Today, June 25th, is National Leon Day. Leon is Noel spelled backward. The day is a playful reminder that Christmas is only six months away. It is the day some crafters begin planning their homemade gifts and decorations. It can also be a day for those who miss the winter holidays to have a mini-winter celebration in June. Leon Day is a fun and whimsical observance that marks the halfway point to Christmas.

Leon Day seemed like the ideal day to write about my direct ancestors with the surname 🎄 Christmas!

The Christmas surname was given to someone born near or on Christmas, or someone who organized Christmas festivities. It’s also noted to be a translation of the French surname “Noel”. It was a descriptive surname, signifying a connection to the holiday. The name has roots in Middle English, stemming from Cristes Maesse, which translates to Christ’s Mass. Early records of the name, like John Crystmasse in 1433, confirm its use in England, particularly in the south.

My 12th great-grandparents are John Christmas and Agnes Border. Their marriage record is found in the church records of St. Mary’s in Worplesdon, Surrey, England. They married on 30 January 1574.

I have been unable to locate the baptism record of John Christmas. He is listed as the oldest son in the will of Thomas Christmas. His father, Thomas Christmas, was the son of Henry Christmas and Julia ____. Thomas Christmas was married on 28 January 1576 in Worplesdon, Surrey, England to Joan Inwood. It appears that at least some, if not all, of Thomas’ children were via an earlier marriage to an unknown named wife. His marriage to Joan Inwood was far too late for her to be the mother of his children.

Will of Thomas Christmas:

Dated: 9 Mar 1587/8. Proved: 19 Mar 1587/8.

I, Thomas Christmas, the elder, Clothier of Worplesdon, Surrey:

Beneficiaries :

Wife Johane [Joan] Christmas (Her belongings at marriage, £15). Oldest son John Christmas (£100, to be repaid if he dies before his wife). Sons Thomas Christmas (£50), William Christmas (£50), son in law John Elliott (plus £100 in tail to son John). Godson Thomas Christmas (£20), John his brother (40s). Daughter Johane Elliott (Household items). Godson Thomas Elliott and brother John Elliott (40s ea). Brothers in law Richard Ynowde, William Ynowde (20s ea) Arnold Ynowde (20s). Sister-in-law Johane Ynowde (10s) John Ynowde (10s).

Also Mentioned: To be buried in Worplesdowne. The poor of the parish. Richard Pattfowlde. Godchildren.

Overseers: Friend John Cutler pardon of Worplesdowne, Eldest son John Christmas, Harry Martyne, Francis Hounte.

Executors: Son Thomas Christmas.

Witnesses: John Christmas, Heniri Martyn, Francisei Hounte.

The surname Ynwode was later rendered Inwood.

Thomas Christmas lived in Perryhill (Worplesdon), Surrey.

From his will, we learn that he was a clothier. Clothiers in Tudor times were generally considered part of the merchant class. Tudor society was structured hierarchically, and citizens or burgesses, which included merchants and officials in cities, were considered a distinct social group, often possessing enough wealth to own property and employ servants. 

The cloth trade in Tudor England was extremely important and involved workers from different sections of society. Merchants dealt in the import and export of raw materials and finished products and generally could be very wealthy men. Laborers were paid by merchants to carry out the various stages of cloth production.

John Christmas, his wife, Alice Border, his father, Thomas Christmas, and his grandparents, Henry Christmas and Julia, are all buried in St. Mary the Virgin Churchyard in Worplesdon, Surrey, England.

John Christmas, in addition to being listed as a beneficiary in his father Thomas Christmas’ will, is also listed as a beneficiary in the will of his brother Robert Christmas in 1584.

Worplesdon is a village 3.1 miles (5.0 km) NNW of Guildford in Surrey, England and is about 40 miles (64 km) from London, England.

Shown above is a record of Worplesdon from 1542/1543. As you can see, my ancestors and related family, Thomas Crystmas (Christmas), Johe (John) Crystmas (Christmas), and Henrico (Henry) Christmas are listed in the document.

My next ancestor is Richard “Rich” Christmas, the son of Thomas Christmas and Agnes Border. He was baptized 6 December 1590 at St. Mary’s Church in Guildford, Surrey, England. The distance between Guildford and Worplesdon is 3.1 miles (5.0 km).

