Does anyone else have a Lion Tamer in their family?

[lindagene]

Well that is what my father always said that his Great Uncle was,  either that or a pearl diver, actually,  having looked into this, what I found was that GG Uncle Offord Baker was a merchant seaman, who, according to my Great Aunt, became a government representative for Australia and the South Seas.   Sounds unlikely to me, somehow I dont see a merchant seaman attaining such a position, but how do I go about finding out?
I am planning a trip back to blighty next spring, and hope to include a trip to Greenwhich to check up on the old records there, but at the best I may find the ships he served on.  The only one that I know of for sure is the 'Thomas and Ann', which he was aboard for the 1881 census.  The ship was lying at Northfleet, Kent.  After that he seems to have dropped of the face of the earth, no marriage record, though he is supposed to have two sons and one daughter.  My G. Aunt made no mention of him living abroad.....anyone any ideas?

[MiddleEnglander]

No Lion tamer I'm afraid - but the Thomas and Ann is listed in the 1901 online census.  For a small fee you can download details of the vessel, who was on board etc.

It's a bit of a longshot but, given, the type of vessel and shipping line operating it you may be able to work out where it used to call etc.  There may even be a chance of finding out about your uncle through the line.  You never know in this game !  Worth a few quid just for a picture of it I'd have thought !

Best of luck ....


MiddleEnglander

[lindagene]

Thanks MiddleEnglander, why didn't I think of that?  I guess that I got so caught up with things that I couldn't see the wood for the trees.  Will get on to that asap.   Lindy

[MiddleEnglander]

Hi Lindy ....

I've done a bit more looking around for you and strangely the LDS site came up with some answers:

Offord Baker was born in 1868 at Burnham in Essex.

The vessel "Thomas and Ann" was probably very small in that it had a crew on board at the time of the (1881) census of only three.  John Baker the Captain aged 46 and Thomas Poole the mate aged only 17.

My guess is that the vessel was something like a 'Thames Sailing Barge' or a 'Wherry' because Northfleet was pretty industrial even then.

If you want more some information and to see some pictures, try this website:

http://www.bargetrust.org/index02.html

I'm afraid that this may not get you nearer to finding your lion tamer ! - but at least there's some really good history here - plus a date and place of birth for Offord.

Let me know hoe you get along .....

Regards


MiddleEnglander

 

[carol8353]

Don't know if you already have his whereabouts in 1881 but here he is.
I'll see if I can find him in 1891 and 1901 for you too.

  Household:

 Name  Relation Marital Status Gender Age Birthplace Occupation Disability
 John BAKER    Other    M   Male   46   Rochford, Essex, England   Captain     
 Thomas POOLE    Other    U   Male   17   Southend, Essex, England   Mate     
 Offord BAKER    Other       Male   13   Burnham, Essex, England   Boy     


~~~~~~~~
Source Information:
  Vessel   "Thomas & Ann"
  Census Place Northfleet, Kent, England
  Family History Library Film   1341208
  Public Records Office Reference   RG11
  Piece / Folio   0879 / 87
  Page Number   1
 

[carol8353]

I think this is his birth info.

 Name:    Baker, Offord Ernest
Record Type:    Births
Quarter:    March
Year:    1868
District:    Maldon (1837-1972) 
County:    Essex
Volume:    4a
Page:    227


He is not coming up on either of the next two censuses,but I'll do a bit of investigating and come back to you on that one

[lindagene]

Hey, thanks everone.
Offord is something of a family 'joke' or at least that was what my sister and I used to think, its amazing to see him come to life.  I will be checking out the sites suggested but will still be grateful for all info.

Lindy

[Hackstaple]

When you originally posted this I googled the name and found an Offord Baker in America, just old old enough to be this lad's father. The christian name is unusual - perhaps there is a link? An emigrant close relative?

[laurakim]

The Baker Family owned a fleet of thames sailing barges these are not generally small as they were hauling  chalk from the Thames tunnels, ashpalt and hay on them.
 I know this from reading  My great great great grandfathers account book dated 1868.
We too joked about the name.... it's pretty awful but it's one the family have continued to give the boys .