Mordecai Barbour was born on October 21, 1763, in Culpeper County, Virginia, as the eldest son of James Barbour III (1734–1804) and his wife Frances Throckmorton.[1][2][4][5][6]
Following the war, Barbour received a pension for his military service.[1][4]
Business ventures
Fredericksburg
Barbour began owning and operating water-powered mills in Culpeper County, two of which were purchased by John Strode.[7] Barbour's manufacturing interests extended from cotton gins to the making of nails.[7] On May 29, 1805, the Virginia Herald carried an advertisement for Barbour's cut nail manufactory in Fredericksburg, Virginia "where they will sell, Cut and wrought Nails, Brads, Springs, Sadler's Tacks of all sizes".[7] Fredericksburg land tax records from 1805 indicate Barbour rented properties owned by John Brownlow and Charles Julian.[8] Records also indicate Barbour acquired a merchants license in 1806 from George W. B. Spooner, Commissioner of Revenue for the District of Fredericksburg, for the sum of $15 (~$292.00 in 2023).[9] Barbour was a resident of Fredericksburg until 1808 when he relocated to Petersburg.[2][3][4]
Petersburg
Prior to his relocation from Fredericksburg, Barbour had previously owned Burlingtonplantation in Dinwiddie County west of Petersburg and operated a mill in its vicinity.[10] In 1819, the Virginia General Assembly authorized an act permitting Barbour to "receive toll for passing his bridge across the Appomattox river".[11] In addition to the operation of the bridge, Barbour also owned and operated a grist mill four miles from Petersburg on the Appomattox that evolved into an incorporated venture known as the Matoaca Manufacturing Company, which processed grain and manufactured paper and cotton.[12][13] In 1831, Barbour received a permit for the erection of a 12-feet-wide toll bridge across the Appomattox River at Exeter Mills.[14]
War of 1812
Following the outbreak of War of 1812, Barbour wrote a letter to United States PresidentJames Madison on June 28, 1812, in which he volunteered his services to lead a regiment in the United States military.[15] Barbour stated in his letter to President Madison:[15]
In the present crisis when the insolence pride and rapacity of an unjust and haughty nation has leaped upon our beloved Country such an accumulation of insults wrongs and injustice that the Nation is compelled to resort to arms to recover its own respect and enforce from others the observance of that rule by right which is our inherent birth right—It becomes the duty of every citizen to tender to his Country such services as he is capable to render—Under the influence of such a conviction and believing from the experience I acquired in the Revolutionary War that I can render essential services to my Country. I have caused it to be communicated to the War office my willingness to accept the command of a regiment of those troops now raising by the United States—In the result of my appointment it shall be my glory and my pride to aspire at commanding a regiment which shall surpass all others in its military knowledge—whilst the whole energies of my mind shall be centered to prepare the feelings of my troops, and to inspire them with all that heroic praise that ought to characterize the soldiers of the only free government on Earth—If sir my services are deemed worthy of acceptance twill give me great pleasure to serve my country—whilst at the same time if my Country can be better served by the appointment of some other gentleman twill be to me cause of satisfaction rather than regret—With the highest esteem and coustanation, I have the honor to be
Sir Your Obed. Servt. Mordecai Barbour
Marriage and children
Barbour married Elizabeth Strode, daughter of John Strode of "Fleetwood" in Culpeper County.[1][2] John Strode was master of the gunfactory near Falmouth, Virginia, which was instrumental in supplying arms to Virginia's troops during the American Revolutionary War.[1] Strode was reportedly of French Huguenot descent.[1]
Maria Barbour Tillinghast Hogan m. Colonel Tillinghast, m. J. B. Hogan
Mordecai Barbour
Following the death of Elizabeth, Barbour married Sally Haskell Byrne.[1] Sally was the widow of James Byrne of Petersburg and the mother of Barbour's daughter-in-law, Elizabeth A. Byrne.[1]
Death
Barbour died at "Weston", the residence of his daughter Frances Barbour Minor, in Boligee, Greene County, Alabama on January 4, 1846.[1][3][4][5][6] He was interred at Bethsalem Cemetery at Bethsalem Presbyterian Church in Boligee.[5][6]
^ abcdeBush, Rod (November 6, 2004). "Miscellaneous Family Histories". Greene County, Alabama GenWeb site. Rod Bush Publications. Archived from the original on May 2, 2010. Retrieved June 26, 2010.
^ abcdMagnolia and Peaches (2004). "Major Mordecai Barbour". Magnolia and Peaches website. CyRiv Solutions, LLC. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved June 26, 2010.