Richard Christmas was a merchant in London, England.

I need to discuss here that many people have confused Dictoris William Christmas and Richard “Rich” Christmas, both of Colonial Virginia.

There was a Dictoris Christmas. The Virginia Historical Magazine notes his name as Dictoris William Christmas. In Runwell, Essex, England, records show Dictoris Christmas arrested for sheep stealing, the stealing of three sheep from Simon Ryme, in 1618. Some say imprisoned and others say released as not guilty. In the 1620’s he is seen in the Virginia records. This would establish that Dictoris was probably born in the Essex area. He moved from there to the Virginia Colony by 1623.

The 1623-1666 `List of Living & Dead, Ships Passenger Lists, Elizabeth City, Virginia at the Eastern Shore’ shows on page 31 Dictoras Chrismus and Elizabeth Chrismus.

THE WILL OF Dictoris Christmas:

In the name of God Amen 20 October 1654. I Dictoris Christmas of the
New Poquoson being weak of body but of perfect mind and memory Praise be
given to God do ordain and make this my last Will and Testament in form
following:

First principally I do commit my soul with the hands of the Lord and my
body to the earth from whence it came lasting and steadfastly believing
the happy salvation of both the same my soul with the hands of the Lord
and my body to the earth from whence it came lasting and steadfastly
believing the happy salvation of both the same my soul and body in the
latter day by the free gift of God through merits of the death and
passing of that immaculate Lamb Christ Jesus my only Lord, Redeemer,
Laudifier, and Savior and by no otherwise or means whatsoever.

ITEM: I give and bequeath unto my Maid Rebecca one cow calf to be
delivered within 3 months after my decease and to my man Robert one cow
calf to be delivered as aforesaid and also give unto Nicholas servant to
Peter Starkey cow calf to be delivered aforesaid. And also I give unto
Rebecca one goose of her favor or a cow to be delivered at the
appropriation of her time which pleaseth them.

ITEM: I give to my loving friend Peter Starkey all my land, housing,
chattel and chattels movable and immovable after my wife’s decease.
Peter Starkey employing my servants as formally he hath done and also I
make my wife whole executor of all of my estate also I do make Peter
Starkey and Henry Freeman overseer of this my last will and testament.
In witness I have hereunto set my hand and seal the said day and year
above written.

Dictoris W. CHRISTMAS {SEAL}
Alexander Shipworth
Robert Ffoukes

As you can see by reading the will, he lists no children or close kin other than his wife. He leaves items to his maid Rebecca, “my man” Robert, Nicholas – servant to Peter Sharkey, and he leaves all his land, housing, chattels, movable and immovable, after his wife’s decease, to his loving friend Peter Starkey. He lists no children or other heirs. His name is listed as Dictoris W. Christmas. The name of his wife is not listed, and it is thought that Elizabeth Christmas, found in Ships Passenger Lists of Elizabeth City, Virginia at the Eastern Shore, was actually the wife of a younger man named Victoris Christmas.

Many people try to merge Dictoris W. Christmas with Richard “Rich” Christmas into the same person. This is incorrect. Dictoris W. Christmas was from near Runwell, Essex, England. Richard “Rich” Christmas was baptized in Guildford, Surrey, England. The distance between Runwell and Guildford is 76.6 miles (123.3 km). They were from two different Christmas families found in different areas of southern England, both ending up in Colonial Virginia.

Because of this confusion, some list Elizabeth as the wife of Richard Christmas, sometimes giving her name as Isabel, or even Mary. The name of the wife of Richard Christmas is unknown and unproven. I have been unable to locate the will of Richard Christmas. Rich Christmas is listed in transportation records to Virginia in 1634 and 1637. But we know that my ancestor, Goodman Christmas, was the son of Richard Christmas.

A bit of information about the word Goodman. Goodman was a polite term of address in England (and Colonial America), similar to Mr. today, and equal to Goodwife for females. It was not a proper first name. I believe his birth name was John. I located the baptism record for John Christmas, baptized 28 February 1629 in Worpledon, Surrey, England, the son of Richard Christmas. Richard Christmas had a brother named John, and his grandfather was John Christmas, so Goodman John Christmas was named after his great-grandfather and his uncle. In many family trees, people list Goodman John Christmas with the additional name of Gad.

