[miker5280]

I recently got a copy of a letter from my mother that was written by her grandfather or my great great grandfather John Barnes. He was born in Accrington in 1843 and christened at Church Parish Kirk.

John wrote:
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"Father, George Barnes was a Mill Wright by trade and when I was born he ran Church Hall Foundary, but failed in business and died when I was three years old. My fathers folks were Bleachers at Whitebirk, near Backburn. My father lived at Whitebirk also his father and my great great father George Barnes. My great grandfather died at Whitebirk at the age of 96 and was buried at St. James Church Accrington. His stone is near the Church door and my father and mother on the other side of the Church. My great great grandfather had a brother, Joseph Barnes who lived at Church Parish owner of several coal mines and a land owner in Clayton Le Moors and owner of Print Works there.

My mother was Elizabeth Foster and lived near Oakeushaw Print Works. My father and mother were the first couple married at All Saints Church, Clayton Le Moors"
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From my research it appears the John emigrated to Rhode Island in 1893. He died in 1927.

I would love to find out if I still have any distant relatives that are in the Accrington area and if the stones mentioned are still at St James Church. Any other information that anyone may have about this Barnes family would be greatly appreciated

Mike