Baxters of Fressingfield

Fressingfield

Fressingfield is a village 12 miles east of Diss. The church is dedicated to St Peter and St Paul, with registers that date back to 1554. Fressingfield’s Baptist church was built in 1835 and designed in the shape of a coffin to remind the congregation of the mortality of life. The building was reputed to accommodate 700 people.

Richard Baxter (1693 – 1777)

Richard Baxter had connections to nearby Diss, Norfolk. He was baptized the 2nd November, 1693 the son of Stephen Baxter (d.1697) and Elizabeth Lonedy (d.1703). Stephen and Elizabeth married on the 24th February 1690/1, Kenninghall, Norfolk. Stephen in turn was possibly the son of Richard Baxter (d.1684, buried Wortham, Suffolk) and Mary Lanseter (d.1677, buried Palgrave, Suffolk). Richard and Mary were married in Palgrave 1658 and spent time in Palgrave, Diss and in Wortham.

Marriage

Richard married Anne Dawling/Dowling (1703 – 1778) the daughter of the daughter of John and Margaret Dawling, in 1724, Eye.

Children

Richard and Anne had the following:

Death

Fressingfield St Peter and St Paul

What happened to the children of Richard Baxter and Anne Dowling of Fressingfield?

Richard Baxter(1725 – 175?)

Marriage

Richard married Frances Florence (c.1725 – ?). From the parish registers of Great Yarmouth St Nicholas:
Richard Baxter of this parish bachelor and France Florence of the parish of Gorleston married on this day the 26th day of December, 1749.
Frances Baxter widow of Wilby married William Batley/Battley, 15th June 1772.

Children

Richard and Frances had the following:

Parish Records

Wilby:- Removal order- Great Yarmouth to Wilby, Suffolk, Richard Baxter, Frances his wife and William their son. – 7th January, 1755.
Wilby:- Bastardy Bond- John Rumsey the elder and John Rumsey the younger, both of Wilby, tailors, of £50 re child or children of Frances Baxter. – 3rd July, 1758.
Wilby:- Settlement certificate- William Battley, Mary* (*believe this should be Frances) his wife and such lawful family as they may have, Stradbroke. – 1st July, 1772.

John Baxter (1731 – 1773)

Marriage

John married Sarah Hindes (d. 1771) on the 1st April 1750, Fressingfield.

Children

John and Sarah had the following:

Parish Records

Weybread:- Settlement Certificate – John Baxter, wife Sarah and John their son of Fressingfield. – 14th May, 1751.

Death

Fressingfield St Peter and St Paul

In 1771 there are 5 Sarah Baxter’s floating around, (Sarah 1745, Sarah 1752, Sarah 1771, Sarah Smith the widow of William Baxter, and Sarah Hindes the wife of John Baxter) and one burial. The above burial is based on probability.

Margaret Baxter (c.1735 – 1818)

Marriage

Margaret married twice, her first husband was John Cutter/Cutten/Cutting, who she married on the 27th January, 1757, Fressingfield. Her second husband was John Mayhew (1727 – 1817) widower, who she married on the 18th November, 1782, Fressingfield.

Stephen Baxter (c.1743 – 1818)

Marriage

Stephen married twice, his first wife was Sarah Bridges (d. 1807) who he married on the 2nd October, 1765, Fressingfield. His second wife was Elizabeth Catchpole (1770 – 1855) the daughter of James and Sarah Catchpole. From the parish registers of Fressingfield:
Stephen Baxter of this parish widower and Elizabeth Catchpole of this parish of this parish single woman married in this church by banns on this 16th day of June, 1808. In the presence of Thomas Vincent and John Smith.

Children

Stephen and Sarah had the following:

Stephen and Elizabeth had the following:

*Given Stephen already had a son, John, and he was alive and having children at the time, there is no evidence other than the above baptism record of John’s existence, first name recorded in error?
Elizabeth had two daughters out of wedlock, Sarah (1800) and Ann (1805).

