One of the families of interest is the family of William Barnes and Millicent Williams Barnes from Southampton County, Virginia. This William Barnes was a Soldier assigned to the 1st Virgiania State Regiment undere the command of Lieutenant John Coleman and Colonel William Brent. For his service in the 1st Virginia State Regiment, William Barnes received both a certificate of service rendered, dated 14 May 1783, at Fredricksburg, Virginia, which reads as follows:
Barnes, William, - Soldier - Army
Cert. - Wt. Coleman, Lieut.
Wm. Brent, Colonel.
1783.
"I certify that William Barnes was a soldier of the State Line initiated prior to the 1st January 1778, continued in line after December 6, 1781 - granted at Fredricksburg 14 May 1783."
Wt. Coleman, Lt. V.S.L.
Wm. Brent, Col
William Barnes also received a cash Bounty, which stated:
August the 17th 1779, Army -
"Warrant to Wm Barnes at bounty for enlisting in the State Regiment at Fredricksburg during the War - $450."
During the Revolutionary War, William Barnes was assigned to Georgia with Lieutenant John Coleman. Two Battalion of Minute Men were established with two companies of light horse commanded by Lieutenant John Coleman. William was assigned to the 1st Battalion of Minute Men and one of the companies of light horse, under the command of Lieutenant John Coleman.
In her Military Certificates of Georgia 1776-1800, Marion R. Hemperley list William Barnes as a Soldier in the 1st Battalion of Minute Men and provides the following on the formation of these Georgia military units:
"On 3 June 1777 the Georgia House of Assembly -authorized the second state corps. to be composed of two minute man battalions. The men for these battalions were to have a term of service of two years. The 1st Battalion was commanded by Colonel John Steward, with Lieutenant Colonel Elijay Clarke as second-in-command. The 2d Battalion was commanded by Colonel Samuel Jack, with Lieutenant Colonel William Farrell as second-in-command. These two minute battalions were augmented by two companies of light horse commanded by Colonel John Coleman (should be Lieutinant John Coleman). Coleman's two troops were authorized and raised in May through July of 1777 and were originally to be used on the western frontiers of Georgia. The first Troop wascommanded by Captain William Wilson. The 2d Troop was commanded by Captain William Pulliam -- . On 1 March 1778 the House of Assembly ordered the two minute battalions and the two troops of horse disbanded. The men of the two minute battalions and Coleman's light horse were ordered reorganized into five independent companies commanded by Major Jeremiah Wilder."
In January 1785, William Barnes received a certificate for his service in the 1st Battalion of Minute Men, signed by Lieutenant Colonel E. Clark (Elijah Clark), by his order Horation Marbury which reads:
State of Georgia.
This is to certify, That William Barnes was enlisted to serve as a soldier in the first Battalion of Minute-Men, raised for the Defence of this State, by resolve of Assembly, passed the 3d June, 1777; and that the said William Barnes was not, at the Time of his enlistment an Inhabitant of the State, nor had he resided in any Part thereof for six Months preceeding his enlistment And further, That he was in Service at the Time the said Battalion was reduced by a subsequent Resolve of March 1st, 1778. Given under my Hand, at Washington this Day of January 1785.
By His order
Horation Marbury, his signature
E. Clarke, L Col, his signature
"------ 340 South Carolina and Georgia militiamen, under Colonel Andrew Pickens of South Carolina and Colonel John Dooly and Lieutenant Colonel Elijah Clarke of Georgia fought at the Battle of Kettle Creek." (University System of Georgia/GALILEO).
In her book, Roster of Revolutionary Soldiers in Georgia, by Ettie Tidwell, William Barnes and John Coleman are included on a list of Revolutionary Soldiers who fought at The Battle of Kettle Creek. This list was developed by Mrs. Boyce Ficklin, Jr., and the Wilkes County Forum, Georgia.
"On September 3, 1783, the treaty of peace between Great Britian and America ended the American Revolution. Land was the major source of funds to pay off the veterans and to finance the goverment." (Green County, Georgia Land Records, Deeds 1785-1810, Fred R. Turner) The state of Georgia granted William Barnes Land Certificate No. 448, in Wilkes County, Georgia, for his Revolutionary War service in the state. In the Georgia Legislature's publication, Georgia's Roster of the Revolution, by State Historian, Lucian Lamar, William Barnes is shown on the "Paid in Money List", which was a list of soldiers who chose to be paid in money instead of land. After William Barnes settled in Jones County he participated in the 1827 Georgia Land Lottery with special drawing priviledges given to Revolutionary War Soldier.
Please let me know if you need additional information on this William Barnes. Also, I will be grateful for information on the status of your placement of his name and information on the Kettle Creek Battle Roster.
Sincerely,
Myrtle Barnes Jones