John Barclay, the father of George and my 2nd great-grandfather, was farming and raising his second family in Eagle Creek Township, Scott County, Minnesota.
I last featured my 2nd great-grandfather John Barclay in my post on this blog dated September 11, 2010 “John Barclay’s Land!” http://barclayspineriver.wordpress.com/2010/09/11/john-barclays-land/ In this post I discussed the land patent he received on 10 September 1861.
I return now, to the census and fortunately there are U.S. Federal and state census for Minnesota to study and I find John appearing consistently from 1857 through his death in 1895.
John Barclay had two families as I featured in the posted dated April 3, 2010 “John Barclay’s Two Families.” Some time around 1858-59 he remarried to a Helen. There is some confusion as to what her first name was but the tombstone and other court documents use the name of “Helen.”
We find the family of John and Helen Barclay living in Eagle Creek, Scott County, Minnesota in 1865:
Line 1, John Barkley, male. Helena Barkley, female. Charles, male. William, male. Mary, female.
Source: 1865 Minnesota State Census 1 June 1865, Family of John Barkley, Eagle Creek, Scott Co., page 1, Minnesota Film #MNSC_3 or FHL #565716, or at Ancestry.com. This census was merely a list of names with little information other than what I have indicated here
On January 19, 1867 and interesting event takes place. John Barclay sells 160 acres to his wife Helen. The land parcel is NE1/4 S23, T115, R22 and that is the same as the patent he received in 1861. What follows is a transcription to the best of my ability for the handwriting was difficult to read.
”Filed for Record January 21, 1867 at 12 [pm]
U.S.Int. Res. Stamp to the amount of 50 cents
This Indenture made this nineteenth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty seven between John Barclay Senr of the first part and Helen Barclay, Wife of John Barclay Senr of the second part, all of Scott County State of Minnesota.
Witnesseth, that the said party of the first part, for and in consideration of Three Hundred Dollars, in hand paid by the said party of the second part the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, and the said party of the second part forever releases and discharges there from, has Granted, Bargained, Sold, Remised, Released, Aliened and Confirmed, and by these presents to grant, bargain, sell, remise, release, alien and confirm, unto the said party of the second part, and to her heirs and assigns, forever, all the following described lot, piece of parcel of Land situated in the County of Scott and State of Minnesota, and known and described as follows, to wit:
The North East Quarter of Section Twenty-three Township one hundred and fifteen North of Range twenty-two West containing one hundred and Sixty acres by Government Survey. Together with all and Singular, the hereditaments and appurtenances as thereunto belonging or in anywise appertaining and the revision and reversions, remainder and remainders, rents, issues, and profits thereof: and all the estate right, title, interest, claim or demand whatsoever of the said party of the first part, either in law or equity, of, in and of the above bargained premises, with the hereditaments and appurtenances. To have and to hold the said premises above bargained and described with the appurtenances, unto the said party of the second part his heirs and assigns forever. And the said John Barclay Senr party of the first part, for himself his heirs, executors and administrators, does convent, grant, bargain, and agree, to [ ] the said party of the second part her heirs and assigns, that all the time of ensealing and filing of these presents, he is well _____ of the premises, above conveyed as of a good, sure, perfect, absolute and indefeasible estate of inheritance in law in fee simple and has good right, full power and lawful authority to grant, bargain, sell and convey the same in manner and form aforesaid, and that the same are free and clear from all forms of other grants, bargains, sales, liens, ___ assessments and encumbrances of what kind or nature so ever: and that the above bargained premises in the quiet and peaceable possession of the said party of the second part, her heirs and assigns against all and every person or persons lawfully claiming or to claim the whole or any part, thereof, of the said party of the first part shall and will warrant and forever ______ . In Testimony Whereof, the said party of the first part hereunto set his hand and seal the day and year first above written.
Signed, Sealed and Delivered in Presence of Robert Ringhorn and Andrew Kearney. Signed by John Barclay (Seal),
State of Minnesota, County of Scott
I, Dave Ringhorn Justice of Peace, in and for said County, in the State aforesaid, do hereby certify that John Barclay Sr personally known to be as the real person whose name is subscribed to the foregoing Deed, appeared before me this day in person, and acknowledged that he executed and Delivered the said Deed as his free and voluntary act for the use and purposes therein set forth. Given under my hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
(signed by) David Ringhorn, J. Peace.
Filed for Record January 21, 1867 at 2 p.m.”
Source: Deed Record, Scott County Registry of Deeds, Scott County Courthouse, Vol. M, 1864-1867, pg. 560-561, FHL#1403553. General Index for grantees A-L 1855-1899 FHL#140356.
The question is why would he sell his land to his wife? It has been suggested that it might have been to avoid tax issues. Maybe he was ill; however, he lives another 30 years? Maybe someone was trying to take the land from him? So we add this to the To Do list!
A couple of years later in 1870, we find John and Helen still living in Eagle Creek township and their family has expanded.
Dwelling 81, Family 81 – Barclay, John age 50, male, white, farmer, $800 real estate, $200 personal, born in Scotland, father and mother of foreign birth, eligible to vote. Barclay, [ ], age 45, female, white, keeping house, born in Sweden, father and mother of foreign birth. Barclay, Charles, age 10, male, white. Barclay, William, age 8, male, white. Barclay, Mary age 6, female, white. Barclay, Anna age [1], female and white. All the children were born in Minnesota.