Census

1841

1851

Death

Fressingfield St Peter and St Paul

William Baxter (1744 – 1767)

Marriage

William married Sarah Smith (1741 – ?), the daughter of Thomas Smith and Margaret Spenlove on 12th October, 1765, Fressingfield

Children

William and Sarah had the following:

Death

Fressingfield St Peter and St Paul

Sarah Baxter (1745 – 1837)

Children

Sarah had the following:

Marriage

Sarah married Benjamin Rumsby (c.1747 – 1831) possibly the son of James Rumsby and Phoebe Larter. From the parish registers of Fressingfield:
Benjamin Rumsby of this parish single man and Sarah Baxter of this parish single woman were married in this church by licence this 3rd day of February, 1778. In the presence of William Harper and James Kemp.

Henry Baxter (1748 – 1765)

Death

Fressingfield St Peter and St Paul

What happened to the children of Richard Baxter and Frances Florence?

Richard Baxter(1751 – 1751)

Death

Great Yarmouth St Nicholas

What happened to the children of John Baxter and Sarah Hindes of Fressingfield?

John Baxter (1750 – 1817)

John moves away from Fressingfield. There’s a possibility he was the John that married Mary Ransom in Bury St Edmunds, however there was a John living much closer to Fressingfield over the Norfolk boarder in Pulham St Mary.

Marriage

John married Sarah Jordon (1746 – 1824) the daughter Robert Jordon and Ursula Hayton. From the parish registers of Pulham St Mary the Virgin:
John Baxter of this parish bachelor and Sarah Jordon of this parish spinster married in this church by banns, this 10th day of February, 1772. In the presence of Stephen Chambers and John Barber.

Children

John and Sarah had the following:

Death

Pulham St Mary the Virgin

Ann Baxter (1755 – 1797)

There’s a marriage for an Ann Baxter in Laxfield in 1779. There are no children from this marriage and she died at the age of 42. However Ann’s first cousin another Ann (daughter of Richard Baxter and Frances Florence) was also born in 1755. The following marriage could relate to either Ann.

Marriage

Ann married Robert Edwards (1750 – 1828) on the 22nd October, 1779, Laxfield

Richard Baxter (1756 – 1756)

Death

Fressingfield St Peter and St Paul

William Baxter (1758- 1758)

Death

Fressingfield St Peter and St Paul

Jeremiah Baxter (1761- 1842)

Marriage

Jeremiah married Mary Scutts (1751 – 1842) the daughter of James and Mary Scuts/Scutts on the 12th October 1780, Wingfield

Children

Jeremiah and Mary had the following:

*No baptism has been found for James yet, there is every reason to believe that Jeremiah and Mary are his parents.

Census

1841

Death

Wingfield St Andrew

What happened to the children of Stephen Baxter and Sarah Bridges of Fressingfield?

Sarah Baxter (1766 – 1852)

Marriage

Sarah married John Aldous (1759 – 1835) the son of Richard Aldous and Elizabeth Tovell on the 1st January, 1795, Fressingfield

John Baxter (1768 – 1828)

Marriage

John married Mary Jolly (1770 – 1844) on the 21st March, 1793, Fressingfield

Children

John and Mary had the following:

Census

1841

Death

Fressingfield St Peter and St Paul

Stephen Baxter (1770 – 1779)

Death

Fressingfield St Peter and St Paul

Ann Baxter (1772 – 1856)

Children

Ann had the following:

Marriage

Ann married Samuel Philpot (1770 – 1839) the son of Samuel Philpot and Mary Reeve, 2nd November 1799, Cratfield

Henry Baxter (1774 – 1779)

Death

Fressingfield St Peter and St Paul

Susanna Baxter (1775 – 1777)

Death

Fressingfield St Peter and St Paul

Susanna Baxter (1778 – 1852)

Children

Susanna had the following?

*Shore mostly likely should be the surname Shaw.
*Warning some people have linked this William to William Baxter born the 15th Jun 1807, the son of James Baxter and Sarah Woodard of Melton. William Baxter born Melton, marries and raises a family in the Melton/Woodbridge area.

