So Who Was Thomas Barker?

Last time on the blog I mentioned that the gates leading into the churchyard of the parish church from Steeple Row were being re-dedicated. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to attend the event as I had already agreed to support the OH by watching him running at Prestwold Hall.

This time, I thought I’d share with you some research I’ve done into the Barker family. And very tricky it was too! The gates on the parish church were dedicated to Thomas Barker and his wife Sarah Ann, and it has taken a while to establish exactly which branch of the Barker family they were from, which of the numerous Thomas Barkers, many with similar occupations, this particular Thomas was. I do hope I’ve got it right, and huge apologies if I haven’t.

Let’s go back a few generations to Thomas’s grandparents …

Joseph (sometimes listed as Jos.) Barker had married Sarah (nee Mansfield), in All Saints Church on 1st December 1794, both having been born and brought up in Loughborough. Joseph and Sarah had numerous children, all of whom were baptised in All Saints Church, including (but there may be others) Christiana baptised 13th November 1795; Rose baptised 12th Feb 1797; Joseph baptised 13th November 1798; John baptised 6th July 1800; Mary baptised 13th November 1801; William baptised 17th June 1804; Sarah baptised 22nd Aug 1806; Charles baptised 14th November 1808.

As mentioned above, Joseph and Sarah’s son, Joseph was baptised in All Saints Church on 13th November 1798, and on 19th March 1820 he married Mary Jennings at All Saints. So far I’ve only been able to trace their children who were born from 1829 onwards, so there may well be children born earlier.

Hannah was born on 14th June 1829, and baptised at All Saints Church on 16th February 1836. Sarah was born in 1831, Henry in 1832, Lucy in 1834, and then came our Thomas, born on 8th January 1837. A further daughter, Elenar, (sometimes known as Martha Ellen, or Helen) was born in 1839 and baptised on 21st July 1844, and twins Sophia and Edward were born in 1842 and baptised on 13th February 1842. Sadly, Joseph’s wife, Mary died on 19th October 1843.

In 1851, Thomas was aged 13, and living in a yard off Baxter Gate, with his father, Joseph who was a journeyman bricklayer. Daughters Hannah and Sarah were no longer living with the family, but son Henry was now aged 19 and like his father was a bricklayer, Lucy (17), Helen (11), Edward and Sophie both aged 9 were all living with Joseph.

On 12th December 1859, Thomas Barker married Eliza Towers in the parish church of St Mary’s, Nottingham. They both lived on Island Street, Nottingham. Eliza was born in April 1838, and was the daughter of John Towers, a cordwainer. Thomas and Eliza’s first child, Mary Jane was born in January 1861 when the family were living on Pinfold Street, a few doors down from the Half Moon pub. Thomas was a bricklayer, as was his father, who was still living in a yard off Baxter Gate, with his 21-year-old daughter Martha Ellen who was a dressmaker.

Over the next ten years, Thomas, now a builder, and Eliza had a few more children! Sophia Ann in 1863, Florence Lucy in 1865, John Edward in 1867, and Ellen Maud in 1869. By 1871 Thomas was now a builder aged 34, and the whole family were living at Cemetery Place (which I think was later called Aumbry Gap). Meanwhile, Thomas’s father, Joseph was still a bricklayer aged 72, and was living with granddaughter Sophia, a hosiery warehouse hand now aged 27, and a grandson, Frederick Bradbury a blacksmith aged 20. They were living next door to, or behind the Fox Inn where William Underwood was the landlord, and the actual address seems to be 1 Court Street, or 1 Court H.

On 3rd January 1874 Thomas Barker’s father, Joseph, a bricklayer of Wards End, died at the age of 74. Joseph was buried on 6th January 1874, and the burial ceremony was performed by Octavious Glover, the rector of Emmanuel. However, probate was not granted until 9 June 1896, to Henry Barker, cabinet manufacturer. Effects were £375.

In 1876 Thomas and Eliza had another daughter, Chrissy Alberta, followed by Mabel who was born in 1879, and Thomas in 1880. By the time of the 1881 census, builder Thomas Barker, aged 44, was now employing 15 men and two boys in his business. The family, who were living at 14 Swan Street, included wife Eliza (43), Mary Jane, a dressmaker aged 20, Sophia Ann, a warehouse assistant aged 17, Florence Lucy (no occupation listed) (16), John Edward, scholar (14), Maud Ellen, scholar (12), Crissy Alberta (5), Mabel (2) and Thomas jnr. aged 11 months. Thomas and Eliza’s youngest child, Henry was born in 1884.

With the Barker family being quite extensive and Thomas having lots of siblings, and lots of children, this blogpost is concentrating on Thomas’s direct ancestors and only some of his descendants. It is relevant to this piece to mention that Thomas’s daughter, Sophia Ann married Zachariah Onions in 1886.

