Thomas Barlow I

Thomas Barlow of Hanover Co first appears as a landowner in 1719. He was also a chain carrier on a survey made in the county in 1720 by Colonel John Syme, who was the first husband of Patrick Henry's mother, to settle a dispute between two landowners, John Harris and John Kimbrough, in Hanover Co Virginia.
This Thomas Barlow, as a chain carrier, could have been a lad of 12 or 15, but as a landowner, he was surely older. If he isthen in his early 20's, he would have been in his early 80's in 1778. If he had some daughters before any sons, he could easily have been the father of Henry of Ablemarle, who must have been born at least by the middle 1730's, if not sooner, and of Thomas Jr. and John who married in the 1760's. In a day of large families, it was not at all unusual for the births of the children to span a period of twenty five to thirty years. It cannot be concluded from the available facts if the Thomas Barlow, landowner in 1719, and the Thomas Barlow, who died in Albemarle Co are the same person, father and son, relation in some other way, or not related at all. A Thomas Barlow who sailed from Liverpool for America and "Maryland or England in 1699" cannot be found as a headright in Virginia, nor can he be found in Colonial Maryland. It is possible that he did not survive the voyage. Thomas Barlow, who may possibly be the 1719 landowner, died ca 1778 in Albemarle Co Virginia, where he lived on Pritty's or Priddy's Creek in the northern part of the county, in Fredericksville Parish, of which Thomas Jefferson was an active vestryman for three years. This part of Albemarle was added to the county in 1761 from Louisa Co, which in turn had been formed in 1742 from Hanover Co. Circumstantial evidence indicates that Reverend John Barlow is the son of Thomas Barlow who died in Albemarle Co. John Barlow left Virginia and moved to Wilkes Co about 1779 and Thomas Barlow (who married Elizabeth Carlton, according to Teri Freedman's research) is found in Campbell Co Virginia, about the same time. The death of the older Thomas may have released these two younger men, both of whom were family men, to leave their homes and strike out to other areas. No will for Thomas Barlow of Albermarle Co has ever been found despite the fact that an index indicates there is a will. An inventory and appraisement of Thomas Barlow's estate was returned to the Albemarle Co court in July of 1778, signed by William Sims, William Brockman, and Peter Farguson, all neighbors on Pritty's Creek. The inventory consists of a small amount of personal property, much too little for him to have been a householder. It may have been that Thomas [Sr] never owned land in Albemarle Co, but lived with one or his sons, probably Henry, who was apparently the eldest.

It is possible that the Thomas Barlow who died in Nicholas Co Kentucky, leaving a will written on 10 September 1808 which was proved in November 1808 Court is a son of Thomas who died in Albemarle Co Virginia. The will mentions a wife named Jane who also signed the deed when Thomas sold his Virginia land.