Jilly's Genealogy

It is with deep regret we record the death of Mr William Cobbett Barker, which occurred at his residence, Hillside Avenue, Strood, after only a brief illness, on Monday. The deceased gentleman, who was a native Maidstone, came to reside at Strood when a young man, and had for many years successfully carried on the business of a brass founder at Gun Lane, where he also lived (at Bryant House) until two years ago, when he removed to a new residence which he had built for himself at Hillside Avenue. He was a most enthusiastic gardener, and was engaged in the grounds attached to his house when he was seized with his fatal illness on Monday, the 14th instant. In the first instance, catarrh of the stomach was the trouble, but in the course of the week the heart and lungs became affected, and the deceased passed away somewhat suddenly at half past eight on Monday evening. His death, which is deeply regretted, came as a great surprise to many of his friends, who were unaware of his illness.
Mr Barker was not a man who courted publicity, although on one or two occasions he had unsuccessfully contested the Strood Ward for a seat on the Rochester Town Council. He was also a member of the Strood Parish Trustees and of the Survey Committee of that body, and took a keen interest in its proceedings. In the main, however, he was content to devote himself to his business and his hobby, which was gardening. He lived a quiet, industrious, and a useful life, and was over mindful of the poor around him. To those in need he was a firm and generous friend, and in times of stress had distributed through other hands considerable sums in the purchase of boots and clothing, and also food for the suffering. Very few know of his benevolence in this direction.
In politics Mr Barker was a Liberal, but he held somewhat extreme views and in later years his sympathies had been more with the Labour Party, who by his death have lost a generous supporter.
The deceased gentleman, who was 68 years of age, leaves a widow and one son (Mr W Cobbett Barker) for whom much sympathy is expressed.
The funeral has been fixed for Saturday at Strood Cemetery, and by special request there are to be neither flowers nor mourning. The late Mr Barker had a strong personal objection to the parade of floral emblems or mourning attire, and Mrs Barker and her son are endeavouring to carry out his wishes in that respect.

The will has just been proved of the late Mr William Cobbett Barker, of "Roseacre" Hillside Avenue, Strood, Rochester, who died on the 21st October last. The estate is valued at £9,869 16s. 2d., with net personally £5,489 11s. 11d. Probate has been granted to Mr Charles Ede Barker, of Ferndale Villa, Westgate Road, Dartford, his brother, and Mr William Cobbett Barker, the younger, of Bryant House, his son. The will is dated 22nd July, 1904, and there is one codicil. The testator leaves to his wife, Mrs Lucy Barker, £500 and his household and personal and consumable stores, absolutely, and the use for life of his house in Hillside Avenue, and an annuity during widowhood of £104. To his sisters, Annie Gigger and Clair Ellis, £200 each; to his brother, Charles Ede Barker, £200; upon trust for his sister Olive, £100; annuity of £39 upon trust for his sister Olive; and the residue of his property he leaves to his son, William Cobbett Barker.

By the death of the late Mr W C Barker, the working class of this district generally, but Strood and Frindsbury in particular, have lost a good friend. This fact will be realised by some, but by far the greatest number who have benefited by his kindness have not been aware of it and consequently will not know of their loss. A man who by dint of perseverance, straightforward dealing, and one may I think assume a fair amount of good fortune, he was able to not only secure himself during the latter part of his life against any possible chance of want, but he was also during that time able, and, what is more, he was willing, to render some measure of assistance to others of his fellow creatures who were less fortunate than himself. There was always one good point about his many kindnesses, if he made enquiries into the causes of anyone's troubles, it was always with a view to give assistance in the direction likely to be most beneficial. It would take the form of goods, money, or employment, or it might take all three forms, just according to the degree of necessity. Suffering humanity was painful to him. He generally preferred to find some employment, if possible, as he always considered that form of assistance was more honourable and acceptable to the recipient. He maintained his membership of his trade union to the end, and was never tired of advising working men to stick to their union if in one, if not in one to join one as soon as possible, as he realised the value of trade unionism to himself during his early working life and the value of it generally to the workers. He not only retained his membership of his own union, but generously subscribed to trades organisations when in dispute with employers, notably was that so during the long struggle of the Penrhyn Quarrymen, the local Cement Workers during the early days of the Combine, and again, the Bargemen and Riverside Workers of a few months back. He felt the justice of the men's claims, and gave assistance in no mean measure.
It has already been remarked in the Press that in politics Mr Barker was a Liberal, and, judging by what I have seen, one of the staunchest and one of the best supporters financially, but there came a time when he felt that the workers were not getting justice at the hands of the Liberal Party, the only Party that he thought they might reasonably expect it from. He slowly but surely came to the conclusion that the workers' social salvation lay in their own hands, and that they must work out their emancipation, and to that end he rendered good assistance to the local Labour Party and Trades Council, and took an active part in the Co-operative Barge Building Society. He was firmly convinced that a Co-operative Commonwealth was our ultimate goal: also seeing the need that the workers stood in of a daily newspaper, he readily took shares in the newspaper now on the maket.
While he was rendering help in the directions indicated, which certainly, directly helped adults and indirectly children, he was not unmindful of the children, and in him, the children of Strood and Frindsbury have lost a real genuine friend. During the very heavy trade depression of a few years back, he was one of our best supporters in feeding and clothing the children. It will be remembered by some that, with the help of himself and other friends, he undertook to provide meals for the children and assistance for the parents, and Mrs Barker very kindly started the clothing by sending a quantity of boots and shoes to St Mary's Schools, which was further supplemented by woollen and other goods. On the last occasion, before and while the local Education Authority were providing meals, he was rendering much assistance in the same direction, and so it has been as long as I have known him. He has always tried to render assistance to those in distress or less fortunately placed than himself, because he felt he ought to do it, and it now seems to me that the thanks which would have been given him by many had they known of his kindness, might very well be publicly given by
                                                                                                          ONE WHO KNEW HIM