Godfrey Barnsley
Encyclopedia
Godfrey Barnsley was a nineteenth-century American businessman and cotton broker who became one of the wealthiest people in the southeastern United States.
owner and his mother was Anna (Hannah) Goodwin Barnsley. He also has an older brother named Joshua. Barnsley began working in the cotton business at his Uncle Godfrey Barnsley’s importing establishment in Liverpool
, England. After Barnsley came to America
, he too joined the cotton business and made his fortune.
In 1824, Godfrey Barnsley emigrated to America from Liverpool, England. At the age of eighteen, Barnsley moved to Savannah, Georgia
. He arrived in Savannah with no money and no distinguished education. However, it was in Savannah that Barnsley made his fortune as a cotton broker and became one of the most affluent men in the south through the cotton trade and shipping business. He also served as president of the Savannah Chamber of Commerce for several years.
While living in Savannah, Barnsley met Julia Henrietta Scarborough, the daughter of William Scarborough, a wealthy shipbuilder and merchant. In 1828, at the age of twenty-five, Barnsley married Julia on Christmas Eve
. Barnsley and Julia had eight children.
In 1842, Julia’s health began to decline and Barnsley decided to move his family to north Georgia, where he believed there would be a more healthful climate for Julia. Barnsley traveled from Savannah to Cass County (now Bartow County) on an expedition with three friends, William Henry Stiles, Reverend Charles Wallace Howard, and Francis Bartow. Stiles traveled to north Georgia because he was looking for land for future development. Howard was on a geological survey. Barnsley sought to find land where he could build a home that would be away from the heat and threat of yellow fever
and malaria
prevalent of the Georgia Coast where he lived. He chose a piece of land in the small village of Adairsville, Georgia
.
for Julia. He called his manor Woodlands, which later became known as Barnsley Gardens
. He designed the gardens of the estate in the style of Andrew Jackson Downing. Downing was considered “America’s first great landscape architect.” Barnsley also brought in every known variety of roses to be planted in the garden. The mansion had twenty-four rooms and was designed in the style of an Italian Villa. It had mantels of black and white marble
imported from Italy and also had “unheard of conveniences, such as hot and cold running water.”
Barnsley had his house built on an acorn- shaped hill. An old Indian, who worked with Barnsley, warned him not to build on that piece of property. He explained that the site was sacred to the Cherokee
and that anyone who tried to live on it would be cursed. Barnsley ignored the Indian’s advice and started construction anyway.
. His infant son died and in the summer of 1845, Julia died of Tuberculosis
. Barnsley still continued to build the mansion after Julia’s death because he felt her presence at the site. He toured Europe in search of “elegant furnishings” to decorate his estate. In 1850, Barnsley’s oldest daughter, Anna, got married and moved to England. Adelaide, Barnsley’s second daughter, died in the mansion in 1858.
started, the cotton Barnsley brokered was no longer sellable and wound up rotting in warehouses in New Orleans. During the war, Barnsley moved back and forth from Woodlands to New Orleans. Barnsley’s two sons, George and Lucian, joined the Confederacy
and in 1862, Howard, Barnsley’s oldest son, was killed by Chinese pirates while searching in the Orient
for “exotic shrubbery” to add to the mansion.
On May 18, 1864, Colonel Robert G. Earle, who was part of the Second Alabama Light Calvary and a friend of Barnsley, rode to Barnsley’s house to warn him that Sherman’s troops were approaching. He instead was shot down within sight of the mansion. Earle’s body was buried at Woodlands.
When Union troops did arrive at the site, Federal General McPherson ordered his men not to destroy Barnsley’s estate, but his orders were ignored. Italian statuary was smashed in hopes of finding hidden gold. Wine and food were stolen. What could not be stolen was smashed, including windows and china.
. He left Woodlands to be managed by James Peter Baltzelle, a Confederate army captain, who had married his daughter Julia. Baltzelle made a living by shipping timber
from Woodlands, but was killed by a falling tree in 1868. Soon after, daughter Julia joined her father in New Orleans, along with her daughter, Adelaide. In 1873, Barnsley died in New Orleans and was taken back to Woodlands, where he was buried. The Woodlands manor house was destroyed in 1906 by a tornado, but the ruins are now open to the public and are part of the Barnsley Gardens
resort.
Early life
Barnsley was born on August 26, 1805, in Derbyshire, England. His father was George Barnsley, an English cotton millCotton mill
A cotton mill is a factory that houses spinning and weaving machinery. Typically built between 1775 and 1930, mills spun cotton which was an important product during the Industrial Revolution....
owner and his mother was Anna (Hannah) Goodwin Barnsley. He also has an older brother named Joshua. Barnsley began working in the cotton business at his Uncle Godfrey Barnsley’s importing establishment in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, England. After Barnsley came to America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, he too joined the cotton business and made his fortune.
In 1824, Godfrey Barnsley emigrated to America from Liverpool, England. At the age of eighteen, Barnsley moved to Savannah, Georgia
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
. He arrived in Savannah with no money and no distinguished education. However, it was in Savannah that Barnsley made his fortune as a cotton broker and became one of the most affluent men in the south through the cotton trade and shipping business. He also served as president of the Savannah Chamber of Commerce for several years.
While living in Savannah, Barnsley met Julia Henrietta Scarborough, the daughter of William Scarborough, a wealthy shipbuilder and merchant. In 1828, at the age of twenty-five, Barnsley married Julia on Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve refers to the evening or entire day preceding Christmas Day, a widely celebrated festival commemorating the birth of Jesus of Nazareth that takes place on December 25...
. Barnsley and Julia had eight children.
