The Burnley Gazette, Wednesday, February 20, 1895. DEATH OF MAJOR BARKER OF COLNE. We announced with regret the death of Major H. Barker, of Colne, which took place at his residence, Hall-street, on Saturday evening. The deceased, who was 71 years of age, had been in greatly failing health for nigh on eighteen months, and for the past four or five months he has been confined to bed with heart disease. Fatty degeneration of the heart was the ailment to which the major ultimately succumbed. Major Barker was a native of Colne, but he was away from his native town some thirty years during his long and honourable connection with the army. He joined himself to the 1st (King’s) Dragoon Guards, and in the course of his thirty years service in the regiment he went through the Crimean campaign, and afterwards was despatched with his regiment to India, arriving there just as the mutiny subsided. In 1858 he was presented with the commission of the cornet, and he afterwards purchased his lieutenancy. He retired from the army some twenty-five years ago. In the army the deceased gentleman enjoyed the highest esteem of all his colleagues, and as an officer he won the regard and good will of all with whom he came into contact. When he retired he was adjutant to his regiment, a position which he had held for some years previous. He returned to Colne on leaving the army, and for a period of about twenty-three years he discharged the duties of registrar for the Colne, Nelson and Brierfield district, and in this connection he was widely known and universally esteemed for his unfailing courtesy and consideration in the discharge of his duties. In Colne, the Major’s death is deeply lamented, as he enjoyed the warm regard and esteem of all sections of the community. He was a Conservative and a churchman. He has been a churchwarden at the Colne Parish church for a number of years, and was one of the wardens through the period of the Parish Church restoration. The deceased was a vice-president of the Colne Conservative club. He leaves a widow and two sons and five daughters, for whom much sympathy is felt in their bereavement. The internment takes place at the Colne cemetery, tomorrow.
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