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Letitia Jane Dorothea Baker 29 February 1852 to 30 November
1930
BAK00309
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Headlines
of Letitia Baker’s life are in brown.
Dates
are in red.
Hyperlinks
to other pages are in dark
blue.
References
and citations are in turquoise.
Context
and local history are in purple.
1852
Letitia Baker was the daughter of Rev Ralph B and Frances (nee
Singer) Baker (FAR00302).
Letitia Baker was born on 29 February 1852. Census records suggest she was born in Ireland, but she was
baptised at Christ Church, Hilderstone on 29 April
1852.
1861
1861 Census - Hasfield
Court, Hasfield, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire
Ralph Bourne Baker, Head, Male, 68, 1803, Staffordshire, England
Frances Crofton Baker, Wife, Female, 48, 1823, Ireland
Mary Frances Baker,
Daughter, Female, 22, 1849, Ireland
Letitia Jane Dowthen Baker, Daughter, Female, 19, 1852, Ireland
Sarah Hitchman, Sister,
Female, 60, 1811, Staffordshire, England
John Belmore, Servant, Male, 56, 1815, Devon, England
John George Westlake, Servant, Male, 16, 1855, Somerset, England
Louisa Field, Servant,
Female, 34, 1837, Somerset, England
Jane Welch, Servant, Female,
36, 1835, Somerset, England
Mary Heywood, Servant, Female, 33, 1838, Devon, England
Elizabeth Ann Redding,
Servant, Female, 18, 1853, Gloucestershire, England
1861 Census - 22, Porchester Square, Paddington
Ralph B Baker, Head , Married, Male, 58, 1803, Clergyman church
England without cure of souls, Kenton, Staffordshire, England
Frances C Baker, Wife,
Married, Female, 38 , 1823, Ireland
Mary F Baker, Daughter, Female, 12, 1849, Scholar,
Ireland
Letitia J D Baker, Daughter, Female, 9,
1852, Scholar, Ireland
William M Baker, Son,
Male, 3, 1858, Hilderstone, Staffordshire, England
Jessie Goward, Servant, Unmarried, Female, 25, 1836,
Housemaid, Scotland
Sarah Death, Servant, Unmarried, Female, 22, 1839,
Cook, Kentish Town, Middlesex, England
Sarah Addison, Servant, Unmarried, Female, 22, 1839,
Nurse, Staffordshire, England
1871
1871 Census – Hasfield
Court, Hasfield, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire
Ralph Bourne Baker, Head, Male, 68, 1803, Staffordshire, England
Frances Crofton Baker, Wife, Female, 48, 1823, Ireland
Mary Frances Baker,
Daughter, Female, 22, 1849, Ireland
Letitia Jane Dowthen Baker, Daughter, Female, 19, 1852, Ireland
Sarah Hitchman, Sister,
Female, 60, 1811 Staffordshire, England
John Belmore, Servant, Male, 56, 1815, Devon, England
John George, Westlake, Servant, Male, 16, 1855, Somerset, England
Louisa Field, Servant,
Female, 34, 1837, Somerset, England
Jane Welch, Servant, Female,
36, 1835, Somerset, England
Mary Heywood, Servant, Female, 33 ,
1838, Devon, England
Elizabeth Ann Redding,
Servant, Female, 18, 1853, Gloucestershire, England
1881
1881 Census – Hasfield Court, Hasfield, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire
Frances Crofton Baker,
Head , Widow, Female, 57, 1824,
Householder, Ireland
Mary Frances Baker, Daughter, Single, Female, 32 , 1849, Householder’s daughter, Ireland
Letitia Jane Baker, Daughter, Single,
Female, 28, 1853, House holders daughter, Ireland
William Meath Baker,
Son, Single, Male, 23, 1858, Landowner, b a
Stafford, Staffordshire, England
Alice Frances Crofton,
Visitor, Single, Female, 32, 1849, Ireland
Helen Julianna Jenkins,
Visitor, Single, Female, 36, 1845, Bond holder, Ireland
John Belmont, Servant, Widower, Male, 59, 1822,
Domestic servant butler, Marwood, Devon, England
Thomas Smith , Servant, Single, Male, 18, 1863, Domestic
servant footman, Aston, Gloucestershire, England
Elizabeth An Bedding, Servant, Single, Female, 28, 1853, Domestic
servant housemaid, Forthampton, Gloucestershire,
England
Laura Box, Servant, Single, Female , 27, 1854, Domestic servant cook,
Monmouthshire, Wales
Clara Louisa James,
Servant, Single, Female, 32, 1849, Domestic servant ladies
maid, Tipton, Staffordshire, England
Kate Lake, Servant,
Single, Female, 16, 1865, Domestic servant kitchen maid, Ashleworth,
Gloucestershire, England
Rose Emme Colebrook,
Servant, Single, Female, 19, 1862, Domestic servant house maid,
Carmarthenshire, Wales
Louisa Westlake, Servant, Married, Female, 39, 1842,
Domestic servant housekeeper, Somerset, England
Letitia married Richard Baxter Townshend in July 1881 at Hasfield, Gloucestershire.
