Baxters of Kessingland
Kessingland
Kessingland is situated on the East coast three miles south of Lowestoft. The church is dedicated to St Edmund and the parish registers date back to the Tudor times.
Robert Baxter (1730 – 1798)
The first Baxter family to settle in Kessingland appears in the church registers in 1765 was the family of Robert Baxter and his wife Mary. I suspect that Robert was the base born son of Ann(e) Baxter (1701 – 1737), the reputed father being Robert Hills of Pulham St Mary, baptized 13 March 1729/30, Ashby St Mary (near Buckenham), Norfolk. Ann(e) in turn was the daughter of John Baxter and Susan Slade, born Tasburgh, Norfolk. Robert and Mary Baxter lived in Kirkley before settling in Kessingland, in later life they moved to Gisleham a neighbouring village.
Robert was possibly first cousins with Frances Baxter (1733 – 1794) who settles in Barnby.
Marriage
Robert married Mary Drane/Dreen/Drein (1738 – 1811) the daughter of John Drane and Martha Carver. From the parish registers of Haddiscoe, Norfolk:
“Robert Baxter of this parish single man and Mary Drane of the same single woman were married in this church by banns this twenty-sixth day of May 1760. In the presence of Robert Boonfellow and James Burton.”
Children
Robert and Mary had the following:
| Baptized | Name | Comment | Where |
| 03 Mar 1761 | John | Son of Robert and Mary | Parish church of Kirkley |
| 24 Apr 1763 | Mary | Daughter of Robert and Mary | Parish church of Kirkley |
| 08 Jul 1764 | Martha | Daughter of Robert and Mary | Parish church of Kirkley |
| 10 Nov 1765 | William | Son of Robert and Mary | Parish church of Kessingland |
| 18 Jan 1767 | Francis | Son of Robert and Mary | Parish church of Kessingland |
| 10 Jun 1768 | Honor | Daughter of Robert and Mary | Parish church of Kessingland |
| 25 Mar 1770 | James | Son of Robert and Mary | Parish church of Kessingland |
| 30 Jun 1771 | Mary | Daughter of Robert and Mary | Parish church of Kessingland |
| 08 Aug 1773 | Mary | Daughter of Robert and Mary | Parish church of Kessingland |
| 13 May 1776 | Isaac | Son of Robert and Mary | Parish church of Kessingland |
| 13 May 1776 | Rebecca | Daughter of Robert and Mary | Parish church of Kessingland |
| 22 Feb 1778 | Rebecca | Daughter of Robert and Mary | Parish church of Kessingland |
Death
Kessingland Edmund
| Buried | Name | Comment |
| 8 Oct 1798 | Robert Baxter | Married man |
| 27 Apr 1811 | Mary Baxter | Widow aged 78 |
What happened to the children of Robert and Mary Baxter of Kessingland?
John Baxter (1761 – 1772)
Death
Kessingland St Edmund
| Buried | Name | Comment |
| Aug 1772 | Baxter |
Mary Baxter (1763 – 1766)
Death
Kessingland St Edmund
| Buried | Name | Comment |
| 06 Jun 1766 | Mary Baxter | Daughter of Robert and Mary Baxter |
Martha Baxter (1764 – 1766)
Death
Kessingland St Edmund
| Buried | Name | Comment |
| 29 Jun 1766 | Martha Baxter | Daughter of Robert and Mary Baxter |
William Baxter (1765 – 1838)
Marriage
William married Sarah Balls (1761 – 1833) possibly the daughter of Robert and Sarah Balls. From the parish records of Gisleham:
“William Baxter of this parish bachelor and Sarah Balls spinster of Carlton* married in this church by banns this twelfth day of October, 1792. In the presence of William Downing and M Wright.”
* Carlton = Carlton Colville.
