which are very inaccessible to grazing stock which are fond of its leaves and young shoots, a forage said to be very nourishing and fattening to them. But [then?]

came the blue grass. History tells us it was introduced into this country from England, by the party accompanying Daniel Boone in 1769, one of the Englishmen wife had tied up in the corner of her handkerchief some seeds she had brought from England with her, these she sowed in her garden at Boonesborough the grass increased so rapidly that she pulled it up and threw it into a adjoining lot, There it took root and flourished and the next year a man by the name of Dr. Martin bought from the woman a bushel of these seed for $2.25 and in this way was it introduced into this country. History says oral traditions are proverbially unreliable the English name for this grass is “Green Meadow” and it don’t seem to thrive in any other state except Central Ky and but few finer portions of country may be found; none richer in historical association than the Blue Grass Region of Ky. Yes more than a century has passed away since the first white man gazed upon the fertile region; since Daniel Boone from the mountain Summit, like Moses from Pisgah’s top, viewed, ”the landscape o’er”; then the home and hunting

ground of rival tribes of hostile savages, now what changes have come over the scene! The thirteen Colonies that threw off the galling yoke of the haughty Briton have Expanded into a greater nation than any Caesar Ever ruled, The original tribes have been driven beyond the Great Father of Waters, the Wilderness of Central Ky has “budded, blossomed and brought forth fruit,” and has become the home of a prosperous and intelligent people, but as I said before more than a hundred years have come and gone since the Anglo-Saxon began to Exercise dominions over these beautiful blue grass lands once the hunting grounds of the red man and his kindred, these years have been full of changes and the visitor of today, ignorant of the past of the Country, could scarcely be made to realize it, the tangled wilderness has disappeared before the Energy of the husbandman, the savages are only remembered in fireside legends, indeed the grand transformation is like a tale of Enchantment.

Chapter V

So early in the Spring of 1790 when every thing commenced to put forth its beautiful coat of colors of every hew, and hearts both young and old was filled with hope & joy, bright and freash with the thoughts of a new home, Sir Henry started with his family for old Kaintuck with covered wagons, Pack Mules and Horses, servents and everything that they could bring with them. they had a hard time of it as For many days and weeks they had to cut their way through the wilderness and climb the mountains they had a hard time of it from first to last as the Indians was very troublesome and after about six weeks hard work they reached the settlement. Now Georgetown it had just been incorporated by the Legislature of Virginia and named in honor of “George Washington” March 10th, 1792 the Same Year the Indians made an attacked on the Settlement at GeoTown and that was the last. The first Court House was built in in [his repeat] 1796, and its first jail was erected in 1795.

The first settlement by white people at Geo Town was made Nov 1775 by John McClelland and his family. David Perry, Col Robt Patterson, Wm McConnell and Stephen Lowry, at the “Royal Spring” which we now call the “Big Spring,” this little party come down the river from Pittsburgh, built a cabin at the spring [referred?] to, where they remained until the following April, during the summer of 1776, they built a Block House at this Cabin, which was fortified in the usual pioneer style and was known for years after as “McClelland’s Station,” this was doubtless the first Fort-ified Station North of the Ky river, the one at Lexington not being made until the Spring 1779. The Station was attacked by Indians in Dec1776, which following immediately on the heels of the defeat of the whites under Col John Todd, near the Lower Blue Licks, when on an Expedition to “Limestone” after Powder it so terrified the occupants of the Station at GeoTown that they abandoned it and retreated to Harrodsburg where they had Established a larger Fort in the meantime and remained until times become more settled and safe. Then Sir

Henry returned to GeoTown and after a year or so he & his family staked off and settled on about two Thousand acres of land then commenced to clear fields and fence it off and cultivate & Raise fine stock.

[End of what was written in this booklet, apparently unfinished. James William (Jimmie) Barlow died suddenly September 8, 1888 at the age of thirty-five years, leaving a wife and seven children.]

[There is also an undated and unsourced clipping concerning the death of Milton V. Barlow, son of Milton K. Barlow and Anastasia Thompson Barlow. The clipping seems to have been placed on the last page at the time this history was photocopied.]

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Index to Henry Barlow and Judith Family

Index to Thomas Barlow and Elizabeth Carlton Families

Index to Reverend John Barlow Families