Sarah Ann BAKER Hertfordshire

[Peckroot]

I am trying to trace the birth of Sarah Ann Baker about 1828 in Barley, Herts. Her father is given as James Baker, Labourer on her marriage to Joseph Calcutt in Coggs, Witney, Oxfordshire in 1862.
There is not so far any evidence for her mother's name.
Sarah appears in all the censuses from 1861 to 1901 the year of her death and consistently gave her birth place as Barley but I have not found her there. Also she does not seem to be in the 1841 or 1851 censuses.

Any suggestions gratefully received.

[erinb1983]

There is a baptism for a Sarah Baker in Barley, Herts, she was baptised on 16 July 1837, Parents listed as a James Baker and Mary. This could possibly be her, children were not always baptised straight away. So this is a possibility at least.

[maddys52]

Hello Peckroot and welcome to RootsChat

You have posted in the "travelling people" board. I'll ask a moderator to move your thread to the Hertfordshire board.

There is also a Sarah BAKER baptised at Wendon Lofts on 20 Jan 1828, father James (labourer) and mother Mary. Their abode at Elmdon. (some 5 miles from Barley).

[trish1120]

On FreeREG;

Also a SUSAN Baker Bapt 24 Jan 1837 St Margaret of Antioch, Barley
Parents JAMES/MARY, Father a Labouer
Abode Royston Workhouse*

+ a Marriage;

William BAKER to Sophia BOWTELL
01 Nov 1851, St Margaret of Antioch, Barley
William a Sawyer, Sophia a Servant
Fathers;
THOMAS Bowtell a Labourer
JAMES Baker a Labourer

1861 Census
William Baker 37 Head Mar Gardener born Barley (1824)
Sophia Baker 29 Wife Mar
Emily Baker 5   Daughter
Alfred Baker 3   Son
George Baker 7/12 Son

William/Sophia seem to be witnesses at the Marriage same Church of THOMAS Baker, Widower*, to
Elizabeth NEWLING, Spinster, 25 Dec 1860
His Father JAMES a Labourer

Trish

[Peckroot]

Hi erinb1983,
Thanks for your reply, it's an interesting point. I had seen that and thought the same as you but the record is from familysearch so no immediate access to the original records. I tried other Baker children and found Susan in january with the original there from FindMyPast. I thought it would be a simple task to scroll from Susan on page 46 through 1837 to find Sarah.
No such luck, she's not there ! No James Baker, father either. Just what is familysearch up to I wonder
Interestingly, from 1833/4 the date of birth begins to be written on the left hand edge, presumably anticipating the 1837 introduction of civil registration of births.
Thanks again.

[trish1120]

1851 Census
Thomas Baker 27  Ag Lab born Barkway
Ann Baker   24 Wife
Thomas Baker 4
William Baker 2
George Baker 9 mths
William Baker   28 Brother Unm Sawyer* born Barkway
Emma Giver 17 Sister in Law

Think you can rule this one out now as Barkway Bapts have Parents as JAMES/JUDITH
(FreeREG)

[Peckroot]

Hi Maddys52,
Thankyou for the kind welcome, glad to be here. It all looks fascinating!
I had posted on Travelling People because , first , there is in the extended family suggestions of some sort of Romany past and second, Baker is given as a Romany name so I thought I would see what sort of a   response I got. I have to admit that so far the only evidence is that they moved about alot i.e. absence from the early censuses and generally difficult to find!

So I would like to keep the post on Travelling People for a bit longer if possible.

Thanks also for the Wendon Lofts baptism. That did come up in my FindMyPast search but it's in Essex , at least it is now. Would it have been then I wonder.
Thanks again.

[trish1120]

Susan died young;

BAKER, SUSAN age 1** 
GRO Reference: 1838  J Quarter in ROYSTON AND BUNTINGFORD  Volume 06  Page 421

Possible for James?

BAKER, JAMES age 43*** 
GRO Reference: 1837  S Quarter in ROYSTON UNION  Volume 06  Page 349

[Peckroot]

Hi Trish1152,
Thanks for pointing me to freeREG, I must keep that source in mind in future. However in this instance I have only been looking at baptisms as they go back further. Of course with the census only from 1841 and civil births from 1837, I realise I am now in genealogical country where family history can easily turn into fiction!
See my reply to erin1983 re Susan Baker birth. It's interesting that it does appear in freeREG as the Civil Registration Act did not start until later in the year.
Thanks also for the other Baker records. Constructing a family may be the answer.
Your replies are coming in as I type!
Thanks again.