Duncan Barnes was born on Friday, March 20, 1863, in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland. He was the son of Ebenezer Webber Barnes and Jane Pike (possibly Parsons, I have conflicting information) and was baptized at the Methodist Church in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland on May 16, 1863.Duncan was a Master Mariner that shipped cargo around Newfoundland and also took sealers up to the ice fields for their hunts. For a time he was the Captain of the S.S. Aggie, a steamer that took lumber and other supplies, as well as passengers around Newfoundland.
Duncan had three wives in total but also had an illegitimate child. As far as I can work out the mother
of his first child became pregnant about three months before he married Frances Simms, who lived in another part of Newfoundland. Given that he may have been away at Sea over the summer months he might not have known about the child before he married Frances. He did, however, recognize him as his own and appears as the father on the baptism record.
His first son was Arthur Vance Penney who was born on February 9, 1887, in Harrys Harbour, Green Bay, Newfoundland. Arthur's mother was Susan Hannah Penney (1868-1919). She later married Elijah Noble. Arthur married Regina Green on September 17, 1907, at Harrys Harbour, Newfoundland. Sadly, he died May 20th, 1910 from Brights Disease leaving behind two boys of his own, Allan Penny and Norman E Penny. Allan went by the name Allan Noble, his stepfathers' last name.
At the age of 23, Duncan Barnes married my Great Great Grandmother Frances Simms on Tuesday, August 31, 1886, at White Bay, Newfoundland. "Fanny" was born at St. Anthony, Newfoundland andI. Wentworth Barnes was born in Little Bay on October 13, 1887. He was baptized on October 15, 1887. Wentworth married Bessie Louise Howell (also from Newfoundland) in Toronto. He died in 1964, Toronto. These are my Great Grandparents.
II. George Barnes was born in Newfoundland in 1890. (I can't find much about him). He married Kitty Sylvester in Toronto.
III. Effie Barnes born in Boot Harbour, October 14, 1891. She married Reverend Herbert Allenby in Toronto but later moved to Quebec. Effie died in 1973, in Beamsville, Ontario.
IV. Lytton Howell Barnes was born December 18, 1894, at Pilley's Island, Newfoundland. [Update March 2020 - I recently found a death record that maybe his which is December 26, 1894, at Pilley's Island. It is transcribed incorrectly as "Leyton Horwell Barnes" and says he is 17 years old but I think this might be him, more investigation is needed]
V. Mary Elizabeth Barnes (AKA Mae) was born on September 25, 1895, at Pilley's Island, Newfoundland. She first married Reverend Edward George Warren in Quebec. Her second husband was Reverend W.W. Jones. Mary died on February 13, 1980, in Brockville, Ontario.
VI. Herman Barnes was born in 1898 in Tilt Cove, Newfoundland. He married Sarah Myrtle Stickley (AKA Sadie) in 1929, in Toronto. Herman died in 1973, Toronto.
What a horrible ordeal for Duncan, now a widow and father to 6 children aged fifteen to four years old on his own. Being away at sea would have made it very hard. It explains why he married again so soon after Grandma Fanny died.
Duncan married Mary Ann Butt on May 2, 1903, in Boot Harbour. Together they have one child called Wilfred Barnes born in July of 1906. Sadly, baby Wilfred died on April 20, 1907, from "Infantile Debility". A few months later on September 24, 1907, Mary Ann passed away from tuberculosis.
In the span of four years Duncan had buried two wives and a child.
About four years later, Duncan married for a third time to Theresa Sainsbury on November 7, 1911. Theresa was the widow of Charles Parsons. They lived for a time in Newfoundland but in 1920 they moved to Toronto, Ontario and lived at 23 Geneva Avenue. This is the house that his son Wentworth also lived in, and the house my Grandfather, Bruce Barnes grew up in. On February 9, 1925, Theresa died after a stroke.
On June 1, 1935, at 72 years old, Duncan Barnes died after a long battle with Stomach Cancer. His daughter-in-law Bessie nursed him through his illness. Duncan is buried with Theresa at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. I went to visit his grave in the fall but was not able to find his headstone. I will try again this summer. [ Update: The cemetery confirmed that they were not able to find a marker for Duncan & Theresa even after probing the ground. No record of a marker is on file]
More facts and events for Duncan Barnes:
Height: 5'4" - Apparently he made up for his size with a large personality.
In 1896 he took his ticket in Halifax to become a saltwater Captain.
Freemason Membership: September 27, 1905 Newfoundland - Avalon Lodge - Initiation Sept 27, 1905 / Passing-Nov 6 / Raising-May 17, 1907. Certificate 11/10/06. His membership listed his occupation as a "Trader".
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| In 1905 Duncan Barnes became a member of the Avalon Lodge in St. John's Newfoundland |
Duncan worked as a Carpenter in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, in 1921. I also know that he made large model sailing ships as a hobby. My Dad restored one that belonged to my Grandfather (Duncan's Grandson). When he removed some old paint "Duncan Barnes" was carved into the bottom.
Most of this information was found using Family Search, Ancestry.ca, Newfoundland Grand Banks, Memorial University of Newfoundland - Digital Archives, as well as stories handed down through the generations. If you would like a particular source please contact me and I will gladly share it.
*Like all genealogy research there is a chance some of this information is not 100% accurate. Please use it as guidance/hints for your own research.
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Last Updated: April 7, 2020
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Duncan was my great grandfather. His son George is my grandfather who married Kitty Sylvester. George had 3 children: Kathleen (Kay), Reta, & Raymond. I am the daughter of Reta, living in GTA, Ontario
ReplyDeleteHello! Thanks for reaching out. I would love to learn more about George and your branch of the family. I have two other children for George in my records, I wonder if you know more about them. If you are interested you can reach me by email through the contact form (link at top of page). I hope to hear from you again.
ReplyDeleteLisa