Born in Tannington.1

Married John BARKER in Tannington.19,20,21,22

Groom's parish - Yarmouth

From the Bury and Norwich Post :-
"John Barker, Esq. of Yarmouth, to Mary daughter of W. Ray, Esq. of Tannington Place, Suffolk."

Birth of daughter Georgiana BARKER in Tannington.15

Birth of daughter Katharine Ray BARKER in Tannington Place.16

Mentioned in Will.2

Of Catherine Clayton - died 1846
Annotated as :-
"Mrs. Mary Barker the wife of John Barker Esquire Mrs. Lydia Eaton the wife of Mr. Thomas Damant Eaton Esquire and Miss Catherine Ray the three daughters of William Ray late of Tannington"

Recorded in census in Norwich, Mancroft (St Giles).3

Mentioned in Will.4

Of Lydia Ray née Clayton - died 1848
Annotated as :-
"the four daughters of my said late husband ... Mrs. Mary Barker second eldest daughter of my said late husband ..."

Mentioned in Will.5

Of Deborah Clayton - died 1851
Described as :-
"Mary the wife of John Barker Esquire of Norwich"

Recorded in census in Norwich, West Wymer (St Giles, Chapel Field).1

Death of John BARKER in Norwich.10,17,18

Legacy.6

Received a legacy of GBP 400 pre tax from the estate of Catherine Ray

From the Legacy Receipt - Inland Revenue :-
"Mary Baker - Sister of the deceased - pecuniary legacy"

Wrote will.7

From the probated copy of the will in the Norfolk Archives :-
"Whereas Mrs. Lydia Ray left me six hundred pounds in her Will to be at my disposal & to go to anyone whom I should appoint in writing I hereby direct that the said sum of six hundred pounds be given to my eldest daughter Georgiana Barker provided she be unmarried at the time of my decease otherwise to be equally divided between my children ;- I have besides eight hundred pounds in the Brighton Railway Shares ; I wish to be equally divided between my two daughters - Witness my hand this day May 30th 1860
Mary Barker
Witness -
Thos D Eaton Gentleman } Norwich
George C Eaton Artist }

Occupation Shareholder.8

Recorded in census in Norwich, Mancroft.8

Head of household
Staff x 1
Annotated as "widow"

Occupation Independant.9

Recorded in census in Norwich, Mancroft (St Giles, Chapel Field).9

Head of household
Staff x 3
Annotated as "Widow"

Died in Norwich.11,12,13,14

From the Ipswich Journal :-
"22nd inst., in her 79th year, Mary, widow of John Barker, Esq., of Chapel Field, Norwich"

From the London Daily News :-
"January 22, Mary, widow of the late J. Barker, Esq., of Chapel Field, Norwich, aged 78"

Administration in Norwich.14,7

Administration with will of the estate of Mary Barker late of Chapel Field Norwich, widow.
Administration to :-
Katherine Ray Smee - wife of Frederick Smee, Gentleman - of 21 Arundell-villas Balham, daughter.
Effects - under GBB 2,000
Resworn at Norwich January 1873 - Under GBP 3,000

Research note :-
The original probated copy is in the Norfolk Record Office
"Administration
with the Will of
Mary Baker
late of the city of Norwich Widow
deceased annexed
Dated 14th January 1872"

Research Note.10

From "The Black Book" in the Norwich Record Office
"She must have been a "character" judging from the tales her daughter Mrs. K. R. Smee & my father George Clayton Eaton have told me - on coming out of the choir of Norwich Cathedral after service she would walk down the nave with her parasol "up" as if out of doors. She played chess with her brother-in-law Thos. Damant Eaton (he used to call her Mrs. B". He was a well known chess player of his day. When finding the game going against her she would manage as that the chess board was upset!"