Benjamin Barbee (1759 - aft. 1814)

Born 14 Sep 1759 in Culpeper County, Virginia

Descendants

Died after 24 Dec 1814 after age 55 in Liberty Township, Butler, Ohio, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: John Phillips [send private message]

Biography

There were two Benjamin Barbees and they have been mixed up. Benjamin Barbee is not the same as the man in this profile.

The surname is found with numerous variations including Barbee, Barbey, Barber, and Barbour.

Benjamin served in the Revolutionary War in the same units as Elijah Barbee, Captain Thomas Blackwell's Company of Foot, 10th Virginia Regiment and Colonel John Green's Company 6th Virginia Regiment. ^{[1] [2]}

Benjamin and Elijah are believed to be brothers although no documented proof has been found. They were close in age, born in Virginia, enlisted at the same time and place for the Revolutionary War as well as serving in the same units. Elijah named a son Benjamin. Some records show Benjamin's first son Thomas was born 1800 in Bourbon County, Kentucky where Elijah Barbee lived. Elijah Barbee received Bounty Land in Ohio where Benjamin lived. This would seem to be more than a coincidence.

While living in Culpeper County, Virginia 1786 Benjamin applied for and received a pension for his Revolutionary War military service. He suffered from frostbite and lost all the toes on both feet. ^[3]

Benjamin Barbee married Mary Holloway, possibly in Fauquier County, Virginia on 28 October 1799.^{[citation needed]} Note that several of their children were born before 1799, so this information might not be correct, or maybe he had a previous wife.

The children that lived to adulthood and were named in his will were: ^[4]

• Elisha Barbee
• Elias Barbee
• John Barbee
• William Barbee
• Thomas Barbee (or Thomas Barbee)
• Susannah Curtis
• Elizabeth
• Sarah (under 18)
• Mary (under 18)
• Abigail (under 18)

The May 30, 1800 Personal Property tax list for Culpeper County, Virginia has listings for Benjamin Barbee and John Barbee. NOTE: This John Barbee is not the same as the John Barbee who had settled in Mercer County, Kentucky by 1789.

On 23 May 1814 Benjamin purchased 57 acres of land in Butler County Ohio from Stephen Crane for $171. ^[5] According to Benjamin's will, his wife Mary was to have his real estate during her life, and it was to be equally divided between his sons Elisha, Elias and John after Mary's death. His wife Mary continued to pay tax on the 57 acres until 1834. Elias sold his 1/3 share to John on 4 May 1835. ^[6] John paid the tax in 1835. Then John sold his 2/3 share to Benjamin's son Williams sons Elias and Enoch on 5 Jan 1836. ^[7] Elias and Enoch paid the tax in 1836-1838.

A township map of 1835 shows John Barbee and the 57 acres.

Benjamin died sometime between 24 Dec 1814 when he wrote his will and 17 April 1815 when it was proved. ^[4]

Will Abstract

In the name of God Amen. I Benjamin Barbee of Butler County and State of Ohio being very sick and weak in my body but of perfect mind and memory... I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Mary all my real estate during her life and at her death to be equally divided between three of my beloved sons, viz, Elisha Barbee, Elias Barbee and John Barbee who I will and bequeath to forever after. Also I will and bequeath all my moveable property to my above mentioned beloved wife Mary after paying all my just debts and the following legacies to wit, to my beloved son William Barbee the sum of one dollar one year after my death, also to Susannah Curtis my beloved daughter I bequeath the sum of one dollar paid at the same time of William's. Also to my beloved daughter Elizabeth I will and bequeath the sum of one dollar to be paid one year after my death. Also I will and bequeath unto my beloved daughters Sarah, Mary and Abigail the sum of ten dollars each as they arrive at the age of eighteen. Also I will and bequeath unto my beloved son Thomas Barbee the sum of ten dollars to be paid at the death of my beloved wife Mary whom I constitute make and ordain with Peter Coorkeeys the executors of this my last will and testament... I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty fourth day of December in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred and fourteen.

Proved the third Monday of April one thousand eight hundred and fifteen. ^[4]

Tax Records

May 30, 1800 Personal Property tax list for Culpeper County, Virginia has listings for Benjamin Barbee and John Barbee.

Tax records for Butler County, Ohio show that 57 acres in Range 3, Township 3, Section 15 were transferred from Stephen Crane to Benjamin Barbee in 1813. ^[8] Benjamin Barbee appears in tax records in Liberty Township, Butler, Ohio as paying tax on 57 acres in Range 3, Township 3, Section 15, in:

1814^[9]

1815^[10]

1817^[11]

1818^[12]

1819^[13]

Starting in 1820 the tax records show this land being owned by Mary Barbee.

Research Notes

Additional BARBEE research by Sharon Ware offers a broader picture of the Barbee family during the Revolutionary War era and suggests there were three brothers (Elijah, Benjamin, and Thomas) serving in the same unit.

Sharon wrote in an e-mail 8/14/2018: "I have been delving once again into research on our Rev War soldiers...So 10th Reg, which later combines and becomes the 6th had as a commanding officer, one Thomas Barbee. He was a Lt, then couple promotions and by time of the 6th he was Captain. I have tried to find him and I sort of have !!!!

Capt Thomas Barbee of the 6th Va Reg is buried in the Union Church Cemetery, in Newberry Twp, Covington, Miami Co. OH. However, his name is spelled Thomas Barbour. There is a tombstone and it reads date of death as 29 Feb 1829 (? the 29th of Feb as not a leap year) in the 79th year of age. This would make him born ca 1750.

I now believe this Thomas could be a brother of our Elijah and Benjamin, with Thomas as oldest and your Elijah as youngest and my Benjamin in the middle.

In studying the surname Barbour in Miami County (my family is from Miami Co, Shelby Co, and Champaign Co) I learn that a John Barbour was early inhabitant of Newberry Twp in 1817 settling in the Trotters Creek Settlement. The first school in that area was built in 1819 and John was one of the teachers. I do find him on the 1820 census of Newberry Twp, Miami Co., OH which has 3 males under 10, 1 male 26-44, 2 females under 10, 1 female 10-15, and 1 female 26-44. In the 1830 census, I find John Barbour in Staunton Twp (which is Troy) Miami Co. OH with 2 males 10-14, 1 male 15-19, 1 male 40-49, 2 females 5-9, 2 females 15-19, 1 female 20-29, and 1 female 40-49. This would make this John b 1781-1790. I believe he was in the War of 1812 and his wife’s name was Elizabeth."

THANK YOU SHARON!! ^[14]

There are several things about this profile that don't make sense and should be investigated further and explained:

• [Fixed - death date updated] "He died 21 Sep 1813 in Liberty Township, Butler County, Ohio" and then bought land in 1814, then his estate was probated in 1815
  • He clearly did not die on 21 Sep 1813, as he signed his will on 24 Dec 1814. The will was proved on the 3rd Monday of April 1815, so he likely died in early 1815.
• The birth date and place for William Barbee (1759-1813) is identical to the info on this profile for Benjamin Barbee (14 Sep 1759 in Culpeper County, Virginia), although the bio for William says he was born in Mecklenburg, Virginia. The death dates on these profiles are off by 2 days.
• [Fixed - detatched] Thomas Barbee (1800-1874) was connected as a son, even though:
  • He was supposedly born one day apart from John Barbee (1800-1887) (which is possible), but in Bourbon, Kentucky while John was said to be born in Virginia.
  • This profile also says that Benjamin appeared on the May 30, 1800 Personal Property tax list for Culpeper County, Virginia, which makes is unlikely he had a son born three months earlier in Kentucky.
  • Benjamin's brother Elijah Barbee (bef.1765-1833) lived in Bourbon, Kentucky, and Joseph Barbee (abt.1755-1814) is connected as another brother based on living near Elijah in Bourbon, Kentucky.
  • There was a different Thomas Barbee listed in the 1820 & 1830 censuses in Butler County, Ohio, near the rest of Benjamin's family and in 1840 in Shelby County, Ohio, near other family members, then back in Butler County in the 1850 census.
  • This Thomas Barbee who lived in Butler County was born about 1790 in Virginia, according the the 1850 census, which is a better fit to be Benjamin's son, so he has been attached as Benjamin's son
• [Removed from the bio] Son John was said to "inherited the 57 acres in 1816", but his profile says he was born on 1 Mar 1800, so would have been only 16 years old at the time. Also, his father's will says that after his wife Mary's death the land was to be divided between three sons, including John, but Mary was listed in the 1820 census, so still alive in 1816. Of course it is possible that she chose to pass the land to her sons during her lifetime, but it seems unlikely a 16 year old would have been deeded land outright, so maybe he was born before 1800. This is possible as there is a 5 year gap to the next oldest sibling.
• [Propose removing marriage date from bio] Marriage date to Mary is given as 28 October 1799, but the five oldest children attached to the couple were born before this, and the next two were born about 4 months later.
• What is the source for the maiden name of Benjamin's wife Mary (Holloway) Barbee (abt.1770-abt.1865)? No source is cited for their marriage.

