A One-Name Study for the BARNUM/BARNHAM Surname
Several historic sources which suggest that Thomas was killed in battle at Crown Point, on June 23, 1755, are incorrect as to both date and location. His death apparently took place at the Battle of Lake George, considerably south of Crown Point, on September 8, 1755.
In place of the descendants shown here, The Barnum Family shows (apparently in error) sons Thomas, Stephen, Jabez, Zacheus, Solomon and Saul, and their descendants. The Genealogical Record of the Barnum Family and this site place that line under Jabez Barnum (m. 1728), son of Thomas Barnum (born 14 Jan 1716).
The will of Thomas reads as follows (with punctuation and modern orthography and capitalization added):
In the name of God, amen. This 23rd day of June AD 1755 -- I, Thomas Barnum the third of Danbury, being at this time of perfect health, mind and memory, thanks to God for the same, yet calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing it is appointed to men once to die, do make this my Last Will an Testament and first and principally I give and recommend my precious soul to God who gave it. My body I commit to the earth to be buried after a Christian and decent manner at the discretion of my executors hereafter named. And as touching such worldly estate as it has pleased God to bless me with in this life, I give and dispose of the same in manner following: that is, after all my just debts and financial charges are answered and paid, which I order to be done in convenient time after my death out of my movable estate, I give and bequeath to my well-beloved wife Jerusha as her dower one-third part of all my housing and lands for her use and improvement during life, as also one third of my personal or moveable estate to be at her disposal forever.
Item: And further my will is that all the rest of my estate, both real and personal, be equally divided among my four sons, namely Thomas, Telah, Moses and Levy. Except to Thomas in consideration of his being my first born I give to him five pounds lawful money over and above an equal share with his other brothers in my estate. And I do hereby appoint and empower my Hon. father Thomas Barnum, Jr., with my wife, to be my executors of this my Last Will and Testament herby revoking and making null and void all other wills or testaments by me heretofore made, establishing and confirming this and this only to be my Last Will and Testament. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and date first above mentioned. Signed, sealed, published, pronounced and declared by the said Thomas Barnum to be his Last Will and Testament in presence of and witnesseth: Eliphelet (sic) Barnum, Joshua Starr, Elisha Benedict. Thomas Barnum Jr.'s Seal
At a Court of Probate held in Danbury for the District of Danbury, October the 21st AD 1755 the personally appeared Eliphelet (sic) Barnum and Joshua Starr witness to the within will and made solemn oath that they saw Thomas Barnum, testator, in his lifetime sign, seal and pronounce the same to be his Last Will and Testament and at the same time they judged him to be of sound mind and memory and that they being desired set to their hands as witnesses in presence of the testator and also that they saw Elisha Benedict, one of the witnesses, sign at the same time as a witness in the presence of the testator. At said court Mr. Thomas Barnum. Jr. and Jerusha Barnum, executors to within will exhibited the said will for probation. The same being proved is approved and ordered to be recorded and the said Thomas Barnum and Jerusha Barnum accepted the trust of executors as reposed in them by the testator. The above and foregoing is a true record of the original will. //signed// Clerk.
In 1756, Thomas Barnum, Jr and Eliphalet Barnum were appointed guardians of Thomas Barnum 3d's sons, Thomas, Telah, Moses, and Levi (all in their non age).
The Province of New York became the State of New York on April 20, 1777.
A Research Guide to the Genealogy of the Barnum/Barnam/Barnham Family Worldwide
AncientFaces - Family History Photos
©1998, 2022. The format of this website and all original statements and narrative included on it are copyrighted and all rights are reserved. Factual information may be freely quoted for use in private genealogical research when accompanied by a full source citation, including the date of acquisition. Click here to view the format of a citation for an Internet resource. The publication of large extracts from this site in any form requires prior written consent.
Page built by Gedpage Version 2.21 ©2009 on 21 November 2024