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Our Brother Joshua Barker was born in the year 1696, on the 22nd of December at Hopton in the Parish of Mirfield. He lived with his father till 19 years of age, at which time he was put apprentice to a broad-clothier in that neighbourhood. He was married to his present widow on the 13th of July. One son is a member of our Society. He lived happily with his wife and being of a religious turn he went with his wife constantly to the Church and Sacrament, and had religious meetings kept in his house where they used to pray and read Burkitt’s exposition on the New Testament. His self-working was for some time in his way, so that to be a poor sinner at the feet of Jesus was a hard matter to him for some time, and he was a long time among the Brethren before he got a feeling of our Saviour’s dying love in his heart. When Mr. Ingham preached in the beginning in these parts he went to hear him, his wife at first was against it. But upon her hearing both Brother Ockertshausen at her own house her prejudice dropped away and they both went both together. He always had a great attachment to the Brethren, and upon his land lord’s being against the preaching at his house, he rather left it than comply with his desire not to let the gospel be preached there.

He soon became a member of our Society, and had the grace to be received on the 22d of April 1752 into the congregation and November 19th in the same year he partook of the highest good in the holy sacrament for the first time. Within these 2 years he has occasionally said to his wife I shall not be long here but shall soon be go home, but don’t be troubled for you will not stay long after me. At the regulating of the bands and classes anew in January 1760 he became a band servant, in which capacity he was a faithful helper and beloved by his brethren, and found a blessing for his own heart. On Monday night, the 10th of November, he was taken with a violent and painful disorder so that his dissolution was expected before morning, the violence of which was however somewhat abated the next day when he was visited by Watson on his return from Huddersfield. He was very cheerful notwithstanding his great bodily pain and in a sinnerlike connection with the man of sorrows, whom he said he longed to see face to face, and begged him and the brethren to bear him on their hearts, before him on that account. From his first becoming sick he always thought he should yet get permission to leave his mortal tent, and from hence be taken the faithful one to see, at which he frequently rejoiced in his heart. And speaking with a brother of the great longing he felt to be at home with his wounded friend that only matchless heart

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and observing his wife looked thoughtful, he said to her when I am with him I will speak a good word for you, that he may soon fetch you also and I’m sure he will not deny me my request; and thus he comforted her about their parting. Soon after the Sacrament, being visited by a Brother, he expressed his great longing for that highest good, in order to strengthen his heart under the great bodily pain he felt. And declared that the better death and passion of the Lord Jesus was what his heart relied upon and it’s only good for time and eternity. Once being visited he expressed his desire to be buried with his brethren at Lambs Hill and seemed grieved that on account of his outward circumstances he must give up that hope, but he was soon comforted upon our assuring him we would see to it that his desire should be accomplished. January 21st he had his part of the holy Sacrament with some other sick for which end he came on horseback to the Chapel which was the last time of his being there. On the Great Sabbath, Brother Watson carried him the sacrament, and first related to him what had passed in the congregation at G.H. on Maunday Thursday and then in a child-like prayer begged that mouth which spoke his own clean, to speak this brother who could not enjoy the application of the bloody gore from his back in the auditorium on account of sickness clean. And to hasten the ripening of this fruit of his death’s agony and take him home to himself or soon enable him to appear again among his Brethren. Then he sung: what lord thee so tormented and. O led him in thy nail holes see his pardon and election free and. give him absolution, and a gentle praising tone, deep foundation in thy cross’s stem. And then during an inexpressible tender and melting feeling he received his share of the holy Sacrament. After which he was particularly cheerful and happy and frequently said to his wife, now I have got what I wanted, and seemed highly blessed. That night was a very painful night to him and his disorder very became again very violent. On Monday being visited by one of the brethren to whom he again signified his longing to be at home, which desire was granted him the next day in the evening about 8 o’clock after having lain quiet and still from about 4 o’clock without speaking. He sweetly fell asleep and grew pale on Jesus arm and bosom, in the 65th year of his dying life, with that children’s watch word; all that are in the graves shall hear his voice. Now there’s no soul who doth not want (even when in her Lord’s joy) and doth not quick upon thee, grant fetch her corpses reverently.