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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Somerset => Topic started by: croftyh on Thursday 28 June 07 13:05 BST (UK)
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Hi, I am searching for my brick wall. John Baker stated on his enlistment in the Army that he was born at Sopers Farm, Walcott, Somerset. The age he gave would have meant that he was born around 1808 however, of course, we all know he could have given an incorrect age. Unfortunatley in those days no mention in the service record of parents and with a name like Baker, well you can see why I have a brick wall. Any connection with anyone?
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can you give us any more info to go on?
like did he get married? date and details?
do you know when he died?
any more info that might help us to track him?
do you have him in any cencuses?
regards
alli
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That's the problem. I have no such information apart from his time in India with the 46th Regiment. He married in Madras in 1829 to an Anne Selman both were widowed at the time apparently (as per the parish record). They had a son James who came to Australia in 1854 who I descend from. I can find nothing in Anne Selman after that but John returned to England and left the Army in 1944 and nothing more is known about him from that. So, as you can see, it is an uphill battle.
If I could find out who Anne was previously married to (as it appears Selman was her maiden name) I could narrow down the search for her but as for John, pretty difficult.
Thanks for your reply anyway. Kind regards
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married in 1829??? but left army in 1944??
can you comfirm which date is corect
regards
alli
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Both dates are correct. He married for the second time (in 1829) in Madras, India then he left India and returned to England and left the Army.
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Sorry, just realised. The 19th century is the one. 1829 and 1844. Blasted fingers just don't like numbers!
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Hi - I am also descended from John Baker. Some of my information differs from yours. I have a marriage certificate for Anne Sillman (it could have possibly been Sellman, as one of James' children was called John Sellman Baker?) Anne had previously been married to John Sillman (ie Sillman was her married name. I also have information that John Baker died in India, and was buried there, assumedly from Cholera. James Baker, still an infant (plus his older sister) went to an orphanage when he died (not sure if Anne died at the same time - some Anglo-Indian children were considered "orphans" even though their mothers were still alive. I have more information.
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FreeREG gives several John Bakers baptised at Walcot in the right period, but nothing to indicate which is the right one. (Walcot comes under Bath.)
http://www.freereg.org.uk/cgi/Search.pl
Soper's Farm, aka Soaphouse, was actually a detached part of Walcot Parish, to the north of the rest of the parish with Charlcombe in-between. Events for the residents can sometimes be found recorded at Charlcombe, Woolley or Langridge, but there's no sign of John Baker there. (But FreeREG doesn't have Charlcombe baptisms after 1812.)
David
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Hi Karen,
Welcome to RootsChat, Sadly we have been unable to contact crofty as her email address has changed and we do not know the new one.
Sorry
Sarah :'(
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Hi Karen, I am back on now. Just with regards to John Baker, I have a copy of his army records which state that he went back to England, so not sure where you obtained the information about his death - he could have returned to India I suppose but I cannot seem to find any reference to this. Would love to hear more from you. Kind regars
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Croftyh - my name is Geoff Baker and I am a recent convert to family history. I also am bogged down about detail on John Baker's service in India.
I note you have details of hos Military service and I would like to obtain a copy or know the details of what is in them.
regards
Geoff Baker
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Hi Geoff, what line do you come down from?
If you could provide me with an email address i can scan the service record and email it to you or a postal address and i can post it to you. Or if you wanted to get a copy it is available on the UK Archives.
Kind regards
Heather Croft (nee Baker)
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Hi Heather - I come down from William James Baker who was the eldest son of James Baker. His eldest son was Edwin James Baker who was my father (what is your line?).
It has been an interesting quest following up on the family tree and I am not finished yet.
they say I should not publish my email but I think it is OK - email address removed by moderator
Hope to hear from you soon.
Regards
Geoff Baker
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The British Army Service Records are on FindMyPast.
These show that John Baker was born Walcot and his occupation before joining the Army, Duke of Cornwall's 32nd and 46th afoot, was that of Shoemaker. Based on the information he gave, he joined aged 17 in 1825. That suggests he was born in 1808 as stated.
There may be further records in The National Archives it shows these are held at ref WO97, Chelsea Pensioners British Army Service Records 1760-1913. Box 603, Box record number 22.
There are a number of Probate entries for John Baker in Somerset. Have you searched these to see if there are any clues?
In the event he received a pension, the army records may indicate his year of death.
Jo.
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Jo - thanks for that info. I will follow up on your suggestions
Regards
Geoff
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This thread caught my eye because I live very near to Sopers Farm. Looking at the records on FindMyPast I can see John Baker came from Walcot but there's no mention of Soper's Farm specifically. Where did that information come from?
Also it appears he was discharged 22 Aug 1848 (not 1844) at Chatham. His age then was 40 9/12 years which suggest he was actually born in late 1807. Having done 22 years service he must surely have been eligible for a pension so, as Jo suggests, the pension records at the National Archives should be worth looking at.
There seems to have been no John Baker baptised in Bath in 1807 or 1808. There was one in Walcot in 1809 and a couple more in other parts of Bath in 1810. The Walcot parents - Benjamin and Sarah - appear to have had daughters born in 1811 and 1815 who weren't baptised until 1818 so perhaps the 1809 John was also baptised late, or just lied about his age when he joined the army. At the later dates Benjamin was a blacksmith or farrier and lived in Avon Street. That's about as far away from Soper's Farm as you can get and still be within Walcot parish, but that doesn't rule them out.
David
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I have seen some Family Trees on Ancestry for John Baker and family. These show that he died in India in 1832. Judging from the contents of the Army Service Records on FindMyPast, that cannot be correct.
The entries in the Service Records show he was awarded extra amounts of pay based on his distinguished service and excellent conduct. There were four awards in all and the last of these is dated 1846.
One tree has John Baker born 23/07/1807, Walcot, "Sophers Farm", but baptised in Warminster on 13/09/1807. It says he was the son of Samuel Baker and Mary. I cannot vouch for the accuracy of these but they might be worth checking.
Jo.
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Interesting line, as I have a John Baker married to sisters Sarah & Phoebe Apsey, West Coker, Somerset, when various sources have claimed he was serving in India. This John descended from Matthew Baker, bp 18.I.1737 Halstock, Dorset, F: Henry, Mother: Anne. John was baptised in 1768 and I don't know what he did between 1768 and 1795 when he married Sarah. However, he and his brothers sprinkled offspring all over Somerset, and his daughter Amelia's son, Alfred served as farrier with the 5th Royal Irish Lancers, so I hope this can steer your around the brick wall. Aloha!