Margaret Baxter

Margaret Baxter or Margaret Charlton (1636 – 14 June 1681) was a noble born English religious nonconformist during the English Civil War. She became a follower and later wife and patron of the preacher Richard Baxter.

Life Baxter was born in Apley Castle and baptised on 18 September 1636. Her parents were Mary and Francis Charlton. The castle was their family seat. Her father died in 1642 and her mother quickly married Thomas Hamner in order that her children would have a protector. With the outbreak of the English Civil War that year between the supporters of King Charles and Parliament, Hanmer, a royalist, fortified the mansion, which formed a valuable strategic stronghold close to Shrewsbury. Margaret was there when her home, the castle, was sacked by Parliamentary forces during the war. Her step-father, Thomas Hamner, was taken prisoner and the children were taken under the care of Robert Charlton who was Francis's brother. Margaret's mother, Mary Hamner, managed to recover both her children and the castle in order that her son Francis Charlton could become its heir in 1656 or 1657 when he married. At that time her mother and the rest of the family moved to Kidderminster.