1. Richard¹ Barnes; born December 1785 in England as calculated from his age at death; married Mary Burton, probably the daughter of Peter Burton and Elizabeth Pentney, 2 January 1810 in Langham Parish Church, Langham, Norfolk, England. The marriage was performed by the curate, John Burrell. Banns were published in the church on the 3rd, 10th and 31st of December, 1809; he died 19 June 1872 in Danville, Caledonia Co., VT;¹ buried in Green Cemetery, Danville, Caledonia Co., VT.

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     There is no record of Richard's birth or baptism in the Langham parish records. In fact, the first Barnes baptism found in the register is the 27 November 1807 baptism of Martha, daughter of Mark and Ann (Massingham) Barnes. In addition to the children of Mark Barnes and those of Richard Barnes, children of a John and Blanche (Bone) Barnes were also being baptized in Langham from 1807 to about 1834. Mark Barnes and Ann Massingham marry in Langham in 1807. Unlike Richard and John, Mark was literate and signed the marriage register very clearly. His entry in the 1851 census gives his birth place as the parish of Sculthorpe in Norfolk. Richard and John have banns published on the same days and marry within a few weeks of each other, possibly indicating a close relationship between the two men.

     Clues to Richard's parentage may be found in marriage and baptismal records of parishes surrounding Langham. The earliest Barnes marriage recorded in the Langham parish register is that of a Jane Barnes of Cley-next-the-Sea to a John Barker in 1782. The marriage of Robert Barnes to Mary Harper, both of Langham Parish, is the second. This couple could be the parents of Richard Barnes. His marriage to Mary Burton was witnessed by a couple of the same name, Robert and Mary Barnes. Although none of the four are literate, Richard's mark is very similar to that of the witness Mary Barnes. No conclusion can be reached from this similarity however. The marks are not truly distinctive and cannot be reliably identified as the marks of the couple married in 1785.

     The baptisms of the children of Robert Barnes and Mary Harper were found in the nearby parish of Saxlingham. Their first children appear to be twin boys, Richard and John, born (or baptised privately) 15 January 1788. This coincidence is too strong to be ignored. Richard's close relationship to the John Barnes of Langham Parish supports this possible identity. In addition, John Barnes' 1851 census entry states that he was born in the parish of Saxlingham in Norfolk. However, the birth of Richard, as determined from his age at death, is the last of December 1785. His year of birth from census evidence varies from 1785 [age 75 in 1860] to 1786 [age 84 in 1870] to 1787 [age 63 in 1850]. The evidence found to date supporting Richard's identity as the son of Robert Barnes and Mary (Harper) Barnes is suggestive, but not conclusive.

     No record of Richard Barnes and his family has been found on available passenger list indexes for various East Coast United States ports. Grandson William Henry Peck's obituary states that his age at the time his family left England was nine months. This would place the date of emigration at approximately June 1836. In all probability, the family was part of the large emigration of poor families from England which occurred after passage of the Poor Law Amendment Act in 1834. They probably left Norfolk from the port of Great Yarmouth or Lynn and sailed to a port in Canada. A quote extracted from Labouring Life in Norfolk Villages 1834-1914:

Emigration was also encouraged, and between the spring of 1835 and the summer of 1836 ninety-one parishes sent 3,068 adults and children abroad, chiefly to Canada, and to this number must be added those who went assisted by friends. Emigration fever reached its height early in 1836. Ship after ship came from the north and anchored at Lynn or Yarmouth. Labourers and their families streamed into the ports only to find every berth filled and another ship on its way to accommodate them. Early arrivals lived on board for a few days while the complement gathered, and then moved off with flags flying on a journey that can never have been comfortable.

