Mary (Miller) Barnett (abt. 1760 - abt. 1830)

Born about 1760 in Merrimack, New Hampshire

Ancestors

Wife of Benjamin Barnett — married about 1780 in Bradford, Orange, Republic of Vermont [uncertain]

Descendants

Died about 1830 at about age 70 in Sutton, Brome, Lower Canada

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Biography

Mary Miller was born in about 1760, in Merrimack, New Hampshire. She was the oldest daughter of Hugh Miller and Mary Rogers.

She married Benjamin Barnett in about 1780, when his military service was winding down. Her older brother Robert similarly married Benjamin's younger sister Ame. The Miller and Barnett children lived right across the river from each other in Merrimack and Litchfield, NH respectively.

Children of Benjamin and Mary were as follows:

1. Robert b. abt. 1780
2. Mary b. 1782; m. Thomas Aiken
3. John b. 1783; m. Mary (Polly) Ruiter
4. Elizabeth (Betsey) b. 1787; m. Abraham Ruiter
5. Rogers b. abt. 1791; m1. Mary (Polly) Sargent; m2. Lois Courser; d. 11 Dec. 1865
6. Susan (Susey) b. 12 Oct. 1794; m. Jacob Miller
7. Amy b. abt. 1795; m. James Miller, Jr.
8. Benjamin Jr. b. abt. 1797
9. Jacob.

In the 1790 US Census (taken in Vermont in 1791) of Bradford, Orange County, Vermont, her husband Benjamin was enumerated as the Head of a Family with 1 Free White Male of 16 years and upwards, 2 Free White Males under 16, and 4 Free White Females. Benjamin and Mary's son John was born in 1783.

In March, 1795, Benjamin and Mary moved from Bradford, Orange County, Vermont with Mary's parents, Hugh Miller and Mary (Rogers) Miller; and their own 8 children and 2 other siblings, to Richford, Franklin County, Vermont where they became the Town's first permanent settlers.

Having a chance to use some land without paying rent, Benjamin and Mary moved to Sutton, Lower Canada about the year 1800 (certainly by 1802). One reference that claims they arrived only in 1812 is contradicted by other evidence^[1]. Since Benjamin (an American military veteran) had never taken an oath of allegiance to Great Britain, during the War of 1812 he moved the family back into Vermont and resided in the Town of Bolton, Chittenden County. After peace was made, they returned to Canada.

It appears that Benjamin and Mary may have lived apart in the later years, perhaps due to poverty. On his pension application in 1818, Benjamin indicated residence in Richford, Vermont. He died in 1828.

Mary passed away about 1830 around 68 years old.^[2]. The place of burial for Mary and her husband is not known. In the early 1900s, a stone was erected to their honour by a local descendant in an isolated spot (Jericho Road, East Richford, Vt.) near the Canada/USA border.

Sources

1. ↑ History of Brome County Québec From the Date of Grants of Land Therein to the Present Time - With Records of Some Early Families" Volume I, by Earnest M. Taylor, 1908, pages 12, 258 and 259
2. ↑ FindAGrave, Memorial #106373096, Mary Miller Barnett. Created by Victoria, March 8, 2013