William John Baker

Born: 14 Apr 1831 in Bickleigh, Mid Devon District, Devon, England
Baptised: 24 Apr 1831 at Bickleigh, Devon (parish register)
Died: 3 Jun 1919 at Hyde Park, Unley, South Australia (aged 88)
Buried: West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide, South Australia

Family

Life

William was born in Bickleigh, Devon in 1831. According to the Ship Stag passenger manifest (1850), he was a mason by trade. His parents were James and Jane Baker of Bickley, Devonshire, England, as stated by the Playford's Past community history resource (single source — not independently verified).[^playford]

He emigrated to the Colony of South Australia aboard the ship Stag, departing Plymouth on 22 February 1850 and arriving at Port Adelaide on 11 June 1850. He travelled as a young single man aged 18-19 seeking opportunity in the new colony.[^playford]

After arriving in South Australia, William initially worked carting goods by bullock team to the Burra copper mines. He later took up farming.

He married Sophia (March) Baker (née March) on 9 March 1853 in Adelaide, South Australia (Genealogy SA Marriage Index, District Adelaide, Book 15, Page 73). Sophia was the daughter of Joseph March (1797–1883) and Sophia (Webster) March (1803–1892), who had emigrated from Norfolk, England in 1846.

William and Sophia raised a large family of nine children at Hyde Park, Unley. After Sophia's death in 1901, William continued living in the family home.

He died at Hyde Park on 3 June 1919 at the age of 88 and was buried at West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide.

Sources

• [^playford]: Playford's Past — William John Baker — accessed 26 Jun 2026. States: "He was the son of James and Jane Baker who lived in Bickley, Devonshire, England." Also confirms arrival on Stag, occupation as mason and farmer, marriage to Sophia Marsh, and 9 children.
• FindAGrave: William John Baker (1831–1919) — Memorial 156315174 — accessed 23 Jun 2026 (via Wayback Machine)
• WikiTree: Baker-1805 — accessed 26 Jun 2026
• WikiTree: March-72 — accessed 26 Jun 2026
• Playford's Past (Recollect): William Henry Mark Baker — accessed 23 Jun 2026
• Bound for South Australia: Ship Stag 1850 (departed Plymouth 22 Feb, arrived Port Adelaide 11 Jun)
• [^wjb-children]: WikiTree (Baker-1805) children list — accessed 27 Jun 2026. Shows 9 children: William, Hannah, Emeline, James, Alfred, Fanny, Walter, Sophia Harriett, Phineas. Matches Playford's Past children list exactly.