William John Baker (1831–1919)

Summary

| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Full Name | William John Baker |
| Born | 14 Apr 1831 — Bickleigh, Devon, England |
| Died | 3 Jun 1919 (age 88) — Hyde Park, South Australia |
| Buried | West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide, SA |
| Spouse | Sophia Marsh (m. 9 Mar 1853, Adelaide) |
| Occupation | Mason, Farmer |
| Parents | James Baker & Jane Baker (of Bickleigh, Devonshire) |

Early Life

William John Baker was born on 14 Apr 1831 in Bickleigh, Devonshire, England, the son of James Baker and Jane Baker. His early years were spent in the Devonshire countryside.

At age 19, he emigrated to South Australia aboard the Stag (678 tons, Captain John Baker), departing Plymouth on 22 Feb 1850 and arriving Port Adelaide on 11 June 1850. The passenger list records him as "William Baker, 19, Mason, Devon" — confirming both his age (born ~1831, supporting the 1831 date over 1829) and his trade as a mason (stone worker/builder), not a baker.

Life in South Australia

Upon arrival, his first job was helping build a church in Adelaide. When work stalled, he and a friend walked through the countryside seeking work, sleeping in barns and empty houses. He later joined the first gold rushes to Victoria.

He married Sophia Marsh on 9 March 1853 in Adelaide, South Australia. Sophia had arrived in the colony on 31 July 1846 with her parents Joseph March (1797–1883) and Sophia Webster aboard the ship Canton.

William and Sophia took up land near Virginia on the Adelaide Plains, farming and working as a mason. To earn income while clearing land, he used a team of bullocks to cart goods to the Burra copper mines and return with copper ore. He purchased Sections 4102, 4095, and 4096 near Stebonheath Davoren Road.

They settled in the Gawler Plains / Peachy Belt / Port Gawler area and raised nine children — five sons and four daughters.

Children

| Name | Born | Died | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| William Baker | 17 Dec 1853, Gawler Plains | — | Father of 8 |
| Hannah Baker | 28 Aug 1855, Peachy Belt | 1948 | Married William Humphrey Parker (1850–1926) — your direct line |
| Emeline (Couzens) | 29 Sep 1857, Port Adelaide | — | Mother of 5 |
| James Baker | 12 Aug 1859, Port Gawler | — | |
| Alfred Baker | 1 Aug 1861, Peachy Belt | — | Father of 5 |
| Fanny Baker | 8 Jun 1863, Port Gawler | — | |
| Walter Baker | 1 Feb 1865, Port Gawler | — | Father of 6 |
| Sophia Harriett (Ridgway) | 10 Aug 1868, Port Gawler | — | Mother of 4 |
| Phineas Baker | 11 Nov 1870, Virginia | — | Father of 7 |

Later Life & Death

William died on 3 June 1919 in Hyde Park, a suburb of Adelaide, at approximately age 88. He is buried at West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide. His wife Sophia predeceased him, dying on 1 Dec 1901 aged 72. Both are in the same grave at West Terrace Cemetery.

Key Relationships

| Person | Connection |
|---|---|
| James Baker & Jane Baker | Parents — Bickleigh, Devon |
| Sophia Marsh | Wife (m. 9 Mar 1853, Adelaide) |
| Hannah Baker | Daughter — married William Humphrey Parker (1850–1926) |
| William Henry Parker (1893–1968) | Grandson (through Hannah) |
| Shirley Edna Telfer (1929–2017) | Great-granddaughter (née Parker) |
| Joseph March (1797–1883) | Father-in-law (arrived SA on Canton, 1846) |
| David Parker (1822–1888) | In-law (through Hannah's husband's line) |

🔗 Links

• Sophia Baker (1829–1901)


• Joseph March (1797–1883)


• William Humphrey Parker (1850–1926)


• William Henry Parker (1893–1968)


• Shirley Edna Telfer (1929–2017)


• Baker-March-Webster Tree


• Family Tree

Sources

• Playford's Past (City of Playford heritage site): William John Baker — confirms parents James & Jane Baker, birth 1831, ship Stag 1850, occupation Mason


• WikiTree: Baker-1805 — confirms birth 14 Apr 1831, Bickleigh Devon; parents James Baker & Jane Baker


• Marriage: William John Baker to Sophia Marsh, 9 Mar 1853, Adelaide, SA (Genealogy SA, Book 15, Page 73)


• Passenger list — Stag 1850: Bound for South Australia — 1850Stag — confirms "William Baker, 19, Mason, Devon"


• SA Maritime Museum: Passengers in History — node/572452


• Death: 3 Jun 1919, Hyde Park, SA (Genealogy SA)


• Burial: West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide, SA


• ianfoster.com.au: Family Group F503660 — confirms same parentage

Research Notes

• Birth year 1829 vs 1831: The vault previously recorded 1829. The Stag passenger list (age 19 arriving June 1850) confirms ~1831 birth. WikiTree and Playford's Past both say 14 Apr 1831. Changed to 1831.


• Parents: Three secondary sources (Playford's Past, WikiTree, ianfoster.com.au) all state James and Jane Baker of Bickleigh, Devonshire. No primary source (baptism record or death certificate transcription) has been located yet — this remains the top priority for verification.


• Sophia's surname: Playford's Past records her as "Sophia Marsh" (not "March"). The vault uses "March" — to be investigated further.


• Next step: Request SA death registration transcript from Genealogy SA (~AUD $27.50) for primary source proof of parents' names.