John (“Jack”) Bellyse Baker
17 August 1850 to 15 April 1932
BAK00151
|
Return to the Home Page of the Bakers Family part of the website |
The Bakers of Highfields Story
The Story of the Dods and Bakers and of Highfields,
Fenton House and Hasfield Court. A journey through the history of Cheshire and
Staffordshire, an Anglo-Saxon nobleman who retained his lands after the
Conquest, pottery at Stoke on Trent, an encounter with Elgar, and the history
of an Elizabethan manor house at Audlem |
The family tree of the Bakers of Highfields |
The Family Tree of the Dods, predecessors to the
Bakers of Highfields |
The Bakers of Fenton House and Hasfield
Court
The Family Tree of the pottery Bakers of Stoke on Trent |
The Family Tree of the Bellyse Family |
The main part
of this website tells the story of the Farndale family from Yorkshire Descendants of Arthur Baker, the story of the
Farndale ancestry is told through the main part of this website You can also return to the Farndale
website home page |
The genealogy of the family of James Hall, linked to
the Baker family through marriage to Arthur Baker |
Headlines of Jack
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.
Audlem,
Cheshire
1850
John Bellyse Baker was the eldest
son of William and Henrietta Louisa (nee Bellyse) Baker (BAK00121).
He was born on 17
August 1850 and baptised at Audlem on
17 November 1850.
(Copy of Birth Certificate of John Bellyse Baker, 17
August 1850, Baker Records 34)
1851
1851 Census – Woodhouse Lane, Buerton,
Nantwich, Cheshire
William Baker, 34, born 1817, fund
holder
Henrietta Louisa Baker, 26, born
1825
Henrietta Baker, 2, born 1849
John Bellyse Baker, 0, born 1850
Margaret Green, 28, nurse
Ann Maria Austin, 19, nurse
1860
John was educated at Repton
School.
1861
1861 census – 13 Midway Heath, Buerton,
Audlem, Cheshire
William Baker, 43, head, landed
proprietor
Henrietta Baker, his wife 36
John B Baker, 10
Arthur Baker, 1
Elizabeth Daniels, 18, unmarried,
governess
Three servants
1863
(John Bellyse Baker to his sister (Jane) Ellen Baker,
undated about 1863, Baker Records 53).
1864
(John Bellyse Baker to his sister (Jane) Ellen Baker,
undated about 1864, Baker Records 54).
1870
(William Baker of Highfields to his son John Bellyse
Baker, undated, about 1870, Baker Records 55 and 56 and 57)
1871 census – High Fields, Buerton,
Audlem, Cheshire
William Baker, 54, head,
land owner
Henrietta Baker, his wife
46
Henrietta Baker, 22
John Bellyse Baker, 20
Richard D Baker, 14
Arthur Baker, 11
Charity Baker, 8
Charlotte L Baker, 4
Emily J Baker, 2
Two visitors, including
John Percy, their agent
Three servants
With the coming of the
railway an annual holiday to the seaside became possible and the family often
spent some weeks winding down through central Wales on the old Cambrian
railways. The eldest son, John, usually stayed at home to manage the estate,
receiving regular instructions from his father by letter. Jack, as he was
always called, headhunted from an early age and rode with some success over the
sticks. His father died in 1876. (Baker, J Bellyse (1982), Highfields, Audlem:
Sixteenth Century Home of the Dod and Baker Families, Audlem District History Society, page
28).
From the diaries of Jack’s three
younger sisters: The girls’ three
brothers, Jack (1850 to 1932), Dick (1856 to 1902) and Arthur (1858 to 1916),
were older and would have been in their 20s when the diaries were written. From
the entries it is clear that they lived outdoor lives and enjoyed the
traditional country sports. There are many references to their days spent
hunting and shooting. July visits to the races at Market Drayton, cricket in
the summer and skating in the winter, usually at Adderley and Shevington. For
them, oyster suppers seemed to have been popular.
The eldest son, John, usually
stayed at home to manage the estate, receiving regular instructions from his
father by letter. Jack, as he was always called, headhunted from an early age and
rode with some success over the sticks. He broke his collarbone for the last
time in 1931 at the age of 81 when exercising a horse over fences for his
nephew. His father died in 1876.
