Key Facts

Snapshot:	lived in 14th-century England
Parents:	unknown, but see note below
Born:	unknown
Died:	by 13 October 1381 probably Cranbrook, Kent England
Buried:	unknown

Note: I'd like to extend special thanks to researcher Jared Nathan for sharing his work pertaining to 525394William, especially for providing a translation of his son-in-law's will.

Problem: Unresolved Who are 525394William's parents? In Cranbrook, Kent in the year 1324, 1050784Henry Bettenham witnessed a deed along with two other men named Henry le Baker and his brother Thomas Baker.1 1050784Henry was also co-witness with "Henry the baker ('Pistor') of Cranbrook" in a 1307 deed.2 1050784Henry Bettenham's grandson 262696Stephen Bettenham later married 525394William Baker's daughter 262697Helewys Baker.3 Considering the names, location, timing, and other contexts of the 1307 and 1324 records, it seems quite likely that Henry le Baker or his brother Thomas was 525394William's father or some other very close relative. So far, though, I have not found firm evidence to prove so.

525394William Baker is mentioned in the will of his son-in-law 262696Stephen Bettenham. (Specifically, the will mentions Helewys primam uxorem meam, i.e. "Helewys my first wife," and later mentions Willelmi Bakere patris ipsius Helewys, "William Baker father of the same Helewys.")3

From 262696Stephen's will, we can also infer that 525394William's wife was 525395Denise ___. (The will mentions Dionisie quondam uxoris predicti Willelmi Bakere, i.e. "Denise the former wife of the aforesaid William Baker.")3

262696Stephen had died by 13 October 1381, as proven by a land record that mentions his widow 525395Denise ___. The record introduces her as the former wife of 525394William Baker of Cranbrook,4,5 so he likely died there.

Sources Cited:

1: Kent History and Library Centre archive reference U3848/T1 no 59 (f.12v), a deed dated 6 April 17 Edward II from Matilda (wife of John Orable) to the abbot and convent of Battle Abbey.

2: Kent History and Library Centre archive reference U3848/T1 no 88 (f.19v), a lease record dated Sunday the eve of the Circumcision 1 Edward II [31 December 1307] from Brother John de Watlynton (sacrist of Battle Abbey) to Ralph le Deghere of Cranbrook.

3: E. F. Jacob, ed., and H. C. Johnson, The Register of Henry Chichele, Archbishop of Canterbury: 1414-1443, Volume II (University Press, Oxford, 1937), pages 33-36. This a transcription of the will of Stephen Bettenham, which is in Latin. I privately obtained an English translation. I have been unable to find the original record that Jacob and Johnson transcribed. The will includes the phrase ad sepeliendum in porticu ecclesie de Cranebrok’ iuxta Helewys primam uxorem meam ("to be buried in the porch of the church of Cranebrok next to Helewise, my first wife").

4: Kent History and Library Centre archive reference P178/28/11 (Hawkhurst Parish Records / Final Miscellaneous), a land record dated from William de Herdynden' of Hawkhurst to Denis Herthre, late wife of William Bakere of Cranbrook.

5: C. Eveleigh Woodruff, An Inventory of the Parish Registers and Other Records in the Diocese of Canterbury with an Introduction and Appendix (Gibbs & Sons, Canterbury, 1922), page 221. The source of the original record is described a few lines up on the same page.