Anna Barnes
The Barnes Family

The name Barnes came into being in the Sotterly area of Suffolk, England. The name may have come from the word Bearn a city in France; or from the Cornish word barnyz meaning a judge. Traces of the family are found in England under Norman kings. The name may also have been a corruption of the Norse bjorn which signifies a warrior. The family seat for five hundred years has been Surrey, England. Sir Hugo deBerners came from France with William the Conqueror. A clear pedigree of the family begins with John Berners of West Horsley, Surrey, England in 1347.

We are descended on both the Cole and Daggett lines of the family to the Barnes Family of Hingham, England.

Our particular Barnes Family can be traced back to Rowland Barnes. He was born in 1585. His first wife is unknown. He  married Alice Cooper, his second wife on October 21, 1610.

Thomas Barnes, son of Rowland and his first wife, was born about 1602. This Thomas was the emigrant to New England. A great deal is known about his arrival, and the life he led in this country. Much can be learned from the will he wrote shortly before his death in 1672. He married Anna, last name unknown in Hingham, MA about 1641. They had seven children.

 Our direct ancestor is Thomas Barnes, his son,  who was born on May 21, 1643 in Hingham, MA. This Thomas  married Prudence Albee on June 8, 1706 in Swansea, Bristol County, MA. They had nine children. We are descended on the Cole side from Anna Barnes his daughter, born in 1668 who married Thomas Allin of Swansea and Prudence Island. On the Daggett side, we are descended from Keziah Barnes, born 1718, his grand daughter,  wife of Solomon Peck of Barrington.




Generation One
    Thomas Barnes  and   Prudence Albee
Emigrant Ancestors

     The Barnes Family began as a family in Sotterly, Suffolk, England.
It is a distinguished name. The name may have come from the word  Bearn , a city in France; or from the Cornish word   barnyz meaning a judge. Traces of the family are found in England under Norman Kings. The name may also have been a corruption of the Norse bjorn, signifying a warrior. The family seat for five hundred years has been in Surrey, England.  Sir Hugo deBerners came from France with William the Conqueror. A clear pedigree of the family begins with John Berners of West Horsley, Surrey, England in 1347.

     Our ancestor, Thomas Barnes was born in England about 1636. He was the son of He sailed as a passenger on the Speedwell of  London, England, Robert Locke, Master, bound for New England on May 27, 1656. Thomas was 20 years of age when he made the journey. The Speedwell   entered Boston harbor on June 27, 1656 and  the passengers  disembarked on June 30, 1656.
  He then settled in Marlboro, Massachusetts. He was one of the original proprietors of that town.

     On May 16, 1666, Thomas married Prudence Albee of Medfield, Massachusetts.  They removed to Swanzey, MA and were listed there as early as 1669.

     Nine children were born to Thomas and Prudence:

Lydia was their first child. She was born about 1667. She married Thomas Olney of Providence on July 13, 1687, and she had eight children

Thomas was born on November 13, 1670. He married Sarah Stone on March 25, 1697. He died  at a young age in 1706. He left his three children, Thomas, Mary and Sarah in the care of family members. His wife must have also been deceased.

Sarah born August 27, 1672 married Benjamin Wight.

Elizabeth born on February 14, 1675 married John Bullock on January 29, 1695.

Anne, birth date about 1668 married Thomas Allen on September 24, 1694 in Swanzey, MA. Anne and Thomas are our direct descendants.

John was born on April 9, 1680 and he married Mercy Allen on January 1, 1702. They settled in Providence, RI.

Peter was born on June 1, 1682 and he married Margaret Whipple Borden, widow of Joseph , on September 29, 1716. They settled in Providence, RI and then Smithfield. Peter was a carpenter.

Samuel born on March 17, 1685. No further information. He did serve as executor  of his father's will. He is our other Barnes ancestor

Hannah born on December 21, 1689 married John Stone of Warwick. They had three children and they also helped to raise young Thomas  Barnes ,son of the late Thomas Barnes, Hannah's brother. The young child's mother was sister to John Stone.

     On February 7, 1689, Thomas was among the proprietors of Rehoboth, MA, although he was not a resident there.

     In 1693, Thomas Barnes was ordained as pastor of  Second Baptist Church and continued in this pastorate until his death on June 8, 1706.

     Thomas left a will which was proved on July 3, 1706. He left two Executors of his will, his second wife Elizabeth King, widow of Clement King, and his son Samuel. His son- in -law Thomas Allen was to act as overseer..

     He left to his wife Elizabeth, the bed that was hers before marriage, and two cows and two calves bought for her estate. The pewter and other items she brought from her first marriage were to be hers.  To her also, privilege of dwelling in the house while his widow, and 20 shillings a year , only  if she make good the agreement concerning little Mary Barnes, Thomas' granddaughter , daughter of his late son Thomas, according to indentures. To the heirs of his late son he left the bed called "my bed". To son John, besides twenty acres already given him where his house stands, he gave wearing apparel and  shoes. To son Peter, 10 £ . To youngest son Samuel, the  rest of the estate, as lands, houses, money, goods and cattle, etc. when he is of age, he paying legacies. To daughter Lydia Olney, wife to Thomas Olney, at Providence, 3£ . To daughter Anne, wife to Thomas Allen of Swanzey, 6£ . To daughter Sarah, wife to Benjamin Wight, at Providence, 10 shilling, they having had part. To daughter Elizabeth, wife to John Bullock, at Providence, 7£ . To youngest daughter Hannah Barnes, 30 shilling.

     His inventory totaled 433£ 14 shilling, house and 75 acres, 140£ , a lot of 60 acres,60£, bible, other books, spectacles,spinning wheel, wood cards, carpenters and joiners tools, cash 6£ , 2 deer skins, 1 mare, sheep, neat cattle, swine, etc.

     When his wife Elizabeth died on November 27, 1708, she left as her inventory, 112£, 7 shilling, 10 d  as lands, wearing apparel, wax, bayberry, beds, cash etc. Her eldest son John King of Providence was administrator.