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- BARKER GENEALOGY - FIRST GENERATION -
#1 JAMES Barker is said to have been born in Essex Co., England in 1617, his sister Christiana m. as second husband, a Capt. Thomas Beecher and sailed with him to America in 1630, settling in Charlestown, MA.
James mother having died about 1620, it was but natural for the father (also James by name) to plan to join his eldest daughter in America. On 24 March 1634, Father and son sailed from Southhampton, England, on the Ship MARY & JOHN, Robert Sayres, Master. The father died on the voyage and James Jr. was taken in charge by a passenger, Nicholas Easton, who later married James' sister Christiana.
James was Corporal in 1644 for Newport, RI, Ensign in 1648, was Member of General Court of Elections, Newport in 1648, in 1655, Ye Rule of Freeman of Ye Colonies of every Towne, James name is on the Newport, RI list, in 1655-61-63 he was Member of Court of Commissioners, in 1661 he and 40 others petitioned for a tract of land (now Westerly, RI) dividing it into 18 shares, James receiving 1/2 share, was also one of the trustees, was for many years a teaching brother amongst the Baptists.
On 4 April 1676, it was voted 'that in the troublesome times and straits in this colony, (King Philip's War) the assembly desiring the advise and concurrence of the most judicious inhabitants of it may be had for the whole, we desire at their next sittynge, the company and counsel of Mr. Benedict Arnold, John Clarke, James Barker and 13 others and the General Sergeants, to inform the several persons, the assembly's desire thereon."
James was Deputy Governorin 1678 after the death of Gov. Coddington. In 1644 he married Barbara, dau. of William and Frances (Latham) Dungan. b. 1628; d.--- ; she was granddaughter of Lewis Latham, Falconer to King Charles I. James d. 1702.
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