Sketch XXX

A Pioneer Murdered on his way to Norfolk - Barber Family

The Old Baptist burying ground at Vittoria contains the graves of many of our old pioneers. Some of these graves are very old, and there is one that bears a date as far back as 1804. This is the tomb of Abigail Barber, the mother of pioneers. Forty-six years before this old grave was dug its occupant was born in the home of Jacob and Elizabeth Cosad, in Morris County, New Jersey. Mr. Cosad came from Holland about the middle of last century and settled at this place, where he lived until her reached a ripe old age. Both he and his wife died in the winter of 1812, and both had reached their eighty-eighth year.[1]

Before Abigail Cosad passed out of her “teens” she became the wife of Samuel Barber, a young business man of her own native county. Mr. Barber engaged in the mercantile business on Schooley's Mountain, and met with a fair degree of success; but in the year 1800 he was stricken with the Western fever and resolved to migrate to the new Upper Canada El Dorado—Long Point settlement. At this time they had twelve children, whose names and ages were as follows: Elizabeth, 22; Matthias, 21; John, 19; Daniel, 18; Jane, 16; Mary, 14; Aaron, 13; Moses, 11; Miriam, 8; Elisha, 6; Samuel, 5, and Jacob, 3 years old. Elizabeth, the eldest daughter, married William Wier, and remained in New Jersey. She died in 1854, in her 72nd year. Daniel, the third son, also remained in New Jersey; but Aaron S., late of Simcoe—father of Charles, the lawyer—is a son of Daniel.

The Barber pioneer log cabin was erected on Lot 7, in the 9th concession of Townsend, adjoining, on the south, the present grand old village of Waterford. After locating his land, Mr. Barber returned to New Jersey to settle up his business affairs, but before leaving he bargained for the grist-mill and a quantity of land at Waterford. Little did his wife and children think when they bade the husband and father good-bye, that they would never see him again dead or alive. After many weary weeks of watching and waiting a suspicion was aroused in the minds of the family that some terrible thing had happened and Matthias and John, the two eldest sons, started off for New Jersey to learn the cause of their father's delay. Those were dark days for the pioneer mother. She was left alone in a new sparsely settled, densely wooded country, with her eight remaining children, the eldest son being only thirteen years old. In the dear old New Jersey home she had never suffered privations or endured hardships. For the first time in her life she was made to realize the terrible condition of being hopelessly separated from husband, children, parents and the friends of youth. Who, among us, to-day, are able to portray the feeling of that mother as she lay upon her rude couch and stared into the darkness made impenetrable by the surrounding forest, and thought of the home and friends so far away, of her absent children, and the probable fate of her husband and its awful consequences? To-day a stream of carriages daily pass the spot where stood nearly a hundred years ago the log cabin in which Abigail Barber spent those sleepless nights. A few old scraggy apple-trees mark the place, yet not one in the mighty, busy passing throng knows anything about it, and but few, aside from her own descendants, know such a woman as Abigail Barber ever lived.

When Mr. Barber had settled up his business affairs he started for his new home in Canada mounted on a grey horse, and having a considerable sum of money with him. He was traced as far as Easton, Penn., and no traces of him have ever been found since. He was, no doubt, waylaid and murdered by thugs who, in some way, had learned that he carried money with him. Owing to the loss of this capital the family were unable to meet the payments on the Waterford property, and it reverted to the original owners. The great responsibilities that devolved upon Mrs. Barber, as a result of this sad affair, were bravely met, but the trouble and sorrow weighing upon her heart soon broke down her constitution, and in 1804, only four years after she left her comfortable New Jersey home, she died, aged forty-six. Samuel Barber disappeared, or was murdered in 1800, being at that time in his forty-eighth year.

Matthias Barber, the eldest son, married into the Petitt family and settled at Stony Creek, where he raised a family.[2]

John Barber, second son of Samuel, married Mary Slaght and settled on Lot 5, 9th concession of Townsend. He had seven sons¾ Jacob, Aaron, Henry, Joseph, Daniel, David and John Louis; and five daughters¾ Elizabeth, Abigail, Miriam, Lizana and Sarah. Jacob, the first born son, died in youth.

Aaron Barber, second son of John, married Nancy Heath, settled in Townsend and had five sons-- Justus, John William, Frederick, Aaron and Samuel; and two daughters¾ Mary Maria and Martha.

