Who was Robert Barker?

In 2016 I found some evidence to support a theory I had long held. Sometimes a search can go up many blind alleys but then you get an unexpected breakthrough.  This post is about how I found the answer to the question – who was Robert Barker?

My great grandmother, Annie Christian was born in January 1876 and according to her birth certificate was the daughter of James Christian, laundryman and Elizabeth formerly Barker.  Annie was born in Islington, Middlesex which is surprising as her mother’s family are from Christleton in Cheshire. In fact little Annie was christened in the parish church there in May 1876 – Annie Christianna daughter of James and Elizabeth. James is described as a musician.  James then appears to disappear from Elizabeth’s life and despite intense searching a marriage for the pair remains elusive.

Annie went to live with her maternal grandparents, Thomas and Eliza Barker in Christleton and stays with her grandmother until her marriage in 1901 to Joseph Knowles my great grandfather.  Annie’s mother Elizabeth marries in 1882 to a Joseph Millington in Birkenhead where they settle and have a large family.

In the 1891 census there is another grandson, Robert Barker, listed in Thomas and Eliza’s household.  He was also a witness at Annie and Joseph’s wedding.  I had long wondered if he was another son of Elizabeth and James.  I decided to examine all the facts about him and see where it would lead.  Here is a summary:-

1881 census – living with Anna and Edward Barker in Chester and listed as their nephew aged three.  Robert’s birthplace was given as Grantham, Lincs.

1891 census – Robert is in Thomas and Eliza’s household in Christleton.  Aged 13 he is working as a general labourer and his birthplace is given as Manchester, Lancs.

1901 census – listed as a boarder in Chester (address near to Christleton) and working as a boat builder.  He is aged 23 and his birthplace is given as Manchester.

August 1901 – witness at the marriage of Annie Barker and Joseph Knowles in Chester

1911 census – living with Elizabeth and Joseph Millington in Birkenhead and working as a general labourer.  He is aged 33, single and his relationship to the head of the household is nephew. His birthplace is given as Christleton, Cheshire.

From the above it appears that Robert was born in 1877/78 – his birthplace could be Grantham or Manchester.  I discarded the 1911 census birthplace as the form was filled in by Joseph Millington and he may have just made an assumption that Robert was born in Christleton.  I then searched all birth registers and online indexes for a Robert Barker born or baptized in Grantham or Manchester.  No conclusive matches were found.  I also tried Robert Christian but again no matches whatsoever.

My next step was to look at military records although I did think that at 36 Robert may have been rather old to have been conscripted during WWI.  In the British Army Service Records 1914-1920 on Findmypast a Robert Barker born in 1877 and who enlisted in Birkenhead caught my eye and it was possible to view all 10 pages of the original records.  These were discharge papers and here are the salient points:-

Details from Robert’s Medical Records
Birthplace Manchester, Lancashire
Examined 6th November 1915 Birkenhead
Declared Age 38 years, 24 days
Trade/Occupation Labourer
Height 5 foot, 4.5 inches
Weight 123 ibs
Chest girth 37 inches
Physical Development Very good
Vaccination 4, in infancy
Eyesight 6/6 both eyes

• Service number 394162, Labour Corps, 202nd Employment Company
• Born Manchester and residence Birkenhead
• Address for discharge given as 35 Carlisle Street and next of kin mother, Elizabeth Barker.  Occupation as general labourer for the Council
• Attested on 6th November 1915 when aged 38 years and 24 days – from this his date of birth was 13th October 1877.  He was in good physical condition as shown on his medical record
• In 1916/17 he was in Salonica and then admitted to hospital with dysentery.  At this point he transferred from the Cheshire Regiment to The Labour Corps.
• In 1919 he went to Turkey and was a room orderly
• Demobilized in June 1919
• Although general health was “very good” in 1915; on discharge in 1919 he was awarded a small disability pension due to weakness from dysentery.

Although Robert gave his mother’s name as Elizabeth Barker this was not enough to convince me that he was the son of my great-great grandmother Elizabeth Barker/Millington.  However the address in Carlisle Street rang a bell – it was not the address on the 1911 census but when I looked at Elizabeth’s death certificate from 1925 there it was, Elizabeth had lived and died at this address. Voila, I am now convinced that Robert is Elizabeth’s son and brother or half brother to Annie.

Robert married Lucy Marion Watterson on the 18^th June 1922 at St Anne’s Church in Birkenhead.  It is interesting to note that Robert gave Joseph Barker as his father (deceased) with an occupation of tailor.  His mother’s second husband was named Joseph and his grandfather Thomas Barker was a tailor.  The identity of Robert’s natural father remains a mystery.

Sources
1881 Census
Class: RG11; Piece: 3560; Folio: 96; Page: 42
1891 Census
Class: RG12; Piece: 2863; Folio: 123; Page: 26
1901 Census
Class: RG13; Piece: 3369; Folio: 81; Page: 39
1911 Census
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911 Series RG14, 1911. Piece 21986
Army Service Records for Robert Barker in Wo 363 – First World War Service Records ‘Burnt Documents’ from Fndmypsat.
1939 Register
RG101/3911J/009/5 Letter Code: LABO Findmypast
Marriage Certificate Robert Barker and Marion Watterson marriage register, St Anne’s Church, Birkenhead