     Richard Barnes first appears in the Danville, Vermont records in the federal census of 1840. His family as enumerated here presents no surprises. It is comprised of Richard himself, age 50-60, and a male child under 5 [William Henry Peck b. ca. 1837], a female age 10-15 [Harriet b. 1829], a female age 15-20 [Mary b. ca. 1823], 2 females age 20-30 [Julia Ann b. 1817 and Elizabeth b. 1820], and one female 50-60 [Mary (Burton) Barnes b. ca. 1788]. The Richard Barnes household as enumerated in the 1850 Danville census includes Richard, a farmer, age 63; Mary, age 61; Mary, age 27; Mary's illegitimate son Fred E., age 1. All were born in England except Fred, born in Vermont. The household is the same in 1860, but Richard and wife Mary are listed as paupers. Daughter Mary is a washerwoman. The elderly couple, although listed as a separate family, are shown in the 1870 census of Danville residing in the dwelling of son-in-law George Parker. Richard, age 84, is listed again as a farmer who is eligible to vote. Wife Mary gives her age as 82 and daughter Mary, age 47, is a land-owner. She owns real estate valued at $400 with personal property of $300. Richard and Mary were unable to read or write. In Danville, this lack placed them in the minority; but in Langham Parish, this was not at all unusual. A survey of the marriage registers from 1802 through 1812 showed that approximately 70% of the couples marrying in this time period signed with a mark.

     The first time Richard Barnes appears in the records associated with an occupation is the birth and baptism of his second child, Henry, in 1813. This record shows him to be a labourer, the occupation of the majority of Langham Parish residents. In the 1828 baptism record of daughter Harriet, he appears as a lime-burner. Although this job apparently paid good wages, it was arduous and effectively a 12 hour a day, seven days a week, job for the months of February through December. The census records of 1850 and 1870 list Richard's occupation as that of farmer; but his death entry in 1872 shows him to have become simply a laborer again in his old age.

     Richard Barnes died at the age of 86 years 6 months. The cause of death is listed as simply "old age." He was buried with his wife in a lot which includes his daughter Mary and grandson Fred. The three tombstones rest under a tree and border Danville Green Cemetery's central path.

     Like immigrants everywhere, Richard and his family, despite speaking English, still appeared most comfortable with fellow English immigrants. The three Barnes daughters who married all wed native Englishmen. It appears that Richard and wife Mary never learned to read and write. The fact that he was supposedly eligible to vote implies that he became an American citizen, but his naturalization has not yet been found. He does not appear to have owned land and the fact that he was listed as a pauper in the 1860 federal census schedule implies that his life was not easy in this country. It must have been difficult leaving his sons behind in Langham Parish. Whether they communicated with each other is now unknown. Was it worth it? Only Richard Barnes could say if his life was better in this country than in his native England.

     Mary Burton was born August 1788 in England as calculated from her age at death. She died 25 May 1879 in Danville, Caledonia Co., VT.² She was buried in Green Cemetery, Danville, Caledonia Co., VT.

     Mary Burton's parents were named as Peter and Elizabeth Burton in her death record. Peter is a name which does not appear frequently in the Langham parish records and there is only one Peter and Elizabeth Burton mentioned therein. The first time this couple appears is in the very difficult-to-read burial registers of the parish in two consecutive entries: the burials of a daughter and a son, John, in March of 1798. The baptism of daughter Ann appears in 1802. Both Peter and Elizabeth are buried in Langham and their ages at the time of death indicate the probability that Ann was their last child. Elizabeth would have been about 41 years of age in 1802. No clue to the earlier location of this Burton family has been found to date. Therefore, the identification of Peter and Elizabeth (Pontney) Burton as the parents of Mary (Burton) Barnes is possible, but no direct evidence has been found to support this.

     Like her husband, Mary (Burton) Barnes was unable to read or write. She is found in the censuses of 1840 [unnamed female age 50-60] through 1870 in the household of husband Richard Barnes and appears to maintain a close relationship with her daughters. Daughter Mary resides with the couple throughout their lifetime; daughter Elizabeth Palmer and her family are enumerated in the dwelling next to them in 1850; daughter Hannah Parker and husband George provide the dwelling place for the elderly couple in 1870.

     Mary (Burton) Barnes died at the age of 90 years 9 months. The cause of death was listed as old age. She had outlived her husband, two of her four daughters, two of her three sons, and at least five grandchildren. She is buried with her husband, daughter Mary, and grandson Fred in the Danville Green Cemetery. The tombstone marking the grave is very worn and becomes more illegible with each passing year.

