Harry was born in 1830, christened on 26 February 1830 in
Towcester. His father was a hawker--
sold fish and other game he caught. His
mother worked at home. Harry was born
the oldest son in the middle of a large family, all probably helping work in
the fields with their father.
On 29 August 1853, Harry married Ann Stone, a young mother
with two children by a relationship with a young man named Joseph Phillips. Those children lived with their maternal
grandparents John Cole Stone and Frances Riddy.
Ann and Harry had four more children together. Like many in Towcester, Harry was trained as
a Shoemaker, although his family had been hunters and fishermen by trade. When times got tough, Harry also hawked fish
and game. Ann worked as a dressmaker.
Ann died after 10 years of marriage, leaving Harry to care
for his children alone. His oldest was
8, the youngest was 3. Harriet Kendall
(Middleton) was a young widow caring for her 2 children alone and lived on the
street where the Baker family owned a meat market. Perhaps they met there when Harriet bought her
meats for supper. They married in June
1864 and raised their children together in Harriet's home at 176 High street,
now Watling street in Towcester.
The children ranged in age from Harriet's oldest son
Benjamin who was 11 to Harry's youngest Abraham who was not yet 4. Benjamin ran away when he was 14 to America. Harry
and Harriet stayed together on High street in Towcester through the years,
finally ending up in Kettering, about 25 miles north of Towcester, where they
both died. Harriet died in 1803-- Harry in 1807. Harry's son William and
daughter Fanny also lived in Kettering.
For more detail on Harry, see the post on Harriet Middleton Kendall Baker.
