27 August – A day of discoveries

Today is a big day for us. Up to now, we have been dealing with inanimate objects in England, the places where my relatives lived. Today we are off to meet my 4th cousin Robin Wood. Robin and his daughter Sandra have done extensive research into the Baker family tree and we are eager to compare notes and see what further light he can shed on my link to the larger Baker family through my grandfather Charles Tilden Baker (on my mother’s side) and great-grandfather Mathias. We spend the morning doing a few odd chores, anxious to get to our mid-day rendezvous. We make our way to Tanyard Lane in Chelwood Gate and locate Robin’s house. A smiling Robin greets me at the door and welcomes us into his home. We meet his wife Jean, their daughter Sandra, her husband Shaun, and their children Ryan and Kiri. Jean explains that Robin and Sandra are the driving force behind the Baker family tree activity. I tell her that Johanne is now the expert on my family including the Baker side. Before you know it Johanne, Robin and Sandra have their documents in hand and are discussing our roots. They pause for a quick photo, some delicious cupcakes served by Kiri, a cup of tea and then they dive back into the details. Robin mentions Shockbanks and Yew Tree House, two Baker ancestry residences that have evaded Johanne’s attempt to identify their location in Chelwood Gate. Johanne seizes the bait and the artful fisherman Robin toys with his catch. I sense he has something that he is not yet prepared to reveal. Robin shows us the Baker Family Tree he and Sandra created. What an amazing and detailed book they’ve created! More discussion about the Baker family and Sandra tries to get her dad to share his information, but Robin isn’t quite ready. We chat some more and then Jean serves up a delicious lunch, during which the queries into the Baker family past continue. Afterwards Robin offers to take us on a short walk. Just before we go, Rodney Mitchell and his wife Shirley arrive at the Wood’s residence. Now that Robin has us where he wants us, he is too keen to stop and socialise with his latest guests. We excuse ourselves and follow Robin out the back of their house on to Stone Quarry Road. From there it is just a short walk to a large white house with a yellow door and matching shutters and a sign identifying it as Herons Brook. Robin, pleased as punch, announces it as YEW TREE HOUSE! OMG. This was my great grandfather Mathias Baker’s house. We must have walked past this house a dozen times last year. This is incredible. After this little revelation, Robin takes us a short distance further to another large white house with a blue door and shutters called the Woodlands. Robin provides one more revelation when he tells us this is where Shocksbank was located, home to Joe Grinsted and my great aunt Nora. Johanne had an ordinance map of Shocksbank but neither my mother nor my Uncle Mike knew anything about it. Johanne was sure it was owned by my great-grandfather and Whyteleaf (the house my mother was born in) was on its property. Wait until I tell my Uncle Mike that Shocksbank was where the Grinsted’s butcher shop was located.
Another place we walked past last year.
We return to Yew Tree House and Robin speaks with the owner Paul who disappears into the house. I take more photos of the beautiful property.


Paul returns with an armful of documents. He sorts through them and discovers the various legal documents relating to the purchase of the property by Mathias Baker (my great-grandfather), the subsequent transfer to his son Elias, my great uncle. He will send us copies of some of the documents. We return to the house and join Rodney and Shirley who have brought a bundle of documents and photos. The discussions begin anew. Included are some wonderful photos of various members of the family. This is like finding gold. One very interesting document is the list of pupils enrolling in Danehill School. It includes one Derek A. Pinker. In the adjacent column reserved for the name of the student’s mother or father is written Dorothy Ford. This name is lined out and just above is written Mrs. Pinker. Only certain family members know the reason for the editing of the names and I am one of them. We had a long puzzling discussion on what Rodney’s and mine relationship was in the Baker family. I later learn through MyHeritage.com that Rodney is my 2nd cousin through Gertie Pinker, his Grandmother and my great aunt. Jean serves us cream tea and we carry on. As the sun’s light begins to wane, we realise it is past 6:00pm. We have been going for over 6 hours.

We say goodbye to all and thank our gracious hosts Jean & Robin. Before we leave, Robin has one more surprise for us. He presents us with the Family Tree publication and other pamphlets and some photos relating to the Baker family. Thank you Robin for this unexpected but much treasured gift. We go outside and Johanne and Robin carry on their discussion. I have to intervene, otherwise she will never let go. It has been a tremendous day and our minds are swimming with details.
Tomorrow we make our second attempt to go to the National Archives in Kew.
P.S. Robin, please feel free to comment and correct any errors I may have made in the above.