|
Of the several stocks of the Barber family which came to
America from Great Britain, the information contained herein has
to deal only with the descendants of Robert Barber, of
Lancaster Co, PA, whose ancestry, it is generally supposed,
belonged to Yorkshire, England. It has not been found possible to
trace the pedigree back to 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 William Penn, in 1682. The will of this John
Barber is recorded in Philadelphia (Book A, p 10, Register of
Wills Office). 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 (see PA Archives, 1st Series, Vol
I, pp 10-42. Also Annals of Penna., Vol I.), 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 Buffalo Valley, Northumberland Co, PA (now
Union), about 1785, and from there a colony migrated to
Stephenson Co, IL, in the year 1835.
|
