Our maternal Great Grandfather, William Baker

By -

  The Life and Legacy of William Baker

William Baker (1864-1935)_Margaret Ahern (1864-1929)
                                                           Julia Batson Collection - Ryan Dudley

William Baker was born on April 19, 1864, in Hamilton, Victoria, Australia.  He was the sixth child of John Baker and Ellen Kelly.  William grew up surrounded by a large family of ten siblings: John, Charles, Sarah, Robert, Mary Jane, Ellen, Mary Ann, Annabella, Rosetta, and Julia Ann. His life spanned 71 years, filled with hard work, family, and resilience. William passed away on September 7, 1935, at the Lidcombe State Hospital and Home in Sydney, New South Wales, on a cool and dry spring day.

Early years

William's early years saw his family move from Hamilton, Victoria, to Iandra West, New South Wales, in 1876. Just two years later, in 1878, he began managing the Iandra West property alongside his brothers. By 1890, he had established himself as a grazier in Young, New South Wales, a career that would define much of his working life.

His character was often described as that of a quiet young man with a medium build and balding hair. The early 1890s brought challenges, including a long drought between 1891 and 1893, which tested the resilience of many farmers in the region. Despite these hardships, William remained dedicated to his work and family.

Marriage and Family

On May 27, 1891, at the age of 27, William married Margaret Ahern, the daughter of James Ahern and Catherine Teresa Hogan. Their wedding, attended by best man Robert Baker (William’s brother) and bridesmaid Kate Ahern (Margaret’s sister), took place in Memagong, Young, New South Wales, on a dry autumn day.

Together, they raised six children:

  • Catherine Teresa Baker (1891-1964) – Married John James Charles Wilson in 1916.

  • Victor Michael Baker (1893-1942) – Passed away in Sydney.

  • Ellen Marjorie Baker (1895-1952) – Married Allan Walter Edwin Harris in 1920.

  • Christina Irene Baker (1897-1963) – Married John Lemuel Watson in 1922.

  • William Henry Baker (1900-1964) – Married Beryl McIvor Jennings in 1932.

  • Harold Cosmos Baker (1901-1962) – Married Doris Verley Austin in 1935.

Career Shifts and Life’s Challenges

Throughout his life, William took on various roles. By 1900, he had transitioned from grazing to hotelkeeping in Parkes, New South Wales, a career he continued into 1901. In March 1916, he was working as an agent while residing in Temora Road, Young, New South Wales. Later, he moved to Sydney, settling at 19 Boomerang Street, Haberfield, by 1928.

William’s life was not without financial transactions and responsibilities. He was involved in multiple property sales and was the executor of his mother's will in 1896. His dedication to his family extended beyond life, as he ensured his estate was properly managed before his passing.

Final Years and Legacy

William Baker’s health declined in his later years, and he ultimately succumbed to diabetes and senility on September 7, 1935. He was laid to rest at Rookwood Cemetery, Sydney, on a dry spring day. His estate was probated on December 23, 1935, in Sydney, marking the final chapter of his life’s journey.



Known affectionately as Bill Baker, he left behind a legacy of perseverance, family devotion, and adaptability in the face of life’s many challenges. His story, intertwined with the history of Australia’s agricultural and hospitality industries, remains a testament to the resilience of early Australian settlers and pioneers.

With the aid of AI

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Robert William Edward Romeril - My father by his daughter Dorothy (Dot)

By -
Image
  My Father: The Life of Robert William Edward Romeril As told by Aunty Dot, reshaped here for our family blog Robert William Edward Romeril b1887 d1967. " Top photos enhanced with the use of Chatgpt " Top left circa 1917 - top left 01 Sep 1966 My father, Robert William Edward Romeril  (Bert) , was born on 3 July 1887 in Darlington, Sydney, New South Wales. He was the third child of Edward Thomas Romeril and Martha Farncombe . His father, a Frenchman from the Isle of Jersey, worked as a sea captain on coastal ships, and perhaps gave up the sea when he married. We know very little after that — there is no record of him after 1889. Research has since found information about the whereabouts of Bert. Our Elusive great grandfather Around that time, Martha’s mother travelled to Sydney and returned to Melbourne with Martha, Berty, my father, his two older sisters, and a baby sister. Dad was only two years old when the family settled in Market Street, South Melbourne. When he...
Read more

ANZAC DAY 2025_Robert William Edward ROMERIL

By -
Image
 Robert William Edward Romeril: A Soldier’s Journey Through World War I Let’s take a journey back in time and follow the footsteps of Robert William Edward Romeril (Bert), an everyday Aussie who found himself caught up in one of the most defining events of the 20th century. His story—like so many others—blends grit, heart, and a fair bit of that classic Australian resilience. Getting Started: A Life in Uniform Begins Bert kicked off his military career on 26 January 1911, joining the Permanent Royal Australian Field Artillery (RAFA) in Melbourne. Clearly a standout from the start, he climbed the ranks and by 1 August 1913, he was promoted to Bombardier—a sign of things to come. Answering the Call to War When World War I broke out, Bert didn’t hesitate. On 18 August 1914, he enlisted with the 1st Battery, Australian Field Artillery (AIF), taking on Regimental Number 51. He trained at Maribyrnong Barracks, preparing for a world far removed from his life in Footscray. He stood 5 feet ...
Read more

1954: Nana Romeril meets her Swedish family

By -
Image
Josephine Annie Romeril (nee Brudus) - 1896 to 1966 Josephine, who we knew as Nana Rom, was born in South Melbourne, Victoria to Ada Jane Nixon (1862 to 1923) and Johan Magnus Brudus (1852 to 1906).   She was the youngest of 4 daughters and apparently was very close to her Dad.   Ada Jane Nixon and Johan Magnus Brudus   with Josephine Annie in 1896 Johan was a mariner and had sailed from Lilla Horn on the island of Oland, Sweden in 1871.  He arrived in Sydney as a Able Seaman on the SS Barcoo in 1872.  He sailed the east coast of Australia until 1892 when the family settled in Melbourne and he became a labourer.  Nana Rom remembers that her parents were unhappy together and her father was homesick for his Swedish family.  In 1905, he disappeared and we discovered many years later that he threw himself in the Swan River in Perth, in despair, whilst on his way back to Sweden.   However, his story is for another post.  This story is about ...
Read more