Ned and Louisa Gay Barnes and their daughters Mattie Radcliffe Barnes Hines (1895-1922) and Alice Ida Barnes Bryant (1897-1969).
In the 1870 census of Wilson, Wilson County: farm laborer Willis Barnes, 30; wife Cherry, 25; and children Rachael, 7, West, 5, Jesse, 2, and Ned, 5 months.
In the 1880 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Willis Barnes, 42; wife Cherey, 20; stepdaughter Rachel Battle, 17; children Wesley, 15, Jesse, 13, Ned, 11, Eddie, 7, Mary Barnes, niece Ellen Battle, 2; and son Willey Barnes, 1.
On 1 April 1889, Jesse Barnes, 21, and Mary Mag Mercer, 19, were issued a marriage license in Wilson County. Harney Chatman, Baptist minister, performed the ceremony on 3 April 1889 in Wilson Town. Witnesses were Westley Barnes and Ned Barnes, Jesse’s brothers.
On 27 October 1891, J.T. Dean applied for a marriage license for Edward [Ned] Barnes, 22, of Wilson, son of Willis and Cherry Barnes, and Louisa Gay, daughter of Samuel and Alice Gay. A.M.E. Zion minister J.W. Levy officiated over the ceremony, which took place 29 October 1891 at Samuel Gay’s. Witnesses were S.H. Vick, Spencer Barnes, and Thomas Davis.
In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Ned Barnes, 30; wife Loisa, 27; and children Mattie R., 5, Alice I., 3, and Ned, 0. Ned was employed as a coachman for white manufacturer Roscoe Briggs, and the family lived on premises.
In 1903, Ned Barnes was a crucial eyewitness to a sensational murder involving prominent white Raleigh citizens.
In the 1910 census of Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina: at 707 West Street, Ned Bonds Sr., 37; wife Louise, 36; and children Mattie, 15, Ida, 12, Ned Jr., 9, Howard, 7, and Blonnie L., 2. Ned worked as “horseler” at an animal hospital. Louise reported 5 of 6 children living.
Ned Barnes died 1 December 1912, aged about 42, of acute uremia, at 707 South Saunders, Raleigh, Wake County. Per his death certificate, he was born in Wilson County to Willis Barnes and an unknown mother; was married; and worked as a porter in a club. Informant was Mattie Barnes. Ned was buried 2 December in Wilson.
Ned Barnes Jr. (1899-1931). Ned married Lelia Newton, daughter of Thomas and Carrie Newton, on 14 July 1920 in Wilson.
Benson N. Barnes (1921-2004), son of Ned Jr. and Lelia Newton Barnes. (Alice Barnes Bryant was his father’s sister.)
Ned Radcliff Barnes (1924-2002), son of Ned Jr. and Lelia Newton Barnes. (Louisa Barnes was, in fact, his grandmother.)
Photographs courtesy of Katie Chestnut Barnes (many thanks!); newspaper clippings from Wilson Daily Times.
I’m pleased to know the family history that my sister, Sonya M. Barnes, Odum, sent me. She’s the wife of Efrum Odum, a good man, whom I glad to call my brother-in-law. Our father was Johnnie Lee Barnes Sr., whom I loved . My name is Johnnie Lee Barnes Jr., My son is Johnnie Lee Barnes lll,. I’m damn proud of my family name. My other two sisters, Cynthia Joy Barnes, and Rhonda Renee Barnes are deceased along with my mom Katherine Barnes. God Bless our family..Amen. Johnnie Lee Barnes Jr.
Hi Johnnie! Ned and Louisa Gay Barnes are my family. From which of their children are you descended?
Hi Lisa! I am Johnnie’s sister Sonya. I didn’t realize that he sent you a message;). Here is our lineage to Ned Barnes, Sr.
Ned Barnes, Sr. 1842-1922
2nd great-grandfather
ERNEST Barnes 1885-1960
Son of Ned Barnes, Sr.
John Henry Barnes 1912-1974
Son of ERNEST Barnes
Johnnie Lee Barnes.Sr 1936-1988
Son of John Henry Barnes
Sonya M Barnes Odum daughter Johnnie Lee Barnes, Sr.
Hi Sonya! There were numerous Ned Barneses in late 19th century Wilson County. Your Ned is a different one from Iris’ Ned (who was the brother of my great-grandmother Rachel Barnes Taylor.) Ned was born in 1869 to Willis and Cherry Battle (or Eatmon) Barnes. He married Louisa Gay and had a son Ned, born 1900. That Ned married Lela Newtonand had a son Ned Radcliffe Barnes, Iris’ dad.
The Barnes family, checking in.
Barnes is the most common surname in Wilson County. There are literally thousands of Barneses living there to this day, and most are not related to one another.
Iris Barnes Marbet
These are pictures of my family. My great great grandfather was Ned Barnes, Senior, My grandfather was Ned Barnes II, my father was Ned Barnes III, my uncle was Benson Barnes and I have a brother who is Ned Barnes IV. Please contact me
Hi Iris! Your mom was so generous to allow me to copy these photos. You and I are cousins! Please contact me at blackwideawake at gmail dot com.
Hi Iris!! Happy Holidays! I will give you a call soon to catchup. It’s been a while since we last spoke. Talk to you soon. Sonya Barnes Odum
This is so special!!! I wonder in which line of our descendants does uncle Harrison Barnes and Valmore Barnes Sr fit in.
Are they descendants of Ned and Louisa Gay Barnes? Barnes is the most common surname in Wilson County, and most are not related to one another.
They are from Annapolis MD and Manassas VA
Ah. This family is deeply rooted in Wilson and Edgecombe Counties NC. Ned Barnes Sr. was my great-great-grandmother’s sister.
Ned and Louisa are my family as well. Louisa is my great great aunt as her sister Blanche is my great grandmother.