Individual Details

PATERNAL LINKAGE
There is a bit of discord in the Barron ancestry regarding the "legitimacy" of linking this Caleb Barron to the father James Barron. Several researchers exclude Caleb from the family of James and Jemima, citing the non-existence of Caleb in James' last will and testament, or distribution of the estate, as the case may have been. The fact that there may have been some missing pieces to the document mitigates that argument, however. When I put that question to Patrick Morgan Harrison in the mid-1990's, his reply to me was as follows:

"We cannot positively prove that Caleb Barron is the son of James and Jemima Barron. There is no "smoking gun" but there is a great deal of circumstantial evidence that this is the case. Most of us have accepted this evidence and gone on with the research - others want a document in front of them. We have no marriage license for James and Jemima - does that make all of us illegitimate? The probate file is incomplete and was a mess when I first visited the courthouse in Canton, Georgia. We have only a receipt for $255 for Joseph Barron, it was accepted by Thomas Barron because Joseph was in Mississippi - why didn't he receive the same $480 that everyone else received? Caleb was in Mississippi by the time the probate was filed and perhaps he signed for his part some other way. I include Caleb in my family history because I believe that he is the "lost" son of James Barron - that is all that I can tell you at this time."

Further to this paternal claim, the 1870 Federal Census in Smith County, Texas shows living with the Obediah Childress, Jr. family two Barrons: Dr. Thompson Barron (Obediah's wife Jemima's brother) and Sallie Barron, 76. While I have no definite proof, I believe this Sallie to be the widow of Ezekiel Barron, Caleb Barron's brother, assuming Caleb's father was James Barron.

While doing research on the James Barron/Caleb Barron connections, I communicated with Beth Hill, a "proven" descendent of James Barron through his son, Gabriel. Beth sent the following notes to me in September 2003:

"Don't know if I told you, but have told other Barron researchers in the past of a statement made to me by Virgil Clyde Barron (1892-1987) in 1974 at a Barron Family Reunion in Lamesa, Texas. To remind you - Clyde was 82 years old at the time he told me the Barron family history as he remembered it. Some of his details were right on - others were folklore but close to fact. He had a remarkable memory - he lived around and knew his grandpa Barron (John Clayton Barron, 1823-1909) before his family relocated to Dawson County, Texas around 1907. John Clayton Barron was the son of Gabriel M. Barron (1800- ca. 1870). Anyway - one of the statements he made to me was that 'one of Grandpa Barron's favorite nicknames for us kids was "Calep" after one of his favorite uncles'..."

In a later note, Beth wrote: "...I feel comfortable with Gabriel being the son of James and Jemima - it's just that the DNA testing would be a wonderful asset to my genealogy files, you know? Wanted to pass on yet another family story. After digging through some of my old correspondence, I found a letter from a cousin, Tom Barron of Plains, Texas - dated 1984 in response to some of my queries about the Barron family. I think I had pestered him about information - anyway - in his letter to me he wrote - 'I know that I have heard my father speak of Uncle Gabe, Ezekiel and Gabriel had another brother named Caleb.' Tom is the brother of Clyde Barron - the other cousin with whom I had the conversation a few years earlier that I mentioned to you in the last email - born 1909 and was next to the youngest of that family. He only recently passed away within the past few years."

Further in support of the paternal linkage, the naming patterns of Caleb's children further confirm the probable relationship between Caleb Barron and James and Jemima Barron. Caleb's eldest son was named James and his eldest daughter was named Jemima.

UPDATE ON THE ABOVE
All the above speculation about Caleb's parentage was put to rest in November 2006 when the final of four different Barron male DNA test results were received in the FamilyTreeDNA Barron surname project. In addition to three other distantly removed cousins, Bobby Barron, a proven descendent of Elijah Barron, brother to this Caleb Barron, submitted his DNA for testing. Bobby's 25-marker results were identical to those of a direct male Barron descendent of this Caleb Barron. In addition, the DNA results from two other cousins closely matched Bobby's results, removing all uncertainty about Caleb being the son of James and Gemima Barron.

