William Baker, M.P.

The Gentleman's Magazine, Volume 94, Part 1; Volume 135

Died 1824 Jan 20. Obituary for WILLIAM BAKER, Esq.

• Jan. 20. At his seat, Bayfordbury, co. Hertford, in his 81st year, William Baker, Esq. who sat in five successive Parliaments as Knight of the Shire for the County of Hertford. He was the son of Sir Wm. Baker, Alderman of Bassishaw Ward, London (who was knighted November 3, 1760); by the eldest daughter of Jacob Tonson, the nephew of the celebrated Jacob Tonson, the Bookseller and friend of Dryden.
• His father having a considerable patrimonial estate in the county of Hertford, the subject of this memoir was bred up as a country gentleman; and on marrying settled at Beyford Bury (Beyfordbury), the house of which was built, and surrounded by a park, by his father between 1758 and 1762.
• His two wives were half-sisters:
• He married first, the daughter of Thos. Penn, esq. of Bray wick, co. Berks, by Lady Juliana Fermor, daughter of Thomas, 1st Earl of Pomfret, and by her had one child.
• His second wife was Sophia Conyers, the daughter of John Conyers, esq. of Copthall, Essex (who died Sept. 7, 1775) by Lady Henrietta Fermor (who died Nov. 25, 1793), elder sister to the above Lady Juliana Fermor.

By Sophia Conyers, he had fifteen children [Burke Landed Gentry].

• In 1790, after having attempted but 'without success’, to be returned for the town of Hertford, he was elected for the county; as he was again in 1796.
• At the general election in 1802 he was powerfully opposed by the Hon. P. Lambe, the popular son of Viscount Melbourne, who gained the contest; but only lived to enjoy it for the short space of two years; when Mr. Baker was again elected (in 1804). In principle, he was a Whig; but when the situation of the country appeared critical, and danger was dreaded both from abroad and at home, he withdrew from that party, and strengthened as much as was in his power the arm of tbe Executive Government. This conduct was not unfrequently censured, but we believe that Mr. Baker never reaped any personal advantage from the part he then took.
• In consequence of his descent from the Tonsons (his mother was a Tonson), he became possessed of the celebrated collection of Portraits, by Sir Godfrey Kneller, of the S'atesmen known by the name of the Kit Cat Club. Each of these eminent Statesmen presented his portrait to tbe Secretary of the Club, the well-known Jacob Tonson, who deposited the Portraits at bis house at Water Oakley, Barn Elms, Surrey. (See Memoirs of tbe Kit Cat Club, in our vol. xei. ii. 434.)
• In 1761 Mr. Baker purchased the rectory and advowson (The right in English ecclesiastical law of presentation to a vacant benefice) of the parish of Stevenage, and in 1788 the Manor of Great Munden, of George Jennings, esq.
• On the death of his younger brother Richard, in 1800, he succeeded to the estate of The Park, Hertingfordbury; and in 1802 purchased of Rich. J. Brassey, esq. the Manor of Ruxford, all co. Herts.

(Excerpt from "A History of the County of Hertford: volume 3" Author, William Page (editor) Year published 1912:)

• ".....whose heirs sold Hertingfordbury Park to Spencer Cowper before 1727. (fn. 61) The latter died in 1727 (fn. 62) and was succeeded by
• his son William, and
• his grandson of the same name in 1740. (fn. 63)
• The latter died in 1769, and his widow Maria Frances Cecilia joined with William son of William Cowper in conveying the park to Richard Baker in 1773.
• Richard Baker, who died in 1780, bequeathed it to his brother
• William Baker of Bayfordbury.' The latter gave it to
• his younger brother Samuel, who lived there until his death in 1804, and
• later it was occupied by William's eldest son William, who died in 1863.
• His son was the heir of William Baker of Bayfordbury, and also held the manor of Roxford, with which Hertingfordbury Park subsequently descended.
• The old house at Hertingfordbury Park was pulled down in 1816, with the exception of part of the kitchens and cellars, which were left until the present house was built by Mr. R. W. Partridge, who resides there.

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Son of Sir William Baker -

Birth: 3 OCT 1742 in City of London, London Death: 20 JAN 1824 in Bayfordbury, Hertfordshire

Profession: Magistrate

• His two wives were half-sisters:
• 1) He married first, the daughter of Thomas. Penn, Esq. of Braywick, co. Berks, by Lady Juliana Fermor, daughter of Thomas, 1st Earl of Pomfret, and by her had one child.
• 2) His second wife was Sophia Conyers, the daughter of John Conyers, esq. of Copthall, Essex (who died Sept. 7, 1775) by Lady Henrietta Fermor (who died Nov. 25, 1793), elder sister to the above Lady Juliana Fermor.
• By Sophia Conyers, he had fifteen children [Burke Landed Gentry].

[Source: The Gentleman's Magazine, Volume 94, Part 1; Volume 135]

Obituary for WILLIAM BAKER, Esq.

• Jan. 20. At his seat, Bayfordbury, co. Hertford, in his 81st year, William Baker, Esq. who sat in five successive Parliaments as Knight of the Shire for the County of Hertford.
• He was the son of Sir Wm. Baker, Alderman of Bassishaw Ward, London (who was knighted November 3, 1760); by the eldest daughter of Jacob Tonson, the nephew of the celebrated Jacob Tonson, the Bookseller and friend of Dryden.
• His father having a considerable patrimonial estate in the county of Hertford, the subject of this memoir (this William Baker) was bred up as a country gentleman; and on marrying settled at Beyford Bury, (or Bayfordbury) the house of which was built, and surrounded by a park, by his father between 1758 and 1762.

In 1790, after having attempted but 'without success’, to be returned for the town of Hertford, he was elected for the county; as he was again in 1796.

At the general election in 1802 he was powerfully opposed by the Hon. P. Lambe, the popular son of Viscount Melbourne, who gained the contest; but only lived to enjoy it for the short space of two years; when Mr. Baker was again elected (in 1804).

In principle, he was a Whig; but when the situation of the country appeared critical, and danger was dreaded both from abroad and at home, he withdrew from that party, and strengthened as much as was in his power the arm of the Executive Government. This conduct was not unfrequently censured, but we believe that Mr. Baker never reaped any personal advantage from the part he then took.

In consequence of his descent from the Tonsons, he became possessed of the celebrated collection of Portraits, by Sir Godfrey Kneller, of the Statesmen known by the name of the Kit Cat Club. Each of these eminent Statesmen presented his portrait to the Secretary of the Club, the well-known Jacob Tonson, who deposited the Portraits at bis house at Water Oakley, Barn Elms, Surrey. (See Memoirs of tbe Kit Cat Club, in our vol. xei. ii. 434.)

In 1761 Mr. Baker purchased the rectory and advowson (The right in English ecclesiastical law of presentation to a vacant benefice) of the parish of Stevenage, and in 1788 the Manor of Great Munden, of George Jennings, Esq.

On the death of his younger brother Richard, in 1800, he succeeded to

1. the estate of The Park, Hertingfordbury; and
2. in 1802 purchased (of Richard J. Brassey, Esq.) the Manor of Ruxford, all in Hertfordshire (County), England.