SEARCHING FOR GGG GRANDFATHER MARMADUKE BARNES:

By Fred Coffey

Putting together a story on Marmaduke Barnes has been a real challenge. And I owe a great deal of thanks to Valery Frosty, who has been digging for info on Marmaduke even longer than I. (Valery is my third cousin. And she recently sent me a note that she had legally changed her name from "Valery" to "Willow".)

I also got some great help from Peggy Vaughan McKinney, who did extensive research on a Barnes family that ultimately proved NOT to be the one she was looking for, but in the process she proved that our Marmaduke DID below to that family! And also to Joe Drake, who has done extensive research on what proved to be Marmaduke's family.

SUMMARY:

Let me first summarize the high points of the lives of Marmaduke and his family, and then come back and fill in the supporting details:

Marmaduke was born in about 1815-1816, in Southampton County, VA. His father was a Methodist Minister.

His father died in about 1827, leaving Marmaduke's mother, Linnea, with several young children. The family stayed in Virginia until the younger sons were old enough to begin farming. Then in 1837 Linnea moved to Parke County, IN, along with Marmaduke and his brothers Benjamin and Jacob (and possibly with a sister as well). Linnea, along with sons Marmaduke, Jacob, John and Benjamin all acquired land. The families settled near each other (with Linnea's property apparently immediately adjacent to Marmaduke's).

Marmaduke soon found his love in Jane S. McMains from neighboring Putnam County, and they married 14 November 1837.

His brother Benjamin died in 1838.

Over the next 10 years Marmaduke and Jane had 6 children. However a serious cloud soon settled over the family, with indications of trouble as early as May 1844 when a court imposed a restraining order on Marmaduke because of some altercation against a neighbor.

Things reached a climax in January 1847, when a jury of 12 men found Marmaduke to be "an Insane Person, incapable of taking care of himself, and dangerous to the community". His brother Jacob was appointed Marmaduke's guardian.

Jacob returned to the Court on 27 April 1847, and reported that Marmaduke had a wife with 6 children (all under about 9 years old), and that the family had significant debts and very few assets. He also reported he had transferred Marmaduke into the custody of the Parke County Poor Farm – which also served as the nearest thing the County had to an insane asylum.

After April 1847 no further records have been found mentioning Marmaduke. And he is not to be found in the 1850 census. It is likely that he died while living on the Poor Farm, sometime between 1847 and 1850.

If they were not already close, these events brought the Barnes and McMains families together. On 6 December 1846 Marmaduke's brother Jacob married Jane's sister Catherine. Further, Jane's parents left their Putnam County home and moved into Jane's house - - with 6 very young children, an incapacitated husband, and a farm to take care of, Jane would have needed all the support she could get.

In about 1852 all the families packed up together, and moved to Iowa. They lived out their remaining lives in southern Iowa and northern Missouri. Jane's family, and Jacob and Catherine's family, are always found living in the same community.

THE VIRGINIA CONNECTION:

The first reference to Marmaduke in time (but one of the latest documents found) is a chancery court record dated 21 March 1836, involving the division of he father's estate, with Linea Barnes, defendant, versus some of Benjamin Barnes children and grandchildren. It names Marmaduke, and establishes the family connection. The document is found in the Southampton Co., VA, Order Book 1819-1839, page 70.

Among other things, this document is evidence that Marmaduke was born in Southampton County, VA. This is confirmed with census reports (see notes with his parents) showing that they were living in Southampton Co. at the time of Marmaduke's birth.

Marmaduke's father died in about 1827 (see notes with father Benjamin Barnes). Linnie became head of the household, and she is found in the 1830 Virginia census with her children, including a son the right age to be Marmaduke.

We have found land records indicating that Marmaduke, Linnea, Jacob D., John E. and Benjamin N Barnes all acquired land in Parke County, IN, on 9 February 1837. (Marmaduke's land was 80 acres as follows: Township 15 North, Range 8 West, Section 22, NE1/4NW & SW1/4NE1/4.)

(The Rockville Library (in Parke County) advised Valery that the land in this area was generally given out to soldiers in exchange for previous service to their country. However we have no record of any military service, and it does not fit with other information about Marmaduke or his family.)

(The Benjamin N. Barnes who acquired land at the same time would have been Marmaduke's older brother. He died in 1838. Valery found his will, and I have a transcript, but it makes no mention of Marmaduke. There is also a John E. Barnes in the 1840 census for Parke County, and he is almost certainly also Marmaduke's brother.)

Marmaduke's exact birth date is unknown. However we have clues: (1) the 1840 census puts him in an age range that would have him born between 1810 and 1820. (2) Presumably he had to be at least age 21 when he acquired land in 1837, so be must have been born before about 1816. (3) The 1830 census for Southampton Co., VA, shows his mother as head of household with one remaining son age 10-14 (that would be Jacob) and one son age 15-19 (almost certainly Marmaduke). This age means he was born between 1815 and 1820. The only birth dates that fit all three constraints are roughly 1815-1816.