Three children's Diaries, written
by the younger daughters, Charity, 15,
and Charlotte,
12, and Emily,
10, exist. From them one can see how very different were the lives of the boys
from those of the girls. The former were usually playing cricket, skating at
Adderley and, very regularly, “Jack has been out hunting”. We also hear
“Tuesday February 18th 1879 Jack has gone to the Waterloo coursing with Mr
Boote, of Corbrook, he is coming back tomorrow night;
we used to keep some greyhounds, but they were all sold except one, and that
died not long ago.”
Jack was getting to know the Miss Mangnalls by 1878. His sister Chatty wrote on Thursday 15
August 1878 that the Miss Mangnalls have been here
tonight and on Friday 16 August 1878, Jack has not been very well today
but he could not have been very poorly for he has been on the sewing machine
all morning. It is his birthday tomorrow, then on Sat 17th, Jack
and Dick have gone to the Miss Mangnalls this evening.
1876
Highfields Estate was leased from 1876
to 1884, though there is a record of sale by auction in 1877.
See also Grant of Exclusive Right of
Burial grated to John Bellyse Baker of Highfields, 12 October 1876, Baker
Records 39.
Buenos
Aires, Argentina
1879
Jack and Arthur
Baker travelled to South America, where they spent a year between March 1879
and March 1880. They had initially departed intending to emigrate to engage in
farming pursuits.
(Newspaper Cutting, Farewell Dinner to Mr J B Baker and Mr
Arthur Baker of Highfields, 1879)
Their sister
Chatty Baker wrote in her diary on Sunday 23 March 1879 that Jack and Arthur are to South
America in May we shall miss them very much, it will perhaps be more than three
years before we shall see them again. I shall try to write as often as
possible. On Wednesday 23 April 1879
she wrote that Jack and Arthur are really going to Buenos Aires in May so
they have not long to be at home. On Sunday 2 November 1879 she wrote that
since I last wrote Jack and Arthur have gone to America. On Thursday 4
March 1880, after their mother’s illness, she wrote that last Sunday Mamma
was very ill indeed but she rallied a little
before night, during Monday she was better but last night she was much worse
again, it was shock yesterday since she began with the sharp pain feeling. Jack
and Arthur came home from South America a week tonight we were very glad to see
them again. They are changed very little indeed during the seven months they
were away.
Their sister Tottie Baker wrote in
her diary on Monday 24 February 1879 that Jack and Arthur are thinking of
going to South America to a sheep farm, I am sure we shall miss them very much
if they do go, for we shall be very quiet without them. They are thinking of
going in May, with a friend of Mr. Ashe, who has a very large farm there
and on Tuesday 1 April 1879, I think Jack and Arthur are soon going to
Buenos Aires, how we shall miss them, we shall be very, very sad without them, who
would have thought three years ago they would have gone. On 18 May she
wrote Jack & Arthur are not going to Buenos Aires till the 5th August.
It was 3 years last Friday since Papa died. Then in Novembert
she recorded that Jack and Arthur have gone to Buenos Aires, they left home
Aug. 5th & sailed the 6th. We have heard from them twice, once a few days
after they went, and once again from Buenos Aires, which arrived here on Oct.
17th.
In January 1880, she wrote that Another
Christmas has passed away & the New Year has begun, it seems strange for
Jack & Attie to be away, we have heard from them again, they are not
getting on very well.
