By Robert Henry Harkness, 1912
Edited by Tina Barton, 2002
Kitty Holland's mother Jane Stuart Holland, died when Kitty was six years old, and she was raised by her mother's cousin, wife of Governor Edward Lloyd, who was also called Col. Lloyd. Mrs. Lloyd was before marriage a Miss Murray. Kitty Holland remained with Mrs. Lloyd until she was sixteen years old, and then went to live with her brother Isaac Holland Jr. at Annapolis or Baltimore. Her brother had been recently married. The Lloyds were very kind to her, and when she was married, she wore a valuable lace berths loaned by some of the family.
She was married Thursday April 11, 1822 by Rev. John Emory. Her husband was Joseph Andrew Barrett. He was from Pennsylvania and had brothers living in Philadelphia. He kept an in called the Half Way House between Baltimore and Annapolis and must have been a man of some standing in the community, as he was captain of a militia cavalry company. He was a kind, devoted husband, and never spoke an unkind word to his wife. Whenever he went to Baltimore, he always brought her a new dress and shoes to match.
He was accidentally killed. A newspaper clipping says: - "Mr. Joseph Andrew Barrett died on Friday evening about one half hour before Sundown November 26, 1825 at the Halfway House, Anne Arundel Co. Md. He was shot in his house on the Monday night preceding his death by a Mr Brown with a double-barrel gun. The load (shot) lodged in the right arm and side. The remains of Mr Barrett were taken to Annapolis on Saturday morning and interred the same day, attended by a large and respectable number of persons."
His only child, George Franklin Barrett was born September 16, 1823 at Annapolis, Md, in a house known as the "Little Blue" built by his grandfather Isaac Holland, Sr., and also the birthplace of his mother Kitty Holland Barrett.
It was Mr. Joseph Andrew Barrett's intention to take his wife and son to see his relatives in Pennsylvania, but his death intervened, and his widow and son never afterwards heard of or met any of his family.
Mrs Kitty Barrett continued to run the Halfway House for five (5) years after her husband's death. Her father, Isaac Holland, Sr. whom she had not seen since she was quite young, had come to live with her and her husband after her marriage; and after her husband's death he continued with her until his death helping her in the business. He became strongly attached to his little grandson, George Franklin Barrett and always brought him presents when he went to Baltimore to receive the pension which the British* government awarded him.
After giving up the Half Way House Mrs. Kitty Barrett went to live with her brother Henry at Annapolis. Later, she lived with her son, and then her granddaughter.