The Citizen, 30 July 1881: FASHIONABLE
MARRIAGE AT HASFIELD. Marriage of Mr
Richard Baxter Townshend, of Bath, to Miss Letitia Jane Dorothea Baker, younger
daughter of the late Rev R Bourne Baker, was solemnised on Thursday at Hatfield
parish church. The event was of course an important one in “the simple annals
of the village poor” of Hasfield; the interest felt
in it being all the greater on account of the popularity which the fair bride
herself, together with the rest of the family, had won by their active interest
in the well-being of the inhabitants of the locality. The ancient parish
church, which has recently undergone a restoration, is not a large one, and all
the available space was crowded to excess for some time before the wedding
party arrived, many persons being compelled to stand. Floral decorations had
been tastefully and effectively disposed throughout the edifice. The window sills were filled with moss and wild flowers,
surmounted with white cross designs. The font and pulpit were also prettily set
off, and chaplets of roses and other flowers were hung from the carvings of the
choir seat fronts. The old tomb on the north side of the altar was covered with
flowers. The church stands at a very short distance from Hasfield
court, the residence of the bride, so that no carriages were required. The path
from the residence to the church was carpeted, and one or two arches were
erected at intervals. At the appointed hour the bridal party issued from the
Court and walked to the church where, at the curious old south door, more than
400 years old, it was remarked, the bridegroom was in waiting, accompanied by
Mr Clayton, of Bath, as best man. A hymn was sung as the procession moved up
the church. The bride was attired in an ivory shaded satin costume, trimmed
with white lace, and she wore a gold necklace, studded with pearls, the gift of
her brother, gold earrings, gift of her aunt, and a gold bracelet, presented by
the servants of the Court. She was followed by four bridesmaids, attired in
uniform costumes of the terra cotta shade and wearing
silver bracelets, the gifts of the bridegroom. The service was conducted by the
Rev Canon Stavely, BD, of Killarney, County Dublin,
assisted by the Revs JF Hone, MA, vicar of Tirley and
the Rev C M Read BA, rector of Hasfield. The bride
was given away by her brother, Mr William Baker. At the conclusion of the
service Mrs Ford, cousin of the bride, who presided at the harmonium, played
Mendelssohn’s wedding March as the party left the church. A band of village
maidens strewed flowers along the path before the bride and bridegroom, and
merry wedding peels were wrung out from the old church tower. Crowds of
villagers visited the church and remained for some time to inspect the
decorations. They were lavish in the encomiums of the scene, and the aged
sexton, who might have been taken by Crabbe as a model for his “old Dibble”,
was heard to declare that he had not seen a prettier wedding during his 50 years experience at the church. Between 3three and fourt o’clock the bride and bridegroom started for Clifton,
which was the first stage of their wedding tour. They will afterwards visit
Ilfracombe, and other beautiful spots on the Devon and Cornish coasts. The
weather, which had hitherto been all that could be desired now became overcast , and a somewhat heavy shower fell, threatening
seriously to interfere with a garden party which was given in the beautiful
grounds surrounding Hasfield court. In about an
hours’ time, however, the weather cleared and it
continued fine during the remainder of the day. The villagers were liberally
entertained on the following day.
