Charles Baptiste Baptiste (1851-1918)

Charles Tobia Baptiste , son of John Baptiste and Grace Burke Baptiste, was born in 1851 in Tobago.

Charles originally paid his passage to Scotland from Tobago as a Steam Ship's cook. This information was identified via a Steve Bannister who today resides in Australia - the great-grandson of Charles.

He married Jemima Young Baptiste when aged 28 on the 8th October 1879 in Govan. Charles and Jemima were living at 12 Whitefield Road (close to the Rangers football ground) in Govan at the time. The marriage certificate noted that Grace Burke Baptiste had already deceased and that Charles' father John's occupation was a Cooper. Charles' parent and family appear to have remained in Tobago although following the abolition of slavery, the country's economic situation was deteriorating rapidly and there was a mass exodus of once plentiful labour. The marriage ceremony was witnessed by a Mary Fish and Francis Young - presumably a relative of Jemima.

Charles was at one time, a restaurant owner in Glasgow although later he again appears to have reverted to the position of cook. We do have confirmation however that Charles was the proprieter of a cafe in Renfrew in 1898.
Charles and Jemima had at least 10 children - described separately in this site. In general, given the context of the time, Charles and Jemima appear to have been relatively affluent. Their primary family home as evidenced through the birth location of their children at 25 Bell Street in Renfrew remains today an attractive sandstone villa.

Charles died aged 67 on the 15th October 1918 whilst living at 25 Bell Street Renfrew. His daughter Isabella Algie was the Informant.

	Marriage Location - 12 Whitefield Road, Govan		Final Home - 25 Bell Street, Renfrew		Renfrew Cafe Ownership Record from 1898

     Family Tree Summary

Forename	Surname	Born	Died	Cause of Death
Charles Tobias	Baptiste	1851, Tobago	15/10/1918	Cerebral Haemorrhage