Henry Barber, third son of John, married Esther Kellum, settled in Townsend and had three sons--Lemon, Eli and Libius; and one daughter Ruby Ann.

Joseph Barber, fourth son of John, married Sarah Ann Clement, and settled in Windham. He had no family.

Daniel Barber, fifth son of John, married Elizabeth Snider, settled on the homestead and had four sons-- Leander, Emerson A., Hiram and Alvin; and four daughters¾ Sarah M., Elva Ann, Alice and Louisa.

David Barber, sixth son of John, died in youth.

John L. Barber, seventh son of John, married Abigail Shaw, settled in Waterford and had two sons-- Alonzo and Henry; and two daughters¾ Olive and Mary.

Elizabeth Barber, eldest daughter of John, married Henry Kitchen, and settled in Townsend. Abigail died in youth. Miriam married Richard Kitchen, and settled in Townsend; and Lizana and Sarah, the youngest daughters, both died single.

John Barber was a pioneer deacon in the old Bloomsburg Baptist church. He let a most exemplary life, and died highly honored and respected in 1860, having reached his eightieth year.

Aaron Barber, fourth son of Samuel, married Elizabeth Slaght, and settled at Boston. He operated a tannery and was noted for his sound judgment in business matters, being frequently appealed to by the old pioneers in the settlement of disputes. He was a natural peacemaker and exerted a powerful influence for good in the community in which he lived. He was a deacon in the old Baptist church at Boston for nearly half a century. He died in 1864 in his 78th year. He had four sons--Samuel, John, Moses and Aaron; and five daughters-- Maria, Cynthia, Nancy, Samantha and Elizabeth. The eldest son died in childhood.[3]

John Barber, second son of Aaron, married Rebecca Robinson, settled in Townsend, and had six sons-- Joseph, George, Oliver, Ansley, Aaron, and Cary; and four daughters--Mary, Elizabeth, Hannah and Eleanor.

Moses Barber, third son of Aaron, married Elizabeth Disher, settled at Boston, and had one daughter, Elizabeth.

Aaron Barber, fourth son of Aaron, died single.

Maria Barber, eldest daughter of Aaron, married Benjamin Hazleton, and settled in Michigan, north of Jackson. She had eleven children.

Cynthia Barber, second daughter of Aaron, died single.

Nancy Barber, third daughter of Aaron, married David Shearer, and settled in Charlotteville. Her children are enumerated in the Shearer genealogy.

Samantha Barber, fourth daughter of Aaron, married Oliver Mabee, son of Simon, and settled at Boston.

Elizabeth Barber, youngest daughter of Aaron, died single.

Moses Barber, fifth son of Samuel, married Nancy Nelles, and settled near Boston. This old pioneer was one of the veteran foundation builders of old Townsend. Like his brothers, he was exemplary in his daily walk through life, and left a record behind him of patient industry and fidelity to righteous principles that any young man may wisely emulate. He died in 1881 at the ripe old age of ninety-one years. Moses Barber had three sons-- William, Abram and Henry J.; and five daughters-- Nancy, Jane, Miriam, Louisa and Matilda. These children all married and settled in Townsend.[4]

William Barber, eldest son of Moses, married Hannah Slaght, by whom he had one son, David, and two daughters-- Abigail and Mary.

Abram Barber, second son of Moses, married Martha Robinson. He had no children.

Henry J. Barber, third son of Moses, married Arsula Phelps and had one son, Louis C.

Nancy Barber, eldest daughter of Moses, married John Beemer, and had one son, Harry, and one daughter, Minnie.

Jane Barber, second daughter of Moses, married William Olmstead, by whom she had one daughter, Martha Jane.

Miriam Barber, third daughter of Moses, married John Cline and had three sons¾Moses, Henry and Frank; and four daughters¾ Martha, Delila, Nancy and Salome.

Louisa Barber, fourth daughter of Moses, married Ransom Culver and had one son, Seymore. Subsequently, she married Calvin Adams, of Malahide.

Matilda Barber, youngest daughter of Moses, married James McMichael. She had no children.

Henry J. Barber, the youngest son of the house of Moses, has been a prominent man in township and county affairs, having served twelve years in the Township and County Councils as Reeve of Townsend.

