Barnabas Kenyon is a War 1812 Veteran.

He was the son of Barnabas Kenyon, Sr. and Susannah Clark(e), daughter of John Clarke and Sarah (Gardiner) Clarke. Following the American Revolution, Barnabas came with his father to Caughnawaga, Montgomery County, New York, where his father was listed on the 1790 federal census.

On the 12th of March, 1793, Broadalbin township was organized from a part of Caughnawaga and received its name from Daniel McIntyre, a native of Breadalbane, Scotland. (From "Broadalbin in History," by R. J. Honeywell.)

Barnabas' mother, Susanna, died on March 14, 1801, in Broadalbin, age 33. His father remarried shortly after to Martha, former Mrs. Thomas Hill. Additional children on subsequent census records are possibly children from her previous marriage to Mr. Hill.

His father, Barnabas Kenyon, Sr., lived in Broadalbin, Montgomery County, New York in 1810. Barnabas Kenyon, Jr. and his brothers, Samuel, and Randall appear to be living with their father. Barnabas Junior appears to be a single man at this time. The census record was started on 6 Aug 1810, for 10 months, ending on June 1811.

Barnabas Junior, married Betsey Parkhurst, daughter of Josiah Parkhurst and Hannah Tyler, who lived in Oneida County, New York. The Parkhurst family settled in Whitestown, where the family patriarch, John Parkhurst was buried in the family cemetery in 1819.

Barnabas and Betsey are believed to have been married in late 1810 or early 1811, before their first child, Susanna was born July 14, 1811. The location of the marriage was likely in Oneida County, New York, where the bride's family lived, although not confirmed.

Barnabas and Betsy settled in Jefferson County, New York around this time. An early road was created between Rome and Ellisburg, about 43 miles. Rome is about 10 miles north of Whitestown.

Ellisburg was formed in 1803, and named in honor of Marvel and Lyman Ellis, the first settlers, per an early account in a Child's Gazetteer. Lyman Ellis was the first postmaster in Ellisburg and owned a gristmill. The town had two gristmills, an American Express office, and a daily stage to Pierrepont Manor.

Barnabas served in the War of 1812, in Jefferson County, New York. His 1812 service record shows he was at Ft. Tompkins, Sackets Harbor, overlooking Niagara River, Jefferson County, New York on 9 thru 23rd of September 1812. Sackets Harbor is about 20 miles north of Ellisburg.

Barnabas served in a Regiment commanded by Lt. Anthony Sprague, Timothy Cornwell was the Captain. Timothy Cornwell later married Barnabas' sister, Elizabeth Kenyon, on 11 July 1832, at First Presbyterian Church, Galway, Perth, Fulton, New York.

His second daughter, Parmelia, was born on 22 April 1813, in Jefferson County, New York, per her obituary. (Goshen Times, Thursday, Nov 27, 1890, Goshen, Indiana)

Barnabas was living in Ellisburg when his second son, Asa P. Kenyon was born on 11 October 1815, as noted in a later biography of the son. Asa Kenyon's 1900 death record listed his parents as Barnabas Kenyon and Betsey Parkhurst, confirming his mother's maiden name.

Barnabas remained in Jefferson County, New York, where he was seen on the 1820 census in Adams, Jefferson County, New York. He was shown with five children, three males, and two females all under ten years, born between 1810/11 and 1820.

Barnabas carried on the clothier's trade and also that of a miller, according to a biographical account by his son Asa P. Kenyon.

He is shown living in Lorraine on the 1825 New York State census. There are 4 males, one eligible to vote. There are 5 females, 4 are under the age of 16, being born between 1810 and 1825. One of the unmarried females was born the preceding year. Barnabas owns 20 acres of improved land, 6 meat cattle, no horses, 19 sheep, and 7 hogs.

He was shown in Ellisburg, Jefferson County, on the 1830 New York federal census with eight children, which shows that another daughter was born between 1825 (state census) and 1830. There were three sons. Two were 10-15, born about 1815-1820, and one 5-10, born about 1820-1825. If these are the same three sons shown on the 1820 and 1825 census, that would suggest one of the males must have been born in 1820.

It should be clarified that Adams, Lorraine, and Ellisburg all border one another. Being shown living in Adams on the 1820 census, Lorraine on the 1825 census, Ellisburg on the 1830 census, and Lorraine on the 1835 census does not mean he moved substantial distances. From "The growth of a century: as illustrated in the history of Jefferson County, New York, from 1793 to 1894," page 631, Lorraine was about six square miles. It's south-bordered along with Oswego County. It also bordered the towns of Adams, Rodman, and Ellisburgh.

