William Barnum moved to Canada sometime before his marriage to Ann Margaret Carter in 1839, and spent most of his adult life in the province of Ontario. He established a farm in East Nissouri Township, in Oxford County, Ontario. The Barnum Family, 1350-1907 shows in error that he was the son of John Barnum, son of Ebenezer (born 1712); the Genealogical Record of the Barnum Family correctly indicates that John had no issue.
From the Register of Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials of Saint Paul's Church, Erie, Township of Bertie, District of Niagara, Province of Canada from 1836 to 1844. John Anderson, Rector. Among the entries for 1839: July 11th. William Barnham of the Township of Willoughby, Bachelor, and Ann Margaret Carter of the Township of Bertie, Spinster, were married, the banns being duly published, on the eleventh day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty nine by me, John Anderson, Rector of Waterloo. In the presence of Thomas E. FitzGerald and John Anger.
Collector's List 1848: Barnum paid tax on the NWQ lot 6/8, 50A, none cleared.
The 1851 Canadian Census for Oxford County, East Nissouri Township, Ontario shows, at Page 1, No. 34, the family of Barnum, William, 25 [sic, s/b 35], b. US, Baptist, Farmer, living in a Log House. Other family members were Margaret, 31, b. Canada, Baptist; Mary, 12, b. Canada, Baptist; Matilda, 10, b. Canada, Baptist; Olive, 2, b. Canada, Baptist; William H., 8, b. Canada, Baptist; Barnabus, 6, b. Canada, Baptist; John, 4, b. Canada, Baptist and Ainsworth, John, 22, b. Canada, Baptist, Farmer. On the next page after this entry is the following description of East Nissouri Township: East Nissouri Township is bounded on the East by West Zorra, on the West by West Nissouri Township, on the North by the Gore of Downie and on the South by the Governor's Road, which separates it from West Oxford. A branch of the River Thames runs through the South West corner of the Township, on which is situated the village of Thamesford on the Governor's Road, twelve miles East of London. There is in the village a grist mill, a sawmill, a carding machine, one church, School House, two dry goods stores, one Grocery, two taverns, two blacksmiths, one Waggon Shop, two Asheries, two coopers shops, one tin shop, one Shoe Makers Shop, two tailors and two carpenters.
Crown Land: William received 50A of lot 6/8 in 1852
Gazetteer: William was at lot 7/8 in 1862
Residence: In 1881, Elgin East, Ontario, Canada
William died of Bright's Disease.
Death notice from the Ingersoll Chronicle, Thursday, October 10, 1895, pg 8, col 3: Barnum--In Ingersoll, on Saturday, Oct 5th, William Barnum, aged 75 years, and 5 months.