Civil War Records of Frank J. Barker

Service

Pension

Grand Army of the Republic

x

Death

Additional Information

There are four Barkers named on the Acton Memorial Library Civil War memorial tablets:  one survivor--George E., and three who gave their lives--Cyrus E., Eben, and Frank J.  The vital records and census clearly indicate that Cyrus, Eben and George were brothers. While it is certain Frank J. had connections to the family--he lived with Eben and Eben's paternal aunt in Illinois--it is not certain that Frank is also a brother. It is possible, however, that Frank J. Barker is a fourth brother, known in some records as James, born c. 1844, who was the second child born to the family given the name of James.

Their father was Ebenezer Barker, born in Acton in 1795 to Ebenezer and Lydia Barker (Vital Records of Acton Massachusetts to the Year 1850: 14).  Ebenezer married Elizabeth H. Robbins of Ashburnham in August 1831, in Acton (Vital Records of Acton: 130).

Three of the couple’s children (Elizabeth, Sylvia, and James Fletcher Barker) were baptized in Acton in 1835  (Vital Records of Acton: 14-15). The death in 1839 of a child of Mr. Barker's [James Fletcher?] is recorded in the Westford vital records  (Vital Records of Westford  Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849: 264).

In 1840 the father Ebenezer, his wife, and four children were living in Acton ("1840 United States Federal Census," Ancestry.com).

Cyrus, Ebenezer, George Emery Barker, and Jonus, sons of Ebenezer, were baptized after July 2, 1843 in Westford, Mass. (Vital Records of Westford  Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849, p. 10).

[The second] James, son of Ebenezer and Elizabeth was born [baptized?] Oct. 29, 1846 in Westford (Vital Records of Westford: 10.)

In the 1850 census the family is recorded as living in Westford:  Eben, age 49; Elisabeth H., age 42; Elisabeth, age 17, Silva, age 16; Cyrus, age 12; Eben, age 10; and James, age 6; and Geo E, age 3 ("1850 United States Federal Census," Ancestry.com).

The mother, Elisabeth Barker, died in Acton May 15, 1852, of consumption, at age 44   ("Massachusetts Vital Records 1841-1910," vol. 67, p. 46, AmericanAncestors.org). The father, Ebenezer Barker died in Acton on May 29, 1855, age 53, of erysipelas  ("Massachusetts Vital Records 1841-1910," vol. 94, p. 27, AmericanAncestors.org).

Franklin  Barker, age 16,  born in Massachusetts, and Eben Barker, age 20, born in Massachusetts are recorded in the 1860 census in Wythe, Illinois in household with Joshua C. Berry, age 48, born in N.H.; and Mary Berry, age 48, born in Mass.;  and Abigail Barker, age 60, born in Mass.  ("1860 United States Federal Census," Ancestry.com).  Joshua and Mary were Eben’s paternal aunt and her husband (Mary Brooks Baker, the daughter of Ebenezer and Lydia, was bp. June 30, 1811 [Vital Records of Acton: 15].  Mary B. Barker married Joshua C. Berry of Pittsfield, N.H. in Acton in April 1835 [Vital Records of Acton: 134]). 

After his death, Frank J. Barker's effects were sent to his uncle (source: casualty sheet in pension file)--presumably, Joshua Berry with whom he lived before enlistment.

The name Frank J. Baker is included on the Acton Memorial Library Soldiers' Tablet, "Our Honored Dead."

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See also:

Hosmer, The Town of Acton in the Civil War: 11, 87.

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