*Of the Fressingfield six, only Stephen has a baptism record. Stephen and William are known to be brothers who emigrated to America and lived in Ausable, Clinton, New York. Samuel states that he was born in Tannington, the only other Baxter living there was Susan the mother of Stephen, there’s every reason to believe Samuel and Susan are mother and son. Amy and Elizabeth are known to be sisters both claiming to be born in Fressingfield as does Lucy, although I have no proof they are the daughters of Susan.
There are two possibilities as to the lack of baptism records: firstly, if the children were raised as Baptist, the Baptist faith believes in adult baptisms, and there is a Baptist church in Fressingfield, however its early records are missing. Secondly Susan/or another mother was so poor she had the children in the workhouse and they were baptized there, however I believe these records are also missing. The second possibility maybe the most likely explanation of the two.
Susan was living in the workhouse in 1851, she died in 1852, yet there is no burial record for her in any of the local parish churches, suggesting she was buried on workhouse land.

Census

1841

1851

Death

Hoxne District

What happened to the children of Stephen Baxter and Elizabeth Catchpole of Fressingfield?

Joseph Baxter (1808 – 1874)

Marriage

Joseph married a Susanna Sayer (1819 – 1914) the daughter of William Sayer and Martha Freestone, on the 17th November, 1840, Fressingfield. After Joseph’s death Susanna married William Girling (1819 – 1904) in 1877

Children

Joseph and Susanna had the following:

Census

1841

1851

1861

1871

*Anna = Susannah born 1861

Death

Fressingfield St Peter and St Paul

What happened to the child of William Baxter and Sarah Smith of Fressingfield?

Margaret Baxter (1765 – 1810)

Children

Margaret had the following:

Marriage

Margaret married Thomas Mark (1770 – 1840) the son of John Mark and Elizabeth Shingles, 25th November, 1800, Weybread.

What happened to the child of Sarah Baxter of Fressingfield?

Sarah Baxter (1771 – 1831)

Marriage

Sarah married William Carter (1772 – 1831) the son of Dionysius Carter and Frances Cadle, 3rd November 1801, Fressingfield

What happened to the children of John Baxter and Sarah Jordon?

There was no sign of Thomas in Norfolk, however he makes the perfect candidate for Thomas Baxter of Linstead Parva. In the 1841 census Thomas states he was not born in Suffolk.

Thomas Baxter (1775 – 1849)

Marriage

Thomas married Ann Rackham (1781 – 1854) the daughter of Stephen Rackham and Mary Baldry on the 12th October 1802, Cratfield.

Children

Thomas and Ann had the following:

Census

1841

1851

Tithe

Thomas appears in the tithe apportionments for Linstead Parva 1841 as the occupier of less than one acre likely to consist of cottages, shops or gardens.

Newspapers

Death

Linstead Parva St Margaret

John Baxter (1777 – 1859)

John spent time in Ipswich, where he had three children, before returning to Pulham Market.

Marriage

John married a Lydia Hart (1769 – 1842) the daughter of John Hart and Lydia Tallowin.

Children

John and Lydia had the following:

Census

1841

1851

Death

Pulham St Mary the Virgin

Epitaph

Pulham St Mary the Virgin

Sarah Baxter (1780 – 1799)

Death

Pulham St Mary the Virgin

Samuel Baxter (1783 – ?)

Samuel got in trouble on multiple occasions, the most serious got him sentenced to life and transportation to Australia in 1837. Samuel departed England on the 11th April, 1838 on the Lord William Bentinck II and arrived in Tasmania on the 26th August, 1838 sentenced to life. Samuel, according to local newspapers, was granted a Ticket of Leave at the end of March, 1850, and Conditional Pardon granted in August, 1851. He had to wait until 19th August, 1857 for his pardon to be approved at the age of 74. I hear no more of him after this date.

Marriage

Samuel married Susanna Wright (1777 – 1865) the daughter of John Wright and Rebecca Goodram. From the parish registers of Tasburgh:
“Samuel Baxter of this parish single man and Susanna Wright of this parish single woman were married in this church by banns this twenty-eight day of October 1806.  In the presence of Rebecca Wright and David Gook.”

Children

Samuel and Susanna had the following:

Census

1841

1851

1861

Crime

Records

No – 2862
Place of Origin – Pulham, Norfolk
Trade – Butcher, Plough Man, Farm Labourer, Shepherd
Height – 5ft 5 1/2
Age – 58
Complexion – Dark
Hair – Dark
Eyes – Blue
Remarks – Mole on right arm

Death

Tasburgh St Mary

Ann Baxter (1786 – 1859)

Marriage

Ann married John Ebbage/Ebbege (1780 – 1831) the son of William and Mary Ebbage. From the parish registers of Pulham St Mary the Virgin:
John Ebbage bachelor of this parish and Ann Baxter spinster of this parish were married by banns this twentieth day of December, 1804. In the presence of John Baxter and John Yovel.

