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ASAHEL RICHARDSON BARNES (1804–1873), son of STEPHEN BARNES and ELCY ALDRICH

MARY WHITCOMB SLOCUM (1811–1884), daughter of JEREMY SLOCUM and SARAH WHITCOMB

Asahel Richardson Barnes was born on 16 June 1804 in Woonsocket, Rhode Island.1 He died on 31 October 1873, age 69 years and six months, of heart disease in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.2,3 He is buried in the Maple Street Cemetery in Adams, Berkshire county, Massachusetts.4

Mary Whitcomb Slocum was born on 30 January 1811 in Florida, Berkshire, Massachusetts.1 She died on 15 August 1884 in Wauconda, Illinois.1 She is buried in the Slocum Family Cemetery in Wauconda.5

Her gravestone says, "Our Beloved Mother/Mary W/Wife of Asahel R. Barnes/Died Aug 15, 188[?]/Aged 78 Years/[?] months/[?] days".

Woonsocket was incorporated as a town in 1867. Previously, the area was part of Cumberland and Smithfield.

Asahel was a farmer in Pittsfield.3

"Father turned to cotton manufacturing in 1834. The firm of Tyler, Martin and Barnes was dissolved ... $3,000 paid to Barnes for his interest." [1]

"We moved from Hancock to Housatonic about 1841. The panic of 1837 broke up the manufacture with low tariff but Father was a good weaver so he was what was known as a Boss Weaver. That is, had charge of all looms in the factory. Lived there about 5 years then went to South Adams. Have a recommendation of Father as 'Boss Weaver'. 'To Whom it May Concern. Good workman, good citizen, temperate and conscientious. Any one wanting a good reliable man will be pleased.' Signed by the Agent of the Housatonic Manufacturing Company. R. D. Whittemore" [1]

"Lived in South Adams about 5 years. Went to Pittsfield about 1852 where Father had a better job as Boss Weaver and Pittsfield was our home until broken up. But Father was away a great deal of the time until 1864. In 1866 I bought the place in the country and that was the home until Father died in 1873." [1]

According to the census, in 1850 Asahel was a 47-year-old manufacturer, living in Adams, Berkshire, Massachusetts with his 39-year-old wife Mary, 18-year-old Amanda and 14-year-old Darwin. In 1860 Asahel was a 55-year-old peddler living in Pittsfield with his 49-year-old wife Mary and 24-year-old Darwin, who was working as a clerk in a book store. In 1870 Asahel was a 67-year-old farmer with real estate worth 2,500 dollars and a personal estate of 700 dollars. He was living in Pittsfield with his wife Mary W., age 59 and born in Massachusetts.6

In 1880 Mary was living in Milwaukee with her daughter Amanda and Amanda's family.

"[I] went to Milwaukee in May 1884. Mother was sick and wanted to see me."1  

Children of Asahel Richardson Barnes and Mary Whitcomb Slocum:

i. Amanda Lovina Barnes was born on 12 May 1833 in Berkshire county, Massachusetts. She died on 20 May 1892 in Milwaukee. She married Andrew Jackson Aikens.

ii. Erasmus Darwin Barnes was born on 25 Jul 1836 in Hancock, Berkshire, Massachusetts.1

Erasmus enlisted in the Independent Zuaves in 1861, which was reorganised as the Allen Guard. He was mustered into the US Army of Volunteers on 3 September 1862 and was mustered out on 1 September 1863.1 Darwin E. Barnes, a 25-year-old single clerk living in Pittsfield registered for the draft; he said he had already served with the 49th Massachusetts regiment.7

His sister Amanda L. Aikens left him the proceeds from the sale of a pair of diamond earrings in her will of 13 May 1892. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References:

1. Letter from Erasmus Darwin Barnes to his niece Stella Cramer Aikens, author's copy.

2. "Massachusetts, Death Records, 1841–1915," database with images, Ancestry > pre-1903 > 1873, image 85.

3. Death certificate, author's copy. Death certificate for Asahel R. Barnes - in my possession.

City of Pittsfield, Oct. 11, 1946

I John J. Fitzgerald hereby certify that I have examined the Records of Deaths in said city and find recorded therein the death of ASAHEL R. BARNES.

The record is in the following words and figures, recorded in Book 3, Page 149 to wit:

Date of Death, Oct 31, 1873

Name and Surname of Deceased, Asahel R. Barnes

Name and Surname of Husband, -----

Sex, M, Color, W, Condition, Married

Age, 69 Years, 6 Months, - Days

Disease or Cause of Death, Heart disease

Residence, Pittsfield

Place of death, Pittsfield

Place of Burial, South Adams Cemetery

Occupation, Farmer

Veteran, ---

Birthplace, Road Island

Name and Birthplace of Father, Unknown

Name and Birthplace of Mother, Unknown

Date of Record, Jan. 7, 1874.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. "Asahel R. Barnes," Findagrave (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/148603140). The inscription on his gravestone says, "Asahel R. Barnes / 1804–1873."

5. "Mary W. Barnes," Findagrave (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/29636095/mary-w_-barnes).

6. "1850 U.S. Federal Census, database with images, Ancestry > Massachusetts > Berkshire > Adams, image 133; "1860 U.S. Federal Census," database with images, Ancestry > Massachusetts > Berkshire > Pittsfield, image 78; "1870 U.S. Federal Census," database with images, Ancestry > Massachusetts > Berkshire > Pittsfield, image 269.

7. "U.S., Civil War Draft Records 1863–1865," database with images, Ancestry > Massachusetts > 10th > vol. 4, image 12.

Last revised: 22-Nov-2021