Thomas I Baker22, 23 was born 1638 in Dedham, Essex, England, and died 1710 in Wickford, N.Kingston, RI. He married Sarah Baker.
Notes for Thomas I Baker: BIRTH-OCCUPATION: from NORTHERN NEW YORK,Vol.III "Baker, The Rev. Thomas Baker, the immigrant ancestor, was born in England, He settled in Newport, Rhode Island, and December 17, 1653, owned land there, adjoining George Kenrick's. He was ordained in the Baptist Ministry in 1655. In 1656 he and William Vaughn and some others left the First Baptist Church and formed the Second Baptist Church.The reason for this separation were, "Said persons conceived a prejudice against psalmody and against the restraints that the liberty of prophesying was laid under and also against the doctrine of particular redemption and against the rite of laying on of hands as a matter of indifference." In 1666 he removed to Kingston, R.I., and gathered a church there, being its first pastor. Children: Thomas,Benjamin, married Mary H---, James, married Penelope Wescott." This info from James Pitcher, Boonville NY Historian, 10-93.
NOTES & DEATH DATE: "Descendants of Simon Baker", p. 9-10.
OCCUPATION-SPOUSE: from "Rhode Island Genealogical" by John Osobrne Austin: BAKER (Thomas) He m. Sarah. He was a tailor 1685, Dec. 24, Newport. He bought of Ralph Paine of Newport 25 acres in Providence for 4 Pounds. He, tailor, and wife Sarah, sold to Joseph Smith of Providence, for full satisfacation, right of common in Providence, bought of Ralph Paine. Newport, Kings Town, RI: 1653, Dec. 17 - his land is mentioned as adjoining that of George Kenrick of Newport in a deed of the latter to William Field of Providence. 1655 Ordained in this year; 1656-He and William Vaughn and othes left the First Baptist Church and formed a congregation known as the Second Baptist Church of which he was for a time pastor. The reasons given for this separation are thus stated (as above).; 1666 Kings Town. He removed thence about this time and gathered a church together for many years in that capacity, his successor,Richard Sweet, in 1710. *Presently, the Stony Lane Baptist Church is located on the exact piece of land upon which our emigrant ancestory, Thomas Baker, founded his Second Baptist Church in about 1666. The Rev. John D. Wheeler is the present pastor at PO Box 1537, 885 Old Baptist Rd, North Kingston, RI 02852. (401)294-4973. This church is the one remaining Six Principle Baptist Church in the world. (Pictures and church history in jkb's files)
OCCUPATION: from Olympia WA Private Library Collection (6-94):HISTORY OF RHODE ISLAND by the Rev.Edward Peterson, NY T974.5,p.442h P.340: Second Baptist Church. The first Pastor of this church (Newport RI) was the Rev. William Vaughn who continued until his death in 1677. The second Pastor was the Rev.Thomas Baker, who subsequently settled in North Kingston, R.I. He was succeeded by the Rev. John Harden who died in 1700."
INFORMATION FROM Richard BAKER, 01/02: 5322 Waupaca Rd, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275, 310/377-6668, Notes taken at Sutro Library in San Francisco, 12 Dec 2001 American Church History, Vol.2, Baptist - Newman, Christian Literature Co, 1894 p.17 "John Calender...Harvard, called to pastorate of first church at Newport in 1730" "preached historical sermon (Mar.1738) - early history of colony ..., a masterpiece" p.111 abt. 1651, "(John) Clarke was sent to England...shortly after Clarke's departure controversy arose with reference to the laying on of hands. Soon after the division in Providence on the grounds of this ceremony in 1652, Wm. Vaughn, a member of the Newport Church, who had adopted Six Principle views, visitied Providence to submit to laying on of hands and to arrange for a Six Principle propaganda in Newport...time not ripe...in 1656 a new church was formed (at Newport) on this basis". "The Clergy of the Colonial Clergy, Lancaster, Mass, 1936 p. 25 THOMAS BAKER, Ord, Newport RI (2nd Baptist Church) 1655 p. 262NEWPORT, RI 1655 Second Baptist Church 1655 Thomas Baker 1656-1667 William Vaughan p. 264 NORTH KINGSTON, 1666 First Baptist Church 1660-1710 Thomas Baker 1710-1740 Richard Sweet p.262 NEWPORT, RI 1644 First Baptist Church 1644-1676John Clark 1658-1656 Wm. Vaughn 1652-1682 Obadiah Holmes p,267 PROVIDENCE, RI 1639 First Baptist Church in America 1639-1643 Roger Williams 1639-1659 Ezekiel Holliman 1642-1659 Chad Brown p. 167 PROVIDENCE, RI 1654 Second Baptist Church 1654-1715 Thomas Olney
AMERICAN CHURCH HISTORY. Vol. 2, Baptist - Newman, Christian Literature Co, 1894 p. 86 "the chief matter of controversy was the doctrine of the imposition of hands, Roger Williams himself laid considerble stress on this rite and placed it alongside of baptism and the Supper...", "many churches made the passing on of hands a term of communion," "based on apostolic practice, Acts 8:12, 19, Acts 19:6,7, and especially Heb 6:1,2". p. 87 "the laying on of hands was the occasion of much bitter controversy, those who advocated it regarding it not merely as an appropriate symbol of receiving the Holy Sprit, which might be employed or dispensed with, but as a 'foundation priciple' which could by no means be set aside. Finding it enumerated in Heb 6:l,2 among the 'the first principles of Christ' along with 'repentance from dead works,' 'faith toward God', the teaching of baptism', the resurrection of the dead' and 'eternal judgment; ' they insisted upon its observance along with the other five principles. Thus arose what were called 'Six Principle Baptists.' p. 91 "After the division of the Providence Church in 1652, William Vaughan, a member of the Newport Church who had adopted the Six Principle position, went to Providence to receive the imposition of hands, and returned accompanied by Wickenden and Gregory Dexter. The aim of the three was probably to organize a Six Principle Church at Newport. They were not immediately successful" p. 83 "William Wickenden, Gregory Dexter and Chad Brown seem to have united with the church soon after its organization and to have held Arminian views. Along with Arminianism, they laid much stress on the the ceremonial imposition of hands after baptism as an indispensible qualification for church fellowship...It is probable that Olney, Brown, Wickenden, and Dexter were coordinate elders at the time of the schism in 1652."