What happened to the children of John Baxter and Mary Jolly of Fressingfield?

Mary Baxter (1794 – ?)

Marriage

Its possibly this Mary Baxter that married Simon Taylor (1752 – 1826) a widower on 12th October, 1820, Southolt. Mary Taylor widow of Southolt married William Smith of Bedingfield on the 25th December, 1826. It’s not possible to follow William and Mary after the birth of their son, another William in 1827, the family moves away from Bedingfield.

Maria Baxter (1796 – 1885)

Marriage

Maria married her cousin Stephen Baxter (1801 – 1852), the son of Susanna Baxter on the 25th April, 1822, Fressingfield

John Baxter (1798 – ?)

Military Details

*The British Register of service (1756 – 1900) shows John spent time in Canada. His sister Maria left for Canada in 1836 before moving to America.

Sarah Baxter (1799 – 1888)

Marriage

Sarah married James Martin (1799 – 1873) the son of Thomas Martin and Mary Burrows, 28th July, 1823, Fressingfield

Phillis Baxter (1801 – 1859)

Census

1841

1851

Newspapers

Will Information

1959
Effects Under £100
9 May – The will of Phillis Baxter late of Fressingfield in the county of Suffolk spinster deceased who died 28 February 1859 at Fressingfield aforesaid was proved at Ipswich by the oath of George William Pretty of Fressingfield aforesaid surgeon the sole Executor.

Death

Fressingfield St Peter and St Paul

Matilda Baxter (1803 – 1829)

Death

Fressingfield St Peter and St Paul

Harriot Baxter (1804 – 1866)

Marriage

Harriot married Charles Kemp (1806 – 1883) the son of James Kemp and Lydia Chilvers, 9th June, 1829, Fressingfield

Henry Baxter (1807 – 1808)

Death

Fressingfield St Peter and St Paul

Lydia Baxter (1814 – 1814)

Death

Fressingfield St Peter and St Paul

What happened to the child of Ann Baxter?

James Baxter (1791 – 1865)

Marriage

James married Mary Vincent (1790 – 1852) the daughter of Thomas Cracknell Vincent and Elizabeth Brundish. From the parish register of Fressingfield:
James Baxter single man of Linstead Magna and Mary Vincent of this parish single woman were married by bands on this seventeenth day of September, 1818.

The couple had no children.

Census

1841

1851

1861

Death

Linstead Parva, St Margaret

What happened to the Fressingfield 6?

Stephen Baxter (1801 – 1852)

Marriage

Stephen married his cousin Maria Baxter (1796 – 1885) the daughter of John Baxter and Mary Jolly on the 25th April, 1822, Fressingfield

Children

Stephen and Maria had the following:

Poor Law Union Records

04 Apr 1836 –
Sanction from the board of guardians at the Bulcamp Workhouse has been obtained to send a number of paupers from Cratfield to Upper Canada…it was unanimously agreed to send certain families and persons, as listed, to Upper Canada at the sole expense of the parish. These families had cost the parish £45 during the last year. It was agreed to give the families new clothing in addition to the other expenses incurred. The families were: 1. Jonathan Oakes, wife and 8 children. 2. Stephen Baxter, wife and 1 child. 3. Felix Paddle, wife and 8 children. 4. John Bint, wife and 7 children. 5. William Barker, wife and 2 children. 6. Robert Barber. Single. 7. Robert Pole. Single. 8. Flatt’s child. 2 years. To go with mother who belongs to Huntingfield. Also enclosed is a completed Emigration Form A from the parish of Cratfield, giving notice of a meeting to be held in the church, on 18 March 1836. The meeting is to discuss how much money is to be borrowed, to meet the expense of poor families of the parish, who are willing to emigrate.
Request for clothes for those going to Canada including
Stephen Baxter 36, Maria Baxter 40 and Eliza Baxter 8.

