Baker Ancestors
Our Heritage
Recently my genealogy has gone in a new direction. I've begun exploring DNA and the idea of locating family thru science. One day while surfing I ran across the Baker DNA Website. There I found a group of Baker descendants researching their male Y DNA back to their oldest identifiable ancestor. Tony had his Y DNA tested and we are in the process of matching up with several cousins. The group also has a yahoo message group at Baker Ancestors. Here we meet to share information and find out about upcoming DNA tests.
I've decided to put together a new webpage with data on the direct Baker lines from Tony back to Benjamin Baker born in 1685 in Connecticut. I'm working to find the link between Benjamin and Alexander Baker who emigrated from London in 1635. Below you will find the information on each son in each generation of our Baker Lineal Tree. I have included source data and will be adding more information as it becomes available.
We believe that our emigrant ancestor is Alexander Baker who came from London in 1635 with his wife Elizabeth and two daughters. Popular belief is that his wife Elizabeth is Elizabeth Farrar, this has been proven to not be true and has been rebuked. A message on the Baker Yahoo groups located at Message #9956 Alexander Baker and Westminister Abbey Records outlines why Alexander who came to Boston could not be the same Alexander who married Elizabeth Farrar. Below is the infomation and sources that I have located for Alexander Baker and his wife Elizabeth.
It is our belief that our ancestor Benjamin Baker b. 1685 who married Mary Avery is the grandson of Alexander Baker thru his son Joshua and his wife Hannah Tongue. For information on Alexander and Elizabeth's other children please visit my surnames page.
1st Generation
Born: 1607 London, England
Married: 1630 London, England
Died: 11 May 1685 Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts
Wife: Elizabeth
Born: 1611 London, England
Son: Joshua Baker
Born: 30 Apr 1642 Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts
Married: 13 Dec 1674 New London, Connecticut
Died: 27 Dec 1717 New London, Connecticut
Spouse: Hannah Tongue
Notes:
Alexander Baker was born in London, England, about 1607. He sailed from London in the ship Elizabeth and Ann, in 1635, at the age of twenty-eight years, with his wife, Elizabeth, age 23 years, and two children, Elizabeth age 2 years and Christian, aged one year. On 18 April 1635 they landed at or near Boston. The ship was contained Alexander Baker's furniture, etc, as well as that of Kenelm Winslow. Before their departure from London, he obtained a certificate from a minister of the established church of England, as to his standing in the church. Alexander took the oath of allegiance on 29 April 1635
He was a proprietor of Gloucester, before 1642; when he removed to Boston, where he was a rope and collar maker. After their arrival they had born to them nine children. Alexander, b. 15 Jan 1636; Samuel, b 16 June 1638; John, b 20 June 1640; Joshua, b 30 Apr 1642; Hannah, b 29 Sep 1644. These last named were baptized 5 Oct 1645, their father and mother having been admitted members of the church at Boston the preceding day. Alexander bought a homestead in Boston on Boltt's Lane, which is Winter Street today; his widow sold it to her son-in-law John Alger. It bound to the rear on John Wampass, the Indian, which today is the site of St. Paul's Cathedral on Tremont Street in Boston. After this time they had William, b 15 May 1647; Benjamin b. 16 Mar 1653, Josiah, b 26 Feb 1655 (the last died in infancy); and Josiah again, b 26 Feb 1658.
Sources:
1. Thru the Looking Glass Mayflower Families The Ship The Elizabeth and Ann
2. First Church of Boston, Massachusetts: Birth and Baptism Records
3. "History of Montville, Connecticut: formerly the North Parish of New New London" Henry A. Baker
4. "The Rugged Trail" Emma Baker Volume 2 pages 4 and 5
5. "The Baker Family Records" J. Montgomery Seaver, American Historical-Genealogical Society, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
6. "Immagrant Ancestors" edited by Frederick Adams Virkus, published by Genealogical Publishing Co, page 9
2nd Generation
Born: 30 Apr 1642 Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts
Married: 13 Dec 1674 New London, Connecticut
Died: 27 Dec 1717 New London, Connecticut
Wife: Hannah Tongue
Born: 20 July 1654 New London, New London, Connecticut
Son: Benjamin Baker
Born: 1685 Montville, New London, Connectict
Married: 14 Aug 1718 Fairfield, Fairfield, Connecticut
Died: 27 Sep 1779 Westport, Faifield, Connecticut
Spouse: Mary Avery
Notes:
Joshua Baker, the fourth son of Alexander Baker, b. 30 Apr 1642, was the ancestor of the Baker families in Montville. He removed from Boston and settled at New London, Connecticut about 1670. He received shares in the town plot and became a large landholder. About the year 1700 he received a deed from Owaneco, the Chief of the Mohegans, for a large tract of land in Mohegan, Connecticut, on which his sons afterwards settled. A portion of the same tract some of his descendants still occupy. This tract of land was located in the vicinity of the famous Cochegan Rock.
He married, 13 Sep. 1674, Hannah Tongue Mintern, relict of Tristram Mintern of New London. She was a daughter of George Tongue, b 20 July 1654. A sister of hers married Gov. John Fitz Winthrop. He died at New London, 27 Dec 1717, aged 75 years.
Sources:
1. The Barbour Collection
2. New London, Connecticut Vital Records
3. "History of Montville, Connecticut: formerly the North Parish of New New London" Henry A. Baker
4. "The Groton Avery Glan" Elroy McKendree Avery and Catherine Hitchcock (Tilden) Avery 1912
5. Colonial Families in the US Volume 5 Page 28
3rd Generation
Born: 1685 Montville, New London, Connectict
Married: 14 Aug 1718 Fairfield, Fairfield, Connecticut
Died: 27 Sep 1779 Westport, Faifield, Connecticut
Wife: Mary Avery
Son: James Baker
Born: 30 Jun 1722 Fairfield, Fairfield, Connecticut
Married: 13 Mar 1755 Fairfield, Fairfield, Connecticut
Died: bef 1771 probably Connecticut
Spouse: Thankful Coley
Notes:
Benjamin Baker the son of Joshua Baker and Hannah (Tongue-Minter) was baptized as an adult 6 May 1711, at the First Church of Christ, New London, Connecticut. The entry of baptisms by Elipalet Adams read, "1711 6 May, Benjamin, Mercy and Patience BAKER, the children of Joshua BAKER were baptized.
It is interesting to note that the following entries are also found in the records of the First Church of Christ, New London, Connecticut, baptisms by Gurdon Saltonstall:
1. 1702, 25 Oct, Hannah BAKER wife of Joshua BAKER was baptized
2. 1703, 2 May, Joshua BAKER and Alexander BAKER were baptized
3. 1703, 8 Aug, Joshua BAKER had four of his daughters baptized viz. Elizabeth (wife of Rich. ATWELL), Sarah, Hannah, Mary.
I have been searching for a connection between Benjamin and Joshua, these baptism help to further that possible link.
He married Mary Avery 14 Aug 1718, they were published Sunday, 3 Aug 1718 as noted in the Joshua Hempstead Diary.
Benjamin Baker deeded land that he had of his father, Joshua Baker, to Samuel Avery, 1 April 1719. Abraham Avery was one of the witnesses (New London Deeds 7:306) Benjamin conveyed his interest in the common lands to John Bolles, 24 Feb 1742-43, being four-tenths of the land allotted to Joshua Baker, the elder, deceased, by the proprietors of New London.
Sources:
1. "The Later History of the First Church of Christ, New London, Connecticut" Baptisms by Eliphalet Adam
2. New London, Connecticut Vital Records
3. "The Groton Avery Glan" Elroy McKendree Avery and Catherine Hitchcock (Tilden) Avery 1912
4th Generation
James Baker
Born: 30 Jun 1722 Fairfield, Fairfield, Connecticut
Married: 13 Mar 1755 Fairfield, Fairfield, Connecticut
Died: bef 1771 probably Connecticut
Wife: Thankful Coley
Born: 11 Nov 1733 Fairfield, Fairfield, Connecticut
Son: Benjamin Baker
Born: 9 Jan 1756 Fairfield, Fairfield, Connecticut
Married: 20 Nov 1780 Litchfield, Connecticut
Died: 3 Jan 1809 Moulinette, Stormont, Cornwall, Ontario, Canada
Spouse: Abigail Wade
Notes:
James Baker was one of six sons born to Benjamin Baker and Mary Avery. On 13 Mar 1755 he married Thankful Coley. I have located 2 sons born to them, Benjamin born 9 Jan 1756, Fairfield, CT and Andrew baptized 5 Mar 1758, Redding, Fairfield, CT. They may have also had a daughter Luce, there are records of a James Baker and wife in the New Fairfield Congregational Church, 29 Mar 1758 they are listed as communicants, 30 May 1760 there is a report of a daughter born to James Baker and on 13 July 1760 James Baker and wife are listed as having a daughter Luce baptized. Of further note the death of a James Baker is listed on 20 Dec 1761. The James Baker I am searching appears to have died prior to the year 1771, which is the year his son Benjamin chooses his uncle Joshua Baker as his guardian. In 1773 Benjamin's younger brother Andrew also chooses Uncle Joshua Baker as his guardian. I have not located a death record for Thankful Coley Baker but I am still searching.
