Starting Sept. 30, 2014, Genealogy.com will be making a big change. GenForum message boards, Family Tree Maker homepages, and the most popular articles will be preserved in a read-only format, while several other features will no longer be available, including member subscriptions and the Shop.
 
Learn more


Home Page |Surname List |Index of Individuals |InterneTree |Sources


View Tree for Robert BakerRobert Baker (b. 1660, d. September 1728)

Robert Baker (son of John Baker and Unknown Wife) was born 1660 in Massachusetts, and died September 1728 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He married Susan Packer on Abt. 1685 in Pennsylvania.

 Includes NotesNotes for Robert Baker:
[Baker.FTW]

[rbbaker71527.FTW]

Robert Baker settled in Conestoga Township, Chester County, PA (later Lancaster County, PA). He bought 500 acres of land on the Susquehanna River from Col. John French. Robert and his sons were gunsmiths and were commissioned by the King of England to make fire arms for the Colonies. Later the Bakers would join the Colonies against England in the Revolutionary War.

GOOD BAKERS ~ BAD BAKERS
BY CLYDE N. BUNCH
Kd4vqd@juno.com

NOTE: Found in BAKER FAMILY NEWSLETTER (INTERNATIONAL) VOLUME #10 1997. A Genealogical publication ISSN: 0893-5831 Editor/Publisher, Crystal Jensen, 326 Panhorst, Staunton, Illinois 62088. http://members.tripod.com/Crystal_J/Baker.html

"My Aunt, Lillie Baker Allen, was born on Sacker Creek in Clay County, Kentucky in 1891. She died in Lexington, Kentucky in 1987, at the age of 96. Her father, George W. Baker was born in Owsley County in 1871 and died at burning Springs in Clay County in 1912. The family, shortly after his death, moved from there. Lillie was just a young woman at the time; the love for the mountains and its people remained with her until the day she died. This lady and her remarkable memory started me out "Baker hunting.

Often when I talked to Aunt Lillie about her family, she would refer to them as Good Bakers, Bad Bakers. It wasn't until after her death that I began to understand what she was trying to tell me. She told me that her grandmother, Ibby Baker, was a Baker before she married. She said the Ibby was a schoolteacher, and that she went to Buffalo Creek in Owsley County to teach. Here she met and married Jackson Baker. Jackson died in 1878, leaving Ibby and their small son George. After the death of her husband, Ibby returned to Clay County and lived with her brother. She died a year later. Her son George W. Baker was adopted and raised by her brother, William Baker and wife Elizabeth Parker.

Aunt Lillie wrote me a letter one time about the Bakers on Buffalo Creek in Owsley County. These were the one's she called "Bad Bakers". She said her father received word from his aunt, Martha Gabbard, to come up to Owsley County, that the family had sold some land, part of which belonged to his father. His aunt went on to tell him that she was holding his part of the money from the sale for him. Aunt Lillie said; "We didn't want him to go. We thought it was a Catch! We thought they were trying to get him up there to kill him." To the relief of Aunt Lillie and the family, her father George made the trip to Bull Skin and returned home safely.

I once asked Aunt Lillie where the Bakers came from? She said; "They came from Liverpool England, they were gunsmiths and that they came to this country to make guns for the colonies." At the time Aunt Lillie told me this, I paid little attention. Of all the great things Aunt Lillie told me, this statement would prove the most important. She died without me having the opportunity of telling her what I learned about this unique family. So I would like at this time to share my story with you:

We begin our story with Abner Baker, first County Clerk of Clay County. Abner was born in Prince Edward County, Virginia, September 18, 1775. He came to Kentucky in 1795 and first settled in Garrard County where he married Elizabeth Buford. He was appointed Clerk of Garrard County in 1803 and held this office until he moved to Clay County in 1807. Abner Baker kept a records keeping book throughout his life he called his "Life Book". In this small notebook he kept records about his family. You can imagine my surprise when I read the following statement taken from this book. Abner Baker stated that there were three brothers Samuel, Andrew and Caleb, who first came to America. They were gunsmiths with a grant from the King of England to manufacture guns for the colonies. He goes on to say that his grandfather, Caleb Baker, and his family removed from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, bought land and settled in what was then called "The Backwoods" in Amelia County, Virginia on Buffalo Creek.