1826 LAND PURCHASE IN ALABAMA
Caleb Barron, Sr. and his brother Ezekiel Barron together purchased a plot of land in Pickens County, Alabama patented on June 10, 1826, recorded in Volume 10, page 257, Record #4836 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

"It is hereby certified that, in pursance of Law, Ezekiel and Caleb Barron of Pickens County on htis day purchased of the register of this Office the lot of West Half of North East Quarter of section number Twenty Four of Township Number Nineteen in range number Thirteen West containing Seventy Nine 56/100 acres, at the rate of $1.25 per acre, amounting to $99.45 for which the said Ezekiel and Caleb Barron has made payment in full as required by law. Now therefore be it known that, on presentation of this certificate to the Commissioner of the General Land Office, the said Ezekiel and Caleb Barron shall be entitled to receive a patent for the lot above described."
Wm. P. Gould, Register

1830 FEDERAL CENSUS
Pickens County, Alabama, page 133, Caleb Barron household: 1 male 0-5, 1 male 15-20, 1 male 30-40, 1 female 0-5, 1 female 15-20.
Neighbors to the Barron family are:
1. Henry Parker
2. Thomas Parsons
3. Ezekial Barron (brother)

MOVE TO TEXAS, CIRCA 1847
According to Adele Henderson in "Smith County, Texas, Its Background and History" (thesis), "Caleb Barron came to Smith County in 1847 and is described as a planter of the pioneer period with 230 acres of improved land, 650 acres of unimproved land for $3,500 of land value, 16 bales of cotton and 27 slaves. The first land transaction in Smith County is recorded in November of 1850. In notes received from James Wilkins, it is stated that Caleb Barron came to Texas from Mississippi and first went to Maybank but was forced by Indian troubles to move to Smith county, where he settled. This was when Caleb Barron, Jr. was two years old (he was born in 1848).

The above note notwithstanding, Jan Key Landers, a direct descendent of Caleb Barron, Sr., sent me the following information regarding Caleb Barron's move to Texas:

"Caleb may have been in Texas by 1847, but his family was not. My great-grandfather, Caleb, (Jr.) was born in Mississippi on February 22, 1848. Family tradition, confirmed in a Thursday, June 19, 1941 issue of The Arp Press, is that he was born in Mississippi and 'came to Smith County with his parents at the age of two . . .' which would be 1850. His obituary in the Tyler Morning Telegraph, Wednesday, March 31, 1943, says, 'He was born in Winston County, Miss.'

The records I have found on Caleb 1797-1864 are in Winston County, not Choctaw. In Winston County, he paid tax, was involved with road building, was a juror, etc. He's listed as Caleb Barnes on the October 16, 1840 Winston County Mississippi Federal census. Land certificates, signed by Pres. Martin Van Buren, say, 'Caleb Barron of Winston County, Mississippi,' even though BLM/GLO internet records show the land office at Columbus, the meridian as Choctaw and 'counties' as Choctaw. Winston County was created in 1833 from the Choctaw Session of 1830."

CRAWFORD/BARRON DISPUTE, MISSISSIPPI, 1849
The following is a legal document filed in Winston County, Mississippi:

Joseph Crawford Certificate
To: Caleb Barron & Son
The State of Mississippi
Winston county

Know all me by these presents that I Joseph Crawford of the State and County aforesaid having been guilty of declaring that Caleb Barron of said county & state and some of the sons of said Barron had been endeavoring to get me out of the county in order to get my land by unfair means and had been secretly infecting my premises in order to decoy off my Negroes clandestinely as well as diverse other sayings and declarations of mine against said Barron and his sons and in derogation of their good name and reputation as I am advised and informed.

