Barnums of Danbury CT and Ballston, New Lisbon & Newstead NY
Following is information regarding the line of Judah Barnum (1720-1790), Aaron P. Barnum (1756-aft 1815), Joshua Barnum (1782-1858) and Judah Barnum (c1790-c1862).
JUDAH BARNUM Sr. 1720 – 1790, Danbury, CT
• Judah’s will confirmed that he had a wife Lydia, and three children – Judah Barnum Jr (eldest son), Aaron Barnum (youngest son) and daughter Lydia. Danbury, Fairfield, CT Probate 5:529-30.
• Judah’s property was in the northwest section of Danbury, part lying on the New Fairfield town line. It was identified in the deeds as ‘Kingstreet’ and ‘Titicus’. To the west about 2 miles was the town of Southeast, Dutchess [now Putnam] Co, NY.
• On 27 Aug 1784, Judah sold portions of his property to his two sons, Judah Jr. and Aaron. Danbury, CT Deeds 3:109-110.
• Neighbors whose property abutted Judah’s included Matthew Linley/Lindsley & Joseph Barnum.
JUDAH BARNUM Jr. 1748 – 1821, Danbury, CT
• Judah Barnum Jr. was a soldier in the Rev. War. His name appears on a pay abstract for horse travel in an expedition in 1779, Capt. Richard Shute’s company, 16th Regt. Connecticut Revolutionary War Military Lists, 1775 – 83, p. 198. Database on-line, Ancestry.com.
• Judah Barnum Jr. had 3 children who reached adulthood:
o Rhoda: 9 Jan 1774 – 20 Oct 1860. Rhoda never married. She lived first with her parents, and later with her younger sister, Lois.
Eli: 7 Feb 1779 – after 1820. Eli is likely the younger male living in Judah’s household in 1820. An Eli H? Barnum was enumerated next to Lois Barnum in 1830, but he was a bit younger than Judah’s son should be.
o Lois: 28 Jun 1781 – 14 Jun 1861. Lois married Amos Jackson, and had several children. She and her husband, plus her sister Rhoda, are all buried in the King Street Church of Christ Cemetery in Danbury, CT.
• In 1790, Judah Barnum was living among a cluster of Barnum families that included Joseph Barnum4 1732-1791 (Joseph3, Richard2, Thomas1) and several of his sons.
• A death notice appeared in the Connecticut Courant, 18 Sep 1821, p 3: “At Danbury, Mr. Judah Barnum, aged 73. His death was occasioned by an inflammation in one of his feet, which terminated in mortification.” Judah Barnum Jr. was buried in the Cemetery of the First Baptist Church, which is located on the west side of Route 39 near the intersection of King Street in the town of Danbury. His stone was still standing in 2011.
AARON P. BARNUM c. 1756 – AFT 1815
• Based on age groupings provided on the 1800 and 1810 census records, Aaron’s birth can be calculated as occurring between 1756 and 1760. Since he had 6 children born by the 1790 census enumeration, he was likely born closer to 1756.
• It was stated in The Genealogical Record of the Barnum Family that Aaron married Renée Parsons on 5 May 1774. This date and surname have not been confirmed; however Otsego Co, NY deeds do record that the name of Aaron’s wife was Rene or Rhene, so there is some support.No early Parsons families were found living in the towns of Danbury or New Fairfield, but there is record of that surname in nearby Dutchess Co, NY.Census records also indicate that Rene was a year or so older than Aaron. She died between 1810 and 1815: According to a statement made by a witness to an Otsego Co, NY deed recorded on 5 May 1815, “…Rhene the wife of the said Aron is not living but dead…” Otsego Co, NY Deeds, T: 123-4.
• Seth Barnum’s Rev. War pension file stated that Aaron Barnum enlisted at Danbury, CT in 1775 in an infantry company under the command of Capt Noble Benedict in a campaign of seven months or more, to the north. Enlisting at the same time were Seth Barnum, John Barnum, Drake Hoyt & Thaddeus Hoyt, all of the same neighborhood in Danbury. No Revolutionary War records have been located for Aaron.
