I am researching BARNES in Clay County. To summarize, I am interested in the James William Barnes family. He married Sarah D. Brewster and Martha Serepti Taylor Smith. I speculate that his father is the James M. Barnes who appears first in the 1840 census in Talladega County. I think the Edward Barnes also in that census is probably the brother, uncle, or father of James M. Barnes. James M. brought his family from SC though he was born in NC. Edward was also born in NC and I'm not sure if he came directly from there - he may have been in TN for awhile based on birth info for children living with him in the census. Related families by marriage are also Haynes, Brewster, Rollins, Cole, Richards, Trussel, Triplett, Ellard, Dingler. I will provide details below for any who are interested. Jeanette --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- My husband's ancestor is James William Barnes born about 1826 in SC. He married first Sarah D. Brewster on March 1, 1846 in Talladega County. Their children (using census data) are: Jane (or S. Jane such as Sarah Jane) ~1847 Malinda (or S. Malinda) ~1850 Elizabeth ~1855-57 Ellen ~ 1859 Sarah (Sallie) ~1861 probably married to a Smith and died July 1, 1936. His second wife is Martha Serepti Taylor Smith (Smith was her first husband, her parents are Paschal Harrison Taylor and Mary Amanda Davis) married Dec 16, 1866 in Talladega County. Their kids are: James P. ~1867 Mary Amanda April 12, 1869 (m. Estes) Lula (m. Joseph Tooel) 1871 Pierce Hiram (m. Fannie Jett) Lena 1875 Daniel Cress April 1877 (m. Lona C. (?) Vinson) Lavonia JUne 25, 1880 (m. William Vinson) Another infant, possibly a son named Oliver I speculate that James W. Barnes is the son of James M. Barnes. James M. had land in Fairfield County, SC and lived there before coming to Talladega (later Clay) county. He was born about 1778/79 in NC and died between 1870 and 1880 in Clay County, probably Lineville. He married Sena ? before 1820 in SC. She was born about 1787 in SC and died before 1870 in Clay County. There are only a couple of the kids who are proven to be his (Cynthia Ann, Martha, and Francis Marion I believe) and the others I list are speculation based on census information which indicates these Barnes were all born in SC. Based on that his kids are possibly: Drury T. 1811-1820 in SC Cynthia Ann 1821 Fairfield County, SC (married Andrew J. Haynes) Sarah Jane ~1825 SC (m. John D. Brewster) James W. ~1826 (above) Eliza A. ~1827 (m. William Rollins) Martha C. July 24, 1833 SC (m. Charles Shockley Cole) Francis Marion ~1835 SC (m. Sarah Ann Richards) one other female, possible Catherine C. m. James R. Eason??? Edward Barnes was born about 1766 in NC and died 1850-1860 in Randolph or Tall (later Clay) County. He may have had 2 or 3 wives. I think he may have married Nancy Dingler Oct 6, 1843 in Talladega County but I cannot be sure it's him and not a different Edward Barnes. Based on birth information in the census and other census data, his children are possibly the following: Nancy Ann Sept 22, 1814 NC (m. James Trussel) Sarah L. ~1816 NC (m. Hedgeman Triplett) Mary ~ 1818 NC (m. Thomas Ellard) Elizabeth ~1822 NC (m. Thomas P. Dingler) Jane (or Martha Jane??) ~ 1826 TN Joshua ~ 1828 TN George ~ 1829 TN I have more on these families and am willing to hare whatever I have. Please be careful in using this information as some of it is based only on one source (like census) and some of it is speculation as noted above. Jeanette