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| Davidson County Map in Public Domain |
Jonathan Barrett was my Paternal 5th Great Grandfather. Back in 2018, I wrote about him on my Eads Family History website.
Since I wrote that piece on my family website, I have uncovered more information that confirms the parentage of our Jonathan. He was the son of Robert Barrett and Sarah Anderson. There were actually two men named Jonathan Barrett, living in North Carolina during that time period. I have seen a lot of family trees having merged the two into one. Our Jonathan was born in Prince George County, Maryland. It was there he married his first wife, Margaret Gilpin. They were married 20 Mar, 1779 in Prince George County, Maryland. After leaving Maryland, Jonathan and Margaret came to Rowan County, North Carolina. Rowan later became Davidson County. Grandfather Jonathan was a Planter and owned a large plantation on Potts Creek in Rowan/Davidson County, North Carolina. The couple had 12 known children. After Margaret died, Jonathan married Sophia Beck on Valentines Day of the year 1828. Jonathan died 21 Aug, 1840 in Davidson County. His will is probated in both Davidson and Davie Counties of North Carolina.
The second Jonathan Barrett was sometimes called Jonathan David Barrett. This Jonathan appears to have been born in Halifax County, Virginia. He later relocated to what was Wilkes County, now Alexander County, North Carolina. He lived near the Catawba River and was an early Pioneer of that region. He lived at the foot of a Mountain which is today known as Barrett`s Mountain. This Jonathan is said to have been the son of Jonathan Barrett Sr and Elizabeth Betsy Henderson. This is not our Jonathan and our Barrett line has no connection to the Jonathan of Barrett`s Mountain fame. Please do not merge the two.
In 2018, I compiled a timeline for our Jonathan Barrett. As I stated above, I have acquired even more information on his life. I need to update the timeline soon.
1779-Jonathan is listed on the Early Census in Prince George County, Maryland. He marries Margaret Gilpen there that same year.
1799-The Couple is still living in Prince George as he is listed on the Maryland Early Census records there.
1810- By 6 August, 1810 the family had moved to Rowan, North Carolina. Members of the household included: 3 Males 10-15, 2 Males 16-25, 1 Male 26-44, 1 Male 45 and over,(Jonathan) 1 Female under 10, 2 Females 10-15, 1 Female 26-44.(Margaret) Living right next door to Allen McDaniel I.
1815- Tax List in Rowan, North Carolina: Jonathan had 266 Acres of Land, valued at $339. Household consisted of 1 White Person and 1 Black Person
1820- Salisbury, Rowan, North Carolina, members of the household included:1 Male 16-25, 1 Male 45 and over, (Jonathan) 1 Female 16-25, 1 Female 45 and over (Margaret) 5 Enslaved Persons
1822-The current Davidson County North Carolina county was formed in 1822 from Rowan County.
Abt. 1827- Davidson County, North Carolina: His first wife and mother to his Children, Margaret Gilpin-Barrett died. He married his 2nd wife Sophia Beck on Valentines Day of 1828
1830 Census, Davidson County, NC: 1 Male 80-89 (Johnathan), 1 Female 20-29, 1 Female 40-49 (Sophia) and 4 Enslaved persons
1840 Census: Davidson County, NC, 1 Male 80-89 (Jonathan) 1 Female 50-59 (Sophia) 1 ES Male under 10, 1 ES Male 10-23, 1 ES Male 24-35, 3 ES Females under 10, 1 ES Female 10-23, 1 ES Female 55-99
21 Aug 1840 • Jonathan Barrett died, Jonathan Barrett Plantation, Potts Creek, Davidson County, North Carolina, USA
Sources: All of these records mentioned above can be found on Ancestry, therefore I have not listed the sources here.
In future posts I will be sharing more about Jonathan`s life such as his land holdings and any other documents that I have found outside of Ancestry I hope to also share about the Enslaved Persons who lived and worked on his Plantation. I am hoping by sharing that info it will help the descendants of the Enslaved Persons find their family. Stay tuned for more information regarding Jonathan & Margaret Barrett.





