John Barker & Rebecca Hoar

Home of John Barker (grandson of our John Barker) in RI

John Barker, my wife's 5th great grandfather was born in Newport in the colony of Rhode Island on December 18, 1710.  Specifically he was born and lived in the northern section of Newport that split away from the present day Newport and incorporated as a separate town, Middletown, in 1743.  John was from a large family, his father was a member of the General Assembly.  John, his brother James, and his father were listed as Freemen at the incorporation of the town in 1743.  The Barker family had lived in America since the early 1600's, and had originally come from England.

He married Rebecca Hoar on Sept 25, 1735 by Justice Peleg Smith.  Rebecca was also from Middletown.  She was born in 1713 into a large family that had resided in Rhode Island and Massachusetts for generations.

They had nine children: Hezekiah, John, Mary, Samuel, Elishia, David, Gideon, John (named after the first John died), and Hezekiah (named after the first Hezekiah died).  The family was reported to be "worthy members of the baptist church".

I have found no mention of John's occupation.  His father and some brothers are listed as farmers, Freemen, and members of the town council.  I assume John farmed as well.  He is listed as a Freeman in 1743.

John died March 17, 1777 during the time of the Revolutionary War.  Rebecca died May 18, 1800.  Their burial site is likely in Middletown at an old cemetery listed as Rhode Island Historical Cemetery Middletown #29:

Rhode Island Historical Cemetery Middletown #29

Location: This cemetery has not been located: G H Richardson described this lot as "Barker Burying Ground, near north end of Hanging Rocks".

25 burials with 3 inscriptions from 1778 to 1778

Note: This Lot is located somewhere on the homestead of James Barker [1675-1759] and Mary Cook [1679-1758]. It is highly probable that they and and many of their descendants occupy the 22 unidentified graves. The property came into the posession of their great-grandson Isaac Barker: 2 of the identified graves are those of his first-born daughter and wife.

Gideon Barker & Elizabeth Croade

Newport's original town common, the Parade, is now known as Washington Square.
The Colony House - Rhode Island's state house until 1901 - is in the background.

Gideon Barker, Father of Nathaniel Barker, and my wife's 4th great grandfather was born in Middletown in the colony of Rhode Island on December 4, 1751.  He lived in Middletown and Newport throughout his life.  Newport was founded in 1639 by people who embraced the separation of church and state (unlike the puritans).  Most of the original residents were Baptist, but there was significant Quaker and Jewish representation in Newport.  By the time of Gideon's birth, Newport was one of the largest ports in America.  Gideon, at the age of 35, witnessed the beginning of a three year British occupation of Rhode Island.  The French later occupied Newport after the British left, and it was from here that the French began their march to Yorktown (1781). 

On October 25, 1781 (6 days after the American and French victory at Yorktown, which was the last major battle fo the Revolutionary war), Gideon married Elizabeth Croade at the Second Baptist Church by Rev. Gardiner Thurston.  They had two children, Nathaniel, and Cynthia.  I have no information on his occupation.  Elizabeth was born on June 1, 1756 also in Middletown. 
Gideon lived to age 82 (September 11, 1834).  Below is his gravestone, along with that of his wife, who died at the age of 90 (December 30 1846).

Gideon Barker (Middletown Cemetery)

Elizabeth Barker (Croade), (Middletown Cemetery)

Nathaniel Barker & Mary Peckham

Middletown, RI

Nathaniel Barker, my wife's 3rd Great Grandfather, and father of Nathaniel C. Barker, was born in Middletown, Rhode Island on November 14, 1782.

Middletown lies between Newport, RI and Portsmouth, RI and is undeniably a town influenced by the sea.  The town was incorporated in 1743 from a section of Newport.  Nathaniel lived at a time before Newport became known as a town of elaborate mansions.  In fact Nathaniel was born a year after the end of the Revolutionary War.   He had only one sibling, a sister Cynthia, born in 1787.

On Dec 11, 1803 he married 20 year old Mary Peckham also from Middletown.  She was born April 4, 1783.  The Peckham family, just like the Barker family had been long time residents of the Middletown and Newport area.  They raised 9 children, Eliza, Mary, John, Angeline, Phebe, Sarah, Nathaniel C., Gideon, and Cynthia.

Windmill from Middletown farm built in 1715

I have not found Nathaniel's occupation.

Nathaniel died young at 39, on April 20, 1821.  He is buried in Middletown with Mary who passed away April 16, 1831.

Below is Mary Peckham Barker's headstone