The large tapering cylindrical body upon a moulded and threaded skirted base. The sides applied with a reeded girdle a quarter of the way up and the sizeable "S" scroll handle with plain reeded rat-tail descending from a wedge-shaped bracket with transverse graduated fluting. The lower part of the handle with plain shield applied to a cut-card panel of wavy lozenge shape. The flat topped lid with cast chairback thumbpiece with extra central scroll . The flattened edges to the lid with reeded bands and wavy cut front below curved rising sides with stepped top. The upper part of the body engraved with contemporary armorials within baroque mantling of shaded and scaled symmetrical scrolls and draped with pretty garlands of leaves, all below a four line dedication. The Inscription reads: "To Preserve the Memory of Daniel Barker of Plymouth Mercht. Gregory Barker out of a Legacy He Bequeathed to Him, Purchased This Tankard and Gave it to His Son Pentecost Barker & His Heirs Male, And in Default of Such, Then to His Daughter Susanna Barker and Her Heirs Forever."
The Arms are those of Barker
Daniel Barker
Pentecost Barker, thence by descent.
Spink and Son
Christies, March 22nd, 1906, lot 78
Christies, Centuries of Style, November 28th, 2012, lot 763
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We have undertaken a considerable amount of research into this tankard and are particularly indebted to Brian Barnham for his help in reasearching the family and history of this wonderful piece.
Daniel Barker (1622-1693) bequeathed in his will the sum of £25 to Gregory Barker (National Archives, Kew, 11/418/218). It is reasonable, therefore, to assume that Gregory spent part of this to commission a large tankard from the London silversmith Timothy Ley in 1705 as cited in the inscription.
Daniel was an important figure in ther history of Plymouth. He is described as a merchant but we have been unable to ascertain exactly what he may have bought and sold. The available evidence suggests he was a general trader who also made numerous land and property purchases presumably to benefit his business as a merchant. The fact that he was mayor of Plymouth twice, firstly in 1669-1670 and secondly 1681-1682 suggests he was equally well connected and respected. His social circle included other mayors including John Munyon and William Wrayford who were also mentioned as "Cozens" in his will. He was also made a Justice of the Peace and served as a Juror along with Munyon and Wrayford.
Daniel was born in 1621-2 in Tarvin, Cheshire, the son of John Barker. We know he was baptised in Tarvin on 24th February 1622 so must have been born in the weeks or months prior to this. He married Ursula Bentlie, daughter of Thomas Bentlie and Edeth Jope, on 22nd November 1648 in Plymouth St Andrew. Sadly his two children, Daniell and John, both died within Daniel's lifetime. Daniell was born in 1649 and died in 1683, whilst John was born in 1657 and died in 1690. Ursula, who was local to the area, was baptised at Plymouth St. Andrew on January 28th 1623. Her family name was also known as Bentlye and Bentley.
The other names on the inscription are of note:
Gregory Barker was born between 1660 and 1675 and died in 1740. He married Suzanna Hendy, daughter of Pentecost Hendy, and his trade was as a Wine Cooper and Merchant. Curiously, we have not been able to find a family link between him and Daniel but presumably there was one for Gregory to be included in the inscription.
Gregory and Suzanna's eldest son was Pentecost Barker. He was baptized on 13th October 1691 in Plymouth Presbyterian Chapel, in Norley Street. He was employed as a merchant and a Royal Navy Purser. He was also recorded as a Ward Constable for the court. His religious beliefs were firmly set with the Presbyterian and later the Unitarian churches. In 1761 we went to court along with three other Presbyterian worshippers to object to the newly appointed Minister named Christopher Mends. On April 18th 1740 Pentecost advised the Plymouth Court Commissioner, Philip Vanbrugh, that his father Gregory had died and requested that all his father's contracts be turned over to himself. There is evidence that Pentecost was actively involved in tradfing for Admiralty Office contracts at Devonport and in some of these contracts he is referred to as a Ship's Purser. Pentecost died in 1762 and was buried on 8th September.
The final name presents a problem. Neither Gregory or Pentecost had a daughter named Suzanna. There are possibilities that this was a mistake or a mis-spelling. A Joanna Barker (sometimes known as Johanna) has been recorded as being born in 1680 and died in 1735 at St. Endellion, Cornwall. She married Thomas Lang who was born in 1665 and died in St. Minver, Cornwall in 1725. One of their children was called Susana but surely would have been Lang not Barker. An Elias Lang was mentioned as a beneficiary in Pentecost Barker's Will in 1762.
Tankards of this size are seldom found especially with its superb condition and particularly with such an interesting provincial dedication. Timothy Ley was a specialist maker of tankards and mugs although we have not found another 4 pint example by him.