There were three generations of naval officers named Samuel Barron. Samuel Barron (1765-1810) served in Virginia State Navy, then became a captain in U. S. Navy when it was formed. He was commander-in-chief of a Mediterranean Squadron in the War with Tripoli. Samuel Barron (1808-1888) served as captain in U. S. Navy and as a flag officer of Confederate States Navy in command of the European Theater. Samuel Barron (1836-1892) was a lieutenant in the merchant marine before the Civil War and served as a clerk to his father during the Civil War.
Samuel Barron (1765-1810) was an officer in the United States Navy who served during the American Revolution, Quasi-War with France, and the First Barbary War. Barron studied at the College of William & Mary before serving in the Virginia State Navy during the American Revolution. Following the Revolution, he was a merchant captain before joining the United States Navy. He served in the Navy during the Quasi-War with France and the First Barbary War, attaining the rank of Commodore before returning to the United States due to poor health in 1805. After his return, he commanded the Gosport Shipyard in Virginia, but he never fully recovered his health and died in 1810. Barron's younger brother, James Barron, also attained the rank of Commodore. He was involved in the Chesapeake-Leopard Affair in 1807, which resulted in his court marshal for neglect of duty. He was also a participant in the duel which resulted in the death of Commodore Stephen Decatur in 1820.
Samuel Barron's son, Samuel Barron (1809-1888), was ordered to duty at the Gosport Shipyard at the age of six, making him the youngest person ever commissioned to active duty in the U.S. Navy. Barron sailed for the first time at age ten. He sailed in the Mediterranean, West Indies, West coast of Africa, and both coasts of South America. He also served during the Mexican-American War. Barron was made a lieutenant at age 18, and was promoted to captain in 1855. In 1861, Barron resigned his commission to join the Confederacy during the Civil War. He was tasked with building a navy, and helped procured ships and arms. In August 1861, he was captured by Union forces during an attack on Fort Hatteras. Barron was a prisoner until 1862, when he was exchanged. In 1863, Barron was made a commodore and sent to Europe as the senior Confederate Naval officer there. Following the war, he returned to Virginia and took up farming until his death in 1888.
His son, Samuel Barron (1836-1891), was also a Naval officer. He served as a liuetenant during the Civil War, and achieved the rank of captain by the end of his career.
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Barron Family Papers. Special Collections Research Center, William & Mary Libraries.
Samuel Barron Papers (II), Samuel Barron Papers (III), James Barron Papers (Mss. 65 B27), and James Barron Hope Papers (Mss. 65 H77), Special Collections Research Center, William & Mary Libraries.
The collection is arranged into 4 Series. Series 1-3 contain materials related to three generations of naval officera in the Barron family. Respectively, they are Samuel Barron (1765-1810), Samuel Barron (1809-1888), and Samuel Barron (1836-1891). Series 4 contains reference materials relating to the Barron family.
Papers and correspondence of three generations of Samuel Barrons, all of whom were involved in naval affairs. Papers, 1793-1809, of Samuel Barron (1765-1810), commander of one of the Mediterranean squadrons sent to defeat Tripoli. Papers concern naval business and the War with Tripoli. Includes correspondence with his brother James Barron, Stephen Decatur, William Eaton (concerning his controversy with Tobias Lear over the Tripolitan peace settlement), Tobias Lear, Edward Preble, John Rodgers, Robert Smith (Secretary of the Navy), and Thomas Truxton. Includes letters written by Preble and Rodgers on board the USS Constitution and letters concerning the capture of William Bainbridge and the seamen of the USS Philadelphia.
Collections includes manuscript volume, 1834-1847, of sea service of Samuel Barron (1808-1888) aboard ships in Carribbean and Mediterranean seas and includes a copy made by Samuel Barron (1836-1892) of an account by James Barron of his duel with Decatur. The volume also has genealogical material concerning the Barron family.
Papers of Samuel Barron (1808-1888) concern his service off South America and as an officer of Confederate States Navy in command of the European theater. Correspondents include Zebulon Baird Vance, Stephen R. Mallory and Raphael Semmes (giving an account of the engagement between the USS Kearsage and the CSS Alabama). There is a memoir by James Barron Hope in vindication of the censure of Samuel Barron for the loss of Fort Hatteras, N.C., and there are some papers relating to the service of Samuel Barron (1836-1892) as acting master and lieutenant in the Confederate States Navy.
Correspondents include James Barron; Miles King.
Correspondents include Thomas Truxton; S. Smith; Robert Smith; Lord N. Nissen; William Eaton.
Correspondents include Thomas Truxton; Robert Smith; Peter S. Ogilvie; George W. Spotswood.
