The Barker Family

Ref. M72

THE BARKER FAMILY

The Barker name was introduced into our family history as long ago as 5.12.1732 when Jane Barker married Thomas Chambers at Bradford.  As we explain in the last part of the Chambers family story (see Ref. M7 ), when discussing the possible origins of our Philip Chambers, we liked the fact that Jane Barker’s father and grandfather were both called Philip, a name that was comparatively rare and for which we could find no previous precedent in any Chambers families in  the West Riding of Yorkshire.

Furthermore, our Philip Chambers retired to Hampsthwaite, which is on the River Nidd just eight miles upstream from Knaresborough, which hints at an affinity for his mother’s home area, if not any connection he might have had on his paternal side.

Barker Rawson family

Jane Chambers (nee Barker) was buried at Keighley 23.9.1757, aged 45.  We believe she was the girl baptised at Knaresborough 1.4.1712 as the eldest child of Philip Barker and Margaret Rawson, who had married at Routh, East Riding, 13.2.1711 (NS).  Unfortunately, although the Knaresborough registers, judging from the scanned images, were for the most part clearly written and well preserved, the facts given are minimal and we just do not know what Philip Barker’s profession was.  Details of this family are at Appendix 1 hereto.  Philip Barker was buried at Knaresborough 7.6.1747, aged 56, and we believe his widow was the Margaret Barker buried at Spofforth, which is five miles away, 30.12.1757.

The only Margaret Rawson baptism that seemed to fit was at Holy Trinity Hull 12.11.1693.  If that was “ours” she would have been two years younger than her husband and the age at death would be 64.

The Barker Mathew Family

We combed Knaresborough records and decided that the above Philip Barker was the son of Philip Barker who married at Knaresborough 25.1.1680 (NS) Jane Mathew,   who we think had been baptised at Knaresborough 8.5.1651 as the daughter of John Mathew and Jane Brown.  (For the Mathew family see Ref. M722.)  Details of this family are at Appendix 2 hereto.

Philip Barker was buried at Knaresborough 29.11.1718, age not stated, and his widow was buried there 12.8.1719 as a pauper.  She was 68.

January 2021

                                                                                    Appendix 1 to Ref. M72

The Family of Philip Barker and Margaret Rawson

Philip Barker and Margaret Rawson married at Routh, East Riding 13.2.1711 (NS).  They had children baptised at Knaresborough as follows:

Jane                       1.11.1712.  Married at Bradford 5.12.1732  Thomas Chambers.  See main text.

John & Thomas     1.6.1715.  Said to be sons of Philip Barker Junior*

                              *Philip Barker’s father, Philip, was buried 29.7.1718

Dori                       24.10.1719

Philip                     4.10.1722.  Buried 5.8.1723.

Philip Barker was buried At Knaresborough 7.6.1747, aged 56 and we believe his widow was the Margaret Barker buried at Spofforth, which is five miles away, 30.12.1757.   She could have been 64.

                                                                                    Appendix 2 to Ref. M72

The Family of Philip Barker and Jane Mathew

Philip Barker and Jane Mathew married at Knaresborough 25.1.1680 (NS).

They had children baptised there as follows:

William                  23.10.1680

Robert                   28.11.1683

Philip                     23.9.1686. 

Philip                     17.3.1691. Married at Knaresborough 13.12.1711 Margaret Rawson.  See main text and Appendix 1.

William                  11.10.1694.

Philip Barker was buried at Knaresborough 29.11.1718, age not stated, and his widow was buried there 12.8.1719 as a pauper.  She was 68.