In 1833, Barnabas of Broadalbin was granted land, Liber I, page 35, by H. B. Pierrepont, an early settler of the village of Pierrepont Manor, from the index of deeds in Jefferson County, New York. (This was likely Hezekiah Beers Pierrepont). His father, Barnabas Kenyon, Sr. purchased this land before his death. Barnabas and his brother Samuel occupied it. Barnabas Kenyon, Jr. had been living in Ellisburg, perhaps renting property.

Barnabas' father Barnabas Kenyon, Sr. passed away on February 9, 1834, in Broadalbin, New York, age of 71.

In 1835, Barnabas Kenyon was living in Lorraine, Jefferson County, New York, with 4 males, and 5 females. One male is eligible for the military and one is eligible to vote. One unmarried female aged 16-45 (born 1818 or before) and three females under 16 (born 1819 or after). The married female is over 45, matching Betsey who was about 46. Daughter Susanna was out of the home and married to Thomas Parham. Their first child was born in 1835. Barnabas owned 15 acres of improved land.

Barnabas and Betsy sold their property in Ellisburg, on 28 May 1836, signed on 1 Jun 1836 The property was also owned by his brother, Samuel, and wife Hannah. They sold the property for $800 to Jonathan Fish, Jr., whose description of the property bordered the properties owned by Jesse Clark, Nathaniel Clark, and Benjamin Wright. (Deeds Vol E3, page 6)

On 20 July 1837 Samuel Kenyon, brother of Barnabas, purchased 252 acres in Lagrange County, Indiana, the United States with a federal land grant. It doesn't appear that his brother, Samuel, ever occupied the property, but Barnabas Kenyon with his wife Betsy moved there, to the town of Lima. His brother, Samuel, soon after married Freedom Gilman in Oswego County, New York where the couple resided.

Lima was the early county seat. It was located between the Pigeon River and the Fawn River. Travel was along footpaths and wagon roads, before the railroads. In 1835, the Vistula Road was laid out through Lima and was used by many early settlers. It ran through Lima to meet the Chicago Road. per an Ohio archive.) A stage line ran from Lima to Ohio in 1836. [http://genealogytrails.com/ind/lagrange/highways-railroads.html]

The First Presbyterian Church of Lima was established in 1833, by Christopher Corey, a minister. After the church became established, the east district was given in charge to Oren Howard, brother-in-law to Barnabas. The west district was given in charge to Robert Cummings, a church deacon and elder, who would later become brother-in-law to Barnabas, when Robert's daughter, Rachel, married his son Asa P. Kenyon in April 1843. The first house of worship was dedicated on 15 Feb 1843.

In 1831, the Methodist Church was organized in Lima at the home of Robert Hamilton (Counties of LaGrange, 153). This was the first religious society formed in the county. Robert Hamilton was a neighbor of Barnabas Kenyon. It is unknown whether Barnabas Kenyon and his wife, Betsey were members of either of these churches, but they were likely members of one of them.

The Methodist Church and cemetery, where Barnabas was buried, are located right down the road from where he lived. The present brick Methodist Church was erected around 1890, per Jack Smith, of St. Joseph, Michigan, whose ancestors, Oliver Smith and Polly (Littlefield) Smith both buried in the cemetery. On the 1820 census in Ellisburg, Jefferson County, New York, Oliver Smith was a neighbor to Oren Howard, who was married to Sarah Kenyon, daughter of Barnabas Kenyon, Sr.

Oliver Smith purchased federal land in Indiana on 20 Mar 1837. This was the same date as Oren Howard and Hiram Babcock. Oliver and Oren were both from Jefferson County, New York, which suggests they may have traveled together to purchase the land.

Betsey died September 1, 1838, in Lima, Lagrange Indiana, where she was buried in the United Methodist Cemetery. There was an epidemic through parts of Indiana, including Lima, and parts of Michigan, including St. Joseph County. Many people died. It is unknown whether Betsey may have been a victim of this epidemic. She died about one year after the family moved there. This must have been a great hardship to the family, who were becoming established in a new frontier.

On 28 June 1840, daughter Jane, married Charles McCue, a shoemaker, in Lagrange County, Indiana. They first settled in Michigan, where their first child Mary Jane was born in 1841. Mary Jane married George Selby of Lagrange County, Indiana around 1859.

On the 1840 census, Barnabas was shown living in Lima, with two males in the 20-29 age group, presumably two of his three sons. One of his sons may have been living in the home of his daughter, Susanna Parham, who shows a male in this age group. His daughters were no longer living at home.