Then in February 1880, she wrote We
heard from Jack yesterday they say that they have not had anything to do for
the last fortnight & that unless they could get anything to do before the
26th of last January (they wrote on the 20th of January) that they should
return home in the Cotapaxi, which I think sailed
from Buenos Aires on the 26th of January & if they did not come by her they
said they would write & tell us so that we should know whether they had
started with her or not, so that perhaps they may come any day now, how I
should like to see them both. Dick was to look in the newspapers today, to see
if he could hear/find out anything about the Cotapaxi,
but he has not returned yet. Miss Evans has been helping Poppy with the ironing
today. Aunt Sarah has been up today. Mamma has been in bed all day again. The
Pacific Steam Navigation Company (PSNC) steamship Cotopaxi was a
prominent ocean liner and cargo ship based out of Liverpool. From 1877 to 1879,
the Pacific Steam Navigation Company operated a highly active transatlantic
route connecting Liverpool to Bordeaux and Buenos Aires. The Cotopaxi was a
mainstay on this line, shuffling European cargo, mail, and immigrants to South
America, and returning to Liverpool with agricultural goods. On 15 May 1889, while navigating the
treacherous Straits of Magellan on a voyage from Liverpool to Valparaiso, the Cotopaxi
collided with the German steamer Olympia. Though she was temporarily
refloated, she struck a reef and sank. Fortunately, a passing German vessel
saved all passengers and crew on board.
In late February 1880, Mr.
Field sent word today that the Cotopaxi will be at Liverpool at midnight
tonight, so that if Jack and Attie are still coming by her they will likely be here
before tomorrow. Mr. Field has been here today. I think the ship was at sea on
the Bay of Biscay either Sunday & Monday, or yesterday.
On 4 March Tottie confirmed that
Jack & Attie have come home again. They came last Thursday. Iris
knew Attie again & was very pleased to see him.
(Letter from Louisa Baker of Highfields to her son
John Bellyse Baker (in south America), 10 September 1879, Baker Records 58)
(Letter from Louisa Baker of Highfields to her son John
Bellyse Baker (in south America), 15 October 1879, Baker Records 59)
(Letter from Charity Baker to her brother, John
Bellyse Baker (in South America), 25 November 1879, Baker Records, 62)
(Letter from Charlotte Louisa Baker to her brother,
Arthur Baker (in South America), 25 November 1879, Baker Records, 64)
(Letter from Charity Baker to her brothers, John
Bellyse Baker and Arthur Baker (in South America), undated 1879, Baker Records,
65)
(Letter from Louisa Baker of Highfields to her son,
John Bellyse Baker (in South America), 27 December 1879, Baker Records, 61)
1880
(Letter from Charlotte Louisa Baker to her brother,
John Bellyse Baker (in South America), 22 January 1880, Baker Records, 66)
(Letter from Charity Baker to her brother, Arthur
Baker (in South America), 25 January 1880, Baker Records, 63)
Chatty Baker wrote in April 1880, Jack
and Arthur are still without anything settled to do yet. I wish they could. I
think it is troubling Mamma and keeping her from getting well.
Audlem,
Cheshire
Census 1881, Highfields, Buerton,
Nantwich, Cheshire:
John Bellyse Baker, head, single, born 1851,
aged 30, gentleman
Henrietta Baker, single,
born 1849, his sister, aged 32, no occupation
Richard Dod Baker, single,
born 1857, aged 24, solicitor’s general clerk
Arthur Baker, single, born
1860, aged 21, no occupation
Charlotte L Baker, single
, 14, scholar
Emily Jane Baker, single, aged
12, scholar
Mary Dobson, a visitor,
aged 33
Martha A Egerton, single,
19, servant
1884
John Bellyse Baker married
Richmal Mangnall (1858-1934), the daughter
of William Mangnall, architect, of Prestwich, Lancashire, at Audlem on 23 June
1884.
They had four children.
John inherited Highfields, Audlem from his father in
1876 but leased the house out until he sold the estate in 1884, though he was
living there in 1881.
Audlem, The History of a
Cheshire Parish and its five townships, 1997:
In the middle years of the century
most of the rural villages in the area relied almost wholly on agriculture for
their livelihoods and yet farming was becoming less profitable. The depression
worsened from 1875 onwards and reached its peak in about 1878. Several diaries
that have survived give some ideas of how families lived during these fifty
years. In the south of the county some farmers sold their land and emigrated. …
From Audlem, Jack and Arthur Baker [note
I think it was just Jack], still in their youth, tried their luck at sheep
farming … Many farms lost their entire
stock.
Wanganui,
New Zealand
In 1884, under the pressure
of the Agricultural Depression, he sold Highfields and emigrated to New
Zealand, where he became a sheep-farmer and grazier.
