William Baker and Frances Friend
My great grandfather, William Baker, was a traveling man. You would never
believe it from his humble beginning that he would turn out to travel farther distances
than any of my progenitors of that generation. No, he wasn’t a salesman or a peddler.
Read on, you’ll see.
He was born 14 Dec 1814 at Bugsel Mill in the Parish of Salehurst, the
Country of Sussex, England, the first child of William Baker and Lydia Standing.
Bugsel Mill was an iron mill. In the vicinity various ores were mined including
Coal. In the parish east of the mill was eminence named Silver Hill. There
Was also military encampment in the parish for England was at war with the
Emperor Napoleon of France. The mill was also near the center of Etchingham
Cum Salehurst Manor. His father was a laborer.
Baptismal records in the Church of England in the Salehurst Parish
Including six of the children of William and Lydia Baker, namely, William, 24 Dec
1814, James, 11 Jan 1819, Hannah, 9 May 1821, Harriet, 14 Jun 1823,
Thomas, 3 Jan 1827 and Henry, June 1830. The baptism record of the second
child, Sophia, born 13 Jan 1817 was not found in the register. The family was
Living in Northbridge Street community from 1821 through 1851, according to
parish records and the 1841 and 1851 census returns of England. Northbridge
Street is on the north side of the River Rother and opposite the thriving town of
Robertsbridge which lay on the south side of the river. There William attended
School for he was not illiterate.
There was a movement throughout England encouraging families to
emigrate to Australia. Their passage would be paid by the government and they
would be given several acres of land, a privilege few more than the landed gentry
enjoyed in England. English prisoners had been shipped to Australia to develop
the country. After their term of seven years was served, many of them left their
farms untended and returned to England. Given this incentive to own their own
land many laborers left their homeland for new horizons. William’s Uncle David
and Aunt Elizabeth Baker departed in 1839 with their seven children. We don’t
know where they settled in Australia as William’s children didn’t remember them.
Hannah Baker and Alfred Blackford, his sister, also sailed in 1839.
William Baker and Frances Friend were married 16 Nov 1844 in Salehurst.
She was the youngest of Jesse Friend and Mary Crittenden Friend’s eight
children who was born 15 Apr 1826 in Salehurst. Her brothers, Edward and
Jesse Friend, and their young families and her single sister Mary Anne emigrated
to Australia in1839. Mary Anne had suffered a serious fever for eight weeks on
her voyage to Australia. In 1844 she married Thomas King in Sydney and they
had eleven children.
After their sons, Jesse and George, were born (31 Aug 1845 and 1 Jan
1848, respectively) in Salehurst William and Frances Baker, there children and 18
year old brother, Henry Baker, decided to emigrate to Australia where some of
their family had previously gone in 1839. They were among the emigrants on the
“Scotia” which they joined at Deptford on the Thames River in London.
William Harbottle, who was a paying passenger on the “Scotia”, kept a day
By day log of that long voyage. It is preserved the National Library, Canberra,
New South Wales, Australia which was transcribed by Ray Nichols in 1992. Mr.
Harbottle’s account is very enlightening about conditions on the ship and on the
Sea.
The ship “Scotia” was chartered by the Emigration Commissioners. It was
According to Mr. Harbottle “778 Tons burthen capable of carrying 1200 tons cargo
with Capt. Strickland, Commander.” The 224 emigrants were for the most part
Agricultural Laourers and appeared happy and contented. The singles of both
sexes had gathered in one section while the families were in another section at
Deptford. On the ship on March 10, 1849 when he went between decks, he could
See the singles laughing and joking with each other while some of the aged and
graver were singing psalms, some rather mournful strains, amid the almost
indescribable confusion of the activies of the crew preparing the ship to set sail.
The next day, Sunday, March 11th the Pilot came on board at 2 PM and
the ship moved from Deptford being towed downstream by a steam tug. At about
5PM the anchor was dropped at Gravesend to await Lieu-Leon, the Emigrant
Commissioner’s officer , to come and make examination of the Vessel
and all on board. Two gentlemen from Exeter Hall from the “Prayer Book and
Homily Society” distributed tracts and religious books and held a divine service
between decks.