Elisha Barber, sixth son of Samuel, married Elizabeth Messacar and settled on Lot 12, 4th concession of Townsend. He died in 1856, in his 63rd year. He had six sons¾ Samuel, Hiram, Ira, Aaron, Elisha and Elias.

Samuel Barber, eldest son of Elisha, died single.

Hiram Barber, second son of Elisha, married Lydia Slaght, settled in Townsend, and had two sons-- George and Hiram; and one daughter, Anna.

Ira Barber, third son of Elisha, married Mary Ann Woodley, settled in Townsend, and had three sons--George, Ira and Ambert; and one daughter, Miriam. Subsequently, he married Charity Ann Upper, by whom he had two sons¾ Charles and Frank; and two daughters-- Orpha and Ruth.

Aaron and Elisha, fourth and fifth sons of Elisha, both died single.

Elias Barber, youngest son of Elisha, married Abigail Johnson, settled at Boston, and had three sons--Johnson E., Elwin and Wilkie Collins.

Jacob Barber, youngest son of Samuel, married Elizabeth, daughter of Isaac Smith, and settled in Townsend. He had one daughter Jane, who married Dunham Hazelton, and settled in North Carolina. Subsequently, she married Simeon Olmstead.

Jane Barber, second daughter of Samuel, married William, eldest son of the original Abraham Smith of Charlotteville. Here children are enumerated in the Smith genealogy.

Mary Barber, third daughter of Samuel, married William Pitt Gilbert, and was left a widow with three daughters¾ Abigail, Eliza and Hannah. Subsequently she married Stephen Olmstead, by whom she had three sons¾ Daniel, James and Gilbert; and two daughters-- Hannah and Ann. Of these children, Abigail married Peter Mabee-- her children are enumerated in the Mabee genealogy. Eliza married John Messacar, and settled just north of Waterford. Hannah married James Haze, by whom she had two daughters-- Lucinda and Hannah. Daniel is living in Michigan; James settled and died near Delhi; and Gilbert settled, first in Middleton and finally in Michigan-- the three latter are Olmstead's. The two Olmstead daughters¾ Hannah and Ann, married, respectively, Abraham Snively and John Bostwick, both of Simcoe.

Miriam Barber, youngest daughter of Samuel, married Joseph Kitchen, and settled in Charlotteville. Her children are enumerated in the Kitchen genealogy. She died in 1875, in her 84th year.

[1]Jacob Cosart/Cozad (son of Jacob and Ananah (Cox) Cosart/Cozad), was born at Bridgewater Township, Somerset County, New Jersey and died on January 26, 1812 aged 88. He was buried in Mt. Olive, New Jersey. He married first to Elizabeth Sutton (daughter of David Sutton). Jacob married second to Elizabeth Tingley, born in 1736, died on March 22, 1812. Abigail (Cozad) Barber was a daughter of Jacob’s first marriage to Elizabeth (Sutton) who died soon after so Elizabeth (Tingley) would have been the only mother she knew. Jacob moved to West Virginia but was unable to live there due to Indian troubles and returned to New Jersey, settling at Mt. Olive, Morris County. Source: The Family and Descendants of Samuel and Abigail (Cosad) Barber, compiled by Doris A. (Cline) Ward (Ward Publishing Company, Asheville, NC: 1995)

[2] Matthias Barber married Mary Pettit (daughter of John and Sarah (Carpenter) Pettit). They settled on Lot 6, Concession 2, Saltfleet Township, Wentworth County near Stoney Creek.

[3] Aaron Barber died on 2 Nov 1863 and was buried in Boston Baptist Church Cemetery

[4] The names and order of the children of Moses Barber are as follows: Mary Barber, born September 24, 1811 (died April 9, 1837); William Barber, born October 18, 1813; Miriam Barber, born January 2, 1816; Abraham Barber, born March 14, 1818; Henry J. Barber, born January 18, 1820; Jacob Barber, born December 20, 1822; Abigail Jane Barber, born April 15, 1824; Nancy Amelia Barber, born March 22, 1827; Infant Barber, born April 1, 1829; Infant Barber, born March 8, 1831; Louisa E. Barber, born March 8, 1832; Matilda Barber, born January 2, 1835. Source: Barber Family Bible register page copy at the Norfolk Historical Society.