Pvt. Francis Barker
Pvt. Francis Barker
1756-1805
Pvt. Francis Barker, Drummer
Epitaph
Memorial
Francis Barker
Solider of Revolution
Francis Barker as Drummer Luther Blanchard
as fifer played the White Cockade in Capt.
Isaac Davis Co. of Minute Men from Acton that
lead first organized column that returned
fire on Troops of King George III at
North Bridge, Concord, Mass.
April 19, 1775
It was then between nine and ten o'clock in the morning of April 19, 1775. Colonel Barrett retired to the rear on higher ground, and Major Buttrick hastened to execute the order. His choice for a company to lead was naturally one from Concord but the captain of the one designated replied that he would rather not. In any event it is now a matter of inescapable record that Buttrick turned to Davis and asked him if he was afraid to go, to which he responded promptly, “No, I am not; and I haven't a man that is”.
He immediately gave the command to march, and the men of Acton wheeled from the left of the line to the right, and with Barker and Blanchard once more playing his favorite tune, the White Cockade, he led his company down the hillside and along the causeway to the bridge.
White Cockade
This is to Certify that _______________________________contributed towards erecting a Memorial stone at the grave of Francis Barker in Woodlawn Cemetery, Acton, Mass.
Francis Barker drummer while Luther Blanchard fifed the White Cockade at the head of the First organized column of Minute Men that returned the fire of the King's soldiers at the Old North Bridge, Concord, Mass, April 19, 1775.
Francis Barker was Grandson of John Barker who settled his son Joseph and Francis on what was called Iron Oak in Acton in 1753 (now the home of Mr. Moses Taylor) Francis died in 1773, aged 47 leaving 3 children: one son and two daughters; the son's name was Francis; he was 17 years of age when his father died; his sister were Judith and Elizabeth; he was 19 years of age when he drummed at the Old North Bridge; when he was 21 years of age he was married to Miss Lois Davis, Sept. 4, 1777, she died Nov. 8, 1778. aged 18 years 7months and 1 day: her child died 11 days old and was buried in its Mother's arms. Miss Lois Davis was sister to Capt. Isaac Davis who was killed at the Old North Bridge, Concord, April 19, 1775. First officer killed in the American Revolution.
Francis Barker's service in the cause of Liberty in the American Revolution was as follows: he was the drummer in Capt. Isaac Davis's Company on April 19, 1775, and then enlisted in Capt. William Smith's Company April 25, 1775 in Nixon Regiments, was in the Battle of Bunker Hill, and was active in many ways during the Revolutionary War besides serving as a solider. So far we have not found any proof of his marrying again; he was born in Acton, March 7, 1756, died in Acton, Sept. 29, 1807, and was buried beside his beloved young wife; his remains have laid in an unmarked grave 95 years.
Others have drummed the White Cockade in the cause of Liberty; but not at the head of the First organized resistance against the King's soldiers.
Committee
Reuben Law Reed
Augustine Hosmer
Arthur V. Handley
Frank A. Merriam
Frank E. Tasker, M.D.
Musicians Most Likely at Concord, 19 April:
Concord: drummer Daniel Brown; fifers John Buttrick, Samuel Derby
Acton: drummer Francis Barker; fifer Luther Blanchard
Lincoln: drummer Daniel Brown; fifers Elijah and Joseph Mason
Bedford: drummer Oliver Bacon; fifers David Lane and Jonas Welch
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Barker, Francis, Acton.Drummer, Capt. John Hayward's co., Col. Abijah Pierce s regt., which marched on the alarm of April 19, 1775; service, 5 days; also, Capt. William Smith's co., Col. John Nixon's regt.; receipt for advance pay dated Charlestown, July 7, 1775; also, muster roll dated Aug. 1, 1775; enlisted April 24, 1775; service, 3 mos. 15 days; also, company return dated Sept. 30, 1775; also, Capt. Israel Heald's co., Col. Eleazer Brooks's regt.; marched to Roxbury March 4, 1776; service, 6 days.
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Barker, Francis, Acton.Descriptive list of men raised to reinforce Continental Army for the term of 6 months, agreeable to resolve of June 5, 1780; age, 24 yrs.; stature, 5 ft. 7 in.; complexion, ruddy; residence, Acton; arrived at Springfield July 15, 1780; marched to camp July 15, 1780, under command of Capt. James Cooper; also, list of men raised for the 6 months service and returned by Brig. Gen. Paterson as having passed muster, in a return dated Camp Totoway, Oct. 25, 1780; also, pay roll for 6 months men raised by the town of Acton for service in the Continental Army during 1780; marched July 15, 1780; discharged Dec. 29, 1780; service, 5 mos. 24 days.
From: Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in the War of the Revolution, - Vol. I-XVII (17).
Boston: Wright and Potter Printing Co., 1896.
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Descendants of Francis Barker
1. FRANCIS4 BARKER (FRANCIS3, JOHN2, JOHN1) was born March 07, 1756 in Acton, Middlesex, MA., and died September 20, 1805 in Acton, Middlesex, MA.. He married (1) ABIGAIL. He married (2) LOIS DAVIS September 04, 1777 in Acton, Middlesex, MA., daughter of EZEKIEL DAVIS and MARY GIBSON. She was born April 07, 1760 in Acton, Middlesex, MA., and died November 08, 1778 in Acton, Middlesex, MA..
More About FRANCIS BARKER:
Burial: Woodlawn Cemetery, Acton, MA.
Military service 1: SAR 1775
Military service 2: April 19, 1775, Revolutionary War
Minuteman: September 29, 1774, Acton, Middlesex, MA.
More About LOIS DAVIS:
Burial: Woodlawn Cemetery, Acton, MA.
More About FRANCIS BARKER and LOIS DAVIS:
Marriage: September 04, 1777, Acton, Middlesex, MA.
Child of FRANCIS BARKER and ABIGAIL is:
i. LOIS5 BARKER, b. April 15, 1788, Acton, Middlesex, MA..
Child of FRANCIS BARKER and LOIS DAVIS is:
ii. CHILD5 BARKER, b. October 28, 1778; d. November 08, 1778, Acton, Middlesex, MA..
More About CHILD BARKER:
Burial: Woodlawn Cemetery, Acton, MA.
Epitaph