Finally on March 13th, Tuesday Lieu-Leon came on board and examined
the Vessel and harangued the emigrants on deck about the goodness of the
government to arrange for their passage and welfare on the voyage and in
Australia. As he left the Captain, Crew and Emigrants gave him three parting
cheers.
On Wednesday March 14th they were finally able to weigh anchor and
proceed slowly through the mouth of the Thames River sailing on one tack and
then on another. The Pilot left about ½ past one PM. They sailed on past
the White Cliffs of Dover into the English Channel. Seven days latter on March
20th, Tuesday, they sailed into Plymouth Harbor in western England. The next
day the remainder of the emigrants, mostly Irish, came on board. There were
then 294 emigrants exclusive of Officers and Crew.
On Friday, the 23th, live stock were shipped on board.
By 6:30 AM on Saturday, the 24 th, they were sailing out into the wide
Atlantic. Mr. Harbottle wrote that “many anxious eyes were taking a last Farewell
of their native land—some were in tears.” The next day Sunday, Mar. 25th,
almost all the people were sick especially the Irish women. On Monday Mar.
26th, they had sailed 192 miles since noon the day before.
Their first storm began with high winds on March 27th with water washing
the decks wetting some of the emigrants. This storm lasted six days and many
suffered seasickness.
The ocean current took them along the coast of Africa. There two
entertainers on board and there was dancing every night after sunset, Although
they didn’t stop they passed the Canary Islands Tuesday, April 3.
By Thursday, April 5, it was hot between decks at night. Beds were
brought on deck. Between decks was scrubbed every morning and thoroughly
cleaned which was necessary to prevent infectious diseases. The decks were
washed every morning at 5 AM and deluged with water. There were two was washing
days in the week, Monday and Friday. Clothes were to be washed before 8 AM
and hung out on clothes lines on deck for that purpose. Near the equator where
the weather is hot diseases are likely. The Captain was very prompt and
energetic in looking after the people below seeing that everything was properly
cleaned and all were out of their berths and on deck during the scrubbing while
beds were brought on deck and placed in nettings.
Watching for an English vessel homeward bound the emigrants wrote
letters to send home to their families but they didn’t meet any ships on the whole
voyage to take their letters. On Monday, April 16, they saw a big homeward
bound but could not speak to her as a squall was coming and the “Scotia” had to
speedily sail on course about 8 knots. In the forenoon of April 16, there was a
heavy rain which flooded the decks supplying all with an abundance of fresh
water. Each rainstorm was beneficial. Trade winds were pushing them along.
They were becalmed in the heat for about ten days from April 17th to April
27th. They crossed the equator April 27 th at ¼ past noon. They were at last in
the South Trade Winds and could move steadily along.
ON Wednesday, May 2, while sailing in fine weather from 8 to 10 knots an
Hour, they passed the Island of St. Helena westward so that they were nearer the
Continent of Amercia than Africa but the breeze shifted course SW to SE.
ON Thursday, May 10, the people had access to do their clothes that day.
The boxes were all got up out of the hold and all were engaged overhauling their
Wardrobes—some of their wearables were not the most perfect state of
Preservation. Sea air affects everything. On that day they sailed around Cape of
Good Hope, Africa.
By Friday, May 11, the weather was becoming very cold. They were in
Latitude 30.3 South. After rounding the Cape they sailed eastward on the Indian
Ocean along Latitude 36.40 South. ON Saturday, May 27, two sailors were
Stationed on the forecastle at night looking out for icebergs. In the Southern
Hemisphere it was the winter season accounting for the cold temperatures and
danger of icebergs.
About 4 AM Tuesday, May 29, it blew a perfect hurricane. An electric
cloud burst over the masthead and lighting played about the rigging. The
thunder was tremendous. They could scarcely get enough clothes to keep
themselves warm.
Wednesday, May 30, eight single men were hauled before the Captain
because they refused to assist in getting up water alleging that they destroyed
their clothes going into the hold pump. Willey was insolent to the Captain and
had his rations stopped for a week which meant he was given nothing but biscuit
and water.
