Subject

Clerk to Bexley Urban District Council.

Thomas Godfrey Baynes was born on 15 August 1865 in Milton, Kent. He was the second of the six children of Thomas Clarke Baynes (1836-1903) and Elizabeth Susanna Baynes née Smith (1841-1875). His birth was registered in the 3rd quarter of 1865 in the Gravesend registration district, Kent, and on 10 September 1865 he was baptised in Holy Trinity Church, Milton-next-Gravesend, Kent

He was shown as a scholar in the 1871 census living at 14 White Post Terrace, Gravesend, Kent, with his parents and three siblings: Lizzie Baynes (1863-1906), Godfrey John Baynes (1868-1941), Donald Baynes (1870-1956), his cousin Ernest Richard Broadwater Baynes (1868-1910) together with a female general domestic servant. His father's occupation was described as a clerk in Customs House, London.

His mother died in 1875 and in the 3rd quarter of 1877 his father was remarried to a Georgina Elspeth Lindgren (1831-1905) in the Cobham, North Aylesford, registration district, Kent,

When the 1881 census was taken he was shown as a clerk in a general shop living at 14 & 15 White Post Terrace, Gravesend, with his father and stepmother, three siblings: Godfrey John Baynes, Blanche Alice Baynes (1872-1949) and Eustace Tinley Baynes (1875-1944) together with a female general domestic servant. His father's occupation was described as clerk in H.M. Customs (London Docks).

He was shown in the 1891 census as an articled clerk in a solicitor's office living at 14 & 15 Pelham Terrace, Gravesend, with his father who was shown as a clerk in the War Office, his step-mother, two brothers: Godfrey John Baynes who was a clerk to a silk mercer and Eustace Tinley Baynes who was a clerk in a surveyor's office.

He married Gertrude Louisa Waters (1873-1964) in the 3rd quarter of 1896 in the Gravesend registration district, Kent and they were to have six children: Norman Thomas Baynes (1897-1966), Percy Douglas Baynes (1899-1963), Reginald Frank Baynes (1901-1946), Eric William Baynes (1902-1995), Beryl Baynes (1904-1991) and Frank Neville Baynes (1905-1968).

Kelly's 1899 Directory of Kent lists him as a solicitor at both 3 Spital Street, Dartford and at Public Hall, May Place Road, Bexley Heath. In the 1901 census he is shown as a solicitor living at 55 Broadway, Bexleyheath, Kent, with his wife, their three sons: Norman, Percy & Reginald, together with a nurse and a housemaid. The 1903 edition of Kelly's Directory of Kent lists him as a solicitor & clerk to Bexley Urban District Council, 55 Broadway & Public Hall, Bexley Heath and at 3 Spital Street, Dartford.. 

When he completed his 1911 census return he described himself as a solicitor living in a twelve roomed property at 22 May Place Road West, Bexleyheath with his wife and three of their children: Eric, Beryl and Frank, together with two female general domestic servants. For some unknown reason he showed his son, Eric William Baynes, incorrectly as Eric Thomas Baynes.

In the Kelly's 1913 Directory of Kent he is listed as solicitor & clerk to Bexley Urban District Council & to Bexley Sub-Committee of Kent Local Pension Committee, Council Office & 82 Broadway & The Fens, May Place Road, Bexleyheath whilst also at 3 Spital Street, Dartford. When the Kelly's 1918 Directory of Kent was published he was listed as a solicitor & commissioner for oaths, & clerk to Bexley Urban District Council & to Bexley Sub-Committee of Kent Local Pension Committee, Council Offices & 82 Broadway & 22 May Place Road, Bexleyheath as well as 3 Spital Street, Dartford. 

Kelly's 1922 Directory of Kent  listed him as a solicitor at 12 High Street, Dartford and at 22 May Place Road, Bexleyheath, but their 1930 edition listed him as a solicitor & commission for oaths & clerk to Bexley Local Pension Committee & deputy registration officer for the Chislehurst & Dartford parliamentary division of Kent, 22 May Place Road West. It also listed Thos. Godfrey Baynes & Sons, solicitors & commissioners for oaths at 102a High Street, Bexleyheath.

Electoral registers for 1937 and 1939 show him, his wife, together with their daughter, listed at Okeford, Broomfield Road, Bexleyheath. The 1939 England and Wales Register shows him as a solicitor living with his wife at The Onslow Arms (now called the The Richard Onslow, 113-117 High Street, Cranleigh, Surrey).

Probate records confirm that he lived at Burrows View, Golf Links Road, Westward Ho, Bideford, Devon and that he died, aged 77 years, on 16 November 1942. His death was registered in the 4th quarter of 1942 in the Bideford registration district. Probate was granted to his widow on 4 March 1944 and his effects totalled £28,003-0s-11d. He was buried in the City of London Cemetery, Aldersbrook Road, London, E12 5DQ and in November 1958 the cemetery authorities removed the curbs and iron rails around his grave.

The company he founded in 1895 (T G Baynes Solicitors) is, in 2022, still active in Bexleyheath.