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The History of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations: Biograþhical, by the American Historical Society, Inc., 1920. There are three volumes of biographies, unnumbered, with the same title þage, and this is considered to be Volume 6. This is from pages 161-162.
The following is the record of the line of Richard Jackson Barker
(I) The American founder of the Barker branch herein recorded was Robert Barker, who was born in 1616, and came to this country at an early date with John Thorp. In 1641 he was one of those who bought from Jonathan Brewster, son of Elder Brewster, a ferry and one hundred acres of land at Marshfield. Later he settled in Duxbury, Mass., where he served as surveyor for several years. He died in 1691. He married Lucy Williams [descendant of Roger Williams], who died March 7, 1681 or 1682. Children: Robert, born Feb. 27, 1630, died Sept. 25, 1729; Francis, died 1720; Isaac, mentioned below; Abigail, died Mary, 1718; Rebecca, died 1697.
(II) Isaac Barker, son of Robert Barker, was a surveyor of Duxbury in 1674, and a constable in 1687. He married, December 8, 1665, Judith, daughter of Governor Thomas and Mary (Collier) Prince. In 1710 his widow married William Tubbs, of Pembroke. Children: Samuel, born Sept. 2, 1667, died Feb. 1, 1738-39; Isaac, mentioned below; Robert, born 1673, died Sept. 6, 1765; Jabez, Francis, Rebecca, Mary, Lydia, Judith, Martha, Bathsheba.
(III) Isaac (2) Barker, son of Isaac (1) Barker, seems to have
been a man of great business ability, as he was interested in numerous
enterprises, owning a grist mill on the Herring brook, engaging in merchandising,
in farming, in laying out roads and erecting water works. He was
a great student for his day, and was a member of the Society of Friends.
He died May 7, 1754. He married, October 23, 1707, Elizabeth Slocum,
of Dartmouth, daughter of Peleg and Mary (Holden) Slocum; she was
born February 12, 1689, and died August 18, 1774. Children: Mary,
born Aug. I, 1708, died 1788; Sylvester, born May, 1710; Peleg, Aug., 1712;
Prince, mentioned below; Elizabeth, born Dec. 9, 1719; Lydia, died Aug.
13, 1754.
Possibly the former home of the Peleg Barker listed in III above, at 641 Summer Street, Duxbury, MA (click to enlarge) |
Linda Baker of Homeport Real Estate provided the picture of this home in Duxbury. She was trying to trace the history of ownership and attempting to better date the original house, which she believes is the portion shown at the left. "It appears that a Samuel Loring sold this home to Peleg Barker in January 13, 1852 and that Peleg retained it until January 19, 1871 when he sold it to Antonio Lopez for $800. The home has retained many of its original period archetectural details---tracing ownership back to at least May 5, 1783. The present owner of the property has also, in her gardening, dug up pieces of dinnerware and pottery some of which a local antique dealer has dated back to that time also." "...it appears that the Joshua Loring family may have been the earliest, leaving it to other family members upon his death in 1783." Specifications include: Thumb-latch doors, 2 brick fireplaces, wide pine wood floors, and a 2-story barn. |
(IV) Prince Barker, son of Isaac (2) Barker, was born February 9, 1716, and died January 27, 1784. Prince Barker was a very hospitable man and was noted for his honesty. He married, November 6, 1746, Abigail Keen, of Pembroke, daughter of Benjamin and Deborah (Barker) Keen [a cousin]; she was born February 6, 1721, and died September 2, 1790. Children: Prince, born Oct. 26, 1747; Isaac, May 1, 1749; Abigail, Jan. 29, 1751; Deborah, Jan. 29, 1753; Benjamin, mentioned below.
(V) Benjamin Barker, son of Prince Barker, was born November 30, 1756, and was a prominent and wealthy man. In 1773 he took half the Barker fulling mill, near the homestead, and later bought the homestead and farm in Scituate. Also he owned considerable property in Tiverton, and was very well-to-do when he died, June 19, 1837. He married (first) January 31, 1785, Ann Barker [descendant of Robert of Plymouth Colony], daughter of Abraham and Susannah (Anthony) Barker, of Tiverton; she was born August 29, 1750, and died August 16, 1789. He married (second) June 23, 1791, Rebecca Partridge, of Boston, daughter of Captain Samuel Partridge; she was born in 1752, and died August 11, 1835. Children by first wife: Abraham, mentioned below; Susan Ann, born April 27, 1788, died March 5, 1861. By the second wife: Samuel Partridge, born Aug. 2, 1792, died in the far West.
