The Barnum Family, 1350-1907 confuses Captain John Barnum with his own grandson, leaving out two generations and showing him as the father of his great-grandchildren.
John died intestate and a number of divisions occurred regarding his estate:
His inventory was recorded on 5 December 1757 in Danbury.
On 4 April 1758 widow Ruth Barnum was named, and was called “mother-in-law”, which apparently meant step-mother. In addition, John’s children were named, as follows: Richard Barnum, eldest son; Mary Wilkes, wife of Matthew Wilkes; Elizabeth Knapp, wife of James Knapp; Sarah.
On 14 October 1760 widow Ruth Barnum was shown as remarried, the wife of John Knapp.
On 30 March 1764 Ruth Barnum Knapp was shown as deceased. John’s children were named again. This time Sarah was called the youngest daughter and was married to John Wilkes, Jr.