Thomas Barber
Abt 1614 - 1662 (48 years)Set As Default Person
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Name Thomas Barber Birth Abt 1614 ,Bedfordshire,England,United Kingdom [1] Gender Male Death 11 Sep 1662 Windsor,Hartford,Connecticut,United States Headstones Submit Headstone Photo Notes - From
Barber Genealogy
Author: Lillian May Wilson
Call Number: R929.2 B234w
This book contains the descendants of Thomas and John Barber.
Bibliographic Information: Wilson, Lillian May. Barber Genealogy. Nichols Print. Haverhill, Mass. 1909.
Page 13
FIRST GENBRATION.
1. THOMAS BARBER, whose name appears in the early Colonial Records of Windsor, Conn. was born probably in the County of Bedfordshire, England, about 1614.
He came to Windsor in 1635 with the party fitted out by Sir Richard Saltonstall, under Francis Stiles, a master carpenter of London. He was then 21 years of age, and was the first of the Barber name in New England.
The following is a copy of a portion of the London Passenger Register for the ship "Christian" in which the Saltonstall party sailed for America.
"16 Marcij 1634
"Theis vnderwritten names are to be transported to New England imbarqued in ye "Christian" de Lo: (from London) Joh. White Mr. bound thither, the men having taken ye oath of Allegiance & Supremacie.
Names Yeres
1 ffrancis Stiles 35
2 Tho: Bassett 37
3 Tho: Stiles 20
4 Tho: Barber 21
The ancient Jewish year which opened with the 25th of March continued long to have a legal position in Christian countries. In England, it was not until 1752 that the 1st of January became the initial day of the legal year, as it had long been of the popular year.
The "Christian," therefore, sailed on the 16th of March 1635 instead of March 1634, as the London Custom House Record states.
According to the Windsor records, in 1635 Thomas Barber was granted "a lot ten rods west of Humphrey Hyde's Mill Road, 8 acres and 22 rods wide, bounded south by Mill Brook, extending as stated 2 rods wide, to accommodate Barber and Alvord, and also a way for Mr. Wareham, Minister, to go to his lot north of Barber's and Alvord's and ended in the Poquonnock Road."
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It is evident from the records, that Francis Stiles failed to fulfill his contract with Thomas Barber and the other young men of his party, for on Mch. 28, 1647 the following order was made by the Court of Hartford: Ord. "That Mr. Francis Stiles shall teach Geo. Chapple, Thos. Cooper and Thos. Barber, his servants (apprentices) in the trade of a carpenter, according to his promise for their services for their term, behind 4 days a week only to saw and slitt their own work that they are to frame themselves with their own hands, together with himself or some other master workman; the time to begin for the performance of this order 14 days hence without fail."
Thomas Barber's residence, it is stated, was located "upon an ancient road which running about southwesterly from the rivulet (near where the present road from Palisade Green comes in) intersected the Poquonnock road above the old mill." On the north side of this road were the residences of Thos. Barber, Humphrey Hyde, and Alex Alvord, and on the south side that of Jonathan Gillett.
Thomas Barber was a soldier with the rank of Sergeant, in the Pequot War; he distinguished himself by his bravery in a number of fights with the Pequots, and particularly in the taking of a fort which the Indians considered impregnable. After describing the march and the plan of the attack, Capt. Mason gives the following account of the exploit.
"We called up our forces with all expedition, gave fire thro' the Pallisade upon them; the Indians being in a dead, indeed their last sleep. Then we wheeled off and fell upon the main entrance, which was blocked up with bushes about breast high, over which the Captain passed, intending to make good the entrance, encouraging the rest to follow. Lieut. Seeley endeavored to enter, but being somewhat encumbered stepped back and pulled out the bushes, and so entered, and with him about 16 men. We had formerly concluded to destroy them by the sword and save the plunder.
Whereupon, Capt. Mason, seeing no Indians, entered a wigwam, where he was beset with many Indians waiting all opportunities to lay hands on him, but could not prevail. At length Wm. Heydon espying the breach in the wigwam, supposing some Englishman might be there, entered; but in his entrance fell over a dead Indian, but speedily recovering himself, the
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Indians some fled, others crept under their beds. The Captain going out of the wigwam saw many Indians in the lane or street; he making towards them they fled, were pursued to the end of the lane, where they were met by Edward Pattison, Thomas Barber, with some others, where seven of them were slain."
This occurred probably in June 1637.
