In April 1891, Charles Baker was a web weaver living at Hardington Moor.

Birth at West Coker

Charles was born at West Coker in about 1827, the third child of Charles and Harriet Baker. His father was a weaver, and his mother was a glover.

Marriage

On 10 July 1853, Charles married Frances Adella Voizey at West Coker. She was the daughter of Richard Voizey, a sailcloth weaver. Her mother, Ann, died when she was about sixteen. Frances was illiterate, signing the marriage register with a cross.

West Coker and East Coker

Charles and Frances lived at Coker Hill, West Coker, for a few years before moving to Burton, East Coker, between June 1856 and February 1857.

Occupation

Charles worked in the Coker weaving industry. In April 1861, he was a labourer in a sailcloth factory, a yarn sorter in April 1871, a sacking weaver in April 1881 and a web weaver in April 1891.

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] Charles died in January 1895, aged 59 and was laid to rest at West Coker.

Frances’s later life

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

Children

Charles and Frances had four sons and four daughters:

1854 Ellen

1856 Ann (died in infancy)

Circa 1858 William Charles

Circa 1861 Ann

1863 Edwin

Circa 1867 Henry

Circa 1871 Emma

Circa 1873 Walter

References

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