Barnabas Kenyon's brother, Samuel Kenyon was a grantor on a deed to the sale of the property, Section 12, township 38, 316 acres to Benson Sherman. It was recorded on 17 Aug 1840. This was the property on which Barnabas was living.

Barnabas' son, Lyman, married Melissa Phelps on 30 June 1843, presumably in Indiana. Her family, headed by Daniel Phelps was living in Flint, Jackson Township, Steuben County, Indiana, about 15-20 miles east of Lima.

In 1850, Barnabas' daughter, Parmela was shown living in the household of her brother-in-law, Samuel Parham in West Greenfield. Close by, her sister Sarah Kenyon lived in the household of Ralph and Katherine Selby. Later that year, on 29 Dec 1850, Sarah married John C. Ripperton, in Lagrange County, Indiana. Son, Charles Kenyon was living in a boarding house, in East Lima, owned by Francis Jewett, an attorney. Charles was listed as a tailor, an occupation he may have learned from his father, who was involved in the clothier trade.

By 1850, son, Lyman Kenyon and wife Melissa lived in Lafayette County, Wisconsin. They may have traveled with her parents, Daniel and Eliza Phelps to Stephenson County, Illinois. They later settled across the border into what was then Iowa County, Wisconsin, by 1846.

In 1860, Parmela was living in Noble County, Indiana, in the household of John Ripperton, her brother-in-law. Her sister, Sarah, died and John Ripperton, remarried.

Parmela (aka Amelia) married Jacob L. Powell, Justice of the Peace, on 2 April 1868, in Noble County, Indiana. It was his third marriage. They resided in Goshen, Elkhart County, Indiana.

Barnabas Kenyon died on 7 Jan 1844, in Lagrange County, Indiana. The cemetery is located on 750N, between Howe and Greenfield Mills. Barnabas was either living in Lima or Greenfield at the time of his death. He may have moved in with his daughter, Susanna, and son-in-law, Thomas Parham, after the sale of the property in 1840, before he died in 1844. The current property address of the home appears to be 5825 E 750 N, Howe, Indiana 46746, based on Google Maps.

The plot appears to be that of Thomas Parham, with a large monument. Barnabas' sister, Sarah Howard was buried back in the cemetery, with her husband Oren Howard.

Children:

Barnabas and Betsey had eight children, three sons, and five daughters. They were still living on the 1830 census in Ellisburg, Jefferson, New York, and the 1835 census in Lorraine, Jefferson County, which showed 3 sons and 4 daughters, with one known daughter, Susanna, married and out of the family home.

Census records (federal and state) indicated that the first two children were likely their two daughters, Susanna and Parmelia, born between 1811 and 1813. Next, their three sons, Lyman, Asa P., and Charles, were born between 1814 and 1820, then an unidentified daughter born between 1821 and 1823, daughter, Jane, born 1824, and lastly daughter, Sarah born in 1830.

One daughter has not been identified to date. She is believed to have been born between 1821/23 in Jefferson County, New York. There was an Ella Kenyon, named as an heir in the probate records of Jacob Powell, widow of Permelia Kenyon, on 21 Aug 1894. Jacob and Permelia purchased the property on 18 May 1881. The probate record noted that Ella was then living in Indiana. It is unclear whether there was another possibility for whom this Ella Kenyon could be. No other information, at this time is located about her. Perhaps she was the unidentified sister.

∼Sources: 1790, 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840 Federal Census records; 1825 and 1835 New York State census records; War 1812 Payroll Abstracts and Service Record; 1833 Jefferson County, New York Deed Book 1, page 35; 1836 Land Deed Jefferson County, New York, Vol E3, page 6; 1840 Grantor Deed in LaGrange, Indiana; Michigan death certificate for Asa P. Kenyon; History of Crawford County, Iowa. Vol. II. Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1911.; New York Marriages indexed as Kinion; 1833-1908: the exercises in commemoration of the seventy-fifth anniversary of the organization of the Presbyterian Church of Lima, Indiana, Presbyterian Church (Lima, Ind.), 1908, page 52; http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/OHLUCAS/2012-01/1327522666; Counties of LaGrange and Noble, Indiana: Historical and Biographical, 1882, page 63, and 153; Portrait and biographical album of St. Joseph County, Michigan, page 431; George Parkhurst Increasings, 1995, by Peter G. Parkhurst, page 117; The Coming of the Welsh to Oneida County, New York, http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nyunywh/oneidawelsh/page9.html; War 1812 Officers http://jefferson.nygenweb.net/warof1812/officers.htm; Town History from Child's Gazetteer of Jefferson County, New York, pages 401-419; Spafford's Gazetteer of 1813.