Capt. William Barnes, of Westchester

2. WILLIAM BARNES (Joshua), born certainly by 1660 and perhaps earlier, died at Westchester N. Y., between 1698 and 1706 and perhaps soon after 1700; married by 1690, HANNAH UNDERHILL, daughter of Humphrey Underhill of Rye, N. Y., who died early in 1712. She had married secondly, Daniel Clark of Westchester Gent.
William may have been a younger son of Joshua who made Samuel his chief heir. All accounts place him as a son of Joshua. Dr Seversmith cites a deed of land to William from his father in 1683, which I have not seen but do not question. William sold his Southampton land in 1687, calling himself of Westchester, formerly of Southampton (Southampton Book of Records, 5:225).
Dr. Seversmith gives him a first wife Martha married about 1670, and two children by her, Joshua and William. Apparently Joshua is included because, on 4 April 1693, the earmark that been his grandfather's was entered to Joshua Barnes; apparently the assumption was made that the young Joshua must then have been 21 or over, hence born by 1672, and the date of William's alleged first marriage was therefore set in 1670. However, no evidence whatever has has been seen that William had a son Joshua. His brother Samuel, who remained in Southampton, did have a son Joshua, born in 1683. The old Joshua was recently dead in 1693, and his son Samuel died a few weeks before the earmark was transferred. What is more likely that that Samuel's widow had the earmark entered in the name of her elder son (then aged 10), as he chief heir of Samuel and of the grandfather Joshua? Samuel was to inherit under Joshua's deed, and his male heirs after him, whereas William was living in Westchester and there would be no utility in a son of his entering old Joshua's earmark in Southampton. I therefore challenge the existence of a Joshua son of William.
As for the son William assigned by Dr. Seversmith to the alleged first marriage, there was indeed a son William, but his mother was Hannah Underhill, proved by the will of her father which names William Barnes as his grandson. I have seen no evidence for the existence of a first wife and until it is forthcoming must also challenge the alleged first marriage.
Births of the first three children of William Barnes were recorded at Westchester, where William is called Captain and Justice. In the 1698 census of Westchester, he was entered with wife Hannah and children Sarah, Underhill and Thomas (N. Y. Genealogical and Biographical Record, 38:131). On 5 Jan 1706 land was mentioned bordering on "ye orphans land of William Barnes dec'd" (ibid., 52:71), so he died before that date. On 5 May 1712, Underhill Barnes, aged about 17, son and heir of William Barnes of Westchester, Esq. dec'd and Hannah his wife (since married to Daniel Clark), Hannah also lately dec'd, chose his father-in-law Daniel Clark and uncle Joseph Budd Esq., for guardians (ibid, 51:255). Budd's wife was a sister of Hannah Underhill.

Genealogies of Connecticut Families: From the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Volume 1 (1983)

JOSHUA BARNES OF EAST HAMPTON.

JOSHUA BARNES, brother of William and Charles, of East Hampton, as far as can be ascertained, left but two children (sons), and it is stated that he removed to lower Connecticut towns or to Westchester, N. Y. But the statement is doubted, and it is thought that it must have been a younger Joshua who thus removed, and assistance is desired in tracing this branch of the family. The statements here given are to furnish information for research, and for the purpose of connecting and verifying same.
Joshua Barnes was twice married, his first wife's name being Prudence, the second Amy. He d. about 1690. Children:
2 William Barnes.
3 Samuel Barnes.
2 WILLIAM BARNES, m. first, before 1677, Martha (her surname may have been Horton) ; m. second, before 1693, Hannah (whose surname may have been Budd). About 1685 he moved to Westchester County, N. Y., and d. about 1712. Children:
4 William Barnes.
5 Thomas Barnes. ***
6 Sarah Barnes. ***
7 Underhill Barnes, b. 1695.
Probably the three younger children are by the second wife, who m. second, Daniel Clark, as in 1712 Underhill Barnes chose his stepfather, Daniel Clark, and his uncle, Joseph Budd, guardians.

The Barnes family year book; an annual publication issued under the authority of the Barnes family association (1907) by Trescott C. Barnes

Other sources

1. Barnes Families of Eastern Long Island and Branford, Conn. Donald Lines Jacobus. Publication: Boston: NEHGS Register 123 [1969] Magazine pg. 83
2. Genealogies of Connecticut Families: From the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Volume 1 (Google eBook). Page 88
3. Archives Sheet on William Barnes and Hannah Underhill. (Vol 1 p. 279, 86 Col. Fam of L.I, & Conn., Westchester Co. Wills p. 145,44,395, Underhill Genealogy Vol 4 p. 7-8.-I

Links

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