Francis Midelton Baker, dying in his mother's arms

An inked inscription verso in a fine period hand reads: 'Francis Midelton Baker / Born May 13th 1874 / Died April 22nd 1876 / Taken the day before he died.'

According to his death certificate, the cause of death was 'Tabes mesenterica [a wasting of the body during a chronic illness] for 3 months, and exhaustion for 7 days.' His father was Frederick Baker, a chemist and druggist on Broad Street in Ottery St Mary in Devon. His mother, seen in the photograph, was Ellen Baker, formerly Babb. The 1881 census reveals that Francis had two older siblings, and that his parents had another child after he died.

Photographed by W.C. Mitchell of High Street, Honiton, Devon.