The following presence were given to by to the bride and
bridegroom: cedar table and table glass, Mrs Bourne Baker; Crown Derby tea
service and Algerian brass tray, Miss Baker, ebony Devonport and golden Pearl
necklace, Mr WM Baker; chased Indian silver tea and coffee service, pearl
earrings and inlaid tea caddy, Mrs Hitchman; cut glass claret jug with silver
top, Mrs ford; glass and silver biscuit box, Mr ford and Mr H ford; crewel
work, Miss Emily Ford; set of silver desert knives and forks, Captains Singer
RN and Mrs Singer; set of silver pepper casters, the Misses Singer; oak and
silver butter cooler and knife, Mr R B Singer; Genevese silver bracelet and
locket, Rev P and Mrs Singer; The Waverley Novels, Mrs Townshend; liquor set,
Mr Payne Townshend; sideboard, Mr Chambry Townshend;
Moore’s works, Mrs J Townshend; Neapolitan inlaid table, glove box and tea
caddy, Miss Townshend,; set of Munich table glasses, Miss B Townshend;
embroidered Roman portiere, Mrs Edward Morgan; Buhl drawing room clock, Mr and
Mrs Hodgson; Silver egg cups, stand and spoons, Cannon and Mrs Staveley; egg
boiler, Mr and Mrs Jamison; antique silver sauce ladles, General and Mrs
Crofton; set of silver teaspoons, Mrs S and the Mrs Crofton; oxidised silver
work casket, Dr and Mrs Crofton; drawing room writing sets, H Keating; pair of
floral China lamps and vases, Mrs H Keating; Painting, Mrs W E Gabbert; China
jar, Mr and Mrs Stone; tea service, Captain and Mrs Stone; revolving dish, Mrs
Ellicott Clifton; ebony dining clock, Misses and the Mrs Jenkins Erica; long
book slide, Mr Robert and Mrs Singer; Russian leather album, the Rev and Mrs
Butterworth; cashmere silver salt Cellars, Lady and Mrs Roberts and Miss
Roberts and Major Roberts, RA; press writing table sets, Rev JF Home; Indian water
bottle and silver, Miss Edith Hone; set of Indian d’oyleys,
Mrs J stone; glass jugs and goblets, Mr and Mrs W Rakes; fish knives and forks,
Canon Linton; satsuma pot and afternoon tea set, Mr Gibson; Dresden China
Miller, Rev CM Reid and Lady Warren Vernon; Painted table, Mrs and Miss
Harrison; set of d’oyleys, Mrs H Ford; Dalton egg
cups and stemmed, pepper casters and master pot mustard pot, Mr and Mrs Smith;
Silver vegetable dish, Mr and Mrs Colbeck; Roman silk scarf, Miss Lillian
Jones; bead baskets, Mrs Hatch; “lyra Angelcana”,
Miss B Hobson; tea cloth, Rev SH Owen; flower vase, M Homer; silver mounted
flask Rev Sherwood and Mrs Clayton; Scott’s poems, Rev R M Herdman; silver tea
spoons and sugar tongs, Mr and Mrs Dunn; Silver melon like knife, Mr Willan;
silver knife rests, Mr Holts and Mrs Wells; Set of d’oyleys,
Miss H Singer; Turkish pin tray, Mrs Fulljames; twine
barrel, Mr H Burnham; work basket Miss Allen; patchwork, Mr. Jame; Tennyson’s
Works in Morocco case, Mrs Westlake; wardian case, Mr
Alpin; Indian China water table and tray, Mr and Mrs Chambray Townshend;
“Malvern chase” Rev FWS Symonds; goblet, Mrs Simons; Heber's poems, Miss
dudgeon; paper cutter, Mrs and Miss Jones; Lowestoft China, Miss H Somerville;
Roman etchings, Miss A Townshend; glass flower vase, Mary Williams; silver
salver, the tenant farmers of Hasfield; pair of
antique mirrors, inhabitants of Hasfield; Brass date
rack, cottage tenants in Tirley and Ashleworth; patchwork quilt, worked by the children of Hasfield schools; Doulton China preserve jar, mistress and
children of Hasfield schools; Gold bracelet, servants
at Hatfield court; Silver thimble in case, William Hamblin and Thomas Wilcox;
afternoon tea set, class of farmers daughters; silver mounted oak salad salad bowl etc, filigree silver cross, and Ruby ring.
Gloucestershire Chronicle, 30 July 1881: MARRIAGE OF MISS L J D BAKER AND MR R B TOWNSHEND. The
village of Hasfield, near Gloucester, was the scene
of a fashionable wedding on Thursday, the nuptials of Miss Letitia Jane
Dorothea Baker, youngest daughter of the late Rev R Bourne Baker, of Hasfield Court, and Mr Richard Baxter Townshend, youngest
son of the late Rev Chambray Townshend, of Derry, County Cork, being celebrated
at Hasfield church, which was prettily decorated for
the occasion. The contiguity of the court and church rendered carriages
unnecessary, and the bridal party accordingly walked to the sacred edifice, the
path being carpeted; The advent of the bride, leaning on the arm of her
brother, Mr W M Baker, who gave her away, was the signal for the school
children, who boarded the walk, to strew flowers before her. The bride was
attired in ivory satin and Brussels lace, with a wreath of natural orange
blossoms, and tulle veil, and wore pearl ornaments. She was attended by four
bridesmaids: Miss Baker, her sister, Miss Crofton and Miss Singer, her cousins,
and Miss A C Roberts of Haseldine, Redmarley, all of whom were dressed in Surah silk of two
shades of terra cotta, trimmed with cream lace, and had hats of cream lace with
ostrich feathers and roses. They wore silver bracelets, the gift of the
bridegroom. The bride was met at the altar by the bridegroom, whose best man
was Mr Clayton. The marriage ceremony was performed by Rev Canon Staveley,
uncle of the bride, assisted by the Rev J F Home, vicar of Tirley,
and Rev C M Reid, rector of Hasfield. Mrs Ford,
cousin of the bride, played the wedding March as the bridal party left the
church, and the ringers in the belfry set up a marriage peel. An elegant
breakfast was partaken off at Hasfield court by a number of guests, after which the happy pair left, amidst
the salutations and best wishes of their relatives and friends to spend the
honeymoon in Cornwall. In the afternoon Mrs Bourne Baker gave a grand garden
party at Hasfield Court, which was attended by the
gentry of the neighbourhood. Yesterday the inhabitants of Hasfield
were entertained in honour of the marriage....
