“WHO ARE THOMAS AND JOHN BARROW?”

I would like to thank everyone who has contacted me regarding my article, “WHO ARE THOMAS BARROW?” which appeared in Barrow Branches, Volume II, Number 2 on pages 3-7. Not everyone has agreed with my theory on John (1) and Thomas (1). However, almost everyone who has responded has the belief that Thomas (1) is our ancestor and that he is the young man who did immigrate in 1654 to the Virginia Colony. The purpose of the article was to do exactly what it has evidently done. That is to create interest in our early Thomas Barrow families and hopefully have someone develop the proof on just which early Barrow was the beginning of the Thomas Barrow lineage in America.

After much research on my part, and after having heard from a number of Barrow family researchers whom I respect highly, both Barrow Association members and from non-members as well, including those who studied their genealogy much deeper than I have, I have to come to the conclusion that it is indeed an assumption on my part. It would be very difficult for me to prove at this time that my John (1) was the father of my Thomas (1). I do however, believe that the two were very closely associated and/or related, possibly uncle and nephew? For instance, we know that they owned land adjoining each other in Green Swamp or Chippoaks Creek. It is indeed possible that they were father-son as I have proposed and there is lots of evidence that this is so.

Another possibility is that the Thomas who came to Virginia in 1654 in not my Thomas (1) at all and that there was another Thomas who did come to join his father John, or who was born in the Colony and would have been my Thomas (1)? From Early Windows-Early Virginia and Its People, we quote, “Thomas Barrow, son of John, purchases 150 acres of land from John and Mary Smith on Green Swamp on July 6, 1680,” Some John Barrow definitely had a son named Thomas. We know that our Thomas (1) purchased land from John and Mary Smith on Green Swamp on July 6, 1680.

I would now like to present a few “facts” hoping that they will again cause enough concern to get us all thinking and to researching our early Barrow heritage. The numbers in ( ) are entirely my way of identifying various generations and continue from my previous article.

1. A John Barrow (2) was born in 1643. Some say in Virginia Colony, others say in England.

2. A Thomas Barrow (1?) was born in 1640 in England and came to America when he was under 20 years of age. He would have been 3 years older than John (2). (See my previous article for details.)

3. From A few Early Families in America by Mrs. Albert S Johnson, 1941, we quote, “Others of the name [Barrow] who immigrated at an early date but left few records of their immediate families or descendents---------(here she list a number of Barrows)-----John and Thomas of Henrico County in 1654-----(then she list more Barrows).” In the very early days, Surry County was established from all the lands south of the James River. In 1654 this area would have been Surry County.

4. We know that a Mr. Thomas Barrow was imported by Major Wood along with seven others to Surry County in 1654. This fits with Mrs. Johnson’s list of early emigrants. Thomas (1) ? (Mrs. Johnson was a Barrow descendent.)

5. John (1) was living in James City County when Surry was created and was thus now living in the new Surry County.

6. We have a list of the eight imports of Major Wood and there was no John Barrow listed. Rev. David does not say that the two brothers came at the same time on the same ship.

7. We know that Thomas (1) was involved in the construction of the famous Bacon’s Castle which early maps show in Henrico County but we know is in Surry County where John (1) and Thomas (1) were living.and would have settled.

8. The Rev. David Barrow states, “Two lads by the name of Barrow were early immigrants to the northern Neck of Virginia. One went off southwardly but to what part I do not remember. The other married and settled down in the northern part of Virginia.” See my previous article for more on the text of his letter to his cousin James Barrow of Milledgeville, Georgia.

9. John’s (1) home probably would have been in what was called the northern part of Virginia.

10. Thomas (1) did indeed settle down in Surry County near John (1).

11. A John (2?) did indeed “went off southwardly” and settled in the new lands of North Carolina, which became Perquimans Precinct.

12. Were these the two lads that the Rev. David speaks of? Did they come to the Colony together? The Rev. does not say that they came at the same time but this is possible.

13. In 1668, John (2) was 25 years old and married to Sara Horton in Perquimans Precinct, N. C. At the same time, Thomas (1) was a carpenter in Surry County, Virginia, and living on lands adjoining John (1). John (2) died in 1718 when 75 years old. This definitely eliminates John (1) from being the one going to N. C., as he would have been at least 109 years old in 1718.

For a long time, I, along with other Barrow family researchers with whom I have discussed the probability, have suspected that Thomas (1) had a brother John and the two were the lads that the Rev. David referred to in his letter. Possibly, they were the sons of a John Barrow? Were these two the ancestors of most of us who are members of the Barrow Association and thus are we actually from the same family line?

Again, your comments would be greatly appreciated

Hugh W. Barrow-----124 Manor Way-------Carrollton, GA 30117------770-830-7763-----bonnbill@msn.com