Joel Barnes & the 1850 Census

Census Sunday
Roberts-Barnes
By Don Taylor

I know very little about my 3^rd great-grandfather, Joel Barnes. He may have been born 1bout 1790 in Broome County, New York. He married Lucy Wilson Taft and they had at least one child, Nelson, born in 1816. I have no idea about any other children nor any death information.

In 1850, I would expect Joel to be about 60 years old.

Search Results

Using Family Searcy, my search for Joel Barnes in the 1850 Census yielded 13 results.

• • Joel Barnes, Born 1846 in Georgia – Too young.
  • Joel Barnes, born 1845 in Indiana – Too young.
  • Joel Barnes, Born 1839 in Kentucky – Too young.
  • Joel Barnes, born 1836 – Too young.
  • Joel Barnes, Born 1830 in South Carolina – Too Young
  • Joel Barnes, Born 1829 in South Carolina – Too Young
  • Joel Barnes, born 1827 in North Carolina – Too young.
  • Joel Barnes, born 1816 in North Carolina – Too young.
  • Joel Barnes, Born 1824 in Kentucky- Too young.
  • Joel Barnes, Born 1810 in Pennsylvania – Too young.
  • Joel Barnes, born 1795 in Vermont – Possible
  • Joel Barnes, Born 1790 in Tennessee. Possible.
  • Joel Barnes, Born 1782 in Massachusetts. Possible.

That left 3 possible Barnes’ listed by birthyear.

• • 1795 – Living in Corinth, Orange County, Vermont. Has an apparent wife, Ruth, and an implied mother living with him.  No Lucy; unlikely my Joel Barnes.
  • 1790 – Living in South Nashville, Davidson, Tennessee. He has an apparent daughter in law and two grandchildren living with him.  No Lucy; unlikely my Joel Barnes.
  • 1782 – Living in Thompson, Windham, Connecticut. He has an apparent wife, Mary Barnes and an apparent daughter, Eliza; unlikely my Joel Barnes.

None of these entries are consistent with expectations, so I believe that either Joel died before 1850 or was enumerated differently.

Future Action

Look at potential Joel Barnes’ in the 1840 Census.