BAKER

BAKER comes from an Old English word bacan meaning to bake. It became the Middle English word bakere and was applied as an occupational name to the person who made bread.
Where the name was first applied is unsure; it could have been given to the baker in a castle or fine mansion because this would have been a position of some responsibility and expertise. On the other hand, in the Middle Ages the type of oven required for baking might not have been available in every household and in some villages there was a communal baking oven. The man looking after the oven, baking the bread and collecting a stipend for doing so would also have been named Baker.
There were four people named Baker with the First Fleet (to Australia). James Baker was a marine on the Charlotte. Thomas and Martha Baker arrived in Australia on separate ships and seem to have led separate lives. Thomas died early and Martha remarried.
William Baker, a marine corporal seems to have made a better go of things. He had two stints at service in Australia, was promoted and later received a substantial land grant, which he called Mt Pleasant. (9) page 73.

Researching:

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

Hosted by www.Geocities.ws