The Barnett Family and the Land They Owned in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana

Janice and Larry Holland
Photo Credit: Dr. Antoinette Harrell

I received a telephone call last week from Janice Holland, who was searching for the ancestor of her husband Larry Barnett. Using Ancestry, I search for Larry's ancestor. Janice gave me the name Isaac Barnett and his wife Susie Perry Barnett. Isaac parents were Shelton and Maria Anderson Barnett. According to the 1880 United States Federal Census, Shelton was born in 1820 in Virginia. In 1880 he was living in the 5th Ward, Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana. Both of his parents were born in Virginia. Shelton could read and write and was a farmer by occupation.

Living in the household with him and his wife were;  his son Isaac (23),  his daughter-in-law Susan (17), his grandsons Willie (2) and Ed Barnett (1/12). Shelton and Mariah was married on August 11, 1879 in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana.  According to the 1870 United States Federal Census, Shelton's personal estate valued at 100 dollars and his Real Estate valued at 400 dollars. Living in the house with his wife was their two sons; Isaac (13) and his John (16).

Isaac and Susie was the parents of: William, Anney, Isaac, Jr., John, Juley, Roday, Mary, and Martha. Please note that I spelled their names the way they spelled on the 1900 United States Federal Census.  On the 1920 United States Federal Census, three other children was born; George, Clyde and Oliver. Isaac could not read  or write. His home was free of a mortgage and his occupation was a farmer.

Larry and Janice were very excited to find documentation dating back to the 1800s about their ancestors. This was the very first time they had seen these types of documents. I invited them to the Amite Clerk's Office to teach them how to conduct genealogy research. Both of them were excited to find the records. They both understand the importance of genealogy. Following the duplication of the records, she gave them to me so that I could have them transcribed. The Barnett family are planning a large family reunion and they asked if I could present our findings.

Larry Holland Researching at the Amite Clerk's Office
Photo Credit: Dr. Antoinette Harrell