Addison Francis Baker-Cresswell DL JP (1874 - 1921)

Born 8 Nov 1874 in Eglingham, Northumberland, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Son of Oswin Cumming Baker-Cresswell JP and Emma Sophia Georgiana (Denman) Wadsworth

Descendants

Died 7 Sep 1921 at age 46 in England, United Kingdom

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Biography

Addison Francis Baker Cresswell was born 8 November and baptised 10 December 1874 at Eglingham, Northumberland.^[1]

At the 1881 census he was with his family at Cresswell Hall, Cresswell, Northumberland, as Addison FB Cresswell, aged 6 and born at Harehope, Northumberland.^[2] He was again at Cresswell Hall in 1891, described as a student of Eton College, aged 16, born at Harehope.^[3]

He was gazetted Second Lieutenant, Scots Guards, 15 November 1893^[4] but resigned his commission in 1895^[5]. In 1898 he joined the local Yeomanry regiment, the Northumberland Hussars, as a Lieutenant^[6].

He was married 2 February 1899 at Shilbottle, Northumberland to Idonea, daughter of Maj. Shallcross Fitzherbert Widdrington of Newton Hall in that parish^[7]; their first son John was born later that year^[8], and younger son Addison Joe in 1901^[9]. At the 1901 census they were living at Alnmouth Hall, Northumberland; he was then described as MFH (master of fox hounds), JP (Justice of the Peace) and captain, Northumberland Hussars, aged 26 and born at Harehope, Eglingham.^[10]

On 28 July 1902 he was cited as co-respondent in divorce proceedings brought by Capt. Francis William Forester against Aline Laura Forester his wife; she and Cresswell were alleged to have committed adultery at the Savoy Hotel, London on 23-27 July preceding. Captain Forester sought £50,000 damages and the dissolution of his marriage; his petition was dismissed 8 August 1902.^[11]

Idonea Cresswell also filed a petition for restitution of conjugal rights 19 September 1902, saying that her husband had left Harehope Hall on 23 July previous and was refusing to cohabit with her; he had been staying since then at the Hotel Westminster, Rue de la Paix, Paris.^[12]

Captain Forester again started divorce proceedings on 13 November 1902, alleging further adultery between his wife and Cresswell at the Hotel Westminster in Paris during August and September, and at Rumsdale Lodge in Caithness during October and November; they denied the charges and his petition was dismissed 31 July 1903.^[13]

By that time Mrs Forester had given birth to a daughter; it had been agreed that Capt. Forester would accept his wife back but not her child, while Cresswell would return to his wife and they would bring up the daughter.^[14]

Following their reconciliation, the Cresswells had two daughters, Cynthia May in 1904^[15] and Diana Nell in 1906^[16], before finally separating.

He went on to father another illegitimate daughter in 1910 (named Aline, after his former mistress), following a relationship with his children’s nursemaid, Katherine Macaskill.^[17]

At the 1911 census he was living at 40A Hyde Park Gate, London, with his daughter (by Mrs Forester) Violet Rosemary Cresswell, and Katherine McAskill as housekeeper; he described himself as a retired army officer, aged 36, born at Eglingham in Northumberland.^[18]

He died 7 September 1921 and was buried at Cresswell, Northumberland.^[19]

Sources

• Paternal and maternal relationships are confirmed by an AncestryDNA test match between Deirdre Craig and her 2nd cousin. Their most-recent common ancestors are their great-grandparents Oswin Cumming Baker-Cresswell and Emma Sophia Georgiana Denman. Predicted relationship from AncestryDNA: Close Family (>97% probability of 2nd cousins or closer), based on sharing 309 cM across 13 segments.

1. ↑ "England, Northumberland, Parish Registers, 1538-1950", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPSD-NZ6S : 19 April 2021), Addison Francis Baker Cresswell, 1874.
2. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1881," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2WM-C2RQ : 12 December 2017), Addison F B Cresswell in household of Oswin C B Cresswell, Cresswell, Northumberland, England; from "1881 England, Scotland and Wales Census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing p. 8, Piece/Folio 5119/7, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey; FHL microfilm 101,775,417. Image at Ancestry
3. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1891," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:H324-RT2 : 8 May 2019), Addison F B Cresswell in household of Emma S G Baker Cresswell, Cresswell, Northumberland, England, United Kingdom; from "1891 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 12, Northumberland county, subdistrict, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey. Image at Ancestry
4. ↑ https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/26458/page/6355
5. ↑ https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/26646/page/4159
6. ↑ https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/27013/page/5922
7. ↑ "England Marriages, 1538–1973 ", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N2YC-XXF : 11 March 2020), Addison Francis Baker Cresswell, 1899.
8. ↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NK47-DH9 : 18 September 2020), John Baker Cresswell, 1900.
9. ↑ https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Baker-Cresswell
10. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1901," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XS99-KN4 : 21 May 2019), Addison B Cresswell, Alnmouth, Northumberland, England, United Kingdom; from "1901 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing Warkworth subdistrict, PRO RG 13, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey. Image at Ancestry
11. ↑ The National Archives; Kew, Surrey, England; Court for Divorce and Matrimonial Causes, later Supreme Court of Judicature: Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Files, J 77; Reference Number: J 77/758/3062 Image at Ancestry
12. ↑ The National Archives; Kew, Surrey, England; Court for Divorce and Matrimonial Causes, later Supreme Court of Judicature: Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Files, J 77; Reference Number: J 77/762/3191 Image at Ancestry
13. ↑ The National Archives; Kew, Surrey, England; Court for Divorce and Matrimonial Causes, later Supreme Court of Judicature: Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Files, J 77; Reference Number: J 77/768/3381 Image at Ancestry
14. ↑ Chance, Cecilia. The Widdrington Women and their Eminent Men. Phillimore & Co. Ltd, 2010, p.197
15. ↑ Birth registered Q2 1904 Alnwick, volume 10b page 503
16. ↑ Birth registered Q4 1906 Alnwick, volume 10b page 486
17. ↑ Chance, Cecilia. The Widdrington Women and their Eminent Men. Phillimore & Co. Ltd, 2010, p.211
18. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1911," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XWL8-K7T : 16 May 2019), Addison Francis Creswell, Kensington, London, England, United Kingdom; from "1911 England and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 14, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey. Image at Ancestry
19. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/145063659/addison-francis-baker_cresswell : accessed 08 November 2021), memorial page for Major Addison Francis Baker Cresswell (8 Nov 1874–7 Sep 1921), Find a Grave Memorial ID 145063659, citing Saint Bartholomew’s Churchyard, Cresswell, Northumberland Unitary Authority, Northumberland, England ; Maintained by DIMITRIOS CORCODILOS (contributor 48461240) .

• Burke’s Landed Gentry, 18th edition vol.1 (1965), p.175.