My name is Tony D'Agostino. I am a descendant of James and Elizabeth Barker. I have put the following notes on this page to help fellow descendants of the Barkers learn about their ancestry. You will note that Elizabeth is believed by some to be a descendant of the Tudor family of England. I am currently researching the Tudor family tree to see if that is true. You will find a link below to my research on them. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- page 12, "The Greene County Catskills a History" by Field Horne (974.738 H815g) Just after the French and Indian War, James Barker, an English lawyer, is said to have brought 23 "former tenants" with their families to Woodstock in the Town of Cairo. Often called "The Patroon," he was nothing of the kind; in fact, the story about his former tenants has never been documented. But it is certain that James Barker and his wife Elizabeth came from Blythe, Nottingham, where they had been married in 1757, and they settled at Woodstock about 1765, when he acquired 3,423 acres in two transfers. They were certainly there in the summer of 1767, when they buried a child there.17 Beers suggests there were other settlements in Cairo before the Revolution, "squatters"who built log houses; Indians are known to have attacked such a farm in 1780. page 12-13 Richard Smith of New Jersey wrote in 1769: Two sloops belong to Kaatskill, a little beyond the Mouth whereof lies the large Island of Vastric [Rogers]. There is a House on the North Side of the Creek and another with several Saw Mills on the South Side but no Town as we expected. Sloops go no further than Dyer House about Half a Mile up the Creek. The Lands on both Sides of Kaatskill [Creek] belong to Vanberger, Van Vecthe, Salisbury, Dubois & a Man in York. Their Lands, as our Skipper says, extend up the Creek 12 Miles to Barker the English Gentleman his Settlement. The Creek runs through the Kaatskill Mountains said hereabouts to be at the Distance of 12 or 14 Miles from the North River but there are Falls above which obstruct the Navigation.34 17 Beers, 87, 106; Gehring, 387-88 34 Richard Smith, 13. Beers, J.B., ed. History of Greene County. New York: J.B. Beers and Co., 1884. Gehring, Charles T. Fort Orange Court Minutes 1652-60. Syracuse, N.Y.: Syracuse University Press, 1990. Smith, Richard. A Tour of Four Great Rivers. Edited by Francis W. Halsey. New York: Scribner, 1906. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- pp. 30, "History of Greene County" by Jessie Van Vechten Vedder (974.737 V415) Woodstock stared out with great promise for the future, being the oldest settlement of any size in the town of Cairo, when James Baker, known as "The Patroon," settled here with his tenantry of 23 families shortly before the Revolution. The Barker Patent covered 6,000 acres of land and extended from Woodstock nine miles north to the town of Durham on both sides of the Katskill.... pp. 36-37, "History of Greene County" by Jessie Van Vechten Vedder (974.737 V415) James Barker, who was known as "the Patroon" came from London, England, where he was born in 1727, and settled first at Catskill. His stay there was probably short. "He was a prominent member of the English Bar, and his wife a lineal descendant of the Tudors." She had married James Barker against her parents' wishes, left rank and friends and came to America with the husband of her choice to settle in a new country which was practically a wilderness. Mr. Barker had forfeited his claim to a large estate in England to which he was heir. They brought with them 23 families, former tenants. He first purchased a tract of land in the town of Durham, and when his wife received a part of her mother's estate, they added land in the town of Cairo* (Woodstock). Soon dwellngs were put up, the land was cleared for planting and sowing, and community life began under as excellent conditions as could exist in a new and unsettled country. On Sundays his tenants were called together for divine service, which he conducted himself according to the form of the Church of England. A lawyer by profession, he found little time or perhaps inclination to follow it. Now and then he figured in a great criminal case, and defended his friend Salisbury in his famous murder case at Catskill, which never came to trial.‡ He took no part in the Revolutionary War, either for or against it. His life and property were often in danger from the Indians and Tories, and he was obliged to bury his money and silver, much of which was never recovered. Mr. Barker lived to be ninety-three years of age; his wife Elizabeth Moore Barker died in 1796, aged fifty-eight years. *Tagphkight and Magquamsasick, two plains along the Catskill, "between the two creeks" (400 acres above Potick) was granted to Elizabeth Barker in 1791. ‡A document at Catskill Public Library proves that the indictment was "quashed." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The marriage of Elizabeth (Wooer) Barker's parents: IGI entry: David Wooer sex: M Marriage(s): Spouse: Mary Herrot Marriage: 29 Nov 1737 Barnby Dun, Yorkshire, England (Note: Mary mentions a niece named "Catherine Harrot" in her will) ...................................................................... A true copy of the Register of Bawtry for the year 1738 Christenings Elizabeth, daughter of Mr. David Wooer September 3 ...................................................................... Burials 1748 Mr. David Wooer January 29 Note the year would be 1748/49 because his burial was after January 1st. ...................................................................... The Second marriage of Mary (Herrot) Wooer: Entry in volume II of "Abstracts of Nottinghamshire Marriage Licenses" on page 499: Nov. 27 (1749) Thomas Spavold,, of Bawtry, co. York, grocer, 23 & a month, & Mary Wooer, of same, 39 ½, wid.; at Blyth. From this, we now know that Elizabeth's mother was born in 1710, probably in Bawtry, Yorkshire and married someone named "Wooer". I can see the names Wooer and Moore being confused, easily. ...................................................................... The Will of Mary (Herrot) Spavold, the mother of Elizabeth (Wooer) Barker page 375, "NY Calendar of Wills 1626-1836" by Fernow (929.347 F366) # 1654 1779 Decbr. 14 1791 Septbr. 5 Spavold, Mary, of Bawtry, County of York, England, widow. Daughter Elizabeth, wife of James Barker, of Katskil, Albany Co., N. Y., niece Catherine Harrot; Mary, da. of Robert Spencer of Hodsark, George Gooddy of Bawtry, mercer and draper. Personal Property. Executor George Gooddy. Witnesses Mary Howson and Thos. Thirkell, George Remsen of N. Y. City, merchant, attorney for Elizabeth Barker, made administrator. Recorded ut supra, p. 436.
Thomas Barker born 1757.04.25 Sarah Barker born 1759.08.14 married Frederic Ecklor Mary Barker born 1761.04.29 Elizabeth Barker born 1763.04.20 married Thomas Taylor John Barker born 1764.12.14 James Barker born 1766.08.27 in Woodstock, NY died 1767.09.03 in Woodstock, NY Ann Barker born 1768.08.23 Jane Barker married Benjamin Olmstead Nancy Barker married Lawrence Salisbury ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Descendants of James Barker 1 James Barker 1727 - 1820 . +Elizabeth Wooer 1738 - 1796 ........ 2 Jane Barker ............ +Benjamin Olmstead 1770 - ........ 2 Nancy Barker ............ +Lawrence Salisbury 1760 - 1825 ................... 3 Fanny Salisbury 1791 - 1822 ....................... +Albert Salisbury 1781 - ................... 3 Eunice Salisbury 1792 - ....................... +Jonas Persen ................... 3 Ketura Salisbury 1794 - ........ 2 Thomas Barker 1757 - 1815 ............ +Polly Dederick ................... 3 Catherina Barker ................... 3 James Barker ................... 3 Elizabeth Barker ................... 3 Thomas Barker 1798 - 1840 ....................... +Elizabeth Woodard .............................. 4 Horace Barker 1822-1910 .............................. 4 Lewis Barker 1823 - 1882 .................................. +Caroline Squires 1829 - ................... 3 George Barker ................... 3 William Barker ........ 2 Sarah Barker 1759 - 1800 ............ +Frederic Ecklor ................... 3 Andrus Eiklor ....................... +Catherine Vought .............................. 4 Sally Eiklor .................................. +Reuben Russell .............................. 4 Godfrey Eiklor .................................. +Millie Strope .............................. 4 Polly Eiklor .................................. +Jerry Morris .............................. 4 David Eiklor .................................. +Sally Russell (widow of Isaac Vought) .............................. 4 Daniel Eiklor .................................. +Weltha Rowe .............................. 4 Betsy Eiklor .................................. +Henry Wilmot ................... 3 David Eiklor ....................... +Dena Huyck ................... 3 John Eiklor ................... 3 George Eiklor ................... 3 Susanna Eiklor ................... 3 Jennie Eiklor ........ 2 Mary Barker 1761 - 1831 ............ +Frederick Dedrick 1762 - 1822 ................... 3 James Dedrick ................... 3 Sarah Dedrick 1791 - 1792 ................... 3 Cornelia Dedrick 1802 - 1855 ....................... +James Wooster - 1833 .............................. 4 Mary Wooster 1826 - .................................. +Mr Hover .............................. 4 James C. Wooster 1828 - 1901 .................................. +Maria M. Lewis 1838 - 1909 ................... *2nd Husband of Cornelia Dedrick: ....................... +James White 1802 - 1853 .............................. 4 Matilda White 1833 - .............................. 4 Charles Edward White 1838 - 1914 .................................. +Mary Lysandria Northrup 1839 - 1903 .............................. 4 Caroline A. White 1837 - ................... 3 [2] Sarah Dedrick 1798 - 1883 ....................... +[1] David W. Taylor 1793 - 1864 .............................. 4 [3] William H. Taylor 1826 - .............................. 