Now this is to certify that I was greatly and highly under the influence of liquor when said words and declarations were spoken by me, that they were spoken and uttered in great wrong and injustice to the said Caleb Barron and his sons, that I hereby freely, fully and unreservedly withdraw all of said words and declarations and all other words and declarations ever uttered at any time by me against said Barron or any & every member of his family and declare that I never did nor do I now entertain any such opinion of the said Caleb Barron or his sons but to the contrary I have ever believed and now believe them wholly and entirely innocent and as good and worthy neighbor, correct citizens and honorable gentlemen in all their intercourse and transactions with me and the community at large and had I always been free from the influence of liquor, I should never have expressed myself otherwise than I now do for I certainly never did believe nor have any just cause to believe otherwise than I have now here declared. That in justice to the said Caleb Barron and his sons and in justice to myself, and my mind and conscience in the premises aforesaid I hereby freely and voluntary make the foregoing statements in truth and soberness and deliver the same to him on this sheet in writing for his acquittal, justification and disposition and direct and consent for him to use the same as he shall deem proper. Signed and delivered this 13th day of February A.D. 1849, in the presence of us.

Robert L. Hudson )
Almon Barron ) Joseph (his mark) Crawford

I hereby accept the above certificate of Joseph Crawford as satisfaction and a bar to all actions that might have been brought and maintained for any slanderous words heretofore uttered by said Crawford against me or any member of my family of which I am in possession, signed and delivered this 13th day of February, A.D. 1849.

In the presence of us.
Ruben P. Barmore )
Erastus Huntley ) Caleb Barron

1850 FEDERAL CENSUS
Smith County, Texas, Date of Census November 13, 1850, pages 145/170, Caleb owns $5,048.00 in real estate, born in South Carolina
Barren(sic) Caleb, 53; Elizabeth, 37; Ezekiel, 20; Almon, 16; Sarah, 14; David, 10; Wilbert, 9; Thompson, 5; Caleb, 2
Neighbors to the Barron family are:
1. Anderson Mason
2. George W. Hill
3. James H. Barron (son)

1851 PURCHASE OF LAND
June 5, 1851, Smith County, D362. John F. Overton sold 419 acres to Caleb Barron for $585, witnessed by Ezekiel Barron.

1850 AND 1860 SLAVE SCHEDULES
The 1850 Slave schedule for the Canton beat of Smith County reflected the fact that Caleb Barron owned twenty eight slaves. The 1860 Slave schedule for the Canton beat of Smith County reflected the fact that Caleb Barron owned forty six slaves, apparently housed in eight slave houses. All of Caleb's slaves were black and none were manumitted.

1860 FEDERAL CENSUS
Smith County, Texas, Canton (Omen) beat August 27, 1860, pages 1023-1018
Barron Caleb, 63 (SC); Elizabeth, 46 (SC); Sarah, 23 (MS); Wilburn, 17 (MS); Thompson, 15 (MS); Caleb, Jr., 12 (MS); Dicy, 8 (TX); Elizabeth, 4 (TX). Personal property in Troup valued at $10,000 to $29,000.

PROBATION OF ESTATE, ABOUT 1867
On August 20, 1962, Mrs. Jewell Harris wrote a note to Jim Wilkins regarding the probation of Caleb Barron's estate. I (JPC) am unsure what county book record this is recorded in, as Mrs. Harris did not identify the specific source. In any event, it is apparent that Caleb Barron died a wealthy man, and left the disposition of the estate up to the heirs, as he did not leave a Last Will and Testament. Thus, in the Probate Court of Smith County, Texas, the following verbiage is shown:

"To the Honorable Probate Court of Smith County. The undersigned commissioners appointed by your Honorable Court to partition and distribute the estate of Caleb Barron, Deceased. By leave to report that we have performed that duty in the following manner (to wit):

We first took an inventory of said Estate which is as follows (to wit)
(several names of specific horses, including Caesar, Missouri, Dinah, Jack, Dig, Jane, Ball, etc., all of which totaled up to an amount of $1,050.00. Then, more specific descriptions of unnamed horses, such as "gray horse, black colt with star on face, red horse, bay horse, etc.")

Then, seventy five hogs at $3.00 per head for a total of $225.00, all of which totaled $2,170.00

Then, a listing of oxen valued at about $50 per "yoke" (two each), with names such as Tom, Charley, Howard, Broad, Lam, Buck, Berry. Valuation of cows, described as "black sided cow, black speckled cow" at about $8.00 each; listing of heifers, steers and yearlings with a total value of about $60.00.

