hi again,
All Dr Alfred Charles Barker's children were born by 1858
they were:
1846 - 1891 Richard Alfred 'Dick' Barker
1848 - 1901 Samuel Delabere Barker
1849 - 1938 Arthur Llewellyn Barker
1851 - 1921 Sarah Elizabeth 'Lizzy' Barker
1854 - Mary Emma Barker
1853 - 1932 Francis Henry Barker
1856 - 1933 John Matthias Barker
1858 - 1935 William Edward Barker

~~~

Lafitte Charles William Barker was once a resident of Redcliffs:
Press, 2 July 1908
DEATH OF A REDCLIFF'S RESIDENT
... Dannevirke, July 1, An accident occurred this afternoon by which Mr C. Barker, a well-known settler of Redcliffs, Canterbury, and recently resident in this (Dannevirke) district, met his death. Mr Barker and Mr Averill, manager of Mangatoroa station, were driving home when the horse shied and both were thrown over an embankment. Mr Barker was not seriously injured, but, being a sufferer from heart disease, he succumbed to the shock.
... We regret to record the death by accident at his farm near Dannevirke, of Mr C. Barker, well known on the Peninsula in the early days. Mr Barker was upset out of a trap, he and his companion, Mr Averill, manager of Mongatorou Station, being thrown over an embankment. Mr Barker was not seriously injured, but died from shock owing to his heart being weak. Mr Barker has been living at Redcliffs, Sumner, for some years past, and has only lately gone up to the North Island, where he has purchased a farm. The deceased is a brother-in-law of Mr W. D. Wilkins (William Davy Wilkins) of Akaroa
NOTES
* If he had been born in Redcliffs the article would have said 'native of' but it said 'a well known settler of.' By working backwards we may well find his origins
* William Davy Wilkins was born in St Brides Minor, South Wales. He married Kate Elizabeth Cane in 1879 (sister of Lafitte's wife)

Lafitte Charles William BARKER married Emma Harriett CANE in 1886
their son, Charles Ashton BARKER (1887-1962, a twin), married Winifred Mary ORR (1895-1992) in 1920
- daughter of James ORR (1831-1917) & Mary Ann GRAHAM
Free Lance, 29 September 1920 An exceptionally pretty wedding was solemnised at St Andrew's Church, Martinborough, Wairarapa, on September 21st, when Miss Winifred Mary Orr, third daughter of the late Mr James Orr, was married to Mr Charles Ashton Barker, eldest son of Mrs Barker, Waitohora, Dannevirke, Hawkes Bay. The bride, who was given away by Mr J. W. Kershaw, wore a charming gown of palest lavender brocade, georgette and silver lace. The train was of silver tissue, veiled with georgette, and she also wore a hand-embroidered veil, and carried a beautiful shower bouquet in colours shading from palest lavender to purple.
The bride was attended by Miss Phoebe Martin, of Otaraia (Southland), who wore a frock of eau de nil georgette, draped with soft cream lace and hat to match, and carried a beautiful bouquet shading from yellow to bronze. Two little bridesmaids, the Misses Mary and Marjory Munro (cousins of the bride), the daughters of Mr and Mrs Thow Munro, of Edinburgh, looked very dainty in frocks of cream net, and wore wreaths of pink and blue forget-me-nots around their heads, and carried handsome bouquets shading from yellow to bronze. Mr Sydney Barker, brother of the bridegroom, acted as best man. Rev W. Raine was the officiating clergyman, and Mr J. K. Edie presided at the organ.
After the ceremony a reception was held at the residence of Miss Orr, and there was a large number of guests. Mrs Barker (mother of the bridegroom) was in mole taffeta costume, with hat to match, and carried a beautiful bouquet in tones of purple. Miss Orr (sister of the bride) was in grey and rose shot taffeta, with nave blue hat, the trimmings of which toned with frock and her bouquet was in tones of rose. Miss Barker (sister of the bridegroom) was in champagne crepe de chine, with hat to match. Mrs Thow Munro, of Edinburgh (cousin of the bride) was in fawn costume and jade hat. Mrs Robert Smith, in creme accordion-pleated skirt and black brocaded coat wrap and black and white toque.