Saturday, June 2, the sea rose fast rolling the ship very much and water
washed over the decks. That night was dreadfully stormy. Everything in the
Cabins were afloat. Below deck the people were in a state of terror as the water
washed down the hatches. The lights had even gone out. The storm continued
Sunday night and the next day when finally the sea subsided.
Tuesday, June 5, the weather was exceedingly cold but the decks were
dry and the sun came out. All the wet beds and clothes were brought on
deck and spread out to dry. Wednesday, June 6, a baby was born.
Thursday, June 7, the weather was very bad with a gale blowing and
occasional snow storms. At 2 PM they could see the Island of St. Paul’s but
couldn’t get near it due to a heavy squall coming. June 8 and 9, there were
strong westerly breezes and continued squalls. June 10 and 11, the weather was
more settled and not so cold. June 11, another baby was born. In all there were
six babies born on the voyage, five were girls.
Through June 13 the weather was cold and the atmosphere humid, the
spray continually wetting the decks. The weather remained cold and humid, very
damp and foggy. The ship was running South, Latitude 46 South. By June 18,
they were steering due East. All their clothes were saturated with moister from
the air. Having no stoves on board, they had no means of drying them. Bad
weather continued every day through the rest of June and the winds forced the
ship to Latitude 47. 10 South. The sailors have not been dry for at least a
fortnight of bad rainy weather.
Sunday, July 1, finally there was a light breeze and fine weather. They
caught sight of Van Diemans Land, a promontory. They were at Latitude 44.45
South and Longitude 147.38 East. Monday, July 2, at 4 PM they were about 24
miles from the shore of the Island of Tasmania and the entrance to Hobart Town.
They could see Porto Blanca and the perpendicular rock called Eddystone which
appears much like a sail at a distance. All the high ground appeared covered
with snow. June 2nd was their one hundredth day at sea.
Wednesday, July 3, there was a favorable wind and fine weather and they
Were going about 10 knots NNE. The sailors were engaged in washing and
cleaning all the paint work on board. Thursday, July 4, and Friday, July 5th,the
weather was rainy and squally with strong breezes.
Saturday, July 6, At sunset they caught a glimpse of the Australian shore.
Sunday, July 3, was a clear fine weather and breeze. At 10 AM the Sydney Light
House was visible but the wind would not allow the ship to run in. This was the
106th day from Plymouth.
Monday July 8, At 7 AM they were safe and snug in Sydney Harbor. They
anchored off Government House and the view of the Town and Harbor was
delightful beyond measure. “It appears to be one of the most beautiful places on
earth.”
Two clerks from the Emigration Office came on board to take an account
of and examine the people, which was done by calling them singly into the Cubby
and asking if they have any complaint to make against the officers, crew or
Surgeon Superintendent and also taking down the different trades and religions
that they professed. The Surgeon Supt. was allowed 10 shillings for every
emigrant that arrived in Sydney. The Captain was allowed 2 shillings each
emigrant, the Chief Officer, 1d (pence) each emigrant and the Third Mate, who
serves out the provisions, 1d (pence) each emigrant. Thus the officers of the
ship were paid by the Emigration Commission for deliverying their human cargo
safely to their destination. They had not stopped at any port for supplies.
I wonder how many emigrants including William, Frances and Henry Baker
happily signed that declaration that they had no complaints against the officers
and crew or after the last five weeks of their cold, wet voyage they signed Yes
very gladly to get off that ship after sixteen and a half weeks (four months) to
finally find firm footing on land and a place to keep warm and dry. Years later
Francis Friend Baker told her youngest son, Henry Friend Baker, that his father,
William Baker, had suffered seasickness every day that he sailed but she did not.
William Baker, age 33, was a farm laborer from Sales; Sussex, son of
William and Lydia Baker living in Sales; and they were members of the Church of
England. William had a sister, Hannah Blackford at Hunter River. Frances Baker
was 23, housekeeper, from Sales, Sussex, daughter of Joseph(should be
Jesse) and Mary Friend of Sales. , Sussex, had two brothers, Edward and Jesse
Friend at Cowpastures. (Her sister, Mary Ann had emigrated with these two
brothers. Evidently Francis did not know married name and did not list her.)
They both read and write and they had received good treatment on the voyage
and had no complaints. His brother, Henry Baker, declared he was 18, a farm
laborer, from Salhurst, Sussex, son of William and Lydia Baker, living at Salhurst.
