(NOTE- Numbers in parentheses will correspond to the generational I.D. number within the Lineage Charts)
NOTE #1- Barnet Barkelow was a teacher by profession. Unlike his farming brothers, Barnet was never taxed on more than an acre of property while he lived in Hunterdon Co.,NJ. But, also being a legal heir to a portion of his father's estate in 1780 would have given him the means to purchase land for his family upon arrival in Pennsylvania. But, to everyone's dismay, his father, James Barkelow(1698-1780) died intestate(without a will). His elderly wife, Jane, was named executrix by default. Their children were in their 40's and early 50's, some having been married for over 30 years. Although the sons had worked land apportioned to them, they didn't actually own the land they worked, which thus became part of a contested administration. The two married but non-resident daughters, Helena Bunnel(wife of Isaac) and Margaret Van Etten(wife of John), and two unmarried resident sons, Johannes and Harmanus, contested by petitioning to receive a fair portion of the estate, slowing the process to the extent it remained in the court system for 12 years beyond their father's death. First of all, their mother was still living until about 1785/86, when her death or incapacitation demanded the court appoint a new administrator. This put pressure on most of their children who had already begun plans to emigrate elsewhere. The youngest son, Harmanus, was, by default, the one left to care for his elderly parents and claimed he was promised most of the land on which he and his parents lived, and which he worked, but, unfortunately, nothing was in writing. By the time the estate was finally sold to Luther Opdycke in 1792, all but John and Harmanus had left New Jersey, some in disgust attempting to avoid the numerous court appearances required of an administrator trying to appease everyone but getting nowhere.
In Barnet's favor, as with his brothers, their sons were old enough to earn incomes and provide the collective assistance to allow the exodus from New Jersey to begin before a finalized settlement. William Barkelowb.(1728), the eldest, was named administrator after James,Jr., who left for Virginia in 1789/90 without informing the court. William may have accompanied his no.3 son, John Barkelow(c1756-p1830) to Sussex Co.,NJ., making it difficult, as well, for him to administer the estate. Cornelius Barkelow(1736-1806) had, by 1789, returned from that part of Virginia which became West Virginia, and appears to have settled on the property, probably agreeing to help farm it with Johannes and Harmanus, pending its sale. This maneuver may have relieved some administrative pressure from his older brother, James, who was preparing to move to Virginia. The timing of general emigrations to the Gettysburg and Shippensburg,PA areas in 1786 suggest Jane Barkelow had died and some monies, possibly from rents and incomes from crop and cattle sales, was making it possible for the Barkelow clans to leave.
Barnet Barkelow shows up in the 1790 census in Southampton Twp.,Franklin Co.,PA with 5 sons and 2 daughters. Only two of the sons are under 16 years. He apparently waited until almost 30 years of age to marry, not unusual for a professional man in that era. By Dutch naming protocol, he was likely to name his two oldest sons, James(after his father) and Barnet, after his grandfather. His two youngest sons appear to be John(b.c1774) and Absalom(b.1785). The middle son may well be the William Barkelow in DAR records who married Christina Fry. None of them, however, appear to have reached ripe old age. James died before 1800. John died between 1810-1819. Barnet died in 1824, and Absalom died in 1842, at age 57. The daughter who married Thomas Durborraw also died before 1820. But, there were only a few orphans from these early deaths. Barnet's children had not been able to "go forth and multiply" much. Barnet,Jr. never married. Absalom was an unmarried 39-year-old when Barnet,Jr. died, but married within five years a woman named Catharine, who was the only person named in his own will in 1842.
NOTE #2- The appearance of large gaps between Barnet's oldest children and the youngest suggests Barnet may have had more than one wife.
NOTE #3- There are adjoining Southampton Townships in both Cumberland and Franklin Counties,PA. They both had the same Shippensburg P.O. address. These Barkelows, whose names alliterated to both Barklow and Bartlow at times, were periodically shown as residing within Southampton township, but not necessarily the same county. Be careful in your census research.
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