James Barker

Notes:

BARKER GENEALOGY - FIRST GENERATION -

#1 JAMES Barker is said to have been born in Essex Co., England in 1617, his sister Christiana m. as second husband, a Capt. Thomas Beecher and sailed with him to America in 1630, settling in Charlestown, MA.

James mother having died about 1620, it was but natural for the father (also James by name) to plan to join his eldest daughter in America. On 24 March 1634, Father and son sailed from Southhampton, England, on the Ship MARY & JOHN, Robert Sayres, Master. The father died on the voyage and James Jr. was taken in charge by a passenger, Nicholas Easton, who later married James' sister Christiana.

James was Corporal in 1644 for Newport, RI, Ensign in 1648, was Member of General Court of Elections, Newport in 1648, in 1655, Ye Rule of Freeman of Ye Colonies of every Towne, James name is on the Newport, RI list, in 1655-61-63 he was Member of Court of Commissioners, in 1661 he and 40 others petitioned for a tract of land (now Westerly, RI) dividing it into 18 shares, James receiving 1/2 share, was also one of the trustees, was for many years a teaching brother amongst the Baptists.

On 4 April 1676, it was voted 'that in the troublesome times and straits in this colony, (King Philip's War) the assembly desiring the advise and concurrence of the most judicious inhabitants of it may be had for the whole, we desire at their next sittynge, the company and counsel of Mr. Benedict Arnold, John Clarke, James Barker and 13 others and the General Sergeants, to inform the several persons, the assembly's desire thereon."

James was Deputy Governorin 1678 after the death of Gov. Coddington. In 1644 he married Barbara, dau. of William and Frances (Latham) Dungan. b. 1628; d.--- ; she was granddaughter of Lewis Latham, Falconer to King Charles I. James d. 1702.

James married Barbara Dungan in 1644 in Newport,,RI. Barbara (daughter of Living and Frances Latham) was born in 1628 in London,Middlesex,Eng; died in Sep 1677 in Newport,,RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

... BARKER GENEALOGY ... SECOND GENERATION

#3 CAPT. JAMES was freeman in 1675, Member Court Martial, Newport, RI 1676, Deputy Gov. 1678-1716, Asst Captain 1703-5-6-8-9, was on Committee chosen and empowered to proportion and affix rates of 'grain and other specie' to be received as pay for a tax, 1 bu. corn to be accepted as 2 s. barley 1 s. 8 d. rye 2 s. 6 d. oats 4 d. wool 9 d. wheat 3 d., on Committee appointed by Proprietors to divide 'Common lands' 1702-15, receiving 18 acres as his share in 1702, in 1707 was a member of 2nd Baptist church, which separated from the First Church. He married 1673 Sarah, dau. of William and Mary (Gould) Jeffrey. b. 1656; d. 11 Feb. 1736.

8 children all born in Newport ,, RI. James was first child.

Capt married Sarah Jefferey in 1673 in Newport,,RI. Sarah (daughter of William Jefferey and Living) was born in 1656 in Newport,,RI; died on 11 Feb 1736 in Newport,,RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

...BARKER GEN... THIRD GENERATION

#10 JAMES received 12 acres in Barker Swamp in 17 July 1702, clearing it for a home, was a freeman in 1704, Deputy to the General Assembly 1709-1717-1725-26, was Moderator of meeting of Proprietors in 1744. He married 1699 Mary Cook. b. 1679; d. 24 Feb. 1758.

NEHGS Register, Vol. 122, April 1968, page 101: Abstracts of Wills: Probater Records (Vol. 1), Middletown, RI-
BARKER, James. Mentions: sons John, Robert, Peleg & James Barker; daughters Priscilla Clarke, Phebe Peckham, Mary Greene & Deborah Hoar; wife Mary Barker; grandson James, son of James Barker. Will dated Feb. 2, 1750; probated April 17, 1758.

James married Mary Cook in 1699. Mary (daughter of John Cook) was born in 1679 in Middletown,Newport,RI; died on 24 Feb 1758 in Middletown,Newport,RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

...BARKER GENEALOGY ... FOURTH GENERATION.

#43 JAMES was a freeman (in Middletown, RI) in 1722, Member of the Town Council 1743-66, in 1758 was deputed to enlist soldiers, the old tenor bills issued in 1750, called 9th Bank, were redeemed in 1764, opposed by James in rhyming protest.

"I do beg leave for to protest
Against this bill, which doth transgress
Against our Sovereign Lord the King,
Likewise injustice is therein,
For I can't see, upon my soul
Why two fifths should discharge the whole."

He married 21 Jan 1724 Mary, dau. of William and Mary (Tew) Peckham. b. 7 Sept 1704; d. 12 June 1728; mar (2) ---- 1730 Margaret, dau. Jeremiah and Mary (Clark) Weeden. b. 1701; d. 8 May 1785.

BERKSHIRE HISTORICAL AND SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY, VOL. 1, PUB. 1892.
Early Settlements in Cheshire, List of conveyences recorded in the
first ten books of Pittsfield Registry of Deeds running to persons
named as residents of Rhode Island, page 85:
James Barker, Middletown, R.I., June 9, 1773. Land in
Lanesborough, being part of Lot No. 21 and 76 in the 2nd division, containing 57 1/2 acres. B. 10. p. 550.
.... September 4, 1773. Land in
Lanesborough, 1 acre.
(John Barker, Newport, R.I., June 9, 1773. Land in Lanesborough, being part of lot 21 and 76 in the 2nd division, 76 acres, B. 10, p. 550.)
NOTE: A LATER REFERENCE STATES THAT JAMES AND JOHN
WERE BROTHERS.

James married Margaret Clarke Weeden in 1730 in Middletown,,RI. Margaret (daughter of Jeremiah Weeden and Mary Clarke) was born in 1701 in of Middletown, Newport, RI; died on 08 May 1785 in RI. [Group Sheet]