Sources

1. ↑ Gwathmey, John H. 1938. Historical register of Virginians in the Revolution: soldiers, sailors, marines, 1775-1783. Richmond, Va: Dietz Press. p 38, 39
2. ↑ Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M246, 138 rolls); War Department Collection of Revolutionary War Records, Record Group 93; National Archives, Washington. D.C. [1]
3. ↑ Records of the Culpeper County, Virginia Court, April Court 1789. The records may be found in usgenweb culpeper co va or on Library of Virginia digital collection [2]
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2} Will probate 17 Apr 1815 Butler County, Ohio, Old Will Book L, p 89; Archive Testamentary Records 1, p 94
5. ↑ Butler County, Ohio Deed Book D, Pages 643-644. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSLX-TSPK-W?i=568&cat=278361
6. ↑ Butler County Deed Book 2. Pages 168-169. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4V-T4YS?i=382&cat=278361
7. ↑ Butler County Deed Book 2, Page2 169-170. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4V-THS8?i=383&cat=278361
8. ↑ "Ohio Tax Records, 1800-1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:7FNN-VHT2 : 18 February 2021), Benjamin Barber, 1814; citing multiple county courthouse offices, Lemon, Butler, Ohio, United States, p. , Tax records indexed by Ohio Genealogy Society; FHL microfilm 004848999.
9. ↑ "Ohio Tax Records, 1800-1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:76BG-RN2M : 18 February 2021), Benjamin Barber, 1814; citing multiple county courthouse offices, Lemon, Butler, Ohio, United States, p. , Tax records indexed by Ohio Genealogy Society; FHL microfilm 004848999.
10. ↑ "Ohio Tax Records, 1800-1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:7WYC-PZMM : 18 February 2021), Benjmain Barbee, 1816; citing multiple county courthouse offices, Ohio, United States, p. , Tax records indexed by Ohio Genealogy Society; FHL microfilm 004849014.
11. ↑ "Ohio Tax Records, 1800-1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:7WYP-HN6Z : 18 February 2021), Benjamin Barbee, 1817; citing multiple county courthouse offices, Ohio, United States, p. , Tax records indexed by Ohio Genealogy Society; FHL microfilm 004849014.
12. ↑ "Ohio Tax Records, 1800-1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:7WTX-HRMM : 18 February 2021), Benjamin Barbee, 1818; citing multiple county courthouse offices, Ohio, United States, p. , Tax records indexed by Ohio Genealogy Society; FHL microfilm 004849014.
13. ↑ "Ohio Tax Records, 1800-1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:74ZP-8GN2 : 18 February 2021), Benjamin Barbee, 1819; citing multiple county courthouse offices, Ohio, United States, p. , Tax records indexed by Ohio Genealogy Society; FHL microfilm 004849014.
14. ↑ Extensive research of Sharon Ware, Genealogy.com[3]