The American Barker line is real and traceable – the story elements are partly tradition and not documentation. The English pedigree is not proven and, for now, should be treated as hypothesis and not fact. Here’s what needs to be done next:
Anchor the immigrant Robert Barker (c1616 – 1691) in
– Plymouth Colony records
– Land deeds
– Church records
1. William de Calverhall, later known as William le Barker of Hallon.
Child:
2. Roger le Barker, died 1368.
Child:
3. William Barker, of Hallon, died 1411.
Child:
4. Henry Barker, of Hallon, died 1438.
Child:
5. William Barker, of Hallon, died 1480.
Child:
6. John Barker, of Hallon, died 1507.
Child:
7. John Barker, of Aston, died 1531.
Child:
8. Humphrey Barker, of Aston, died 1538.
Child:
9. William Barker, of Claverley; married Margaret Goulston, daughter and heiress of John Goulston of Goulston, parish of Chewardine, England.
Child:
10. William Barker, of Colhurst; married Joan Horne, daughter of William Horne.
Child:
11. John Barker, of Colhurst; married Elizabeth Sandford, daughter of Hugh Sandford.
Child:
12. George Barker, of Colhurst; married Catherine Buckley, daughter of Thomas Buckley.
Child:
13. Robert Barker; married Catherine Ackworth, daughter of George Ackworth of Kent.
Children (reported):
• John Barker
• Robert Barker
(said to have emigrated to New England, ca. 1628–1630)
Early New England Settlement
14. John Barker and Robert Barker, brothers, are described as early adventurers in Plymouth, Massachusetts, arriving circa 1628–1630. As young men of some means, they became dissatisfied with conditions in Plymouth Colony and sought opportunity beyond its settled bounds.
They acquired a boat and, accompanied by an enslaved African assistant, explored the nearby coastline. Entering what was then called the “Great River” (later known as the North River), they traveled inland to the Namassakeeset stream and ultimately reached Indian Pond.
Recognizing the strategic and economic potential of the location, they established a trading post. Their first shelter was a crude hut erected to survive the winter. In the following spring, they constructed a more permanent dwelling in what is now Pembroke, Massachusetts.
This structure was modest but durable: a small, square stone house approximately fifteen feet on each side and about six feet in height, built of flat stones laid in clay mortar and covered with a shed roof. It contained a single room with a large central fireplace. A wooden frame addition was later attached, and the house reportedly remained in use by Barker descendants until after 1883.
Because of its sturdy construction, central location, and the presence of a well within its walls, the house was adapted for defensive purposes. During King Philip’s War (1675–1678), it served as a garrison house. Defensive portholes were said to remain visible until the structure was eventually dismantled.
Historical Context Notes
- Hallon, Aston, and Claverley (England): These locations are in Shropshire, reflecting the family’s long-standing roots in that region during the late medieval and early Tudor periods.
- Use of “le Barker”: The name suggests an occupational origin (likely related to tanning or working with bark), common in medieval England before surnames became fixed.
- Migration Period (1620s–1630s): This aligns with the broader wave of early English settlement in New England following the founding of Plymouth Colony in 1620.
- Trading Posts: Early settlers often established such posts to trade with Native Americans, particularly in furs.
- Garrison Houses: During conflicts like King Philip’s War, fortified homes served as local defensive strongholds for settlers.