Finmere, Oxfordshire: Churchyard: Bakers Tomb

Churchyard: Bakers Tomb

We know little of the Baker family, of whom four are buried below a chest tomb to the south the chancel. The tomb features a remarkable lament to a son's neglect of his parents. William Baker erected the tomb more than 40 years after his father's death. The family was from Hammersmith and their connection with Finmere is not understood.

	In a vault under this Tomb are depofited y^e Remains of Isaac Baker And Susanne his wife He died Apr^l 1^st 1728 Aged 77 years She died Aug^st 28^th 1741 Aged 76 years
Bakers Tomb from the west	Inscription on west panel
	This Tomb was Erected to their Memory the 26^th of Sep^br 1770 by their Son Will. Baker not out of oftentation but by his Induftry and Honefty it being in his Power to Erect it having too often obferved that when Parents have to the utmoft of their Power tenderly brought up and educated their Children that when grown Old and in want they have quite neglected them though in their Power to affift them when this Infcription is read if it should foften the Hearts of Children towards Parents his principal defign in Erecting this Tomb is Answered
Bakers Tomb from the southwest	Inscription on south panels
	William Baker was Born Jan^ry y^e 1^st 1700 and died Jan^ry y^e 28^th 1780 M^rs Ann Swain Sister of M^r William Baker Died Sept^r y^e 16^th 1783 Aged 72 years
Bakers Tomb from the northwest	Inscriptions on north panels

The tomb was until recently maintained by a Charity established by his son in the year the tomb was erected.

From Blomfield

1780. Baker’s Charity

William Baker, son of Isaac (Ob. 1728, buried April 3,) and Susanna (Ob. 1744, buried Aug. 31,) Baker, of Finmere, ‘of the hamlet of Hammersmith in the parish of Fulham, Middlesex,’ by a codicil to his will, dated 17th October, 1770, directed his executors to place the sum of £100 in such manner as they should think proper in trust, and out of the interest thereof to pay 2/6 yearly to the clerk of the parish of Finmere to cut down and to keep the weeds clear from the tomb erected over his parents’ graves in Finmere Churchyard; the overplus he gave to Ann Jones, of Finmere, widow, for her life, and at her decease directed that such overplus should be distributed and given to any poor persons of the parish that should not receive alms. Mr. Baker was buried at Finmere on Feby. 6, 1760, and his sister, Anne Swain, on Sept. 21, 1783, both described as of Hammersmith.

An extract from this will, enclosed in a glazed frame, was hung on the west wall of the Church by Mr. Cleaver, Rector, in 1783. One requirement of this will was that the iron-work round the tomb was to be painted once in every six years.

Charity Commissioners’ Report, 1824:

It appears from a stock transfer ticket, dated 22nd August, 1782, that the executors of William Baker transferred on that day to the Rector and Churchwardens the sum of £100, 3 per cent. reduced annuities. It is supposed that this was done instead of paying the £100 money.
The stock now stands in the names of Robert Paxon and William Yates.
It is stated to be impossible to follow the directions of the testator in giving this money to poor people not receiving alms.

Listing

The tomb was listed Grade II by English Heritage in October 1988:

Chest tomb. Dated 1728. Ironstone. Inscription to Isaac Baker and his wife Susannah died 1728 and 1744 respectively. Corner balusters and chamfered ledger slab.