William John Baker

William John Baker was 18 years old when he arrived in Australia in June 1849 as a passenger on the sailing ship, ‘Stag’.  He was the son of James and Jane Baker who lived in Bickley, Devonshire, England.

His first employment was helping to build a church in Adelaide but when the work was held up he and a young friend set off to find work in the country.  They walked from place to place getting work where they could and sleeping in barns and empty houses.  After some years spent in different occupation he joined the first of the gold rushes to Victoria.

About this time he married and took up land on the Adelaide Plains near Virginia.  To give himself an income while he was clearing his land, Baker got together a team of bullocks and earned money by carting goods to the copper mines at Burra and returning with loads of copper ore.

His occupation was a mason and a farmer who resided at Virginia.  In c1852 he married Sophia Marsh who was born on the 20 December 1829 at Aylesham, Norfolk, England.  William and Sophia had the following children:-

              William was born on the 17 December 1853 at Port Gawler.
              Hannah was born on the 28 August 1855 at Peachy Belt.
              Emeline was born on the 29 September 1857 at Port Adelaide.
              James was born on the 12 August 1859 at Port Gawler.
              Alfred was born on the 1 August 1861 at Peachy Belt.
              Fanny was born on the 8 June 1863 at Port Gawler.
              Walter was born on the 1 February 1865 at Port Gawler.
              Sophia Harriet was born on the 10 August 1868 at Port Gawler.
              Phineas was born on the 11 November 1870 at Virginia.

William purchased sections 4102, 4095, 4096 near Stebonheath Davoren Road.

William John died on the 4 June 1919 aged 89 years old and his wife Sophia died on the 1 December 1901 aged 72 years old.  They are both buried in West Terrace Cemetery in the same grave.

Walter Baker was 28 years old he married Victoria Sophia White aged 20 years old.  They married on the 15 March 1893 at the residence of Henry White of Windsor, South Australia.  Victoria’s father was Henry White.  Walter and Victoria had the following children:-

              William henry Mark was born on the 22 January 1894 at Virginia.
              Walter Douglas was born on the 24 October 1895 at Virginia.
              Reginald Frank was born on the 22 January 1899 at Virginia.
              Annie Sophia was born on the 3 May 1908 at Temora, New South Wales.
              Thelma Ruth was born on the 30 July 1910 at Temora, New South Wales.
              Edith Alice was born on the 6 February 1913 at Temora, New South Wales.

Walter Baker died on the 9 April 1937 at Manly, N.S.W aged 72 years old and his wife Victoria Sophia die on the 10 June 1943 aged 72 years old.

Reginald Frank was 31 years old he married Marjorie Josephine Stafford aged 26 years old.  They married on the 25 January 1930 at Manly, N.S.W.  They had one child:-

              Margery was born on the 17 August 1932 and died 4 years later on the 11 November 1936.

Reginald enlisted on the 15 December 1942 at Marrickville N.S.W. and was given the service number NX165796 and was assigned to the 116 General Transport.  He attained the rank of Sergeant. 

Reginald Frank died in the 20 March 1967 at Charmhaven, N.S.W. aged 68 years old and his wife Marjorie Josephine died on the 19 January 1969 at Manly Hospital, N.S.W. aged 65 years old.