John Henry Barber (Jack)

(1888 - ????)

Whilst John's birth certificate has yet to be obtained, it is known that his birth was registered in Bridgwater, Somerset in the first quarter of 1888 (ref 5c 366). His registered name was John Henry Dyer, Dyer being the maiden name of his mother Alice. Alice married John Barber at St Judes church Bristol in October 1888.

John appears in the 1891 census for Bridgwater as aged one and having adopted the Barber name. The address appears to be Cook Yard and was listed in the enumerators book after a property at St Matthew's Field Place. Also in the property was his mother Alice, father John and sister Jane. Jane is also recorded as one year old.

At the time of the 1901 census, John was living at 75 Friarn Street, Bridgwater with his mother, sister and three further brothers; John's age is recorded as 13.

John's father was taking part in the Boer War in 1901. His attestation papers record various personal information, including details of his children. John is recorded as having been born in Bristol on 22.12.1889 and Baptised in Bridgwater on 21.06.1890. It should be noted however, John's father often provided inaccurate dating information.

John was the first born in what became a large family, he had the following brothers and sisters.

 

1890	Jane	1909	Herbert Henry J
1892	Clifford	1911	Leslie*
1895	Francis	1912	Joel
1898	Leonard*	1914	Glad
1900	Stanley Watson W
1903	Alfred
1905	Maggie (Meg)

It is believed that Leonard and Leslie died as babies.

Jack's sister Glad recalled that Jack had received an army pension and that in later years, he drove for Bridgwater townsman, Dr Bird. This was also remembered by J Biffin, Bridgwater undertaker, who remembered him as a chauffeur of Dr Bird, who lived in what is now the British legion in Castle Street. Mr Biffin suggested that Jack lived on the Bristol Rd.