(VI) Abraham Barker, son of Benjamin Barker, was born November 16, 1786, and died February 24, 1855. He married, January 7, 1819, Margaret Buffum, daughter of David and Hepsibah (Mitchell) Buffum; she was born at Newport, R. I., August 27, 1785, and died November 4, 1839. Children: Eleanor, born Dec. 4, 1820; Benjamin, mentioned below; Abraham Thomas, born July 7, 1824, died Nov. 29, 1869; Elizabeth Huntington, born Aug. 11, 1826, died May 8, 1900; Margaret Buffum, born April 9, 1829; Anne, born July 20, 1832, died Dec. 15, 1857.
(VII) Benjamin (2) Barker, son of Abraham Barker, was born September 24, 1822, and died April 14, 1897. He lived in Tiverton and was extensively engaged in the lumber business. He was highly honored and respected by those who knew him. He married, December 1, 1847, Catherine Jackson Dennis, daughter of James and Hannah (Jackson) Dennis, of Cranston, R. I. She was born December 7, 1829. Children: Richard Jackson, mentioned below; William Herbert, born Oct. 4, 1855, died Jan. 20, 1857; Benjamin, born July 19, 1858; Catherine Wheaton, born Jan. 25, 1863, married Effingham C. Haight, of Fall River.
(VIII) Richard Jackson Barker, son of Benjamin (2) Barker, was born at Tiverton, R. I., January 27, 1849. He was named for his maternal great-grandfather, Hon. Richard Jackson, who was a member of Congress from Rhode Island and very prominent in the State. Hon. Richard Jackson was the founder of the Washington Insurance Company, served on the board of fellows of Brown University, and filled numerous important offices in the State. He was the father of Governor Charles Jackson, of Rhode Island. Mr. Barker is also a direct descendant of Governor Prince, of Massachusetts, and of Roger Williams. He was educated at the Friends’ School in Providence, the Englewood Military Academy at Perth Amboy, N. J., and the Rensselear Institute, Troy, N. Y.
He was appointed judge advocate of the First Brigade, Rhode Island Militia, by General Burnside, when he was but eighteen years old, and served on his staff. He has always been a prominent lumber dealer in Fall River, Mass., and his son is in partnership with him. He is also prominent in financial circles. He was the founder and first president of the Warren Trust Company. In politics he is an Independent. He has been president of the Town Council of Tiverton, where he resides, and he has twice been candidate of his party for the State Senate from Warren, R. I. He married, October 9, 1873, Eliza Harris Lawton, of Tiverton.
Mrs. Barker completed her school life at Vassar College. She has always been keenly interested in educational affairs, and in 1885 was elected to the school committee of Tiverton, serving as clerk until she made her home in the South. Upon her return to Tiverton she was again elected to the school committee in 1896, and served as chairman for twenty-one consecutive years. She resigned from office at the end of this time and was most agreeable surprised by a reception tendered her by the townspeople in the parish house of the Central Baptist Church, when she received many testimonials of esteem and numerous gifts, loving cups, paintings, gavels, and leather chairs, in memory of the occasion. From the founding of the Woman’s College at Brown University she has been one of the corporation.
Mrs. Barker has been active in patriotic work, and has long been prominent in the Daughters of the American Revolution. She was regent of Gaspee Chapter, of Providence, with a membership of more than three hundred, having been the first woman, not a resident of Providence, to hold that office. Previously she served the chapter as historian for fourteen years, and during that time the office of state historian was created, which she filled for a four years term. She was elected by an unusually large vote in the National Congress of the Daughters of the American Revolution to the high office of vice-president general in April, 1906, and during her term of office served upon the most important committees, being chairman of the magazine committee, chairman of the furnishing committee, member of the auditing committee, secretary of the patriotic educational committee, and chairman of the program committee.
When she resigned the regency of Gaspee Chapter to accept the office in the national organization she was presented with a silver mounted gavel in Colonial style made of wood from the old Gaspee room. Mrs. Barker is an honorary member of several Massachusetts chapters, and is also honorary regent of Gaspee Chapter and honorary State regent of Rhode Island. During her State work she was chairman for thirteen years of the Gaspee prize committee at the Woman’s College of Brown University, and she was chairman for New England for the Daughters of the American Revolution exhibit at the Jamestown exposition. She has also been historian of the Rhode Island Society of Colonial Dames. Mrs. Barker is State regent for Rhode Island of the Pocahontas Memorial Association, and was speaker at the turning of the first sod for the monument, when she was presented with the gavel used on that occasion.