4 [4] Thomas Taylor 1827 - .................................. +[5] Jane M. 1831 - .............................. 4 [6] Sarah M. Taylor 1830 - 1904 .................................. +[7] Jacob Stryker 1822 - 1903 .............................. 4 [8] Jennett H. Taylor 1832 - 1858 .............................. 4 [9] Cornelia E. Taylor 1836 - .............................. 4 [10] Hellen M. Taylor 1839 - .............................. 4 [11] Catherine A. Taylor 1840 - .............................. 4 [12] Emily L. Taylor 1843 - ........ 2 Elizabeth Barker 1763 - 1802 ............ +Thomas Taylor 1766 - 1813 ................... 3 Catherine Taylor 1798 - 1825 ....................... +Mr Hallenbeck - 1825 .............................. 4 Lorinda Hallenbeck .................................. +Dayton .............................. 4 Nancy Hallenbeck .................................. +Traver ................... *2nd Husband of Catherine Taylor: ....................... +William Telfair 1790 - .............................. 4 Elizabeth Telfair 1825 - .................................. +Zebulon Greene 1819 - 1875 .............................. 4 Catherine Ann Telfair 1825 - .................................. +Cornelius A. Lee 1822 - .............................. *2nd Husband of Catherine Ann Telfair: .................................. +Jeramiah Crapser ................... 3 Hannah Taylor ................... 3 Nancy Taylor 1788 - 1866 ....................... +Harvey Cole 1791 - 1863 .............................. 4 Loretz B. Cole 1810 - 1842 .................................. +John Terbush 1807 - 1852 .............................. 4 Elizabeth Ann Cole 1812 - 1885 .................................. +John Henry Person 1812 - 1901 .............................. 4 Phebe Jane Cole 1813 - 1838 .................................. +Nathan Finch 1810 - 1896 .............................. 4 Harvey Elisha Saxton Cole 1814 - 1893 .................................. +Christina Hoose 1809 - 1889 .............................. 4 Nathan T. Cole 1818 - 1823 .............................. 4 Sarah Ann Cole 1819 - 1910 .................................. +Philip H. Vanderhoef 1816 - 1901 .............................. 4 Catharine Cole 1822 - 1876 .................................. +Walter P. Hoose 1822 - .............................. 4 James Taylor Cole 1824 - 1863 .................................. +Catharine Eglin 1831 - .............................. 4 John B. Cole 1827 - 1858 .............................. 4 Russell Cole 1829 - 1899 .................................. +Augusta Morehouse 1844 - 1883 ................... 3 Richard B. Taylor 1791 - 1851 ....................... +Adelaide P. Kortz 1805 - 1880 .............................. 4 Ann Catharine Taylor .............................. 4 Jennie Taylor .............................. 4 Maria M. Taylor 1828 - .............................. 4 Elizabeth Taylor 1830 - .............................. 4 Thomas H. Taylor 1832 - .............................. 4 James B Taylor 1838 - .............................. 4 Charles H Taylor 1841 - .............................. 4 Marilla C Taylor 1843 - .............................. 4 Jane Taylor 1847 - ................... 3 [1] David W. Taylor 1793 - 1864 ....................... +[2] Sarah Dedrick 1798 - 1883 .............................. 4 [3] William H. Taylor 1826 - .............................. 4 [4] Thomas Taylor 1827 - .................................. +[5] Jane M. 1831 - .............................. 4 [6] Sarah M. Taylor 1830 - 1904 .................................. +[7] Jacob Stryker 1822 - 1903 .............................. 4 [8] Jennett H. Taylor 1832 - 1858 .............................. 4 [9] Cornelia E. Taylor 1836 - .............................. 4 [10] Hellen M. Taylor 1839 - .............................. 4 [11] Catherine A. Taylor 1840 - .............................. 4 [12] Emily L. Taylor 1843 - ................... 3 John W. Taylor 1801 - ....................... +Maria E. Kortz 1803 - .............................. 4 Adalaide Taylor 1824 - 1858 .............................. 4 Frederick Taylor 1832 - .............................. 4 John W. Taylor 1834 - 1842 .............................. 4 Charlotte Taylor 1836 - .............................. 4 Caroline A Taylor 1839 - .............................. 4 Henry M Taylor 1841 - .............................. 4 Edward A. Taylor 1843 - .............................. 4 Charles H. Taylor 1844 - ........ 2 John E. Barker 1764 - 1835 ............ +Margaret Smith 1772 - ................... 3 Elizabeth Barker 1789 - 1856 ....................... +William Hubbell 1780 - 1860 .............................. 4 Elizabeth Hubbell 1827 - 1918 .................................. +Samuel Freliegh ................... 3 Eleanor Barker 1792 - ....................... +Mr Finkle ................... 3 John Barker 1794 - ................... 3 Caturah Barker 1796 - 1861 ....................... +Montgomery Stevens 1776 - 1863 .............................. 4 Maneuva Attline Stevens 1810 - 1877 .................................. +Gilbert Curtis 1808 - .............................. 4 James Stevens 1825 - .............................. 4 Montgomery Stevens 1831 - 1869 .................................. +Helen 1837 - ................... 3 William Barker 1799 - 1879 ................... 3 James F. Barker 1804 - 1885 ................... 3 Nancy Barker 1806 - ....................... +Mr Spencer ................... 3 George Barker 1808 - 1895 ................... 3 Sally Barker 1810 - ....................... +John Bates ................... 3 Margaret Barker 1813 - ....................... +Mr S. Pierson (Pearsons) ................... 3 Charles G. Barker 1815 - 1878 ........ 2 James Barker 1766 - ........ 2 Ann Barker 1768 -
