A number of those researching the Barrow family are excited over the comparisons of some recent DNA testing results. The findings affirm that Green Barrow of this writing and John Gray Barrow of early Covington County history are indeed closely related, and they were most likely brothers, sons of James M. Barrow (1775-1829) and Nancy Andrews (1770-1860). However, it is possible they were sons of Absalom Barrow, a brother to James M.

According to family trees on Ancestry.com, James M. Barrow was the son of Reuben Henry Barrow (1745-1812) and Milbre Green Bledsoe (1765-1823). Reuben Henry was the son of Richard Barrow and Mary Goodman. Richard Barrow was the earliest ancestor found at this time for this family line.

Green Barrow was born circa 1791 in North Carolina. He later rendered service in the War of 1812. There was a Green Barrow in Florida in 1840, but the Green of this story was enumerated in Macon County, Ga., in 1840. He was married there to his first wife, Tamar Pearce, and all of their children were born in that area. It appears that shortly before Tamar’s death in 1854, he had moved his family to Covington County, Ala. This supports the theory that he had relatives in the area.

Within a year or so of Tamar’s death, Green met and was married in Covington County to Julia Ann Emily Archilus (1837-1889), daughter of Charles R. Archilles and Mary Barrow. There was some family concern over this marriage since Julia Ann was around 40 years younger than Green, and he already had children by his first wife who were several years older than she. She may also have been a relative. However, they apparently had a congenial marriage and were the parents of several children of their own.

Records indicate Green Barrow was appointed a Justice of the Peace for Covington County in 1853. In 1858, he homesteaded a parcel of land there through the Elba Federal Land Office. He and his family were enumerated in Covington County in 1860, but according to the federal census he was residing in Crenshaw County in 1870. However, some records indicate he was residing in Andalusia, Covington County, in 1871, when his youngest child with Julia Emily was born. He died in Andalusia in 1872.

Green Barrow was married twice. He and his first wife, Tamar Pearce, daughter of Rev. Theophilus Pearce (1767-1827) and Susannah Sowell (1776-1827), were married in 1828. However, some records suggest they were married as early as 1818, which would better fit the dates of their children’s births. They were the parents of the following children: James Sowell, b. 1820, d. 1893-1902, m. Mary McNeil; Henry George, b. 1821; William T.J., b. 1824, m. 1848 Nancy Cloud; Theophilus, b. ca 1829; Sarah N., b. ca 1830, d. 1863, m. Joseph C. McNeil; John Green, b. 1834, d. 1862, m. Martha J. Deer (1840-1891); Elizabeth J, b. 1834; Emily A., b. 1837; and Thomas Jefferson, b. 1840, d. 1910, m. 1867 Louisa Jane Houston. Some family trees on Ancestry list a daughter, Susannah, b. 1825, d. 1863, m. Joseph C. McNeal, who would have been named for her maternal grandmother.

In 1855, Green Barrow was married to the young lady, Julia Ann Emily Archilus. They became the parents of the following children before Green’s death in 1874: Oliver Stedman, b. 1856, d. 1860; William G., b. 1857, d. 1858; Warren Green, b. 1859, d. 1914, m. (1) Jane Boyzer (2) Annie Rebecca Boyd (1872-1954); Nancy Caroline “Annie,” b. 1862, m. Thomas Williamson; George Richard, b. 1864, d. in Texas; David Sterling, b. 1867; Robert Henry, b. 1868; and Julia Emily, b. 1871, d. 1946, m. John Franz Fischer.

Julia Ann Emily was left a young widow with seven children ranging in ages from 1 to 17 years. Within a couple of years, she was married to William Johnson, and they moved to the Houston, Tex., area. They were the parents of one daughter, Mary Barrow Johnson, b. 1875.

From Ancestry.com several members of the next generation, grandchildren of Green Barrow, were found. These include the children of some of his children by both wives. The oldest son by Green’s wife Tamar, James Sowell Barrow, was first married to Mary McNeil with whom he had the following children: Margaret A.E., 1845; Tamar A., b. 1847; and James G.T., b. 1849.