Then, a listing of blacksmith tools ($20.00), a two horse wagon ($75.00), 1 mule road wagon ($100.00), 1 ox road wagon ($90.00), 40 head of sheep at $2.50 per head ($100), miscellaneous tools, and 400 bushels of corn at 50 cents per bushel ($200.00).

Then, seventeen bales of cotton, numbered and totaled to 8,398 pounds at 5 cents per pound ($419.90).

A carried forward total of all the above to be $3,574.90.

Then, a listing of the Confederate Bonds and Notes held by Caleb Barron at, more or less, as follows:

$1,300 2 percent Confederate F Notes valued at $3 per $100.00 equals $39.00
$2,000 8 percent Confederate Bonds, valued at $5 per $100 equals $100.00
$675 Certificates for new Issue, valued at $5 per $100.00 equals $33.75
$8,300 Confederate F Notes valued at $4 per $100.00 equals $332.00
$40 Louisiana State Money at 10 cents on the $1.00 equals $4.00
Total of the above equals $508.75

Then, a listing of bacon (12.5 cents per pound); seed cotton (1.25 cents per pound); wheat ($1.00 per bushel), all of which totals $925.00.

Then, a listing of Negroes held as slaves, with values ranging between $150 (for a girl, Betsy, two years old) and $800 (for a man, Ephraim, 40 years old). Caleb owned thirty four slaves, with names and values such as follows: George, 32, $400; Anthony, 30, $800; Moses, 25, $600; Major, 40, $400; Plum, 17, $600; Vicey, 15, $600; Patsey, 13, $500; Siller & child, 29, $550; Moses, 3, $175; Jenny and child Calvin, 25, $600; John, (one eyed), 13, $300; Amanda, 11, $375; Andrew, 6, $250.

The total value of the slaves owned by Caleb, for the purpose of valuation of estate in the probation process was $15, 550. Caleb Barron's total estate valuation of $26,897.78, the slaves' value accounted for the majority of his holdings (in excess of 57%).

The balance of the estate value is comprised of such items as a sewing machine ($50), grindstone, double barrel guns, rifles, scales, scythe blades, spinning wheels, tools, cross cut saw, a muley cow, a white cow and calf, a horse mill, a thrasher, feather beds and furniture ($80) and one lot of kitchen furniture.

Then, an account on Eli Wood ($150); the Overton tract of land of 419 acres at $5 per acre; the Horton tract of land of 102 acres at $5 per acre; the Ogleby tract of land of 610 acres at $4 per acre and the Brimbery tract of land of 185 acres at $2 per acre, all totalling $5,179 for 1,346 acres.

The total of all the estate as appraised by the court appointed administrators was $26,897.78. Of this amount, the minors in the family (Thompson, Caleb, Jr., Dicey and Elizabeth) each received a lot determined by the number that they each drew, said lot to be valued at about $500 each.

Of the remaining estate, the lawyers then took their fee in the form of 30,000 pounds of seed cotton valued at $375. The minors' lots, plus the lawyers' fees totaled up to about $2,363.00, leaving $24,534.75 to be divided into thirds, with one third of the estate going to Elizabeth Barron, the wife, and the remaining two thirds being distributed to the children of majority age.

I (JPC) did not receive the last part of this legal document, so I am unable to verify exactly how the final estate was apportioned, and who the majority age children were at the time.

1867 COURT ORDER, SMITH COUNTY, TEXAS
November 28, 1867, Smith County Probate Book E., p. 137
Ordered that J.J. Flinn, H.M. Arnold and Louis Applewhite be appointed commissioners to divide estate of Elizabeth Barron, deceased; to wit, 377 acres of land. Also, ordered that D.C. Snow, Solomon Barron and John Harden be appointed commissioners for Hamilton County to divide a certain tract of land in that county belonging to the estate of Caleb Barron for partition with the heirs of Elizabeth Barron.

