Sophia Baker
Biography
Born: 29 Nov 1829 in Aylsham, Norfolk, England
Baptised: —
Died: 1 Dec 1901 ✅ at Francis Street, Hyde Park, South Australia (aged 72) — death date resolved 25 Jul 2026, see Notes
Buried: West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide, South Australia
Family
| Relation | Name |
|---|---|
| Father | Joseph March (1797–1883) |
| Mother | Sophia (Webster) March (1803–1892) |
| Spouse | William John Baker (1831–1919) (married in Adelaide, South Australia) |
| Children | William Baker (1853–1933), Hannah Baker (1855–1948) (m. Parker), Emeline Couzens (1857–1949), James Baker (1859–1927), Alfred Baker (1861–1946), Fanny Baker (1863–1955), Walter Baker (1865–1937), Sophia Harriett Ridgway (1868–1956), Phineas Baker (1870–1959) |
Life
Sophia was born in Aylsham, Norfolk in 1829, the daughter of Joseph March (1797–1883) and Sophia (Webster) March (1803–1892).
She emigrated to the Colony of South Australia with her parents and siblings aboard the ship Canton, arriving at Port Adelaide on 31 July 1846 (Bound for South Australia database). Her death notice states she was "a colonist of 50 years" but also says she arrived on the Canton in "August, 1845" — likely a memorial error by the family; the Bound for SA database and contemporaneous passenger lists confirm 1846.
She married William John Baker (1831–1919) on 9 March 1853 in Adelaide, South Australia (Genealogy SA Marriage Index, District Adelaide, Book 15, Page 73). The couple settled at Francis Street, Hyde Park, Unley, where they raised nine children. William had emigrated from Devon, England aboard the Stag in 1850.
Sophia died at her residence, Francis Street, Hyde Park on 1 December 1901 at the age of 72 and was buried at West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide.
Sources
- [^trove-death]: Trove Death Notice — PRIMARY SOURCE: The Register (Adelaide, SA), Wednesday 4 December 1901, page 3. Family Notices. Full text: "BAKER.— On the 1st December, at her residence, Francis street, Hyde Park, Sophia, the beloved wife of William John Baker, late of Virginia, aged 72 years. A colonist of 50 years. Arrived in the ship Canton, August, 1845." — accessed 25 Jul 2026. ✅ Resolves the death-date discrepancy: death occurred 1 Dec 1901.
- [^playford]: Playford's Past — William John Baker — accessed 26 Jun 2026. Confirms marriage to Sophia Marsh (March) on 9 Mar 1853; records death as 1 Dec 1901.
- FindAGrave: Sophia March Baker (1829–1901) — Memorial 156315152 — accessed 24 Jun 2026 (verified via Wayback Machine). Confirms burial at West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide SA. Records death 1 Dec 1901.
- WikiTree: March-72 — accessed 25 Jul 2026. Records death as 20 Dec 1901, which is the registration date (Genealogy SA - District Adelaide, Book 281, Page 471), not the death date itself.
- Genealogy SA Death Registration: District Adelaide, Book 281, Page 471 — per WikiTree March-72 citation. Records registration of death as 20 Dec 1901.
- WikiTree: Baker-1805 — accessed 26 Jun 2026.
- Bound for South Australia: Ship Canton 1846.
- Genealogy SA Marriage Index: District Adelaide, Book 15, Page 73 — marriage of William John Baker and Sophia March, 9 Mar 1853.
Tags
Spouse
- William John Baker (1831 – 1919)
Parents
- Joseph March (1797 – 1883)
- Sophia March (1803 – 1892)
Children
- Alfred Baker (1861 – 1946)
- Emeline Couzens (1857 – 1949)
- Fanny Baker (1863 – 1955)
- Hannah Baker (1855 – 1948)
- James Baker (1859 – 1927)
- Phineas Baker (1870 – 1959)
- Sophia Harriett Ridgway (1868 – 1956)
- Walter Baker (1865 – 1937)
- William Baker (1853 – 1933)