Indiana marriage records show that he married Jane McMains on 14 November 1837 in Putnam County, where Jane's parents lived. Putnam is adjacent to the Parke County where Marmaduke had his land.

The next record we find is from the local newspaper. While it borders on trivia, it is interesting: Transcribed from the “Rockville Ledger”, 1837, by Sharon Mills:

“Marmaduke Barnes

May 21 bought 2 1⁄2 yds linen

July 6 and Sept 14 bought plow lines

Nov 14 set of com. small plates and teas(poons?)

Dec 1 1/4 lb sage

Dec ? by judgment in full”

And in the above, the "November 14" entry is particularly interesting. That is because 14 November 1837 is the date on which he married Jane McMains! He married her in Putnam County (Rockville is in adjacent Parke County), but perhaps he bought a small wedding gift for his bride on his way to the wedding, or perhaps the couple found they were missing a few essential items when they got back to their new home?

THE 1840 CENSUS:

Marmaduke is found in the 1840 census for Parke County, IN. Only the name of the head of the family is given in any census prior to 1850, but it's clearly the right people. They have two female children under the age of 5 - - that would be Sarah (born about 1838) and a baby Linia Ann (born 6 Mar 1840). Linia is our ancestor.

Marmaduke's age is shown as "from 20 to under 30". Jane's age is shown as "from 30 to under 40", which I believe may be an error. We have other information that says she would have only reached her 29^th birthday in December 1840.

Now, there is another piece of very interesting information in the 1840 census. On the next line after Marmaduke is another family named "Barnes". In the census index, the head of that family is entered as "Sinneary Barnes". The handwriting is cramped, but when I look at the original image, I read it as "Linnea Y Barnes" And THAT makes a lot of sense! Marmaduke's baby daughter is also named "Linia"! This other family head is obviously Marmaduke's mother, and Marmaduke/Jane have named their new baby after its grandmother!

And exactly why is the handwriting cramped? It's because the census taker has already used the next line for another family, and then he apparently decided to go back and squeeze in another entry. (Best guess is that he talked to Marmaduke and Jane, and then moved on to the neighbors, and then someone told him there were TWO families living on the Barnes farm(s). So our census taker went back and asked more questions.)

The second Barnes family has a female aged 50-60 (that would be the head of the family, Linea), a male age 20-30 (almost certainly Marmaduke's brother Jacob), and an unidentified female age 20-30 (likely Marmaduke's sister, Martha?).

Let me also observe that the 1840 census also shows the family of Robert McMains living in adjacent Putnam County, Madison Twp. This is the family of Jane's parents, and the people count and ages match our records. For reasons that will become apparent, let me point out that this family has one female in the 10-15 age category. That would be Catherine, who's name will come up again below.

THE 1844 RESTRAINING ORDER:

Valery Frosty wrote to the County Clerk of Parke County, indicating that she was having trouble locating information on Marmaduke Barnes after about 1845, and asked if they had any court records related to him. They had several, and the first relates to an 1844 event:

On 6 May 1844 Marmaduke appeared in Parke County court. The order of Justice of the Peace Robert M. Gilkeson was that Marmaduke was assessed a fine of $100, which would be void PROVIDED he personally appear before the next circuit court and answer (the complaint of Floyd Burks) " . . .and in the mean time that he shall keep the peace and be of good behavior generally and especially towards the personal property of Floyd Burks and abide the judgment of the court thereon and not depart without leave".

It's not clear what Marmaduke did to offend Mr. Burks, but perhaps this is a precursor of troubles to follow?

THE INSANITY TRIAL:

In early 1847 the same Justice of the Peace, Robert M. Gilkeson, recorded the following: "Be it remembered that on the 20^th day of January A.D. 1847, Jacob D. Barnes filed his complaint on oath, in my office against Marmaduke N. Barnes, an alleged insane person as follows. Jacob D. Barnes makes complaint on oath and says that Marmaduke N. Barnes of said County is a lunatic suffered to be and remain at large in said County, and that the said lunatic is dangerous to the community as this complainant verily believes, wherefore he prays that suitable measures may be taken in the premises. Whereupon I issued a (summons) for a jury of twelve reputable householders of said township, returnable at my office on the 21^st day of January A.D. 1847, and delivered the same to Washington Akens Constable."

The very next day a jury assembled, and their verdict was: "We the jury find Marmaduke N. Barnes to be an insane person, incapable of taking care of himself, and dangerous to the community by being suffered to remain at large. January 21^st 1847." (Signed by each of the 12 jurors.)

The JP then gave his order to brother Jacob as follows: "You are therefore hereby commanded to take the said Marmaduke N. Barnes into your charge and custody, and him keep under such constraint as may be necessary to prevent him from injuring himself or any other person, and to furnish him with proper food, clothing, lodging and such other necessaries as the case may require, until further orders."

