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Research in Other Countries => South Africa => Topic started by: Mac11767 on Saturday 31 January 15 22:23 GMT (UK)
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Roderick Barker is my gr/gr/grandfather and was born in Wiklow. He went to South Africa apparently at the age of 16 and fought is the then called "kaffir" wars. He went as a military person and was apparently decorated. I found some evidence that he was born in Wiklow (thats all I have), and he died in Kimberley in 1910. I have 2 independent pieces of information corroborating birth of approx 1825. He was referenced in a 1917 book called ""Romance and reality of the Vaal diamond diggings""
He seemed to settle in Barkly West, Cape Province and was a Diamond Digger. Roderick married Jula Clery (birth, marriage details not known).
He had 14 children. I know of , Gertrude my Gr Grandmother) (born 1862) and Patrick (b 1960) and have a few other names I am working on too.
Does anyone have any further information on the Barker family (siblings/baptisms/marriages) in/originating in the the Barkly West and Kimberley area?
Thanks
Steven ::)
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I found this.
DEPOT KAB
SOURCE CSC
TYPE LEER
VOLUME_NO 2/6/1/85
SYSTEM 01
REFERENCE 88
PART 1
DESCRIPTION MOTION. IN THE MATTER OF RODERICK BARKER AND JULIA BARKER VERSUS THE
QUEEN IN RE APPEAL AGAINST JUDGMENT OF THE SPECIAL COURT, KIMBERLEY.
STARTING 18820000
ENDING 18820000
DEPOT TAB
SOURCE ZTPD
TYPE LEER
VOLUME_NO 5/361
SYSTEM 01
REFERENCE 2780/1894
PART 1
DESCRIPTION ILLIQUID CASE. DIVORCE. MAGDALENA JOHANNA BARKER (BORN WHITE) VERSUS
RODERICK.
STARTING 18940000
ENDING 18940000
DEPOT VAB
SOURCE DLS
TYPE LEER
VOLUME_NO 181
SYSTEM 01
REFERENCE B268
PART 1
DESCRIPTION RE RODERICK BARKER OF KLIPDAM KIMBERLEY APPLICATION FOR A GRANT OF
LAND.
STARTING 19020000
ENDING 19060000
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Greetings Mac11767
I see that you are a decendant of Roderick Barker.
I am not sure when you made this post and you may have found a lot of information since you did.
I know Kevin Barker (his great great grand son) quite well - he is still a diamond digger in the Kimberley area of South Africa.
Although I live in new Zealand I travel to South Africa quite regularly and on the last trip (November 2019) whilst i was in Kimberley I dug out some files on Roderick Barker at the Kimberley Library but as yet have not gone through what I have found. I intend to do that some time before I travel back to South Africa - probably mid 2020.
The person who gathered most information on Roderick Barker was George Beet - a historian on early Kimberley (and who was the nephew of Roderick Barker). He published two books - "Romance and Reality of the Vaal Diamond Diggings" published in Kimberley in 1917 and "The Grand Old Days of the Diamond Filelds" published in Cape Town - no date given but also around 1917.
There is a very large box of information and stories of the diggings gathered by George Beet in the Kimberley Library and in 1996 the Friends of the Library published a limited edition book based chiefly on George Beets notes called "Knights of the Shovel" edited by Febe van Niekerk. This book has two pages dedicated to Roderick Barker and his role on the Vaal diamond Diggings.
I have copies of all three of these books.
If you would like more information please contact me and if you are interested I could ask Kevin Barker whether he would like to make contact.
Regards
Martin Kay
NB. I am no relation to the Barker family at all but I worked with Kevin when I was working in the diamond industry.
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Hi Martin
I was so excited to get you message, and then I was quite lame in getting back to you, partly because I wanted to spend a bit of time in my response.I see that you are a decendant of Roderick Barker.
I am indeed researching the Barker family. His Daughter Gertrude married my Grandfarther. I have gathered much information including church baptisms and marriages to piece together the church. Where I need the main help is on Roderick's past and his wife's Judith Cleary. I have heard that some folks have done research namely Kevin. I am in touch with some relatives in the USA who menioned his name.
