Robert Barker (bef. 1580 - abt. 1619)

Born before 1580 in Market Drayton, Shropshire, England

Ancestors

Husband of Catherine (Acworth) Barker — married 4 Dec 1600 in Plymouth, Devon, England

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Biography

Robert Barker was born in Shropshire, England.

Birth

Robert was born about 1580. A source giving proof of this has unfortunately not yet been found. He was the second son^[1][2] of George Barker of Colchurst and his first wife Ann Steventon. His elder brother Andrew was born^[1] about 1578.

His siblings^[1] were Andrew, Elizabeth and Margaret.

Marriage

Robert Barker married^[3] Catherine Acworth at Plymouth: St Andrews on 4 December 1600.

The marriage^[2] is cross referenced in both the Pedigree of Horne and the Pedigree of Barker and Bulkeley family trees. Robert Barker is said to be associated with Coulchurst (Colehurst) and Calverhall in Shropshire.

Further confimation of the marriage is found in the Visitation to Shropshire^[1] of 1623 (Page 29) that provides evidence of nine children from the marriage, viz:

Barker Genealogy

John (baptised 19 October 1600),

Robert (baptised 9 February 1602),

William (baptised 16 May 1604),

Thomas (baptised 18 Jun 1606),

Marye (baptised 25 Jan 1608),

Bridgett (baptised 11 Jan 1610),

Johanne (baptised 1 Nov 1612),

George (baptised 10 Apr 1614) and

Mathew (baptised 11 Apr 1617).

It seems that Robert left home in Coleshurst before 1600 and moved to Plymouth in Devon where he married and had an extensive family.

Note that he was not the Sir Robert Barker of Suffolk, England.

Death

Robert predeceased his father George, so never got to inherit Colehurst Mannor in Shropshire. George left the mannor to Andrew (Robert's elder brother).

Robert Barker died? in 1619. There is a possible will^[4] in Shropshire for 1619. His second son Robert was granted probate. This will has not been seen but could provide valuable proof.

Research Notes

The fact that Robert left Coulhurst to live in Plymouth where he married Catherine has not been previously identified. Catherine had family links to business and shipping in Plymouth. Catherine and Robert were both dead by 1620, so it is possible that their younger children were looked after by their relatives in Colehurst. Mathew would be only a young child at the time of his parent's death.

The names were possibly placed on the Barker Genealogy during the Visitation in 1623 to ensure that the family was listed correctly rather than to indicate that they were living in Shropshire at the time. Certainly Robert Barker was born in the Market Drayton area and probably at Colehurst.

Not Sir Robert Barker

There are many family trees giving a Sir Robert Barker as the husband of a Dame Catherine (Acworth) Barker. These are incorrect and there is a miss-identification of the Robert Barkers - for which there are many!

There is a Robert Barker born in 1560 who also died in 1619, but in Suffolk^[5] not Shropshire. Suffolk and Shropshire are on opposite sides of England. This fellow is often said to be a Knight of the Bath. This is not possible as this order of chivalry was only introduced in 1725. The will refers to him as a Knight and also identifies his wife as 'Susan' and a son Thomas. Some web sites claim that this Robert Barker is born in Bath, Gloustershire. Hence Knight of the Bath (perhaps!).

There are further notes on Robert Barker - Member of Parliament from Suffolk^[6] that give more information.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} Visitation to Shropshire in 1623:
   "Visitation of Shropshire, taken in the year of 1623 by Robert Treswell, Somerset Herald and Augustine Vincent - Rouge Crois Pursuivant of Arms. Edited by George Grazebrook F.S.A. and Joun Paul Rylands, Part 1, London 1889. Original in Princetown University" https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=njp.32101075683563&view=1up&seq=9
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Acworth Family Pedigree:
   Green, W.A. and G. Brindley Acworth. Pedigree of Acworth of Bedfordshire, Etc.: Together with some notes on the genealogy. London: Mitchell Hughes and Clarke, 1905. FamilySearch. See also this space page: Acworth Pedigree
3. ↑ Marriage: "Devon, England, Extracted Church of England Parish Records"
   PPRS, Devonshire Parish Registers, Marriages, part 2, 1581-1654, vol 135; Author: T Blagg
   Ancestry Record 61548 #5126 (accessed 27 March 2023)
   Robert Barker marriage to Katherine Ackford on 4 Dec 1600 in St Andrew's, Plymouth, Devon, England.
4. ↑ Probate: "UK, Extracted Probate Records, 1269-1975"
   Electronic databases created from various publications of probate records; Book: Baptisms and Burials, 1769-1799. (Baptism); Volume: Lichfield Wills and Administrations Registered in The Consistory Court of The Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry. 1516 to 1652
   Ancestry Record 1610 #1447143 (accessed 23 March 2023)
   Barker, Robert probate.
5. ↑ Will: "England & Wales, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858"
   The National Archives; Kew, Surrey, England; Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Series PROB 11; Class: PROB 11; Piece: 132
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 5111 #911663 (accessed 27 March 2023)
   Will of Roberti Barker, granted probate on 19 Dec 1618. Died about 1618 in Trinitie Sainct Martin, Suffolk, England.
6. ↑ 'History of Parliament - Sir Robert Barker':
   "History of Parliament [ https://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1604-1629/member/barker-robert-1565-1618] accessed 27 March 2023