For many years she has been a vice-president of the Rhode Island Institute of Instruction, and has served upon its important committees. During the Spanish War she was one of the chairmen of the Rhode Island Sanitary Relief Association, was vice-president of the Tiverton branch of the Rhode Island Anti-Tuberculosis Society, and a member of the board of directors of the State Society, was a commissioner at the Atlanta Exposition, is a director of the Woman’s Union, and on the board of the Woman’s exchange in Fall River, as well as serving as secretary of the Emergency Hospital of the city until it was merged with the present Union Hospital. Since that time she has served upon the board and as secretary and vice-president of the union Hospital. Mrs. Barker is a visitor to the Rhode Island State College, having served for several years. She is a member of the executive committee for Newport county, embracing Newport, Jamestown, Middletown, Little Compton, Portsmouth and Tiverton, of the Republican Women’s Executive Committee. She is also on the Executive Board of the Newport County Republican Club, ex-officio member of the Board of Rhode Island Women’s Republican Club, member of the Women’s Club of Fall River, and the Women’s City Club of Boston.
In the course of her civic and patriotic activity, Mrs. Barker has contributed articles to several magazines, and she is also the author of a historical volume, “The Daughters of Liberty.” Mrs. Barker’s mother, Elizabeth Tillinghast Harris, the firs woman school board member in the United States, was a woman of prominence and usefulness in educational affairs in Rhode Island. Her mantle fell upon her daughter and the choice of Mrs. beaker as the speaker of the day upon the fortieth anniversary of the Rhode Island Normal School was a tribute to the service of both. “Mrs. Barker possesses great executive ability, is a graceful presiding officer and a ready public speaker.”
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Barker is well named “The Outlook,” and has an unrivaled location in Tiverton, overlooking Narragansett Bay and the surrounding country about Mount Hope Bar. The grounds are artistically laid out, and the mansion is tastefully and beautifully appointed. They have a fine library and have collected treasures from all parts of the world. Their collection of more than eleven thousand book plates, said to be one of the best in this country, was exhibited at the Atlanta Exposition and was awarded a medal.
Mr. and Mrs. Barker are the parents of one son, Richard Jackson, Jr.,, born in Fall River, Mass., Mar 22, 1875. He attended private schools in Fall River, Atlanta, Ga., and Stamford, Conn., an finished his college preparation at the English and Classical School, of Providence, whence he was graduated with honor, in 1894, and entered Brown University, class of 1898, attending two years. Since leaving college he has been associated with his father in the lumber business in Fall River, Mass. He is a member of the Masonic order, the Quiquechan Club, the Sons of Brown, and the University Club. He married, October 6, 1917, Jessie Satterlee Durfee, a granddaughter of Hon. Nathaniel B. Durfee, member of Congress from Rhode Island. Jessie Satterlee (Durfee) Barker, wife of Richard Jackson Barker, Jr., is also a lineal descendant of Governor William Green, Colonial Governor of Rhode Island. The ceremony was performed in Grace Church, Providence. They have one daughter, Elizabeth Lawton, born Feb. 6, 1919.
Colonel Alvin Arnold Barker
Ezra James Barker was born at the old Barker homestead, near Taggart’s Ferry, at Middletown, R. I., April 18, 1829, and died in Newport, R. I., November 30, 1900. He passed the first twenty years of his life at the homestead, his father’s assistant, then for twenty years, 1852-1872, engaged in business for himself as farmer and cattle drover. In 1873 he moved to Newport, and from 1874 until 1879 he was engaged in the meat business. From 1879 until 1889 he was associated wit his son, Colonel Alvin Arnold Barker, as partner in the grocery, grain and hay business in Newport. From 1887 until 1890, inclusive, he was a member of Newport Common Council, for five years a commissioner of Newport Asylum; member of Newport Board of Aldermen, in 1893, and the same year he was appointed by Governor Brown a member of a commission to divide the city of Newport into wards. From 1894 until 1897, inclusive, he was a member of the Newport Board of Health. He married, in Newport, June 10, 1853, Lydia Eunice Barker, born in Middletown, R. I., November 10, 1828, died in Newport, May 28, 1916, surviving her husband sixteen years. They were the parents of three children: Luella, born I Middletown, R. I., July 18, 1856; Alvin Arnold, of further mention; Isabelle, born in Middletown, Jan. 5, 1862, married, in Newport, Sept. 7, 1880, John D. Richardson, Jr.
Alvin Arnold Barker was born in Middletown, R. I., November 29, 1857, and there spent the first sixteen years of his life. In 1873, he moved to Newport, R. I., with his parents, and prepared for a business career. In 1818 [sic] he established in business for himself as a dealer in groceries, grain and hay. In 1879 his father became his partner and together they continued in business until 1880, Ezra James Barker then retiring. Colonel Barker continued in business until the Spanish-American War. He served in that war, and later settled in Cuba, where since 1903 he has been heavily interested in cattle ranching and sugar growing.