1869, ibid, p. 287
736 acres in Hamilton County to Obed Childers (sp.) and Thompson Barron are allowed to take land as a portion of their interest in said estate of Caleb Barron, deceased 1868.

1869, Smith County Commissioner Court Record Book C.
"It is ordered by the court that Mrs. Elizabeth Barron be and she is hereby appointed Guardian of the person and Estate of Thompson Cable Desa (probably should read "Dicy" - JPC) and Elizabeth Barron Minor under the age of 21 years of age and that she give hand in the sum of fourteen thousand five hundred and twenty five dollars and 68 cents.

It is ordered by the court that Cinth Barron be and she is hereby appointed Guardian of the person and Estate of the minor Ophelia Barron and others."
Hon. S.D. Gibbs, Chief Justice
F.A. Godly, County Clerk


The following information is taken from the Abstracts of the Smith County Probate Records, Andrew L. Leath 1984.:

ADMINISTRATION OF ESTATE, 1865
Caleb Barron, deceased: Elizabeth Barron petitioned as administrator on January 16, 1865. Mr. Barron died July 6 or 7, 1864 in Hamilton County, Texas. The appraisers appointed by the court were R. J. McLeroy, John F. Overton, J. H. Blalock. Inventory: 185 acres Brimberry tract, $492.50; 102 acres Horton tract, $408; 610 acres Ogilvie tract, $2440; 235 acres Pate tract, $817.50; 419 acres Overton tract $2095; 821 acres Wilkerson tract, $4105. Thirty seven slaves; 27 horses, $1315; 11 oxen, $220; 177 cattle, $787; 100 hogs, $25; 48 sheep, etc. Total appraised value equals $22853.50.

Heirs in 1865: James H. Barron, deceased (James' heirs were Eliza, wife of William Perry; John Barron, minor, Bettie Barron, minor deceased by 1868, Caleb Barron minor of Hamilton County); Ezekiel Barron, deceased (Ezekiel's heirs were Ophelia Barron, Caleb Barron, Solomon Barron, all of Smith county); Sarah, wife of F. T. Baird; Almond Barron; Jemina, wife of Obed Childress; Thompson Barron, minor; Caleb Barron, minor; Dicey Barron, minor; Elizabeth Barron, minor; widow Elizabeth Barron, all of Smith County.

Commissioners, 1865: D. H. Lindsey, B. H. White, R. J. McLeroy.

ADMINISTRATION OF ESTATE, 1872
Obed Childress appointed administrator, 1866. Heirs in 1872: Thompson Barron, Smith County; Almon Barron, Johnson County; Caleb Barron; Sallie Baird; Dicey Nall; Elizabeth Barron, all of Smith County, J. H. Barron, deceased (J.H. Barron's were E.C. Barton; John L. Barron, minor - Francis Barron, guardian; Caleb Barron, minor - Sarah A. Perry, guardian, all of Hamilton County); Ezekiel Barron, deceased (Ezekiel's heirs were Ophelia Barron, minor; Caleb Barron, minor; Solomon Barron, minor - Cynthia and E. Jarvis, guardians, all of Smith County). Inventory: also six mules, $745. File 122.

Thompson Barron, et. al. Minors: Elizabeth Barron, appointed guardian May 31, 1865. Thompson Barron, Caleb Barron, Dicy Barron, Elizabeth Barron. Thompson W. Barron petitioned as guardian on November 15, 1866. Dicy Barron, over 14; Elizabeth Barron, under 14. Dicey married January, 1869 to W.T. Nall. Elizabeth married J. T. Moore. File 284.

Ophelia Barron, et. al. Minors: Cynthia Barron, appointed guardian May 31, 1865. Her children Ophelia Barron, Caleb Barron, Solomon Barron, all under 14. Heirs of Ezekiel Barron, deceased: Caleb Barron, deceased Solomon Lanham. E. and Cynthia Jarvis petitioned as guardian of her children June 23, 1869, all three under 14. P.M. and Ophelia Wilson, January 1, 1880. Caleb Barron, Solomon Barron of age in 1882. File 286.