In the name of God Amen, I, James Barker, of the Town of Durham and the County of Greene, being of sound mind, but considering the uncertainty of this life, do make and publish this, my last will and testament. First I give and bequeath to my only surviving son, John Barker and to his heirs and assigns forever, all that certain piece or parcel of land which is now in the possession of said John, bounded west by the Susquehanna Turnpike, north by lands in possession of Joseph Wright, east by the Catskill creek and south by the Shinglekill Patent, supposed to contain about four hundred acres excepting so much thereout, or shall hereafter devised to William Hubbell. Item: I give and devise to William Hubbell, his heirs and assigns forever, all that certain piece and parcel of land situate in the Town of Cairo, in the County of Greene, bounded as follows: Viz: beginning at the south-west corner of the bridge near the house now occupied by David Baldwin, running thence easterly down the stream which the said bridge crosses fifty rods thence nearly west with the said Susquehanna Turnpike one hundred and fifty rods thence southerly in such a line as will at the nearest distance, strike the said Turnpike, thence easterly along the said Turnpike to the place of beginning covering the house and outhouses now in the possession of the said David Baldwin, Item: I give and bequeath to my grandson George Barker, the son of Thomas Barker, deceased, one thousand dollars, to be paid to him on his arriving at the age of twenty-one years; Tem: I give and devise to William Hubbell, his heirs and assigns forever all that certain piece and parcel of land situated in Cairo beginning at a stake and stones on the south edge of the Susquehanna Turnpike, thence south forty-five degrees, east thirty-five chains to stake and stones, thence south sixty-five degrees west twenty-nine chains to a stake and stones, thence south sixty-five degrees west twenty-nine chains to a stake and stones on the north edge of the Batavia Road, thence north forty-five degrees west thirty-five chains to a small hemlock near two large rocks, thence north sixty-five east twenty-nine to the place of beginning, containing ninty-five acres and nine tenths as surveyed by John E. Darby for John Love, Junior: As to the rest and residue of all my estate, real and personal, I give and devise the same as follows: viz: one-sixth part there-of to my son John Barker, his heirs and assigns forever, one-sixth part thereof to the children of my son, Thomas Barker, deceased, their heirs and assigns forever share and share alike, one sixth part thereof to the children of my daughter Sarah Ecklor who married Frederic Ecklor, their heirs and assigns forever, share and share alike; one-sixth part thereof to the children of my daughter Elizabeth Taylor who was the wife of Thomas Taylor, their heirs and assigns forever, share and share alike; one-sixth part to the children of my daughters, Nancy Salisbury and Jane Olmstead who were the wives of Lawrence Salisbury and Benjamin Olmstead, their heirs and assigns forever, share and share alike and the remaining sixth part thereof, to the children of my daughter, Mary Dederick the wife of Frederick Dederick, their heirs and assigns forever. This last devise is given on the express conditions that the said last mentioned children shall, during the life of their mother, the said Mary, will and faithfully support and maintain her in sickness and in health; item: I give and bequeath all my books and library of every kind to my grandson, George Barker, son of Thomas Barker, deceased, and thus far vary the disposition of the residue of my estate - last I ordain, consitute and appoint my friend Jacob Roggen sole Executor of this, my last will and testament, in witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this seventh day of January, in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and eighteen. Signed, sealed and published and delivered by aforesaid, James Barker to be his last will and testament in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses in the presence of the testator and of each other. James Barker Luther W. Hunt John Bagley John Adams I do certify the foregoing to be a true copy from the Probate as attested by the Surrogate Dated the 7th of April, 1821. Jacob Roggen, Executor as aforesaid