Joseph (Bearse) Barss II (1750 - 1826)

Born 26 Nov 1750 in Barnstable, Barnstable, Massachusetts

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth (Crowell) Barss — married 18 Nov 1773 in Liverpool, NS, Canada

Descendants

Died 11 Aug 1826 at age 75 in Liverpool, Queens, Queens, Nova Scotia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Morag M [send private message]

Biography

The Barss family of King's County was transplanted to the county from Liverpool, Nova Scotia, where it had been founded by Joseph Barss or Bearse, Jr., son of Joseph and Lydia (Deane) Barss, of Barnstable, Mass., who m. a Crowell. The mother of Joseph Barss, Jr., after her first husband's death, was m. in 1756, to Thomas Annis. Joseph Barss, Jr., was a shipowner and successful shipping merchant in Liverpool, and a representative to the Legislature from Liverpool. He d. in Aug., 1826, leaving three sons and two daughters. Two sons, More's History of Queen's county tells us, had d. before their father. One of his sons was Capt. Joseph, 3cl, who m. Olivia DeWolf, dau. of Judge Elisha and Margaret (Ratchford) DeWolf, b. Sept. 23, 1783, and settled in Kentville. The children of Capt. Joseph and Olivia (DeWolf) Barss were: Elisha; Eliza Ann; Amelia, m. to Harris, of Aylesf ord ; James and Joseph, twins ; John William, who m. in Horton, Lydia Kirtland Fitch, dau. of Simon and Sophia Henrietta (DeWolf) Fitch, b. June 16, 1814; Thomas; Mary, m. (1) to Mills, (2) to Freeman, of Liverpool; Simon Fitch. In other places in this book references will be found to John William Barss, Esq., of Wolfville, and his family, who are still importantly represented in Wolfville.^[1]

Joseph Barss, senior, came from New England early in the history of the township of Liverpool. His mother's second husband was an Annis, and his wife a Crowell. Many members of both families are now residing in the county. His residence was at Dean's Point, and stood on a knoll of land adjoining the marsh in the rear of the house of Alfred Moren, Esq. He engaged in the trade of the county, and was early a master mariner. During the French wars he was captured and imprisoned, remaining absent from his family for over two years, they being entirely ignorant of his whereabouts. One evening, while his family were alone, Mrs. Barss was feeling very discouraged as the meal-barrel was getting low and times looked dark, when the door opened and he entered to her great surprise. He had returned penniless, and there was nothing left for him to do but to endeavour to retrieve his fortune.^[2]

The personal privateering fortunes of several owner/officers, such as Joseph Freeman, Joseph Barss, Snow Parker and Enos Collins, laid the foundation of several Liverpool dynasties that dominated town affairs for the next twenty years.

While large Halifax merchant houses, such as Forsyth-Smith and Foreman-Grassie, bought great quantities of prize goods, they shied away from investing in the vessels, preferring instead the safer specialty of supplying the army and navy. The key Liverpool owners were Simeon Perkins, Hallet Collins, Joseph Barss Sr., Snow Parker and James Taylor.^[3]

1778 Enterprise: The first venture of the Liverpool merchants was a schooner called the Enterprise, whose tonnage and armament are not recorded; she was commanded by Captain Joseph Barss. One of her owners was Colonel Simeon Perkins, chief magistrate of Liverpool, and a leading merchant. Colonel Perkins shortly disposed of his share for £147, after securing revenge for the loss of his vessel, the Bouncing Polly, which had been taken by an American privateer. On her first cruise the Enterprise captured seven prizes.

1778 Despatch: The privateer Despatch, under the command of Joseph Barss, of Liverpool, brought a rich prize into that port. She later proved to be a recapture and the subject of much litigation. While lying in Liverpool Harbour, and in the custody of the Vice-admiralty Court, a portion of her cargo was plundered, which resulted in the forfeiture of Captain Barss's letter of marque.^[4][5]

1784: Capt. Joseph Barss arrives from Antigua with rum, sugar and cotton. ** 4 June Fri.^[6]

1784: 2 Aug. Mon. : Capt. Barss arrives from Penobscot with boards.^[7]

1798-1800 Charles Mary Wentworth: A very successful privateer in her short career. Designed and built in Liverpool - some have argued that she was the first warship ever built, crewed and commanded by Canadians. Owners: J. Freeman, T. Bennett, S. Perkins, J. Barrs, S. Parker. (Not sure if this is Joseph or his son, Joseph Barss Jnr.)

1799-1805 Duke of Kent: The largest privateer vessel in Nova Scotia during the Napoleonic Wars, she made many cruises, some as long as six months and captured several Spanish held islands off the coast of Venezuela. Owners: H. Collins, Lawson, Perkins, Prescott; J. Barrs, S. Parker (Not sure if this is Joseph or his son, Joseph Barss Jnr.)

Joseph represented Liverpool township in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1799 to 1811.^[8]

From 25 Mar 1801-1813 he was a Judge of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas, in Nova Scotia. ^[9][10]

He died August 11,1826 in Liverpool NS ^[11]

Notes

Potential confusion of father with son: The Wikipedia page for Joseph Barss^[12] near Kentville, NS, buried in the Oak Grove cemetery at Kentville. This is the Grave of his son Joseph Barss Jr. . Wiki tree does label its entry as Joseph Barss Jr who died two years before the father. Both were privateers. Joseph Senior is buried in Liverpool as is his wife Elizabeth. Joseph Jr went to live with his wife’s family (DeWolf) in Kentville. Added by Morag Morrison-5073 The confusion arrives from calling this Joseph Barss as the second which he is but in annals of the day he is called Joseph Barss Sr. The correct date of Bearse-78 is on his Liverpool gravestone photo.

Sources

1. ↑ The History of Kings County, Pg 553 [1]
2. ↑ The History of Queens County [2]
3. ↑ The Northern Mariner [3]
4. ↑ Notes on Nova Scotian Privateers [4]
5. ↑ Southshore Privateer History [5]
6. ↑ Diary of Simeon Perkins [6]
7. ↑ Diary of Simeon Perkins [7]
8. ↑ Joseph Barss: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Barss_(politician)
9. ↑ Elliott, ShirleyB.: The Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia 1758-1983 a biographical directory, pe 11. https://nslegislature.ca/content/mla-biographies-1758-present
10. ↑ Wikipedia, Provincial and Territorial Courts in Canada. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provincial_and_territorial_courts_in_Canada
11. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 29 March 2021), memorial page for Joseph Barss (13 Apr 1753–11 Aug 1826), Find A Grave: Memorial #67495272, citing Old Burial Ground, Liverpool, Queens County, Nova Scotia, Canada ; Maintained by Drew Smith (contributor 47094285) .
12. ↑ Wikipedia includes a photo of his gravestone showing Aug 3 1824 date

• The Genealogical Notes of Barnstable Families, Volume 1, by Amos Otis, pages 57[8] this reference gives the date of this Joseph’s baptism.