David's middle name, "Wheeler," was his grandmother's maiden name. In 1823, he lived at Malahide Township, Elgin County, Upper Canada when he witnessed a deed (#64). On 14 Aug 1828, he bought land at Beverly Township, Wentworth County from his father (Deed #373) then sold the land to James B. Clark on 14 Jul 1830. On 10 Oct 1832, David W. Barnum of Charlotteville petitioned as the son of a United Empire Loyalist and received a grant of 200 acres in Middleton Township. He resided on his father's homestead, Lot 7, Con 1, Charlotteville, listed in the 1852 and 1861 Censuses, then at Queen's Ward Brantford in 1871.
The 1852 Charlotteville Township Census lists the family as: Barnum, David W., Farmer, b. Canada, age 53; Eve, b. England, age 48; Phoebe G., b. Canada, age 19; Mary W., b. Canada, age 16; Emily G., b. Canada, age 16; Amelia C., b. Canada, age 13; Naverine L., b. Canada, age 11; Charity Ann, b. Canada, age 9; Samantha L., b. Canada, age 4; John W., b. Canada, age 2; Thomas A., Laborer, b. Canada, age 39. The religion for Thomas A. is shown as Baptist, for all other members of the family the religion given is W. Method. NOTE: the age given is age at next birthday. Thus all are assumed to be one year younger than shown.
From 'The Loyalists in Ontario' comes the note: "Barnum.. Nathaniel Bunnell, settled Charlotteville, his children 1. David Wheeler Barnum, got his O.C.4 Dec 1834 2. Charles D. Barnum O.C. 17 Oct 1839 3. Thomas Arnold Barnum, O.C 28 Jan 1841 4. Lois Green Barnum m. William Kimber, O.C. 3 Oct 1833 5. Henry V Barnum, O.C. 10 Mar 1834 6. James Russell Barnum, O.C. 10 Mar 1834 7. Christina Barnum m. Henry Liger, of Woodhouse, O.C. 7 Feb 1833 8. Andrew Willson Barnum of Bayham, O.C. 22 Dec 1832 9. Samantha M barnum m. James Clark of Walsingham, O.C. 6 Feb 1828
O.C. stands for "Order in Council", which means that they were now either married (if female) or over age 21, and could then claim their free land grant as a child of a Loyalist. In the case of males, it gives you a good idea of when they were born. All those with no location given were in Charlotteville, near their father.