William Baker (1835 - 1922)

Born 8 Sep 1835 in Brook, Kent, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Husband of Mary Ann (Newport) Baker — married 7 Mar 1857 in West Ashford, Kent, England, United Kingdom

Died 29 Oct 1922 at age 87 in Bushnell, Kimball, Nebraska, United States

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Biography

William Baker was born in Brook, Kent, England.

William Baker was born at Brook, Kent, England, on 8 Sep 1835.^[1] The birth occurred before civil registration began, but his christening was recorded at Brook on 25th October, his parents named as Benjamin Baker (1804-1885) and Frances (Cramp) Baker (1813-bef.1860).^[2] He was their second child. Note that his birth/christening record shows his original birth name to be William Baker. William has at times been referred to as "William Edward Baker", but none of the records ever gives him a middle name, and if he had been given one it would probably not have been "Edward" as a younger brother was later given that as a first name.

In 1851, the family were recorded in the census return taken at Wye, Kent. William was shown as 15 years old and born at Brook. He lived with his parents, brothers Robert Baker (abt.1837-abt.1921), John Baker (abt.1840-), Henry, Edward Baker (abt.1843-abt.1932) and Richard Baker (abt.1845-abt.1927), and sister Frances Baker (abt.1847-aft.1865).^[3]

William married on 7 Mar 1857 in West Ashford, Kent, England, Mary Ann (Newport) Baker (1838-1917). ^[1] Their wedding was registered in the West Ashford registration district, Kent.^[4][5]

Children: William Edward, Martha Jane, Charles Harvey, Francis Oliver, and Addie May.^[1]

After their wedding, William and Mary Ann emigrated from England aboard the ship Plymouth Rock, arriving at New York on 25th Apr 1857.^[6] Inexplicably, under the heading "The country of which belongs" was written "America". His parents and siblings had immigrated in 1856. William was described as "laborer" aged 22 (actually 21). Wife Mary Ann was described as 19, born in England, and her sister Sarah Newport (who travelled with them) was described as 17, born in England.

William and Mary Ann lived near Syracuse for several years prior to migrating to the Hinckley area in Illinois, where they lived for 8 years.^[1] Their daughter Martha Jane was born on 16th Oct 1859 at Syracuse, Onondaga, New York. The three were recorded in 1860 at Clay, Onondaga, New York, as William, a farmer aged 25, born in England, Ann, 22, born in England, and Jane, 1, born in New York.^[7]

By 1870 the family were living at Squaw Grove, De Kalb, Illinois. William's father Benjamin Baker (1804-1885) and step-mother Sarah were living next door. William, now noted as a farmer of 34, born in England, and his wife Mary A. 31, had with them four children, Martha J. 10, Charles H. 8, Francis Oliver Baker (1863-1926) 6, and Ada May 0.^[8]

The family moved again and settled in Nebraska. Here they were recorded at Lincoln, Saline County, Nebraska in June 1880.^[9] The same family members were present as in the 1870 census, and, again, William's father and stepmother were living close by them. Daughter Martha (Mattie) was married that same year about forty miles away at Friend.^[10] Son Charles was also married at Friend in 1889 (26 Jan 1889).^[11] William was named as the father in both records.

William lost his wife, Mary Ann, to death on 27 Apr 1917.^[12][1]

William died at the age of 87 y, 1 mo., 21 d, at the home of his son, F. O. Baker in Bushnell, Nebraska, on 22nd October 1922. After funeral services at the Baptist Church, William was buried in Andrew Cemetery in Friend, Saline, Nebraska. In addition to his wife, his son William Edward and daughter Addie May preceded him in death. ^[1][13] His wife, father and stepmother lie buried there also. See photo of Obituary attached.

• Fact: Christening (25 Oct 1835) Brook, Kent, England
• Fact: Residence (1841) Wye, Kent, England, United Kingdom
• Fact: Residence (1851) Wye, Kent, England, United Kingdom
• Fact: immigration (25 Apr 1857) New York
• Fact: Residence (1870) Illinois, United States
• Fact: Residence (1880) Lincoln, Saline, Nebraska, United States
• Fact: Burial Friend, Saline, Nebraska, United States
• Fact: Residence Kent, England
• Fact: Residence Under Hill

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5} Newspapers.com; The Friend Sentinel - 2 Nov 1922, pg 1; William Baker Obituary, Death 29 Oct 1922
2. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NTLP-Y2G
3. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1851," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SGLZ-PXD : 12 September 2019), William in household of Benjamin Baker, Wye, Kent, England; citing Wye, Kent, England, p. 6, from "1851 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO HO 107, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.
4. ↑ "England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2D3L-L29 : 13 December 2014), William Baker, 1857; from "England & Wales Marriages, 1837-2005," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing 1857, quarter 1, vol. 2A, p. 554, West Ashford, Kent, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.
5. ↑ England and Wales Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837-1915 William Baker and Mary Ann Newport, 1857 Mar Quarter, West Ashford, Kent, England; database online, Provo, Utah, Ancestry.com, 2006.
6. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939V-5RZX-F?i=138&cc=1849782&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3A27RK-92V
7. ↑ 1860 United States Federal Census Clay, Onondaga, New York; Wm Baker age 25, born 1835 in England; living with wife Ann and child Jane; Roll: M653_828; Page: 268; Family History Library Film: 803828; database online, Provo, Utah, Ancestry.com, 2009.
8. ↑ "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M67G-NTS : 28 May 2021), William Baker, 1870.
9. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8Y2-4GN : 14 January 2022), William Baker, Lincoln Township, Saline, Nebraska, United States; citing enumeration district , sheet , NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm .
10. ↑ Nebraska, Marriage Records, 1855-1908; Marriage of Mattie G Baker and Perry E Buckingham (bride's name shown properly spelled on the image, but shown with typo on the transcribed record)
11. ↑ Nebraska, U.S., Select County Marriage Records, 1855-1908; Marriage of Charles H Baker and Susie Graves.
12. ↑ Newspapers.com; The Friend Sentinel (Friend, Nebraska), 03 May 1917, Thu, pg 1; Mary Ann Newport Baker OBIT
13. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/75747624/william-baker: accessed 03 August 2022), memorial page for William Baker (8 Sep 1835–22 Oct 1922), Find a Grave Memorial ID 75747624, citing Andrew Cemetery, Friend, Saline County, Nebraska, USA.

• "Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : modified 03 August 2022, 22:01), entry for William Baker (PID https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/4:1:LHWM-9VH ); contributed by various users.