During the American Revolutionary War in May or June 1781, Barbour joined the Culpeper County Militia, serving first as a private, then lieutenant under General Mechlenburg. Barbour's first assignment was to protect Rappahannock Forge. Barbour also served under Captain John Nicholas, Captain John Stewart, and Captain John Woodford and under the command of Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette. Barbour was with Lafayette at the Battle of Jamestown, then moved onto Williamsburg and Richmond. Barbour also participated in the Siege of Yorktown and conveyed the prisoners to Winchester. Barbour later attained the rank of major. Following the war, Barbour received a pension for his military service.
Barbour began owning and operating water-powered mills in Culpeper County, two of which were purchased by John Strode. Barbour's manufacturing interests extended from cotton gins to the making of nails. On May 29, 1805, the Virginia Herald carried an advertisement for Barbour's cut nail manufactory in Fredericksburg, Virginia "where they will sell, Cut and wrought Nails, Brads, Springs, Sadler's Tacks of all sizes". Fredericksburg land tax records from 1805 indicate Barbour rented properties owned by John Brownlow and Charles Julian. Records also indicate Barbour acquired a merchants license in 1806 from George W. B. Spooner, Commissioner of Revenue for the District of Fredericksburg, for the sum of $15. Barbour was a resident of Fredericksburg until 1808 when he relocated to Petersburg.
Petersburg
Prior to his relocation from Fredericksburg, Barbour had previously owned Burlingtonplantation in Dinwiddie County west of Petersburg and operated a mill in its vicinity. In 1819, the Virginia General Assembly authorized an act permitting Barbour to "receive toll for passing his bridge across the Appomattox river". In addition to the operation of the bridge, Barbour also owned and operated a grist mill four miles from Petersburg on the Appomattox that evolved into an incorporated venture known as the Matoaca Manufacturing Company, which processed grain and manufactured paper and cotton. In 1831, Barbour received a permit for the erection of a 12-feet-wide toll bridge across the Appomattox River at Exeter Mills.
Following the outbreak of War of 1812, Barbour wrote a letter to United StatesPresident James Madison on June 28, 1812, in which he volunteered his services to lead a regiment in the United States military. Barbour stated in his letter to President Madison:
Marriage and children
Barbour married Elizabeth Strode, daughter of John Strode of "Fleetwood" in Culpeper County. John Strode was master of the gunfactory near Falmouth, Virginia, which was instrumental in supplying arms to Virginia's troops during the American Revolutionary War. Strode was reportedly of French Huguenot descent. Barbour and Elizabeth had five children:
John Strode Barbour m. Elizabeth A. Byrne
* John Strode Barbour, Jr. m. Susan Sewell Daingerfield
* James Barbour m. Fanny Thomas Beckham
** Ella B. Barbour Rixey m. John Franklin Rixey
** Mary B. Barbour Wallace m. Clarence B. Wallace
** James Byrne Barbour
** John Strode Barbour m. Mary B. Grimsley
** Edwin Barbour m. Josie McDonald
** A. Floyd Barbour
** Fanny C. Barbour Beckham m. Benjamin Collins Beckham
* Alfred Madison Barbour m. Kate Daniels
Frances Barbour Minor m. Henry Minor
Ann Barbour Gist m. Thomas Gist
Maria Barbour Tillinghast Hogan m. Colonel Tillinghast, m. J. B. Hogan
Mordecai Barbour
Following the death of Elizabeth, Barbour married Sally Haskell Byrne. Sally was the widow of James Byrne of Petersburg and the mother of Barbour's daughter-in-law, Elizabeth A. Byrne.
Death
Barbour died at "Weston", the residence of his daughter Frances Barbour Minor, in Boligee, Greene County, Alabama on January 4, 1846. He was interred at Bethsalem Cemetery at Bethsalem Presbyterian Church in Boligee.
