I assume once again that since they were all Unitarians that must be the connection.

Frank, you're right there. I'm thinking that Barlow's father who was an Unitarian minister left his wife and family when Barlow was young. Thomas Buell in his book...Warrior Generals...states that Mrs. Barlow had to leave the commune at Brook Farm, because she was too voluptuous and flirtatious. Heck, that's the kind I'd want in my commune ;-). Buell however calls Barlow "The Puritan" not because of any religious beliefs per se but because he was a moral absolutist. He believed slavery to be morally wrong, no ifs, ands or buts. After the war he helped to bust the Boss Tweed's corrupt Democratic Party organization in New York. Anyway, though Barlow was against slavery and contemplated an offer to lead a Black regiment, I don't believe he accepted blacks on the same level as whites as Shaw perhaps did. Barlow would still call them dar***s and ni***rs in letters to his mother. Sorry for being so wordy myself.

Collin.