Robert Barber

• Profile photo: HOUSE BUILT BY ROBERT BARBAR, IN CHESTER, PA., ABOUT 1699.

Now owned by Isaiah H. Mirkil,

• Reference: Atlee: Full Text: https://archive.org/details/genealogicalreco00barb Genealogical Record of Atlee Family of Lancaster, Pa.: The Descendants of Judge William Augustus Atlee and Colonel Samuel John Atlee of Lancaster County, Pa. by Edwin AtLee Barber, A.M.: Philadelphia: Press of Wm. F. Fell & Co. 1884
• Residence: Knaresborough, Yorkshire, England - 1690
  • Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Nov 25 2021, 14:16:26 UTC

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• Reference: Barber Full Text: https://archive.org/details/genealogyofbarbe00barb see also https://archive.org/details/genealogyofbarbe00barb/page/n3/mode/2up... Genealogy of the Barber Family-The Descendants of Robert Barber of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. By Edwin AtLee Barber, A.M. Philadelphia, Press of Wm. F. Fell & Co. 1890 pp. 18-22

ROBERT BARBER, OF COLUMBIA, PA.

(1) I. ROBERT BARBER, the head of the Lancaster County branch, was the second son of John Barber, of Yorkshire, England, and came to America to join his uncle, Robert Barbar, of Chester, Pa., about the year 1699 [21], as an apprentice at the trade of shoemaking. At the death of the uncle, in 1708, the nephew inherited a considerable portion of the estate (see will of Robert Barbar in Appendix), and soon took his relative's place in public and religious affairs.

(2) He married, 5th month, 17th, 1718, HANNAH TIDMARSH, daughter of William Tidmarsh. According to the records of Chester Meeting (Certificates of Marriage, Vol. 9, p. 46), the following relatives of the bride and groom were present : James Barbar (his father's cousin), William Tidmarsh, Rose Tidmarsh and Sarah Tidmarsh.

Robert Barber seems to have entered actively into politics at an early age. At a Council held at Philadelphia, Oct. 3d, 1719, which was presided over by the Honourable William Keith, Esq., Governeur, to receive the returns of an election for sheriff and coroner, " Nicholas Fairlamb and Robert Barber being returned for the office of sheriff, Nicholas Fairlamb is appointed." Robert's defeat does not seem to have discouraged him, for we find him soon after running for the office of coroner, and at a Council held at Philadelphia on Oct 4th, 1721, he was declared elected coroner of the county of Chester.

In 1724 he was elected a member of the Board of Assessors of Chester County, and it was while acting in this capacity, and on duty in Conestoga township, that he discovered the land on the Susquehanna, which he afterward purchased. In the year 1726 he took up 500 acres of land on the eastern bank of the river, above where the town of Columbia now stands. This tract was conveyed to him by purchase, on August 19th, 1726, by Jeremiah Langhorne, agent of the proprietors. The title runs —

Wm. Penn to George Beale, of Surrey, England, 17-18 of 11th mo., 1701.

George Beale to Jeremiah Langhorne, 17-18 Oct., 1718.

Jeremiah Langhorne to Robert Barber, 19-20 Aug., 1726.

Under date of August 30-31 , by lease and release, Robert Barber conveyed to Susanna Wright, at Chester, 100 acres ; and by similar instruments, September 20th, to John Wright, 150 acres of this tract. Samuel Blunston purchased, August 23d, 1726, from James Logan, 300 acres adjoining the above- he afterward added, by Patent, June 2d, 1741, 225 acres purchased from the Penns, bringing his lands to the Chicques Hills, as stated in Miss Barber's memoirs. [22] John Wright and Samuel Blunston left Chester and Darby for Conestoga, in order to begin a settlement at Shawanah town on Susquehanna, upon the 12th day of September, 1726. The tradition is that Robert Barber preceded them and selected the site. They were all members of the Society of Friends. None of them seem to have settled permanently with their families upon this land until a year or so later. The exact date of Robert Barber's return to the Susquehanna is not known, but he probably left Chester with his family some time in the year 1728. He and his wife were present at Chester Monthly Meeting, 6th month, 28th, 1727, as representatives from Chester Preparative Meeting. At a monthly meeting held 1st month 25th, 1728, at Providence meeting house, the records of Chester Meeting show that " Robert Barber being about to Remove himself and family to Conastoga Requests a Certificate to Newgarden monthly meeting on that account." The certificate was granted at next meeting, held 2d month 29th, 1728.

