Thomas Barker, of Rowley

From http://www.treetreetree.org.uk/Barker.htm

James, his wife Grace and their son Barzillai, along with James's brother Thomas and Thomas's wife Mary, were among the twenty Puritan families who came from England under the leadership of Rev. Ezekel Rogers. They arrived in Salem in 1638. The following April, having joined with about forty others, they bought land next to Newbury and Ipswich and established the town of Rowley. Rowley was named after the Yorkshire parish that had been in Rev. Rogers' charge.

Thomas Barker was buried on 30 Nov 1649 in Rowley. He married Mary Unknown. She died after 17 Apr 1660, when her second husband signed his will, making her his sole exexecutrix. She married second Rev. Ezekial Rogers on 16 Jul 1651 in Rowley.

Thomas left bequests in his will to Rev. Ezekiel Rogers, his "Deare Sister" Jane Lambert, Thomas Leaver and his wife, John Johnson, Elizabeth Johnson, Thomas Lambert, his "well beloved wife Mary Barker", the brothers and sister of Thomas Lambert if Thomas were to die before reaching 21 and his "beloved Brethern" Thomas Mighill and Mathew Boyes.

Thomas was a cousin of Robert Johnson of Rowley. [Ref, 6;207]

Thomas is said to be the brother of James, [Ref] but evidence of this is lacking.

A full transcript of the will and inventory is found in Probate Records of Essex County, 3:246-250