Lincolnshire Relatives

Lincolnshire Relatives

Sam’s great-grandfather, Samuel Baker, for whom Sam is named was one of seven brothers from Lincolnshire England.  Samuel and six of the brothers emigrated to the United States and settled in the Mid-west.  Samuel started the family farm on which Sam grew up, and which still remains in his family. Sam’s grandmother, Emma Howard, emigrated with 2 siblings but left 3 more in England. As the generations passed, the Baker and the Howard families and their descendants in the U.S. and in England remained in touch across the pond.  Finally, in 1971, at the end of a trip to Europe, Sam went to London, where he met up with his parents and his sister Barbara in order to meet the members of the Howard clan who were still in England.  Sam’s father, Lester, met his four first cousins for the first time, and Sam and Barbara met their generation of the family in England.  Sam’s family drove to each of the cousins’ homes for individual family visits, and then met at one home in Lincolnshire for a family reunion. The English relatives had been planning a special “Christmas in July” ever since they had heard that Sam’s family would be visiting.  The fruitcake normally made in summer for the Christmas celebration had been made in December so that it would be ready for the reunion dinner.  The family all gathered at a big table to everyone’s great pleasure.   Sam especially remembers the delicious food prepared by his relatives–shattering myths of boring food in England. Now he brings some of those delicious foods to Sam Cooks in honor of his family heritage. Enjoy!