Walter Baker 1854 - 1940

Walter Baker was born on the 21^st April, 1854, at Gardeners Buildings, Kings Holm, Gloucester. He married Elizabeth Amelia Sanders on the 17^th April, 1881, just four days before his twenty-seventh birthday, at St. Pauls Church, Birkenhead. He is described as an Engraver and his address is given as Hinson St., Birkenhead. The witnesses were Richard Olive and Harriet Jane Sanders. He appears to have changed occupation and joined the merchant navy as a steward. In 1890 at the birth of his second son, Walter Sanders (40), he is described as “Superintendent Ships Steward” and again in 1892 at the birth of his fourth child, Edith, he is described as “Superintendent Steward, Merchant Service”. In 1904 at the marriage of his eldest daughter, Lilian Amelia, he is described as “Commercial Traveller” and again in 1922 at the marriage of Edith he is described as “Travelling representative”. By 1924 at the second marriage of his son, George Arthur, he is described as “Superintendent of Shipping Agents” and in 1936 at the third marriage of George, he is described as “Shipping Company Superintendent, retired”. His son, George, recalls that he was well known in local choral circles as a baritone. He died in Birkenhead in the second quarter of 1940 (Ref: June 1940, Birkenhead 8a 1206).