Birth

Mathias, the first child of Henry and Rebecca Baker, was born at Hardington in 1861. His father was primarily a farm labourer but is recorded as a railway platelayer in the 1871 census.

Occupation

Mathias’s career was marked by stability. He remained a railway platelayer throughout his working life and eventually became a foreman in his forties.

Marriage

On 26 February 1895, Mathias married Elizabeth Ann Rendell at West Coker. Mathias was 33, and Elizabeth one year younger.

Wife

Elizabeth was the daughter of Charles and Sophia Rendell. Before her marriage, she was in domestic service, working in Guildford as a parlourmaid in the home of Thomas Greenaway, a General in the British Army.

Residence

Mathias and Elizabeth appear to have lived in a freehold cottage at Hardington Marsh (20 perches in area).[1]

Mother

Mathias’s mother, Rebecca, lived with him and Elizabeth at the end of her life.

Orchards

The estate sale catalogue of October 1920 refers to M Baker’s representatives occupying two orchards and a portion of an orchard at Hardington Marsh on a yearly Lady-day tenancy. The ordnance survey numbers were 498 (part), 500, and 501.

Death

Mathias died at Yeovil Hospital on 15 January 1920, aged 59. He left an estate valued at £285-12s-8d. His will, as filed, contains the words, “I give and bequeath unto,” but omits the beneficiary’s name.[2]

His wife probably inherited his whole estate nonetheless.

Elizabeth’s later life

By June 1921, Elizabeth lived at Hardington Moor. With her was eight-year-old Hilda Maud Callaway, whose mother, Lillie, lived on the Isle of Wight. Hilda was probably placed there by her mother’s friend, James Saint Partridge, the landlord of the Royal Oak Inn, Hardington.

Elizabeth died on 2 February 1922, aged 59, at 22 Beer Street, Yeovil, the home of her sister, Liza Jane Rendell. She left an estate valued at £504-15s-6d.[3]

Children

Mathias and Elizabeth had no children.

Elizabeth Ann Baker’s will

Sole executor: Walter White, Churchwarden.

To her sisters, Liza Jane Rendell of 22 Beer Street, Yeovil, and Mercy Rendell of Hardington Moor: the money in her bank account and her war certificate of £25, in equal shares after paying all expenses.

She instructed her executor to sell her furniture and other effects and divide the proceeds equally between Mercy Rendell (her sister) and Doris Annie Sophia Rendell (her niece).

Signed with her mark.

Wit: Susanna Helena Beddoe, Hardington Rectory, and J Morgan Beddoe, Rector of Hardington Mandeville

References

[1] Voters’ Lists.

[2] The will of Mathias Baker, dated 6 May 1912, proved in London on 16 December 1920.

[3] The will of Elizabeth Ann Baker, dated 30 December 1921, proved at Taunton on 17 March 1922.