There are a few occurrences of him being listed as Gad:

13 October 1653: Gad Christmas witnesses land deed of John Withers upon Potomak, County of Westmoreland. VA Land Records in NC, page 734.

11 April 1666: Gad Christmas: Subpoenaed to court by Thomas Atkinson in Stafford Co, VA & paid 40lbs tobacco. Order book, Stafford Co 1664-1668 & 1689-1690, page 26.

Gad is a name of Hebrew origin. It was a very uncommon first name in England at the time of his birth. It does have Biblical connections, but it was not widely used as first name in England. It was a little more common as a surname and often was a Jewish surname. It can be a nickname for the first name Gadiel, but as with Gad, it was a very uncommon first name in England.

Some also attach a Gad baptism record to him that is incorrect. This baptism record is found more than a century after his birth. There is a baptism record for a Gad on 15 October 1768 at All Saints and Hatchford, St. Matthew, Surrey, England. This baptism record is for Anna Maria Gad, daughter of Rich Gad and Elizabeth. So, it’s not the correct century, it’s a female, and the surname is Gad, not Christmas. Also, this baptism record is partly why some have incorrectly given Richard Christmas’ wife’s name as Elizabeth. There are zero baptism records in England with the first names Gad or Gadiel and the surname Christmas.

I have been unable to view the actual records that list him as Gad. I wonder if it was instead an abbreviation of Goodman and was incorrectly read as Gad.

According to a letter written by George Mason of Gunston Hall in 1787, the Christmas family had a settlement and a three-life-lease (99 years) at Oyster Shell Landing on the south side of Poluck [Pohick] Creek in Stafford County, Virginia. This part of Stafford County became Fairfax County, Virginia in 1742. Goodman Christmas lived in York County, Virginia; as of 1666, he lived in Stafford County, Virginia.

As stated above, Goodman John “Gad” Christmas was baptized as John Christemas on 28 February 1629 in Worpledon, Surrey, England, as the son of Richard Christemas. He lived in York and Stafford Counties in Virginia. His residence was on the south side of Poluck [Pohick] Creek, which at the time was in Stafford County, Virginia, but later became part of Fairfax County, Virginia. It is thought that he died in 1708 in Stafford County, Virginia.

The name of the wife of Goodman Christmas is unproven. Some list him as marrying Ann (___) Duke. I have seen no documentation to prove this was the name of his wife. It was his grandson, Thomas Cross Christmas, that married Annie Duke.

Goodman Christmas had at least one child, my ancestor, Charles Christmas.

Charles Christmas was born about 1650 in Stafford County, Virginia and died after 1705 in Stafford County, Virginia. He married Mary Cross. The parentage of Mary Cross is unproven.

My next ancestor is Thomas Cross Christmas, the son of Charles Christmas and Mary Cross. He was born 16 October 1689 in Pohick, Stafford County, Virginia, and died 29 December 1769 in St. Martin’s Parish, Hanover County, Virginia. He married Annie Duke. I have Christmas DNA matches to the descendants of the siblings of my ancestor, Thomas Cross Christmas — other children of Charles Christmas and Mary Cross.

Annie Duke was the daughter of John Duke II and Bridget ____. John Duke II was the son of John Duke, Sr. and Elizabeth _____. The maiden name of Elizabeth is unproven. She married firstly to John King, secondly to John Duke, Sr. and thirdly to Robert Mercer.

Annie (Duke) Christmas and her father, John Duke, II, have been proven through yDNA studies at FamilyTreeDNA to be part of group 2, aka, the Isle of Wight County, Virginia, Duke Family, not the Henrico County, Virginia, Duke Family as previous published documents showed. As of 19 August 2020, the earliest known Isle of Wight County, Virginia Duke ancestor established is John Duke, Sr.

John Duke (Sr.) is the first provable member of the Isle of Wight County, Virginia, Duke family, although it is very likely that he is actually the second generation. Property records from Chuckatuck, Isle of Wight, Virginia (then Nansemond County) show on 21 April 1665, Jeremiah “Jeremy” Rutter received a Land Grant of 300 acres. John Duke bought 50 acres from J. Rutter a short time later as John Duke was mentioned as living adjacent to J. Rutter in 1667.