It was a time of Great Depression
in farming. In 1884 John
Bellyse Baker decided to sell the estate in to emigrate to New Zealand with
his young wife, Richmal Mangnall. For the first time in recorded history the
land was sold, Highfields with the Home Farm was purchased by a wealthy
shipbreaker, Charles Kellock, who added the present kitchen right wing with the
bathrooms the bedrooms above. Fortunately the pictures, silver and some of the
furniture were moved to the Cedars, in Audlem, where the second son, Richard Dod
Baker, a solicitor with his uncle Joseph Bellyse, lived with his unmarried
sisters. John
became a sheep farmer in New Zealand, where his two elder children, Bellyse and Dorothy
were born. (Baker, J Bellyse
(1982), Highfields, Audlem:
Sixteenth Century Home of the Dod and Baker Families, Audlem
District History Society, page 29).
The elder brother, John, had inherited
Highfields on the death of their father. It was a time of great depression in
farming. John decided to sell the estate and emigrate to New Zealand with his
young wife. For the first time in recorded history the land was sold.
Highfields (with the home farm) was purchased by a wealthy shipbreaker, Charles
Kellock, who made some alterations. Unfortunately he added high extensions to
the chimneys in Ruabon brick. (Latham,
Frank (1997), Audlem: The History of a Cheshire Parish and its seventeen
townships, page 124).
In 1884, however, John Bellyse
Baker, discouraged by the prospects for farming in England after the great
agricultural depression, decided to emigrate to New Zealand and to invest there
in sheep farming on a larger scale than was possible at home. He therefore sold
Highfields. The family portraits, silver, and some of the furniture were fortunately
not dispersed, but were taken by Richard Dod IV, a solicitor, to him home in
Audlem. (Robinson, John Martin (1991), Highfields,
Audlem, Cheshire, Seat of John Bellyse Baker, Country Life 31 January 1991,
page 50).
The Kellocks
and Highfields
W W Kellock was a JP, born
at Halewood in 1862. He was senior partner of C W Kellock & Co,
shipbreakers of Liverpool. He was the brother of Charles Walford Kellock, also
of Highfields who was described as the owner of the Highfields Estate. The main
window at Audlem church was given by three sons in memory of Charles Walford
Kellock JP of Highfields who died on 22 February 1897 aged 65, and Catherine,
his wife, who died on 29 January 1903.
1885
In about 1885 the Kellocks demolished the old single storey kitchens, brew
and wash houses, and built the present north wing. They also added some very
ugly extensions to the chimneys in red Ruabon brick, although, no doubt, they
looked very fine to Victorian eyes. (Baker, J Bellyse
(1982), Highfields, Audlem:
Sixteenth Century Home of the Dod and Baker Families, Audlem
District History Society, page 31).
Highfields and the Home Farm were
bought by Charles Kellock, a rich shipbreaker, who carried out a somewhat
dramatic restoration of the house, stripping the stucco to reveal the old
timbers, replacing the Georgian sashes with leaded casements, adding a new
service wing to the north, and tall chimneys of hard red Ruabon brick. He also made
the interior more Jacobean, with brought-in woodwork and extra panelling. (Robinson, John Martin (1991), Highfields, Audlem,
Cheshire, Seat of John Bellyse Baker, Country Life 31 January 1991, page 50).
1886
Bellyse Baker (1886 to 1947)(BAK00165) who
later married Lilian Crosland was born in 1886 (New Zealand Historical Birth
Index).
Deacon’s County Blue Book for 1886
lists fifty names for Audlem who would probably have been the leaders at that
time, and the list included Mr
and Mrs J B Baker (Latham, Frank (1997), Audlem: The History of a
Cheshire Parish and its seventeen townships, page 48).
Deacon's
Cheshire Court Guide and County Blue Book was published in July 1886 by C.W.
& Co. Deacon. It serves as a late-Victorian fashionable record,
professional register, and general topographical survey of Cheshire, detailing
the county's gentry, clergy, public officials, and commercial tradespeople.
