Aaron Barling (1792 - 1854)

Born 4 Jun 1792 in London, England

Husband of Rebecca (Tucker) Barling — married 5 Mar 1812 in Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Descendants

Died 22 Mar 1854 at age 61 in Fort Smith, Sebastian, Arkansas, United States

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Biography

Aaron Barling is Notable.

Aaron Barling was an Arkansan.

Aaron Barling was an early settler and pioneer in Arkansas. He was among the first troops sent to Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas in the territory and later the founder of the City of Barling in the same county.

Aaron Barling was born on June 4, 1792 in London, England.^[1] His was Moses Barling and his mother Mary (Cooper) Barling. They sailed for America on August 31, 1793, and arrived on November 5, 1793. Settling in Baltimore, Maryland.^[1] He had a difficult childhood, losing both his parents at an early age. His aunt took him in and raised him, where he learned the trade of sail-making. When he was still young, he became a sailor and seafarer for the next twelve years. During that time, he met his wife, Miss Rebecca Cooper.^[1]

After leaving the seafaring life, he joined the Army. In 1817, he was one of the first troops sent to Fort Smith, Arkansas. He was later promoted to the rank of sergeant and stationed at Fort Gibson, Indian Territory. His wife and children joined him.^[1]

He served in the Army for about five years, before resigning. In 1830, he bought a farm in Crawford County (later would become Sebastian County), Arkansas.^[1] He settled about eight miles east of Fort Smith in a community known as Spring Hill. It was named this for some springs on his farm at the foot of a hill where travelers passing through would camp. Later, the community would be named after Barling, after him.^[2]

In 1835, the federal government again employed him to issue supplies to Seminole Indians. In 1841, he moved back to his farm and resumed farming. In 1853, he moved his family to Fort Smith, where his wife died the same year. He died the following year on March 22, 1854.^[1] He was buried at Oak Cemetery in Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas.^[3]

Researcher Notes

1. Aaron's death date is listed as February 28, 1854 on his tombstone, and in the cited literature it lists his death as Marcy 22, 1854. I'm not sure when the tombstone was placed as a marker on the grave and/or if it was added later. The literature I cite was first published in 1889, and I believe it is more likely accurate. Therefore, I have used this as his death date. Jimmy Honey

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5} The Goodspeed Histories of Sebastian County, Arkansas, Title No. 579387, Reprinted from Goodspeed's History of Arkansas, Orignally published 1889, Published by Woodward and Stinson Printing Co.., Columbia, Tennessee 1977. "The Goodspeed Histories of Sebastian County, Arkansas." Accessed 1 Apr 2023.
2. ↑ Wingfield, Lilly, Barling, Arkansas, Encylopedia of Arkansas, last updated on 1 Sep 2022. "Barling (Sebastian County)." Accessed 1 Apr 2023.
3. ↑ Burial: Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/34200984/aaron-barling: accessed 01 April 2023), memorial page for Aaron Barling (4 Jun 1792–28 Feb 1854), Find A Grave: Memorial #34200984, citing Oak Cemetery, Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas, USA; Maintained by Gina Caperton Ervin (contributor 47254898).