A One-Name Study for the BARNUM/BARNHAM Surname
Thomas Barnum, of Lanesboro, was a sergeant in the Berkshire militia in the companies of Capt. Daniel Brown and Capt. Noah Hinman. He took part in the battles of Bunker Hill, Bennington, and Ticonderoga, and was in the campaign
against the Indians and Tories in the Mohawk Valley, October, 1780. By the end of the war, he had risen to the rank of captain. He was a Selectman at Shoreham, Vermont for two years; 1788-89.
Thomas is mentioned in several places in the History of the town of Shoreham, Vermont: from the date of its charter, October 8th, 1761, to the present time. “Thomas Barnum came from Lanesboro, Mass., and settled on land now owned by Levi O. Birchard, a little north of the school house. He died here February 17th, 1836, aged 84. He was a soldier in the Revolution; was in the battle at Trenton, and in several other engagements. He was a member of the Congregational Church, and universally esteemed as a worthy and good man.” “One of the great evils felt by the early settlers was the want of a sound currency, and a good market for the products of their farms. ....[A] large share of the deal was made for cattle pay, due October 1st, where Captain Thomas Barnum was generally the appraiser for all parties.” “Captain Thomas Barnum excelled in this class of exercises [athletic sports], and was said to clear forty-five feet at a hop, step and jump. His sons, Truman and Simeon, inherited this athletic vigor. They would cut and cord their four cords of hard wood per day, and be on hand for the favorite sport when the feat was over. The first named of the sons died at Chicago some fifteen years since, while engaged upon the street improvements of that young metropolis.” “Thomas Barnum, on the Plattsburgh expedition [during the War of 1812], went with his team to carry the volunteers, and, though aged, was so enthusiastic as to cross over with them to the seat of war.”
According to Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in the War of the Revolution: Barnum, Thomas, Lanesborough. Sergeant, Capt. Daniel Brown's co.; marched to Meloomscuyck Aug. 14, 1777, on an alarm; service, 6 days; also, Capt. Brown's co., Col. Benjamin Simonds's regt.; marched on an alarm at Berkshire Oct. 13, 1780; service, 6 days; also, Capt. Noah Hinman's co., Col. Asa Barns's (Berkshire Co.) regt.; marched Oct. 15, 1781; service, 10 days.
The Barnum Family, 1517-1904 mistakenly shows him as a son of Thomas Barnum (born 1735).
In the 1800 US Census for Shoreham, Addison, Vermont the family of Thomas BARNUM is enumerated as follows:
Pg 79; Ln 17; Barnum, Thomas; 2 males to 10; 1 male 10 to 16; 1 male 16 to 26; 1 male 45 up; 1 female to 10; 2 females 16 to 26 and 1 female 26 to 45.
A Research Guide to the Genealogy of the Barnum/Barnam/Barnham Family Worldwide
AncientFaces - Family History Photos
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