Figure of the Week

William Barber (1787-1881) was one of Stafford’s most prominent nineteenth century citizens, yet relatively little is known of him or his family.  He was the son of Edward Barber (died c.1843) who lived near Deep Run on the western side of Stafford.  William married Sarah Roy Mason (c.1799-after 1870), the daughter of Col. Enoch Mason of Clover Hill.  In 1825 William was Commandant of the Troop of Stafford in the 45th regiment of Virginia militia; in 1828 he was a captain.  He lived at Wyoming, his farm in the northwestern part of the county.  This was part of the property taken by the 1942 government condemnation for the expansion of the Quantico Marine Corps base.  William Barber seems not to have left any children.