Later Mr and Mrs Ashton Barker left by motor for their honeymoon, the bride travelling in a navy gabardine and foulard coat frock, with toque to match and fur coat
NOTE Winifred's father, James Orr, died 3 months after his son, James Orr, who was killed in action in WWI, see below
Wairarapa Daily Times, 6 October 1917 The death is announced from Martinborough of Mr James Orr, who had resided in the district for 35 years. Deceased arrived in Wellington in 1879, and in 1882 came to Wairarapa
(He is buried at Waihenga cemetery, Martinborough)

Winifred Mary Orr had a brother, James Orr, (Private 38062) who was killed in action, Ypres, Belgium 29 July 1917

Lafitte Charles William Barker is buried Grave 7, Block H with daughter Marjorie Essington Barker at Settlers Cemetery, Dannevirke
NOTE Is this daughter's name (Marjorie Essington Barker), a hint to his origins ??

What amazing details, thank very much for everything. I've ordered Lafitte's marriage certificate to see if there's any clues there. I've got plenty to occupy me for a while now, will try to find birth details on Lafitte Charles Barker and Mary Ann Graham. Looks like she's from Cork, Ireland and came to NZ around 1906 and James Orr was from Glasgow, Scotland. Not sure how to get the records from UK though, any clues? Thanks again for all your help, Kerry.

Hello, This too is my family. I grew up in the Waitahora Valley and Charles Ashton Barker is my grandfather and Winifred Mary Barker(nee Orr) my grandmother, an amazing one she was too. I was so interested in all this information and would be very grateful if you have any more.

I am currently researching my grandfathers war service, WW1, and have discovered a considerable amount that no one ever talked about, they didn't really did they.

After my grandfather died in 1962, my grandmother moved to Wellington which was really her old stomping ground so to speak. She did move back up to Dannevirke in the 1980's after a few years in Waikanae as well and put herself into a retirement home closer to family.

Did you know that her father, James Orr owned and built the Martinborough Hotel? I was so interested in the information about their wedding as I hadn't heard that much detail before before, even from my grandmother, wonderful!

I do have a photo of them both on the veranda of the house in Martinborough on their wedding day. We also have a few photos of great grandfather, James Orr, and also some of the Cane's, Emma Harriet's family if you would like me to scan and send to you? Also numerous birth/death certs if you would like them.

I too would dearly like more information on the Banks Peninsula years. We were told the Barker's had a farm down there but that was about it. We do have a photo of my grandfather and his twin sister (Marjory) and their brother (Sydney) as children in a carriage outside a rather grand house but we're not sure where it was.

Laffitte Charles William was born in 'Leafield', Dalkey, Dublin on 19 Dec 1847 to William Thomas and Frances Mary Ashton who were married on 26 Oct, 1844 in Liverpool. They moved around a bit as Laffitte Charles sister Georgina Mary was also born in Dalkey but his brother Ashton Sydney was born in Sleighton, South Wales and another brother, Fletcher Francis was born in Chardstock Dorset.

I notice you mentioned Mary Anne Graham as my grandmothers mother, but according to her Death Certificate her maiden name was actually Fitzgerald. She was the third wife of James Orr, they all predeceased him. It was very sad that Uncle Jim was killed in July 1917, at Messines, and James Orr died in September, it must have been a terrible time for my grandmother and her half sister, who had really brought my grandmother up.

Goodness, this has become rather an epistle! I hope it's useful to you.

I notice this information you received is from last year so you may have either considerably more information or you may even have completed your research by now. It was a delight finding it today I can tell you.

Kind regards

Maggie Ronchi

I've been sitting here wondering who your husband is if Laffitte Charles is his grandfather as you mentioned as Emma Harriet and Laffitte Charles only had three children and Charles Ashton, my grandfather, was the only one that married and had children, a son and a daughter, my mother. I am now very curious. I may have misread things but would be very interested to know.

Thx

Maggie

My parents rented Buchanan's old house in the Waitahora Valley from 1964 to 1966, and got to know Brian and Barbara Barker. My mother used to take us children to the Barker's several times a week, so that we could use their piano for piano practice. Simon Barker and I were friends and I often stayed with the Barker's until about 1970. Their rambling farm house, which as since been demolished, and Mrs. Barker's accounts of the early days ignited my imagination. They used to refer fondly to an uncle, who was nick named "Tito" after the Yugoslav leader! I assume this was Sydney Barker. I actually Met Mrs Barker senior once at the the Barker's cousins, the Mienis's. I'm sorry to say the only reason I remember her is because of a nervous habit she had of poking out her tongue. She was in the Rahiri nursing home in Dannevirke at the same time as my paternal grandmother.

My great grandfather, Sir Alfred Ransom, may have come into contact with Charles Ashton Barker, becasue as M.P. for Pahiatua, he opened his election campaign in 1938 at Waitahora. He vigorously attacked the socialistic aims and heavy taxation of then then labour government, and his speech was accorded a hearty thanks!

