Acknowledgements / Research Outline

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I learned about my Barnes ancestry via W. W. Sellers' book "A History of Marion County, South Carolina", published in 1901. I first read this ca 1984 or 1985 while reading the section on my Campbell ancestors. Mr. Sellers wrote the following (I've bolded some text for emphasis):

"James Campbell, Jr, married Miss Molsey (Mary) Barnes, and had Ebby and James, and three daughters. One of the latter died unmarried. James (second) Jr, married Chloe Rogers, and had one son, Frank; his wife died; he married no more; is now dead. Frank married a Miss Jones, daughter of Ebby Jones, and is now a young citizen and promises well. Ebby Campbell married Charlotte Lane, and has six children - three sons, Spencer, George and another, name unknown; one daughter married Leonard Lewis, and has a family (small); another daughter married some one unknown; think the other daughter is single." ("A History of Marion County, South Carolina", page 486. 1902, by W. W. Sellers, Esq)

Sellers wrote from personal knowledge as well as from data shared with him by family members, so although he is often correct, sometimes he is wrong. So far I have not found any evidence confirming that Mary, wife of James Campbell was a Barnes. That is not to say that I doubt it, but since I have not found any evidence to support it, it should be considered suspect until some primary evidence is located.

There is one piece of evidence, though circumstantial, that may support Mary being a Barnes. A deed was made on 30 Dec 1822 between Mary's husband James Campbell and David Barnes for land on Maiden Down Bay. (Marion Co, SC Deed Book O page 263).

Now this deed does not prove that there is any relationship between the Campbell and Barnes family, but it does prove there was an association at least. David Barnes was born ca 1780/90, so of perfect age to be Mary's older brother (but that is just a guess).

I researched the Barnes via census records, probate records, Equity Records, and other sources, but found no solid leads on who Mary's ’s parents might be. Based only on census analysis, I have narrowed it down to James Barnes (1765/75) as the most likely suspect. However, I have no solid proof that he is Mary's father.

James Barnes (bef 1755) and Charles Barnes (bef 1755), (possibly brothers), lived near the Campbell family, so these may be Mary's relatives. I don't think that either of them are her father, though both were old enough. Charles is more likely than James, though. Another possible father for Mary is Richard Barnes (1755/65), though I have no proof for him either. One final possibility is another man named James Barnes (1765/75) who seems to be related to the other Barnes families in some way. This last named James Barnes is my prime suspect, currently, to be Mary's father, but it is highly circumstantial.

The 1850 census gives Mary's birth place as "Marion Dist, SC", while the 1860 census just shows "SC". Since there were so many Barnes families in neighboring NC Counties, it is possible she came from there, but so far no proof, and the 1850 and 1860 census don't support it.

I have consulted all the sources I have available (see below) to try and document all the white Barnes families in Marion County from 1790 through ca 1870. Many families have been documented on up through 1900 or later based on availability of records. Someday I will attempt to document the black Barnes families, several of whom appeared in Marion for the 1870 census.

I have not yet done much research on the Barnes of neighboring counties or in eastern North Carolina where some of the Marion County Barnes may have originated.

Major sources used

1790 census for Georgetown District, SC; 1800, 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900 and 1910 Federal Census Records for Marion District and Marion County.

"Marion County Court Records Court of Common Pleas 1788 to June 1861", Extracted by Lucille Utley, Transcribed by Teri Dalrymple, Three Rivers Historical Society, 2002

"Marion County South Carolina Abstracts of Deeds Volume One Books A - E 1800-1811", by Lucille Utley, and Alita White Sutcliffe, 1996

"Marion County South Carolina Abstracts of Deeds Volume Two Books F-I & K 1811-1823", by Lucille Utley, and Alita White Sutcliffe, 1997

"Marion County South Carolina Extracts from Equity Rolls", by Lucille Utley

"Probate Records, Marion County, South Carolina" (3 Volumes), by Lucille Utley, Danny Smith, 1985.

"A History of Marion County, South Carolina", 1902, by W. W. Sellers, Esq

"101 Cemeteries in Marion County South Carolina" Compiled by The Marion County Historical Society, 1985.

Last Updated February 13, 2005

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