It began with religous rebellion in England.  There were those who had faith that wished to practice as they wished following different teachings and ideas.

Once Catholic and stemming from Rome, England broke with Papal connection thanks to Henry VIII.  Once on it's way, a religeous fracturing continued leading to the Puritans.

They were persecuted for their beliefs that conflicted with the official Church of England.  Some had to flee to Holland.

Eventually, they gathered together with spiritual leadership and headed for the "New World".


One account follows.  There are different versions of such accounts leaving it to the serious historians to sort out the family connections.

“10 APRIL1634 was the momentous day when the HMS Elizabeth and the HMS Francis departed Ipswich, England bound for the new world.  The passenger lists of these ships is of record because those involved were obliged to make oaths of allegiance and even minors were recorded at the port of Ipswich.  On the ship Elizabeth, Master William Andrews, were John Barnard 30, Phebe Barnard 27, sons John 3, and Samuel 1, who became progenitors of the Watertown Barnard Line.  On the other ship, the Francis, were John Barnard 36, Mary Barnard 38.  These are the Barnards who with Francis Barnard, started the Deerfield line of Barnards in America.

Were these two Barnard families related?  No one knows.  The john and Phebe Barnard on the Elizabeth were the progenitors of the Watertown Barnards.  This John Barnard lived only until 1646, but in the meantime he became a freeman March 4, 1634.  In 1636 he became a proprietor and in the original division of Watertown got rights to much property.  He became a selectman in 1644 and was a member of the ancient and honorable artillery company from 1642.  John was a busy man, for during his twelve year period he fathered 6 more children.  Phebe, a widow in 1646 with 8 children 15 years and under, about 400 acres of land in a 16 year old colony, lived for 38 more years.  She allowed adoption, by love, to kinsman Ann Brown, of her son James.  The history of Phebe and her recorded inventory taken when she died in 1685 show that she had not only raised and held the family together, but still had the land intact under her name.  We, who are fortunate enough to share her blood, should be forever grateful for her valor and heroism.

William Asher Barnard – Edited 1996”  from Barnard Geneology on Facebook.