The Genealogical Record of the Barnum Family states that Ashbell may be the son of Ebenezer Barnum and Elizabeth Skiff, but also calls Zenus (born 1760) the last son of that marriage. Ashbell participated in the Revolutionary War as a member of Captain Underhill's Company, Colonel Allen's Regiment, Vermont (1781). Upon his death, he left seven sons. In August of 1821, Cyrus Armstrong was still the guardian of the minor children of Ashbel, including Ashbel, Luke, and Norman. But the daughters had all received their full portions in Ashbel's lifetime, per the estate division. Thus, the daughters were either married or 21 years of age before 1815.