According to his descendant Duane E. Howard, John Bomfit Barnum is presumed to have lived in Pennsylvania in 1834, the year in which his son John Watkins Barnum was born. The family of a John Barnom is listed in Lycoming County, Elkland Township, state of Pennsylvania, US Census of 1830, as follows:
Males of 20 and under 30 - 1, Females under 5 - 2, Females of 20 and under, 30 - 1.
US Census of 1840, Athens Township, Bradford County, Pennsylvania: Barnum, John; males: 1 - under 5, 3 - 5 to 10, 1 - 30 to 40; females: 1 - under 5, 1 - 5 to 10 and 1 - 30 to 40.
In the 1850 US Census for Athens, Bradford County, Pennsylvania the family of John Barnum was enumerated as follows (comments in parentheses supplied by descendant Duane Howard):
Dwelling #251; Family #256
John Barnum (John Bomfit Barnum), 48, M, b. New York
Phoebe Barnum (Phoebe Kelly), 39, F, b. New York
Jane Barnum, 19, F, b. Pennsylvania
Washington Barnum (George Washington Barnum), 18, M, b. Pennsylvania
John (John Watkins Barnum), 15, M, born Pennsylvania
Ruth Barnum, 13, F, b. Pennsylvania
Thomas, 11, b. Pennsylvania
Rial Barnum (Royal S. Barnum), 9, b. Pennsylvania
Sarah Barnum, 7, b. Pennsylvania
Lewis C. Barnum, 4, b. Pennsylvania
Hamilton Wilhizer, 30; M; Laborer; Real property $800; b. New York; Insane
The family followed the Oregon Trail and settled in the area which became, in 1848, the Washington Territory. It was there that John Bomfit Barnum died about 1855, in the newly-founded city of Seattle. 'The Barnum Family, 1517-1904' confirms his death in 1855.
Some of his sons began to emigrate from the Territory of Oregon, with John Watkins, George Washington and Royal S. Barnum moving to Wisconsin. He and his family moved to the Oregon Territory and settled in that part that in 1848 became Washington Territory.
'The Barnum Family, 1350-1907' gives a birth year of 1804.