Benjamin Barker (abt. 1751 - 1837)

Born about 1751 in Andover, Essex, Massachusetts Bay

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth (Ames) Barker — married 15 Dec 1774 in Boxford, Essex, Massachusetts Bay

Died 22 Feb 1837 at about age 86 in Rindge, Cheshire, New Hampshire, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Patricia Abbott [send private message]

Biography

BENJAMIN BARKER,^[1] born at Andover, 1751 and baptized 1752 son of Joseph Baker and Mehetabel Barnard;^[2] Benjamin died at Rindge, NH,^[3] 22 Feb 1837;^[4] married at Boxford, 15 Dec 1774,^[5] ELIZABETH “BETTY” AMES (also given as Eams), born at Boxford, 10 Feb 1743/44 daughter of Jeremiah and Sarah (Kimball) Eams;^[6] Betty died at Rindge after 1810 and before 1820.

Benjamin was the only known child of Joseph Barker and Mehitable Barnard. Benjamin’s father Joseph was deceased by 1756. On 17 May 1756, Benjamin Barker was allowed as guardian to Benjamin Barker minor child of Joseph Barker of Andover deceased. In 1765, Benjamin Barker minor over the age of 14 made choice of John Farnum as his guardian.^[7]

Benjamin married Betty Ames of Boxford who was seven years his senior. On 5 April 1782, Benjamin joined his wife Betty in a quitclaim of her interest in the estate of her uncle Thomas Kimball who died without children in 1780. Betty joined her siblings Thomas Eams and Nathan Eams and her Hovey and Kimball cousins in the quitclaim.^[8]

Benjamin and Betty remained in Andover through the births of their four children. In 1790, Benjamin Barker’s household was six persons at Andover: one male 16 and over, two males under 16, and three females.^[9] About 1793, Benjamin, Betty, and children relocated to Rindge, New Hampshire. On 16 May 1792, Benjamin Barker cordwainer of Andover, for payment of £190, purchased from Asa Sherwin 106 acres in Rindge being part of the first lot in the seventh range.^[10] On 1 January 1793, Benjamin Barker yeoman of Andover with his wife Betty, in consideration of £234, two tracts of land totaling about 38 acres with buildings in Andover to Samuel Johnson.^[11]

Benjamin and family settled on a farm in Rindge to the east of the farm of Deacon Goddard. He was known for his telling of tall tales.^[12]

In 1800, the Barker household was five persons: one male 45 and over, two females 45 and over, and two females 10 to 16.^[13] On 5 October 1801, Benjamin Barker cordwainer of Rindge with his wife Betty, in consideration of one thousand dollars, sold to Joseph Barker (their son) blacksmith of Rindge the 106-acre lot that was part of the first lot of the seventh range. On 7 Sep 1802, Joseph sold this same property to Joel Raymond for $500.^[14] On 1 August 1808, Joseph Barker blacksmith of Rindge purchased property in Gardner, Massachusetts where he settled.^[15]

Benjamin’s household was four persons in 1810: one male 45 and over, one female 45 and over, one female 16 to 25, and one female 26 to 44.^[16] Betty Barker seems to have died between 1810 and 1820 when Benjamin’s household was one male 45 and over, one male 16 to 18, one female under 10, and one female 26 to 44.^[17]

Military

Benjamin served from Andover during the Revolution. On 6 March 1833, Benjamin Barker of Rindge, then aged 83 years, made application for a pension. In June 1775, he traveled from Andover and joined troops around Boston on 16 June 1775 where he took the gun and equipment of a sick soldier and went as a volunteer in the company of Capt. Farnum. He was in the Battle of Bunker Hill on June 17 where he was wounded. He was in the hospital four weeks and then returned home but was unable to labor for about two months. On 1 December 1775, he enlisted in the company of Capt. John Abbot and marched to Cambridge and Roxbury where he was for two months. Benjamin enlisted in the same company in September 1776 in Col. Cogswell’s regiment, and the troops marched to Fairfield, Connecticut and then White Plains. He served two months and immediately re-enlisted for another two months. In the Fall of 1777, he was in the company of Capt. Johnson and arrived at Saratoga just before the surrender of Gen. Burgoyne. Afterwards, the company guarded prisoners at Cambridge, and after one month, Benjamin returned home. He was born in Andover in 1751 and was living there at the time of his enlistment. He lived in Andover and then in Rindge. Benjamin was awarded a pension. There is a statement dated 18 February 1838 that Benjamin’s only surviving child was Benjamin Barker who lived at some distance and that a pittance was due to the son form the pension.^[18]

Probate

The probate record for Benjamin Barker in Cheshire County dated 4 January 1838 includes a single document noting that Benjamin died at Rindge on 22 February 1837, that he was a pensioner, and that he left one surviving child, Benjamin Barker.^[19]

Children

Benjamin Barker and Betty Ames were parents of four children born at Andover.

