Kevin, I am copying my notes on the Barrs in hopes that it will help you. I believe that Samuel who died 1837 is probably father of James and Samuel who died 1847 is probably the brother. Still nothing on maiden name of SArah, wife of James. Pat
BARR FAMILY
Irish/Scot refugees in Northern Ireland from Scotland under Queen Ann persecution. Were Huguenots from France to Scotland. Originally Gallic/Celtic origin. Presbyterians?
I am at this point unsure of the father of our James Barr but believe it was the Samuel Barr, either Revolutionary War Pensioner or one living in Plumb Township in 1790. I have matched the signatures of the will of our James Barr with that of the James Barr son of Samuel on the Final Payment Voucher and they do not seem to match exactly, but may be close enough if James’ signature changed a bit over time. I have included information on Samuel here just in case:
Abstracts: Revolutionary War Pension Files
Samuel Barr, S5262, PA line, app. 4, Nov 1835, Washington City, pa, aged 81 (1754) in Feb last, b. 24 Feb 1754 old style in Ireland and came to US in 1772 and settled in Paxton Twn in Lancaster City, PA and enl. There in 1779, moved to Westmoreland City PA and in 1789 it became Allegheny City PA and in 1832 moved to Washington City PA.
Brown, Note: This Samuel died Washington Co, 15 Mar 1837, children James of Allegheny Co, Samuel, Susanna Hart, Jane William, all of Washington County
The City of Allegheny was laid out in 1788 according to a plan by John Redick. The lots were sold in Philadelphia by the State government or given as payment to Revolutionary War veterans. It was incorporated as a borough in 1828 and as a city in 1840. The population rose to 53,180 in 1870
James Barr was a potter. By 1829 he owned Birmingham Pottery which employed “ 8 hands and made last year 36 kilns of ware, the exact value of which at wholesale prices is $2980. Mr. Barr will probably commence to manufacture of stoneware this summer”.(Historic Pittsburgh) which would have sold glass. His son in law Charles Frederick Diehl trained as a glass maker, as did his father. Perhaps that is how Charles met Eliza.
Directory of Pittsburgh 1865-66) Barr, James, engineer, Bingham near Ormsby, Birmingham *Barr, James Sr. , Carson near Benman, Birmingham (retired)
Another Barr, James of Myers, Schoyer and Co, editor of Post and Surveyor General of PA,
On Stevenson opposite Merci Hospital
At that time the owner of Birmingham Pottery, corner of Franklin and Washington was D&W Bennett
Another note of probable father for James
There is a link between the Plumb Twp Samuel Barr and the McKee family of Plumb Township. They both lived in that area before moving into Birmingham.
1790 Census: Samuel Barr p. 2 (112) and Thomas McKee p. 3 young family
1800 Census: Samuel Barr p. 3( 20010//20010) and Thomas McKee Esq. P. 2
1810 Census: Samuel Barr p.2 (11001//21111) and Thomas McKee, p 4
1820 Census: Thomas McKee only (was a Samuel Barr in Pittsburgh East Ward, p. 2)
1830 Census: James Barr only 4 door away from Thomas McKee in Birmingham
See 1847
1790 Census: Plumb Twp., Allegheny Co. Samuel One male over 16, one under//2 females
*Washington, PA: Samuel: 2 males over 16, 2 under: 2 females
1800 Census Only possible Samuels with a James about 5
Plumb 2001(26-4400//20010 (this is the only one in Allegheny area)
West Bethlehem, Washington Co 20011//00001
Buffalo, Armstrong Co 20010//00011
*Armstrong Twp, Westmoreland 31010//etc also 2 Johns (see notes for Samuel Rev War vet above)
1810 Census: Pitt Township, Allegheny Co., p. 158
James Barr: 00100//00100 = probably newly married, both between `16-25, no kids
Only other Barr in Pitt was Eleanor (mother?) 45 and over, living alone 00001
Samuel Barr: Plumb Township: had two sons 10-16 (researcher)
1815-1847: James Barr, redware stoneware, none known (mark) in American Potters and Pottery, p. 227
1815: Manufacturers: Pittsburgh (Site: Historic Pittsburgh)
Barr, James, potter: No side Front bet. Cherry Alley and Smithfield (Cherry Alley, 20 ft wide from Monongahela River to Liberty bet. Smithfield and Grant)
Barr, Samuel, weaver: S Side Front east of Grant. (two VERY close)
1820 Census: Pitt Township, p. 158
James Barr (about age 25) - 111301/31010//030 (indicates young family)
*It looked like there was the same signature as the Rev war voucher – take papers and look again
Samuel Barr: Pittsburgh East Ward, p. 2 000001/001 (looks like older man over 45 and younger woman
1826: Directory of all names, Pittsburgh:
Barr, William; paver and grower No 8 Gary’s Row
Barr, Samuel; weaver, corner of Plumb and Liberty (find that)
Barr, James; potter, Birmingham* (produced earthenware, stoneware and fire brick)
1827: A James Barr of Allegheny Co is appointed guardian of the children of William Barr. Children’s’ names are Samuel and James Barr. Unsure if this is our family and that the two children later named are his biological sons or nephews.
