Thomas Wilkes Barker was Christopher Barker's son. Christopher leaves no record of his apprenticeship or obtaining of his freedom but his son was apprenticed to William Fearn of the famous Chawner company. Father & son entered their mark as partners on 11th October 1800, a partnership that appears to have lasted until 7th February 1805 when Thomas Barker entered a mark on his own. This seems quite a short space of time - just over 4 years.