Trafford

Born during the September quarter 1878 in the Hardingstone R.D. - ref:
3b/45, the son of Samuel & Hannah Abigail Baxter (nee Arnold).

1881 Census - Green End, Pertenhall, Bedfordshire.    Grandson - aged: 2 -
born: Northampton.     Head of household - George Baxter - Married - aged:
55 - occ: Agricultural Labourer - born: Pertenhall, Bedfordshire.   Also -
Sarah Baxter - Wife - aged: 59 - born: Stanwick, Northamptonshire    
His father - Samuel Baxter was residing at 12 Park St, Dallington,
Northampton.   Listed as - Married - aged: 28 - occ: Signalman on L & NW
Railway - born: Pertenhall, Bedfordshire.   I could find no trace of his
mother - Hannah, but this would be at the time of the birth of her second
son - Thomas, so perhaps she was in hospital on Census night?

Another search reveals an "ELIZABETH BAXTER" who was a patient at the
Northampton General Infirmary, Billing Road, Northampton Priory of St
Andrew.   Elizabeth was a patient - Married - aged: 32 - born: Denford,
Northamptonshire.    Apart from a slight age difference, she seems to fit,
but WHY Elizabeth and not Hannah???   Perhaps it was one of the MANY Census
Enumerator errors - easy to make errors when, perhaps tired and
transcribing hundreds of names across.

However, the other mystery, is that the ONLY Samuel Baxter marriage I have
found that fits, was to an Elizabeth Arnold - March quarter 1874 in the
Thrapston R.D.

1891 Census - Moss Lane, Woolston With Martinscroft, Martinscroft,
Warrington.   Son - aged: 12 - born: Milton, Northampton.    Head of
household - Samuel Baxter - Married - aged: 38 - occ: Market Gardener -
born: Pertenhall, Bedfordshire.    Also - Hannah Baxter - Wife - aged: 38 -
born: Northampton.   Plus 1 younger brother - Thomas.

1901 Census - 172 Liverpool Road, Irlam.     Son - Unmarried - aged: 23 -
occ: Green Grocer - born: Milton, Northamptonshire.    Head of household -
Samuel Baxter - Married - aged: 49 - occ: Greengrocer - born: Northampton. 
Also - Hannah Baxter - Wife - aged: 49 - born: Northampton.    Plus 1
younger brother - Thomas and 1 domestic servant.

Married - Annie Warden during the December quarter 1902 in the Barton upon
Irwell R.D. - ref: 8c/1103.

Commemorated on the private family gravestone in St. Michael's Churchyard,
Flixton.

His father Samuel died 23/10/1907 aged 54 years and his mother Hannah died
08/02/1909.

1911 Census - 11 Carrington Road, Flixton.    Head - Married - aged: 33 -
occ: Green Grocer (own account) - born: Milton, Northampton.    Plus his
chldren:- George Ernest (7) - Thomas Warden (5) - Lilian Eveline Elizabeth
(4) - Lawrence Franville (2) and 1 visitor.   No trace of his wife, Annie
?

I am most grateful to Neil Drum & Pete Thomas for allowing me to use
verbatim the following extract from their superb 623 page book "A District
at War - Irlam & Cadishead's Part in the Great War", an incredibly detailed
and comprehensive book that is not only a credit to them, but a magnificent
memorial to the WW1 men of that district.

Served with the 2nd/7th Battalion, The Manchester Regiment, 199th Brigade,
66th (East Lancashire) Division.

He was born in 1878 at Milton, Northamptonshire, the son of Samuel and
Hannah Abigail Baxter (both pre-deceased him).   He was employed at the CWS
Soap Works and had resided in Irlam before moving to 11 Carrington Road,
Flixton.   He lived with his four children: George Ernest (born Irlam in
1904), Thomas Warden (born Flixton 1906), Lillian Eveline Elizabeth (born
Flixton 1907) and Lawrence Franville (born Flixton 1909).   He enlisted at
Manchester into the Manchester Regiment as Private 7408.   He was
subsequently re-numbered Private 303241. 

George was killed in action on Thursday, 21st March 1918. He is
commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial, Somme, France.   He is not listed on
the Irlam and Cadishead War Memorial but he is on other local memorials:
the Irlam Soap Works panel of the CWS Memorial at Balloon Street,
Manchester, Flixton War Memorial and a private family gravestone in St
Michael?s Church, Flixton and the St Paul's Wesleyan Methodist Church
(Irlam) Roll of Honour.   Medal Entitlement: Pair.