Next, James Sowell Barrow was married to Bermelia Ann Hart. They were the parents of the following children: William A., b. 1857; Martha H., b. 1859, d. 1927; Albert G., b. 1860; Lafayette A., b. 1860, d. 1937; Thomas Sowell, b. 1861, d. 1934; Nancy B., b. 1862, d. 1904; Theophilus Robert, b. 1866, d. 1939; Sarah, b. 1867; Susan, b. 1869; and Ida, b. 1872. James Sowell rendered service in the Confederate Army as a private in Company C, 29th Georgia Cavalry Battalion.

Another son, William T.J. Barrow, was married in 1845 to Nancy Cloud. They were the parents of the following children: Sarah J., b. 1845; Mary, b. 1847; Nancy, b. 1848; and Martha, b. 1850. William T.J. rendered service in the Confederate Army as a private in Company B, 17th Georgia Infantry Regiment.

Still another son, John Green Barrow, was married to Martha J. Deer. They were the parents of two children: Capt. Willis Green, b. 1856, d. 1927, m. Rosa Reid Campbell; and Georgianna A., b. 1858. John Green appears to have died in 1863 during the War Between the States while he was serving as a private in Company G, 2nd Alabama Infantry Regiment.

Green and Tamar Barrow’s youngest son, Thomas Jefferson Barrow, rendered service in the Confederate Army before he was married. He was a private in Company E, 42nd Alabama Infantry Regiment and was captured on July 4, 1663. He was married in 1867 to Louisa Jane Houston (1854-1931), daughter of W.S. Houston and Louisa D. Bradley. They were the parents of the following children: Mary Florence, b. 1867, d. 1931, m. Thomas H. Cameron: Laura Victoria, b. 1871, d. 1925, m. Thomas Franklin Kilpatrick (1873-1946); James Stellon, b. 1873, d. 1954, m. Jane E. Whitehurst; John Willard, b. 1876, m. Anna G. ?; Willis Green, b. 1876, d. 1894, single; Thomas Jefferson Jr., b. 1878, d. 1903; Elijah Washington, b. 1881, d. 1961, m. Fannie Matilda Hollis (1892-1983); William George, b. 1883, d. 1969, m. (1) Daisy Henrietta Holland (2) Carrie Gibson: Wayland Carlton, b. 1887, d. 1960, m. Annie B. Bogan; David Wright, b. 1889, d. 1980, m. Levonia Bass; Lawrence Jefferson, b. 1894, d. 1957, m. Stella Dovie Nichols; and Lassie Lee, b. 1895, d. 1980, m. William J. Andress. The descendants of Thomas Jefferson Barrow have an annual reunion at the Cameron’s Chapel Methodist Church in Southern Crenshaw County, Ala. Many of the family resided in the surrounding community and were buried in the church cemetery.

Warren Green Barrow was one of the sons of Green and Julia Ann Barrow. He was married first to Jane Boyzer with whom he had one son, George G. Barrow. Warren was next married to Annie Rebecca Boyd, and they were the parents of the following children: L.W., b. 1895, d. 1897; Nettie E., b. 1898; and Lawrence F., b. 1905.

Green and Julia Ann’s youngest child, Julia Emily Barrow, was married to Adolph John Fischer. They were the parents of the following children: Catherine M., b. 1893, d. 1903, single; Herbert Herman, b. 1894, d. 1958; and Verna, b. 1901, d. 2001.

Much of the above genealogy was found on Ancestry.com, so there may be some discrepancies. Other sources included LaRelda Barrow Barton’s family tree, Barrow Branches, and Joseph Barrow’s family tree. Several Barrow descendants were interviewed for additional data.

Anyone who might find an error in the above is requested to contact this writer, Curtis Thomasson, at 20357 Blake Pruitt Road, Andalusia, AL 36420; 334-804-1442; or Email: cthomasson@centurytel.net.

HISTORICAL MEETING:

The Covington Historical Society will meet at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 27, in the Dixon Memorial Room of the Andalusia Public Library. Guests and prospective members are encouraged to attend.