04 Jul 1836 –
A list and description of those persons who have emigrated from Cratfield in the Blything Poor Law Union to Canada. Those listed are John Burt, farm labourer, Jemima Burt, wife, Emilee Burt, Charles Burt, John Burt, son, William Burt, Charlotte Burt, Samuel Burt, Ann Burt; Jonathan Oakes, farm labourer, Dinah Oakes, wife, Harriett Oakes, Sophie Oakes, Jonathan Oakes, son, James Oakes, George Oakes, Robert Oakes, Susan Oakes; Felix Paddle, farm labourer, Sarah Paddle, wife, William Paddle, James Paddle, George Paddle, Mary Paddle, Charles Paddle, Ann Paddle, John Paddle, Harriett Paddle; William Barber, farm labourer, Sophie Barber, wife, Mary Ann Barber, Emma Barber; Stephen Baxter, farm labourer, Maria Baxter, wife, Eliza Baxter; Robert Barber, farm servant; Robert Poll, farm servant; James Barber, farm servant; Sarah Platt.

Census

1850

1860

1870

1880

Death

Au Sable, Clinton, New York

Samuel Baxter (c. 1805 – 1877)

Marriage

Samuel married twice, his first wife was Elizabeth Mortimer (1807 – 1872) the daughter of John Mortimar* and Lydia Saundars, on the 18th October, 1827, Tannington. His second wife Mary Wade/Pulfer(1810-1895) the widow of John Wade, in 1872.

*John (1783/4 – 1860) was the illegitimate son of Elizabeth Mortimer and Robert Plummer of Thorndon. John and his family used both the Mortimer and Plummer/Plumb/Plumber surnames. After the death of Lydia, John married Matilda Talbot/Tarbot in 1820.

Children

Samuel and Elizabeth had the following:

Census

1841

1851

1861

*Matilda was Elizabeth’s step mother.

1871

1881

1891

Death

Tannington St Ethelbert

Ipswich Cemetery

William Baxter (1807 – 1883)

Marriage

William married Maria Elizabeth Vincent (1810 – 1874) the daughter of Zachariah Vincent and Mary Elizabeth Aldridge, on the 9th June, 1828, Fressingfield.

Children

William and Maria had the following:

Census

1850

1860

* Should be Emma

1870

1880

Death

Clintonville Old Cemetery, Au Sable, Clinton County, New York

Epitaph

Clintonville Old Cemetery, Au Sable, Clinton County, New York

Amy Baxter (1811 – 1875)

Census

1841

1851

* Error by the enumerated should be Elizabeth.

1861

*James Kemp the son of Amy’s cousin Harriot Baxter and Charles Kemp.

1871

Lunacy Admissions

Baxter, Amy – female pauper admitted – 24th January, 1862 – Recovered and discharged – 27th May, 1862

Death

Bramford St Mary

Elizabeth Baxter (1812 – 1871)

Marriage

Elizabeth married James Manister\Manistre\Mannister (1813 – 1882) the son of John Manistree/Manestree and Rebecca Corbill, on 30th September, 1831, Badwell Ash.

Lucy Baxter (1812 – 1885)

Children

Lucy had the following:

Marriage

Lucy married Jonathan Neve (1812 – 1886) the son of Daniel Neeve and Mary Leggett. From the parish registers of St Michael at Thorne, Norwich:
Jonathan Neve of this parish bachelor and Lucy Baxter of this parish spinster married by banns this twentieth day of July, 1834. In the presence of Horatio Purdy and Susanna Bartram.

What happened to the children of Joseph Baxter and Susanna Sayer of Fressingfield

Charles Baxter (1841 – 1841)

Death

Fressingfield St Peter and St Paul

Sophia Baxter (1842 – 1863)

Death

Fressingfield St Peter and St Paul

Maria Baxter (1843 – 1921)

Marriage

Maria married Lewis Dowson (1838 – 1921) the son of Charles Dowson and Mary Ann Etheridge, on 4th November, 1864, Fressingfield.

John Baxter (1845 – 1923)

Marriage

John married twice, his first wife was Harriet Pendle\Pendal (1853 – 1871) the daughter of Edward Pendle and Elizabeth Stock/s, in 1871. John’s second wife was Emma Maria Day (1854 – 1935) the daughter of Henry Day and Elizabeth Feveryear, in 1872.

