Richard Tilman Barnes

  General Notes:

http://files.usgwarchives.net/nc/hertford/obits/b/barnes01.txt
File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Bruce Saunders bs4403@verizon.net April 8, 2013
THE TIDEWATER NEWS \endash 08-17-1928, P. 1
RICHARD TILMAN BARNES BRAVE SOLDIER AND GOOD CITIZEN DIED
Richard Tilman Barnes departed this life August 7, 1928 at his home in Southampton County at the age of 87. He was a son of the late Jethro W. Barnes and Lydia Britt, his wife. He was born near Como, in Hertford County, N.C., June 5, 1841.
He was still at school when North Carolina seceded, but he volunteered in April 1861, in the Hertford Light Infantry, 7th North Carolina Volunteers. After the capture of Fort Hatteras the reorganization of these troops occurred, and he became Orderly Sergeant of Company C, 17th North Carolina Troops. He was commissioned Ordnance Sergeant in September, 1864; was wounded in the last general battle of the war of Bentonville, N.C., and was patrolled near Greensboro, N.C., May 1, 1865.
He was in the Army commanded by Lieutenant General J. E. Johnson, R. H. Hoke's division, the brigade commanded successively by Generals James G. Martin, Pettigrew and W.W. Kirkland. The battles in which he participated included Bermuda Hundred and Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864; the defenses around Petersburg and Richmond in Virginia and Plymouth, Kinston, Wilmington and Bentonville in North Carolina.
Mr. Barnes was charter member of the Urquhart-Gillette Camp of Confederate Veterans, and remained a member until his death, and his funeral was attended by L.L. Manry, Commander of the Urquhart-Gillette Camp, he being the only veteran who could be present at the funeral.
In Southampton County February 26, 1873. Richard Tilman Barnes and Miss Devilla Edith Beale were united in marriage and have since lived in Southampton County near Sunbeam. He leaves to mourn their loss his wife, Mrs. Devilla Beale Barnes, daughter of the late John Evans Beale and Lydia W. (Bryant) Beale, and his six children: Mrs. Christie Barnes Saunders, one son, J. Garnett Barnes, Misses Emily, Marion and Norma Barnes and Mrs. E. R. Bonniville of Miami, Fla.
He became a Christian when quite a young man and a member of Buckhorn Baptist Church, Como, N.C. Soon after he was married he was made a deacon of the church and served in that capacity until he became too feeble to take an active part. He was a surveyor, but took more interest in farming and stock- raising.
Mr. Barnes was a man of unusually attractive personality, and possessed a wide circle of friends, both young and old. His undeniably warm heart, broad and transparently honest outlook on life, with a deep-rooted contempt for anything base or mean in conduct, which last characteristics his manly and chivalrous nature was incapable of comprehending \endash all these, with a deep, sincere and abiding regard for his friends, invariably won the hearts of those with whom he came in contact. In addition to these, a cheerful lightness of heart, an unquenchable optimism, an almost boyish gayety \endash sounded the keyhote of his life: an abiding contentment and joy, the outgrowth of a childlike trust in the Heavenly Father, upon whom he relied with an unquestioning and beautiful faith.
His devotion to the cause of the Southern Confederacy was outstanding and undying, though carrying no taint of bitterness, of which his nature was incapable. His love for home, family and church mellowed and deepened with his advancing years, as did his abiding faith and joy. For in the last few days and hours of his life, seared as they were with almost constant and intense agony \endash he spoke often most happily and lovingly of the blessedness for which he longed, awaiting him on the other side; and even sang, over and over, his favorite hymns, other urging his children to unite their voices with his.
The funeral from his home was attended by a crowd that filled rooms, porches and grounds. The casket, draped with the Confederate flag, was placed in the hall, where a simple service was conducted by his Pastor, Rev. J. L. Price. A duet, "The Lord is My Shepherd," sung by J.W. and Mrs. J. T. Bryant, Mrs. Hugh Barrett accompanying at the piano, was followed by reading from 1 Corinthians, 15, and St. John, 14, and a few appropriate remarks by the Pastor, relative to the life and character of Mr. Barnes, Rev. N.B. Foushee, a venerable Methodist minister, then spoke touchingly of the past thirty years of his life as Mr. Barnes near neighbor, and of the well-known influence of the latter's life and character. The body was laid to rest in a shady, flower- decked corner of the old family graveyard, some ten miles distant, at the beautiful home of his childhood, as seemed most fitting, where his father and mother lie sleeping. After the solemn words of committal, and the final prayer, and to the accompaniment of wind sighing through the magnolias, Mrs. And Mrs. Hugh Barrett, Mrs. J.T. Bryant and T.H. Barrett sang "Home of the Soul."
The body bearers were: J. B. and P. W. Majette, J. B. and C. E. Worrell, Rosser Bryant, Willie Prince, S. P. Winborne and G. C. Picot. The honorary pallbearers were: T. H. Barrett, Jas. R. Hart, V. K. Daughtrey, E. F. Drake, J. T. Bryant, John Railey, Jake Howell, Darius Howell, Jas. Railey, E. J. Railey, Dr. J. M. Bland and R. B. Bryant.

  Research Notes:

From www.findagrave.com:
Richard Tilman Barnes
Birth: Jun. 5, 1841
Death: Aug. 7, 1928
Hertford Co., North Carolina
Buried: Hare Barnes Cemetery, Hertford Co., North Carolina

Son of Jethro W. Barnes and Lydia Britt.
Husband of Davilla Emily Edith Beale.
Father of Jethro Garrett Barnes, Marion E. Barnes and J. Norma Barnes, all buried here. Also Richard Wilmer Barnes, Lydia Christie Barnes and Devilla Emily Barnes.

Occupation: Tobacco Planter
Illustrious service in the Civil War: He enlisted as a private in the Hertford Light Infantry, Co. D, 7th Reg, NC Volunteers, commanded by Lt. Col. J.E. Johnston in the R. H. Hokes Division. He was promoted to Corporal. He mustered out on 10 Mar 1862, and immediately re-enlisted on 24 Mar 1862 in Co. C, 17th Infantry Reg. He was commissioned a Full Sergeant on 31 May 1862 and became a Full Orderly Sergeant. He was wounded and captured at Fort Hatteras, and was paroled at Bentonville near Greenville, NC.

This information comes from a note written in 1885 found in the files of Dorothy Green Napier of Virginia and from the Confederate Magazine of NC Troops, 1861-1865, A. Roster.

Richard married Edith Devilla Beale on 26 Feb 1873 in Southampton Co, VA. (Edith Devilla Beale was born in May 1847 in Virginia, died on 14 Nov 1933 in Newsom, Southampton Co., VA and was buried in Hare Barnes Cemetery, Hertford Co., North Carolina.)