i BENJAMIN BARKER, b. 16 May 1777; d. at Antwerp, NY, 30 Dec 1840 at age 63 years, 7 months, 14 days; m. at Cambridge, MA, 14 Jan 1798, PHEBE JOHNSON, b. at Woburn, 4 Apr 1776 daughter of Abijah and Mary (Reed) Johnson; Phebe d. at Antwerp, 28 Aug 1846 at age 70 years, 4 months, 24 days.

ii JOSEPH BARKER, b. 28 May 1780; d. at Gardner, MA, 19 Jul 1813; m. at Gardner, 8 Oct 1809, MARTHA “PATTY” TEMPLE, b. at Gardner, 31 Mar 1791 daughter of Ahio and Elizabeth (Heywood) Temple; Patty d. at Gardner, 17 Feb 1864. Patty married second Moses Porter.

iii SARAH BARKER, b. May 1784; d. at Conway, MA, 26 Jun 1826; m. 1811, JONATHAN SHERWIN, b. at Rindge, 20 Aug 1783 son of Asa and Mercy (Kimball) Sherwin; Jonathan d. at Conway, 22 Oct 1869.

iv BETSEY BARKER, b. 7 Jan 1788; d. at Rindge, 4 Dec 1827.^[20] Betsey did not marry.

Sources

1. ↑ Family summary taken from Abbott, The Descendants of Richard and Joanna Barker of Andover ©
2. ↑ Barker, Benjamin, s. Joseph and Mehetabel, bp. ––– ––, 1752. CR1; Andover Vital Records; https://ma-vitalrecords.org/MA/Essex/Andover/Images/Andover_B052.shtml
3. ↑ Although many believe he died in Antwerp, New York, it was his son Benjamin who died there. If there is a stone for him in Antwerp, it is likely a memorial plaque. The probate of his estate was in Rindge, New Hampshire and the pension record specifies that he died at Rindge.
4. ↑ "United States Revolutionary War Pension Payment Ledgers, 1818-1872," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q24Q-L9KV : accessed 20 April 2023), Benjamin Barker, 04 Mar 1836; citing Concord, Concord, Merrimack, New Hampshire, United States, NARA microfilm publication T718 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1962), roll 6; FHL microfilm 1,319,386.
5. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPZN-J77C : 11 May 2022), Benjamin Barker and Betty Ames, 15 Dec 1774; citing Marriage, Boxford, Essex, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America, Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston; FHL microfilm 007009710.
6. ↑ Ames, Bette, d. Jeremiah and Sarah, Feb. 10, [1743-4. BC] Boxford Vital Records; https://ma-vitalrecords.org/MA/Essex/Boxford/Images/Boxford_B032.shtml
7. ↑ Essex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1638-1881.Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2014. Case 1648
8. ↑ Massachusetts Land Records, Essex County, 157:129
9. ↑ The National Archives in Washington, DC; Washington, DC; First Census of the United States, 1790.; Year: 1790; Census Place: Andover, Essex, Massachusetts; Series: M637; Roll: 4; Page: 19; Family History Library Film: 0568144
10. ↑ New Hampshire Land Records, Cheshire County, 19:458
11. ↑ Massachusetts Land Records, Essex County, 156:93
12. ↑ Stearns, History of the Town of Rindge, pp 440-441
13. ↑ Year: 1800; Census Place: Rindge, Cheshire, New Hampshire; Series: M32; Roll: 20; Page: 976; Image: 138; Family History Library Film: 218679
14. ↑ New Hampshire Land Records, Cheshire County, 37:444, 40:159
15. ↑ Massachusetts Land Records, Worcester County, 170:601
16. ↑ Year: 1810; Census Place: Rindge, Cheshire, New Hampshire; Roll: 23; Page: 83; Image: Nhm252_23-0046; FHL Roll: 0218684
17. ↑ 1820 U S Census; Census Place: Rindge, Cheshire, New Hampshire; Page: 398; NARA Roll: M33_59; Image: 300
18. ↑ U. S. Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File, Case S12049
19. ↑ New Hampshire Probate, Cheshire County, Rindge, Pension Affidavit, 1838
20. ↑ "New Hampshire, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1636-1947," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPM6-Y3CT : 9 March 2021), Betsey Barker, 4 Dec 1827; citing Death, Cheshire, New Hampshire, United States, New Hampshire Bureau of Vital Records and Statistics, Concord; FHL microfilm 005468817.

• Abbott, Patricia A. In Press. The Descendants of Richard and Joanna Barker of Andover Through Six Generations. Emerald Isle, NC: Patricia A. Abbott.
• Stearns, Ezra Scollay. 1875. History of the Town of Rindge, New Hampshire, from the Date of the Rowley Canada or Massachusetts Charter, to the Present Time, 1736-1874, with a Genealogical Register of the Rindge Families. Boston: G. H. Ellis.