Clifton Rugby Football Club History
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Maurice Mills Baker
 
 
 

He was born on the 8th March 1867 in Bristol. He was the second son of William Baker. He was educated at St. Dunstans College, London, Rugby School from 1881 to 1886 and Oriel College, Oxford where he received his degree on the 15th June 1894.

His father was a rags to riches story. William Mills Baker, born in Bridgwater abt 1831. In the 1840s the brothers William Mills Baker and Thomas Baker came to Bristol to seek their fortune. Their father was a farmer from near Bridgwater who had been forced into bankruptcy. They joined the firm of Culverwell Son & Co. who were wholesale and retail drapers operating from premises in Wine Street and Bridge Street. The 1851 census labels him as a servant, working as a Linen Drapers Assistant and living at 5 Castle Street within the precincts of Bristol Castle, with 17 other people. By 1860 the two brothers had become partners and, a few years later, the name changed to Ramsdale, Baker & Baker.

Above Castle Street circa 1920s 5 Castle Street on the left.

His parents married in 1856 in Newent, Gloucestershire, south of Dymock.

His mother Hannah was the eldest daughter of John Hiatt and Myrtila Hiatt of Mirables Farm, Dymock. John Hiatt farmed 137 acres and had 3 laborers working for him. Hannah was born in Dymock abt 1833. Dymock became famous just before the Great War when the poets Robert Frost, Rupert Brook and Edward Thomas lived there.

In 1858 William Mills Baker moved to 4 Cotham Place, Redland, Bristol. They are listed in the 1861 census, 2 years before the birth of Hiatt. They were

Name Relation Age Occupation Where born
William M. Baker Head 30 Linen Draper Bridgwater, Somerset
Hannah Baker Wife 28 Dymock, Glos
Edith J. Baker Dau 3 Dymock, Glos.
Florence M. Baker Dau 2 Bristol
Elizabeth J. Baker Sister 26 Draper's Assistant Bridgwater, Somerset
Jane Sanders Nurse 48 Nurse Baunton, Somerset
Jane M. Owen Nurse 21 Tailoress Bristol
Ellen H. Williams Serv 17 Domestic Servant Bampton, Devon
Caroline Pritchard Serv 18 Domestic Servant Kenyworth, Glos.

Above left: 4 Cotham Place, Redland, Bristol. At the top of Hampton Road. Above right: a map of 4 Cotham Place (1901) shown pink.

In 1863 they moved the short distance to Tenby House, 1 Victoria Road, Cotham and left in 1865

Above left: Tenby House, 1 Victoria Road, Cotham. Above right: map (1901) of Victoria Road with Tenby House shaded pink. Also living at Tenby House in 1863 was Henry Newton. Victoria Road is now known as Victoria Walk. It lies between Cotham Brow and Freemantle Square. As the majority of people were born at home in those days it likely that Hiatt Baker was born at Tenby House.

They moved to Woodland House in 1866 where they stayed till 1870.

awaiting photo

Above Woodland House, Rockleaze.

They moved to Moorlands in 1871

In 1871 census the Baker family were living at Moorlands House, Stoke Bishop, Bristol. They were

Name Relation Age Occupation Where born
William M. Baker Head 40 Manchester Warehouseman & Draper Bridgwater, Somerset
Hannah Baker Wife 38 Dymock, Glos.
Florence M. Baker Dau 12 Scholar Westbury-on-Trym, Glos.
Hiatt Cowles Baker Son 7 Scholar Bristol
Maurice M. Baker Son 4 Scholar Stoke Bishop
Gertrude M. Baker Dau 1 Stoke Bishop
Elizabeth A. Sprange Governess 30 Governess London
Ann Prewett Serv 33 Needlewoman, Domestic Servant Henbury, Glos.
Harriett M. Caper Serv 29 Nurse, Domestic Servant Bitton, Glos
Matilda Butcher Serv 31 Cook, Domestic Servant North Bradley, Wiltshire
Louise Wilson Serv 29 Housemaid, Domestic Servant Road, Somerset
Mary W. Hiatt Niece 7 Scholar Bisbary, Herefordshire

William Baker is listed as a Manchester Warehouseman which is another term for Cotton warehouseman - Manchester being the centre of the cotton industry at the time, cotton cloth was called "Manchester" cloth

awaiting photo

Above Moorlands House, Stoke Bishop, Bristol.

In 1872 Baker, Baker & Co. Warehousemen and Drapers were based at Wine Street, Maryport Street and the Cheese Market.

In the 1881 census Maurice Mills Baker is listed as a boarder at Hillbrow Preparatory School in Rugby.

He joined Clifton RFC in 1886-87.

Back Row (L-R): ?, ?, ?, Reginald Octavius Everill, ?, Edward Albert Leonard, ?, ?, ?. Middle Row: ?, Henry Brogden Budgett, Hiatt Cowles Baker (Captain), Maurice Mills Baker. Front Row: ?, ?.

Above Clifton XV of 1887-88 with Clifton, Gloucestershire Captain and England International Hiatt Cowles Baker. His brother Maurice is seated extreme right.

Maurice played for Clifton in the first two matches against Bristol in 1889.

During the 1891 census the Bakers were living at The Holmes in Stoke Bishop, Bristol. They were

Name Relation Age Occupation Where born
Hannah Baker Head 58 Living on her own means Dymock, Glos.
Edith M. Baker Dau 33 Living on her own means Dymock, Glos.
Florence M. Baker Dau 32 Living on her own means Westbury-on-Trym, Glos.
Hiatt Cowles Baker Son 27 Warehouseman Westbury-on-Trym, Glos.
Maurice M. Baker Son 24 Under Graduate Stoke Bishop
Gertrude M. Baker Dau 21 Living on her own means Stoke Bishop, Glos.
Lionel G. Baker Son 10 Scholar Stoke Bishop, Glos.
Alice M. Ritson Visitor 29 Teacher School Bridgwater, Somerset
Sarah Fowler Servant 26 Housemaid Charfield, Glos.
Mary Thomas Servant 39 Cook Tongwynlais, Glamorgan
Emma J. Higham Servant 45 Nurse Plymouth, Devon
Mary A. Child Servant 30 Parlourmaid Felton, Somerset
Kate S. Parry Servant 19 Kitchen maid Cloliford, Glos.

An unknown ceremony with Maurice Mills Baker on the left and Hiatt Cowles Baker on the right. circa 1900.

He married Edith Maud Blink in 1901 in Wellingborough. She was the daughter of Rev. H. S. Blink of Owmby Rectory, 9 miles north of Lincoln.They separated in 1908 and he moved to St. Albans.

He was a Barrister.

Above Maurice Mills Baker in October 1913 at Clacton-on-Sea.

He died on the 22nd November 1936, in Southbourne, Hampshire.