     Known children of Richard¹ Barnes and Mary Burton were as follows:

• + 2 i. Thomas² Barnes, born 12 September 1810 Langham, Norfolk, England; married Anne Shorten.

• + 3 ii. Henry Barnes, born 28 January 1813 Langham, Norfolk, England; married Hannah Bone.

• 4 iii. William Barnes; born 22 January 1815 in Langham, Norfolk, England; baptized 29 January 1815 in Langham Parish, Langham, Norfolk, England, . The baptism was performed by John Burrell, Curate; buried 17 March 1817 in Langham, Norfolk, England.

• + 5 iv. Ann Barnes, born 3 September 1817 Langham, Norfolk, England; married Robert Peck.

• + 6 v. Elizabeth Barnes, born 22 June 1820 Langham, Norfolk, England; married Edward C. Palmer.

• + 7 vi. Mary S. Barnes, born between 1823 and 1824 England.

• 8 vii. Harriet Barnes; born 27 October 1828 in England as calculated from her age at death; baptized 30 November 1828 in Langham Parish, Langham, Norfolk, England, . The baptism was performed by Thomas Beckwith, Curate; married George Parker 23 May 1850 in Walden, Caledonia Co., VT, . Although married in Walden, both are listed as residing in Danville; she died 11 August 1884 in Barnet, Caledonia Co., VT, cause of death: dropsy, age 55 years 9 months 15 days, married.

       She is probably the female age 10-15 enumerated in the household of Richard Barnes in Danville, Caledonia Co., VT, in 1840.³ Harriet Barnes appears as Harriet Parker, age 21, in the census of 20 August 1850, Walden, Caledonia Co., VT, in the household of George Parker. This census lists her birthplace as Canada East. Harriet Barnes is probably the Mary Parker, age 32, who appears in the census of 5 June 1860, Danville, Caledonia Co., VT, in the household of George Parker. She is the correct age and is also born in England. Harriet Barnes appears as Harriet Parker, age 41, in the census of 18 July 1870, Danville, Caledonia Co., VT, in the household of George Parker.

  George Parker was born 23 May 1829 in England as calculated from his age 76 years 11 months 16 days at death, son of Robert and Jane Parker. He married (1) on his 21st birthday Harriet Barnes, daughter of Richard Barnes and Mary Burton, 23 May 1850 in Walden, Caledonia Co., VT, . Although married in Walden, both are listed as residing in Danville. He appears as head of household in the census of 20 August 1850 in Walden, Caledonia Co., VT, with Harriet Barnes. He appears as head of household in the census of 5 June 1860 in Danville, Caledonia Co., VT, with Harriet Barnes. He was described as age 34, 5 feet 6½ inches high, florid complexion, hazel eyes, black hair, occupation farmer.

       George Parker enlisted on 31 August 1861, in Danville, Caledonia Co., VT, as a private in Captain R. W. Laird's Company H, 4th Vermont Volunteer Regiment. He was discharged from military service on 5 February 1863 Convalescent Camp, Alexandria, VA, as unfit for duty due to an inguinal hernia contracted in the service. He married (2) as her second husband Annette Shepard 11 January 1886 in Danville, Caledonia Co., VT, by Rev. C. P. Flanders. He died 8 May 1906 in Danville, Caledonia Co., VT.

       Although most records call George Parker a farmer, the 1870 census of Danville calls him a cooper. He was apparently not a wealthy man, but his letters to his wife during the Civil War show that he could read and write, although the misspellings make them difficult to read. These letters also show that the bride he wed on his twenty-first birthday was still dear to him many years later.

  be pacent till i cum my Dear you know that i am yours in sowll and body there is nothin that i want to cum home for but you. i love my Cuntry and if i was not lame i should like to stay but as i am i had rather be at home with you

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       George Parker died of chronic Bright's disease at the age of 76 years 11 months and 16 days. He left no children and survived both wives. His burial place and that of Harriet (Barnes) Parker has not been located.