John Knight Barker

John Knight, known as Jack, was the son of Emma Barker (later Freeman). His mother, Emma, was born in Caunton, Nottinghamshire, in about 1862, the daughter of Henry and Emma Barker. The family was living in Caunton in 1871. According to the 1911 Census, Emma had had eight children of whom seven were still living. Seven children, surname Barker, have been identifed from census and baptismal records; all were born in Caunton and the births registered in the Southwell registration district: Frederick b. 1883; Kate b. 1885 bap. Caunton St Andrew 14 March 1886; John Knight b. 1888; Daisy Agnes b. 6 June 1891 bap. St Andrew 28 May 1893; Rose Annie b. 30 August 1895 bap. St Andrew 24 February 1896; Arthur b. 14 February 1900 bap. St Andrew 1 September 1900 and Alice Gertrude (Gerty) b. 20 February 1902. The four baptismal records give only the mother's name - Emma Barker - together with 'Alias Godfrey, illegitimate'. There is also a record of the birth of a Thomas William Barker in 1893 (O/N/D Southwell, mother's surname Barker) who died the same year. Arthur (b. 1900) has not yet been traced on a census but there is a record of the death of an Arthur Barker, born 1900, who died the same year (J/A/S). In 1891 Emma and her three children, Frederick (7), Kate (5) and John (3) were living in Caunton with her widowed father, Henry (64), an agricultural labourer. She was still living in the village in 1901 and was described as single and head of family. In the home on the night of the census were three of her children, John, Daisy (9) and Rose (5). Frederick, her eldest child, was a waggoner and living with Samuel Gibson, a farm foreman, and his wife, on the Lidgett Farm, Ossington. Her daughter Kate has not yet been traced on either this or the 1901 Census. Emma Barker married George Freeman, an agricultural labourer, in 1910 (A/M/J Southwell) and in 1911 they were living in Caunton with three of her children, John (Jack), a wheelwright's painter, Rose and Gerty (9), who were described as her husband's stepchildren. Frederick had married Emma Skellett at Riddings St James on 1 August 1908. He was working as a domestic coachman and living with his wife in Bonds Yard, Easthorpe, Southwell. Daisy had married John Proctor on 15 May 1909 and they were living at Markham Moor, Tuxford, where John was a farm labourer. They had a daughter Fanny (b. May 1909) and later that year a second daughter, Lucy. George and Emma later moved to Main Street, Ollerton. Emma probably died in 1933 (A/M/J Southwell). John's brother Frederick, now a motor driver, attested on 6 December 1915 and transferred to the Army Reserve the following day. He was mobilised on 21 September 1916 and posted to the 14th Bty Army Service Corps (223082 Private). He was demobilised on 30 March 1920. Frederick probably died in 1965. His brother-in-law, John Proctor, his sister Daisy's husband, served in the war (single document survived). He and Daisy were living in Southwell in 1939 with their married daughter Lucy Hayter and her husband Frank. Both John and Frank were colliery haulage workers (below ground). Daisy died in 1952. The youngest sibling, Alice Gertrude, married John W Kirk in 1921. In 1939 John (b. 24 October 1900), a colliery ambulance driver, and Alice were living in Edwinstowe with their children Mavis (b. 20 March 1925), Raymond Geoffrey (b. 28 December 1926) and Beryl (b. 18 August 1932). The record of one other member of the household remains closed. Alice died in 1983.