Thoughts and Bewilderments

Thoughts!....observations, and a few hunches.

    These Barnetts were of a group known as the Scot-Irish or Ulster-Scots.  These people started their emigration from Northern Ireland in 1718 with a major peak in 1729-30, when my Barnetts immigrated to Pennsylvania.

    Some of the Barnetts stayed in Pennsylvania for many generations before spreading westward into Ohio, and then into Indiana, Illinois, Missouri..............  There was another group, my ancestors, who were in Virginia before 1760 and in Kentucky before 1776, with even more migration after the Revolutionary War.  Not all left Virginia, some stayed, while others went to North Carolina and Tennessee.   I have no proof of this, but I have always suspected the impetus for the migration into Virginia, from Pennsylvania,  was brought about by the Borden and Beverly Land Grants.  The location and time frame of their moving is very close to these two events (The link to the Moores below, also draws this conclusion).  Here is a well written web page pertaining to Presbyterian Scot-Irishmen who moved to Virginia to partake of this cheap land.  I have encountered a Virginia historical web page that discussed and explained these two land grants, but can not find it now.  Here is Chalkley's Chronicles of the "Scotch-Irish" Settlement in Virginia.

   It is important to differentiate these Barnetts, the Scot-Irish, from the English Barnetts who were in Eastern Virginia in the late 1600s.  It becomes difficult to distinguish between these two groups, since both parties were fond of the names, William and James.  One of the more telltale signs of the early Scot-Irish is their affiliation with the Presbyterian Church.  It seems that when the Scot-Irish moved, they moved in mass, at least in large enough numbers to form a church.

Common Scot-Irish names that show up in the same areas throughout our early history, apparently migrating together.  Moore, Montgomery, Dickey, McNeeley, McClure................
 

Bewilderments!

    I have several individuals who probably belong in this database, but due to incomplete or conflicting information, are excluded.
 

•     First is Capt. Robert Barnett of Lincoln County, Ky.  He apparently received his "Captaincy" about 1782 while fighting in Indian skirmishes.  I suppose he may have gotten his rank during the Revolutionary War, but nothing is known of him prior to 1782.  His parentage and siblings are unknown, but Green Barnett was the executor of his Will.  Green Barnett is included in this database and it is known Robert associated with other Scot-Irish settlers and in the region of Hustonville.  There were Presbyterian churches present in this area which was usually an indication of the presence of the Scot-Irish.  This increases the probability that, he too, was of Scot-Irish descent.

•     William Barnett and Tabitha Paddock/Paddox, are included in the data, but only because they were already included before the discrepancies came to light.  Jim Barnett,  who is a descendant of this couple has different dates for them and due to that difference their lineage is in doubt.  However.......how many William Barnetts married to a Tabitha Paddox could there be???  And in Mercer Co., KY!  Regardless of date discrepancies.

•     Joseph Barnett of Jefferson County, Pennsylvania is also a likely candidate for inclusion but there is not a direct link available.  It is rumored he and his Brother Andrew were orphaned at an early age and raised by relatives in Dauphin County.  There are no other Barnetts known to exist in Dauphin County during this time period.  Andy Barnett is the "historian" for this branch of Barnetts who eventually ended up in Boscobel, Wi.

• Robert Barnett b.Mar. 10, 1700 was married to Rachel Ann Montgomery there was also a Robert Barnett married to Mary Montgomery, Rachel's sister.  Were these two Roberts the same, or different persons????  Got an answer or an opinion?  I would like to hear it.

• The Mecklenburg, NC Barnetts are Scot-Irish apparently from Pennsylvania and therefore likely directly related to my/our Barnetts.  However there is no known association between the two groups.  Even though one of them made the claim he "was born on the banks of the Susquehanna River".

 
• The Barnetts of Londonderry, NH.  Londonderry was founded by Scot-Irish from Londonderry, IR in 1717, also Presbyterian, they were most assuredly related to the Barnetts who settled in Lancaster/Dauphin Co. PA in 1730.  So far it appears that the New Hampshire Barnetts are not as well documented as the Pennsylvania settlers.  There is also the possibility they were the same, simply relocating from the New Hampshire area to Pennsylvania about 1730.