1888
Dorothy (“Dot”) Baker (1888 to
1965)(BAK00167)
who was unmarried was born in 1888 (New
Zealand Historical Birth Index).
(Letter from John Bellyse Baker (in New Zealand) to
his sister, Henrietta Louisa Baker, 24 February 1887, Baker Records, 67)
(Richmal Baker (in New Zealand) to her sister-in-law,
Charlotte Louisa Baker, 6 March 1887, Baker Records 72)
(Letter from John Bellyse Baker (in New Zealand) to
his brother Richard Dod Baker, 24 March 1887, Baker Records 68)
(Letter from John Bellyse Baker (in New Zealand) to
his sister, Henrietta Louisa Baker, 13 November 1887, Baker Records, 70)
(Letter from John Bellyse Baker (in New Zealand) to
his brother Richard Dod Baker, 30 November 1887, Baker Records 69)
(Richmal Baker (in New Zealand) to her sister-in-law,
Henrietta Louisa Baker, 12 letters, about 1887, Baker Records 71)
Tuition in Music. Mrs T (sic)
Bellyse Baker, having made arrangements with Mr Collier for the transfer of his
pupils, has taken rooms in St Hill Street, lately occupied by Dr Bell, where
she will be giving lessons. Terms on application. (The Wanganui Herald, 30 May 1888)
1890
In 1890, John B Baker, a
settler, lived on Guyton Street in Wanganui, Wellington Province, 102
miles north by steamer and 151 by rail and coach from Wellington in Wanganui county,
a place of 4 churches (Presbyterian, English, Roman Catholic and Wesleyan), 5
branch banks (New South Wales, Colonial, New Zealand, National and
Australasia), 2 daily newspapers (Herald and Chronicle) and 2 weekly (Yeoman
and Chronicle), a municipality and post town, with telephone and railway
stations (Wise’s New Zealand Post
Office Directory, 1890 to 1891).
He returned to Audlem in about
1890 and died in 1932. (Baker, J Bellyse
(1982), Highfields, Audlem:
Sixteenth Century Home of the Dod and Baker Families, Audlem
District History Society, page 29).
By 1890 John Bellyse Baker
had returned to England and was working as a farm bailiff at Hindley,
Lancashire.
Gateforth,
Yorkshire
They spent a short time at Gateforth, Yorkshire where William was born.
William Mangnall Baker (1890 to
1961)(BAK00166)
who later married Annie Tattersall was born in 1890.
Hindley, Lancashire
1891
1891 Census – Farm, Close Lane,
Hindley, Wigan, Lancashire
John B, Baker, Head,
Married, Male, 40, Farm bailiff, born 1851, Audlem, Cheshire, England
Richmal Baker, Wife,
Married, Female, 32, born 1859, Prestwich, Lancashire, England
Bellyse Baker, Son,
Single, Male, 4, born 1887
Dorothy Baker, Daughter,
Single, Female, 2, born 1889
William M Baker, Son, Single, Male, 0, born 1891,
Yorkshire, England
1894
John Bellyse Baker was residing
in a dwelling house at the Cheese Farm off Atherton Road, Hindley Green,
Hindley (Electoral Roll for Hindley
Polling District, 1894 to 1895).
1895
Richmal Charity (“Chat”) baker
(1895 to 1978)(BAK00168)
who was unmarried was born in 1895.
St Anne
on the Sea, Lancashire
1901
1901 Census – 41 South Promenade, St Anne on
the Sea, Lancashire
John B Baker, 50, Boarding House
Keeper
Richmal Baker, 42
Richmal C Baker, 5
Mary E Banks, 16, domestic servant
Arthur centre
with Jack Baker and Richard Baker perhaps 1900
Before the First
World War there was a modest shoot on the Hankelow
estate, organised by James Greaves of the Court and Arthur Baker of Hillside.