The Barbers do not seem to have availed themselves of this certificate, however, and did not connect themselves with any meeting in Lancaster County during the lifetime of Robert. On the 28th of 3d month, 1733, Chester Monthly Meeting " being informed by a member of Newgarden Monthly Meeting that Robert Barber still neglects to deliver his Certificate to that meeting which he received from this several years ago although he hath formerly been advised thereto, Jacob Howell and Samuel Levis Jn' are apointed to write to him again and lay the ill consequence of the neglect thereof before him." The committee wrote to him, but the result does not appear in the records. At that time New Garden Monthly Meeting included the territory which in 1737 was set apart for Sadsbury Monthly Meeting. The New Garden records do not contain anything about the Barber family. In consequence of this neglect on the part of Robert Barber, the dates of birth of the children born in Lancaster County are not found in the records of any of the monthly meetings, and it has not been found possible to procure them elsewhere.

Just below where Columbia now stands, Robert Barber built his house, near the present residence of Mr. Jacob C. Stoner, but the old building has long since been torn down. The old log prison stood about fifty feet in front of where Mr. Stoner's house now stands. He continued in politics for several years, and at a council held at Philadelphia, on May 8th, 1729, he was appointed first sheriff* of Lancaster County, after its erection, and his commission was ordered to be prepared. At a council held at the same place, on Oct. 4th, 1729, he was reappointed sheriff. He was not a candidate for reelection the following year, as Lancaster had been made the county seat, much to his disappointment ; and he was succeeded by John Galbraith of Donegal, on Oct. 3d, 1730.

Robert Barber was one of seven persons appointed to view and layout a road from Lancaster to the division line between the counties of Chester and Lancaster, at a council held at Philadelphia, Jan. 29th, 1730. In 1740 he was elected Commissioner of Lancaster County. He was prominent in Cressap's war, and though he did not bear arms he was active in the interest of the Penns. He was for many years amongst the foremost men of Lancaster County in all public enterprises, but gradually went out of notice, and devoted the latter years of his life to the support of his large family.

Robert Barber died at Columbia, in September, 1749, aged about 57. He was buried in a part of the old Columbia cemetery which was called in early days the " Brick Graveyard," because it was enclosed by a wall, the bricks of which were brought from England. The Barbers being Friends, their graves were unmarked, and now all traces of them are lost. Sheriff Barber died intestate, and letters of administration were taken out Oct. 6th, 1749, by his widow,[23] who, with the children, had entered into an agreement to divide the real estate, under date of Sept. 17th, 17-19. No portrait of Robert Barber seems to be in existence, but his signature and seal are here reproduced from an old document, dated Jan. 12th, 1739, which has been furnished by Samuel Evans, Esq., of Columbia : ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

• [21] It is supposed that Robert Barber came to America with the children of Mrs. Williams, a sister of Hannah Ogden, reaching Chester in the 3d month, 1699, their passage being paid by Robert Barbar, the uncle. The records, however, do not show this. Of these children, three were bound to Robert Barbar. The fourth was bound to David Ogden.
• [22] See Appendix D.
• [23 ] At a monthly meeting of Sadsbury, held at Lampeter 3d of 3d mo., 1755, " Widdow Barber produced a certificate from Providence bearing date the 29th of þe 2d mo 1728 Recommending her in unity, and its Rec'd, the Widdow Barber's Children Requests to come under care of Friends." At a monthly meeting held at Lampeter the 5th of 5th mo. 1755, "The Widdow Barber's Childrens Request is granted." —From Minutes of Sadsbury Monthly Meeting, p. 71.

Issue of Robert and Hannah Tidmarsh Barber :

FIRST BRANCH.

(3) II. 1. ELEANOR BARBER, eldest dr. of Robert and Hannah Tidmarsh Barber, was b. at Chester, Pa., 11th mo. 1st, 1718 ; m., in April, 1734, JOHN WRIGHT, JR., b. Mar. 18th, 1710, in Manchester, England, son of John Wright and Patience Gibson. He d. Oct., 1759, at Wright's Ferry, York Co., Pa. She d. . p 23

SECOND BRANCH.

(183) 11. 2. JOHN BARBER, eldest son of Robert and Hannah Tidmarsh Barber, was b. in Chester, Pa., 8th mo. 13th, 1720. He m. MARY _____, previous to Nov. 5th, 1747, as appears in a release of that date, [24] in which " John Barber and Mary, his wife " are the grantors named therein.