JACOB'S REPORT:

Jacob returned to the Court on 27 April 1847, to report on the financial status of Marmaduke and his family, and to advise what actions he has taken. (The report handwriting is extremely difficult, but the following is approximately correct:)

Jacob reports that Marmaduke owns 80 acres of land worth $200. However there are mortgages and liens against this land for $134.40. Further, Marmaduke had debts to 7 private individuals that total $87. He has personal property worth $109 (the details are hard to read, but this includes one mare worth $30, two cows worth $16, household and kitchen furniture worth $45, and farming utensils worth $3).

Jacob then reports: "This Mr. Barnes has a wife & 6 children and the above includes all the property this Mr. Barnes is possessed of in any way that I am administrator of."

Finally Jacob says: "Note on the 17 day of March last, I placed Mr. Marmaduke in charge of the Agent of the poor farm in this county, where he has been ever since. The only contract made with the Agent was that he was to be allowed . . ." (I can't make out the concluding words.)

On the same day, the court issues an order binding Jacob, subject to a penalty of $250, to continue to act as guardian for the person and estate of Marmaduke.

This is the last record of Marmaduke found to date. He is not to be found in the 1850 census, even though all his family is still in the County. Best guess is that he died at the poor farm. I tried to find the Parke County Poor Farm cemetery records, but all I found online was the note "The County Poor Farm cemetery has not been located. Its area is known, but nothing is there anymore."

With a little help from another Parke County researcher, I did find the County Poor Farm entries for the 1850 census. Marmaduke is not still there, but the census tells us a bit about how the place was run and the sort of people who were residents:

The Superintendent was one Nathan Cole, and there were 8 members of his own family living on the Farm. They also had one hired hand. There were 4 children named "Vancamp", ages 11 to 17, and all attending school, possibly orphans? There was a 40 year old woman, marked as "crippled", who had a 2-year old son. There was a married couple; one of them marked "crippled" and the other "old age". The remaining population consisted of one "old age", one "crippled", one "insane", and two "idiot".

And what might have been Marmaduke's problem? A guess, based on limited information and on matching symptoms with a medical book, would be "Paranoid Schizophrenia". Causes are uncertain, but seem to involve a chemical imbalance in the brain. Signs usually surface gradually, starting between ages 15 and 34 (Marmaduke was about 27 when he first appeared in court).

My source (healthsquare.com) offers the following assessment: "Without medication and therapy, most paranoid schizophrenics are unable to function in the real world. If they fall victim to severe hallucinations and delusions, they can be a danger to themselves and those around them. Patients who pose a danger to themselves or others may need to be physically restrained."

A DIGRESSION: ANOTHER MARMADUKE

When Marmaduke dropped out of sight after 1847, Valery searched census records for the entire country, and actually did find a "Marmaduke Barnes" of about the right age living in North Carolina. She and I then spend time digging, but in the end proved this was clearly NOT our Marmaduke. The following brief biography of "The Other Marmaduke" is intended to prevent a future researcher from going down the same dead end:

Marriage records for Franklin County, NC, show that a Marmaduke "Duke" Barnes married Martha "Patsy" Vinson on 20 January 1841. (This record was the last thing we found, and it PROVES this is NOT OUR Marmaduke, since we know exactly where he was in 1841.) This Marmaduke and Patsy ("Patsy" is a common nickname for "Martha") are found in the 1850 census for Franklin County, and they now have two sons, Rich and James. This Marmaduke and Martha, along with sons Richard and James, are found again in the 1860 census for DeWitt County, TX. They can then be found in the same Texas County in every census through 1900.

THE 1850 CENSUS:

The 1850 census is the first one where every member of a family is named. And Jane is now the head of the household in Parke County, Indiana, along with her six children (all named). Living with her are her parents, Robert and Sarah McMains.

Also still in Parke County and just one page over is Jacob D. Barnes, age 30, a farmer, with land valued at $250, and born in Virginia. Living with him is his wife Catherine, age 22, and daughter Sarah C, age 1.

HIS OLD FAMILY MOVES ON:

In about 1853, all of the remainder of Marmaduke's family moved to Iowa. The move to Iowa included Marmaduke's brother Jacob. In the 1860 census Jacob and Catherine have moved to Davis Co., IA, the same county as Jane. They have four daughters, Sarah (born abt 1850), Mary F. (abt 1852), Ann M. (abt 1855), and Lucy A. (abt 1857). By 1870 they have moved to Schuyler Co., MO, and are still living there in 1880.

We have reports from other sources that Jacob became a Methodist Minister, following in the footsteps of his father. However I have not been able to verify this, and every census through 1880 identifies him as a farmer. (This is not necessarily a conflict - - it was not uncommon for a minister to farm while preaching on Sundays.)