PROBATION OF ESTATE, 1865
(The following furnished by J.P. Childress, Abstract #4226, in possession of Sinclair Oil, Tyler, Texas.)
Smith County, Texas. Probate minutes, Vol. "c-1", pp. 406-407, filed 3/27/1865.
Court ordered that estate of deceased be divided into three equal parts and one to include homestead and improvements for Elizabeth Barron (wife). Other two thirds divided into nine parts, one each to: Elizabeth Perry; children of James Barron (deceased); children of Ezekiel Barron (deceased); Jemima Childress; Sallie Beard; Thomp; Caleb Jr. and Dicey Barron. All heirs reside in Smith County, Texas except children of James Barron, who reside in Houston County, Texas. Caleb advanced one horse, a negro girl about 12 years old and other personal property to James Barron; one negro girl each to Ezekiel, Almond, Sally and Jemima Childress. The other children have not had any advancement made to them. Barron died January 30, 1865 at age of 67 years. Bond to be amount of $80,000. J. Blalock, R.J. McElroy and J.F. Overton are appointed appraisers of said estate. He died without will and Elizabeth Barron is appointed administrator. Persons entitled to receive estate: Elizabeth (wife); Elizabeth Perry (wife of William Perry); children of James Barron.

The said estate filed bond in the sum of $80,000. It is ordered by the Court that James Blaylock, Ranson J. McElroy and John Frank Overton be appointed appraisers of said estate.

OATH BY ELIZABETH BARRON: "I, Elizabeth Barron, do solemnly swear that Caleb Barron, deceased, died without leaving any lawful will and that I will well and truly perform all duties of Administrator."
Elizabeth Barron (her mark)

No claims presented against said estate, no suit pending for or against said estate, that the persons entitled to receive estate are:
Elizabeth Padden, Sr., surviving widow of said deceased; Elizabeth Perry, wife of William Perry; three minor children of James Barron, deceased.

BURIAL OF CALEB BARRON
For some reason, I (JPC) had shown that Caleb Barron, Sr. was buried in Ebenezer Cemetery in 1865. However, I have searched the Ebenezer Cemetery records on the Internet, as well as walked the entire grounds of the cemetery, and I can find no such interment. I can only assume that there was confusion between Caleb, Sr. and Caleb Barron, Jr., who is buried in Ebenezer. That having been said, I would suggest that one of the four generic "Childress" stones in the cemetery possibly could be assigned to Caleb, inasmuch that some of his children are buried there. The Ebenezer Cemetery was begun in the late 1850's.

In family background records I received from Chuck Barron in March, 2000, his notes read: "Caleb was buried in Ebenezer Cemetery in an unmarked grave. Caleb may have died on July 7, 1864..."

In another message on John Barron's web site, posted January 15, 1998, a "Betty" wrote: "Failed to mention that the Kelleys last month had a query from two descendants of Caleb Barron, died in Hamilton County, Texas in 1864 and taken back to Smith County, Texas for burial."

Birth	1797	South Carolina, United States
Miscellaneous	Bef 1850	moved from Winston, Ms to Smith, Tx
Miscellaneous	5 Jun 1851	purchased land from J F Overton - Smith, Texas, United States
Miscellaneous	27 Jan 1852	sold land in Smith Co Tx to O Childress Jr - Smith, Texas, United States
Census	1860	Smith, Texas, United States
Burial	1864	Smith, Texas, United States
Death	7 Jul 1864	Hamilton, Texas, United States

Father	James Barron (1752 - 1848)
Mother	Gemima Hicks?/Harrison? (1755 - 1855)
Sibling	Samuel Barron (1785 - )
Sibling	Joseph Barron (1791 - 1851)
Sibling	Millie Barron (1791 - 1819)
Sibling	Ezekiel Barron (1792 - 1860)
Sibling	Isaac Barron (1793 - 1880)
Sibling	Elijah James Barron (1799 - 1864)
Sibling	Gabriel M Barron (1799 - 1864)
Sibling	Nancy Barron (1800 - )
Sibling	Dicey Barron (1802 - 1863)