Correspondents include William Hoepffner; Robert Smith; Daniel Brodie; Charles Jacobs; Edward O'Brien; A. Sinclair
Correspondents include Robert Smith; Thomas Jefferson.
Correspondents include Robert Smith; Tobias Lear; Edward Preble; Hugh G. Campbell; John Rodgers; George Cox.
Correspondents include George Cox; Henry le Gros; D. Murray; Josef Noguera; George Davis; J. H. Sturman; Edward Preble; William Rennock; James Simpson.
Scope and Contents Correspondents include Beaussier; Edward Preble; James Simpson; James Barron; Captain Chauncey; James Madison; Tobias Lear.
Correspondents include Beaussier; Edward Preble; James Barron; James Simpson; William Eaton; Lewis Hermann; John Rodgers; Gwinn Harris.
Scope and Contents Correspondents include Francis B. Whiting; Robert Smith; James Simpson; Richard Farquhar; Captain T. Robinson; Captain Hugh Campbell; B. Nevill; Tobias Lear.
Scope and Contents Correspondents include William Eaton; George Davis; Tobias Lear; Samuel Briggs; James Simpson; Captain Isaac Hull; Captain Stephen Decatur
Scope and Contents Correspondents include Tobias Lear; John Rodger; Captain Charles Stuart; Samuel Briggs; Captain Isaac Hull; James Simpson; William Eaton; Richard Farquhar
Scope and Contents Correspondents include James Simpson; Captain Charles Stewart; William Eaton; Richard Farquhar; Samuel Briggs; Captain Isaac Hull; Tobias Lear; Captain Stephen Decatur; George Davis; Hamouda Bascia, Bey of Tunis; George Guillichini; Captain John H. Dent; E. Missett
Scope and Contents Correspondents include Captain Charles Stewart; John Gordon; Captain Isaac Hull; Briggs Brothers; William Eaton; Charles Jones; James Simpson; Richard Farquhar; Robert Cutchins
Scope and Contents Correspondents include John Rodgers; E. Cutbush; Ahmed, Bacia Caramalli; George Dyson; Robert Smith; George Davis; Robert W. Goldsborough; Briggs Brothers; Captain Hugh Campbell; N.C. Nissen
Scope and Contents Correspondents include John Rodgers; George Davis; James Barron; Captain Hugh Campbell; Tobias Lear; Hamet Caramalli; Robert Smith; Captain Stephen Decatur; Captain George Cox; Franklin Wharton; James Simpson.
Scope and Contents Correspondents include John Rodgers; Robert Smith; John Stricker; Captain Hugh Campbell; Richard Farquhar; His Highness the Bashaw of Tripoli; Don Girarde Joseph de Souza; Charles L. Ridgley; George Davis; Captain Robinson; James Barron.
Scope and Contents Correspondents include Robert Smith; N.C. Nissen; John Rodgers; James Simpson; Captain Isaac Hull; Richard Farquhar; William Eaton; Captain Stephen Decatur.
Scope and Contents Correspondents include Briggs Brothers; George Davis; Tobias Lear; Gwinn Harris; William Eaton; Captain Isaac Hull; Robert Smith; Captain Robinson; the Bashaw Bey of Tunis.
Scope and Contents Correspondents include Charles Pinckney; R.W. Meade; Captain Stewart; Tobias Lear; George Davis; Charles L. Ridgely; John Rodgers.
Scope and Contents Correspondents include John Rodgers; Captain Hugh Campbell; Tobias Lear; William Eaton; George Davis; John Broadbent; Robert Smith.
Correspondents include Robert Smith; James Simpson; Richard Farquhar; Charles W. Goldsborough; Captain Hall.
Correspondents include Thomas Truxton; Joseph Clay; William Eaton; Charles W. Goldsborough; Robert Smith.
Scope and Contents Correspondents include John Cassin; Robert Smith; William Eaton; Captain Hall; J.C. Douglas; Miles Cary; Paul Hamilton.
Scope and Contents Hard cover notebook. pp. 1-147, "Private Record" kept by Comm. Samuel Barron III (1809-1888) in the years 1834-1837, while on the U.S. Schooner Enterprise, U.S. Frigate Natchez, Sloop of War Ontario, Man of War Delaware, and U.S. Brig. Perry, in U.S. waters, South American, and Mediterranean. Turned over, the book was used in reverse order. pp. R.1-R.12, quoted material; p. R.14, 1839, January 1, list of property and accounts; pp. R.15-R.34, account by James Barron II of his duel with S. Decatur, 1820; pp. R.35-R.51, genealogical material, written down from 1851-1932. Annotated by J.S. Barron, 1932.
