Charles Baker (1838 - 1883)

Born 25 Sep 1838 in Raoul Island, Kermadec Islands, New Zealand

Ancestors

Husband of Susan (Holland) Harrison — married 1 Sep 1868 (to 6 Feb 1883) in Auckland, New Zealand

Descendants

Died 6 Feb 1883 at age 44 in Accidentally drowned on the Opotiki River Bar, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand

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Biography

Charles was born in 1838 [1839] on Raoul Island. He was the son of Daniel Baker and Noa Unknown.

Charles was the eldest child of 5 children born on this isolated Island, his siblings who were born there were George, Mary, Sarah and Henry. His parents caught fish, birds, gathered mutton birds, goats and grew a variety of vegetables and oranges to trade with the passing whaling ships. They were also able to take on fresh water. His father Daniel was a builder by trade so was able to construct a house for his family. Charles would have learned a lot of practical skills from his parents.

When he was nearly 10 years old the family decided to shift to New Zealand. The increasing number of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions made the shift an easy decision. They caught a passing American whaler [1845] that took them to Mangonui in the Bay of Islands NZ. His youngest brother William was born not long after they returned.

Charles's parents Daniel and Noa bought 2 lots of land in Mangonui and again his father constructed the home for his family. Charles's mother Noa was reportedly the first known Samoan person to settle and own property in New Zealand.

At about the age of 15 years he joined an American Whaler and went to Sea. For a short time he left the sea and went to try his luck in the Australian Goldfields. He went back to sea again and joined a small barque for a trip to Valparaiso. On his return he joined S.S. Southern Cross then trading between Melbourne and Hobarton [Hobart, Tasmania]. He stayed with the ship for several years and then returned to New Zealand and spent the rest of his life on coastal vessels. He became mate of the schooner Tawera under Captain Kennedy, running mainly between Auckland and Poverty Bay. He got his first command when he was appointed master of the schooner Donald McLean, running between Auckland and Hokitika.

Ref. <Otago Witness Saturday 16 March 1867 (From the Hawkes' Bay Times, 27th Feb.) > in reference of Wreck of the Screw Steamer Star of the Evening, Captain A.G.. Turner and rescue by Captain Charles Baker. Over the years Charles was involved in a number of sea rescues. He was very well thought of in the Mariner circles.

Charles married [Holland-4235|Susan Holland] on the 1st September 1868 at the Registrars Office Auckland. The Minster was John M. Mayland Reg. Witnesses A. Baird Clerk Auckland , Elizabeth F Powley [X her mark] wife of a Mariner in Auckland. They settled in Opotiki about 1869. His house was in Ford Street and there was also a small farm, probably no more than a few acres. He was well known for taking locals and visitors by ship to visit White Island. One such trip is recorded in detail in Historical Review Vol. 33 No 2 1985

OUR OPOTIKI LETTER [From our correspondent] Opotiki, May 15 1876 A VISIT TO WHITE ISLAND He was appointed Captain of the steamer S.S.STAFFA by the Northern Steam Ship Coy from 1876 and until his death 1883. ^[1]

In the Bay of Plenty Times 30 November 1878 it was reported that the Staffa played a vital role in the rescue of the crew and passengers of the SS Taranaki when it was wrecked at Karewa Island out from Tauranga:

TOTAL WRECK OF THE S.S. TARANAKI.

ALL HANDS SAVED. Great credit is due to CAPTAIN BAKER, of the Staffa, who carried out a very difficult job in a most exceptionable manner.

He was Captain of the SS Staffa working out of Opotiki along the East Coast of the North Island. He tragically drowned when he was out in a dinghy "sounding the bar". The boat capsized while negotiating the bar on 6 February 1883; a trip that he had made countless times previously with little incident. His body was recovered. Charles was 44 years of age.

It was reported in the New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6636, 23 February 1883, Page 6:

OPOTIKI; THE LATE CAPTAIN BAKER

The one and all-absorbing theme of interest in Opotiki at present is the sad and untimely death of Captain Charles Baker, of all men in his public capacity the most deeply to be regretted, as master of various sailing vessels extending over a period of twelve years, and latterly as master of our steam trader the s.s. Staffa. Charley Baker has endeared himself to us as the kindest-hearted and most painstaking captain both as regards the comfort of his passengers and the management and navigation of his vessels. What we, the Opotiki settlers, owe to Captain Baker we are only now fully realising. His unvarying kindness and unremitting attention to the comfort of our wives and little ones, when circumstances necessitated their being committed to his care during the voyage to Auckland or Tauranga, are beyond all praise; to helpless women and little children he was the very essence of kindness and comfort. As a seaman he was almost without his equal. He ran the Staffa at times and under circumstances when few other men living would have done so; daylight or dark, Whakatane's ugly rocks, or Opotiki's treacherous sandbanks, he brought his ship in and out safely in almost all weathers.

The committee of Opotiki Settlers proposed to make the payment of 1 Pound per week to Charles' widow and family to help out at this distressing time. ^[2]

Occupation: Master Mariner

Last Address: Ford Street, Opotiki

Burial

Opotiki Cemetery, Opotiki, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand. ^[3]

Inscription:

Sacred to the Memory of

Captain Charles Baker

drowned on Opotiki Bar

6th Feb 1883

while in discharge of his duty.

aged 44 years.

Sources

1. ↑ Bay of Plenty Times, Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XII, Issue 1494, 13 February 1883
2. ↑ Bay of Plenty Times, Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XII, Issue 1496, 17 February 1883
3. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/179066364/charles-baker: accessed 16 June 2023), memorial page for Captain Charles Baker (25 Sep 1838–6 Feb 1883), Find a Grave Memorial ID 179066364, citing Ōpōtiki Lawn Cemetery, Ōpōtiki, Ōpōtiki District, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand; Maintained by Clancy (contributor 48290237).

• https://sites.google.com/site/pre1839settlersinnz/home/notes/baker-raoul-island-
• http://www.seafriends.org.nz/issues/res/kermadec/kermhist.htm
• http://www.raoulandcampbell.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=50:newsletter-no-6-december-1969&catid=7&Itemid=107
• http://www.convictrecords.com.au/convicts/baker/daniel/105306
• https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz
  • Marriage Registration: 1868/5534 / Susan Holland & Charles Baker
  • Death Registration: 1883/1116 / Baker, Charles / 44Y
• http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~sooty/1878wreckofsstaranaki.html
• http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=NZH18830223.2.37
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/179066364/charles-baker), memorial page for CPT Charles Baker (25 Sep 1838–6 Feb 1883), Find a Grave Memorial no. 179066364, citing Opotiki Public Cemetery, Opotiki, Opotiki District, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand ; Maintained by Clancy (contributor 48290237)