There are several areas of confusion about the life of Sir Francis. 'The Barnum Family' (in different editions) says that he was born in Kent about 1582 or 1592; the 'Genealogical Record of the Barnum Family' gives a birthplace of Hollingbourne and a date of October 20, 1576.'The Barnum Family ' (both editions) also says that Sir Francis was knighted in 1603; other sources indicate that it was his father, Sir Martin Barnham, who was knighted -- on July 23 of that year. Hemarried Elizabeth Lennard (see #3905), daughter of Sampson Lennard Esquire and Baroness Dacre Margaret Fiennes, on January 3, 1598/99 in Sevenoaks, England, in 'An Account of the Families of Lennard and Barrett,' Chapter III (pages 226-227) states, 'At the time that Lord Dacre (Samson Lennard's grandson, Richard Lord Dacre) wrote his Family History there existed in the possession of Sir Thomas Rider, of Boughton, Kent, a MS. account written by his ancestor, Sir Francis Barnham, of his own family, of which Lord Dacre obtained a copy. I give the following quotation from it, as Sir Francis mentions his marriage with Samson's daughter Elizabeth, and he also refers to his father-in-law's mode of living and to his character:

'In the fortieth year of Queen Elizabeth my Father Martin Barnham served the Office of High Sheriff for the County of Kent and during his Shrievalty married me to the daughter of Mr Sampson Lennard and the Lady Dacre in which match his goodness sought rather to give me a Wife that might bring me a Noble alliance and promise the happiness of a good Wife (as being borne of a Mother that abounded as much in worth & Virtue as in honour) than to enrich himself or his other children by so great a Portion as it is probable he might have had in divers places, if that had been his Chiefest Ayme in my Marriage. . . .Within less than two years after my Marriage, I came to live in my Father's House tho' I had then by Covenant one Years Being more with my Father in Law (Mr.Sampson Lennard) who tho' he kept a very honourable House and lived in all respects in so brave a Fashion, as might make the being there very delightfull, especially to me, who had always from all hands a very loving & Noble treatment, yet the happiness promissed myself in the comfort of my Father's kind & familiar usage, & in his Advice & instructions & c made me hasten my coming to live with him.'

'The Barnum Family' also states that Sir Francis served in Parliament in 1603, 1604 and 1610 , and gives his wife's name as Elizabeth Lennard, while other sources call her Elizabeth Leonard, Baroness Dacre. That source is alone in stating that Sir Francis had fifteen children, of whom the immigrant ancestor, Thomas Barnham, was the last. Only nine of the supposed fifteen children are named, and Robert is called a baron and William the mayor of Wrwick in 1652. Other sources confirm the information about William, while Robert is shown as a baronet, and the second son of nine.