In the absence of any civil or church record of birth or baptism, we have to look at what other evidence we have of William’s parents.

The 1880 census was the first one which showed the relationship of the people in the household to the head of the household.

In 1880, William was with his wife Nancy and their two children in Hardeman.

Their neighbours were Amanda Barnes and her son John G and daughter Sarah C.

In 1870, there was no sign of William Barnes but A M F Barnes, S C, J G and C D Barnes were together in Hardeman.

1860 Census, Hardeman County: all noted as born in Tennessee.

It seems that Roderick had moved to Tennessee from Mississippi some time between 1850 and 1860.

1850 Census, County Tippah, Mississippi: all noted as born in Tennessee.

It seems reasonable to deduce that Roderick and Amanda were William’s parents. And that would tie in with William having named his eldest son Rod W. or William Roderick.

Plus, very often, where a son was given the same name as his father, the middle name was used informally. This would account for the son being Rod W on the 1900 census but Wm R (Rod) on the gravestone.

Click on the image to view in full size

Rodderick Barnes married Amanda F Keith on 24 November 1846 in Lincoln, Tennessee.

The record is shown at the bottom of the left hand page.

Source: Tennessee State marriages 1780 – 2002

The Keith Family Tree on Ancestry.com gives Amanda as being Amanda Melvana Fitzallen Keith. This would fit with the initials AMF on the 1870 census.

And it gives Roderick’s death as being in 1870, which would fit with Amanda being shown as head of the household in the 1870 and 1880 censuses. Unfortunately the date of death is four years before the state started recording deaths and so there is unlikely to be a record of the death unless a church record or cemetery record can be found.

The Keith tree identifies Amanda’s father as William Alexander Keith and her mother as Sarah A ‘Sallie’ Hampton. Therefore it is quite possible that Amanda’s first son was named William Alexander after her father, and her daughter named after her mother, with the name Sarah becoming the nickname Sally.

Another public member tree on Ancestry.com shows the marriage of Roderick Barnes and Amanda Melvina Allen but there is no source given and it seems to be a corruption of the name Fitzallen, omitting the surname Keith.

The 1870 census shows AMF Barnes living in the same area as FH Allen (male, aged 38) and WB Allen (female, aged 43). FH Allen was born in Canada, WB Allen was born in South Carolina and AMF was born in Tennessee. Unfortunately, relationships were not shown in the 1870 census and so it is impossible to work out if there was a family link between AMF Barnes (formerly Amanda Melvana Fitzallen Keith) and the Allens.

As the Keith tree gives Amanda’s names as Amanda Melvana Fitzallen Keith, there is a distinct possibility of an Allen connection, but with whom and how remains to be seen.

Who were Roderick Barnes’ parents?

Can we find any clues in the 1850 census?

1850 census: Tippah, Mississippi:

Madison and Isaac lived either side of Wright Barnes and Roderick was living not far away. Were they three sons of Wright?

Tippah County, Mississippi is just over the state border from Hardeman County, Tennessee.

Next: Wright Barnes