Person:John Barber (72)

John L. Barber came to America with his brother, James, prior to 1790. They had two brothers already in America; those brothers were probably Nathaniel and William, as two families by those lived near by according to census and other records, including the fact that John L named his second son Nathaniel and his seventh child was William Thomas. The family first settled in Chester, South Carolina then moved to Fairfield District, S C. In 1839 they moved on to Chamber County, Alabama.

Samuel David Bradley Barber, was the son of John L Barber's youngest son, William Thomas Barber, told is granddaughter, Ellisue Barber Morris, many family stories. The Barber's were first in France, but went to England with William the Conqueror [c.f. Sir William Barbour] and lived there for several generations. They were in Scotland for a time and in Ireland for a while. In England they were linen makers. John L. was taught the trade but never followed it. He told his children that his home in England was "a veritable fortress." He was the youngest of a large family. Here are two stories about why the Barbers left Ireland. One is that the older brothers were involved in the Irish Rebellion, found themselves on the losing side and left Ireland to save their heads. The other story is that the father was a hard taskmaster and paid his sons as he did all of the other workers. They confronted the father and demanded a share of the profits. The story goes that he went to his trunk and brought out a hat full of gold. Placing it on the table, he told his sons to divide it among themselves and leave home. This was their "full inheritance". Two sons went to Germany, two went to Australia and two went to America. James and John were too young at the time to leave home. They remained in Ireland for a few more years before leaving. Another tells of a thirteen year old orphan girl was on the ship to America with them and later one of Barber brothers married her. Another story is that John spent his last money for a keg of brew to celebrate with his shipmates at their arrival. Apparently, he expected his older brother to help him once they had arrived in America.

The 1820 census of Fairfield County, South Carolina, listed a John Barber and his wife, who was over 45, two sons and two daughters who were between 16 and 18, a son who was between 16 and 18, and a younger son between 10 and 16.

John Barber lived Fairfield district, South Carolina, for about 47 years, before removing to Alabama, owning at least five tracts of land containing about 364 acres on the Wateree River. The family home was about 6 miles east of Winnsboro, Fairfield County, South Carolina. The house he built there was pictured in the book Pine Log and Greek Revival, compiled by William Davidson. It stood on a 160 acre tract. There was a beautiful view of the forest from the hilltop site. His son Nathanial C. Barber and his wife Elizabeth raised a family of ten children there. Their son Imlah Erastus Barber and his wife Martha Ellen Whitlow raised their family there also. Their two single daughters lived there in the 1940's when family visited them. The land was sold in the 1950's to a lumber company and the place was deserted.

He is said to have be an educated man, as his descendants are in possession of some of his books, written in Hebrew, Greek, Latin and French, that he was reportedly able to read.

John L. and Sarah Carmichael had seven children: John L. Jr., Mary , Nathanial, Sarah Elizabeth, James Alexander, Jane, and William Thomas Barber.

The land for the Sweet Home United Methodist Church Cemetery where John Barber is buried and the nearby church are said to have been given by John Barber for the purpose.

John Barber's grave marker inscription:

Sacred to the memory of

JOHN BARBER

Who was born in Glenwherry

Antrim County, Ireland. A.D. 1770; and

He married Sarah Carmichal, in 1790;

and emigrated to Fairfield district S. C. in 1791;

Whence He removed to this State in 1839

and died on the 3rd of July 1848;

aged 78 years.

And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous.

1st. John. 2. l

I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.

Heb. 13.5

His spirit trusted in these gems of promise

And Christs atoning merits grasped by faith

Through lifes decline these formed his

sweetest solace

And these the anchor of his hope in death.