I have seen extracts seen some extracts from the book but have not yet got copies of them.
I would dearly love to make contact with Kevin. Happy to share what I know, although likely Kevin knows a lot more.
All the best
Steven (McClure)
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Dear Martin Kay (and hello to the Barker descendants on this thread!),
I am also researching Roderick Barker, on behalf of a descendant of his daughter Gertrude. If possible I would love to know more about the files you mention in the Kimberley Library? It would be brilliant to know what they reveal about Roderick if at all possible?
I look forward to hearing from you.
With thanks,
Rebecca
Greetings Mac11767
I see that you are a decendant of Roderick Barker.
I am not sure when you made this post and you may have found a lot of information since you did.
I know Kevin Barker (his great great grand son) quite well - he is still a diamond digger in the Kimberley area of South Africa.
Although I live in new Zealand I travel to South Africa quite regularly and on the last trip (November 2019) whilst i was in Kimberley I dug out some files on Roderick Barker at the Kimberley Library but as yet have not gone through what I have found. I intend to do that some time before I travel back to South Africa - probably mid 2020.
The person who gathered most information on Roderick Barker was George Beet - a historian on early Kimberley (and who was the nephew of Roderick Barker). He published two books - "Romance and Reality of the Vaal Diamond Diggings" published in Kimberley in 1917 and "The Grand Old Days of the Diamond Filelds" published in Cape Town - no date given but also around 1917.
There is a very large box of information and stories of the diggings gathered by George Beet in the Kimberley Library and in 1996 the Friends of the Library published a limited edition book based chiefly on George Beets notes called "Knights of the Shovel" edited by Febe van Niekerk. This book has two pages dedicated to Roderick Barker and his role on the Vaal diamond Diggings.
I have copies of all three of these books.
If you would like more information please contact me and if you are interested I could ask Kevin Barker whether he would like to make contact.
Regards
Martin Kay
NB. I am no relation to the Barker family at all but I worked with Kevin when I was working in the diamond industry.
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Good day to all Roderick Barker descendants,I have family in Boston America a gr/gr aunt Patsy Powell who was Roderick's gran daughter she was the daughter of Micheal Barker ,I'm not sure if she is still alive,I live in South Africa,I plan on making a trip to Ireland in the future and would like to visit the church were he was baptized in Wicklow,any help would be appreciated.
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Hi Roderick Barker is my Gr Gr Grandfather, his son was Desmond Daniel Barker who married Dorethea Elizabeth (born)van Rensburg in 1923 who had children which one of them is my mother Maureen Mavourneen (born) Barker married Smith who had 4 children which I am one born in 1964 Carol-Ann (born)Smith now Maré, I am also trying to get information, I only have Roderick marriage certificate and death certificate you are welcome to contact me if you have more information which I can use on our family tree.
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Note Mac 11767 was last active in 2022 and may not see this.
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Hi. I have some information for you regarding Roderick Barker. He was my dad's gr/gr/ (not sure how many greats) grandfather. Roderick Barker was born circa 1825 in County Wicklow, Ireland, the son of Roderick Morris Barker and Juliet O'Higgins. My Dad is Andrew Basil Barker, his dad was Patrick James Barker. Patrick James Barker's dad was Michael Barker (son of Roderick Barker and Julia Clarey). I have copies of the following documents: Death Certificate of Julia Clarey, Death Certificate of Ellen Harriet Barker (born Vernick), Death Certificate of Michael Barker, Death Certificate of Roderick Barker, Marriage Certificate of Patrick James Barker and Martha Edelweiss Barker (Bosman) - my grandparents), Marriage Certificate of Michael Barker and Ellen Harriet Wernick, Death Certificate Patrick James Barker (my grandfather). Some history dated back to Roderick Morris Barker born 1799 in County Wicklow, Ireland. Let me know how I can assist.
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Niekie if you make another 2 posts you can then send a personal message to the others.
Regards
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Thank you Pampoen. My Dad's sister was Patricia Mary Anne Barker (Nee Currin)