Harriet Whitridge Baker

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Harriet Whitridge Baker was born circa 1835 at Tananarive, Madagascar.¹ She was the daughter of Reverend Edward Knight Baker and Ruth Wayte.¹

She was probably sent to Mauritius in advance of her parents, who arrived in 1836.²

Ruth returned briefly to England on the John Bagshaw, arriving 31 July 1841 where "she entered the two oldest children in the missionary school at Walthamstow and the returned with the youngest to Mauritius".³ At about the age of 10, Harriet travelled with her 29 year old cousin Mary Leonard and her younger sister Ellen from London on 25 July 1845 on the Templar.^4,5 Harriet arrived at Port Adelaide, South Australia, on 24 November 1845.⁴



She may have attended the wedding of her sister in the marriage of John Edward Tapley and Ellen Masters Baker They were married at her parent's residence in a Congregationalist ceremony conducted by Ellen's father at Hillside House on Friday, 25 December 1857 at Morphett Vale, South Australia. John and Ellen went on to have two children together.^6,7,8

She married Reverend Charles Manthorpe, a English Congregational minister, son of James Symonds Manthorpe and Sarah Love, in a Congregational ceremony performed by Reverend Thomas Quinton Stow at her father's house on Thursday, 20 October 1859 at Morphett Vale, South Australia.. Others who may have attended the wedding include Ruth Wayte as mother of the bride, Reverend Edward Knight Baker as father of the bride, Sarah Love as mother of the groom and James Symonds Manthorpe as father of the groom. Brothers and sisters who may have attended include Ellen Masters Baker and Emma Frances Baker. Charles and Harriet went on to have as many as 13 children together.^9,110

Not too long after the marriage, scandal overtook the family. Ellen's husband had travelled to India and began send her letters and small sums of money, but this petered out. When Ellen travelled to India to investigate, she discovered John had changed his name and was living with another woman.¹¹

When her husband resigned from ministering to Freeman Street Congregational Church, in, in May 1862 she was presented with a complete work box and writing desk.¹² She presumably lived with her spouse Charles at Franklin Street, in Adelaide, South Australia, in May 1862.¹³

She almost certainly attended the wedding of her sister in the marriage of Charles Mosse Sprigg and Ellen Masters Baker in a Congregational ceremony conducted by her sister's husband Reverend Charles Manthorpe at Glenelg Congregational Church on Wednesday, 2 September 1874 at the Adelaide suburb of Glenelg. Charles and Ellen went on to have just one known child together.^14,11

Her father died 20 January 1885 at the age of 80.

Her mother died 9 June 1885. Her mother's death was less than 6 months after the death of her father.

Harriet died on 24 December 1920 at the Adelaide suburb of Glenelg.¹