(Note the misspelling of the name is in the original document. RBH) He reads
and writes and had a sister, Hannah Blackford, living at Hunter River. He was in
good health and had no complaints.
On the whole voyage four emigrants died, on single girl and three
children. They had traveled about 12,840 miles from London, England to Sydney,
Australia. Half way round the world!
William established a successful plantation, they called their farm,
raising various crops including tobacco which he taught his family was to be used
for poultices on horses’ injured legs, etc., but was not for the use of man. They
had horses, cattle and sheep. Fine clothing, etc., were made from their wool.
Their third son was born 14 Aug 1851 Maitland, Gloucester County, New
South Wales. They had planned to name him James but because Alfred and
Hannah Blackford had no children, they asked that the baby be named Alfred and so
that they could make him their heir and it was done.
On the 9 Apr 1885 Frances’ father, Jesse Friend, arrived at Sydney from
Salehurst. Her mother had died in 1850 and her sister, Mary Ann Friend King,
had brought him over. He was 69 years old and made the voyage in 15 weeks
and 4 days. Jess Friend had sailed that distance during the summer season of
the Southern Hemispher which probably accounted for a much pleasanter
voyage from Cape Horn around the south of Australia in the Indian Ocean to
Sydney. Even so it must have been a hard trip for him. No doubt Frances and
her family were able to welcome him warmly with the rest of her family.
Missionaries from America came that year teaching the Restored Gospel
of Jesus Christ. William and Frances were impressed with their message.
The Holy Spirit had testified of the truth of the missionaries’ teachings and they
knew without a doubt that they could not deny him. They were baptized 31 May
1855 members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly
called the Mormon Church because they taught from the Book of Mormon and the
St. James Version of the Bible. For some time Francis had been suffering from
an issue of blood similar to the woman in the New Testament who touched the
hem of the garment of Jesus. She also was healed from her affliction. Ever after
that was a testimony to her of the power of the Priesthood of God which the
missionaries held.
Through the months following their baptism, they met much opposition.
They were rejected by their family and neighbors. It became so bad that William
was shot at as he worked in his fields. No doubt angry and hateful words were
flung at them for turning against the Church of England which the people in their
locality believed for generations. Prejudice was so high that they couldn’t sell
their property or goods. There was nothing left for them to do but to go to
America with others who had embraced this new faith. They left the key in the
door for Alfred Blackford to take possession. He refused to honor their son Alfred
as his heir. At that time and in years since many have faced the same
challenge and have been disinherited by their families and have survived in
America with the help of the Lord.
Their first daughter, Rhonda Ellen, was born 1 Mar 1856 in Durin. They
joined the new members from Sydney and Allen Branches boarding the
sailing barge “Jenny Ford” and sailed 28 May 1856 for San Pedro, California,
U. S. A. Imagine the courage it took William to face a long ocean voyage again
after suffering so long on the voyage from England and for Frances to be nursing
a baby less than three months old and three little boys to look after. Jesse and
George being 6 six years and 4 years older than little four year old Alfred must
have been considerable help to their parents watching him.
President Augustus Farnham of the Australian Mission (Australia and
New Zealand) and Pres. Josiah W. Fleming were returning from their mission to
America and were in charge of the company. Elder John Jones was instructed to
keep a journal of the voyage. He began with a list of passengers among whom
were “William Baker, 41 Francis Baker, 30, Jesse Baker, 10, George Baker, 8,
Alfred Baker, 4, and Rhonda Ellen Baker, infant.” There were 24 families and 12
single men including Pres. Farnham and Pres. Fleming. The William Moyes
family of nine and William Davis family of four were also aboard. One passenger,
Alonzo Colton, an American, was working his passage with the crew. After
visiting the Holy Land, he had come to Australia because of the gold fields. While
there he met Joseph Harris Ridges, a convert, who taught him the gospel. The
local missionaries worked in the gold fields with Joseph Harris Ridges and Alonzo
Colton earning enough money to pay passage for the pipe organ which Brother
Ridges had built and desired to take to Salt Lake City for the new tabernacle
being built. The organ was on board.