1827: Estate Index
Samuel Barr, Brghm Bo, James Barr Gdn, Vol 16 p. 107-110
Also a Sarah Bar, James P. Barr Gdn, Vol 16 p. 108
1830 Census: Birmingham, Allegheny Co.
James Barr:, Birmingham, Males 1(0-5 Samuel)1(5-10 James)1 (10-15probably Charles)0 (15-20) 4 (20-30) 1 (30-40 James Sr.) William not born until 1833
Females: 2(Mary and Marg. or Sarah),1(Marg or Sarah),2(Eliza and ?),1,1,1(Sarah)
1840 Census: Birmingham Boro, p.231 household, Roll 440 M704
James Barr One male 40-50; two males 10-15 (Jms and Sam ); one male 5-10 (William)
One female 40-50; three 15-20; one 10-15
* Note: Henry Deihl p. 228…..Eliza and Charles married cir. 1836
Note: Robert Barr next door 20-30 – perhaps a son
Samuel in Plumb Twp with William next door (brother?)
1847: Estate Index, LDS Library
Samuel Barr, Brghm Bo., James Barr Admin, Vol 16, P.108
Pat, My James Barr and Sarah same couple from Birmingham Borough, Allegheny Co. Pa. Have his will and will of Samuel Barr b. between 1780 and 1790. James is responsible for settling estate in 1847 along with John Beltzhoover and Thomas McKee. It seems likely the Beltzhoover and McKee are Brother-in-Laws to James and Samuel as James born 1795 so that Samuel not old enough to be anything but a brother to James. James does have daughter Eliza listed on his(James Barr) will with Charles F. Diehl helping to settle his (James Barr)estate upon his death. Other children who married are Sarah Dunn, Mary B. Porter, Margaret Forse, William Barr, Samuel A. Barr, and James Barr Jr. Kevin
BARR FAMILY
Irish/Scot refugees in Northern Ireland from Scotland under Queen Ann persecution. Were Huguenots from France to Scotland. Originally Gallic/Celtic origin. Presbyterians?
I am at this point unsure of the father of our James Barr but believe it was the Samuel Barr, either Revolutionary War Pensioner or one living in Plumb Township in 1790. I have matched the signatures of the will of our James Barr with that of the James Barr son of Samuel on the Final Payment Voucher and they do not seem to match exactly, but may be close enough if James’ signature changed a bit over time. I have included information on Samuel here just in case:
Abstracts: Revolutionary War Pension Files
Samuel Barr, S5262, PA line, app. 4, Nov 1835, Washington City, pa, aged 81 (1754) in Feb last, b. 24 Feb 1754 old style in Ireland and came to US in 1772 and settled in Paxton Twn in Lancaster City, PA and enl. There in 1779, moved to Westmoreland City PA and in 1789 it became Allegheny City PA and in 1832 moved to Washington City PA.
Brown, Note: This Samuel died Washington Co, 15 Mar 1837, children James of Allegheny Co, Samuel, Susanna Hart, Jane William, all of Washington County
The City of Allegheny was laid out in 1788 according to a plan by John Redick. The lots were sold in Philadelphia by the State government or given as payment to Revolutionary War veterans. It was incorporated as a borough in 1828 and as a city in 1840. The population rose to 53,180 in 1870
James Barr was a potter. By 1829 he owned Birmingham Pottery which employed “ 8 hands and made last year 36 kilns of ware, the exact value of which at wholesale prices is $2980. Mr. Barr will probably commence to manufacture of stoneware this summer”.(Historic Pittsburgh) which would have sold glass. His son in law Charles Frederick Diehl trained as a glass maker, as did his father. Perhaps that is how Charles met Eliza.
Directory of Pittsburgh 1865-66) Barr, James, engineer, Bingham near Ormsby, Birmingham *Barr, James Sr. , Carson near Benman, Birmingham (retired)
Another Barr, James of Myers, Schoyer and Co, editor of Post and Surveyor General of PA,
On Stevenson opposite Merci Hospital
At that time the owner of Birmingham Pottery, corner of Franklin and Washington was D&W Bennett
Another note of probable father for James
There is a link between the Plumb Twp Samuel Barr and the McKee family of Plumb Township. They both lived in that area before moving into Birmingham.