In 1842, Julia’s health began to decline and Barnsley decided to move his family to north Georgia, where he believed there would be a more healthful climate for Julia. Barnsley traveled from Savannah to Cass County (now Bartow County) on an expedition with three friends, William Henry Stiles, Reverend Charles Wallace Howard, and Francis Bartow. Stiles traveled to north Georgia because he was looking for land for future development. Howard was on a geological survey. Barnsley sought to find land where he could build a home that would be away from the heat and threat of yellow fever
Yellow fever
Yellow fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic disease. The virus is a 40 to 50 nm enveloped RNA virus with positive sense of the Flaviviridae family....
and malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
prevalent of the Georgia Coast where he lived. He chose a piece of land in the small village of Adairsville, Georgia
Adairsville, Georgia
Adairsville is a city in Bartow County, Georgia, United States. The population was 2,542 at the 2000 census. As of 2007 data Adairsville's population was 3,076: 1,414 males and 1,662 females. Adairsville is south of Calhoun, northeast of Rome and north of Atlanta.-Geography:Adairsville is an...
.
Barnsley’s Mansion
On 10000 acres (40.5 km²), Barnsley began construction of his mansionMansion
A mansion is a very large dwelling house. U.S. real estate brokers define a mansion as a dwelling of over . A traditional European mansion was defined as a house which contained a ballroom and tens of bedrooms...
for Julia. He called his manor Woodlands, which later became known as Barnsley Gardens
Barnsley Gardens
Barnsley Gardens is a golf resort on the grounds of a historic former plantation in Adairsville, Georgia. Originally known as Woodlands, the plantation was established by Godfrey Barnsley, of Liverpool England. He built the Italianate mansion in the late 1840s.-History:The house at Barnsley...
. He designed the gardens of the estate in the style of Andrew Jackson Downing. Downing was considered “America’s first great landscape architect.” Barnsley also brought in every known variety of roses to be planted in the garden. The mansion had twenty-four rooms and was designed in the style of an Italian Villa. It had mantels of black and white marble
Marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite.Geologists use the term "marble" to refer to metamorphosed limestone; however stonemasons use the term more broadly to encompass unmetamorphosed limestone.Marble is commonly used for...
imported from Italy and also had “unheard of conveniences, such as hot and cold running water.”
Barnsley had his house built on an acorn- shaped hill. An old Indian, who worked with Barnsley, warned him not to build on that piece of property. He explained that the site was sacred to the Cherokee
Cherokee
The Cherokee are a Native American people historically settled in the Southeastern United States . Linguistically, they are part of the Iroquoian language family...
and that anyone who tried to live on it would be cursed. Barnsley ignored the Indian’s advice and started construction anyway.
Tragedy
Barnsley’s fortune soon changed after moving into his mansionMansion
A mansion is a very large dwelling house. U.S. real estate brokers define a mansion as a dwelling of over . A traditional European mansion was defined as a house which contained a ballroom and tens of bedrooms...
. His infant son died and in the summer of 1845, Julia died of Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
. Barnsley still continued to build the mansion after Julia’s death because he felt her presence at the site. He toured Europe in search of “elegant furnishings” to decorate his estate. In 1850, Barnsley’s oldest daughter, Anna, got married and moved to England. Adelaide, Barnsley’s second daughter, died in the mansion in 1858.
Civil War
When the American Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
started, the cotton Barnsley brokered was no longer sellable and wound up rotting in warehouses in New Orleans. During the war, Barnsley moved back and forth from Woodlands to New Orleans. Barnsley’s two sons, George and Lucian, joined the Confederacy
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
and in 1862, Howard, Barnsley’s oldest son, was killed by Chinese pirates while searching in the Orient
Orient
The Orient means "the East." It is a traditional designation for anything that belongs to the Eastern world or the Far East, in relation to Europe. In English it is a metonym that means various parts of Asia.- Derivation :...
for “exotic shrubbery” to add to the mansion.
On May 18, 1864, Colonel Robert G. Earle, who was part of the Second Alabama Light Calvary and a friend of Barnsley, rode to Barnsley’s house to warn him that Sherman’s troops were approaching. He instead was shot down within sight of the mansion. Earle’s body was buried at Woodlands.
When Union troops did arrive at the site, Federal General McPherson ordered his men not to destroy Barnsley’s estate, but his orders were ignored. Italian statuary was smashed in hopes of finding hidden gold. Wine and food were stolen. What could not be stolen was smashed, including windows and china.
Leaving Woodlands
By the end of the war, Barnsley moved to New Orleans to try to regain his lost fortuneWealth
Wealth is the abundance of valuable resources or material possessions. The word wealth is derived from the old English wela, which is from an Indo-European word stem...
. He left Woodlands to be managed by James Peter Baltzelle, a Confederate army captain, who had married his daughter Julia. Baltzelle made a living by shipping timber
Timber
Timber may refer to:* Timber, a term common in the United Kingdom and Australia for wood materials * Timber, Oregon, an unincorporated community in the U.S...
from Woodlands, but was killed by a falling tree in 1868. Soon after, daughter Julia joined her father in New Orleans, along with her daughter, Adelaide. In 1873, Barnsley died in New Orleans and was taken back to Woodlands, where he was buried. The Woodlands manor house was destroyed in 1906 by a tornado, but the ruins are now open to the public and are part of the Barnsley Gardens
Barnsley Gardens
Barnsley Gardens is a golf resort on the grounds of a historic former plantation in Adairsville, Georgia. Originally known as Woodlands, the plantation was established by Godfrey Barnsley, of Liverpool England. He built the Italianate mansion in the late 1840s.-History:The house at Barnsley...
resort.
External links
- http://www.newcolonist.com/barnsley.html
- http://spas.about.com/cs/usresortspasga/l/aa040603.htm
- http://roadsidegeorgia.com/site/barnsley.html