There is some anecdotal evidence that indicates that John Duke, Sr.’s father could be an immigrant from England named William Duke that died in Isle of Wight County, Virginia. While unproven, it is plausible that William Duke was the father of the John Duke, Sr. who was born in Isle of Wight around 1640. If true, he may have still been living in 1679, when he appears as a witness on a land transaction for William Boddie, who later sold land to John’s son John Duke II.

The Isle of Wight County Virginia, Duke family followed a path to Brunswick County, Virginia, and subsequently to Northampton and Orange County, North Carolina.

Children of Thomas Cross Christmas and Annie Duke:

1. Agnes Christmas was born 1 January 1715 in Hanover County, Virginia, and died 9 December 1768 in Louisa County, Virginia. She married on 21 March 1733 in Hanover County, Virginia, to James Whitlock, III. (I have DNA matches to their descendants).
2. Sarah Ann Christmas was born about 1718 in Virginia, and died 8 December 1771 in Hanover County, Virginia. She married Benjamin Saunders. (I have a DNA match to their descendants).
3. Capt. John Christmas, Sr. was born about 1720 in Hanover County, Virginia, and died in 1763 in Orange County, North Carolina. He married Mary Graves. (I have DNA matches to their descendants). (The direct ancestors of my family in Missouri).
4. Elizabeth Christmas was born about 1721 in Hanover County, Virginia, and she died in September 1799 in Jefferson County, Georgia. She married Thomas Paulett. (I have DNA matches to their descendants).
5. Catherine “Katy” Christmas was born about 1723 in Hanover County, Virginia, and died about 1769 in Hanover County, Virginia. She married John Higgason. (I have a DNA match to their descendants).
6. Rachel Ann Christmas was born about 1725 in Hanover County, Virginia. She married David Chisholm. (I have a DNA match to their descendants).
7. Thomas Christmas II was born about 1727 in Hanover County, Virginia, and died 9 December 1768 in North Carolina. He married Temperance Whitlock. (My direct ancestors).

The youngest child above, Thomas Christmas II, and his wife, Temperance Whitlock, are my direct ancestors. Temperance Whitlock was the daughter of James Whitlock and Frances ____.

The direct ancestor of my Missouri family is Capt. John Christmas, and his wife Mary Graves. He was an older brother of my direct ancestor Thomas Christmas II.

Side note: My McLemore cousins that share Fay/Doughty ancestors with me, descend twice from Thomas Cross Christmas and Annie Duke. They descend from Thomas Christmas II and Temperance Whitlock, as well as descending from Capt. John Christmas and Mary Graves.

Will of THOMAS CHRISTMAS (Thomas Cross Christmas):

Will: Thomas Christmas of St. Martins Parish, Hanover Co., VA. 29, Dec. 1768. Recorded Hanover Co., VA Sep 7, 1769. Attested copy records Bute Co., NC, Feb. court 1770.

In the name of God Amen. I Thomas Christmas of the Parish of St. Martins in the County of Hanover, being sick and weak of body, but of perfect mind and memory. thanks be given to Almighty God for the same and calling to mind the uncertainty of this vanishing life and being willing to settle my worldly affairs in order, do make this my last will and testament in manner and form following.

I command my soul to God who gave it hoping thru death and merits of Jesus Christ my Savior to be made Partaker of the never fading joys of Immortality at the day of Resurrection and as for what temporal Estate it has pleased God to bestow upon me I give and bequeath the same In manner and form fo11owing, that is to say,

First: I give and bequeath unto my son John Christmas and to him and heirs and assigns forever, one feather bed and furniture, my riding chair and harness one horse names Shaven, also five Negroes (Viz.) Old Peter, Charles, Young Peter, Young Harry and Milly;

Item: I give and bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth Paulett to her and to her heirs and assigns forever, one feather bed and furniture, and eight Negroes (Viz.) Matt, Louise, Fanny and her two girls, Jenny and Morning and one boy Stephen, Old Beck and her child Beck;

Item: I give and bequeath unto my daughter Caty Higgason to her and to her heirs and assigns forever, one feather bed and furniture; also six Negroes (Viz.) Quon, Will, Old Ned, Moses, Rachel and Nan; also all the land I hold on the North side of the road being Part of the track I Purchased of James Flannakin, and also thirty Pounds current money;

Item: I give and bequeath unto my daughter Rachel Chrisholm to her and her heirs and assigns forever, one feather bed and furniture, also eight Negroes (Viz.) Old Harry, Young Ned, Robin, Lucy and her two children, Betty & Rachel also Lidy and Betty.

Item: I give and bequeath unto the children of my son Thomas Christmas, deceased, (Viz.) John, Mary, Thomas, Richard and William Christmas to be equally divided between them and their heirs and assigns forever, at the time William Christmas, the younger shall arrive to the age of sixteen years of age, Six negroes (Viz.) Tom, Dick, Blackman, Moll, Judah and Patt, also three stock of cattle, sheep and working tools which Is now in the Possession of Temperance Christmas, widow of my son Thomas Christmas;

Item: It is my will and desire and accordingly order It so that the estate so as above given to my Grandchildren be immediately after my decease taken in the hands and under the management of my son, John Christmas and his son, Thomas Christmas and by them be divided accordingly as above directed, sooner if they think proper.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my six grandchildren (Viz.) Charles Whitlock, James Whitlock, Mary Jones, Anne Austine, Thomas Whitlock and Nathaniel Whitlock, to them and to their heirs, assigns forever ten pounds current money each.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my five grandchildren (Viz.) John Sanders, Elizabeth Sims, Nancy Sanders, Mary Sanders and Reitta Sanders, to them and to their heirs, assigns forever ten pounds current money each.

Item: I give and bequeath unto John Christmas, son of Elizabeth Paulett, to him and to their heirs, assigns forever twenty pounds current money;

Item: I desire all that tract, parcel of land and plantation whereon I now live, lying on the South side of the road together with all the rest and residue of my Estate of what nature or quality so ever may be sold to the best advantage by my Executors hereafter mentioned and the money arising by such sale to go in discharge of the above Legacies given by me in current money and the over plus to be equally divided between my four children (Viz.) John Christmas, Elizabeth Paulett, Caty Higgason, Rachel Chrisholm, and the children of my son, Thomas Christmas, deceased, who are to be entitled to one fifth part amongst them share and share alike.

Item: It is my will and desire that my estate be not appraised, And lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint my son, John Christmas and John Higgason Executors of this my Last Will and Testament hereby revoking and making void and null all former will or wills heretofore made Confirming this and no other to be my Last Will and Testament. In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this the ninth day of December One thousand seven hundred and sixty-eight.

Thomas Christmas [by Mark] [Seal]

Sealed and delivered in the presence of David Anderson, Richard Higgason & John Higgason.

Hanover Co., VA. Sept. 7, 1769. The Last Will and Testament of Thomas Christmas, deceased was offered to proof by John Christmas and John Higgason, the Executors therein named and was proved by the Oath of David Anderson, Richard Higgason and John Higgason the witnesses thereto, and also by Oath of the said Executors, and Ordered to be Recorded. Test: William Pollard C.H.C

As stated above, my line is via the youngest son, Thomas Christmas, II and his wife, Temperance Whitlock. They are my direct ancestors.

My family in Missouri, which share Christmas ancestors with me, are descended from the son Capt. John Christmas, Sr. and his wife Mary Graves. John was a large landowner and captain of the Granville County, North Carolina, militia in 1763. John acquired about ten thousand acres of land in Orange County, North Carolina, and moved there in 1777. In 1778, John received 450 acres on the waters of Little Creek, Orange County, North Carolina. On 9 September 1779, John was issued 117 acres in Warren County, North Carolina, on the waters of Sandy Creek at Nichol’s line. John died in 1783 in Orange County, North Carolina, having lived to see his five oldest sons serve as officers during the American Revolutionary War.

The direct line of ancestors of my family in Missouri, taking the Christmas line as far back to our earliest proven Christmas ancestor:

1. Henry Christmas and Julia ____.
2. Thomas Christmas.
3. John Christmas and Agnes Border.
4. Richard “Rich” Christmas.
5. Goodman John Christmas.
6. Charles Christmas and Mary Cross.
7. Thomas Cross Christmas and Annie Duke.
8. Capt. John Christmas, Sr. and Mary Graves.
9. James Christmas and Elizabeth “Betsy” Courtney.
10. Frances Moore “Fanny” Christmas and Lewis Willis Wilhoite.
11. Elizabeth M. “Eliza” Wilhoit (pictured above) and William Michael Ellis.
12. Eliza Jane Ellis and Benjamin Franklin McElwain.
13. Eliza Adella Jane McElwain and Matthew Wilson Dugan.
14. David Gay Dugan and Hester E. Singleton.
15. Dolores Evonne “Evonne” Dugan and Jack Joe Stevens.

Back to my direct line of ancestors, Thomas Christmas II and Temperance Whitlock.

Thomas Christmas’ will was recorded on 16 November 1768 in Bute County, North Carolina. His executor in Hanover County, Virginia, was John Christmas. His executrix, his wife, Temperance Christmas, posted bond on 16 February 1770, before Benjamin McCulloch, C. C., with Nathan Peebles and Thomas Christmas as security. On 17 February 1770 Temperance returned an estate inventory, and the estate was ordered to be sold by the sheriff. In May 1770, an account of the estate sales was made by Thomas Bridges, Deputy Sheriff.

Temperance Whitlock Christmas’ father, James Whitlock, bequeathed enslaved laborers to Temperance and her mother and sisters. Her father’s probate was in 1736 in Hanover County, Virginia.

Children of Thomas Christmas II and Temperance Whitlock:

1. John Christmas was born about 1748 in Hanover County, Virginia, and died 29 April 1781 in Warren County, North Carolina. After his father’s death in 1768, John was bound out on 15 November 1769 in Bute County, North Carolina, as an apprentice to Reuben Piles for four years. He was to learn carpentry and house joinery.
2. Thomas Christmas (III) was born about 1749 in Warren County, North Carolina, and died about 1810 in North Carolina. He married Mary Ann Horn.
3. Mary Christmas was born about 1751 in St. Martins Parish, Hanover County, Virginia, and died in 1819 in Clark County, Indiana. She married about 1767 in North Carolina, to George Barnes. (My direct ancestors). Mary Christmas, along with her siblings and mother, are listed in the will of her grandfather Thomas Christmas.
4. Richard Christmas was born 4 January 1764 in Warren County, North Carolina, and died 22 September 1847 in Midland, Muscogee County, Georgia. He married first to Ann Butler, and second to Molley Robinson. (I have DNA matches to their descendants).
5. William Christmas was born in 1766 in Bridal Creek, Warren County, North Carolina, and died after 1840 in Indiana. He married on 23 May 1790 in Warren County, North Carolina, to Elizabeth Ford Jenkins. (I have several DNA matches to their descendants).

At this point, we lose the Christmas surname, and it becomes Barnes. Mary Christmas, the daughter of Thomas Christmas II and Temperance Whitlock, married George Barnes about 1767 in North Carolina. The parentage of George Barnes is unproven; I continue my research on his family and looking to DNA for some proof of his parentage and family roots.

I need to discuss here that some list Elizabeth Barnes McGuire as the daughter of Brinsley Barnes and Isabella Teague and sometimes try to give him the name Brinsley George Barnes. He was never listed in any record with the name George. We know for sure that Elizabeth was the daughter of George Barnes due to her marriage and other records. Brinsley Barnes and Isbella Teague did have a daughter named Elizabeth Barnes, but she married George Snow. My ancestor was not the daughter of Brinsley Barnes and Isabella Teague.

Others list her as the daughter of George Barnes and Doritje Van der Beek. This George Barnes married Doritje Van der Beek on 12 November 1766 in New York. He died in Richmond, Staten Island, New York in 1821, Doritje was born in Richmond, New York, and died there. This couple NEVER lived in Kentucky or the Carolinas. My ancestor, Elizabeth Barnes McGuire, was not the daughter of this George Barnes of New York.

My ancestor, Elizabeth Barnes McGuire, was the daughter of George Barnes and Mary Christmas.

Children of George Barnes and Mary Christmas:

1. Elizabeth Barnes was born 18 July 1768 in North Carolina, and died 12 March 1836 in Sellersburg, Clark County, Indiana. She married Francis Marion “Frank” McGuire on 12/20 October 1789 in Bourbon County, Kentucky. They were married by Rev. Andrew McClure. (My direct ancestors).
2. John Barnes was born about 1772 in North Carolina. He is found living in Bourbon County, Kentucky in the 1800 census. He married Jenny Campbell on 31 May 1797 in Bourbon County, Kentucky.
3. George Barnes was born about 1774 in North Carolina. He is found living in Clark County, Indiana in 1807, 1809, and 1810, and in Charlestown, Clark, Indiana in the 1820 census. Name of his wife is unknown. He had several children, including Mary Barnes who married Hollister H. Burr on 17 February 1837 in Clark County, Indiana.
4. Mary Barnes was born about 1780 in North Carolina. She moved with her family to Kentucky. Nothing more is known about her, she may have died as a child.
5. Temperance Barnes was born about 1785 in Bourbon County, Kentucky and died there before 1793.
6. Nancy Barnes was born about 1795 in Kentucky. She married John Fleeharty on 9 May 1820 in Clark County, Indiana.
7. Cassandra Barnes was born about 1798 in Kentucky and died before 1850. She married John F. Demar on 1 December 1824 in Clark County, Indiana.

I believe that the following two men are also probable children of George Barnes and Mary Christmas: Robert Barnes and David Barnes.

Some link Robert Barnes to a Cumberland County, Pennsylvania church record. But also link him as the son of a Thomas Barnes and Gizell ____, but with no records or DNA to back up this parentage.

They also link David Barnes to a Pennsylvania church record. They list him as a son of John Barnes, born in England and married about 1768 in Frederick County, Virginia to Hannah Cartmell, the family, much later, migrated to Licking County, Ohio. John Barnes served in the Revolutionary War supposedly both in Virginia and Ohio. They also link him as being in the War of 1812, but he was in his 70s by then. David Barnes did fight in the War of 1812. I do not find that this John Barnes ever lived in Pennsylvania or Kentucky.

1. Robert Barnes about 1771. He married Hannah Summers on 28 May 1800 in Bourbon County, Kentucky. They have him as the person in a church confirmation record of 1789 in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. They have him as the Robert Barnes that petitioned to build a gristmill on the south fork of Licking River (in what would become Licking County, Ohio) in May 1799, but he married in Bourbon County, Kentucky and is found living there in 1800. I believe it’s two different men named Robert Barnes.
2. David Barnes born about 1770. He married Rhoda Dove about 1791 in Kentucky. He is found in the Clark County, Indiana records for 1810 and 1812, and served in the War of 1812 out of Clark County, Indiana. By 1820, he is living in Jennings County, Indiana.

My direct ancestors, taking the Christmas line as far back as our earliest proven Christmas ancestor:

1. Henry Christmas and Julia ____.
2. Thomas Christmas.
3. John Christmas and Agnes Border.
4. Richard “Rich” Christmas.
5. Goodman John Christmas.
6. Charles Christmas and Mary Cross.
7. Thomas Cross Christmas and Annie Duke.
8. Thomas Christmas II and Temperance Whitlock.
9. Mary Christmas and George Barnes.
10. Elizabeth Barnes and Francis Marion “Frank” McGuire.
11. Mary Jane “Jane” McGuire and Rev. John M. Doty/Doughty.
12. McGuire Doughty and Mary Ann Gooden.
13. John Lewis Doughty and Cynthia Ann Barrett.
14. Mary Adalaide “Mame” Doughty and James Francis Fay. (My great-grandparents).

I have numerous Christmas DNA matches. I have listed some of those connections in my above writings. One of my Christmas DNA matches lives in Australia. Her parents were both born in England and migrated to Australia as adults. Her Christmas ancestors are from Cranleigh and Elstead, Surrey, England, which are 7.7 and 9 miles from Guildford and Worplesdon. If you take her Christmas lines back far enough, they intersect with mine.

If you use any information from my blog posts as a reference or source, please give credit and provide a link back to my work that you are referencing. Unless otherwise noted, my work is © Anna A. Kasper 2011-2026. All rights reserved. Thank you.