Barker started his heraldic career as Charles Brandon's private officer of arms. Barker was made Lisle pursuivant in 1513 and Suffolk Herald in 1517. He is known to have accompanied his employer on journeys to France in 1514 and 1515. On 1 November 1522, Barker was made a royal officer of arms as Richmond herald. In June 1536, he was promoted to Norroy King of Arms and was quickly promoted to Garter Principal King of Arms on 15 July.
As Garter King of Arms, Barker helped to organize ceremonies such as the christening of Prince Edward in 1537, the funeral of Queen Jane Seymour in the same year, the proclamation of Henry VIII as King of Ireland in 1541, and the funeral of Henry and the coronation of Edward in 1547. When Henry invaded France in person in 1544, Barker had a prominent place before the King's banner. Before Henry's death, Barker's evidence was crucial when Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, was condemned to death for including the arms of Edward the Confessor among the many quarters in his coat of arms.
Personal lifeedit
Barker married three times. His first wife was Margaret, the widow of John Longe and previously of John Garret. His second wife, Ellen, was Henry Rigby's widow and daughter of Richard Dalton of Croston, Lancashire. With Ellen, Barker had two sons who predeceased him. One of these sons, Justinian, died in Spain in 1543 as Rouge Croix Pursuivant. Barton's nephew, Laurence Dalton, also joined the College of Arms and became Norroy King of Arms. Barker's third wife was Edith, widow of Robert Legge.
In 1521, he joined the Vintners' Company. He was master of the company from 1540 to 1543. Barker was recorded as lying sick at Christmas 1549 and died at Paternoster Row in London on 4 January 1550. He was buried in St Faith's under St Paul's. His widow survived him by only about six months. Many of his heraldic collections and manuscripts compiled by him survive at the College of Arms.
Armsedit
Coat of arms of Christopher Barker
Crest
From a torse or & azure a bear's head erased or muzzled azure, the neck per pale or & azure, all between 2 wings respectively azure & or.
Escutcheon
Argent, 3 bear's heads erased gules muzzled or with three roundels gules in chief.[1]
^Godfrey, Walter H; Wagner, Anthony (1963). "'Garter King of Arms', in Survey of London Monograph 16, College of Arms, Queen Victoria Street (London, 1963), pp. 38–74". british-history.ac.uk. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
Bibliography
L. Campbell and Francis Steer. A Catalogue of Manuscripts in the College of Arms Collections. (London, 1988).
John Anstis. The Register of the Most Noble Order of the Garter. (London, 1724), 376–379.
Andrew Crawford. A History of the Vintners' Company. (London, 1977).
Walter H. Godfrey and Sir Anthony Wagner, The College of Arms, Queen Victoria Street: being the sixteenth and final monograph of the London Survey Committee. (London, 1963).
Sir Anthony Wagner. Heralds of England: a History of the Office and College of Arms. (London, 1967).
Sir Anthony Wagner. Heralds and Heraldry in the Middle Ages. (London, 1956).
Mark Noble. A History of the College of Arms. (London, 1805), 137–42.
Sir Anthony Wagner. A Catalogue of English Mediaeval Rolls of Arms. Harleian Society (London, 1950).
March 13, 2024
christopher, barker, officer, arms, christopher, barker, died, january, 1550, officer, arms, college, arms, city, london, rose, highest, position, garter, principal, king, arms, contents, early, years, heraldic, career, personal, life, arms, also, external, li. Sir Christopher Barker died 4 January 1550 was an officer of arms at the College of Arms in the City of London who rose to the highest position of Garter Principal King of Arms Contents 1 Early years 2 Heraldic career 3 Personal life 4 Arms 5 See also 6 External links 7 ReferencesEarly years editChristopher was the son of William Barker of Stokesley in the North Riding of Yorkshire now North Yorkshire and his wife Joan the daughter of William Carhill and sister of Sir Christopher Carhill Norrey King of Arms In adulthood he lived in Newbury in Berkshire Heraldic career editBarker started his heraldic career as Charles Brandon s private officer of arms Barker was made Lisle pursuivant in 1513 and Suffolk Herald in 1517 He is known to have accompanied his employer on journeys to France in 1514 and 1515 On 1 November 1522 Barker was made a royal officer of arms as Richmond herald In June 1536 he was promoted to Norroy King of Arms and was quickly promoted to Garter Principal King of Arms on 15 July As Garter King of Arms Barker helped to organize ceremonies such as the christening of Prince Edward in 1537 the funeral of Queen Jane Seymour in the same year the proclamation of Henry VIII as King of Ireland in 1541 and the funeral of Henry and the coronation of Edward in 1547 When Henry invaded France in person in 1544 Barker had a prominent place before the King s banner Before Henry s death Barker s evidence was crucial when Henry Howard Earl of Surrey was condemned to death for including the arms of Edward the Confessor among the many quarters in his coat of arms Personal life editBarker married three times His first wife was Margaret the widow of John Longe and previously of John Garret His second wife Ellen was Henry Rigby s widow and daughter of Richard Dalton of Croston Lancashire With Ellen Barker had two sons who predeceased him One of these sons Justinian died in Spain in 1543 as Rouge Croix Pursuivant Barton s nephew Laurence Dalton also joined the College of Arms and became Norroy King of Arms Barker s third wife was Edith widow of Robert Legge In 1521 he joined the Vintners Company He was master of the company from 1540 to 1543 Barker was recorded as lying sick at Christmas 1549 and died at Paternoster Row in London on 4 January 1550 He was buried in St Faith s under St Paul s His widow survived him by only about six months Many of his heraldic collections and manuscripts compiled by him survive at the College of Arms Arms editCoat of arms of Christopher Barker nbsp Crest From a torse or amp azure a bear s head erased or muzzled azure the neck per pale or amp azure all between 2 wings respectively azure amp or Escutcheon Argent 3 bear s heads erased gules muzzled or with three roundels gules in chief 1 Badge A bear s head erased gules muzzled or See also editHeraldry Officer of armsExternal links editThe College of Arms Heraldic List of Officers of ArmsReferences editCitations Godfrey Walter H Wagner Anthony 1963 Garter King of Arms in Survey of London Monograph 16 College of Arms Queen Victoria Street London 1963 pp 38 74 british history ac uk Retrieved 1 November 2018 BibliographyL Campbell and Francis Steer A Catalogue of Manuscripts in the College of Arms Collections London 1988 John Anstis The Register of the Most Noble Order of the Garter London 1724 376 379 Andrew Crawford A History of the Vintners Company London 1977 Dictionary of National Biography Barker Sir Christopher d 1549 Garter king of arms by Sidney Lee Published 1885 Walter H Godfrey and Sir Anthony Wagner The College of Arms Queen Victoria Street being the sixteenth and final monograph of the London Survey Committee London 1963 Sir Anthony Wagner Heralds of England a History of the Office and College of Arms London 1967 Sir Anthony Wagner Heralds and Heraldry in the Middle Ages London 1956 Mark Noble A History of the College of Arms London 1805 137 42 Sir Anthony Wagner A Catalogue of English Mediaeval Rolls of Arms Harleian Society London 1950 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Christopher Barker officer of arms amp oldid 1188446750, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