Was this just a coincident, or were Aunt Lillie and Abner Baker talking about the same Baker family? A Mr. Samuel E. Dyke, a researcher in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, finally convinced me I was on the right tract when I came across some writings. This was a report given to the Kentucky Rifle's Association in 1972. It seems that the Association had employed Mr. Dyke to do some research for them. They wanted him to see if he could find out the person or persons responsible for making the first Pennsylvania Rifles or what was sometimes call the "KENTUCKY LONG RIFLE". Mr Dyke in his report states; "We feel as though these early gunsmiths came into Chester, Pennsylvania, or New Castle, Delaware, from abroad and migrated up the Susquehanna River to where the Pequea flows into it and set up shop making guns." He goes on to say that Robert Baker came into Lancaster County Court on August 15, 1719 and asked permission to erect a gun boring mill at the mouth of Pequea Creek on his land. Permission was granted. Robert Baker and his son Caleb set up their gun shop and operated it until 1728. It was at this time Robert Baker died. His son, Caleb Baker, continued to operate this gun shop until the family moved to Amelia County, Virginia.

The above Caleb Baker was the grandfather of Abner Baker, first Clerk of Clay County. Although Abner Baker is the one of the most interesting of people, he is not the subject of our story. I only used his statements and those of Mr Dyke to establish the fact that some of the Bakers now living in Clay and Owsley Counties can trace their ancestor's back to these early Pennsylvania Bakers.


Abner Baker, in his "Life Book", stated that his grandfather Caleb, had two brothers, Andrew and Samuel Baker. These two brothers would prove the most adventurous of this Baker Family. In the early 1750s Andrew Baker, John Cox, Enoch Osborn and several other neighboring families in Pennsylvania set out on a westward journey. This journey eventually led them into the Yadkin River Valley, in present day Wilkes County, North Carolina. This small group of Pennsylvanians would be among the first to settle in the area.

Some of these people settled along the Yadkin River, others of the more adventurous nature, crossed the Blue ridge Mountains and settled along New River in what is now Ash and Allegheny Counties, North Carolina. No white man had attempted settlement here before. New River was known at the time only by it's Indian name "Saxphaw". It was here, along the south branch, Andrew Baker made his first home.

Andrew Baker remained in the area of New River until about 1753, He then decided to push even deeper into Indian country. He moved down New River into what is now Grayson County, Virginia, very near the North Carolina line. Here Andrew staked out a large track of land he called his "Peach Tree Bottom" track. But the next summer, he and his family were run out by the Indians. He returned to his prior settlement on New River, where he would remain for the next ten years or so. He did, however, make one other attempt to settle his "Peach Tree Bottom" track. This was in 1767 or 1768. This time he encountered another problem. In Andrew's long absence, Dr. Thomas Walker, a surveyor for the Loyal Land Company, had staked and claimed the "Peach Tree Bottom" track, for his employers. He had to now purchase a 1000 acres of his original claim before he could resettle on it again. It seems that it just wasn't meant to be. The following year, he was once again forced out by the Indians and back to his old settlement. One might wonder why Andrew was so determined to settle this particular track of land. The answer lay in what was on and in this land, more so, than the land itself. For you see, one of the largest iron ore deposits in this area was discovered on the land. I think Andrew Baker, and at least one of his sons, were involved in the Iron business. His son James Baker and he built several large iron furnaces along Cranberry Creek, a tributary of the south branch of New River. The remains of some of these Iron Furnaces can be seen even today. They were at their peek production during the Revolutionary War."

Robert Baker, Sr. lived in Lancaster County, PA, on Piquea Creek. He and his sons were gunsmiths in Lancaster Co., PA, in VA and in NC. They invented/developed the "Kentucky" Rifle and developed hand operated machines to cut the rifling in the barrel. From Bonnie Jean Miller Website.

Editors Note: It is interesting that a Thomas Anderson, Sr, from Kentucky, was with General Andrew Jackson at the Battle of New Orleans and stood next to another Kentucky sharpshooter, who shot General Puckingham from his white charger. The general thought he well out of range but underestimated the accuracy and range of the "Kentucky Long Rifle"! After the battle, Thomas Anderson walked back to Kentucky only to find that his family had moved to Dubois County, Indiana. So he just walked on over to Indiana. Two of his sons, John and Thomas, Jr, married two of my GG aunts, daughters of David G. & Nancy Brittain Brown, in DuBois County, Indiana. Byron Brown January 16, 2000.

