In April 1891, Walter Baker, aged 18, was a twine spinner living at Hardington Moor (his brother, Henry Baker, was also a twine spinner).

Early life at East Coker

Walter was born at East Coker in late 1872/early 1873, the eighth child of Charles and Frances Baker.

His father, Charles, was born at West Coker; his mother, Frances Adella Voizey, was born at East Chinnock. They married at West Coker on 10 July 1853 and lived there for a few years before moving to Burton, East Coker, between June 1856 and February 1857.

Walter’s father worked in the Coker weaving industry. In April 1861, he was a labourer in a sailcloth factory, a yarn sorter in April 1871, and a sacking weaver in April 1881.

Move to Hardington

By 1889, Charles and his family had moved to Hardington Moor, where they lived in a cottage owned by Thomas Guppy.[1] In April 1891, Charles was a web weaver. He died in January 1895, aged 59 and was laid to rest at West Coker.

After her husband’s death, Frances lived in the household of her son, Henry, in Chur Lane. She died in November 1904, aged 73.

Marriage

On 26 March 1894, Walter married Emily Jane Rendell at West Coker. She was the daughter of George William Rendell, a twine maker.

Return to East Coker

In March 1901, Walter and Emily lived at Primrose Hill, East Coker, and Walter was a web weaver.

West Coker

In April 1911, they lived in the High Street, West Coker, and Walter worked as a power loom web weaver. In June 1921, they lived at Orchard View, West Coker, and Walter was a power loom web weaver employed by F Drake & Co.

Death

Walter died in 1926, aged 53. Emily died in 1930, aged 57.

Children

Walter and Emily had one daughter, Rhena Rosalie Carnation, who was born at East Coker on 3 April 1902. She met her future husband, Donald Wheeler while working as a school teacher at Milborne Andrew. They married in 1923 and moved to Martock. Sadly, Rhena died in 1941, aged 38.

References

[1] Hardington voters’ lists; guardian valuation lists.