Eliza White Barker
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Eliza Barker's namesake
Eliza Leigh White c1860
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Eliza White Butler was the youngest daughter born to Samuel (1801-1836) and Ann Butler (nee Dunn 1806-1867), Wesleyan missionaries who moved to Hokianga in New Zealand. There was already an established Wesleyan Methodist outpost at Mangungu which was where they settled. It was likely that they lived in a small hut as the main house was inhabited by Reverend Hobbs and family who had forged the Methodist path in Hokianga. See https://www.heritage.org.nz/list-details/75/M%C4%81ngungu-Mission-House for more information. Eliza was probably named after the devout wife of Reverend White, Eliza White. The Whites were already at Mangungu and active in religious activities. Eliza White was also the local teacher. Eliza's siblings were Samuel John (1824-1871), James (1828-1910) , Elizabeth (1831-1914) and Lucy Ann (1833-1907). Two infants died, Ann (1822-1822) and Lucy (1827-1827). Samuel's father John Gare Butler had been the first ordained clergyman in New Zealand, ministering in the Bay of Islands. For in-depth information on John Gare Butler refer to the website below. https://australianroyalty.net.au/tree/purnellmccord.ged/individual/I70268/John-Gare-Butler When the family returned to England, Samuel remained behind and migrated to New South Wales where he married Ann by special license. Special licenses gave flexibility to free people to have greater choice about where they married and also to avoid the onerous time consuming banns or to marry quickly. They were married in St John's Church so it must have been for one of the other reasons. Samuel Butler, bachelor of the parish of Parramatta and Ann Dunn, spinster of the parish of Sydney were married in this church by special license this 7th day of Jan 1823, in the presence of William Bean and Lucy Shelly Samuel John and the two perished infant girls were born in Sydney. At some point in the 1820s the family migrated to New Zealand. James and the surviving three girls were born in New Zealand. |
Sketch of Mangunga by 8 yr old Emma Hobbs.
When Eliza was only 9 months old her father perished in a boating accident. He was only 34 years old. This would be a pattern in Eliza's life. Her own husband would die at 32 years old and her only son at 37 years old. In 1837, they year after Samuel drowned, Ann and the five children moved to NSW, sailing on the ship Nimrod in May of that year. 
In 1838 Ann married William Wright and had three more children; Ann Elizabeth (1838-1920), William Thomas (1840-1841) and Robina Nora (1842-1932) . Eliza would have grown up in this family as she was only two when her mother remarried. Ann Wright died in 1867.
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On the 30th December 1865 Eliza married John Charles Barker. In the Wesleyan Chapel at Parramatta. They had three daughters: Amy Eliza (1865-1935), Nina Watkin (1867-1875) and Amelia Helen McClelland (1868-1953). Their son Charles was born in 1870. John was the first Town Clerk of Parramatta elected in 1862 and resigning in 1869, taking up a position in the Supreme Court. His wage as Town Clerk was £200 per annum.
John Charles was the eldest son of Arthur Barker (1812-1865) and Margaret Brown McClelland (1820-1857) who came out on the Royal Admiral as bounty settlers in September 1839. John was the eldest of eleven children. See ARTHUR BARKER for more information. on John's family.
John Charles was the eldest son of Arthur Barker (1812-1865) and Margaret Brown McClelland (1820-1857) who came out on the Royal Admiral as bounty settlers in September 1839. John was the eldest of eleven children. See ARTHUR BARKER for more information. on John's family.
A view of the office front of JC Barker; Amy, Nina and Millie are the three little girls
In 1872 John died of consumption (tuberculosis). He was buried at the Wesleyan Cemetery in Parramatta.
There was a fundraiser held for John's widow and children, described as 'Orphans.' (very insulting to Eliza as their mother, but shows the attitudes of the day towards women). Three years later little Nina Watkin died in 1875.
Amy married in 1888 (Lane) and Amelia in 1899 (Bishop). Their brother Rev. Charles officiated at Amelia's (known as Millie) wedding. Eliza gave them a piano as a wedding present. 
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Music featured large in Eliza's life. She was recognised for her proficiency in music, playing the organ and harmonium at Church Services as well as teaching music. She advertised many times in the Cumberland Argus and Fruit-growers Advocate as a Music Teacher of 'it's various branches.' n 1895 it is reported in the 'Cumberland Free Press' (Saturday, December 28) that Eliza fundraised £200 for the repairs and restoration of the organ in the Wesleyan Church. Her daughter Millie also taught piano and organ and had a Senior Certificate of Music from the College of London, while Amy was an organist in Church as well and also music teacher at Methodist Ladie's College.
