My Maternal Great Great Grandmother, Emma Caroline Barker (nee Fetherstonhaugh), was born in 1824/1825, the youngest daughter of Cuthbert Fetherstonhaugh, Rector of Hacketstown and Curate of Haroldstown (Leigh),1830-1847; Emma married Joseph Barker, Solicitor, of Dublin 4, on September 7, 1842.
Joseph Barker entered Trinity College Dublin on May 5, 1845, and was ordained in the Anglican Church of Ireland in 1850. In June 1852, the Reverend Joseph Barker was nominated as Rector of Achill (Tuam), when the Reverend Edward Nangle, founder of the Achill Mission Colony, was appointed to Skreen, County Sligo; Reverend Joseph Barker held the post for the duration 1852 to 1871. .
The first child of Joseph and Emma Barker is my Maternal Great Grandfather, Charles Joseph Barker, born in Dublin on March 21, 1844; siblings also Dublin born, were Samuel Lindsey Bucknell Barker, Anne Fetherstonhaugh Barker, and Emma Mary Martha Barker - Cuthbert J Barker, Alexander Barker, and Jane Marcia Caroline Barker were born subsequent to the Barker Family relocation to Achill. It would seem that initially the Barker Family resided in the Rectory which was integral with the Colony Buildings in Dugort, later in Mweelin, then subsequently in the Glebe House at Achill Sound. Jane Marcia Caroline Barker was born on March 30, 1857, at Achill Glebe. It was reported in January 1859 that "...Missionary Work at the Achill Mission Colony was suffering due to the prolonged absence of the Reverend joseph Barker who was temporarily resident in Ballinasloe, County Galway, where his wife was seriously ill."; Emma Caroline Barker passed away on Februray 4, 1860, aged 35 years, and is buried in the small rural graveyard of St. Matthew's Church. Clontuskert, Ballinasloe, County Galway.
Charles Joseph Barker emigrated from Ireland to New Zealand, leaving England on the "Dover Castle" on May 27, 1875, arriving in Auckland on August 24, 1875. Charles married Miriam Lois Vallance on April 18, 1876, in St. Peters Church, Wellington, New Zealand; they had five children, James Alexander Barker, Ivy Emmeline Barker, Miriam Vallance Barker ( my Maternal Grandmother), Norman Fetherstonhaugh Barker, and Leila Barker. Charles Joseph Barker passed away on July 25, 1893, and is buried in the St. John's Anglican Cemetery, Rangiora, New Zealand.
The Reverend Joseph Barker was the first Prebendary and Vicar of Ballisadare (Achonry) appointed following the disestablishment of the Irish Protestant Church, serving for the duration 1872 to 1879, working with the parishioners in Collooney, whilst occupying a Prebendal Stall in St. Crumnathy's Cathedral, Achonry; he journeyed to Nervi, Italy for the benefit of his health and passed away on April 26, 1879, over nineteen years following the death of Emma Caroline Barker. The burial location of the Reverend Joseph Barker is unknown to the writer..
Lindsay McLean
Havelock North, New Zealand 4130
email: bastawolfie@hotmail.com