By a quit-claim deed dated Aug. 11th, 1747, " between Robert Barber of the township of Hempfield in ye County of Lancaster and Province of Pennsylvania, Cordwainer, and Hannah his wife of the one part and John Barber of the township of Hallam in the County and Province afs/d" Yeoman oldest son and heir at law of the s/d Robert Barber," [25] the old Barber mansion in Chester was conveyed to John, who shortly after sold the property to one Peter Dicks. At his father's death John received 50 acres on east end of tract near Columbia, Pa.

Very little is known of this son, but according to the narrative of Miss Sarah Barber, he is supposed to have been killed by Indians near the present site of Pittsburgh, where he had gone to trade in furs. This has become a family tradition, but whether true or not, we have now no means of ascertaining. Samuel Evans, Esq., of Columbia, has recently discovered, through an old document in the Register's Office at Lancaster, that John Barber died in the year 1759 ; Jacob Furry and Samuel Bethel were the appraisers.[26] By a quitclaim deed dated June 7th, 1768, Mary, [27] the widow of John, released her dower to Hannah Barber, Administratrix of Robert Barber, deceased, for a consideration of £37. In the division of the personal property of the latter, made by order of the Orphans' Court in 1769, it is stated that John, Thomas and Elizabeth Barber, minor children, died intestate, under age, unmarried and without issue, a manifest error, so far, at least, as applied to John, who was married and twenty-nine years old when his father died in 1749. It is believed that John left no issue. pp. 34-35
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• [24] Vide Book G, p. 302, West Chester, Pa., court records.
• [25]Ibid., p. 277.
• [26]The Administrator's bond was dated May 5th, 1759. In the appraisement of the " Sundrys Belonging to the Estate," the item 15 lb of Beaver " occurs.
• [27] " It appears John Barber is gone out in marriage, therefore two Friends is to go and treat with him." From Minutes of Monthly Meeting of Sudshury, 5th mo, 5th, 1755. At a Monthly Meeting of Sadshury "held at Lampiter," 1st of 3d mo. 1756, *' After Deliberate Dealing with John Barber for his outgoing in marriage, two friends is to prepare a testimonial against him."

THIRD BRANCH.

(185) II. 3. ROBERT BARBER, second son of Robert and Hannah Tidmarsh Barber, was b. in Chester, Pa., 10th mo. 10th, 1722; m., 9th mo. 26th, 1746, SARAH WRIGHT , [28] dr. of Samuel and Elizabeth Wright Taylor, of Tinicum Island, Pa., who was b. 12th mo. 3d, 1729. He was first lieut. of the first company formed in Hempfield township, Lancaster Co., in 1775, of which his brother James was captain, his brother Samuel was second lieut. and his son John was a private. He took the oath of allegiance to the State of Pennsylvania in H. township July 1st, 1777. He received 62 acres of ground from his mother on Oct. 14th, 1761, according to an arrangement made by his father during his lifetime. He built the brick house, which is still standing in Columbia, on the same plot of ground on which his father's house formerly stood. The bricks in the house were probably brought from England. The woodwork was mainly oak, as stated in Miss Barber's Memoir, in Appendix. This was erected previous to the year 1763, as it was here that the Paxton boys stopped on themorning after murdering the Indians.[29] The structure is now occupied as an office by the Susquehanna Iron Co., and by the Superintendent as a dwelling. The main portion of the building is as it was 125 years ago.The projecting roof running around between the two stories has been removed and other changes have been made in recent years, such as the addition of a porch in front and a kitchen at one side in the rear. The old-style doors and window sashes have also been replaced by modern ones. Robert Barber d. Oct. 4th, 1782. She d. Oct. 6th, 1793. pp. 36-37 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

• [28] At a Monthly Meeting of Sadsbury held at Sadsbury the 6th of 8th mo.,1746, " Robert Barber and Saiah Taylour, Daughter of Samuel Taylour, both of Hempfield, appeared in this meeting it being The First time, and Declared they have Intentions of marriage with each other, Joseph Steer, and John Griffeth, is appointed to Enquire, as to the young mans conversation and clearness from all others on the account of marriage, and of Parents consent and that the "Women do the Like on þe young womans account and Report to next Meeting." From Minutes of Sadsbury Monthly Meetiny, -p. 93.
• [29] See Miss Barber's Memoir, Appendix D.