Scope and Contents Life Insurance Policy on the life of Captain Samuel Barron; death notices of Commodore Samuel Barron; death notice of Mrs. E.R. Baird, daughter of Comm. Samuel Barron
Scope and Contents Correspondents include Gideon Welles; S.R. Mallory; J.W. Barry. Also includes "Letter Book" of Flag Officer S. Barron, containing 68 letters from 1861 July 26 - 1865 March 4.
Correspondents include John Low; Sir Philip Woodhous; Rawson Rawson; Walter Graham; S.R. Mallory; John M. Brooke; Charles M. Fauntleroy; Douglas F. Forrest.
Correspondents include H. J. Hartstern; S.R. Mallory; John M. Brooke; J.D. Bullock; Charles M. Fauntleroy; W.E. Evans.
Scope and Contents Correspondents include Lt. W.H. Murdaugh; Captain R. Semmes; S.R. Mallory; R.F. Armstrong
Scope and Contents Correspondents include Charles M. Fauntleroy; Captain R. Semmes; George S. Shryock.
Scope and Contents Correspondents include Charles M. Fauntleroy; L. de Vidiky; Captain C.M. Morris; A.J. de Siher Gomes; Richard Taylor; Jas. Dwyer.
Correspondents include James D. Bullock; C. Manigault Morris; C.H. Collin; George S. Shryock; Charles M. Fauntleroy; T.A. Miller.
Correspondents include James I. Waddell; J.R. Mallory; Dr. H.O. Gaudin; Thomas S. Page; unidentified.
Scope and Contents Donor and genealogical material including a chart of the Barron Family prepared by Sydney A. Temple, Jr.; "List of family papers to be lodged with the Library of William and Mary College, April, 1942"
Scope and Contents "History of the Norfolk Navy Yard." Includes material on the Barron family; "Brief Historical Sketch of the Peninsula" from the "Religious Herald" with information on the Barron family; "History of Hampton." Contains much information on the Barron family; The Southern Workman, XXXI, 7, pp. 369-412. Contains article "The Vikings of Virginia," pp. 393-397, with much information on the Barron family
Scope and Contents 50 newspaper clippings concerned with the Barrons, James Barron Hope, and Captain Decatur; Notice of the death of Mrs. Mary Barron Blake, daughter of Comm. James Barron.
Scope and Contents Material on the Barron family, part of which was taken from the bound volume in Series 2; "Barron Coat of Arms according to Burke's Armory and Heraldry"; Typed material collected for a study of the history of the Barron family; Typed material relating to the Norfolk Navy Yard.
Scope and Contents Copies of letters by Stephen Decatur, Jr. to Mrs. Barron and Alfred Miles regarding the duel between James Barron and Stephen Decatur; "One of Virginia's Famous Duels described by Commodore Barron," article in the "Norfolk Landmark"; Typed material including letters relating to the Barron-Decatur duel
Correspondents include A.C. Omohundro; J.S. Barron; Constance D. Lathrop; Comm. Alfred Miles; Ernest Spofford; Mrs. James S. Barron; Alma R. Lawrence; F.E. Turin; J.H. Chauvenet. Also includes photograph of Commodore James Barron from an engraving from a painting by Neagle.
Copies of letters by and related to Comm. James Barron.
Photographs of "signals to be observed by vessels under convoy of U.S. ship Baltimore under [Samuel Barron's] command." Originals in National Archives; Photographs and notes relating to scimitar given to Commodore Samuel Barron by the Emperor of Morocco.
Scope and Contents "Opinion of General Walter Jones and William L. Brent, Esquire," regarding "Commodore Barron's claim before the Navy Department"; 148 p. MsV; "Sons of the Revolution Magazing," X: 1, article titled "Commodore Barron of the Navy of Virginia," pp. 14-17; copies of letters by and related to Comm. Samuel Barron. 148 p. MsV contains: "a memoir drawn by James Barron Hope...in vindication of Flag-Officer Samuel Barron, C.S.N., who was unjustly censured for the loss of Fort Hatteras, N.C.," pp.1-17; "account of the memorable duel between Commodore Barron and Decatur...literally copied from an account written by Comm. Barron himself," pp. 18-42; various brief essays, pp. 48-60; copies of letters of Aaron Burr, pp. 61-81.
Correspondents include Mann S. Valentine; Sen. James Barron; Clair E. Crawford; J.S. Barron; John Weymouth; Mrs. James S. Barron. Also includes 5 mailing covers; Naval Examination, 8 pp.; Facsimile of the March 12, 1770 issue of the "Boston Gazette," announcing the Boston Massacre; various photocopied materials, 37 pp.