Ann BAXTER was 24 years old and unmarried when she gave birth to a boy she named Frank. He is Francis in Filey Genealogy & Connections and you will have to go to Kath’s database to see his forebears. His grandparents, Richard BAXTER and Jane CAMMISH, are on the FamilySearch Tree with some of their children but they haven’t been brought together yet. Frank was six in 1861 and if he is with his mother at the Census he is hiding as “Thomas”, Richard’s grandson. (Jane had died before Frank was born.)
Mother and son form a household in Chapel Yard in 1871. “Francis” is 16 and working as a fisherman. Eight years later he drowned from the coble Mary Ann about 25 nautical miles south of Filey. His body was recovered but ten days passed before he was buried in St Oswald’s churchyard. While he slept his mother lived out her long life, seemingly alone. Her death registration in 1912 gives her age as 81, the inscription on her headstone has 82.
In affectionate remembrance of FRANK, the beloved son of ANN BAXTER of Filey who was drowned from the Coble Mary-Jane off Atwick on the 27th of Nov. 1879, aged 25 years, and was interred here Dec. 7th 1879.
Also of the above ANN BAXTER who died February 15th 1912, aged 82 years.
He’s gone, the one I loved so dear
To his eternal rest
He’s gone to Heaven I hope and trust
To be forever blest
His morning sun went down at noon
Death cut him off just in his bloom
Prepare for death while you have time
For God called me just in my prime
Farewell mother and friends so dear
We now must part, I can’t stay here
For none can stay when God does call
So farewell mother, farewell all.
