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William Tobias Baker was born in Bath, Somerset on 19th Feb. 1834. He married his first wife Sarah Elizabeth Taylor of Walcot, Bath at St. Mark's, Widcombe on 1st June 1856. Sarah unfortunately died in the spring of 1867 aged 33. William married his second wife Frances Matilda Barton, daughter of Mr. John Barton (an organist) and Annamariah, of Lacock, Wilts. at Walcot Church, Bath, on 23rd Nov. 1867. They ran the Ship Inn, Park-Row, Bristol from 21st June 1870 and around 1871-74 William was a partner in the Bristol Bottling Company. The lease of the Great Western Inn and Posting Hotel became available at the end of March 1875 and was advertised in several local papers.
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Western Daily Press - Thursday 25 March 1875
Spinke's directory of 1877 shows William installed at the Great Western Hotel which he ran with his wife, until he died on 17th Oct. 1883 at the hotel, leaving his estate to his widow Frances.
Frances continued running the Great Western Hotel after she married John Edward Harcombe, a Bath hairdresser, in Chippenham in 1887. She retired in 1903 when she surrendered the license on Thurs. 3rd September to Mr. Northover of Kington Langley. She died on 22nd Jan. 1919 at 50 Newbridge Road, Bath. The funeral was held at St. John's, Lower Weston and she was interred at Lockswood Cemetery.
| 1 Gallon Stone Jar |   |
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M. BAKER / G. W. Hotel / CHIPPENHAM
Potters Mark: Powell, Bristol. |