Thomas Barber (b. 25 December 1612, d. 11 September 1662)
Thomas Barber (son of John Barber and Elizabeth Lumley)264 was born 25 December 1612 in bapt. Stamford, Lincoln, England265, and died 11 September 1662 in Windsor, Hartford Co, CT266, 267, 268, 269, 270, 271. He married Jane on 07 October 1640 in Windsor, Hartford, CT272, 273.
Notes for Thomas Barber: The origin of the name is one who practiced surgery, i.e. acted as a bloodletter, also the hairdresser.
Thomas Barber sailed from London, May 16, 1635 in the ship "Christian" captained by John White. They came to Boston, Dorchester, June 16, 1635, he migrated to Windsor by July 1, 1635. The following is a copy of a portion of the London Passenger Register for the ship "Christian":
"16 March 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 1634, as the London Custom House states. Thomas Barber went 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. 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, to accomodate Barber and Alvord, and also a way for Mr. Wareham, Minister, to go to his lot north of Barber's and A;vord's and ended in the Pequonnock Road." 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 March 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 splitt 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 Pequonnock 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 Peqout 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 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. Seely endeavored to enter, but being somewhat encumbered stepped back and pulled out the bushes, and so entered, and with him about sixteen 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. Haydon 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 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 also 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 improvements of it within a yere, after the date of----" This proposition from the town of Northampton, seems not to have been considerdd, as Thomas died the following year at his home in Windsor, CT. 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 a 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.
Ref: Barber Descendants of Thomas of Windsor, CT 1614-1909
The Hartford Probate Records contain the following regarding the settlement of Thomas Barber's estate
Probate records reveal Thomas Barber's inventory was taken 20 October, 1662 by Benjamin Newbery and John More, valued at 132 pounds, 14s. Court record, page 187 - 4 Feb 1662-3; Invt. approved. Samuel was placed with his brother Thomas Barber to learn a trade (he was 14 years old); Mercy (Mary) Barber was placed with Lt. Walter Fyler and his wife until 18 years of age, unless she marry before with her Master & Dame and Eldest brother's Approbation; Josias Barber was placed with deacon John More until 21 years of age, to learn a Trade; Thomas Barber doth engage to take Samuel Barber's portion, and after 2 years from the present to allow 6 per cent. Simple Interest per annum; John Barber took Josias' portion upon the same terms. Page 188 - 6 June 1662: Dist. to John & Sarah Joyntly:
The House & Homelott as their Father Willed, 126 pounds 13s 4d To Thomas Barber by Guift & his portion, 13 pounds To Samuel, Mercy, Josias, to each 36 pounds, 15s By Capt. Newbery, Deacon Moore & Sergt. Alvord.
(A Digest of the Early CT Probate Records)
He was made a freeman in 1645.Thomas Barber was a soldier in the Pequot War, 1637; served under Freeman, 1647; called Sergt., 1649; Lieut. in the First Military Co. of Simsbury, CT. Index of Ancestors, p. 15
On October 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 September 11th, and his wife joan on September 10th, 1662 in Windsor, CT.
References: Marriage-Windsor Vital Records Vol.1 and MG (Barbour Index) Death-Windsor Vital Records Vol MG and Col.1 pg 55 Barber Descendants of Thomas of Windsor, CT 1614-1909 pp 15-19 History of Ancient Windsor Vol II p. 50
"Thomas Barber was baptized at St. George, Stamford, co. Lincoln, England 25 Dec 1612. (St. Thomas Day is 21 December, and that may well be the day of his birth and the source of his name, as well as the day on which his apprenticeship began.)"
"It has long been known that Thomas Barber, with several others, was apprenticed to Francis Stiles, who was paid by Sir Richard Saltonstall to bring them to Windsor to build houses for those who would come from England later. They were on the 16 March 1634/5 shipping list for the "Chrystian" of London, which arrived in Boston on 16 June; the party reached Windsor about 1July 1635. The shipping list gives Thomas' age as 21 Francis Stiles was a carpenter and London freeman, so it seems reasonable to search the appropriate guild records in London. The records of the Worshipful Company of Carpenters at Guildhall entry fro meeting 18 December 1634: Received of Francis Stiles for apprenticing Thomas Barber, son of John Barber of Stamford in the County of Lincoln, yeoman, deceased, from St. Thomas's day next for 9 years 2s 2d."
Ref: The American Genealogist 71:2 Apr. 1996 "The English Origin of Thomas Barber of Windsor, CT by Donald S. Barber, M.D.
From "The Great Migration Immigrants to New England 1634-1635 Vo. I A-B" p. 154-157. Additional facts include: Thomas Barber's origin was St. Mildred Breadstreet, London before immigration in 1635 on the ship Christian. On 16 May 1649, Thomas Barber was sued by William Franklin and fined L4 2s. 6d. in wheat. Testimony offered by Robert Hayward and Thomas Barber showed that the debt in question had been left "with thomas Forde to do in it with (Benjamin) Nuberry as he saw cause," but the appeal failed. On 6 December 1649, the Particular Court ruled that "Sargeant Barber for his disorderly striking Lt. Cooke is adjudged to lay down his place, and is fined to the country L5". Barber repented, being "affected with his great evil and rash passionate carriage," and was freed from the fine, but evidently not re-established as sergeant.
More About Thomas Barber: Education: Company of carpenters apprenticeship. Emigration: 1635, Ship "Christian". Freeman: 10 April 1645, CT. Immigration: 1635, Bedfordshire, England to Boston, MA. Migration: Windsor, CT. Military: Sgt. in Pequot War. Public Office: Bet. 1655 & 1659, Juror. Religion: Bef. 1642, Windsor Church. Vocation: Carpenter.
More About Thomas Barber and Jane: Marriage: 07 October 1640, Windsor, Hartford, CT.274, 275
Children of Thomas Barber and Jane are:
+Samuel Barber, b. 01 October 1648, bp. Windsor, Hartford Co, CT276, d. 12 March 1708/09, Windsor, Hartford Co, CT276, 277.
Thomas Barber (b. 25 December 1612, d. 11 September 1662)
Notes for Thomas Barber: