Person:James Barnett (29)

Records in Augusta County, VA

From Chalkley’s Augusta County Records:

• Vol. 1 - CIRCUIT COURT CAUSES ENDED--OLD STYLE. - No. 19.; Madison vs. Lewis.--William Madison and Col. James Barnett were soldiers in the battle of Guilford in 1781. John Thompson's answer to bill filed against him, together with Joseph and James Thompson, by James M. Marshall, in the High Court of Chancery of Virginia. His father, William Thompson, removed from Maryland to Virginia in 1747. Soon afterwards Fairfax issued a proclamation encouraging those persons who had settled upon his lands to continue thereon, and that they should have 400 acres for each settlement. The alarm the dispute between Fairfax and the Crown had excited amongst the people was his reason for this means being taken to quiet them. William remained upon his settlement until 1793, when he died intestate, having six lawful children, viz: John, Joseph, James, William, Henry Sarah (now wife of Jacob Hidener, of Hardy County). Sworn to in Frederick County by John Thompson, 27th July, 1799.

• Vol. 2 - Susannah Smith Madison, Agatha Strother Madison, children and heirs of William Madison, deceased, by Elizabeth Madison their mother and next friend, vs. Andrew Lewis--O. S. 19; N. S. 6--Bill filed 10th March, 1800. In 1779-1780 Wm. was entitled to 1,000 acres military lands in Kentucky, called Boon's Creek or Gordon's Station. His brother, Rowland Madison, sold it without authority to John Gordon and offered to give Wm. a tract in Botetourt called Vanse's, which their father, John Madison, proposed giving them. John died about 1784. William died 1782, intestate, leaving Elizabeth, his widow, and Susannah and Agatha his only heirs. Andrew Lewis married a sister of William and Rowland. Rowland married a sister of Andrew before 1784 and lived in Kentucky, but returned and lived on Vose's. William Lewis deposes at the Mermaid Tavern in Botetourt, 28th June, that he married a sister of Rowland Madison, and Rowland married his sister. William was married early in the summer of 1787. Rowland went to Kentucky in October, 1790. Gabriel Madison deposes at Nicholasville, Ky., 19th July, 1802. Rowland died about four years ago. Gabriel was a brother of Rowland and William, and moved to Kentucky in spring of 1780. Andrew Lewis and Rowland's sister were married in 1778. Col. Hugh Crockett was very intimate with the Lewises, and a very talkative man. William Walton deposes at Mermaid Tavern on Roan Oak, Botetourt County, 28th June, 1802, that he kept the books of Andrew Lewis when Andrew had a store at the place where Mr. Sherman now resides for about two or three years and about one and one-half years, when he was in partnership with William Lewis and myself, about the latter part of which period Rowland moved to Kentucky. Copy of John Madison's will in Botetourt, dated 19th December, 1783. Col. James Barnett deposes at house of David Wade in Montgomery County, 3d February, 1802, that on an expedition against the British in spring of 1781, William Madison and deponent, expecting to go into battle the next day, stepped aside privately in the night and made their verbal wills and called upon witnesses to testify the same.

• Vol. 2 - Revolutionary War Service Declaration - Claudius Buster's Declaration, September 25th, 1832: Aged 68 on the 24th November last; entered the United States service in Albemarle County in December, 1780, under Capt. William Grayson, Lieut. William Gooch, Ensign Francis Montgomery, Orderly Sergeant Tarlton Woodson; entered agreeable to his division on the muster roll in Albemarle County, where he was born; he was discharged March, 1781, having served three months either from the time they received arms at Richmond or from the time they were received by Colonel (or General) Nelson at Yorktown; he does not recollect which; there were two other companies from Amherst County joined with Capt. Grayson's, one under Capt. James Barnet, the other under Capt. Tucker; the Field Officers were Col. Dabney and Major Campbell, all under the then Col. or General Nelson; he served at Yorktown, The Half House, and near Hampton; once the British sailed up York River, landed in the night time near The Half Way House and destroyed some property; the Americans had marched from the place the evening before; a Col. Mallory collected some men and gave them battle, in which he and some of his men were killed. {Excerpt}

• Vol. 2 - Revolutionary War Sercice Declaration - William Smith's Declaration, February 25th, 1833: Was born July 22, 1763, at Staunton; his father moved from Staunton to Amherst (now Nelson) when declarant was very young; declarant returned to Augusta in 1825; in the latter part of 1777, or early in 1778, he was drafted for one month to guard a large number of British and Hessians captured at Saratoga and brought to Charlottesville; his Captain was David Skelton, of Amherst, from which county he marched. Again he was drafted for one month, and marched from Amherst to Charlottesville to guard the same prisoners; the manner in which troops were detailed to guard the prisoners was this, viz: two companies were drafted and marched at the same time from Amherst, served one month, and were then relieved by two companies. Again he was drafted early in 1781, and marched from Amherst under Capt. James Barnet and Lieutenant John Woodruff; Charles Dabney, of Hanover, was Colonel; his company was stationed at Williamsburg, but was at intervals marched to other places to keep watch upon the British, whose foraging parties were continually roving about the country; at Half Way House, a soldier announced that he had seen the British a few miles from camp, when declarant's and several other companies marched out and captured 70, who surrendered without making any resistance; they were delivered to General Steuben at Williamsburg, where declarant was discharged.

