Peter Barnes, son of Thomas and Prudence Barnes, was born June 1, 1682, and died in 1757. He was a carpenter by trade, and for some years followed his trade in Providence, but later located in Smithfield, Rhode Island, on land which his father had bought from the Indians, the original deed which is preserved in the Barnes family bearing date, March 27, 1659. Some of this old Indian purchase is yet owned in the Barnes family, and the old house now standing, north of the the one-time home of Orrin Barnes, is believed to have been built by Peter Barnes, and rebuilt by his son, Captain Enoch Barnes. In 1708 Peter Barnes was made a freeman, and prior to his death he divided his large estate into three farms, giving one to each of his sons. He continued to reside at his Smithfield home until his death, and then was buried in the private family cemetery upon the farm. He married, September 29, 1716, Margaret Borden, daughter of Jonathan and Margaret (Angell) Whipple, and widow of Joseph Borden. They were the parents of: Nathan, died unmarried; Enoch, of further mention; Lydia; and John, who moved to Connecticut.
