John Barnett was born around 1796 in Pennsylvania. He married Nancy Morrison, and they had at least four children: John, born around 1827; Nancy, born around 1833; Mary, born around 1837; and James, born on May 27, 1839. They lived in Derry, Pennsylvania, and he worked as a farmer. By 1860, he owned $3,500 of real estate and $500 of personal property. A decade later, he owned $3,000 of real estate and $4,000 of personal property. His wife died in the 1870s, and by 1880, he was living in his son James’s household in Derry. He died in Derry on April 24, 1885.