The Revd. Thomas Baker having been Excommunicated, and deposed from his Pastoral Charge over the Congregational Church in this Town, Divine Service will hereafter be performed in Cromwell's Cathedral, by John A. Wilkes and Sons,--and for the information of the pious who are desirous of Church membership, it is hereby announced, that a standing perambulating Committee Consisting of Mrs. John A. Wilkes, Mrs. William Walker, and Mrs. Day, who will at all times wait upon them to impart Religious instruction. The committee will be accompanied by Mrs. Hainstock of Vinegar Hill, who, with facinating [sic] eloquence will explain the felicitous facility with which father John performs the evening service.

Franklin Goold

Chairman

¹ Rev. Thomas Baker was the pastor of the Congregational Church in Brantford at this time. There was great dissention in the church at during this period, especially with the Wilkes family, and Rev. Baker expelled some members. Frederick Wilkes was Rev. baker's son-in-law with whom the Rev. cut off all ties, because of his conduct with Mary-Anne Baker, "his deceased wife's sister," which was unlawful at that time. In spite of the restriction, Wilkes and Mary-Ann did marry and Rev. Baker disowned her. See W2931, W2880, W2882, W2883, W2889, W4129b, W4142. This may be a facetious notice reflecting the unrest.

The fact that we have this item in the Whitehern archives demonstrates that Rev. Baker must have obtained a copy and had it in his possession.