William Baxter, His Wife Emma Baxter, and Their Son Thomas Baxter Who Was Found Drowned at Bisham Church

Monument to William Baxter, Emma Baxter and Thomas Baxter, St James the Less Churchyard, Stubbings, Berkshire.

"Scared to the memory of William Baxter who died April 2nd 1899 aged 61 - Also of - Emma, his wife who died April 3rd 1911 Aged 60 years - For so he giveth his beloved sleep - Also Tom Baxter son of the above who died Oct 12th 1912 aged 38 years - Gone but not forgotten."

William Baxter was born in Coleshill, Berkshire on 21st November 1837 to Thomas Baxter, a general labourer, and his wife Sophia Neat.

He first appears on the 1841 Census, aged 3, living with his parents and elder siblings, Thomas, Eliza, and Sarah in Coleshill, Berkshire.

In 1851 William is still living with his parents and elder siblings in Coleshill. Berkshire.  His younger sister Ellen was born in 1850.

I am unable to locate William on the 1861, however on 23rd October 1871 William marries Emma Walker at the parish church of St Peter and St Paul in Coleshill, Berkshire.  William's younger sister Ellen was one of the witnesses to the marriage.

Emma Walker was born in Coleshill Berkshire on 14th June 1851 to John Walker, an agricultural labourer, and his wife Elizabeth Hill.  Emma first appears on the 1861 Census, aged 9 years living with her parents and younger brother John in Coleshill. Berkshire.

In 1871, aged 20 Emma is a domestic servant for the Archer family in Coleshill Berkshire.

In 1872 William and Emma had their first child, a son called Fred.  Fred was soon joined by his brother Thomas in 1875, sister Mary in 1878, brother Harry in 1879, and another brother William in 1880.  1881 find the family living in Wickersham Lodge Cottages in Farringdon, Berkshire.

By 1891 William and Emma have moved to Lee's Lane in Pinkney's Green, Berkshire, along with Thomas, Harry, and William.  Annie Baxter was born in 1884, followed by George in 1889.  Fred Baxter, aged 19 is a servant for Robert Mills, landlord of The Sawn in Streatley, Bradfield, Berkshire.  Mary Baxter, aged 14, is a servant for William Lowe, a baker and grocer of Burchett's Green, Berkshire.

William Baxter sadly passes away on 2nd April 1899.

1901 finds the recently widowed Emma, now working as a laundress and charwoman, living in Town Hall Cottages in Pinkney's Green, Berkshire with her sons Thomas, William, and George.  A few houses away Annie is a parlour maid for Edward Pemberton Pyott, a retired army colonel. Fred Baxter, now a gardener and his wife Emma (listed as Jane) can be found living in Streatley, Bradfield, Berkshire with their six-year-old daughter Annie.  Harry Baxter, now a coachman is boarding at the Claxton family's home at 20 Walgrave Road, Kensington London.

I am unable to find any trace of Mary Baxter after 1891.

In 1902 Thomas Baxter married Eleanor Mary Brett in Cambridgeshire.

In 1911 Emma Baxter, now aged 60 is living by herself in Town Hall Cottages.  Emma was to pass away on April 3rd 1911, the day after the 1911 Census was taken. On 5th April 1911 the Maidenhead Advertiser reported:

"Filled up Her Census Paper and Then Died. 

At Pinkneys Green, near Maidenhead. A widow named Emma Baxter, living alone in a cottage. filled up her census paper on Sunday night and then proceeded to her bedroom. She had partially undressed when she fell and was found  dead on the floor at 8 o'clock on the following morning. Dr. Montgomery was called and the police sent for. The doctor, who pronounced life to be extinct. expressed the opinion that death was due to a weak heart. P.C. Gibbons reported the sad occurrence to the Coroner, who did not deem it necessary to hold an inquest. When seen at 8 o'clock Sunday evening, the deceased appeared in her usual health. She was 60 years of age and lived at Pinkneys Green for many years."