Children
William and Sarah had the following:
| Born | Baptized | Name | Comment | Where |
| {28} Jun 1793 | William | Son of William and Sarah | Parish church of Rushmere | |
| {29} Jun 1793 | Sarah | Daughter of William and Sarah | Parish church of Rushmere | |
| 06 Oct 1794 | 07 Oct 1794 | Mary | Daughter of William and Sarah | Parish church of Rushmere |
| 23 Jul 1796 | Hannah | Daughter of William and Sarah | Parish church of Rushmere | |
| 16 Jan 1799 | 24 Feb 1799 | John | Son of William and Sarah | Parish church of Rushmere |
| 01 Feb 1802 | 07 Feb 1802 | James | Son of William and Sarah | Parish church of Rushmere |
| 10 Apr 1804 | 15 Apr 1804 | James | Son of William and Sarah | Parish church of Rushmere |
| 12 Aug 1806 | Robert | Son of William and Sarah | Parish church of Rushmere |
Death
| When and where died – 3rd September, 1838, North Cove | |||||
| Name and surname | Sex | Age | Occupation | Cause of death | Signature, description and residence of informant |
| William Baxter | male | 73 years | Agricultural labourer | Old age | The mark of William X Baxter junr, in attendance, North Cove |
Rushmere St Michael
| Buried | Name | Comment |
| 20 Feb 1833 | Sarah Baxter | Of Rushmere aged 74 |
| 09 Sep 1838 | William Baxter | Of North Cove aged 72 |
Francis Baxter (1767 – 1830)
Francis spent his entire life in Kessingland
Marriage
Francis married twice. His first wife Jane Huslet (d.1798) died within a year of marriage. From the parish records of Kessingland:
“Francis Baxter of this parish single man and Jane Huslet single woman were married in this church by banns this nineteenth day of October, 1797. In the presence of Robert Baxter and Robert Alabaster.”
Francis second wife was Jane May (1766 – 1856) the daughter of Joseph and Ann May/s. From the parish records of Kessingland:
“Francis Baxter widower of this parish and Jane May single woman were married in this church by banns this tenth day of December, 1798. In the presence of Honor Wright and Robert Alabaster.”
Children
Francis and Jane (May) had the following:
| Born | Baptized | Name | Comment | Where |
| 15 Apr 1800 | 29 Apr 1800 | Francis | Son of Francis and Jane | Parish church of Kessingland |
| Jan 1802 | 09 Jan 1802 | Mary Ann | Daughter of Francis and Jane | Parish church of Kessingland |
| 1804 | Jane | Daughter of Francis and Jane | Parish church of Kessingland | |
| 14 Sep 1805 | 15 Sep 1805 | Sarah | Daughter of Francis and Jane | Parish church of Kessingland |
| 1807 | Charlotte | Daughter of Francis and Jane | Parish church of Kessingland | |
| 09 Aug 1809 | 13 Aug 1809 | Ann | Daughter of Francis and Jane | Parish church of Kessingland |
| 17 Oct 1811 | 26 Oct 1811 | Emily* | Daughter of Francis and Jane | Parish church of Kessingland |
* Emily’s details were crossed throw in the parish register.
Census
1841
| Dwelling – Kessingland | |||
| Name | Age | Occupation | Born in County |
| Jane Baxter | 70 | Independent | Y |
1851
| Dwelling – Kessingland | |||||
| Name | Relationship | Marital status | Age | Occupation | Where Born |
| Jane Baxter | Head | Wid | 82 | Pauper | Westhall |
| Mary Baxter | Daughter | Unmar | 49 | Dressmaker | Kessingland |
Death
Kessingland St Edmund
| Buried | Name | Comment |
| 11 Feb 1798 | Jane Baxter | Married Woman |
| 12 Nov 1830 | Francis Baxter | Aged 63 husband of Jane |
| 19 Jul 1857 | Jane Baxter | Aged 88 |
Honor Baxter (1768 – 1849)
Marriage
Honor married Mathew Wright (1763-1815) the son of John Wright and Elizabeth Baldry. From the parish records of Kessingland:
“Mathew Wright single man of this parish and Honor Baxter of this parish single woman married in this church by banns this twenty-eighth day of December, 1792. In the presence of Francis Baxter and Robert Alabaster.”
James Baxter (1770 – 1771)
Death
Kessingland St Edmund
| Buried | Name | Comment |
| 04 Apr 1771 | James Baxter | Aged 1 |
Mary Baxter (1771 – 1772)
Death
Kessingland St Edmund
| Buried | Name | Comment |
| Aug 1772 | Baxter |
Mary Baxter (1773 – 1779)
Death
Kessingland St Edmund
| Buried | Name | Comment |
| 21 Oct 1779 | Mary Baxter | Aged 7 |
Isaac Baxter (1776 – 1779)
Death
Kessingland St Edmund
| Buried | Name | Comment |
| 07 Nov 1779 | Isaac Baxter | Aged 3 |
Rebecca Baxter (1776 – 1777)
Death
Kessingland St Edmund
| Buried | Name | Comment |
| 25 May 1777 | Rebecca Baxter | Infant |
Rebecca Baxter (1778 – 1838)
Marriage
Rebecca married Samuel Ward (1755 – 1841). From the parish records of Kessingland:
“Samuel Ward of this parish bachelor and Rebecca Baxter of this parish spinster were married in this church this twelfth day of October, 1810. In the presence of Francis Baxter and Mary Baxter.”
What happened to the children of Francis Baxter and Jane May of Kessingland?
