Eleazer Barrett 3rd, circa 1759-1800
The
identification of Eleazer Barrett 3rd as a direct ancestor was completed
through an analysis of land and probate documents obtained from the county
archives of Ontario County,
New York. From these documents the names of his wife
and children were developed. The
identification of Eleazer Barrett 3rd as an ancestor is based on the fact that
the father of Oscar W. Barrett, Edward E. Barrett, was the nephew of William
Barrett, son of Eleazer Barrett 3rd. The
land analysis and linkage are presented in other summaries.
The purpose of this document is
to present the best known information about Eleazer Barrett 3rd’s
activities in and around Berkshire County, Massachusetts, beginning with his involvement in the
Revolutionary War and ending at 1800 when he relocated to Bloomfield,
Ontario County, New York.
Brian
Barrett, a descendent of Eleazer Barrett, Junior, has written a booklet, “The
Eleazer Barrett Identity Puzzle,” on the various Eleazer Barretts in western Massachusetts in the
late 1700s and early 1800s. Some of this
information on Eleazer Barrett 3rd also appears in that publication. The first Eleazer Barrett was Eleazer Senior,
1708 to 1800. The second was his son,
Eleazer Barrett, Junior, circa 1733-1823. The third was Eleazer, son of Bartholomew, and
the grandson of Eleazer Senior and nephew of Eleazer Junior. Eleazer Barrett 3rd is named as such in the
town records during his time in Alford,
Massachusetts, in order to distinguish
him from his grandfather and uncle who also lived there. Unfortunately the Revolutionary War Records
do not, and there is a degree of uncertainty about when and where he
participated in that war. Nevertheless,
that uncertainty does not imply that he did not participate.
The
location of Eleazer 3rd’s birth and marriage is uncertain. About the estimated time of his birth, 1759,
his father and mother were thought to be residing in an area northwest of Sheffield, Massachusetts,
perhaps in present day Egremont. In 1762
his father, Bartholomew Barrett was a member of the Congregational Church in
Great Barrington, Massachusetts. After
that, there is a lack of information about his residence until 1779 when he
paid taxes in the Claverack District of New York.
During
the Revolutionary War period, Captain Bartholomew Barrett participated
periodically with the Albany,
New York, militia and mostly with
the East Claverack Regiment. During the
war years and up to 1783 it can assumed that he was a resident of New York and probably in the area known as The Gore, an
area claimed by both New York and Massachusetts. In 1783 he bought land in Alford, Massachusetts
from his brother Ebenezer Barrett and moved there.
Brian
Barrett has identified Eleazer Barrett 3rd has having served in the
Revolutionary War during the period 1779-1783, in "The Eleazer Barrett
Identity Puzzle," page 39. It was
during this period that Eleazer 3rd’s uncle, Eleazer Barrett Junior,
was actively involved in Alford town government.Eleazer 3rd’s periods of service
within the Berkshire County Militia are attributed to be as follows:
October
1779, he enlisted as a corporal for three months in Captain Joseph Raymond's
Company within Col. Israel Chapin's Regiment, and mustered with others at
Claverack for the expressed purpose of reinforcing the Continental Army.
June 22,
1780, General Washington requested a reinforcement of militia from Berkshire County
to serve for three months at Claverack,
NY.October 17-19, 1780, Private Eleazer Barret
in Capt. John Bacon’s company within Col. David Rossiter’s Regiment served 4
days on an alarm within Gen John Fellows’ brigade. Company marched to reinforce army under Gen.
Stark.
October
13 – October 22, 1781. Private Eleazer Barret in Capt. John Bacon’s company within
Col. David Rossiter’s Regiment served 13 days, including travel. He served within Gen. John Fellows’ brigade, again
was sent as reinforcements to army under Gen. Stark at Stillwater on an alarm.
There is
also the possibility that he may have also served with his father in the East
Claverack Regiment since the Eleazer Barrett who served with Bartholomew is not
identified as senior, junior, or as the third.
In the
Alford, Massachusetts
town minutes there are several references to Eleazer Barrett 3rd from 1789
through 1799. Therefore, when he was in
his thirties, he was involved periodically in the Alford town affairs. It was during this time when most of his
children were born; however, there are no confirming birth records. Eleazer 3rd probably married Trial around
1782-3 at the age of 23 or 24, but again the date and location of the marriage
is uncertain. Their first son, Jonathan,
was born about 1785 and the date and location are uncertain. In a biographical sketch written while he was
still alive, Oscar W. Barrett, great-grandson of Eleazer 3rd, states that his
ancestors came from England and were from Stockbridge, Massachusetts, around
1785. However, this reference could also
apply to his maternal great grandfather, Elnathan Wilcox, who was living in the
same area at that time.
