The Barrett Family

Around the end of May or first of June, 1781, he again was drafted or volunteered, under Captain Eliphas Shelton, to suppress and take some "out layers or Tory as they were then called." They marched to Hambry's on Maho River in Henry County, where they stayed until the last of June or first of July, when the enemy dispersed, and the company returned home. Not being discharged, they were immediately ordered to march to a place called Rhoda Moore's in the hollows of Dan River, where they took some prisoners. The enemy again scattered, and the troops once more returned home, with orders to be in readiness to march at a moments warning. In a few days, they heard that a party of Tories or out layers was in the settlement of Hudgepaths, on Dan River. Captain Shelton's company marched to that place, where they caught several out layers, routed the Tories, and after a short time returned home. Their term of enlistment having expired, around the last of September, or October, 1781, John recalled that he was discharged by the Captain verbally, with the promise of a written discharge to be given later. He remembered participating in one or two more short expeditions against the out layers, but couldn't recall the dates.

He bought land in Buncombe County on Bald Mountain Creek from William Halloway Sr. on Sept. 24, 1798. In 1801 he bought another 100 acres nearby on Bald Mountain Creek; in 1802 45 acres more. In 1805 he bought 25 acres on Paint Fork of Ivy Creek, near William Barrett's 1804 purchase. In 1806 he bought 100 acres on Big Ivy from Ward Barret. The same year he acquired 200 acres on Ivy from John Turner. In 1811 he bought another 100 acres on Bald Mountain Creek.

In January, 1808, the Buncombe County court recorded the sale of the estate of Julius Robinson. John Barrett bought "a case and razors" for $1.00, and "one horse beast" for $25.⁽¹⁾

At the July 1811 term of the Buncombe County Court, he was appointed to be an administrator of the estate of George Rogers. John Barrett's relationship to the Rogers family hasn't been discovered. His co-administrator was William Rogers, which was the name of one of the Justices of the court, and who was probably the son of John. William's sister had a mother-in-law named Bathsheba Barrett. William's son would later, in Clay County, Kentucky, marry Levicia Barrett. No relationship with either of these woman is evident.⁽²⁾

On Oct. 4, 1830, he transferred all of his property to his son David Barret in return for a contract of support, to "subsist free from want," for the remainder of his life.

In June, 1832, at age eighty four, he applied in Buncombe County for a Revolutionary War pension. He filed additional papers in May of 1836. His claim was finally rejected after he was unable to document a sufficient length of service to qualify for a pension.