Because the name Barnard/Barney, was used often in the McCollor family lineage, I will clarify that the subject of this page is Barney, the son of Patrick and Bridget.    Little Barney   Barney was born in Derry, Ireland, the first child of Patrick and Bridget McCollough/McCollor, in September of 1813.  His mother Bridget was about 17 years old, and his father, Patrick, about 31. He was named for his Maternal Grandfather, Barney Brennin.   He was about 18 months old when the family left Ireland, aboard ship bound for Canada. We can possibly attribute where we now live in America (and some in Canada) to Barney, for it may be his birth which inspired the young couple to make the drastic move from their homeland with the hopes their children will have more opportunity for a safe and successful life. Unfortunately, Barney did not have children of his own, and little is recorded about his life. We do know some early facts, he arrived in Quebec May 6, 1815 with his parents and tiny baby sister, Nancy, and several months later he accompanied his family on the long and difficult walk to the area in Maine where the family would ultimately settle. We must give credit to his parents, for even today, as some of you may know, with modern conveniences, it can be challenging to travel with a toddler and a baby! It is odd the trek took place in the Fall, which can often be a very cold time of year in those parts of Maine, an effect they no doubt experienced spending nights in the wilds and crossing icey waters on foot.

More on those months in Canada can be found in the story of Patrick and Bridget.  There is a story, recorded elsewhere on this site as well, of poor little Barney being tied to a tree on one side of the Kennebec river, while his parents made a difficult crossing by foot. Upon safely getting his wife and daughter on the other side, Patrick returned to bring his son over. We can imagine the hysteria of the child by the time Patrick returned, seeing his family leave him, for all he knew, forever! However, it was the safest way to get the family across the river. The journey ultimately ended in the Solon area, and Barney's family settled - for a while - at the Captain Ben Thompson farm, later to be renamed the Albert Manley Farm. It would be wonderful to hear from someone who knows for sure if that farm still exists! It is beleived Barney was one of the first Irish Catholic children, in fact, the family one of the first Irish Catholic families, to live in the then tiny settlement of log cabins. Barney was about 12 years old and had two brothers in addition to ten year old sister Nancy, when the family made the first of many moves back to Canada. it is believed they moved back at this time so that Barney and Nancy could attend a Catholic School. In St. George, Quebec, Barney attended school for only a year, and a new sister was born. For some reason, the McCollors moved back to Madison, near Solon, after that very short time in Canada. After one year in Madison, they moved to Solon, where the family farmed and lived for what was for them a long period of time to stay in one place: six years, until Barney was about 19 years old.  More information on the ensuing years and moves is recorded in the story of Patrick and Bridget. While his father would live to a very old age, Barney's mother died in 1848, about four years after the birth of his youngest sibling. Some sources say that Barney survived his mother, but it is believed he died about two years earlier. His father moved the family back to Solon for good about 5 years later.  We don't know for sure if Barney ever made that last move to Quebec with his family. At 19 he may have opted to stay in Maine. We do know that he never married. When the Mexican American War broke out he joined the US Army. He died during his service, never returning again to Maine. There are two stories surrounding his death, one being that he died as a result of being wounded, another that he died of disease, namely what they called "Hooker's Disease".  The year was 1846, he was about 33 years old, and was buried in New York City

* Much information for these pages comes from the excellent book McCollor/McCollough Family History and Genealogy by Clair Nelson and Kathy McCollor Stigman.  I thank them profusely for writing such a thorough and helpful book.