Elder Jones reported that they had prayers morning and evening every
day. There were storms where the winds were so strong that sails were torn
down and masts broken causing delays to repair them. There were calms where
the winds died down and the ship couldn’t move forward and good days
when washing clothes could be done. There was a steward over the cooking and
some complaints from impatient passengers about the food. Rules were hard to
keep by the young people. There was a lot of sickness among children as well as
adults. Elders were called to give Priesthood blessings and some healed at
once including Alonzo Colton who was so sick he couldn’t move. He got up and
immediately went back to work with the crew. Some of the passengers had
disputes over boxes and bedding. William Baker and Sister Phillips who had
similar boxes were among those mentioned.
Some passengers went ashore at Tahiti and returned intoxicated and
abusive. AS aresult when they got to Hamaii only the ship’s officers and Pres.
Farnham were allowed to go ashore. There were two fires aborad which were
quickly put out and a 16 year old boy fell overboard getting a bucket of water. In
a few hours he was saved. The Fourth of July was celebrated by the American
crew who treated the passengers with grog. The passengers celebrated the 24th
of July in honor of the Pioneers. They began at 3:30 AM assembling a parade on
deck followed by prayer, tributes, addresses by the Captain and others and
songs. Food was served the passengers and crew and more singing and toasts
were given until the close of the day when prayer was said again.
Finally islands were sighted and they sailed into San Pedro Harbor on the
13 Aug. 1856 safely landing after 77 days at sea ( 11 weeks). They had traveled
about 8,000 miles. William Baker’s family, the Moyes and McIntyre families were
considered among the poorest and a collection was taken up to buy provisions for
them. How humiliating for them after they had been so prosperous in Australia.
On the 21st of August the Evans, Baker and Moyes families left the camp for the
Mormon Colony at San Bernardino which took them a week to travel by wagon.
In San Bernardino they were taught the law of tithing. The Bakers gave
one tenth of their goods including clothing as tithing and after paid a full
tithing. Their little boy Alfred remembered his best suit of clothes was given and
another boy proudly wore it to play in.
A kind lady gave Frances a pan of tomatoes which offended her for she
thought they were poisonous. There was an earthquake at which time Frances
was hanging a kettle of cold water on the fireplace to heat. She was shaking so
badly just before the pail reached the hook, the kettle of water came back all over
her knocking her to the floor. The water in the ditches ran uphill and the trees
touched the ground as they swung from side to side. Forty miles away there was
a big crack in the earth caused by the earthquake.
They stayed in San Bernardino 15 months. Because General Albert
Johnston was coming west with an army to put down the supposed Mormon
Insurrection, Brigham Young called all the members in Utah Territory from the
Far branches. They gathered enough wagons, mules and horses to haul
their luggage but most of the people including the Baker family walked across the
sand dunes only ridding when the road was level and down hill. William drove a
six mule team for M. F. Shepherd to Beaver, Utah Territory to get his family and
luggage there. William was still a traveling man.
There were log houses in Beaver at the time. William dug a cellar
{dugout} and they lived in that for two years. Lavina Harriet was born there in the
dugout 7 Feb 1859. William worked for M. F. Shepherd. In late October 1859 he
and Frances were sealed for time and eternity in the Endowment
House. That was a round trip of about 420 miles taking two weeks to get there
and two weeks to get back.
They were still in Beaver when the 1860 US federal cenus was taken
{William and Frances Baker, and children, Jesse, George, Alfred, Rhoda and
Lavina}. Later they moved seven miles down the Beaver river and leased M.Fay
Shepher’s and Sidney Tanner’s cattle. William built a cottonwood one-room log
house in which they lived for three years. Their nearest neighbor was a mile
away. Other families came later.
Indians came around often begging flour and meat. One day while
Frances was alone with her little girls Indians came begging flour. She
gave an Indian buck half of what she had which he didn’t think was enough and
grabbed the her sack of flour. Indignantly she grabbed the shotgun pulling back
on both hammers aiming it the Indian saying “ Pykaway”, meaning, “you go”.
He dropped the sack and ran away saying, “Squaw heap brave, shoot Indian.”
She used to shoot opossums out of the trees in Australia.
