George Baker
| Town/City | Brisbane |
|---|---|
| First name | George |
| Last name | Baker |
| Country of Origin | England |
| Date of Birth | baptised 16/09/1821 |
| Year of Arrival in Australia | 1850 |
| Submitted by | Joyce Stenhouse-Brown |
Story
George Baker was born in Bridgewater, Somerset, England to John and Elizabeth Baker (nee Spurling.)
Re letter from Somerset County Council in June 1989, states a George, son of John and Elizabeth Baker of Bridgewater, mariner, was baptised on 16/09/1821. George Baker (exile) arrived Moreton Bay, in the ship “Bangalore” 30/04/1850. He was tried at Bridgewater Quarter Sessions on 29/6/1847 with Joseph Staddleman, aged 30 years and John Brice aged 31 years and received a 7 year sentence. He was stated to be 27, 5ft 6ins. tall, of fresh complexion, dark eyes, dark brown hair, single and a baker by trade. He could read imperfectly but not write, although educated at a charity day school.
John Meaker of Wemdon, yeoman, stated that he lived in a house in Skimmerton Lane, and that on 20th June, he missed four old fowls, including a cock and three young ones. He followed a trail of feathers, chicken heads, legs and wings. His account was corroborated by his servant Jeffrey Tabreat. John Hill superintendant of Bridgewater Police with George Hobbs, constable, found 3 men in the kitchen of Henry Abbott’s beer house. He found 2 fowls in Baker’s pockets and another 2 in those of Brice and a further 3 fowls in a nearby house. Previously on 8/12/1838 George was convicted of stealing a brass kettle and sentenced to 6 weeks hard labour.
George is mentioned in the ‘Name Directory of Moreton Bay Region 1852-53 as having obtained his Ticket of Leave on 10/5/1850 and was employed by Friell and Sandeman on Burrandowan Station. It is said George married (1) Bridgetta McMahon (McLaren)? in 1855, however no certificate to hand as yet. They moved to Taabinga Station where 7 children were born.
MATILDA ANN BAKER born 2/1/1857 Taabinga, died 13/5/1860 from scald.
WILLIAM EDWARD BAKER born 13/1/1859 married Emma Allenden, died 5/5/1940
GEORGE RICHARD BAKER born 19/3/1861 Nanango, married Annie Maria Weldon, died 29/12/1943
HELENA JANE BAKER born 6/5/1863 Taabinga, married Thomas Walsh, died 1/12/1924
MARY ANN BAKER born 4/9/1865 Taabinga died 27/5/1883
MARIA THERESA BAKER born 5/8/1868 Taabinga, married Charles Quigley Weldon, died 3/2/1943
MATILDA ANN BAKER born 15/1/1871, married (1) William O’Sullivan, (2) William Manser died 15/12/1957
Sadly George’s wife Bridgetta died from a cold after miscarriage 29/5/1872 aged 34 years.
Another family who lived on Taabinga was Henry Weldon and his wife Elizabeth Jane (nee Perry.) Elizabeth’s husband Henry had died in 1869 after being thrown from a horse. Elizabeth had moved to Brisbane to be near some of her family and took up nursing at a Brisbane Hospital. In 1873 George came to Brisbane and after their marriage moved back to Taabinga. George and Elizabeth had 2 sons, John Wallace and Sidney Briggs. Later they moved to the Taroom district. George died in 1878 at “Glenhaughton Station” aged 53 years. Elizabeth for a time ran the Dawson Family Hotel at Taroom. She applied for a licence but was refused. On 27/6/1892, Elizabeth died at “Hazeldene” near Mackay.