Individual Details

Military

On 10 April 1818, ThomasBarker aged 69 years and resident of Methuen, applied for a pension based onhis service in the Revolution. In the latter part of December 1775, he enlistedfor a year as a private in the Capt. Joshua Reed, Col. James M. Varnum’sregiment of the Rhode Island line, service commencing on 1 January 1776. He wasdischarged at Norwich on 27 December 1776. He was now in reduced circumstancesand needed support from his country. Jonathan Merrill, overseer of the poor atMethuen, stated that Thomas required assistance from the town for the pastseveral years. He was awarded a pension. On 13 July 1820, Thomas providedfurther information on his circumstances. He owned 56 rods of land with an oldhouse valued at $40 and the value of his personal estate was $29.20. He owed$15. He was a laborer but no longer able to work. His family was his wife aged64, a feeble, sickly woman. On 14 April 1837, widow Hannah Barker, then aged 81years, applied for the widow’s pension. She reported she married Thomas atNottingham in 1774 and that he died at Methuen on 26 December 1826. A statementin support of Hannah’s application was given by daughter Mary aged 44 years ofMethuen.[1] [1] U. S.Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, Case W21645