• Aaron first appeared in Danbury land records in 1783, when he sold land to Seth Barnum. Note that earlier Danbury town records were destroyed during the British raid on Danbury at the onset of the Revolution.
• As stated previously, Aaron purchased land in Danbury from his father in 1784. Then on 5 Apr 1787, Aaron Barnum, of Danbury, sold about 64 acres of land at Titicus and Kingstreet in 5 separate transactions.This is likely about the time Aaron left Danbury.
• Aaron Barnum was recorded as head of household on the 1790 census for Balls Town, Albany Co, NY:
o 1 male 16+
o 3 males -16
o 4 females
This portion of Albany Co was set off for Saratoga Co in 1791.
• In Apr 1791 Aaron Barnum, “of Ball Town in the County of Albany and State of New York,” sold tracts of land in Danbury at Kingstreet in 2 separate transactions.
• In Apr 1794 Aaron Barnum, “of Ball Town in the County of Albany [sic] and State of New York,” sold 2 acres of land to Eleazer Bedient of Danbury. With the exception of his father’s will, this deed was the final record found for Aaron in Danbury.
• Sometime before the 1800 census enumeration, Aaron moved his family to the town of Pittsfield, Otsego Co, NY, where his family included:
o 3 males -10
o 1 male 10-15
o 1 male 16-25
o 1 male 26-44 (Aaron)
o 1 female -10
o 1 female 10-15
o 1 female 16-25
o 1 female 45+ (Rene)
Other Ballston neighbors also made the move to Pittsfield, including John B(arnum) Knapp who was a near neighbor to Aaron in both locations.
• Otsego Co, NY deeds include records of several transactions involving Aaron: On 18 Aug 1806, Aaron Barnum of Pittsfield, sold 40 acres to Sealy Gregory; on 3 Sep 1807, Aaron and wife Rene of New Lisbon (formerly Pittsfield) sold land to Daniel Tiffany; and on 24 Mar 1809 Aaron and wife Rene of New Lisbon sold 56 acres to Daniel Tiffany. This final deed is the one recorded in Apr 1815 in which a witness testified that Aaron’s wife Rhene was deceased by that date. There are no deeds recorded in Otsego Co for Aaron’s initial purchase of the above properties. Note that the town of New Lisbon was set off from Pittsfield in 1806.
• Lisbon Town Register, Bk 1, held by New Lisbon Town Historian Virginia Schoradt in Feb 2011 included a list of the taxable inhabitants and the number of days they were assessed to work on the roads in their wards. Aron Barnham was living in Ward 33, and was assessed 4 days in 1808 and 3 days in 1809. There was no additional note of Aaron in New Lisbon town records after 1809.
However, of greater interest and significance, is the record for Joshua Barnham, who was living in Ward 37 and was also assessed for road work beginning in 1808 and continuing through 1815.According to town records, Wards 33 and 37 were adjacent to one another.
• In 1810, Aaron Barnum was no longer enumerated in the town of New Lisbon, so he probably moved around the time of the 1809 land sale mentioned above. J[oshua] Barnum did appear on the New Lisbon census, and was enumerated just three households from D. Tiffeny [to whom Aaron sold land in 1807 and 1809].
