A One-Name Study for the BARNUM/BARNHAM Surname
The Genealogical Record of the Barnum Family shows him as both Eliachim and Eliakim Barnum. The Barnum Family (both editions) calls him Eliachim. Eliakim Barnum served during the Revolutionary War, with the Dutchess County Militia, 3rd NY Regiment (Colonel Field). A copy of his pension application to the US Government states that he served as an officer in the Minutemen (a term indicating readiness to be called upon at a moment's notice for active military service), as a consequence was unable to engage in regular employment, and was paid in Continental money, relying on the faith of Congress until they passed a law that $1 should redeem $40. The application was denied.
It is clear that he was impoverished during the war and that situation may well have set the stage for his son Eliakim, Jr. to seek his fortune in Canada.
The birth year of 1752 is much earlier than those of his supposed siblings. The US Census of 1790 shows Eliakim Barnum, with two free white males under 16 and four free white females, living in Ballstown, Albany County, New York.
At the library in Cobourg, near Grafton, Ontario, Canada, are three 4-inch, 3-ring binders of genealogical material about Eliakim and his descendants, prepared by granddaughter and his great-grandchildren Leigh & Kim Barnum. Here are a few excerpts from that information: As mentioned earlier, Eliakim Sr. was a Revolutionary soldier. We obtained his pension record application from Archives in Washington and found it to be a most valuable resource. The application was written in 1832. Pertinent quotes from it follow:
Eliakim Barnum, a resident of the town of Manlius and State of New York doth, on his oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7 1832. 1st: that he was born in Danbury Connecticut 21st August in year 1748, and he has no record of his age as it was upon the town record which was burned when Danbury [was] burned [by the British], and also upon his Bible which has been destroyed. The declarant was living at South East, in Dutchess County, State of New York when first called into service. Immediately after the battle of Concord, a meeting was called of the citizens and at its close my oldest brother Joshua, myself, and 6 or 8 others volunteered to defend the country and furnish ourselves with arms, clothing etc. After recruiting and practicing about a month, we got 40 men and met and chose officers. My brother Joshua was chosen Captain and myself second Lieutenant....// He then describes several battles and mentions that his brother Joshua was taken prisoner when British came to Danbury..// continues..."Until Burgoyne was taken, the Tories kept the country in such a continual turmoil that I was kept either scouting or watching when not stationed away, so that I did not work for myself, except a day or two at a time, about 2 years. After the capture of Burgoyne, the Tories were not so troublesome, I was the only officer of the Minute men in my neighbourhood. My brother being a prisoner and Murch being wounded, I was required by the Committee to stay and be in readiness and go when called out. This declaration further states that while he was living at South East, he sold stock for $25.00 in 1776 and took it in Continental money and kept it, relying upon the faith of Congress until they passed a law that
$1.00 should redeem $40.00 and thereby became poor and moved about the close of the war. His claim was not allowed for the reason that he did not render six months actual military service in the field as required by the Act of June 7 1832 under which he applied.
We were unable to find a will for Eliakim, Sr. We wrote to the Surrogate Court in New York but their cost for a will search was $70.00 We do have a picture of his tombstone at Jamesville Cemetery which is near Syracuse, New York.
We were able to obtain wills for Joshua, Thomas, Jr & Thomas, Sr. Thomas, Sr's will is particularly interesting as it is written in old English. He died in Danbury Conn in 1695. His estate which amounted to about 330 pounds was divided among his five sons & five daughters. He was one of the first eight settlers of Danbury, Conn. They purchased the land from the Indians and commenced settlement in 1684.
In 1945 Constance Brooks wrote of Eliakim: " He was a striking character packed with a pungent personality; at times he was a prodigious swearer. It is quite true that he always wore a high silk hat, even on the coldest winter days. how he must have suffered in the causes of dignity and vanity... There hung in Miss Harrie Barnum's room [ his granddaughter] a striking picture of him. A stern faced old man of about 80, high stock collar with a big flat bow. Fine features. A dignified face, very, very solemn, as so many of our ancestors looked."
A Research Guide to the Genealogy of the Barnum/Barnam/Barnham Family Worldwide
AncientFaces - Family History Photos
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