Wins Battle of New Orleans:
Jackson was then ordered to defend New Orleans. Finding the city foolishly ignoring its danger, he quickly put it under martial law and rallied the citizens to prepare for attack.
To build up his small regular army, he recruited frontier riflemen from Tennessee and Kentucky and organized a force of raw volunteers--free blacks, planters, and pirates headed by the freebooter, Jean Lafitte (see Lafitte). This was the awkward force of some 5,500 that Jackson fused together.
Beyond the crude American ramparts of cotton bales lay 10,000 British regulars. These were veteran troops who had fought in Europe's Napoleonic Wars. Beginning late in December 1814 they bombarded the American defenses, setting the cotton bale ramparts afire. Between skirmishes and shellings, Jackson's men doggedly threw up earthen breastworks.
On Jan. 8, 1815, with only contempt for Jackson's amateur army, the British troops charged. It was a slaughter. Wave after wave of the charging redcoats fell before the grapeshot and rifle bullets of the grim American defenders. Shattered, the British withdrew, having suffered 2,237 casualties, including three generals. Jackson's casualties that day were only 71. (See also War of 1812.)
The tragic mistake of the battle was that it was fought after the peace had been signed days earlier, Dec. 24, 1814, ending the war. In that era of slow communication, news of the peace did not reach Jackson in time to prevent the conflict.
---------------------------------------------------------
From Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia Deluxe © 1999 The Learning Company, Inc.

Rifles. Rifle shooting was a way of life on the American frontier, and in farming settlements on the Atlantic seaboard rifles were used for recreation as well as for protection and hunting. The flintlock Kentucky rifle, produced from about 1750 by American gunsmiths from England, Germany and Switzerland, provided fair accuracy up to 200 yards--then considered a long range.
---------------------------------------------------------
From Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia Deluxe © 1999 The Learning Company, Inc.

The Forebears and Descendants of Caleb Baker of Prince Edward County, Virginia by Katherine Baker Johnson Knoxville, Tennessee 1940 Dar # 30324
Retyped copy from D.A.R. file
Received February 2, 2000 Mike Baker NL7G@aol.com
C o n t e n t s
Robert Baker, Sr., Pennsylvania…………………………………… included

Caleb Baker, Sr., Pennsylvania and Virginia …………………… included

Caleb Baker, Sr., Will …………………………………………… included

Martha Baker, Will ……………………………………………….. included

Caleb Baker, Jr., of Virginia ……………………………………… included

Caleb Baker, JR., Will ……………………………………………. included

William Baker son of Caleb Jr. ………………………………….. included

Will of William Baker of Virginia - Kentucky ………………….. not included

Sarah Baker Jones ………………………………………………… not included

Lucy Baker Jones ………………………………………………… not included

Abner Baker of Virginia - Kentucky ……………………………. not included

Abner Baker Will ………………………………………………… not included

Caleb Hodnett Baker, Sr., of Kentucky and Tennessee ………… not included

Caleb Hodnett Baker, Sr., Will …………………………………. not included

Caleb Hodnett Baker, Jr., of Tennessee ………………………… not included

Letter from Caleb Baker, Sr., to his cousin Thompson Rector not included
of Webberville, Texas ……………

Other Baker Records ……………………………………………… Partial

John Hodnett ………………………………………………………. Not Included

Nicholas Welch …………………………………………………… Not included

War Record of William Buford …………………………………… not included

Letter from William Buford of Kentucky to his brother
Henry Buford in Bedford County, Va …… Not included
Statement ……………………………………………………………. Partial

Robert Baker Sr.

The first of this family in America appears to have been Robert Baker who settled in Conestaga Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania.

This Township became Lancaster County in 1729, as this family does not appear on the tax lists of any of the other Townships, it is possible that the settlement in Conestaga was the original home of the family from their arrival in America.

Abner Baker, great - grand son of Robert Baker, states in his "Life Book" that this family came to America from England, and that three brothers, Samuel, Andrew, and Caleb were gunsmiths, with a commission from the King of England to manufacture arms for the Colonies. That they were gunsmiths is proven by Court records in Penn. Also in North Carolina.