1.   Graves, William T. Southern Campaign Revolutionary War Pension Statements & Rosters.

   Pension Application of James Barnett W391 Marcey Barnett VA
   Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris. Revised 2 May 2017.
   
   For the purposes of obtaining the benefit of an act, entitled, An act for the relief of certain surviving officers & soldiers of the army of the revolution,” approved on the 15th May 1828 – I James Barnett of Madison County & State of Kentucky do hereby declare that I was an officer in the continental line of the army of the Revolution & served as such to the end of the war. That I was commissioned an ensign in 1776 in Amherst Country in Virginia, & on the 11th of March 1776 marched under Capt. Samuel Cabell to Williamsburgh [sic: Williamsburg] & was attached to the 6thVirginia Regiment commanded by Colo. Mordecai Buckner. The fall of that year the Regiment marched to the north & joined or met Gen’l. Washington at Elizabethtown [Elizabeth NJ]. In the year 1777 I was promoted to 1t
   . Lieut. & was commissioned as such on the 6th January 1778 as appears by my commission of that date herewith forwarded [not found in file]. I served as 1t. Lieut. in Capt. Peter Dunn’s Company, same Regi’t. till Capt. Dunn’s death [26 Dec 1777], when I commanded said Company and the reduction of the Regiments which I think took place at the White plains [14 Sep 1778] when the 2d & 6th. Virginia Regiments were united; Dunns Company & Capt. Hopson’s [sic: Nicholas Hobson’s] Companies were united & the command was given to me & I was then attached to the Second Virginia Reg’t. I commanded this company till the last of the year 1778, when I left the army as a Supernumerary & returned to Virginia. I performed the duties & took rank as a Capt. but have no recollection of having had in my possession a Capt’s. Commission. In 1779 I was called upon as a Capt. in the Service of the United States & took command of a Company. I was called upon by Colo. Hugh Rose as [Amherst] County Lieut. In 1780 & 1781 & up to the close of the war I was called upon & performed the duties of Capt. in the Regular Service. At the close of the war I was attached to the Regiment of Colo [Alexander] Dick & reported myself to him by order of Gen’l. LaFayette. Colo Dick commanded at that time mounted infantry Whether I ever received certificates, commonly called commutation certificates I am unable to say, but am inclined to think I never did – Witness my hand this 12th July 1828.
   
   Danville 8 Aug’t. 1828 I do hereby Certify that I became acquainted with the then Lieut. James Barnett in the year 1776 at the taking the Hessians at Trenton New Jersey [26 Dec 1776] and that he served in one of the advance guards under the Command of Capt. William Washington and I at that time acted as a Sargeant in Capt. Richard Taylors Company of the 1t. Virginia Regiment after which time I frequently saw him but had no personal acquaintance with him till I remooved to Kentucky in the year 1786 since which I have frequently seen him and have allwas known him as Colo. James Barnett and that he is the same person whom I saw as Lieut. Barnett at the taking of the Hessians at Trenton in 1776 who is now a resident of Madison County Kentucky
   Given under my hand the day & date above written Daniel Barbee [pension application S12951]
   P M at Danville Ky.
   