Thomas Baxter and his wife Eleanor Mary can be found living at Bakers Cottages, Pinkney's Green Berkshire, along with their children William Thomas Baxter, aged six, and Frank Wellington Baxter, aged five.  Thomas's listed occupation is, working in clay.  Coopers Brick and Title Kilns are large clay pits in the Pinkney's Green area.  It's possible that Thomas was one of the clay cutters for the pit.

Thomas (William) was to disappear from his house on 23rd September 1912. On 2nd October 1912 the Maidenhead Advertiser reported:

MAN'S STRANGE DISSAPPEARENCE 

Sensation at Pinkneys Green. 

Considerable anxiety is felt by residents at Pinkneys Green owing to the sudden disappearance of a man who was employed at Messrs. Cooper & Co.'s Brick Works, as a brick-modeller, and who bad resided in the locality with his wife and family for over five years. The man referred to is Mr. Thos. Baxter, and the circumstances of his disappearance are mysterious. A representative of the Maidenhead Advertiser, while making enquiries to ascertain the facts of the case, called upon Mrs. Baxter, the missing man's wife. Naturally, she was greatly distressed and almost prostrate with grief. Still, she was hopeful that at least some news would soon be forthcoming of her husband. "He has been missing since the night of 23rd Sept.," she said," and I feel as if I cannot bear the suspense any longer. If only there were some news, even if it were the worst that could possibly be, I would be glad. The anxiety is simply awful. He left home early on Monday morning to go to work as usual at the Pinkneys Green brickworks and returned home shortly after half-past five o'clock in the evening. He had tea. He was not well, for he had a bad cold, which caused him to stay in bed on Sunday. He left home about 7 o'clock to pay his contribution to the 'Stag and Hounds' Slate Club. So far as I know, he left the public-house about twenty minutes past eight o'clock and no-one has seen him since. He did not return home. Usually, after tea, he changed his working clothing, but that night he did not do so. He went out just as he came from work." 

In further conversation Mrs. Baxter gave the following description of her husband: "He reached the age of 38 years last July. He is 5ft. 4½ns. in height, and has black hair, hazel coloured eyes, heavy dark moustache and a dark complexion. He was wearing a navy blue coat, dark brown trousers, a dark green muffler round his neck, a brown cap and lace-up boots." 

Search parties were formed by villagers and the missing man's work-companions. The whole of the Thicket was searched and the ponds in the vicinity. The efforts, however, have so far proved futile. The Rev. W. H. Skrine, vicar of Stubbings, was mainly responsible for the organisation of the search. We understand that P.S. Woolford, of Cookham, while on duty at Pinkneys Green, saw a man answering to the description of Baxter pass through some bushes. It was not known then, however, that Baxter had disappeared from home. The deepest sympathy is extended to Mrs. Baxter in her distress."

He was missing until 12th October when sadly his body was discovered. On 16th October 1912 the Maidenhead Advertiser reported:

"SOLVED! 

PINKNEYS GREEN MYSTERY 

Wm. [sic] Baxter Found Drowned. 

The Pinkneys Green mystery was cleared up on Saturday, when the body of William Baxter, who had been missing from his home since Sept. 23rd, was discovered floating in the river near Bisham Church, Marlow. The facts were reported in these columns at the time Baxter disappeared. It will be recalled that Baxter left home early on the Monday morning to go to work as usual at the Pinkneys Green brickworks, where he was employed as a brick-moulder. He returned home shortly after half-past five o'clock in the evening and had tea. He had been suffering with a bad cold, which caused him to stay in bed on Sunday. He left home about 7 o'clock to attend a meeting of the Stag and Hounds Slate Club, of which he was secretary. He left the public-house about twenty minutes past eight o'clock and was not seen afterwards. Usually, after tea he changed his working clothes, but that night he did not do so, and went out just as he came from work. Exhaustive enquiries were made by the police and search-parties were organised, but to no purpose. On Saturday last, however, a body was observed floating in the river by the Vicar of Bisham, who was boating, and it proved to be the body of the missing man.

