Joseph George BARKLEY

                   OCCUPATION:
    Minister, Pastor of Peachtree Baptist Church, Spring Hope, NC (1860)

Notes by Michael Barkley:
Nash County, North Carolina Vital Records Abstracts Nash County, North Carolina Vital Records Abstracts Name:Barkley, Joseph G. Marriage Place:Nash co., NC Spouse:Lavinia Children:Edward, others Death Date:Spring 1894 RESIDENCE:Nash co., NC Source Information: Herrin, Cynthia. Nash County, North Carolina Vital Records Abstracts [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2000. Original data:Families of Early North Carolina. 1909. Description: Abstracts to vital records which appeared in a Nash County history in 1909.

--------Deborah Gammon's Notes---------
Joseph George Barkley is the son of Rhodes Barkley and Elizabeth Peebles. He was born on 20 Feb 1809 in Northhampton Co. NC [18]. Census 1840 in Northampton co., NC 1M<5, 2M5-10, 1M10-15, 1M30-40, 1F5-10, 1F20-30. Religion 1850 (Baptist). Slave Schedule on 01 Aug 1850 in Joseph G. Barkley ahs 7 slaves, 4 females, 3 males.. Occupation on 02 Jun 1860 (Pastor of Peachtree Baptist Church, Spring Hope, NC). Will on 02 Jul 1889 in Nash, North Carolina, USA. He died on 16 Apr 1896 in Nash, North Carolina, USA. Obituary on 06 May 1896 in Biblical Recorder page 5.. Burial in Barkley Cemetery, South Whitakers Township SR 1533 across from
Joe Ellen house. Stone has been removed as of summer of 2000. This is a felony, but Sheriff will not investigate..

Notes for Joseph George Barkley:
General Notes:
On the July 18th, 1860 Census, Joseph G. Barkley and wife, Levenia and sons, James H., Jno R. are family # 1029 in the Arrington District of Nash Co., Battleboro, NC., real estate value was $2,000 and personal estate was valued at $3,640. This census also includes a "slave schedule". Joseph Barkley had 4 slaves with one slave house.

On the July 4th, 1870 Census, J. G. Barkley age 61 and wife, Levenia, 57 are living in the Liberty Township of Nash Co., Nashville, NC.

Peachtree Missionary Baptist Church may be the oldest Missionary Baptist Church in Nash Co., NC. The minutes of the church, originally called Moses Meeting House, show that the church was well established by 1809. It was moved to its present site at Peachtree Grove in 1813. It is located 3 miles north of Spring Hope on Hwy. 581. In 1856, a new church was built for $700. This building was torn down and replaced in 1910. That building was destroyed by fire in 1919. It was rebuilt in 1920 and then replaced by the present brick structure in 1957. See below of news of recent fire that destroyed the Peach Tree Baptist Church.

JOSEPH G. BARKLEY WILL
I JOSEPH G. BARKLEY of the County of Nash and State of North Carolina being of sound mind and disposing memory, and knowing the uncertainty of my earthly existance, but knowing the certain of death, do publish and declare this to be my last will and testament in manner and for as follows: "To wit"
Item 1: It's my will and desire and I bequeath to my beloved wife, LAVENIA BARKLEY during her natural life my whole and entire estate both real and personal to be enjoyed by her during her natural life. And at her death I further will and desire that all my property both real and personal shall be equally divided between my bodily heirs at law. And I do hereby further constitute and appoint my son EDWARD T. BARKLEY executor to this my last will & testament. Signed this the 2nd day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty nine. J.G. BARKLEY

witnesses: S. A. Arrington
                   W. F. Hedgepeth


BIBLICAL RECORDER
6 MAY 1896 PAGE 5
REV. JOSEPH G. BARKLEY
This aged servant of Christ who had spent about fifty-seven years in the Baptist ministry in Eastern North Carolina, passed away after a lingering illness on April 16, 1896. Bro. Barkley was born in Northapton county Feb. 20th, 1809, and was therefore aged eighty-seven years, one month and twenty-six days. He was married March 24, 1830 to Miss Lavinia T. Yellowby(sic), who continued as his helpmeet(sic) for sixty-five years and preceded him to the grave about a year ago at the advanced age of eight-four. Few people have been permittd(sic) to enjoy so long an uninterrrupted married life; but, their long life brought many cares and sorrows as well as pleasures. They were the parents of eight children, six sons and two daughters, all but three, of whom preceded them to the grave. Their youngest son, Bro. John R. Barkley has been a resident of Raleigh for the last eleven years. All of the children were members of Baptist churches. One of their daughters Mrs. J. H. Lacy was a missionary to Africa, and died in Halifax Va., leaving three daughters. One son was killed at Gettysburg, another died in the military hospital at Richmond, another W. D. Barkley, a deacon of the First Baptist church of Petersburg died about seven years ago.
J. G. Barkley began his ministry about the time of his marriage in 1830 and spent much of his life as a missionary in the Tar River and Pamlico Associations, requiring but little for his services and supporting his family upon his farm. He and his son-in-law Rev. J. H. Lacy were two of the presbytery that ordained this writer as a minister in the Court House in Wilson in 1860, the same day the Baptist church was organized in that place. The other members of the presbytery were J. B. Solomon, Levi Thorne, Henry Petty and Geo. Wm. Kesee.
He has been pastor at Conoconary, Hickory and Bear Swamp in Halifax; Red Oak, Red Bud, Philadalphia, and Peach Tree in Nash; Sandy Creek, Poplar Springs and other churches in Franklin, and Reedy Creek in Warren. He was an humble, consecrated man of God, without early advantages of education, but one whose delight it was to serve the Master and to serve his brethren. About five years ago, soon after preaching the funeral of an old neighbor at her own request, he was stricken with paralysis and has never preached publicly since; But his patient resignation to the will of God and his uncomplaining spirit in the midst of intense suffering sealed the preaching of his former years and made even his death bed a benediction to his friends and kindred who visited him.
"He rests from his labors and his works do follow him." N. B. Cobb

EXPERIENCE OF A CONFEDERATE CHAPLAIN, 1861-1864 by Alexander Davis Betts, 1832-1918
Below are selected references to individuals who lived in Nash Co. from the above publication. 
Aug. 16-Morning in camp. Supper in Richmond, and return and hear Brother J.G. BARKLEY preach. (This dear man raised his children in Nash County North Carolina, and lived to be very old. Died April 16, 1896. He said to me in his house in 1887 or 1888: "Brother Betts, the happiest day in my life was one day in 1840, when I saw my oldest daughter marry a young man and start to Africa" Glory to God for such religion)
Sunday, Aug. 17-Brother Barkley preaches in morning and I in evening. Receive marching orders.
Sunday Jan. 25.- Hear Bro. Barkley of Nash County, N. C., preach to my regiment in a. m., Bro. Power in p. m., and at wagon yard at night.

ROCKY MOUNT TELEGRAM JUNE 13, 2005
SPRING HOPE---Not even a fire that completly destroyed their house of worship could keep the Peachtree Baptist Church congregation from holding services Sunday morning. (The church begun by Joseph George Barkley in Spring Hope, N. C. has now been destoyed by fire.)
--------End Deborah Gammon's Notes---------