Thomas the builder and his family were still living at 14 Swan Street in 1891, and this appears to be next door to the Nag’s Head pub, which was demolished and replaced firstly by a Co-operative food store, and more recently by the former Wilkinsons store. The family consists of Thomas and Eliza, Mary Jane aged 30; John Edward a bricklayer, aged 24; Maud Ellen 22; Cressy Alberta 15; Mabel 12; Thomas 10 and Henry 6.

In 1892, Thomas and Eliza’s son, John Edward married Mary Elizabeth Barker in Nottingham. She was the daughter of Henry Barker, a furniture dealer in Nottingham in 1871, who had been born in Loughborough in 1833 – son of Joseph and Mary, and brother of our Thomas. Mary Elizabeth’s mother was Mary A. who was aged 31 and also born in Loughborough, and her siblings were Ernest born in 1856 in Loughborough, Alice born 1864, Charles A. born 1870, and another child (name unknown) born in 1871. Sibling Ada was born in 1876, Frank in 1877, and Selina in 1878. Alice and the other younger siblings were born in Nottingham.

Some 10 years later, in 1901, Thomas Barker and the family were still living at 14 Swan Street, by which time Thomas was aged 64 and his wife, Eliza was 63. Thomas was still a builder who had people working for him, and one of those was likely to be his son Henry now aged 16. No occupations are listed for Mary Jane now aged 40, Ellen M. 32, Chrissy A. 25, Mabel 22, but son, Thomas aged 20 is a plumber. 

Meanwhile, son John Edward was now living at Northview on Bridge Street, possibly number 21. He was a 34-year-old employing builder. His wife was Mary Elizabeth aged 39, who had been born in Nottingham, and they had several children - Albert Edward aged 7, Frederick aged 5, and Eric aged 4.

On 14th November 1902 Eliza Barker (nee Towers), wife of Thomas, and mother of Mary Jane, Ellen, Sophie Ann (married an Onions), Florence Lucy, John Edward, Maud Ellen (or Ellen Maud), Chrissy Alberta, Mabel, Thomas, and Henry died. She was buried at Leicester Road cemetery on 17th November 1902.

By 1911, the widowed Thomas Barker aged 74 had retired from the building trade, but was still living at 14 Swan Street with daughters Mary Jane (aged 50), and Ellen Maud (aged 42) and son Henry, now aged 26, who was a builder and contractor employing people, as was Henrys brother, John Edward, 44, recorded on the census as a builder and contractor employing people. He, and his wife Mary, 49, were still living at Northview on Bridge Street, with children Albert Edward 17, Frederick 15, Eric 14, and Olive Eliza 8.

John Edward, now aged 54, and his family were still living on Bridge Street in 1921. His occupation was listed as a building contractor and employer, with Thomas Barker & Sons, and his two sons, Frederick 25, and Eric 24, are both working for the company. Frederick being a joiner, Eric a bricklayer. John Edward’s wife Mary Elizabeth was now aged 60, and daughter Olive Eliza, still living at home was aged 18.

By the time of the 1921 census, Thomas Barker was aged 84, still retired from the building trade, and still living at 14 Swan Street with daughters Mary Jane and Ellen Maud. Thomas died on 24th March 1922. Probate was granted on 28 July 1922 to John Edward Barker, Thomas Barker, and Henry Barker, builders. Effects were £6,493 11s. Thomas was buried at Leicester Road cemetery.

The following year, on 26th October 1923, Thomas and Eliza’s daughter, Sophia Ann Onions, who lived on Derby Road, died. Probate was granted on 20th March 1930 to Zachariah Onions (the younger), an engineer, and effects were £498 10s.. Thomas and Eliza’s daughter Maud died on 1st April 1929.

On 7th November 1933 Mary Elizabeth Barker, wife of John Edward Barker died at 70 Forest Road. Probate was granted 10th May 1934 to John Edward Barker. Effects were £87 8s. 5d..

John Edward Barker, son of Thomas and Eliza, died on 13th April 1945. He is buried in Leicester Road cemetery. His son, Albert Edward Barker, who was born in 1894, died in 1963 at Loughborough Hospital, a couple of days after collapsing. At the time of his death, he was a senior partner in the building firm.

John Edward’s brother, Thomas, aged 72, died on 4th September 1952, at Loughborough General Hospital. Probate was granted on 15th November 1952 to his wife Sarah Ann, and John Cockerill and Edward Wood, both bank cashiers. Effects were £15,641 18s. 5d.. Thomas’s wife, Sarah Ann died on 12th February 1966, aged 71. She left £5,497 2s. 7d. gross.  

It was John Edward Barker, son of Thomas and Eliza, who with his brothers and sisters who had desired to offer wrought iron gates to the parish church authorities in memory of their father and mother, and also of their sister Sophia Ann.

Although this post does not follow the life and death of all members of the family, and certainly the last bit is somewhat morose, I hope this has given a little insight into the family. Next time on the blog I'll probably be able to tell you some of the buildings they were responsible for building!

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Posted by lynneaboutloughborough

With apologies for typos which are all mine!

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