Sources:
1. The Barbour Collection
2. Connecticut Marriages 1692-1832, Fairfield County Marriage Book A-K
5th Generation
Benjamin Baker
Born: 9 Jan 1756 Fairfield, Fairfield, Connecticut
Married: 20 Nov 1780 Litchfield, Connecticut
Died: 3 Jan 1809 Moulinette, Stormont, Cornwall, Ontario, Canada
Wife: Abigail Wade
Born: 18 Aug 1757 Bradford, New Haven, Connecticut
Son: Edward Wade Baker
Born: 13 Aug 1797 Moulinette, Cornwall, Ontario, Canada
Married: bef 1820
Died: 14 Mar 1864 Moulinette, Cornwall, Ontario, Canada
Spouse: Mary Carpenter
Notes:
Benjamin Baker born 9 Jan 1756 in Fairfield, Connecticut, he was the 1st son of James Baker and Thankful Coley, he had a younger brother named Andrew who was baptized 5 Mar 1758 at Redding, Connecticut. It appears that their parents died while they were still young. Guardianship papers filed 14 Oct 1771 indicate that Benjamin selected his Uncle Joshua Baker as his guardian, on 13 Jan 1773 Andrew also selected his Uncle Joshua Baker as his guardian.
Ralph Baker a descendant of Benjamin put together the following timeline of events in Benjamin's life using various sources and the Revolutionary War Pension application filed by Abigail Wade Baker.
Thank You Ralph!!
The Ticonderoga / Lake Champlain area was very sparsely settled prior to the Revolutionary War. Most of the settlement of the high ground on the west side of the lake area in New York was settled after the war. The area east of the lake is low and relatively flat for farming, etc.. This area was then the New Hampshire Grants-now Vermont. This is where a very few early settlers came in the late 1760's following the French and Indian War. Research indicates that the most logical "connection" is Addison Township, VT. The Addison land (28,000 acres) was purchased by a group of proprietors from mostly southwest Connecticut. The first Grantees of Addison included Samuel, John, James and Ichabod Olmstead. A Samuel Olmstead was executor of Peter Coley's will proved in 1743. Peter Coley was an uncle of Benjamin Baker's mother, Thankful (Coley) Baker.
The first meeting of the new proprietors of the Township of Addison was held in New Fairfield, CT in 1770. The first recorded transfer of title to land took place 8 May 1771 in Woodbury, Litchfield County, CT where Thankful (Coley) Baker was raised. The second recorded meeting of the proprietors was held 4 May 1773 in Dutchess County, NY near Albany. At a later meeting in Dutchess County, NY on 30 Nov 1773, Jeremiah French, Daniel Prindle, and Aaron Paine were assigned to lay out lots of 100 acres each with the work to be done in the spring of 1774. The first proprietors meeting held in Addison Twp. VT was in September 1774. The second meeting in Addison was on 18 Nov 1774. The completed survey was apparently ready and Aaron Paine is present at a 24 May 1775 meeting in Addison.
It is possible that Benjamin Baker (age 18) worked for Aaron Paine during 1774-1775 helping to survey and lay out the Addison Township Lots. A man named Benjamin Paine/Payne was in Addison VT for the first town meeting in 1784 following the Revolutionary War. He was one of the early proprietors of the town and a large land owner and speculator. He built the old tavern at Chimney Point and operated a ferry from Chimney Point to Crown Point. Addison Center is 17-18 miles from Fort Ticonderoga as the crow flies and Chimney Point is on the Lake and is 13-14 miles from Fort Ticonderoga.
