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Robinson Potter Barker

Julia Peckham Barker Robinson Potter Barker

On pages 813 and 814 of the 1888 The History of Newport County, Rhode Island Edited by Richard M. Bayles is written, "Robinson Potter Barker, born in 1816, is a son of John Barker and a grandson of David, who was born in 1749 and died in 1819. David was a son of John, born in 1711, died in 1777. John's wife was Dorcas, daughter of Isaac Barker, of the revolution. Robinson P. Barker's wife, who died in 1861, was Julia, daughter of Samuel S. Peckham. Their Children are: Dr. C. [Christopher] F. Barker of Newport; Maria N., now dead; Mary E. [Eliza], now Mrs. A. K. [Albert Keene] Sherman, of Newport, and Elma M. [May], now Mrs. John Peckham. Mr. Barker has been a tax assessor many years. His present wife is Harriet N., a sister of John Peckham.
"From manuscript in the possession of Mrs. Robinson P. Barker the following is quoted: "The Barkers in Rhode Island descended from James Barker of Essex county, England. His son James and his daughter Christiana started to come to New England about 1636. James died on ship, and his son James a lad of 17, became the father of eight children, born in Middletown. He was a magistrate named in the 1663 charter, and charter, and was one of the deputy governors in 1679. He died in 1702."

As a side note, many sources list the name of the youngest daughter of Robinson P. Barker as Erma instead of Elma. However, besides the above quote, she is also listed as Elma in the Valuation and Tax List for 1909 published in the Municipal Year Book of the Town of Middletown Rhode Island 1909-1910 as, "Elma M. Peckham, widow of John." Scans of original pages are provided. Elizabeth Fry Barker also spelled it Elma on page 57 (see below).

In the Barker Genealogy written by Elizabeth Fry Barker in 1927 the ancestry of Robinson Potter Barker can be traced as follows [only the direct line is included]:

  1. James Barker of Rhode Island, born circa 1617 apparently in Essex County, England, and came to America on the Mary & John on March 24, 1634. In 1644 he married Barbara, daughter of William and Frances (Latham) Dungan (b. 1628).
  2. Capt. James Barker, born 1648 in Newport, Rhode Island, died July 5, 1722. In 1673 he married Sarah, daughter of William and Mary (Gould) Jefferey, born 1656, died February 11, 1736.
  3. Their first child was James, born December 4, 1675 in Newport, died March 26, 1758. In 1699 he married Mary Cook, born 1679, died February 24, 1758.
  4. Their second son, John, was born December 18, 1710 in Middletown, RI, and died March 17, 1777. He married Rebecca, daughter of Hezekiah and Sarah (Brightman) Hoar, born 1713, died May 18, 1800.
  5. Their sixth child, David, was born July 20, 1749 and died September 8, 1819. On October 1, 1772 he married Eunice Sherman.
  6. Their forth child, John, was born December 19, 1777 in Middletown, and died December 19, 1858. On April 11, 1805 he married Dorcas Barker (born December 14, 1782 in Middletown, died June 2, 1866), daughter of Isaac Barker and Welthian Peckham [daughter of Levi and Sarah (Tripp) Peckham]. This is the homestead of John and Dorcas Barker,  East Main Road, Middletown, RI.
  7. Their children, born in Middletown, Newport County, Rhode Island, were: Ann, born April 10, 1807; Albert Gallatin, born September 12, 1808; Ruth Hall, born January 15, 1811; Job Mason, born May 3, 1812; Lucinda, born November 17, 1813; Robinson Potter, born August 25, 1816; Benedict, born January 10, 1818.
  1. Robinson Potter Barker was a farmer and married November 5, 1840 Julia Ann Peckham, daughter of Dr. Samuel and Sabina (Dewey) Peckham. She was born September 10, 1819 and died November 29, 1861.
  2. Their Children, in Middletown, were:
    1. Maria
    2. Mary Eliza, born March 17, 1844, died February 12, 1942. On September 03, 1874 she married, in Middletown, Albert Keene Sherman, son of Albert Sherman, born March 17, 1844 and died December 30, 1915 in Newport. Their children [with additions from my files] were:
      1. Kate Robinson Sherman born August 16, 1875, died April 07, 1879 in Newport
      2. William Anthony Sherman b: May 12, 1877 in Newport, Newport, RI d: June 17, 1927 in Newport. He married June 25, 1902 in Scranton, PA, Kathrine May Kennedy who was born November 11, 1875 in Scranton, PA, and died July 05, 1946 in Newport.
      3. Edward Albert Sherman born July 16, 1879 in Newport and died June 13, 1934 in Newport. He married October 22, 1913 in Boston, MA, Hazel Erma Poole who was born June 03, 1884 and died September 1973 in Newport.
    [Additional children not listed: Christopher F. Barker, born October 31, 1849, died November 28, 1922; Elma May Barker, born 1857, died 1924.]
Robinson Potter Barker's Bible
This bible does not have any vital statics in the traditional location, but I have scanned some of the notation - some obviously not made by Robinson Barker, such as the date "my father was buried."
Image One: Inside of cover Image Two: First blank page Image Three: Title page of 1842 book
Image Four: Chapter names - counted Image Five: Randolph, along with "R" can be found in the margin throughout. Image Six: "This chapter I read the day my father was buried. Dec. 14th 1871"
Image Seven: "Third in the course of Mr. Wheeler's lectures." Possibly Rev. N.J. Wheeler who performed the marriage ceremony for Albert Keene Sherman. Image Eight: The  Death page with some prose about "dying". It was in very light pencil and has been enhanced as much as possible. Image Nine: Gospel According to St. Matthew - dates read: January of each year from 1869 to 1890.
Image Ten: "Dr. Randolph Sept. 26th /8? baptized 4" Image Eleven: Aug/5/86? Weston Image Twelve: "Mr. Wheeler preached from this... last time father went to church."
Image Thirteen: Mr. Wheeler... Dec. 30th 1877. Image Fourteen: Two sets of initials Image Fifteen: More initials & Hall?
Image Sixteen: Needham. Appears several places. Probably this man, George C. Needham of Portland, ME, an evangelist. Image Seventeen: "Dec. 27th A. Wards? funeral service 1874." Image Eighteen: Last page with note on when finished reading.

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