Typescript memorandum: Theodore Gaillard Barker biography and probate citations
Book 1, Page 25 ·1780–1947
Transcription
A typewritten sheet with three sections separated by dashed rules.
News & Courier, Sunday A. M. August 24, 1947.
Theodore Gaillard Barker was born in Charleston, August 24, 1832. He received his early eduacation from his father Samuel Gaillard Barker a prominent Charleston lawyer, merchant & planter. Showing precocity as a youth he was placed in the school of Christopher Coates at the age of seven remaining there for seven years. After a year of preparatory study under Prof. William J. Rivers, he entered South Carolina College from which he was graduated in 1849. After studying law under Judge Robert Munro, he was admitted to the bar and for 7 years practiced as a partner of Charles H. Simonton. During the War Between the States, he served at Castle Pinckney, Secessionville, Morris Island & Sullivan’s Island until the fall of Fort Sumter. When Hampton’s Legion was organized he became its adjutant and rose until he was adjutant general of Hampton’s cavalry division with the rank of Major. He was twice wounded and throughout the years of warfare demonstrated soldiery, gallantry, and administrative ability. After the war he Returned to South Carolina and resumed his law practice until 1886 when his partner became a federal judge. In 1874 he began rice planting on the Cooper River, reclaiming rice lands of Mulberry Plantation. His interest there and on the Edisto and Pon Pon Rivers were extensive. Prominent in the efforts for the maintenance of law & order, 1869-76, he was one of the founders of the Carolina Rifle Club, the first in the state and its first president. During the riots of 1876 he performed valuable services to Charleston. In 1866 he served in the state legislature took an active part in the Hampton campaign, being a member of the convention which nominated Hampton for governor, and in 1880, together with General Bratton, Butler and Hampton, represented South Carolina in the national Democratic Convention in Cincinnatti. Major Barker died in Flat Rock, N. C. in 1917.
Probate Court, Charleston, S. C. Book 20, p. 198. Christopher FitzSimons of Charles Town, S. C. Tallo[w] Chandler & Soap Boiler September 23, 1782. Witnesses: James Wright, William Davis, Malcolm Brown. Exors: William Valentine of Charles Town, gentlemen, Thomas Fuller the younger, of St. Andrew’s---- Nephew----- FitzSimons, (part destroyed). Original Will Book, 1783-86, p. 166. Mentions: Nephew Christopher FitzSimons son of Cashel FitzSimons late of Dundalk, in the Kingdom of Ireland. Niece Mary daughter of Cashel and Niece Ann another daughter. Brother-in-law James Handlin’s children of Kingdom of Ireland. Niece Esther Dillon daughter of Edward Murphy, brother William’s three daughters.
S. C. & American General Gazette, Sept. 20, 1780. Christopher FitzSimons one of the executors of Darby Pendergrass, deceased.
Recorded in Will Bk. 1826-1834, Book G. page 668. (W. P. A. Book 39, p. 1130) Christopher FitzSimons of City of Charleston, South Carolina. April 11, 1831. Proved before Jas. D. Mitchell, Esq. O. C. T. D. 20th March 1833. Elizabeth Porcher FitzSimons, qualified as executrix April 19, 1833. Witnesses: Jno. Fisher, Henry O. Loane, Paul FitzSimons. Beloved Wife to be sole executrix. She to consult with beloved Mother and brother Paul and her respected Mother and Father.
AI Notes
A typewritten sheet with three sections separated by dashed lines. The top section is a biographical sketch of Major Theodore Gaillard Barker drawn from the News & Courier of Sunday, August 24, 1947. The middle section abstracts the September 23, 1782 will of Christopher FitzSimons of Charles Town (the emigrant’s uncle). The lower section abstracts a 1780 General Gazette notice and the April 11, 1831 will of Christopher FitzSimons of Charleston (the emigrant’s son, Christopher 2nd). The typescript’s ‘Tallo Chandler & Soap Boiler’ is the profession of Christopher FitzSimons the bachelor uncle (a tallow chandler made candles and soap from animal fat), not a person’s name. TGB’s birth date August 24, 1832 is firmly pinned (his News & Courier obituary ran on his 115th-birthday Sunday, August 24, 1947, thirty years after his Flat Rock NC death in 1917). The will of Christopher (the 2nd) is dated April 11, 1831 and proved 20 March 1833 — fixing his death date in early 1833, consistent with p003’s prose date of Dec 29, 1832 with probate following in March. The ‘beloved mother & brother Paul’ references in the will are his widow’s (Elizabeth Porcher Stoney’s) family circle.
Theodore Gaillard Barker (1832–1917) was Susan Milliken Barker’s brother — the compiler Amy’s great-uncle, the “Uncle Theodore” of family letters. He served as adjutant general of Hampton’s Legion cavalry division under Wade Hampton III, helped lead Hampton’s 1876 “Redemption” gubernatorial campaign, and represented South Carolina alongside Hampton at the 1880 Democratic National Convention in Cincinnati. The April 1831 will abstracted at the foot of the page is Christopher 2nd’s (the emigrant’s son), proved 20 March 1833 after his late-1832 death at Lexington SC.