THE BARBER PAGE

THOMAS BARBER came to Windsor, Connecticut in 1635 with a party fitted out by Sir Richard Saltonstall, under Francis Stiles, a master carpenter of London. He was then 21 years of age, and was the first of the Barber name in New England

It is evident from the records that Francis Stiles failed to fulfill his contract with Thomas Barber and the other young men of his party, for on March 28, 1647, a court order forced Francis Stiles to fulfill his obligation of teaching the trade of carpentry to his apprentices (including Thomas Barber).

Thomas Barber was a soldier with the rank of Sergeant in the Pequot War. While returning from a memorable battle which resulted in the re-taking of a fort, Thomas Barber engaged with Lieutenant Cook in a discussion on religious and church matters. He became so incensed by comments made by lieutenant that he struck him, for which offense the court adjudged that he should forfeit his military rank and pay a five pound fine.

From all that can be learned of the character of Thomas Barber, it is evident that he was a man of strong convictions, but very liberal in his views, especially so for the times in which he lived. It was his contention that the Church had no right to interfere in temporal matters, which caused the trouble between him and Lieutenant Cook. He was, to a marked degree, impulsive and energetic and possessed of great shrewdness in business matters, but with an uprightness which won him the confidence of the colonists.

---Barber Genealogy, John Barber White, 1909

email: Dee Alexander

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Last Updated: February 22, 1998