Colonel Barker’s military career began in 1875, when he became a member of Newport Artillery, Rhode Island Militia, and closed June 5, 1919, with his resignation from the Rhode Island National Guard. A detailed account of his service follows: July 27, 1875, joined the Newport Artillery, Rhode Island Militia; 1882-83-84, first lieutenant and quartermaster of Newport Artillery; 1885-86-87, major, Newport Artillery, Rhode Island Militia; 1888, May 29, appointed aide-de-camp to Governor Royal C. Taft’s personal staff, rank of Colonel; 1892, August 30, elected lieutenant-colonel, Newport Artillery; 1893, went in command of Newport Artillery to the World’s Columbian Exposition, Chicago, Ill.; the Newport Artillery was escort and body guard to Governor Brown on Rhode Island Day, October 5, 1893; 1898, April 30, appointed major in First Rhode Island United States Volunteer Regiment Infantry, for service in the war with Spain, taking a furlough from Newport Artillery; at Camp Dyer, R. I., from May 28, 1898, until August 3, 1898; on road march from August 3, 1898, until August 10, 1898; at Thoroughfare Gap, camping in the mud, from August 10, 1898, until August 22, 1898; at Camp Mead, near Middletown, Pa., from August 23, to November 13, 1898; at Camp Fornance, Columbia, S. C., from November 15, 1898, until March 30, 1899, when the regiment was mustered out of the United States service.
He was appointed by William McKinley, President of the United States, captain in the Twenty-sixth Regiment of the United States Volunteer Infantry, commission dated July 11, 1899. Assigned to command of Company C at its organization. Left San Francisco, Cal., September 26, 1899, on United States transport, "Grant." for Philippine Islands. Arrived back at San Francisco, Cal., May 29, 1901. Mustered out of service with regiment, June 13, 1901. He was assigned and held the following commands: Battalion commander of Second Battalion, Twenty-sixth R. U. S. U. Infantry from July 25, 1899, to August 9, 1899; battalion commander of Third Battalion, Twenty-sixth R. U. S. U. Infantry, from October 1, 1899, to June 12, 1900; battalion commander of Second Battalion, Twenty-sixth R. U. S. U. Infantry, from July 29, 1900, to June 13, 1901; command of district of Miagao and Leon, Iloilo Province, Panay, Philippine Islands, from January 6, 1900, to June 12, 1900; about 75,000 inhabitants. Command of Cabatuan and Circle, Iloilo Province, Panay, Philippine Islands, from August 10, 1900, to March 4, 1901; about 80,000 inhabitants. He took part in the following engagements, skirmishes, expeditions, etc.:
He was appointed by William McKinley, President of the United States, June 27, 1901, captain and quartermaster, United States army; accepted June 29, 1901. Commission dated February 2, 1901. Resigned July 7, 1901. On July 31, 1917, assigned to active duty P. O. Special Orders, No. 145, Rhode Island Militia, with Newport Artillery, on February 1, 1918, assigned to command the Home Guard force of Rhode Island, per General Orders 3 A. G. O., January 29, 1918. Headquarters State House, Providence, R. I. April 24, 1918, appointed and commissioned colonel of Rhode Island State Guard. June 5, 1919, resigned from Rhode Island state Guard. General Orders, June 5, 1919.
In 1892 Colonel Barker was elected a member of Newport City Council, but declined reelection. In 1884 he became a member of Cornet Council, Royal Arcanum. He affiliated with Camaguey Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, Camaguey, Cuba, November 19, 1911, and is a charter member of Landmark Lodge, No. 137, Free and Accepted Masons, Camaguey. He is a member of the Havana Country Club, Havana, Cuba, and has lived in Cuba since 1903.
Colonel Barker married, in Middletown, R. I., November 2, 1882, Augusta N. Peckham, born in Middletown, September 14, 1862, died July 26, 1911, daughter of E. Trumand and Elizabeth Braman (Peabody) Peckham. Children, all born in Newport, R. I.; Ezra James, born July 23, 1885, married Hellen Harrah, of Detroit, Mich., Nov. 2, 1918; Lydia E. Elizabeth, born in Newport, R. I., June 10, 1887, died there, Sept. 7, 1914; Myrtalie, born Aug. 30, 1889, married George A. Verrill, Sept. 23, 1912; Alva Arnold, born Dec. 4, 1891, married Charles Steward Townsend, of Nova Scotia, Canada, October 18, 1917.
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