The first record we find of Robert Baker, is the administration of his estate dated Sept. 13, 1728. Robert Baker, died without a will and his son Caleb Baker was appointed administrator of his estate; along with these original papers at the Registers Office at the Court House in Lancaster county is the Administrators Bond; an Inventory, and the administrators accounts; the Bond was signed by the Administrator, Joseph Higginbotham and Tobias Hendricks, Sureties; and witnessed by Douglas Baker and Joshua Lowe. The inventory enumerates chattel's, Harvest Crops, Live Stock, and 450 Acres of land, this was signed by Tobias Hendricks, David Jones and Joseph Higginbotham, Appraisers.

The account does not give the distribution of the net estate among the heirs merely the administrators disbursements of obligations, many of these were small, and among the creditors were the names of Caleb Baker, Robert Baker Jr., and Douglas Baker.

In a deed dated July 4th, 1741 from Caleb Baker and wife Martha Baker, to Jacob Good it is stated that part of the land deeded by them had originally belonged to Robert Baker, father of Caleb, that upon his death his personal property "could not answer to satisfy his debts". The orphans Court ordered that it be sold to satisfy his creditors, whereupon the land was sold to John Cunningham on Feb. 16, 1738 and upon Feb. 17, 1738 he in turn sold part of this tract of 450 acres to Caleb Baker, son of Robert.

Abner Baker in his "Life Book" states that his grandfathers two brothers, Andrew, and Samuel, also came to Virginia. Records in Lancaster County, Penn. Would indicate that there were other sons of Robert: Robert Jr., Douglas. Douglas also came to Prince Edward Co. Virginia as court records show.

CALEB BAKER SR.
Of Prince Edward County Virginia

Dr. Abner Baker of Garrard County, Kentucky in his life book, "written for the perusal and encouragement of his children and relatives, "states that his grandfather Caleb Baker (Beaker) and two brothers, Samuel and Andrew came from England in the early part of the eighteenth century; Samuel and Andrew held commissions from the King of England to manufacture fire-arms for the use of the colonies. Caleb was a farmer."
They settled within what was then Chester County, Pennsylvania. References to these and others of the Baker name are found among the early archives of Pennsylvania. The first reference found of Caleb Baker was where his name, along with other early settlers of Chester County, was attached to a petition, dated February 6, 1728-29, which reads in part:
"To the Honorable Patric Gordon, Esq. Governor of the province of Pennsylvania, New Castle, Kent and Sussex, on Delaware, and Council; - The benefit of many good and wholesome laws almost if not entirely lost and ye person who has occasion to apply to them, out to great and burdensome expense ------to be ye charges of a journey of eighty or a hundred miles, to the County town; and as we are mostly new settlers far from a market, and trade and commerce, among ourselves mostly by way of barter, money cannot supposed plentiful, --- we humbly pray you would be pleased to order a division line to be made between the upper and lower part of Chester County" (Penn. Archives, sixth series, Vol XIV. Page 268.
That part which was cut off Chester County, was named Lancaster County: where on May 18th 1748, Caleb Baker received a grant for two hundred acres of land. (Penn. Archives, Third series, Vol. XXIV, page 356)
Dr. Abner Baker also states that his Grandfather, Caleb Baker and family, removed from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, bought land and settled in what was then called, "The Backwoods" in Amelia County, Virginia, on Buffalo Creek, where his plantation was located, part of which was purchased July 20, 1748.
(Va. His. Mag. Vol. XXII, P-94.)

Subj: Re: Fwd: Kentucky Rifle
Date: 5/15/00 6:00:46 AM Pacific Daylight Time
From: ran.raider@wright.edu (Ran Raider)
To: MaggieCal@aol.com, BBrown7152@aol.com (Byron Brown), NL7G@aol.com (Mike Baker)

Hi Maggie,

From what I understand, for the most part the Kentucky/Pennsylvania Rifle is
based on German gun making. The only change between the Kentucky and German guns was the length of the barrel, which made the Kentucky Long Rifle more accurate in the woods of the frontier. There are a few Filson Club articles and the
Lancaster, PA historical society also has a few articles regarding the birth of
the Kentucky Long Rifle. A curious bit of side information is that there was a
Joshua Baker who was German and also a gun maker who was a contemporary of Caleb
and Samuel Baker.