• Legal notices in Otsego county newspapers offer an explanation for Aaron’s apparent disappearance after 1809. “Whereas default of payment has been made of the monies secured to be paid by a certain mortgage executed by Aaron Barnum, of the town of New Lisbon, in the county of Otsego, to the subscriber of New Lisbon, in the county aforesaid, bearing date the first day of June, 1807 – Notice is hereby given, that by virtue of a power contained in the said mortgage, and in pursuance of the account in such case made and provided, will be sold at public venue… WILLIAM GARRATT.”, Olive Branch, 27 Mar 1809, p 3. This sale was postponed, as follows: “The sale of the mortgaged premises of
Aaron P. Barnum, which was to take place on the 28th day of June instant, is postponed to the first day of September next, at two o’clock in the afternoon, at the court house in the village of Otsego. WILLIAM GARRATT.”, Olive Branch, 17 Jul 1809, p 3. And finally, “Whereas Aaron Barnum, of the town of New Lisbon, county of Otsego and state of New York, to secure the payment of four hundred and eight dollars and thirty-nine cents, current money of the United States, did, on the first day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seven, grant, bargain, sell, release, alien and confirm, unto William Garratt, of the town, county and state aforesaid … one equal half or moiety of lot number thirty-nine, … contains fifty-six acres and fifty-four rods of land. And whereas default has been made in the payment of the aforesaid sum of money…notice is hereby given, that … the above described premises will be exposed to sale…at the house
of John Roberts, Innkeeper, in New-Lisbon, on Saturday the 26th day of December next…WILLIAM GARRATT.”Cooperstown Federalist, 27 Jun 1812, p. 3.
• In 1810, an A. Barnham was living in the town of Milford, Otsego Co, NY. Milford is east of New Lisbon.Age groupings in this family are consistent with those previously recorded for Aaron Barnum:
o 1 male 10-15
o 1 male 15-25
o 1 male 45+(Aaron)
o 1 female 15-25
o 1 female 45+ (Rene)
This is believed to be the final record for Aaron Barnum as head of household.
• Though there is no known record of Aaron’s death, the Otsego Co, NY deed recorded in 1815 implied that he was still living at that date – it was stated that Aaron’s wife was no longer living, but no similar statement was made concerning Aaron. It appears likely that he was living with a son and his family in 1820 (see the 1820 census record for Judah Barnum recorded later in this document).
• As a side note: A younger Aaron Barnum appeared on the 1840 census for the town of Lockport, Niagara Co, NY. He was age 40-50, which is consistent with the age of the youngest son of Aaron Barnum of Danbury, Ballston and Pittsfield/New Lisbon/Milford. Aaron is not a common given name among the descendants of Thomas Barnum of Danbury, CT.These two Aarons may be related, perhaps as father and son.
Then in 1850, yet another Aaron Barnum, age 24, was enumerated in Niagara Co, NY, town of Newfane, lodging with the family of George W. Round. He may be another of this line, perhaps a son of the Aaron Barnum who was in Lockport in 1840.
JOSHUA BARNUM Sr. 1782 – 1858
• The following note is attached to Joshua Barnum Sr. on Barnum.org: Joshua Barnum, Sr. and his family immigrated from Pennsylvania to Wayne County, New York in 1830, and later moved to Erie County. He bought land in Erie County, New York in 1834.
This statement is incorrect. The Barnums of Wayne Co, NY were a different family.
• Joshua Barnum Sr.’s date of birth can be calculated using the date his will was written (31 Oct 1857), then subtracting his stated age of 75 years.
Joshua’s birth place was incorrectly recorded on the 1850 census: The family of George Francis was enumerated just previous to Joshua Barnum. George, his wife, and 2 year old son were recorded as born in NY, but his 3 month old son John was recorded born in CT. But on the 1860 census, young John was recorded born in NY. I believe that the enumerator wrote Joshua's birth place on the wrong line.
On the 1855 census of Newstead, Joshua’s birth place was recorded as CT.
• As proven by Lisbon Town Register, Bk 1, Joshua Barnum was recorded as a resident of New Lisbon from 1808 to 1815, and he lived in close proximity to Aaron Barnum/Barnham in 1808 & 1809. On the 1790 and 1800 censuses, Aaron Barnum had sons, including one who fell in the same age range as Joshua.No other Barnum family was recorded in Pittsfield or New Lisbon during this time period. Joshua’s date and place of birth, along with his proximity to Aaron Barnum in 1808-1809 all lead to the conclusion that Joshua was Aaron and Rene’s eldest son.