THE INQUEST. 

The Inquest was held at the " Two Brewers " public-house, Marlow, yesterday (Tuesday), when important evidence was given. The Deputy-Coroner for South Bucks (Mr. G. H. Charsley) conducted the enquiry. 

The deceased's widow, Eleanor Mary Baxter, giving 13, Cromwell-road, Maidenhead as her address, was first called. Her statement was to the effect that she last saw her husband alive on Sept. 23rd. He was 38 years of age. He arrived home from his work at about 6 p.m. For several days he had been suffering from a bad cold apparently influenza—and complained of a bad headache. He had not left the house from Saturday dinner-time until Monday morning. Witness stated that since his mother died suddenly on April 2, [sic] 1911. deceased had never been quite the same, and seemed to worry about it a great deal. However, she had never known him threaten to do himself any injury. He was generally of a bright disposition, and witness did not know of anything else to worry him. Since his disappearance every enquiry had been made, but until Saturday without result. 

A tile-maker named William James Vincent, of Coopers' Pinkneys Green, said that he had known the deceased for many years and had worked with him for the past six months. On the Monday evening they left work together at about 5.30 and deceased said he had a bad cold and had stayed in bed on Sunday. Witness noticed that he was not as bright as usual. He had not heard him complain before, neither had he ever beard him threaten to do himself injury. As they were walking home deceased told him that he (deceased) was behind with his club and asked him to lend him 5s., and which he did. Deceased was generally of a bright disposition and witness had never known him the worse for drink. 

A jurior: [sic] Had he made any remarks previously to you about the club—No. 

Joseph Potter, Landlord of "The Stag and Hounds" public-house, Pinkneys Green, explained that the slate club was carried on in connection with his house and the deceased was secretary of it. At a meeting of the club on September 16th, it was found that there was a deficit of 30s. to £2. Deceased was responsible for this and was spoken to about it. He was given a week to put the amount right and he promised to do so. On Monday the 23rd September he attended a club meeting between 7 and 8 o'clock and paid in about 23s. He left shortly after 8 o'clock and that was the last Witness saw of him. He was well-known and well-liked by everybody.

A juror: Was he threatened with proceedings if did not repay the money?—No. If he had stayed and faced, I think everything would have been set right by the members. He would, of course, have had to resign the secretaryship. 

Geo. Brown, landlord of the "Golden Ball" public-house, Pinkneys Green, said that the deceased was also secretary of the slate club run in connection with his house. At a meeting of the club on March 12th, witness called his attention to the fact that the accounts were about 10s. short. Deceased stated that there were several members, including himself, who had not paid their subscriptions and he said he would see that it was put right. Nothing further was mentioned to him about it, and no further deficiencies were noticed until after he was reported missing from the district. The accounts were then examined, and it was found there was a shortage of about £3 10s. There was no threat made in respect of the deficiencies.  

The Vicar of Bisham, the Rev. W. Farrer, said that while boating on the river near Bisham Church at about 2.15, on Saturday afternoon, he saw the body of a man floating in an upright position. He obtained assistance and sent for the police, who rescued the body, which had apparently been in the water some considerable time. 

George Harding gave similar evidence. 

Inspector Field, of Marlow, spoke to recovering the body, which was taken to the "Two Brewers." In the pockets of the clothing was found a wooden pipe, a penny piece, a tobacco-box, and a hill-head belonging to J. Potter, of the ' Stag and Hounds.' On it was written the name of several persons connected with a club. 

This was the whole of the evidence, and without discussion the jury returned their verdict to the effect that the deceased was found dead in the river, but that there was no evidence to show how he came there. The sympathy of the Jury and the witnesses with the deceased's widow and relatives was expressed."

Connections: Joseph Potter, witness at inquest.