Francis Baxter (1800 – 1802)
Death
Kessingland St Edmund
| Buried | Name | Comment |
| 15 Sep 1802 | Francis Baxter | An infant |
Mary Ann Baxter (1802 – 1881)
Mary Ann never married and died in the workhouse in Oulton.
Census
1841
| Dwelling – High Street, Lowestoft | |||
| Name | Age | Occupation | Born in County |
| Mary Baxter | 40 | Y | |
| William Pester | 30 | Gardener | Y |
| Mary Pester | 30 | Y | |
| William Yaxley | 30 | Shoe M | Y |
| Ann Yaxley | 25 | Y | |
| William Gorse | 50 | Cabinet M | N |
1851 – Back at home
1861
| Dwelling – Old Market Kessingland | |||||
| Name | Relationship | Marital status | Age | Occupation | Where Born |
| Mary Ann Baxter | Head | Unmar | 59 | Dressmaker | Kessingland |
1871
| Dwelling – Old Market Kessingland | |||||
| Name | Relationship | Marital status | Age | Occupation | Where Born |
| Mary Ann Baxter | Head | Unmar | 69 | Dressmaker | Kessingland |
1881
| Dwelling – Old Market Kessingland | |||||
| Name | Relationship | Marital status | Age | Occupation | Where Born |
| Mary Ann Baxter | Head | Unmar | 79 | Dressmaker | Kessingland |
| Charlotte Lambert * | Visitor | Wid | 73 | Dressmaker | Kessingland |
* Charlotte was Mary Ann’s sister.
Directories
| Directory Name | Year | Place | Private / Commercial | Name and Service |
| Pigot’s Directory of Suffolk | 1839 | Lowestoft | Commercial | Milliners & Dressmakers Baxter Sisters, High St |
Death
Kessingland St Edmund
| Buried | Name | Comment |
| 08 Jul 1881 | Mary Ann Baxter | Of the Workhouse Oulton, aged 81 |
Jane Baxter (c.1804 – 1804)
Death
Kessingland St Edmund
| Buried | Name | Comment |
| 11 Sep 1804 | Jane Baxter | Infant |
Sarah Baxter (1805 – 1868)
Marriage
Sarah married George Goodchild (1794 -1880) the son of Thomas Goodchild and Sarah Pollard. From the parish registers of Mutford:
“George Goodchild and Sarah Baxter both single persons of this parish were married in this church by banns this seventh day of October, 1828. In the presence of Layers Mondham and Ann Baxter.”
Charlotte Baxter (1807 – 1882)
Marriage
Charlotte married Edward Lambert (1806 -1867) the son of William Lambert and Mary Copping in 1839.
Ann Baxter (1809 – 1831)
Death
Kessingland St Edmund
| Buried | Name | Comment |
| 28 Mar 1831 | Ann Baxter | Aged 21 the daughter of Francis and Jane Baxter |
Emily Baxter (1811 – 1879)
Census
1841
| Dwelling – Cumberland Terrace, Regents Park, St Pancras, Middlesex | |||
| Name | Age | Occupation | Born in County |
| Emily Baxter | 30 | FS | N |
1851
| Dwelling – Downshire Hill, St John, Hampstead, Middlesex | |||||
| Name | Relationship | Marital status | Age | Occupation | Where Born |
| Emily Baxter | Servant | Unmar | 39 | Kessingland | |
1861
| Dwelling – 8 Highgate Rise, St Pancras, London | |||||
| Name | Relationship | Marital status | Age | Occupation | Where Born |
| William M Binking | Head | M | 55 | Wesleyan Methodist Minister of {Gochester} Place Kentish town and Mary the Chapel | Manchester |
| Harriet B Binking | Wife | M | 53 | Rockwood, Yorkshire | |
| Harriet w Binking | Daughter | Unmar | 30 | Huddesfield, Yorkshire | |
| Caroline B Binkning | Daughter | Unmar | 27 | Halifax, Yorkshire | |
| Emily Baxter | Serv | Unmar | 49 | Cook | Kessingland |
| Sarah A Smith | Serv | Unmar | 26 | Housemaid | Woolwich, Kent |
1871
| Dwelling – Mill Street, Mill Walk, St Johns, Hampstead | |||||
| Name | Relationship | Marital status | Age | Occupation | Where Born |
| Henry L Berry | Head | M | 64 | Retired Independent Minister | Warminster, Wiltshire |
| Joseph S Berry | Son | Unmar | 38 | Invalid | Mill Hill, Middlesex |
| Emily Baxter | Cook | Unmar | 59 | Domestic | Kessingland |
Death
Kensington District
| Died | Name | Comment |
| 1879 | Emily Baxter | Aged 68 |