• The 1810 census recorded J[oshua] Barnum and family in New Lisbon, Otsego Co, NY:
o 1 male 26-44 (Joshua)
o 2 females -10
o 1 female 16-25 (Polly? – see below)
They were living among many of the same families who resided near Aaron Barnum in 1800, including Cummin/s, Gregory, Gardner, Knapp & Bowdish. Note that D. Tiffeny (to whom Aaron sold land in 1806 &1807) was recorded just 3 households away from Joshua.
• On 5 Jan 1810, Polly Barnum was among those with letters remaining at the post office in Otsego: Otsego Herald, 20 Jan 1810, p 3. Since Aaron Barnum and Joshua Barnum Sr. were the only married males of that surname known to be living in Otsego Co, NY in 1810, I propose that Polly Barnum was Joshua Barnum Sr.’s wife, the mother of Patience, Joshua Jr., Leonard and others.
• Joshua’s wife was probably born about 1786, based on her age grouping in 1810 & 1820 and the estimated birth year of her eldest daughter [1804]. She and Joshua were likely married about 1802-1803. On each of her sons (Joshua Jr. & Leonard) census records for 1880, it was reported that she was born in New York. No female of her approximate age was recorded in Joshua’s household in 1830, so her death can be placed sometime between 1823 (Leonard’s birth) and 1830.
• On 18 Nov 1818, Joshua Sr. purchased a tract of land from the Holland Land Company located in lot 2, section 13, town 12, range 5 of Niagara Co, NY. This property became part of the town of Newstead, Erie Co, NY in 1823.About 2 ½ years earlier (18 Mar 1816), Judah Barnum (1792 – abt. 1862) made a similar purchase for a tract in section 14 of the same town. These two parcels, about two miles distant, are the locations where Judah and Joshua Sr. established their homesteads.
In the notes section for Joshua Barnum on Barnum.org, you state: “In the sales records of the Holland Land Company there is no sale listed to Joshua Barnum. Apparently, he bought land from one of the original purchasers.” That information is incorrect (see above).
• On the 1820 census, Joshua Barnum was recorded with his family in Clarence, Niagara Co, NY as follows:
o 1 male -10 (Joshua Jr)
o 1 male 26-44 (Joshua Sr)
o 1 female -10
o 2 females 10-15
o 1 female 16-25 (Patience?)
o 1 female 26-44 (Polly?)
Surnames of neighbors included Cummins, Martin, Lyman Evins, Hunt, Lewis, Robinson and Brown. Lyman Evans was the son-in-law of Job Eldred, who died in New Lisbon, Otsego Co, NY.
• The 1830 census of Clarence, Erie Co, NY recorded the following for Joshua Barnum:
o 1 male 5-9 (Leonard)
o 1 male 10-14 (Joshua Jr.)
o 1 male 40-49 (Joshua Sr.)
o 2 females 15-19
Note that no female of an age to be Joshua Sr.’s wife is enumerated.
• The 1840 census of Newstead, Erie Co, NY recorded the following for Joshua Barnum:
o 1 male -5 (Calvin)
o 1 male 15-19 (Leonard)
o 1 male 20-29 (Joshua Jr.)
o 1 male 50-59 (Joshua Sr.)
o 1 female 20-29
o 1 female 30-39 (Likely Joshua Sr.’s wife/Calvin’s mother)
• Thus Joshua Barnum Sr.’s 2nd wife, and Calvin’s mother was born between 1800-1810. The 1880 census of Montrose, Genesee Co, MI recorded that Calvin’s mother was born in NY.
• On the 1855 NY State census, Joshua stated that he was born in CT, and had lived in the town of Newstead for 40 years (1815). His son Calvin, age 18, was the only other individual living in his household.
JUDAH BARNUM c 1790 – after 1860
• Based on census records, Judah Barnum was born about 1790-92. His stated place of birth varies on census records: NH in 1850, Saratoga Co, NY in 1855 and CT in 1860.
However, because questions regarding place of birth were more specific on the 1855 NY State census, Judah’s response of “Saratoga Co, NY” is most likely his correct birth location. Since no other individual recorded near Judah provided a similar birth location, a recording error is unlikely.
