Rebecca (Barker) Sawyer (abt. 1652 - 1711)

Born about 1652 in Marshfield, Plymouth Colony

Ancestors

Wife of Josiah Snow — married Mar 1670 (to Aug 1692) in Marshfield, Plymouth Colony, New England

Wife of John Sawyer — married 23 Nov 1694 (to 8 Mar 1705) in Marshfield, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts, New England

Descendants

Died 28 Apr 1711 at about age 59 in Marshfield, Plymouth, Province of Massachusetts Bay

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Chet Snow [send private message] and Deborah Head [send private message]

Biography

Little is known of Rebecca Barker who married Mayflower descendant, Josiah Snow, in 1670 in Plymouth colony, New England. She was born in Pembroke, Plymouth colony, in about 1650 although no exact birth date or record has been found. Her parents were Robert Barker, born in Kent, England ca. 1615; emigrated to Plymouth colony in 1628 as a teenage servant, and his wife Lucy (maiden name unknown)^[1] Barker, most likely born ca. 1623 in Scituate, Plymouth, New England. Robert Barker was a carpenter in Plymouth colony.

In early 1670, when she was between 16 and 20, Rebecca Barker married a young carpenter, Josiah Snow, b. ca. 1648 in Plymouth. Their first child, daughter Abigail Snow, was born December 6, 1670, at their home in Marshfield, Plymouth colony, New England. Rebecca (Barker) and Josiah Snow had 9 daughters, 8 of whom were alive at his death in 1692:^[2]

1. Abigail b: 6 Dec 1670 in Marshfield, Plymouth colony, New England (British North America)
2. Lydia b: 5 Jul 1672 in Marshfield, Plymouth colony, N.E.
3. Mercy b: 29 Aug 1675 in Marshfield, Plymouth colony, N.E.
4. Deborah b: 21 Dec 1677 in Marshfield, Plymouth colony, N.E.
5. Sarah b: 8 Nov 1680 in Marshfield, Plymouth, colony, N.E.
6. Bethiah b: Dec 1681 in Marshfield, Plymouth, colony, N.E.
7. Lusanna b: 7 Mar 1683 in Marshfield, Plymouth, colony, N.E.
8. Rebecca b: 16 Jun 1685 in Marshfield, Plymouth colony, N.E.
9. Abiah b: 1692 in Marshfield, Plymouth, Province of Massachusetts Bay, New England (British North America)

Josiah Snow was a carpenter in Marshfield, Plymouth colony (Massachusetts), New England. He died there in August 1692. His widow filed an inventory of his estate on January 3, 1693. The settlement of the estate of Josiah Snow of Marshfield on November 3, 1693 mentions that there were then 8 living children, all daughters, and their mother.^[3]

Rebecca (Barker) Snow remarried to widower, John Sawyer, on November 23, 1694, in Marshfield, Plymouth, Massachusetts Bay province. They had no children as Rebecca would have been about 55 years old by then.^[4][5][6]

Rebecca (Barker) (Snow) Sawyer died on April 28, 1711, in Marshfield, Plymouth County, Province of Massachusetts Bay, New England. ^[4]

On 4 May 1711, her sons in law, Nathaniel Winslow and Joseph Waterman were granted the letter of administration for her estate.^[7]

Her inventory was taken on 4 May 1711 and recorded in Plymouth.^[8]

Sources

1. ↑ Wakefield, Robert S., revised by Judith H. Swan, Mayflower Families Through Five Generations, Richard Warren, Vol. 18, part one, 3rd edition, (Plymouth, Mass : GSMD, 2004) page 35.

   No evidence has been found to support the statement that Robert Barker's wife was Lucy Williams, and it seems doubtful. Robert Barker's wife Lucy was alive 03 May 1669, yet the will of John Williams dated 19 December 1667 makes no mention of a daughter Lucy.

2. ↑ JOHN AND HELEN LEHMAN MASTER FILE DECEMBER 18, 2008 .GED - Rebecca Barker
3. ↑ "Richard Warren of the Mayflower and His Descendants for Four Generations," published by the General Society of Mayflower Descendants, pg. 21.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Wakefield, Robert S., revised by Judith H. Swan, Mayflower Families Through Five Generations, Richard Warren, Vol. 18, part one, 3rd edition, (Plymouth, Mass : GSMD, 2004) page 35.
5. ↑ "The Great Migration Begins, Immigrants to New England 1620-1633," Vols. I-III, by Anderson, Robert Charles. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2000. p. 95. (marriage to Snow & Sawyer.) subscribers$
6. ↑ Ancestors of Malu Del & Tahlia Elphia McDonald - Rebecca Barker. Has an extensive list of sources.
7. ↑ "Massachusetts, Plymouth County, Probate Records, 1633-1967," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G97D-ZF26 : 20 May 2014), Probate records 1708-1717 and 1817-1861 vol 3-3P > image 40 of 710; State Archives, Boston.
8. ↑ "Massachusetts, Plymouth County, Probate Records, 1633-1967," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-897D-ZFDZ : 20 May 2014), Probate records 1708-1717 and 1817-1861 vol 3-3P > image 47 of 710; State Archives, Boston.

See also:

• Damon Family of Arlington, MA - Rebecca Barker. Says she was born in "The old Garrison House" in Pembroke, Plymouth, Massachusetts.

• Hicks/Lewis Genealogy - Rebecca Barker Birth year stated as 1655 but probably in error - no sources.

• Published research of Pardon and Harriet Russell Head.