FOURTH BRANCH.

(1063) II. 4. THOMAS BARBER, third son of Robert and Hannah Tidmarsh Barber, was b. in Chester, Pa., 10th mo. 20th, 1724, and died in his minority, without issue. p. 90

FIFTH BRANCH.

(1064) II. 5. NATHANIEL BARBER, fourth son of Robert and Hannah Tidmarsh Barber, was b. in Chester, Pa., 9th mo. 9th, 1727 ; m. MARY CONNER. He received of his father's estate the saw-mill on Barber's Run, built in 1727, with about seventy-five acres of land, and afterwards he seems to have acquired the old mansion house erected by his father in 1726, which was first left to his brother Thomas. Nathaniel took the oath of allegiance to the State of Pennsylvania in Hempfield Township, Lancaster Co., on Aug. 8th, 1777. He d. about June 10th, 1782, intestate, letters of administration being granted to Mary Barber, the widow, and James Barber, brother, of the deceased, under date of Aug. 24th, 1782. p. 91

SIXTH BRANCH.

(1259) II. 6. ELIZABETH BARBER, second dr. of Robert and Hannah Tidmarsh Barber, was b. in Lancaster Co., Pa., 1st mo. 24th, 1729, and d. in her minority, without issue. p. 102

SEVENTH BRANCH.

(1260) II. 7. MARY BARBER, third dr. of Robert and Hannah Tidmarsh Barber, was b. in Lancaster Co., Pa., 3d mo. 8th, 1732; m. (probably in 1754), THOMAS MINSHALL,[33] eldest son of Joshua Minshall (Quaker) and Jane Atkinson. Thomas inherited the mansion farm of 300 acres, about one and a half miles back of AYrightsville, Pa. He became a very prominent man in York Co. In 1758 he raised a company of volunteers, and marched to Bedford to join Gen. Forbes' army. The Barbers and Wrights raised such a hubbub that he was compelled to resign. About 1772 he sold his farm and moved to Middletown, Pa. She d. about the close of the Revolutionary war, at Middletown. He d. about 1784 or '85. p. 103 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

• [33] T. M. in this year requested to come under the care of Friends of Sadsbury Meeting. He was a birthright member.

EIGHTH BRANCH.

(1274) II. 8. SARAH BARBER, fourth dr. of Robert and Hannah Tidmarsh Barber, b. in Lancaster Co., Pa., p. 104

NINTH BRANCH.

(1275) II. 9. JAMES BARBER, fifth son of Robert and Hannah Tidmarsh Barber, was born in Lancaster Co., Pa. He married ELIZABETH WRIGHT, dr. of William Wright, of Manor township, who m. a dr. of John Cartlidge, the old Indian trader, who settled near the mouth of the Conestoga about the year 1710. James Barber built a grist mill near the mouth of " Barber's Run " during the Revolutionary period, having received from his mother 40 acres of land, on April 19th, 1770, according to an arrangement made by his father before he died. He was Captain of the first company of Hempfield township in 1775. He became a Captain in Colonel Bartram Galbraith's Battalion in 1776, and Sub-lieutenant of Lancaster County. On Aug. 8th, 1777, he took the oath of allegiance to the State of Pennsylvania in Hempfield township. In a letter to Col. Samuel John AtLee, in 1780, President Joseph Reed wrote : " In Consequence of your Recommendation Commissions have issued to Messrs. Carpenter, Barber and Clark, which vou will receive herewith." The Barber mentioned was undoubtedly James, the subject of this sketch. He commanded a company in the battle of Long Island, Aug. 27th, 1776, being the Captain Barber referred to by his nephew, John Barber in his letter which appears elsewhere (Appendix E) in this book. He d. near Columbia, Pa., about the year 1786. She d. at same place in March, 1782. pp. 104-105

TENTH BRANCH.