As head keeper they employed West Timmis, a member of a family with long Audlem
connections and a keen naturalist. A frequent guest at shooting parties was Dr Stain,
the local medic who, although popular in the district, had a reputation for
claiming any game as his if more than one gun fired. On one occasion Jack,
Arthur Baker’s brother, quietly took a hare that had already been shot and
‘legged’, and set it up in a realistic position on the far side of the hill. As
the guests breasted the mount the hare appeared. The doctor fired, as did
someone else who was in the know. “My hare, I think”, said the doctor as the
animal dropped. “Great Scott,” said Jack, as he retrieved the corpse. “He’s not
only shot it this time, he’s legged it as well.” (Latham,
Frank (1997), Audlem: The History of a Cheshire Parish and its seventeen
townships, page 112).
(Two
receipts to John Bellyse Baker, 1901, Baker Records 123)
1905
Baker
Mrs Richmal, 41 South Promenade, St Anne’s on Sea (Kelly’s
Directory, Lancashire, 1905).
1911
1911
Census – Huntcliffe, St Anne’s on the Sea
John
Bellyse Baker, 60, Boarding House Keeper, born Audlem
Richmal
Baker, 52, born Prestwich, Lancashire
Bellyse
Baker, Cotton Manufacturer’s clerk, born Wanganui, New Zealand
Dorothy
Baker, 22, born Wanganui, New Zealand
William
Mangnall Baker, 20, bank clerk, born Gateforth, Yorkshire
1921
Census 1921 – Sandy Lane, Audlem
Henrietta Baker, head,
single, 72, home duties
Emily J Baker, 52, single,
home duties
John Bellyse Baker, 70,
visitor
Mary Edge, servant
Research
by Nicholas Kingsley:
William's eldest
son, another William Baker (1816-76), inherited Highfields from his father, and
seems to have been a conventional country gentleman, interested in field sports
and farming; indeed, he may have been primarily interested in field sports
since he was Master of the Albrighton Foxhounds in 1856. By his second wife,
Henrietta Louisa, the daughter of Dr. John Bellyse of Nantwich, surgeon, he
produced nine children.
When he died he
was succeeded by his eldest son, John Bellyse Baker (1850-1932). It was the
time of the great agricultural depression, and there are signs that his father
may have handed over the estate in fairly poor condition. At all events, after
a few years John came to the conclusion that he could not continue to live and
farm at Highfields, and the estate was sold in 1884 to a Liverpool ship-broker,
Charles Walford Kellock (d. 1897), who 'restored' and modernised the house.
John and his family then emigrated to New Zealand where he became a sheep
farmer and grazier, but for reasons which are unclear this was not a success. By
1890 he was back in England and after a few years working as a farm bailiff in
Lancashire, he had recovered sufficient capital to purchase a boarding house at
St Anne's-on-Sea, on the Lancashire coast, which he and his wife ran for many
years. Socially, it was aeons away from the life to which he had been brought
up, but it does seem to have provided a reasonable living. His sons were able
to go to Christ's Hospital School although they did not attend a University.
His elder son, Bellyse Baker (1886-1947) joined the cotton manufacturing
industry as a clerk before the First World War, and war service, worked his way
up the business to be its sales director. The fruits of this career enabled him
to repurchase Highfields when it came on the market at the end of the Second
World War, but he died shortly afterwards, and it was left to his son, John
Bellyse Baker (1915-2010) to restore and reoccupy the house. Although the
family had sold a good deal of the contents of Highfields when they went abroad
in 1884, they had retained many of the more personal family items, and it was
possible to return these to the house when they reacquired it. John Bellyse
Baker developed a deep personal interest in the house and his family, and when
Highfields was opened to the public in the 1980s, he wrote a guidebook for
visitors. The house is no longer open to the public, but remains the home of
the present John Bellyse Baker (b. 1956) and his family.
1931
He broke his collarbone for the
last time in 1931 at the age of 81 when exercising a horse over fences for his
nephew. (Baker, J Bellyse
(1982), Highfields,
Audlem: Sixteenth Century Home of the Dod and Baker Families, Audlem
District History Society, page 28).
1932
John died on 15 April 1932. He died in 1932. (Baker, J Bellyse
(1982), Highfields,
Audlem: Sixteenth Century Home of the Dod and Baker Families, Audlem
District History Society, page 29).
1934
His widow, Richmal died 26
December 1934. Her will was proved on
17 May 1935.