Source: 1870 U.S. Federal Census, Minnesota, Eagle Creek, Scott County, Minnesota. Heritage Quest Online. They read T132, Roll 10, page 370.**
**The 1870 U.S. Federal Agricultural census pages included John Barclay and it provided a very nice description of his farm:
Line 17, Barkley John 20 acres, 20 acres unimproved, 800 cash value of farm, 150 in value of farming implements and equipment, 15 in total wages paid in year including value of board, 2 milch cows, 2 working oxen, 2 other cattle, 2 sheep, 2 swine, 200 value of all live stock, 200 value in Spring Wheat, 100 bu. in Indian corn, 5 lbs wool, 30 bu. Irish potatoes, 100 lbs butter, 6 tons hay, 50 dollars value of animals slaughtered or sold for slaughter, 150 estimated value of all farm production including betterments and additions to stock.
Source: 1870 Schedule 3 – Products of Agriculture in Town of Eagle Creek, County of Scott in the State of Minnesota, pg. 4-5, 7th day of June, 1870, [P.T. Moot].
We continue following the family in the Minnesota State census for 1875 and it reads:
Line 8, Family 58, John Barkley, age 62, Male, white, born in Scotland, parents both born in Scotland. Helen Barkley, age 38, female, white, born in Norway, both parents born in Norway. Charles Barkley, age 15, male, white, born in Minnesota. William Barkley age 13, male, white, born in Minnesota. Maria Barkley, age 11, female, white, born in Minnesota. Anna Barkley, age 3, female, white, born in Minnesota.
Source: 1875 Minnesota State Census, Eagle Creek, Scott County, Minnesota, pg. 153, FHL#565728
The next time we find John Barclay is in the 1880 U.S. Federal Census, still in Eagle Creek Township.
Line 9, Family #242 Barclay, John, White, Male, age 65 married, farmer, born in Scotland, mother and father born in Scotland. Barclay, Ellen, white, female, age 48, wife, married, keeping house, born in Norway, parents born in Norway. Barclay, Charles, white, male, age 24, son, single, at home, born in Minnesota, father born in Scotland, mother in Norway. Barclay, William, white, male, age 17 , son, single staying at home, born in Minnesota. Barclay, Anna, white, female, age 10, daughter, at home, born in Minnesota.
Source: 1880 U.S. Federal Census, Eagle Creek Twp., Scott County, Minnesota, pg. 30, SD[2],, ED [?], T-9, Roll 633 MN. What happened to the daughter Mary E.? She is not listed in this census and the next and I was unable to find her living elsewhere? It could suggest she died but as we will see that may not have been the case?
Remember the deed explain above where John gave his wife Helen the land. H. Barclay appears on the 1880 platte map of Scott County, Minnesota as the owner of the land, John is not listed.
Platte map of Eagle Creek, Scott Co., Minnesota dated 1880, showing H. Barclay has 160 acres, Twp 115, North Range 22, West of the 5th Principal Meridian. Find the * over on the right of the platte map under the second E in creek. (Click on the map and it will open in another window. Don’t forget to hit your back button to return to this post.) I obtained a copy of this map at the Scott County Historical Society in Shakopee.
Atlas Scott County 1880
John and Helen Barclay continue to remain in Eagle Creek Township as shown in the 1885 Minnesota State Census.
Family 98, John Barkley, age 70, male, white, born in Scotland, mother and father of foreign birth. Helen Barkley, age 53, female, white, born in Norway, both parents of foreign birth. William Barkley, age 23, male, white, born in Minnesota, both parents of foreign birth. Charley Barkley age 25, male, white, born in Minnesota, both parents of foreign birth, Annie age 15, female, white, born in Minnesota, both parents of foreign birth.
Source: 1885 Minnesota State Census, Eagle Creek Township, Scott County, Minnesota, pg. 14, FHL#565754 also at Ancestry.com.
As you can see from these census the Barclay name is spelled differently than I spell it: ”Barkley.” The ages of the family members change and the age for John himself varies widely over the years. Helen’s first name changes from Ellen to Helen an in one case you can’t read it at all. Her origins also change from Swedish to Norwegian and seem to stay with the later as time passes. The one consistent is they stay on the land for a very long time.
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**Warning: I was doublechecking the 1870 U.S. Federal Census at Ancestry.com and have found some problems. Apparently the 1870 U.S. Federal is all jumbled up and missing pages for Eagle Creek. I did a browe through the Eagle Creek portion and it was a mess.
John Barclay appears in an Agricultural Census that is tacked on to the end of Eagle Creek run. It is filmed with page 3 next to page 4 and the second part of page 4 is filmed with page 5 and so on. This means you have to move to the next page to get the total picture.
This is not the first time I have had problems with Ancestry.com census being wrong.
I suggest you go to the Heritage Quest database usually online at your public library with the use of your library card. The other option is to consult the U.S. Federal Census films at your local National Archives Branch or check for a run of films for the census at your local public library, genealogical society or historical.
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