MySource:Johntmoore/William H. Sebastian, A Genealogical Puzzle, the Barker-Sebastion connection (Kentucky Ancesters, 1972 V8-1 13-15)

Short version of source: William H. Sebastian, A Genealogical Puzzle, the Barker-Sebastion connection

Bibliography version of source: William H. Sebastian. A Genealogical Puzzle, the Barker-Sebastion connection. Kentucky Ancesters, 1972 V8-1 13-15.

A genealogical puzzle (transcribed by John T. Moore)

Contributed by William H. Sebastian, 3409 Spring St. , Catlettsburg, KY.

Dear Mrs. Brown:

You may recall that you wrote me a letter in June of 1968, regarding the ancestry of one Sarah Elizabeth Sebastian, alias Sarah E. Barker. You stated that she was taken to raise by Henry and Martha Lawson Barker, circa 1850-60.

Since you corresponded with me, I have done additional research on the Sebastian -Barker connection and have learned much regarding same.

It seems it all started during the Revolutionary War, in Wilkes County, North Carolina. Benjamin Sebastian was awarded a land grant in 1779 on the waters of Hay Meadow and Sebastian Branch, by the State on North Carolina.

Benjamin Sebastian is listed in the 1790 Federal Census for Wilkes Co., Noth Carolina, with one male over 16, three males under 16, and five females. Lewis Sebastian, who was probably a brother is listed with one male over 16, three males under 16, and two females. Lewis Sebastian emigrated from the Wilkes Conty area at an early date. He is listed in the 1800 Federal census for Scott County, Kentucky.

One Hezekiah Sebastian is listed in the North Carolina records as a soldier in the War of 1812 from Wilkes County, North Carolina.

In 1819, Benjamin Sebastian, of Wilkes County, North Carolina, willed all of his property, both real and personal to his son William. He did not name any other children, however, he stipulated in his will that his son William wa to give Susanah Barker one cow.

Sometime ago I obtained from the National Archives Hezekiah Sebastian's application for a land grant, which was due him as a soldier in the War of 1812. At that time he was living in Morgan County, Kentucky.

This is the puzzling part of the problem (which remains unsolved). The law firm of Strother and Mitchell, of Mt. Sterling, Kentucky, in their letter to the Commisioner ofPensions, at Washington, D.D. dated April 19k 1853 stated that Hezekiah Sebastian was sometimes called Hezekiah Barker. In his declaration Hezekiah Sebastian stated he was 66 years old.

In a widow's pension application, filed by Rachel Sebasian in Wolfe Co., Kentucky, in 1886 she (Rachel) states she married the said soldier, Hezekiah Sebastian, in Morgan County, Kentucky, in 1838. At the time she filed her application a search was made on her behalf to find a record of said marriage. The marriage was not found. She further stated that Hezekiah Sebastian had been previously married. His wife had died, her name was Elisabeth Wilson. Hezekiah Sebastian is described as having black hair and dark eyes. The application also states he remained in Wilkes Conty, N.C. until about 1830, and since that date principally in Morgan Conty, KY.

Hezekiah Sebastian is buried in the Pomeryoyton Union Church Cemetery, in Menifee County (which at one time was a part of Morgan County), Kentucky.  His grave stone inscription reads as follows: H.G. Sebastian b. 19 Nov. 1786- d. 9th February 1860- Served in the War of 1812.

The Federal Mortality Schedule for Kentucky, Morgan County 1860 states as follows: Barker, Hezekiah, a.76 male b. Tenn., married, died of palsey Feb., ill 3 weeks.

Recently a search was made by this correspondent for a marriage record of Hezekiah Sebastian and Rachel Bryant, at the Morgan County, Ky. Courthouse. There is on record a marriage of Hezekiah BARKER and Rachel Bryant. The license was issued on 5 March 1840. The record states: Married Mr. Hezekiah Barker and Rachel Bryant on 25 th day of Marh 1840. Signed Thos. Nickells.

Ther is also a land transaction in Deed Book E. page 174, Morgan Co., Ky. Hezekia Barker sold to Chas W. Culbertson, a parcel of land on the waters of Little Black Water Creek, the place where Hezekiah Barker now lives. On Aug. 10, 1849 Rachel Barker replenished her dower rights to the above mentioned land which Hezekiah Barker sold to Chas. Culbertson.

Hezekiah Barker is listed as the head of a household in the 1840 Morgan County Census report. Hezekiah Barker-- one male under 5, 2 males under 5-10, one male 10-15, one male 50-60, one female under 5, one female 20-30.

In the 1850 Morgan Conty Censu is listed the following: Hezekiah Barker, a. 63, m., Farmer, $400, b. North Carolina, Rachael a. 38, b. Ky., Henry 16, b. Ky., Isaac 15, Elizabeth 10, Solomon 7, Lucinda 5, and William 1, all listed as born in Ky.

Also in the 1850 Morgan Conty, Ky. , census is the following : 1148-1148 Sebastian, John 35 m Farmer $500 North Carolina " . Margarett 35 f " "

               Emily, 14 f                            Kentucky

" William, 11 m " " Louisa, 8 f " " Susan, 5 f " " Gilean, 4 f ": " Hezekiah, 1 m " Taulbee, Lurina 16 f "

This is circumstantial evidence that the above mentioned John Sebastian named a son after Hezekiah Sebastian, alias Hezekiah Barker.

In the 1860 Morgan Conty Census report is listed the folowing: Sebastian John 45 m and his wife Margarett 45, both born in North Carolina, Willliam 21, Susan C. 15, Nancy 14, Hezekiah 11m, John C. 9m Hanes G, 7, Margaret 4, and Jacob Wesley qe, all listed as being born in North Carolina. The place of birth listed is in error, all the children were born in KY., except Jacobn Wesley Sebastian, who was born in Illinois. The above John Sebastian's brother Wesley Sebastian, mkigrated to Illinois from Breatheitt County, Kentucky in 1839. He died there in 1847, his brothe John, travelled from Morgan Co. to illinois and brought the family back to Kentucky. In addition to Jacob Wesley, there was his mothyer milly (Burchfield) Sebastian (she late married Joseph Robers andthey emigrated to Texas), James M. (who was later a lawyer and Judge in Owsley Co., Ky.), Matilda (no record), and John R. Sebastian who has many descendants in Morgan, Magoffin County as well as other parts of Eastern Kentucky.

Also in the 1860 Morgan County Census report, we find the following:

Sebastian, Henry 27 Kentucky " , Martha A. 24 " " , Martha E. 8  : " , Mary A. 6 " " , William 3 " Lawson, Green 21 "

The above Henry Sevastian has to be the Henry Barker listed in the Hezekiah Barker household as per census report 1850.

The above mentioned Green Lawson, age 21, must be a brother to Martha Sebastian, nee Lawson.

The question is why did Hezekiah Sebastian take the name Barker? Why did Henry change his name from Barker to Sebastian and then back to Barker? What is the connection between Hezekiah Sebastian, alias Hezekiah Barker and John Sebastian, Morgan County, circa 1840-60, Wesley Sebastian, Breathitt County, ca 1830-40, and Elanor Sebastian, married Wilson Jones, Morgan County, Kentucky July 23, 1833?

Sincerely yours, William H. Sebastian

Note: If anyone can supply any information to the above question, please write to William H. Sebastian, 3409 Spring Street, Catlettsburg, Ky. 41129. These answers are needed to complete a manuscript on the History of the Sebastian Family.