   Lincoln County Sct. August the 8th 1828
   this day Col. William Montgomery [pension application S16981] appeared before me a Justice of the Peace for the County aforesaid & State of Kentucky and deposed that he is well acquainted with Col. James Barnett of Madison County Kentucky & has been intimate with him from his youth that he the s’d. Montgomery & Barnett was raised in Amherst County V.a &c, and this deponant says he Inlisted under s’d. Barnett on the 14th day of Feb’y. 1776 in Capt’n. Cabals [sic: Samuel Jordan Cabell’s] Company Barnett being Ensighn in s’d company we marched shortly after to williamsburgh and from that to gwins Island [sic: Gwynn Island] & drove off Dunmore [11 Jul 1776] Barnett Commanding as Ensighn in s’d. Company and after performing various duty near to Williams Burgh and as well as this deponant recollects they were ordered to the North in September of the same year and Regimented in the 6th Virginia Regiment Commanded by Col. Mordicaih Buckner from that we marched to Trenton in the State of Jersey (& Bartnett still commanding as Ensighn in said Company) from Trenton we marched to Elizabeth Town & met Gen’l. Washington retreating with Putman [sic: Gen. Israel Putnam] & others and joining them retreated before the British untill we crossed the deleware [sic: Delaware River] at Trenton from that we march up s’d. River to place called the Cold Camp and crossing the River about Christmas day we to took the Hessians at Trenton after killing many and taking others prisoners from that we crossed the Deleware with the prisoners and after remaining about a weak in camp and sending away the prisoners we recrossed the Deleware and marched to Trenton & from thence to Maidenhead a small Town in the Jersey [in present Lawrenceville] and was under arms two days & two nights successively and the following day the British came on and we retreated to Trenton. Barnett still commaned as an Ensighn in s’d. Company and there had a hard scrimmedge & crossed a creek & lay on the East bank untill about 10 oclock at night then Washington with his small army took a circuitous rout & fell on the Brittish at Prinston about sun rise [sic: Princeton, 3 Jan 1777] and after killing some 60 or 70 & taking some prisoners say three Hundred we marched on to Morris Town [Morristown] Barnett still acted as Ensighn in s’d. Company I think shortly after this Barnett was promoted to a 2ndLieutenancy in the Spring I was attatched to Morgans [Daniel Morgan’s] Regiment of Riflemen I was Inoculated at whipeny [sic: Whippany] Town in Jersey & Barnett was to the best of my recollection Inoculated at wilmingtown [sic: Wilmington DE] below Philadelphia, Early in the spring we met in Jersey again and I saw no more of Barnett untill after we had taken Burgoin at Sarratoga [sic: Burgoyne at Saratoga NY, 17 Oct 1777] and had returned to the State of Pensylvania at White Mash [Whitemarsh]. I am not possitive whether at this time he was not Lieutanant or Captain but we continued in the same neighbourhood & had a scrape with the British at Chesnut Ridge [Battle of Whitemarsh near Chestnut Hill PA, 5 Dec 1777] & Hattonfield [Hatfield?]. I thing in March our Times of Enlistment having Expired Capt’n. Barnett & Captain Rose marched us back to Amherst C.t.y in V.a in a few weaks after we arrive at home Barnett returned to the army in Jersey and continued there a considerable time the precise time I do not now recollect but returned home as a Captain and a Supernumerary officer of the Continental army. after my return to virginia I was appointed 1st Lieutanant in the Militia. I recollect well after this that Cap Barnett acted as Captain & myself as 1st Lieutanent in the same regiment [two or three illegible words] I acted as a volunteer and Barnett as a Supernumery Captain and believe Barnett acted as a Supernumary Officer under the Government untill after the Capture of Cornwallis at Little york [19 Oct 1781] and this deponant is free in saying that he from his own intimate acquaintance with s’d Barnett and others that knew well about s’d Barnett & his sevices that he was a supernumery in the army untill the taking of Cornwallace or untill the End of the war & that he was active & usefull in this his duties & this deponant further states that at the Battle of the Point in 1774 [Point Pleasant, 10 Oct 1774] s’d Barnett was wounded this deponant being about 14 year of age at that time.
   
   [The following are from bounty-land records in the Library of Virginia. One online document is illegible except for the signature of James Barnett.]
   
   I do hereby Certify that I knew James Barnett as a Lieutenant in the united States army on Continental establishment He intered into the Service in the year Seventy Six and continued in Service untill the end of the late war with Great Britain
   Given under my hand this 9th day of Sept’r 1808
   Nathan Reid Capt
   10th Virg’a Regiment
   
   I do hereby certify that James Barnett formerly an Inhabitant of Amherst County & now an Inhabitant of Madison County Kentucky was a Lieutenant in the Sixth Virginia Reg’t in Continental Service, that the said Barnett & myself were intimate acquaintance & messmates & I know he came into service as early as the month of July One thousand Seven Hundred & Seventy Six & retired as a Supernumerary from West Point Fort on the North River in October 177Eight. Given under my hand in King William County this 12th Day of April 1809. [Alexander Rose BLWt1863-300] formerly
   Capt in the 6th Virg’a Reg’t
   
   NOTE: On 15 Jan 1839 Marcey Barnett, 71, applied for a pension stating that her maiden name was Marcey Hawkins, and that on 4 Mar 1790 in Madison County at the home of her father, Nathan Hawkins, she married James Barnett, who died 27 Aug 1835. Mrs. Ann Hawkins, 72, deposed that she was present at the wedding. The file contains a copy of a bond signed on 28 Oct 1788 by James Barnett and Nicholas Hawkins for the marriage of James Barnett, bachelor, to Massy Hawkins, spinster. On an application made under a later pension act on 29 Apr 1843 Marcey Barnett’s age is given as 78.
   
   http://revwarapps.org/w391.pdf