After three years other families joined them and the place was named
Adamsville. Mary Ann was born there 28 Nov 1863. William was called to help
settle Moapa Valley in Nevada on the Muddy River. Crops failed for lack of water
and the Indians were troublesome and the settlement was abandoned. From
there he and his sons, Jesse, George and Alfred went seven miles below
Minersville and put in a crop. Because of water shortage the crop failed and they
Moved to family to Minersville where they settled permanently. Their friends from
the “Jenny Ford” William Davis and Alonzo Colton, also settled in Minersville.
Their seventh child, Henry Friend Baker, was born 20 Nov 1867 in
Minersville. Frances couldn’t nurse him and to give him a bottle. There was
no such thing available at that time in that place. She had to use a kid glove with
a hole in the end of a finger. Her son Alfred said that she fed the baby oxen milk.
Tough start or not, Uncle Henry survived living to be 91 years old. He married
Amy Walker and they had thirteen children raising six to adult hood.
Frances loved her tea. Once her son Alfred walked 18 miles to Beaver
And paid $ 5.00 for a pound of tea and walked back to her. In1868 at
the age of 17 he went to work for a rancher, Mr. King, taking a herd of cattle to
White Pine, Nevada. He worked for a year. Mr. King gave him a team and
wagon, a suit of clothes, ten pounds of tea, $ 15.00 an three blankets. When he
got home he set the ten pounds of tea on the table saying, “Here, Mother, have
all the tea you want.”
The 1870 US cenus lists William and Frances Baker and their children,
George, Alfred, Lavina, Rhonda, Mary A. and Henry F., living in Minersville. On
the 6th of July 1872 William Baker was deeded for $ 13.00 a plot of ground in
Minersville, Lot 4 Block 34 Plat B and East part of Lot 2, Block 33, Plat B, six rods
East and West by 14 rods North and South and Lots 3, 4 and 1 Block 33, Plat
B each lot 14 by 14 rods, in Minersville survey, Situated in Section 12,Township
thi—South ten West in all 5 68/160 acres.
They planted a garden and an orchard with grape vines. One grape vine
climbed up a tree creating a peculiar illusion picking grapes from a tree. They
had cows, chickens and horses. They sold their produce to mining camps in the
mountains north of Minersville.
On the 17 June 1873 in the District Court of the 2nd Judicial District of the
Territory of Utah in the County of Beaver, by the oaths of John Hunt and J. R.
Murdock, William Baker, a native of Great Britain, having resided in the United
States for 5 years and in the Territory of Utah 1 year just past, dose renounce
allegiance to Victoria, the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland. It is therefore
decreed that the said William Baker be admitted and declared to be a Citizen of
the United States of America.
Through this Naturalization of their father, it must have been considered
that his wife and three sons and daughter who were born in England and
Australia were henceforth considered Citzens of the United States of America.
Later Naturalization Laws allowed foreign born men and women citizenship when
they married an American citizen. That law would apply for Alfred since Ketura
Hannah Lewia and Luanna Maria Christensen, his wives, were born in Utah but
what about Jesse, George and Rhoda? Perhaps they did not worry about it.
Lavina, Marry Ann and Henry were citizens by birth being born in Utah.
On the 4 Feb 1874 a Patriarchial Blessing was given William Baker by
John l. Smith, Patriarch, at Minersville, Beaver Co., Utah. The next day, the 5th,
John L. Smith gave Frances Friend a Patriarchial Blessing.
William and Frances Baker were desirous of extending the temple
ordinances to their deoarted loved ones. In April 1881 they traveled by wagon
the 128 miles to the Temple in St. George, Utah. The trip probably took them a
week each way. Finding they had more ordinance work to be done in the short
time they could be there, they were permitted to have their 14 year old son, Henry
Friend Baker, ordained an elder so that he could help with the work. He gained a
Strong testimony of temple work. In 1903 Henry went to England on a mission for
His Church. For three weeks he visited, Salehurst, Northbridge Street,
Robertsbridge, Mountfieled, Brede and other adjoining parishes finding some living
Cousins. He even went by train to Maidstone, Kent to visit his Aunt Hannah
Baker Blackford, then a widow, who had the Baker Family Bible. Through the
rest of his life he accomplished a great deal of research work by correspondence
and in the Genealogical Library in Salt Lake City and temple ordinances on all his
and his wife’s ancestral lines.