I wonder if a Majorie Barker, who acted as a bride's maid at a fashionable wedding in 1936, was Charles Ashton Barker's sister. On December 21st, 1936 a Miss Majorie Barker was bridesmaid at Lois Joyce Bennett's Wedding. She was the eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A.P. Bennett. Mr Bennett had at one time been Post Master at Dannevirke, and went on to become a senior civil servant. The Bennetts were frequent guests of my great grandparents in Dannevirke. Both they and my grandparents attended the wedding at St. Paul's Pro-Cathedral in Wellington. It was one of one of the biggest weddings of the season: "The toast of the bridegroom was proposed by J.F. Redmond and that of the brides parents by Sir Alfred Ransom"

I believe the original owner of the farm, Wairere, at Waitahora, was J.A. Robertson. The following information is what I have collected from the Papers Past website, on the Barkers, in the course of researching my own family:

May 18th, 1907; The Press:
"Mr. C.A. Barker, of Redcliffs is at present in Marton on a holiday"

March 20th, 1909; The Press:
"Dalgety and Co.Ltd. have received instructions from the Executors of the Estate of the late C.L.W. Barker to sell by public Auction on Sat. 3rd. April that property situated at Redcliffs comprising 27 acres ( more or less ) with two dwelling houses thereon."

October 28th, 1911, Evening Post:
"Wanted, boy or elderly man to milk and make himself generally useful. Apply A. Barker, Waitahora"

Waipu Church Gazette, April, 1911:
"The Venerable Archdeacon Ruddock, having been invited to our district to preach at the harvest thanksgiving services; to be held at Waitahora and Manahei, arrived on Saturday, March 4th, and was the guest of Mrs. Barker, at Waitahora"

Waipu Curch Gazette, August 1st 1914: (The eve of the First World War)
"Weber: Vicar, Rev. F.W. Whibley:
The Bishop met his people at a social gathering in the Waitahora School. The Bishop spoke on the Women's Social Work about to be inaugurated in the Diocese, for which a Deaconess trained in rescue work and other works of mercy and love was arriving from England next month...
The address of welcome to his Lordship was presented by Mr. Ashton Barker on behalf of the church, to which he replied feelingly. The ladies had provided afternoon tea and quite a number of gentlemen were waited on by the gracious hostess.

Sunday was again fine. Mr. Tickner led the way to the cemetery and presented a petition to the Bishop to consecrate a portion of it for the burial ground of the Church. Following him was the Vicar, then the Bishop, then the congregation, and in that order all walked the bounds of the portion to be set apart. The service was a very solemn one...Holy Communion, which succeeded this in the school, was particularly solemn and inspriring, and all joined most hartily". ( I remember Waitahora cemetery with its 2 graves clearly, because we had to walk past it to and from school. It's ironic that once, Karen Tickner, who must have been a granddaughter of the leader of the 1914 procession, once went with my sister and I to raid the grave's of their marble pebbles, which we believed were highly valuable!)

August 16th, 1917:
APPEAL BOARD
"Sydney Francis Barker, farmer, Waitahora, Dannevirke, who had previously been granted leave till September, asked for further time to get his shearing over. He usually did his shearing early in November. He had one brother at the front and his sister was doing war work as a nurse. The chairman said the family seemed to be doing their duty. Leave was granted till Dec. 1st."

1919:
A Maori shearer, John Hoppy, achieved a world record by shearing 361 sheep at Mrs Barker's in 1919. His shearing tally was bettered the following year.

November 18th, 1926: Evening Post:
"Wanted, capable General or Lsay help, middle aged woman preferred for country, small family, plain cooking essential: Apply Mrs. Ashton Barker, Hotel Cecil"

December 14th, 1934; Evening Post:
"Mrs Ashton Barker returned to Dannevirke today after a brief visit to Wellington"


May 28th, 1937, Evening Post:
W.D.F.U. Inter Provincial Meeting
"The annual inter-provincial conference of the Women's Division of the Farmers' Union branches situated in the southern portion of the N. Island met at Dannevirke yesterday. Mrs. Barker, president of the S. Hawke's Bay Province presided over some 100 delegates. Sir Alfred Ransom introduced the Hon. P. Fraser, who said he was greatly interested in the problem of country education"

Such interesting reading. We have recently moved onto wairere in waitahora and i was wondering if you had any photos of the original house?