Person:Orcelia Barber (1)

5 May 2007: Jillaine Smith was contacted by Kelley Adams McAllister (mystictyper412@@verizon.net) indicating that she is descended from Orcelia Barber. Kelley provided names of descendants, then Jillaine then tracked what she could of Orcelia's marriage and descendants through Census records.

The Adams family lived in Newfane, VT. In the 1860 census, you'll find a family that includes brothers Horace (20) and Otis (24). It appears James went by his middle name in his early years. Horace was still single.

In the 1870 US Census, Horace and Orcelia are married and living in Newfane, VT. They have two chidlren: a son, Merrill, age 4 [your ancestor so his father was Horace, not James] and a daughter named Addie, who is 9 months old. Living nearby is Otis Adams, 37, with a wife name Ella. No children of Otis.

I presume that Horace died sometime between 1870 and 1876.

By 1880, Otis is going by James and he's now married to Orcelia (she's called "Celia" in this census). They have three children: Merrill, Addie and Arthur, age 2. So it appears that only Arthur was James' son.

1900 US Census: James and Orcelia are in Brattleboro, VT, with a son Arthur, b.July 1877. The other chidlren are not with them-- probably married by now. I could probably find them. James was born Aug 1832; Orcelia was born Aug. 1838. The census indicates she had three children and all three were still living in 1900. What's interesting about this 1900 census is that living next door to them (or perhaps even in the same house) is the family of Daniel Barber -- brother of Orcelia Barber.