1790 Census: Samuel Barr p. 2 (112) and Thomas McKee p. 3 young family
1800 Census: Samuel Barr p. 3( 20010//20010) and Thomas McKee Esq. P. 2
1810 Census: Samuel Barr p.2 (11001//21111) and Thomas McKee, p 4
1820 Census: Thomas McKee only (was a Samuel Barr in Pittsburgh East Ward, p. 2)
1830 Census: James Barr only 4 door away from Thomas McKee in Birmingham
See 1847
1790 Census: Plumb Twp., Allegheny Co. Samuel One male over 16, one under//2 females
*Washington, PA: Samuel: 2 males over 16, 2 under: 2 females
1800 Census Only possible Samuels with a James about 5
Plumb 2001(26-4400//20010 (this is the only one in Allegheny area)
West Bethlehem, Washington Co 20011//00001
Buffalo, Armstrong Co 20010//00011
*Armstrong Twp, Westmoreland 31010//etc also 2 Johns (see notes for Samuel Rev War vet above)
1810 Census: Pitt Township, Allegheny Co., p. 158
James Barr: 00100//00100 = probably newly married, both between `16-25, no kids
Only other Barr in Pitt was Eleanor (mother?) 45 and over, living alone 00001
Samuel Barr: Plumb Township: had two sons 10-16 (researcher)
1815-1847: James Barr, redware stoneware, none known (mark) in American Potters and Pottery, p. 227
1815: Manufacturers: Pittsburgh (Site: Historic Pittsburgh)
Barr, James, potter: No side Front bet. Cherry Alley and Smithfield (Cherry Alley, 20 ft wide from Monongahela River to Liberty bet. Smithfield and Grant)
Barr, Samuel, weaver: S Side Front east of Grant. (two VERY close)
1820 Census: Pitt Township, p. 158
James Barr (about age 25) - 111301/31010//030 (indicates young family)
*It looked like there was the same signature as the Rev war voucher – take papers and look again
Samuel Barr: Pittsburgh East Ward, p. 2 000001/001 (looks like older man over 45 and younger woman
1826: Directory of all names, Pittsburgh:
Barr, William; paver and grower No 8 Gary’s Row
Barr, Samuel; weaver, corner of Plumb and Liberty (find that)
Barr, James; potter, Birmingham* (produced earthenware, stoneware and fire brick)
1827: A James Barr of Allegheny Co is appointed guardian of the children of William Barr. Children’s’ names are Samuel and James Barr. Unsure if this is our family and that the two children later named are his biological sons or nephews.
1827: Estate Index
Samuel Barr, Brghm Bo, James Barr Gdn, Vol 16 p. 107-110
Also a Sarah Bar, James P. Barr Gdn, Vol 16 p. 108
1830 Census: Birmingham, Allegheny Co.
James Barr:, Birmingham, Males 1(0-5 Samuel)1(5-10 James)1 (10-15probably Charles)0 (15-20) 4 (20-30) 1 (30-40 James Sr.) William not born until 1833
Females: 2(Mary and Marg. or Sarah),1(Marg or Sarah),2(Eliza and ?),1,1,1(Sarah)
1840 Census: Birmingham Boro, p.231 household, Roll 440 M704
James Barr One male 40-50; two males 10-15 (Jms and Sam ); one male 5-10 (William)
One female 40-50; three 15-20; one 10-15
* Note: Henry Deihl p. 228…..Eliza and Charles married cir. 1836
Note: Robert Barr next door 20-30 – perhaps a son
Samuel in Plumb Twp with William next door (brother?)
1847: Estate Index, LDS Library
Samuel Barr, Brghm Bo., James Barr Admin, Vol 16, P.108
Pat, My James Barr and Sarah same couple from Birmingham Borough, Allegheny Co. Pa. Have his will and will of Samuel Barr b. between 1780 and 1790. James is responsible for settling estate in 1847 along with John Beltzhoover and Thomas McKee. It seems likely the Beltzhoover and McKee are Brother-in-Laws to James and Samuel as James born 1795 so that Samuel not old enough to be anything but a brother to James. James does have daughter Eliza listed on his(James Barr) will with Charles F. Diehl helping to settle his (James Barr)estate upon his death. Other children who married are Sarah Dunn, Mary B. Porter, Margaret Forse, William Barr, Samuel A. Barr, and James Barr Jr. Kevin