Children

John and Emma had the following:

Census

1871

1881

1891

1901

1911

Death

Flegg District

Great Yarmouth New Cemetery

Elizabeth Baxter (1846 – 1938)

Children

Elizabeth had the following:

Census

1861

Marriage

Elizabeth married William Barber (1846 – 1916) the son of Henry Edward Barber and Sarah Algar, in 1868.

Sarah Ann Baxter (1848 -1900)

Marriage

Sarah married twice her first husband was Thomas Saunders (1843 – 1874) the son of George Saunders and Emma Chittock, in 1868. Her second husband was Robert Algar/Alger Girling (1857 – 1934) the son of Eliza Algar and a Mr Girling, in 1883.

Jane Baxter (1850 -1859)

Death

Fressingfield St Peter and St Paul

Lucy Baxter (1852 -1937)

Census

1871

Marriage

Lucy married George Neve (1850 – 1918) the son of Jonathan Neve and Lucy Baxter, in 1873.

(Joseph) Stephen Baxter (1854 – 1932)

Marriage

Stephen married Mary Ellen Fletcher (1864 – 1894) the daughter of John Fletcher and his first wife Mary Walkerdine.

Census

1881

1891

1901

1911

Death

Greenwich

Mordern Parish Church

Mary Ann Baxter (1857 -?)

Census

1871

1881

1891

* Should be Baxter

1901

1911

William Baxter (1859 – 1924)

Marriage

William married Jane Castle (1869 – 1956) the daughter of Eli Castle and Jane Twidle, in 1908.

Census

1871

1881

1901

1911

Death

Hull District

Susannah Baxter (1861 – 1934)

Census

1861

Marriage

Susannah/Anna married William Oakes (1860 – 1950) the son of Joseph Oakes and Mary Everson, in 1884

What happened to the child of Margaret Baxter of Fressingfield?

Sarah (Mark) Baxter (1796 – 1858)

Census

1841

Marriage

Sarah married James Benstead Barber (1817 – 1899) son of John Barber and Maria Gooch, in 1847

What happened to the children of John Baxter and Lydia Hart?

Caroline Baxter (1809 – 1900)

Marriage

Caroline married Samuel Harrison (1806 – 1866) the son of James Harrison and Mary Goldspink. From the parish registers of Pulham St Mary Magdalen:
“Samuel Harrison bachelor of the parish of (Pulham) St Mary the Virgin and Caroline Baxter spinster of the parish married in this church by banns this nineteenth day of January 1831. In the presence of James Pritty and Eliza Baxter.”

William Baxter (1811 – 1873)

Marriage

William married twice, his first wife was Jemima Allen (1794 – 1845) the daughter of David and Elizabeth Allen, Thetford. From the parish registers of Pulham St Mary Magdalen:
“William Baxter bachelor of this parish and Jemima Allen spinster of the parish married by banns this twentieth day of September 1831. In the presence of Samuel Harrison and Eliza Baxter.”

His second wife was Maria Murrell (1823-1892) the daughter of Benjamin Murrell and Rachel Keely.

Children

William and Maria had the following:

Census

1841

1851

1861

1871

1881

1891

Death

Pulham Market St Mary Magdalene

Eliza Baxter (1813 – 1842)

Death

Pulham St Mary the Virgin

What happened to the child of Lucy Baxter?

Robert Baxter (1832 – 1884)

Marriage

Robert married Maria Riches (1829 – 1872) the daughter of James Riches and Susan Wilson.

Census

1841

1851

1861

1871

*On the 4th July 1881, (Ann) Elizabeth Pearce married John Baxter the son of William Baxter and Maria Murrell, Stoke Holy Cross.

1881

Newspapers

Death

Shotesham All Saints

Stoke Holy Cross

What happened to the child of Elizabeth Baxter of Fressingfield?

Jane (Jennie) Larter Baxter (1865 – 1932)

Census

1881

Marriage

Jennie married Joseph Henry Appleyard (1862 – 1933) the son of Godfrey Appleyard and Elizabeth Stocks, on the 21st August, 1887, at the Jubilee Chapel, Spring Bank, Hull.