(1512) II. 10. SAMUEL BARBER, sixth son of Robert and Hannah Tidmarsh Barber, m. MARTHA HENRY, of Lancaster, Pa. He erected a fulling-mill near the mouth of"Barber's Run." He was second lieutenant of the first company of Hempfield Township in 1775. He took the oath of allegiance to the State of Pennsylvania in Hempfield Township, Lancaster Co., on Aug. 8th, 1777. He moved to Buffalo Valley, Northumberland Co. (now Union), about 1787, in which year he was a resident of White Deer Hole Valley, and was taxed with one horse and two cows. He lived for some time at the mouth of Switzer Run, west of New Berlin, and was killed by the falling of an old building, which he was taking down, in 1792. Martha Barber, his widow, lived in East Buflfalo in 1793, in which year she was taxed on 150 acres of land, one horse and one cow. She was an inhabitant of same place in 1796, when she is mentioned as the owner of a cabin. She lived in the old place (now, or lately, the property of Philip Seebold) as late as 1812.[37] She was quite a noted character in her neighborhood, and known to every one as "Aunt Mattie." She d. about 1826 or '27. p. 126 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

• [37] See Linn's Annals of Buffalo Valley, pp. 276, 278.
• Religion: Society of Friends
• Residence: United StatesKnaresborough, York, England - 1690
• Residence: Knaresborough, Yorkshire, England - 1690
  • Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Nov 26 2021, 15:21:57 UTC
• Reference: Ancestry Genealogy - SmartCopy: Nov 28 2021, 16:29:27 UTC

Robert was the second son of John Barbar of Yorkshire, England. His mother was Margaret Myers (Mires) according to two recordings of the marriage in Quaker records for monthly meetings of Knaresborough. He sailed to America in 1699 and went to live with his uncle, Robert Barbar in Chester County, Pennsylvania. He was an apprentice shoemaker. When his uncle died in 1708, he inherited a considerable portion of the estate.

In 1718 Robert married Hannah Tidmarsh in the Quaker tradition in Chester County. They had ten children: Eleanor, John, Robert Jr, Thomas, Nathaniel, Elizabeth, Mary, Sarah, Samuel, and James.

Robert got involved in politics as his uncle had done. He was elected coroner in 1721. He was elected a member of the Board of Assessors in 1724. Two years later he purchased 500 acres on the banks of the Susquehanna River in Conestoga Township of Lancaster County. Two years after that he and his family moved onto the land. In 1729 Robert was appointed the first sheriff for Lancaster County. He died in 1749 at age 57.

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Nov 28 2021, 16:32:18 UTC

THE BARBER FAMILY IN THE UNITED STATES.

"Barber" pp. 9-10

Of the several stocks of the Barber family which came to America from Great Britain, this volume has to deal only with the descendants of Robert Barber, of Lancaster Co., Pa., whose ancestry, it is generally supposed, belonged to York- shire, England. It has not been found possible to trace the pedigree back of the father of Robert, whose name was John.

There are several distinct families of this name in the United States. The Barbour family of Virginia, according to Mr. R. A. Brock, of Richmond, claim to be of the lineage of John Barbour, one of the earliest Scotch poets and historians, and Arch-Deacon of Aberdeen in 1357, who died in 1396. Some of this family settled in Virginia as early as 1651, but no connection can be traced to the Yorkshire stock. The spelling of the name in the earlier records of Virginia was Barber. Another family of this name went to New Jersey, and a third settled in Rhode Island, at King's Town, previous to 1687. In the Public Records of Bucks Co., Pa., mention is made of one "John Barber and Elizabeth his wife, eldest daughter of John Songhurst of Shipley, County of Sussex, England," from list of arrivals with Wm. Penn, in 1682. The will of this John Barber is recorded in Philadelphia.[1] It was written on board the " Welcome,'" " now going for Pennsylvania," dated 7th mo. 20th, 1682, and in it allusion is made to a brother Edward, and sisters Mary, Sarah and Hannah, and to his wife Elizabeth, then with child. According to an account of lands in Pennsylvania granted by Penn to several purchasers within the kingdom of England, Ireland and Scotland,[2] John Barber received 250, and subsequently 2500, and John Songhurst 1250 (presumably acres). The former was evidently coming out to take up his grant, and is believed to have died on the voyage, or soon after his arrival. No connection between this family and the Lancaster County branch, however, can be traced.

A fifth family of the same name came to America from Scotland. There were three brothers — James, who settled in New York, and David and John, who went to Centre County, Pa. Judge John Barber, the last named, with Judge Potter, held the first court in Bellefonte, in 1800.

Of the descendants of Robert Barber, of Lancaster Co., Pa., one branch went to Buflfalo Valley, Northumberland Co., Pa. (now Union), about 1785, and from there a colony migrated to Stephenson Co., Ill., in the year 1835.

• [1] Book A, p. 10, Register of Wills Office.
• [2] See Penna. Archives, 1st Series, Vol. I, pp. 40-42. Also Annals of Penna., Vol. I.