The
appearances of Eleazer Barrett 3rd in the minutes of the Alford Town Meetings
were obtained from the Family History Library’s microfilm 0250283. A summary of these appearances follows:
March 30,
1789. Eleazer Barritt 3, chosen and
sworn in as Constable and Collector.
May 28,
1789. Put into the hands of Eleazer
Barrett 3, Collector, a rate bill of 60
pounds.....
the Rev. Joseph Avery.
----14,
1789. Put into the hands of Eleazer
Barrett 3, Collector of Alford a rate bill of 40 pounds 9 shillings ......collect by the
first of March.
Nov.
--1789. Put into the hands of Eleazer
Barrett collector .... for the year 1789 ....then perhaps "also gave State tax of 40 pounds and two
pound eleven s and three pounds to
collect
and pay the treasurer."
April 6,
1789. Eleazer Barritt 3rd took an oath
of Allegiance before Wm. Brunson Esq'r and
produced a Certificate.
December 22, 1789. Given into the hands of Eleazer Barrett 3rd a
tax bill of 40 pounds to collect.
January
14, 1790 (portions unreadable). Put into
the hands of Eleazer Barritt 3rd, Constable and Collector of
Alford for the year a county and tax bill with orders to pay
____ by one pound and
fifteen shillings and --- p to the County
Treasurer and then _____ to pay the Town Treasurer.
March 2,
1790 (date not verified) 5th item. Eleazer Barritt 3rd Constable and Collector. 6th
item. Voted to give the same Eleazer
five pounds for his service the current year.
April 12,
1790. Personally appeared before me
..... and likewise Eleazer Barrett 3rd, Constable,
and took the oath of allegiance.
April 4, 1791. ----- a settlement with Eleazer Barritt 3 rd,
Collector and Constable, for this given: ----------for seventy pounds, 1
shilling, 6 pence and 2 and for services as Collector and Constable for the
year 1789 to 1790. --- for the sum of
eleven pounds, nine, and three pence ----- allowed by the committee accounting
in whole, which leave a balance due to E 3rd Eighty one pound, 10 shillings, 10
pence.Eleazer Barritt 2 1/10 farthing
on a town rates for 40 pounds each. (verified, page 26). Allowed to Eleazer Barritt 3rd the following rates by the committee of
accounts. Rates are then listed for
William Hastins, Elijah Willcox, Stephen Nunson, etc.
March 15,
1792 Item 7. Eleazer Barritt 3rd, chosen one of five
surveyors of highways. Note:
Item 15.Eleazer Barrett Pound Keeper (this would be Eleazer Barrett Senior, who was about 84 or 88 at the time).
March 7,
1794. 5th Item. Eleazer Barrett 3rd chosen Constable and
Collector and sworn in.15th Item. Voted to remit to Eleazer Barritt 3rd, Constable, for the year Amos
Gray's rates amounting to one pound
7 shillings and 3/4..
March 24,
1795. Then allowed to Eleazer Barritt
3rd, Collector of Alford, the following accounts:
allowed 4 pounds for extraordinary collecting in the year 1789 - 4 pounds,
and for
an execution issued against him by the State Treasurer 25/ - 1 pound 5
shillings, and for an
execution issued against him by the County
Treasurer 12/ - 12
shillings.
and for
Esquire Coffins rates 4/6- 4 shilling,
6 pence
and for
Crossby's rates 6/ - 6 shilling
and
returning ------ Summoning jury men and warning town meetings 2 pound 14
shilling
total 9
pound 2 shilling.
The above allowed by the
Committee of Town Accounts and an order given upon the
Selectmen for the same.
March 25,
1795. Item 6. Eleazer Barett 3rd one of seven surveyors of
highways.
April 4,
1796. Item 3. Eleazer Barrett 3 chosen
one of three selectmen and assessors. .
March 18, 1799. Item 7. Eleaz Barrett 3rd chosen one of six highway
surveyors. Item 15 Eleaz Barrett 3rd
chosen one of three for a committee to adjust town amounts. Item 21 Eleazar Barritt 3rd draughted for a
grand juror.
June 20,
1800. Perhaps his resignation.
With many thanks to Stephen P. Barrett for this donation.
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