Harriet (2) Woodhurst


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Brief biography

Harriet (2) Woodhurst was christened on July 7th 1822 to parents Andrew (4) Woodhurst and his wife Ann [Ore Parish Register].

The 1841 Census finds her living at age 19 with other members of her family in Guestling Road, Ore.

She married Matthew Baker in 1842. The marriage certificate [Marriage Index: Hastings 7 471, 1842 (June)] states that they married on June 18th 1842 at the Parish Church in Ore (spelled "Oare" on the certificate). She is described as a spinster of full age and residing in Ore. Matthew is described as a bachelor of full age and a shoe maker, residing at Brede. Her father is described as a carrier and his father is named as Moses Baker but with no cited occupation. The witnesses were G.D. Hodges, K.J. Baker and Elizabeth Hodges, all of whose connections are unknown.

The 1851 Census finds her and Matthew with several children living in Brede, Sussex. Matthew was occupied as a shoe maker.

The 1871 Census finds the family living in Middle Road, Ore. Matthew was now occupied as a carpenter. Their son William, now with a wife Ellen, was living next door and occupied as a smith.

The 1881 Census finds the family living at 166, St. George's Road, St. Mary in the Castle in Hastings. Matthew was still occupied as a carpenter.

Harriet (2) may have been the "H. Baker" who witnessed the marriage at Bristol in 1886 of John Cottington Woodhurst, the son of her cousin Tom.

Nothing more is currently known of Harriet (2). Her husband may have been the Matthew Baker whom the GRO records as having died aged 72 in 1894 [Death Index: Hastings 2b 11, 1894 (June)].

Her children by Matthew Baker

  1. Sophia Baker
  2. Matthew (2) Baker
  3. James Baker
  4. William Baker
  5. Moses Baker
  6. Joseph Baker
  7. Thomas Baker
  8. Charles Baker
  9. Frederick G. Baker
  10. and possibly others ...

William Baker was born at Brede on December 30th 1847. He married Ellen Fanny Blundell on December 26th 1870 at St. Clement's Church in Hatton, near Hastings. Ellen was born at Hastings on March 10th 1850.