While returning from this memorable fight Thomas Barber engaged with Lieut. Cook in a discussion on religious and church matters, and becoming incensed at some remark made by the latter, struck him, for which offense the Court adjudged that he should forfeit his military rank, and pay a fine of five pounds.
In 1641 the lands in the locality called by the Indian name Massaco, were apportioned among the Colonists. Thomas Barber was granted about 600 acres of these lands.
The records of Northampton, Mass., contain the following regarding Thomas Barber:
"A Towne Meeting 24th of 4 mon. 1661.
"The day and year abovesaid it was voted and agreed(???)Thomas Barber of Windsor may bee an inhabitant of this Towne and grant him a home lott and alsoe liberty to looke out a platt of ground to the quantity of 20 acres, and if it doe encourage him to come they grant it (to him) upon this condition; that he come and inhabit and make improvemente of it within a yere, after the date of--"
This proposition from the town of Northampton, seems not to have been considered, as Thomas died the following year at his home in Windsor.
From all that can be learned of the character of Thomas Barber, it is evident that he was a man of strong convictions, but very liberal in his views, especially so for the times in which he lived. It was his contention that the Church had no right to interfere in temporal matters, which caused the trouble between him and Lieut. Cook. He was, to a marked degree, impulsive and energetic and possessed of great shrewdness in business matters, but with an uprightness of character which won for him the confidence and respect of the Colonists. Brave, fearless and resourceful in times of peril, he was a prominent figure in the defense of the colony, and an Indian fighter of whom the savages stood in awe.
Page 17
The Hartford Probate Records contain the following regarding the settlement of Thomas Barber's estate.
Barber, Thomas, Windsor, Invt. œ132-14-00; taken 20, Oct. 1662, by Benj. Newberry and John Moore.
Court Record, Page 187--4 Feb., 1662-3, Invt. approved. Samuel was placed with his brother Thomas Barber to learn a trade; Mercy (Mary) Barber was placed with Lt. Walter Fyler and his wife until 18 years of age, unless she marries before, with her Master's and Dame's and eldest brother's approbation; Josias Barber was placed with Dea. John Moore until 21 years of age to learn a trade; Thomas Barber doth engage to take Samuel Barber's portion and after two years from the present to allow 6% simple interest per annum. John Barber took Josias' portion upon the same terms.
Page 188-- 6 June 1662, Dist. to John and Sarah jointly.
House and Home lot as their Father willed-- 126-13-04
To Thomas Barber by Gift & his portion 13-00-00
To Samuel, Mercy & Josias each 36-15-00
By Capt. Newberry
Deacon Moore
Sgt. Alvord.
On Oct. 7, 1640, Thomas Barber married Jane or Joan (???) (surname not known). She is supposed by some to have been a daughter of one of the Dutch settlers, and another authority states that she was the first white woman to land in Connecticut.
He died on Sept. 11th, and his wife Joan on Sept. 10th, 1662.
Person ID I7666 Rgstrong Family genes. Last Modified 23 Mar 2006
Family Joan d. 10 Sep 1662, Windsor,Hartford,Connecticut,United States Marriage 7 Oct 1640 Windsor,Hartford,Connecticut,United States Children + 1. Dea. John Barber, b. 24 Jul 1642 d. 17 Jan 1711/12, Suffield,Hampshire,Massachusetts Colony,British Colonial America (Age 69 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural] + 2. Thomas Barber, b. 14 Jul 1644 d. 10 May 1713, Suffield,Hampshire,Massachusetts Colony,British Colonial America (Age 68 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural] 3. Sarah Barber, b. 19 Jul 1646 d. Yes, date unknown [Father: natural] [Mother: natural] 4. Samuel Barber, b. 1 Oct 1648 d. Yes, date unknown [Father: natural] [Mother: natural] + 5. Mercy Barber, b. 12 Oct 1651 d. Yes, date unknown [Father: natural] [Mother: natural] 6. Josiah Barber, b. 15 Feb 1652/53 d. Yes, date unknown [Father: natural] [Mother: natural] Family ID F5236 Group Sheet | Family Chart Last Modified 23 Mar 2006
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Event Map Click to display Birth - Abt 1614 - ,Bedfordshire,England,United Kingdom Marriage - 7 Oct 1640 - Windsor,Hartford,Connecticut,United States Death - 11 Sep 1662 - Windsor,Hartford,Connecticut,United States = Link to Google Earth Pin Legend
Sources - [S109] Lillian May Wilson, Barber Genealogy, ((Haverhill, Mass, Nichols Printer, 1909)), 13, R929.2 B234w. (Reliability: 3).