A One-Name Study for the BARNUM/BARNHAM Surname
Ephraim Barnum was appointed by the Assembly, 1778, as a captain of militia under Colonel Nehemiah Beardsley in the 16th Regiment, Connecticut Line (see: Officers' Payroll 1779, State of Connecticut). In the Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut, Vol. XIV, ït is stated that, "This assembly do establish Ephraim Barnum junr to be Ensign of the ninth company or trainband in the 16th regiment in this Colony.
Upon his death, his estate was appraised at £900, 11s (slightly over $57,200 at 2003 exchange rates). Captain Barnum had sixteen children by three wives and died at the age of eighty-four. His grandson, the celebrated American showman P. T. Barnum, wrote that "he relished a joke better than the average of mankind."
The Bridgeport Post, Thursday, March 31, 1955: Name of ‘Barnum’ Synonymous with Bethel Committee Finds. Bethel, March 31--One of the first names noted today by genealogy committee of the Centennial is the name of Barnum which they explained as being as old as the town itself. Capt. Ephraim Barnum, one of the 71 persons comprising the Bethel parish when it was set up in 1855 was a descendant of Thomas Barnum, one of the original eight settlers of Danbury. Born on August 28, 1733, he died at the age of 84 on April 17, 1817. He had a son, Noah Starr Barnum who married Mary Seelye, daughter of Deacon Seth Seelye. They had two daughters, Ann and Rachel. Ann married Everett Clark and Rachel married Asabel Dunning. Noah’s son, Aurelius Barnum was born on April 17, 1811 and died October 14, 1845. He married Ruth Todd in 1833 and three children were born to the pair. Edmund Romine Barnum was born February 26, 1835, who married Mary M. Durant. Bethel Starr Barnum born July 7, 1837 and died in 1862 (probably should be 1863) at the Battle of Gettysburg and Edward Todd Barnum born May 16, 1839.
The Barnum property spread over most of what is now the Plumtrees district. A cave on the hillside of the ridge know as Shelter Rock was used as a shelter by the people of the town when the British marched through Bethel to burn the military stores in Danbury. When word came that the British were approaching, Capt. Ephraim Barnum set out on horseback with his wife behind him and their child behind her to seek shelter in this cave. After traveling some distance it was discovered the child had fallen off. They went back and found him unharmed. This baby was Noah Starr Barnum, great-grandfather of Miss Grace Barnum a retired teacher who lives on Chestnut Street.
Miss Barnum’s father, E. Romine Barnum, was at the evacuation of New Orleans during the Civil War and the family had made note of an interesting tale concerning him. One day when swimming, he was watching sailors on board a vessel drawing up water in a huge bucket. Mr. Barnum swam out, got the bucket and brought it to camp. When the commander-in-charge saw the bucket, he asked where it came from and when told of Mr. Barnum’s feat wondered how so slight a man as Mr. Barnum was able to swim with it. The bucket weighed 50 pounds. Mr. Barnum explained that he took the bail in his teeth, threw the bucket over his head onto his shoulders and so had both arms free for swimming.
The Barnum Family, 1517-1904 gives him a birth date of 23 Aug 1732.
The Barnum Family, 1517-1904 erroneously provides a date of death of 11 Apr 1817.
Ephraim Barnum has two gravestones. The inscription on his government marker reads: Barnum, Capt. Ephraim, 16 Regt. Rev. War, died Apr. 17, 1817 age 80. The other reads: Capt Ephraim Barnum died April 17. 1817 in the 84th year of his age.
A Research Guide to the Genealogy of the Barnum/Barnam/Barnham Family Worldwide
AncientFaces - Family History Photos
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