Richard Baxter Townshend and Edward Elgar
Regular house parties were held at Hasfield.
On one occasion there was a call for someone to play the part of an old man.
WMB’s brother in law, Richard Baxter Townshend,
Letitia Baker’s husband was persuaded to take the part. His voice was too high
falsetto and soft for the role and he attempted a deeper voice,
but was unable to keep it up and the audience were in tears with
laughter. Townshend had been a cattle rancher and gold prospector and was a
good shot. He had a weather-beaten face and was known to ride about Oxford on a
tricyle. As he was somewhat deaf, he invented a
bicycle bell that sounded continuously.
R B Townshend, Dora Penny and WMB would be immortalised in
consequence of Edward Elgar’s visits to Hasfield. In
October 1898, Edward Elgar was at his piano one evening and his wife liked a
new theme and asked what it was. He replied, ‘nothing, but something might
be made of it.” He played some more and asked Alice who it was like. Alice
replied that “it is exactly the way WMB goes out of the room.”. She
added “surely you are doing something that has never been done before.”
This was the origin of the Enigma Variations, one of the greatest orchestral
works written by a British composer. Were it not for Alice Elgar’s
interruption, we might never have had one of the greatest of all English
orchestral works. Elgar called the tune, which he had not recognised as
anything worthwhile, “Enigma”, not in the sense of a riddle to be solved, but,
he said, a “dark saying [that] must be left unguessed”,
expressing the “nothingness” from which it came.
Elgar dedicated the variations to ‘my friends pictured within’.
Each section was headed by the initials of the friend portrayed,
beginning with “CAE” or Caroline Alice Baker, who he lovingly portrayed.
He called the third variation “RBT” and his funny voice and his
bicycle bell can be heard in the music. The piece remembered Richard Baxter
Townshend, a friend whose caricature of an old man in an amateur theatre
production is captured in the variation.
He called his fourth variation “WMB” and the variation is highly
energetic and includes a sharp bang of the door. The piece recalled William
Meath Baker, 'country squire, gentleman and scholar', informing his
guests of the day's arrangements.
He called the tenth variation “Dorabella” after Dora Penny, which
was her nickname from Cosi Fan Tutte and the music
parodies her youthful stammer.
The piece depicted Dora Penny, daughter of
the Rector of Wolverhampton and a close friend of the Elgars.
But for the Bakers and Hasfield Court,
the Enigma Variations would not have been what they were.
1921
1921 Census - 117, Banbury Road,
Oxford, St Giles, Oxfordshire
Richard Baxter Townshend, Head, Male, 1846, 75, Cork, Ireland,
Author
Letitia Jane Dorothea Townshend, Wife, Female, 1852, 69, Dublin, Dublin, Ireland, Author
Anna Maria Niblett, Servant, Female, 1855, 65, Pendock,
Worcestershire, England, Cork Private
Louisa Stokes, Servant,
Female, 1868, 53, Worcestershire, England, Parlourmaid, Private
Annie Maria Cridge, Servant, Female, 1869, 52, Housemaid, Private
Florence Agnes Goddard, Servant, Female, 1904, 17, Oxfordshire,
England, kitchen maid, Private
Edith Clara Fanny Bayliss, Nurse, Female, 1891, 30, Birmingham,
Warwickshire, England, Sick Nurse, Private
Eleanor Florence Dann, Nurse, Female, 1867, 53, Linton, Kent,
England, Sick Nurse, Private
1930
Letitia Dorothy Townshend of 117 Banbury Road, Oxford, died on 30
November 1930 and probate was granted on 28 March 1931 to
William Meath Baker Esq and Mary Frances Penny, wife of the Reverend Canon
Alfred Penny. £18,255 17s 9d.