My grandfather remembered her as a 'small, stern woman.' She would have been made of tough stuff and probably had no time for frivolity. As an interesting aside, In 1883 Eliza placed an advertisement in the Sydney Morning Herald, 'ONE POUND REWARD Lost- at Clontarf on November 14th. A Cameo Brooch set in Gold. Name Mrs J.C. Barker lightly scratched on the back.' (Thursday, 22 November 1883 p6). I like this advertisement because it shows that Eliza may have had the occasional bit of fun. Clontarf, located on the Northern Beaches, was a 'Pleasure Ground' owned by the Moore family and had it's own ferry for transporting people there. In 1883 it was basically a nice park on the water's edge with a few shelters, refreshments and games to play. Often groups held picnics there so it was likely that a Methodist group were holding a picnic that Eliza attended.
Eliza was recognised many times by the Methodist Diocese of Parramatta for her tireless of support of the Church. In 1921 a tablet was unveiled in the Church at Parramatta by Amy. It bore the following inscription, 'In memory of Mrs J.C. Barker , who was associated for many years with this church and was mainly instrumental in having this organ erected.' (Cumberland Argus and Fruit-growers Advocate, Wednesday 20 April 1921, page 2) In Amy's obituary in 1935 (Methodist, Saturday 27 July p 15), Eliza is described as ' being an accomplished musician she maintained her young family by teaching music and singing, and through much self-denial, was able to give them a High School education and to train them to be expert musicians.'
Eliza's character is also revealed through articles about her son's death. In the Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers' Advocate (7/12/1907) it says 'he was the son of Mrs Barker who was for many years the organist at Parramatta and now resides in Hornsby.' In an obituary of Rev. Charles published in the Burrangong Argus (7/12/1907), Eliza is described as 'an affectionate and courageous mother who moulded his character along the right paths and made provision for such an education for her son as would befit him to rise and progress as to whatever avocation of life was selected for him.'
My grandfather remembered her as a 'small, stern woman.' She would have been made of tough stuff and probably had no time for frivolity. As an interesting aside, In 1883 Eliza placed an advertisement in the Sydney Morning Herald, 'ONE POUND REWARD Lost- at Clontarf on November 14th. A Cameo Brooch set in Gold. Name Mrs J.C. Barker lightly scratched on the back.' (Thursday, 22 November 1883 p6). I like this advertisement because it shows that Eliza may have had the occasional bit of fun. Clontarf, located on the Northern Beaches, was a 'Pleasure Ground' owned by the Moore family and had it's own ferry for transporting people there. In 1883 it was basically a nice park on the water's edge with a few shelters, refreshments and games to play. Often groups held picnics there so it was likely that a Methodist group were holding a picnic that Eliza attended.
Eliza was recognised many times by the Methodist Diocese of Parramatta for her tireless of support of the Church. In 1921 a tablet was unveiled in the Church at Parramatta by Amy. It bore the following inscription, 'In memory of Mrs J.C. Barker , who was associated for many years with this church and was mainly instrumental in having this organ erected.' (Cumberland Argus and Fruit-growers Advocate, Wednesday 20 April 1921, page 2) In Amy's obituary in 1935 (Methodist, Saturday 27 July p 15), Eliza is described as ' being an accomplished musician she maintained her young family by teaching music and singing, and through much self-denial, was able to give them a High School education and to train them to be expert musicians.'
Eliza's character is also revealed through articles about her son's death. In the Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers' Advocate (7/12/1907) it says 'he was the son of Mrs Barker who was for many years the organist at Parramatta and now resides in Hornsby.' In an obituary of Rev. Charles published in the Burrangong Argus (7/12/1907), Eliza is described as 'an affectionate and courageous mother who moulded his character along the right paths and made provision for such an education for her son as would befit him to rise and progress as to whatever avocation of life was selected for him.'
Eliza was devoted to her only son REVEREND CHARLES MCLELLAND. Of course she would have been completely devastated when he died as a man in his prime. Eliza died in February 1914 age 78. In the death notice and funeral notice there is no mention of her daughters. This is very unusual that they aren't mentioned in the death notice or the ones inviting mourners to her funeral. They are not even mentioned on her headstone. She is buried next to her son Charles in the Waverley Cemetery and on her headstone is inscribed; '‘In loving memory of Eliza White Barker, mother of the Rev. C. McClelland Barker. In death they are not divided.’
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