• According to records compiled by Oneta Baker (Town Historian for Clarence, Erie, NY 1952-1974), Judah Barnum married a woman named Polly Collins. These records are held in 2011 by the current Town of Clarence Historian.
Judah and Polly were likely married about 1815-16 in Otsego or Niagara Co, NY. Based on census age grouping for 1820 and 1830, she was born between about 1801 and 1804. Since she had at least two children born prior to 1820, her birth can be estimated at around 1801.
• On 18 Mar 1816, Judah purchased a tract of land from the Holland Land Company located in lot 6, section 14, town 12, range 5 of Niagara Co, NY. This property became part of the town of Newstead, Erie Co, NY in 1823.About 2 ½ years later (18 Nov 1818), Joshua Barnum (1782 – abt. 1858) made a similar purchase for a tract in section 13 of the same town. These two parcels, about two miles distant, are the locations where Judah and Joshua Sr. established their homesteads.
• Judah Barnum was recorded with his family on the 1820 census of Clarence, Niagara Co, NY (p 142a), as follows:
o 1 male 16-25 (Judah’s younger brother?)
Note that in 1840, an Aaron Barnum appeared on the census for the town of Lockport, Niagara Co, NY. He was age 40-50, which is consistent with the age of the youngest son of Aaron Barnum, Judah’s father.
o 1 male 26-44 (Judah, about age 30)
o 1 male 45+ (Aaron Barnum?) Aaron would have been about 64 years old.
o 2 females -10
o 1 female 16-25 (Polly)
Surnames of families enumerated near Judah Barnum included Eldrich, Bowdish and Cole; families with these same surnames were neighbors of Joshua Barnum 10 years earlier in New Lisbon, Otsego Co, NY.
• According to the Oneta Baker records cited previously, Warren Barnum was born in the town of Newstead in 1829. Her records also state that Warren’s parents were Judah and Polly (Collins) Barnum, that he lived in the town of Clarence for 20 years, that he never married [sic], and that he died in Clarence on 26 Dec 1884. [Note that on the 1865 NY State census for Newstead, it was recorded that Warren was married once, and divorced.]
Warren may have been named for Warren Collins (1806 - 1880) who was likely Polly’s brother, and who appeared on Erie Co, NY census records in 1830 & 1840.
• The 1830 census of Erie, Erie Co, NY recorded the following for Judah Barnum:
o 1 male -5 (Warren)
o 1 male 30-39
o 1 male 40-49
o 1 female20-29 (Polly)
Because Judah was born ±1790, he could be either of the two adult males enumerated on this census.
• Sometime between 1830 and 1837, Judah married Nancy (?) Hunt. Nancy was the mother of two daughters from a previous marriage: 1) Alvira (1824 – 1898) married Lyman Burdick, and 2) Clarissa (1829 – 1889) married Almon Eldred. Both lived in Clarence and Newstead, Erie Co, NY.
Judah and Nancy were parents of a daughter, Adeline (1838 – 1896), who married Jacob Root and lived in Newstead, Erie Co, NY.
• These additional family members, with the exception of Alvira who had married, are enumerated with Judah Barnum on the 1840 census of Newstead, Erie Co, NY:
o 1 male 10-14 (Warren)
o 1 male 40-49 (Judah)
o 1 female -5 (Adeline)
o 1 female 10-14 (Clarissa Hunt)
o 1 female 40-49 (Nancy)
• On the 1850 census of Newstead, Erie Co, NY, Nancy (?) Hunt Barnum (age 54, b VT) was enumerated with Judah.
• Judah Barnum, age 63, was recorded as a widower in 1855. His place of birth was “Saratoga Co” [NY], and he had been a resident of Newstead for 38 years (1817).
• Judah died sometime between 1860 and 1864; no record of his death, burial or probate has been found to date.
Research conducted by Elaine Morris, Sharon Braun and Mary Ann Meeker.
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