William was a member of the bishopric in Minersville and sat on the stand.
Frances was a proud woman and each Sunday she always wore a black alpaca
dress and came in late. Even so, she went right up to the front row to sit through
Sacrament Service.
Frances had the misfortune to lose one of her eyes in an accident. It
seems that the cows got into her orchard one night. She went after them with a
bull whip which caught on a tree branch and whipped around catching her in the
eye. She had to go to Salt Lake City and get an artificial eye. Many years later
her grandson, Harold Baker, plowed up the garden plot and under where the old
house had stood and found a glass eye which he believed was hers. After she
lost it, she just got another one to wear.
William Baker died 1 Dec 1868 in Minersville. Frances lived to have her
name appear on the 1900 US census returns of Minersville. She died 23 May
1906 in Minersville, age 80. They were buried beside each other in the
Minersville Cemetery.
Yes, my great grandfather was a traveling man. His faithful courageous
wife traveled with him. They traveled by walking and coach in England for they
lived 51 miles south of London, by sailing the North and South Atlantic Oceans
from England to the Cape of Good Hope, Africa and the Indian Ocean into the
Tasman Sea to Sydney, Australia, then the South and North Pacific Pacific Oceans to
California, by wagon to San Bernardino, by walking and wagon to Beaver, Utah
Territory, by covered wagon to Slat Lake City, many times by walking and wagon
the 18 miles to Beaver on business and church work and by wagon to St.
George, Utah and back. Although rejected by his sister, Hannah Blackford, and
his brother, Henry Baker, and her father, Jesse Friend, and her brothers, Edward
and Jesse Friend and her sisters, Emma Gray and Mary Ann King, whom she
never heard from again, they found acceptance and peace with the Latter-day
Saints (the Mormons). Jesus told his Apostles nearly 2000 years ago, “My peace
I leave with you”. Though they missed their family in England and Australia, they
were content and at peace in their souls for the rest of their lives on the arid
desert of Utah which irrigation “blossomed as a rose”. They were helpful and
kind for they knew that “only in the service of your fellowmen you are in the
service of your God”.
I wonder what he was like. Was he tall for he had several grandsons six feet tall
and over? Did he have a dry English sense of humor which sustained him through his
hardships and lifted the spirits of those around him? Many of his posterity have
inherited that trait. The picture of him that I have shows a very serious man but that
could have been because one had to hold very still for a full minute when posing before
pioneer photographers. From what I have learned about them, they were honest,
sincere with great integrity. They were God- fearing people who had deep convictions
of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. They knew that God lives and His Son Jesus
Christ lives. That is the admirable heritage they have given their posterity. I owe my
country, church and spiritual knowledge to them. I love them with all my heart. God
bless them and their memory.
Sources:
Australia Class, the 2nd International Conference on Records, SLC 1980
Sussex Guide Books, Hammond’s World Atlas, 1956 and World Globe
Alfred and Henry Friend Baker, sons of William and Frances Friend Baker
Lexigraphical Index to all Passangers to Sydney, Australia 1828-1842
Australia Immigrants (Passengers on “Scotia” 1849 (FHL36677 Pt. 12)
William Harbottle’s Log of “Scotia” in Natl. Library, Canberra, Australia 1849
The Journal of the “Jenny Ford” by John Jones, 1856, LDS Historical Dept.
Beaver County Court and Deed Records
1860 US Census Returns of Beaver, UT
1870,1880,1900 US Census Returns of Minersville, UT
LDS Records of Beaver and Minersville UT
They answered the call, History of Minersville UT
Albert N.C. King, 107 Loralyn Ave. St. George Basin NSW AUS, great grandson of Mary
Anne Friend and Thomas King
Blanche Baker Prisbey 2015 s. 2600 e. SLC UT 801-485-9500, daughter of Henry
Friend Baker, son of William and Frances Friend Baker
Ella Baker McFate, 4460 E. 107 N. Idaho Falls, ID 83401, granddaughter of Jesse
William Baker, son of William and Frances Friend Baker