WILLIAM BARNES, the progenitor of the Barnes family in Western Virginia, came from Georges Creek, Maryland, to what is now Marion County, West Virginia, some time before 1782. The first census of the United States, taken in that year gives the name of William Barnes living in Monongalia County, Virginia (Marion County was then a part of Monongalia), whose family consisted of six white persons. As our ancestor was the only Barnes living in this part of the country at that time, it is very evident that the family mentioned in the first census, was ours.
 
 William Barnes was a mill-wright and had operated a mill on Georges Creek, Maryland, and it was but natural that he should seek a location near a stream of water, as this was the only power available for mills, at that date. The site chosen for this dwelling was almost ideal for a pioneer home. It is a small level plot of some five or six acres on the east bank of the Tygarts Valley river and at the mouth of a small branch which rises at the Fairmont city reservoir and drains the Pleasant Valley basin.
 
 A short distance above the mouth of this branch is a water fall of about forty fee. Here William Barnes built a mill, and for several years ground corn for the early settlers. His house, which was constructed of hewed logs, was located well above high water and the garden sloped gently down to the river. With plenty of fish at his front door, and game in the woods behind the house, and a mill to grind his grain, what more could be desired for a pioneer homestead. The coming of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad divided his garden into two parts, and the building of river mills at Fairmont (Middletown) and the Hayhurst mill, just above his home on the river, made his little mill no longer necessary and it was abandoned. It is to be regretted that we could not have a picture of this old mill, but it has long since gone the way of all things earthly. The large plant of the Fairmont Chemical Company now occupies the spot where the old house stood and the tipple of the Robinson mines is located in the old garden: while the Fairmont Brick Company's plant is located in the old orchard.
 
 The family of William Barnes consisted of nine sons, and as one of the boys once remarked to a friend, each of them had a sister. John, b. Feb. 3, 1763, Francis, b. Mar. 12, 1766, William, b. Nov. 3, 1769, Mary, b. Oct. 16, 1771, Henry, b. May 17, 1773, George, b. July 15, 1775, Jacob, b. May 29, 1779, Joseph, b. Oct. 9, 1781, Abraham, b. Oct. 13, 1784 and Isaac, b. April 23, 1788.
 
 John Barnes never came west of the Allegheny mountains. Francis married a Miss Jacobs at Georges Creek, Maryland. William went west. Mary married John Fancher and afterward went west. Henry died, date not given. George married a Miss Moran and they went west. Jacob married Mrs. Hannah Lambert Hull (see later chapter), Joseph married a Miss Brumage of Marion County. Abraham married Mary Ann Hall, daughter of Jordan Hall of Marion County (see later chapter). Isaac married a Miss Carpenter, and after her death he married a Miss Nutter, and after living on Bingamon creek for a while they went west.
 
 The wife of William Barnes was a well educated German lady. Her maiden name was Mary Marietta. Whether she was related to the family after whom the oldest town of Ohio is named, or not, we do not know. This name is still to be found in the western counties of Maryland. The family register which is in her hand writing shows her to have been a beautiful penman.
 
 The records of the Colonial army for Maryland show that, one William Barnes enlisted Jan. 22, 1777, under Capt. James Pendleton Company 5. But whether this was our progenitor or not, we have no record. Virginia and Maryland together furnished enough Barneses to constitute a company. William Barnes was a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church, which fact is evidence of his English ancestry. ²⁵

William Barnes was in Capt. James Pendleton's company of Maryland Troops as a Private; also in Col. Charles Harrison's VA and MD regiment Nov 30, 1776. Was a Valley Forge 6-3-1778. Verified by National Number 317267. Verification references: War Dept records - Washington D.C. See DAR papers of Mrs. A. A. Hall, Morgantown, WV. Her national number is 317267.

William Barnes (b: 1735 @ Maryland; d: 1824 @ Marion County WV) m: (1762, MD) Mary Marietta (b: 1740 @ Maryland) They had:

 James Barnes b: 2-23-1763
 
 Francis b: 3-12-1769 m: Miss Jacobs
 
 Wm II b: 11-3-1769 m: Jane Graham
 
 Mary b: 10-16-1771 m: John Fancher
 
 Henry b: 5-17-1773
 
 George b: 7-15-1775 m: Miss Moran
 
 Jacob b: 5-29-1779 m: Mrs. Hannah Lambert Hull
 
 Joseph b: 10-9-1781 m: Miss Brummage
 
 Abraham b: 10-13-1784 m: Mary Ann Hall
 
 Isaac b: 4-23-1788 m1: Jane Carpenter m2: Miss Nutter

 Jacob Barnes (b: 5-29-1779 Marion County WV) m: 1802 Mrs. Hannah Lambert Hull (b: Harrison County, WV ?; d: 1852 Shinnston, WV) had James Barnes (b: Oct 1804; d: 1834)
 
 James Barnes (b: Oct 1804; d: 1834 Marion County WV) m: 1826 Any Nixon (b: Boothsville, WV; d: Boothsville, WV) had Joshua Caleb Barnes (b: 31 Aug 1827; d: 5 Apr 1912)
 
 Joshua Caleb Barnes (b: 31 Aug 1827, Marion County WV; d: 5 Apr 1912) m: 28 Nov 1852 Hester Elizabeth Miller (b: Washington County, PA; d: 9 Mar 1895, Boothsville, WV) had Grace Barnes (b: 23 May 1865, Boothsville, WV; d: 3 Nov 1941, Shinnston, Harrison County, WV);
 
 Grace Barnes (b: 23 May 1865, Boothsville, WV; d: 3 Nov 1941, Shinnston, WV) m: 25 Oct 1894 Lee Boggess (b: 25 Jun 1863, Lumberport, WV; d: 16 Mar 1932, Shinnston) had John Carney Boggess (b: 8 Nov 1899, Lumberport, WV; d: 10 Apr 1970, Philippi, WV)
 
 John Carney Boggess (b: 8 Nov 1899, Lumberport, WV; d: 10 Apr 1970, Philippi, WV) m: 18 Jun 1925 Lilian Gertrude Martin (b: 2 Nov 1902, Shinnston, Harrison County, WV)
 
 From: Family Bibles and Harrison County Court records, Clarksburg, WV - 3rd generation. Marion County court records, Fairmont, WV History, pages 25-27 - 4th generation. Harrison County court records - 5th generation. "History of Barnes Family" by rev. I. A. Barnes Pages 25-27 - 6th generation. Revolutionary War records and "History of Barnes Family" pages 25-31 - 7th generation.

(02) James Barnes:   His first  name may be John. He may have been born 23-Feb-1763.