John BAKER, Sopers Farm, Walcott, Somerset

[croftyh]

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?

[allibaker]

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

[croftyh]

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

[allibaker]

married in 1829??? but left army in 1944??
can you comfirm which date is corect
regards
alli

[croftyh]

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.

[croftyh]

Sorry, just realised.  The 19th century is the one.  1829 and 1844.  Blasted fingers just don't like numbers!

[karenrichards777]

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.

[DRH123]

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

[sarah]

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