John Barker of Nayland

Biography

John Barker was a cloth maker and property owner at Nayland, in Suffolk in eastern England. He married Margaret Mawle in 1562. His will of June 24, 1587 describes several houses, some occupied by tenants, and a family in which younger children still needed support and upbringing.

Margaret was to have their dwelling house and two houses occupied by William Harvye and Robert Webbe for life; afterward those properties were to pass to their son Richard. Other houses and ground were assigned to her for one year before passing to their son John. These were different terms of possession, arranged separately for different properties.

John also provided for sons Thomas and William and daughters Dorothy, Alice, Anne, and Joyce. He directed that his three youngest sons and four youngest daughters be brought up properly. Margaret was appointed executrix, with their son John and son-in-law John Beriffe supervising the settlement. John was buried at Nayland on October 22, 1588. His will was proved that December.

The parish-based reconstruction identifies his son John with John Barker of Stoke Nayland. This remains a probable identification.