A GENERAL HISTORY OF THE BAPTIST DENOMINATION IN AMERICA, David Benedict, NY, Lewis Colby and Co, 1849: Chapter VII American Baptists p.264 "A list of a few of the oldest baptist churches in this country. Providence RI 1639, First Church, Newport 1644, Second Church, Newport 1656; First Church, Newport 1644; Second Church, Newport 1656; First Church, Swansea, MA 1663; Second Church, Boston MA 1665; N.Kingston, RI 1665.
RECORDS OF THE COLONY OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS, Vol. 1, 1636-1663 p. 59, June 23, 1638, Wm. Baker granted a lot in Portsmouth p.91, 1638?, Wm Baker admitted to be inhabitant of Aqueedneck p.92 since Mar 20 1638, Wm.Baker - inhabitat admitted at the town of Nieu-Port p. 132, July 13, 1654, Wm. Baker is witness to an Indian deed of Potowomut (a portion of the town of Warwick) p.299-300, 1655 Route of ye Freemen of ye Colony of everie Towne Portsmouth - William Baker. Thomas Baker I has been listed as #13 in a list of members of the First Baptist Church 1644-1864; it is possible that he arrived in R.I. in the 1640s. Source: Roll of Members of the First Baptist Church, Manuscript No. 1169, (unpublished), Collection of the Newport Historical Society, Newport R.I. " (copy in Joan's file)
HISTORY OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS, Vol.2 p.581 "In 1652, while Dr. Clarke was absent in England, the church (Newport) divided in opinion on the question of 'laying on of hands...' Four years later this difference led to separation of 21 members, including William, John Harden, and James Clarke, newphew of John, were early ministers or elders of this Newport church..."In 1731 it was the largest church in the colony of Rhode Island (151 members). p. 39: "Oct. 1, 1665, Robert Williams sold ti Daniel Abbott (who formerly was my servant a house or home share of land, 5 acres, more or less, in ye row of house lots bounded east by common, west by home share formerly belonging to CHad Brown, deceased, nowThomas Baker of the above said Daniel Abbott and was sold by Daneil Abbot. The western front of this home lot is now owned by the "What Cheer Corporation". * * * * *
(The Thomas Baker AFN 8GW9-VQ, b.18 Sep 1636,Norwich Engl, m.Priscilla Symmonds must be a different thomas; therefore the two John parents/grparents are different. Do not list with Rhode Island/New York Bakers. Also, the Bakers of Yarmouth, MA are a different line.)
RI HISTORY: V.D.Anderson, "New England's Generation, Great Migration", p.172: "By the end of their lives, then, most participating in the Great Migration (from England) had obtained the competency* to which they had aspired. Even those who had emigrated as servants generally acquired enough property to provide a comfortable subsistence. Most adult white males owned land--freehold property--that guaranteed their economic security and personal independence. Landownership and a willingness to take an oath of fidelity or allegiance sufficed to admit inhabitants of Plymouth, Connecticut, and Rhode Island to the colony franchise, whereas Massachusetts and New Haven further stipulated that freemanship be limited to church members." *competency=enough prosperty to provide a comfortable subsistence , but not wealthy.
More About Thomas I Baker: Burial: 1710, Stony Lane Baptist Cemetery, Wickford RI.
Children of Thomas I Baker and Sarah Baker are:
+Comfort Baker, b. Abt. 1670, Kingston, Wash.Co, RI, d. date unknown.
+Thomas II Baker, b. 1670, Newport, Newport Co, RI, d. 1754, Kingston, Wash.Co, RI.
+Benjamin Baker, b. 1676, Kingston, Wash Co, RI, d. 1726, Kingston, Wash Co, RI.
Mary Baker, b. Abt. 1672, Kingston, Wash.Co, RI, d. date unknown.
James Baker, b. Abt. 1674, Kingston, Wash.Co, RI, d. date unknown.
Thomas I Baker (b. 1638, d. 1710)
Notes for Thomas I Baker: