Samuel C. Barrett, Sr., was born in Cumberland Co., Pennsylvania, on February 21, 1758, by family history, although no objective proof of his place of birth or parents names has yet been found. [Fayette Co., PA, was not formed until 1785, and the area west of Cumberland Co., PA, was a wild, remote Indian wilderness in 1758.]

At the age of 18, Samuel enlisted in the Revolutionary War as a Private (in the Second Virginia Regular Line) at Shenandoah Co., Virginia, in the fall of 1776 for a term of 3 years. After his enlistment, he marched to Williamsburg, Virginia, under the command of Capt. Morgan Alexander where he stayed until the following spring of 1777. [Capt. Morgan Alexander's 7th Company was originally raised from Frederick Co., VA, in 11/1775.] The regiment then marched to Baltimore, Maryland, where his company was put on board ship to prevent the Tories from supplying the English with provisions. His regiment continued at sea for 5 or 6 weeks before they disembarked in the state of Maryland mid 1777. After they went ashore, the regiment marched to Philadelphia, PA, where their Captain, Morgan Alexander, resigned and was succeeded by Captain Marcus Calmes. [Capt. Marcus Calmes commanded the 5th Company fall 1778 to spring 1779.] From there they marched to the state of New Jersey not far from Amboy, N. J., where this regiment was taken into the Battle of Monmouth, N. J. {June 1778} at which place Capt. Marcus Calmes resigned [captured by the British in 1779] and was succeeded by Captain Thomas Catlett. [Capt. Lietenant Thomas Catlett commanded the Colonel's Company in 1779.] From there the company under Captain Catlett marched to White Plains, N. Y., where they encamped for some time. This regiment was involved in the taking of Stony Point, N. Y., under General Wayne in July, 1779. Folowing his 3 years service, Samuel was regularly discharged on the return of the Army from the north to the south in the state of Maryland. (Info above taken directly from Samuel's pension declaration dated August 20, 1832, pension # S 6590), [history of "The 2nd Virginia Regiment in the Revolutionary War"], and {Battles of the Revolutionary War}.

Less than a year after his discharge from the Revolutionary War, Samuel married Miss Mary Ellen
(Hanna) in 1780, probably in Maryland or Pennsylvania.

It is not yet certain where Samuel and Ellen lived during the early years of their marriage from 1780 to 1784. They most likely lived in Maryland panhandle, northwest Virginia, or Pennsylvania.
[Recent research has identified a Samuel Barrett in Washington Co., Maryland, in 8/1777, 12/1782, and 3/1784.]

On September 13, 1784, Samuel was granted a land warrent "Wolf Path" on Ten Mile Creek in Washington Co., PA., of 400 acres of land. On this same date, 400 acres of land was also granted to John Barrett and to Edward Barrett adjacent to Samuel's land. Samuel later deeded this tract of land to Robert Morris in 1786. This land that Samuel owned for about 2 years is located today in Jackson Township, Greene Co., Pennsylvania.

Samuel Barrett is listed on the tax lists for Fayette County (Springhill Twp.), Pennsylvania, for 1785, 1786, 1787, 1788, and 1789.

Samuel Barret and his family are listed on the 1790 Fayette County (Springhill Township), Pennsylvania, census with: 1 male 16+ (Samuel Sr.), 3 males under 16 (Jesse, Wm Sr, & John G.), 3 females (Rachel, Elizabeth, & wife-Mary Ellen).

Samuel Barrett is listed on the tax list for Fayette County (Wharton Twp.), Pensylvania, for 1796.

Samuel, Mary Ellen, and their family left Pennsylvania sometime after 1799. Their 10th child, Thomas Jefferson, was born in the territory of then Virginia [Wood Co., (W). Va.] in May, 1801.

Almost a year later, Samuel and Ellen appear on the land books of Wood County, (W.) Va., where they bought 10 1/4 acres of land on the south side of the Little Kanawha River about 2 miles southeast of Parkersburg, Wood Co., (W.) Va., from James Neal by a deed dated April 5, 1802, for $62. This land deed lists both parties being "of Wood County" on the above date. (Wood County deed book 1, page 178) [This marks the first permanent Barrett settlement in Wood County, W. Va.]

On April 2, 1803, Samuel Barrett bought additional 24 acres of land situated along the Little Kanawha River in Wood Co., (W.) Va., from Eli Wood & wife Elizabeth, both of Wood Co., for $250. (Wood County deed book 1, page 235-237)

On February 20, 1808, Samuel bought 50 1/2 acres of land including all houses, buildings, gardens, fences, etc. situated in Wood Co., (W.) Va., from Hugh Phelps for $250. (Wood County deed book 4, page 74)

Samuel Barret is listed on the 1810 Wood Co., (W.) Va., census with the following in his household:
1 male under age 10 (Thomas J.), 1 male age 10-15 (Caleb), 2 males age 16-25 (John G. & Samuel Jr.), 1 male age 45 & up (Samuel Sr), 1 female age 10-15 (Anna), 1 female age 26-44 (Elizabeth), 1 female age 45 & up (Mary Ellen)

On November 28, 1816, Samuel bought 34 acres of land on the Little Kanawha River from James H. Neal for $8. (Wood County deed book 5, page 229)

Samuel Barrett, Sr., is listed on the 1820 Wood Co., (W.) Va., census with the following in his household: 1 male 16-25 Caleb), 1 female under age 10 (?), 1 female 26-44 (Elizabeth), 1 female age 45 & up (Mary Ellen) (+ Samuel Sr. himself age 45 & up)

Samuel Barret is listed on the 1830 Wood Co., (W.) Va., census with the following in his household: 1 male age 20-29 Thomas J.), 1 male age 70-79 (Samuel Sr.), 1 female age 5-9 (?), 2 females age 15-19 (?), 1 female age 40-49 (Elizabeth), 1 female age 70-79 (Mary Ellen)

On February 15, 1834, Samuel bought a lot between Tavenner and Cairns' for $450. (Wood County deed book 9, page 54)

In addition to the land Samuel owned and lived on near Tavennersville, Tygart District, Wood Co., (W.) Va., he also owned at least 92 acres of land on Stillwell Creek at Stillwell, Clay District, Wood Co., (W.) Va., where his children located. On August 13, 1836, Samuel sold a tract of 92 acres of land on Stillwell Creek to his son, Caleb Barrett, for $90.

Samuel was allowed a pension for his service in the Revolutionary War. His application was executed on August 20, 1832, while a resident of Wood Co., (W.) Va. He received $200 for the period beginning March 4, 1831, and ending September 4, 1833.

Mary Ellen was a homemaker and the mother of 10 children. She died in Wood Co., (W.) Va., on August 20, 1834, at the age of about 74, and she is buried in Wood Co., W. Va., but there is no marker at her grave today.

Samuel died 4 years after the death of his wife in Wood Co., (W.) Va., on September 15, 1838, at the age of 80, and he is also buried in Wood Co., W. Va. (probably S. Parkersburg/ Stillwell area), but there is no marker at his grave today.

Samuel's will is recorded in Wood Co., (W.) Va. It was written on April 11, 1838, and lists the following heirs: beloved daughter Elizabeth Barrett, all real estate proceeds; son Jefferson Barrett, all land after death of Elizabeth; son William Barrett, $100; son Caleb Barrett, $100; Henry Lowers, $100 (husband of daughter Mary Barrett- see Wood County deed book 14, page 486); Samuel Barrett, $100; grandaughter Ann Vaughan, $50; $1 each to the children of my son John Barrett, deceased; $1 each
to the children of Patrick Caldwell; and $1 each to the children of my daughter Anna Vaughan, deceased. (Wood County will book 3, pgs. 341, 342)

Samuel's original Bible dated November 14, 1831, is in the possession of his 4 th great & 5 th great grandson, Michael Wayne Barrett, M.D., Florence, S.C.