John Barnwell

A Patriot of the American Revolution for SOUTH CAROLINA with the rank of BRIGADIER GENERAL. DAR Ancestor #: A006601

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John Barnwell (July 15, 1748 – August 27, 1800) was the son of Nathaniel Barnwell and Mary Gibbes. During the American Revolution, he served in the South Carolina Provincial Congress (1775–1776) and the first South Carolina General Assembly (1776). As a major in the South Carolina militia during the American Revolutionary War, he was captured at Charlestown in 1780 and was later released in a prisoner exchange. For more than a year, he was held on board the prison ship Pack Horse. He was appointed a general in the South Carolina militia in 1781.

He frequently served in the South Carolina Senate from 1778 until his death. He was elected to the Confederation Congress in 1784 but did not attend. He was a member of the state convention to ratify the United States Constitution in 1788. In 1795, he was elected to the 4th United States Congress but declined to serve.

Barnwell County, South Carolina, is named for him, or possibly his brother Robert Barnwell or his grandfather John Barnwell.

He was the son of Nathaniel Barnwell and Mary Gibbes. During the American Revolution, he served in the South Carolina Provincial Congress (1775–1776) and the first South Carolina General Assembly (1776). As a major in the South Carolina militia during the American Revolutionary War, he was captured at Charlestown in 1780 and was later released in a prisoner exchange. He was appointed a general in the South Carolina militia after the war.

During the Revolutionary war, on February 3 1779, at 4pm, the British had advanced on am American formation with fixed bayonets, but effective fire from the line and from the two field pieces of the Charleston Artillery had halted their advance and forced them to retreat. As the British retreated toward their flotilla at Laurel Bay, the intrepid action of Captain John Barnwell (son of Colonel Nathaniel Barnwell) of the Beaufort militia and a few light horses nearly turned the defeat into a rout. By riding around the enemy formation and capturing stragglers, Barnwell made the impression of hot pursuit and nearly panicked Major Gardner’s command. Barnwell captured twenty-six men including Captain Bruere, son of the governor of Bermuda; with only a few men, he could not hold them all and Bruere escaped. Barnwell was given a field promotion to major for this action.

He frequently served in the South Carolina Senate from 1778 until his death. He was elected to the Confederation Congress in 1784 but did not attend. He was a member of the state convention to ratify the United States Constitution in 1788. In 1795, he was elected to the 4th United States Congress but declined to serve.

Barnwell County, South Carolina, is named for him, or possibly his brother Robert Barnwell or his grandfather John Barnwell.