Barker Genealogy of Tiverton, RI

The Barker family of Tiverton, R. I., and vicinity, represented in that section by many prominent citizens, is one of the earliest settled families of New England. The first of the name of whom there is authentic record was Robert Barker, born in 1616, who came to New England at a very early day with John Thorp. In 1641, with others, he bought from Jonathan Brewster, son of Elder Brewster, a ferry and 100 acres of land at Marshfield. Later he located at Duxbury, where for several years he was a surveyor. His death occurred about 1691. He married Lucy Williams, who died March 7, 1681 or 1682. Their children were:

1. Robert, born Feb. 27, 1630, who died Sept. 25, 1729
2. Francis, who died in 1720
3. Isaac
4. Abigail, who died in May, 1718
5. Rebecca, who died in 1697

Isaac Barker, son of Robert, was a surveyor of Duxbury in 1674, and a constable in 1687. On Dec. 8, 1685, he married Judith, daughter of Gov. Thomas and Mary (Collier) Prince. After the death of Mr. Barker, in 1710, his widow married William Tubbs, of Pembroke. To Isaac Barker and his wife were born:

1. Samuel (born Sept. 2, 1667, died Feb. 1, 1738-39)
2. Isaac
3. Robert (born in 1673, died Sept. 6, 1765)
4. Jabez
5. Francis
6. Rebecca
7. Mary
8. Lydia
9. Judith
10. Martha
11. Bathsheba

Isaac Barker (2), son of Isaac, 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, also in farming, and in laying out roads and erecting water-works. He was also a great student for his day. He was a member of the Society of Friends. His death occurred May 7, 1754, On Oct. 23, 1707, he married Elizabeth Slocum, of Dartmouth, born Feb. 12, 1689, daughter of Peleg and Mary (Hoiden) Slocum. She died Aug. 18, 1774, the mother of children as follows:

1. Mary, born Aug. 1, 1708, died in 1788
2. Sylvester, born in May, 1710, died March 5, 1801
3. Peleg, born in August, 1712, died about 1788
4. Prince was born Feb. 9, 1716
5. Elizabeth, born Dec. 9, 1719, died April 10, 1780
6. Lydia died (?) Aug. 13, 1754

Prince Barker, son of Isaac (2), born Feb. 9, 1716, was married Nov. 6, 1746, to Abigail Keen, of Pembroke, born Feb. 6, 1721, daughter of Benjamin and Deborah (Barker) Keen; she died Sept. 2, 1790. Prince Barker was a man who lived up to his name, being noted for his honesty and his great hospitality. His children were:

1. Prince, born Oct. 26, 1747, died June 24, 1781
2. Isaac, born May 1, 1749, died in December, 1825
3. Abigail, born Jan. 29, 1751, died Jan. 7, 1788
4. Deborah was born Jan. 29, 1753
5. Benjamin was born Nov. 30, 1756
6. Prince Barker died Jan. 27, 1784

Benjamin Barker, son of Prince, born Nov. 30, 1756, was a man of prominence and wealth. In 1773 he took half of the Barker fulling mill near the homestead, and later in life bought the homestead and farm in Scituate. In addition he acquired considerable property in the town of Tiverton, and at the time of his death, June 19, 1837, he was a wealthy man. On Jan. 31, 1785, he married (first) Ann Barker, born Aug. 29, 1750, daughter of Abraham and Susannah (Anthony) Barker, of Tiverton. She died Aug. 16, 1789, and on June 23, 1791, he wedded (second) Rebecca Partridge, of Boston, born in 1752, who died Aug. 11, 1835, daughter of Capt. Samuel Partridge. Of his children, Abraham (born Nov. 16, 1786, died Feb. 24, 1855) and Susan Ann (born April 27, 1788, died March 5, 1861) were both by the first marriage, while Samuel Partridge (born Aug. 2, 1792, died in the far West) was born to the second.

Abraham Barker, born Nov. 16, 1786, son of Benjamin, was married Jan. 7, 1819, to Margaret Buffum, born at Newport, R. I., Aug. 27, 1785, daughter of David and Hepsibah (Mitchell) Buffum. She died Nov. 4, 1839, while he survived until Feb. 24, 1855. Their children were

1. Eleanor, born Dec. 4, 1820
2. Benjamin, Sept. 24, 1822
3. Abraham Thomas, July 7, 1824 (died Nov. 29, 1869)
4. Elizabeth Huntington, Aug. 11, 1826 (died May 8, 1900)
5. Margaret Buffum, April 9, 1829
6. Anne, July 20, 1832 (died Dec. 15, 1857)

Abraham Thomas Barker, son of Abraham, born July 7, 1824, died Nov. 29, 1869. He married Ellen Frye, of Vassalboro, Maine, who died in 1867. Their children were:

1. Edward, born July 14, 1859
2. Abraham, born Feb. 4, 1861, now of New York City
3. Margaret Buffum
4. Ellen F., who lives in New York City

Edward Barker, son of Abraham Thomas, was born July 14, 1859. At ten years of age he became a pupil in the Moses Brown School at Providence, where he remained four and a half years. He then spent one year at Nyack, N. Y., and finished his schooling at Williston Seminary, Easthampton, Mass., in 1877, when seventeen years of age. His first employment was in the capacity of clerk for his uncle Benjamin Barker, then a lumber merchant at Fall River. He next went into the office of the Flint Mill under George H. Eddy, and from there to the Union Mills under Thomas Brayton, treasurer. He returned to his uncle’s employ, for a short time, after which he engaged in the furniture business with Charles H. Flint, under the firm name of Flint & Barker. The firm had stores at Worcester, two in Fall River and one in Manchester, N. H. Mr. Barker continued in this business for over twenty years, and for five years of that time his residence was in Worcester. He was elected treasurer of the Davis Mills; and on Jan. 1, 1907, he was elected treasurer of the Barnaby Manufacturing Company, but resigned in 1909. He was elected treasurer of the Flint Mills in 1908, of which he is also a director; and he serves as a director of the Massasoit-Pocasset Bank.

On Jan. 14, 1885, Mr. Barker married Edith F., daughter of John D. Flint, of Fall River. Their children are

1. Clarissa Flint, born July 3, 1890
2. Margaret Buffum, April 5, 1893
3. Phillis, March 14, 1894