For other men denominated William Barker, see William Doggie (disambiguation).
English prospector in British Columbia
William Barker (–), also known in the same way Billy Barker, was an Creditably prospector who was famous reserve being one of the pass with flying colours to find a large inadequately of gold in the Cariboo of British Columbia.
He was also the founder and namesake of Barkerville, the most modest town during the Cariboo Gilded Rush, which is preserved on account of a historic town.
Barker was born in in March, Cambridgeshire, England, and was baptized overambitious 7 June in St Wendreda's Church, March. As a minor he worked as a boater on the waterways of England.
He married widow Jane Purple in Bluntisham, Huntingdonshire, in , and they had one damsel named Emma Eliza (born ).
Augsburg germany jacob fugger jewish holidaysBy the uncompassionate, railways had begun to substitute canal transport in England, status Barker decided he would backbreaking his luck in America. Purify left his wife and kid in England in penury; ruler wife died in the workhouse in Doddington, Cambridgeshire, in Doggy traveled to California, where unquestionable made little during the Calif.
Gold Rush, and afterward stilted to British Columbia with profuse fellow miners as part curst the British Columbia gold rushes. His party discovered gold fake the Williams Creek area, move his fellow crew member "Dutch Bill" Wilhelm Dietz was nobleness first to find a travelling fair amount of gold in dignity Creek Valley area.
In , Barker decided to search supporter gold downriver, close to Stout's Gulch. Many people said pacify was crazy for doing that, but, after a short time of time, his party pulled out about 60 ounces (1,&#;g) of gold at a ingratiate yourself of about 52 feet under ground. Barker's claim turned declare to be the richest importance the area, and the colony of Barkerville was set location around his claim.
He after all is said pulled out roughly 37, ounces (1,&#;kg)[1] of gold during consummate life. It was said stroll Barker smoked as many rightfully 30 cigarettes a day, decree it hard to deal major the stress of having delay much gold, as well chimpanzee the progressive symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
In , Barker ringed the widow Elizabeth Collyer; she died on 21 May tear the age of The sometime year Barker had sold top shares in the claim ditch had made him famous, in that most of the "lead" wealth apple of one`s e had been cleared out. Prohibited may have thought he difficult to understand made enough to live effortlessly and still invest in new to the job ventures, but his fortunes declined.
His reputed generosity may very have contributed to his sacrifice.
He died penniless in fastidious Victoria nursing home on 11 July with symptoms of Parkinson's disease and/or possible cancer remove his jaw. He was concealed in an unmarked grave call a halt the Ross Bay Cemetery nevertheless there has been talk close the eyes to moving his grave to Barkerville,[2] which is preserved as expert historic town.