According to Abigail's pension request her husband Benjamin Baker was working for a man named Paine/Payne near Ticonderoga, NY when they were both arrested for being about the interests of the British. They were both taken to Portsmouth Jail and held until Benjamin enlisted out of jail and into the New Hampshire State Militia. On 24 April 1775 a Benjamin Baker enlisted in Capt. Thomas McLauglin's Company, Col. John Starke's Regiment, New Hampshire Militia. He served 3 months and 15 days. (This was one of the service records claimed in Abigails pension request of 1852).
On 29 May 1775, Benjamin's brother Andrew and Uncle Joshua Baker (8 June 1775) enlisted in the 7th Company, Col. Waterbury's 5th Regiment of the Connecticut Line. On 26 July 1775 left Albany, NY for St. John's Canada via Fort Ticonderoga. In August of 1775 General Montgomery left Fort Ticonderoga to commence attack on British strongholds in Canada. St. John's surrendered 12 Nov 1775, Montgomery went on to Montreal and later Quebec. In the fall of 1775 Andrew and Joshua Baker return to Fairfield, CT from campaign in Northern District (Canada). Joshua Baker re-enlisted in the same unit and Andrew was discharged. On 15 March 1776, Joshua Baker dies while with the Army in Canada. His will was proved November 1776.
On 5 Oct 1777 Andrew Baker marched with Capt. Andrew's Company, Col. Whiting Regiment Line, which was at Peekskill in Oct. 1777. Andrew deserted with four other men on 13 Oct 1777, four more men deserted on 14 Oct 1777 and one sergerant deserted on 17 Oct 1777 (this was over one half of the unit)
The following may or may not be the same Benjamin Baker who married Abigail Wade, it is one of the Military service records cited by Abigail Baker in her pension request. On 20 July 1778 a Benjamin Baker enlisted in Capt. James Berry's Company, Col. Thomas Poor's Regiment, Massachusetts State Militia. Benjamin was among those paid September 1778 at Ft. Clinton and Nov 1778 and December 1778 at King' s Ferry. He was discharged 29 January 1779. If this was our Benjamin he may have returned "home" to Woodbury, CT - - - if, with his father dead (1771) and his uncle/guardian, Joshua, dead (1776), his mother Thankful Coley Baker (if alive) had been living in the Woodbury area, where she was raised, with her parents or other kin, Coley side or Baker side of the family. (Nothing has been found in the Connecticut records of her remarriage or death after James died in 1771. Woodbury, CT is about 17 miles from Redding, CT, 14 miles from Litchfield, CT and 24 miles from Winchester, CT.
The following are additional details of Benjamin's life:
1. 22 Nov 1780, Benjamin Baker of Litchfield, Connecticut married Abigail Wade in Winchester, Litchfield, Connecticut.
2. Benjamin's son Benjamin Jr. was born 17 Aug 1781 and his daughter Lucy was born 8 Jan 1783.
3. 1784 the Revolutionary War ended.
4. June of 1784 the 2nd Battalion KRRNY disbanded, Benjamin was with the 84th Regiment of the KRRNY.
5. Benjamin Baker his wife and 2 children were listed on the Provision List at St. John's (St. Jean) Quebec Canada on 15 Sept 1874.
6. 24 July 1785 Benjamin's son James was born.
7. The 2nd Provision List of 1786 also included Benjamin Baker, wife and 3 children with location shown as Lancaster.
8. 17 June 1787 Benjamin Baker was appointed Constable of Lancaster Twp., Glengarry County, Ontario, Canada.
9. "Lunenburg or the old East District" by Jacob Pringle, published in 1890 lists Benjamin Baker as a member of the Royal Regiment of New York. 10. Benjamin received a U.E.L (United Empire Loyalist) grant of land, lot 11, Con 2 Township of Lancaster, Upper Canada.
In about 1790 Benjamin moved his family to Cornwall and on 3 Jan 1809 he drowned in the St. Lawrence River. His wife Abigail Wade Baker died 9 Jan 1853 and is buried in the Blood Cemetery, Ft. Covington, New York.
Sources:
1. The Barbour Collection
2. First Congregational Church, Winchester, Litchfield, Connecticut
3. St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, Williamstown, Ontario, Canada
4. History and Genealogy of the Families of Old Fairfield by Donald Lines Jacobus
5. Loyalist in Ontario by William Reid
6. Annals of Winchester, Connecticut page 115
More Generations to come
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