Hello, I'm working on my earliest known Barnes ancestor, William J. Barnes, who was born in Brunswick County on April 29, 1789. We have military records indicating that he served in the War of 1812 for three months in late 1814 as a substitute for Richard Edmunds (also from Brunswick County). There is some circumstantial evidence that William's father was either James Barnes who married Sally Browder (daughter of Joseph and Suky Browder), or Stephen Barnes who married Sarah Johnson (daughter of William and Rachel Johnson). I tend toward James and Sally because of some personal property tax records that, in 1815, show William next to James in the tax list. William shows up again in 1824 in Alabama and remains there for the rest of his life. Now, his father James (if indeed he is his father) had other children: Benjamin, Andrew James and probably: Naomi, Rebecca and Susan. Information on Stephen's children is hard to come by. Is anyone else working on any of these Barnes lines from Brunswick County? I would love to share information. Ed Barnes edwardbarnes@sprynet.com