2.1.5 John Frederick Barnett

John Frederick Barnett was the fifth child of Thomas Barnett and Caroline Bassigny. He was their second son and their second surviving child. He was born in Shiplake, Oxfordshire, in 1818 and was baptised on April 7 of that year, also at Shiplake.

Shiplake Parish Church

At the time of the 1841 census, John was living at Bromsden Farm, Bix, Oxfordshire, with his brother Thomas and sisters Emily and Harriet. His age was given as 22 and his occupation was farmer.

John married Mary Jane Swallow on January 22, 1843 at St Mary Newington, Surrey, after the calling of banns. Both were of full age, single and their residence was given as Charlotte Row. John's father was Thomas, a farmer. Mary's father, John Swallow, was deceased. The witnesses to the marriage were John Dreweatt and Sarah Ann Dreweatt. These are most likely the children of Mary Jane's older sister, Sarah Ann. [Elizabeth, the sister of John and Sarah Ann Dreweatt, married Daniel Barnett a cousin of John Frederick.]

By the time of the 1851 census, John was farming at Fawley in Buckinghamshire. He was working 110 acres and employing 3 labourers.

The 1881 census shows John visiting Arthur Bradford and his wife Emily [John’s sister] at Sunnyside, Wandsworth, Surrey. His age is given as 60 and his occupation is retired farmer. He was a widower.

The 1891 census recorded him at the old rectory, Wexham, Bucks. His occupation was given as farm bailiff.

In 1901 John was listed as a servant, gardener domestic, to Ellen Moore at Stanley House, Clewer Within, Berkshire. He was 85 years old.

John died at the age of 93 in 1907.

Mary Jane Swallow was born in Bix, Oxfordshire, according to the 1851 and 1861 census. Her parents were John Swallow and Jane Ann Wells. Jane was John Swallow's second wife and Mary Jane was the first child of this union. She was born on October 20, 1810. She was baptised on April 5, 1811 at St Mary's Henley. She died in 1879 at the age of 67 (according to the burial entry) and her burial is recorded in the register for St Mary’s, Henley-upon-Thames, Oxfordshire as having taken place on May 23, 1879.