My notes below:

A number of Baker researchers have noted that Robert Baker and his sons were
gunsmiths in Pennsylvania. I found
the following information in: Whisker, James B. Arms Makers of Pennsylvania.
Selinsgrove: Susquehanna
University Press, 1990. See pages 37-38.

________. Gunsmiths of Lancaster and York Counties, Pennsylvania. Lampeter;
Edwin Mellen Press, Ltd., 1990.
See pages 6-8.

Grove, Charles. "List of Gunsmiths of Lancaster County Pennsylvania, Period
1728-1863." Journal of the Lancaster
Historical Society. Vol. 72, no. 1, 1968, pages 50-60.

Baker, Caleb, 1719-41, Gunsmith, worked with his father, Robert Baker, on the
confluence of Pequa [Pequea] Creek
and the Susquehanna River, Lancaster Co.

Baker, Robert (d. 1728), 1717-28, gunsmith at the confluence of Pequa Creek and
the Susquehanna River, Lancaster
Co.

Baker, Samuel. 1717-19, worked with his brother, Robert Baker, Lancaster Co. In
1719 Robert bought out Samuel's
interests.

Other Baker gunsmiths listed for Lancaster County:

John S. Baker, 1728-50, Lancaster County boro (t) [tax list] He was born in
Germany. His shop was on Factory Rd.,
south of Lancaster, near the Rockford Plantation. See Whisker, Arms above.

"Joshua Baker, a gunsmith of the town of Lancaster, d. June 1754, (will
probated 3 July 1754) leaving a wife Rebecca
[Crawford of Donegal, m. 27 December 1737], and children: Isaac, Mary, m. Rev.
John Elder, Joshua, Ann, m. _____
Doughtery, Eleanor, m. _____ Woods. His executors were the wife, Rev. George
Craig and Thompson." In Egle,
Notes, see pages Third Series, Vol. II, 247-248. "Several of his children
appear to have died young, and none of his
descendants remain in Lancaster County." See Egle, Pennsylvania. see page 28.
See also; Abstracts of Lancaster
County Pennsylvania Wills: 1732-1785. Family Line Publications, 1995.

[a note for the above, Rev. Thompson's daughters would marry into our Baker line]

Rebecca Crawford was married first to Rev. James Anderson (she was his second
wife) and then married Joshua
Baker.

Family of Robert Elder, b.ca. 1679 at Scotland, emigrated from Lough Neagh,
county Antrim, Ireland to America
about 1730 to Paxtang township then Lancaster now Dauphin County Pennsylvania,
d. 28 July 1746 at Paxtang. m.
Eleanor _____, b. 1684, d. 25 October 1742.
Issue:

1.Robert Elder, b. 1704, m. and had issue
2.John Elder, b. 26 January 1706, m/1. Mary Baker, m/2. Mary Simpson.
Educated at University at Edinburgh
3.Thomas Elder, b. 1708, m. Mary Patterson, dau. of William Patterson of
Paxtang
4.David Elder, b. 1710, m. Hannah Anderson
5.James Elder, b. 1712, settled in Fannett township, Cumberland County
Pennsylvania
6.Ann Elder, b. m. John Anderson of Octoraro

Mary Baker is given as born in County Antrim, Ireland, d. 12 June 1749 at
Paxtang. John Elder and Mary Baker were
married in 1740 at Dauphin County Pennsylvania.
Issue:

1.Robert Elder, b. 11 June 1742 Friday, m. Mary J. Thompson
2.Joshua Elder, b. 9 March 1744-45, m/1. Mary McAllister, m/2. Sarah
McAllister
3.Eleanor Elder, b. 3 December 1749, m. John Hays
4.Grizel Elder, b. 2 May 1749, d. 18 September 1769

In: Egle, Pennsylvania. See pages 187-192.

Subj: Re: Robert Baker Jr.
Date: 5/20/00 5:03:42 PM Pacific Daylight Time
From: ppickler@webtv.net (Pam Pickler)
To: BBrown7152@aol.com

This is what I have on the Andrews: the children of Robert SR. were (1)
Caleb SR. b.about 1690; d 1775 Amelia Co. VA (2) Andrew b.1720; d.
Grayson Co.VA (3) Douglas b.1700 (4) Mary "May" b.abt.1700 d.
Walnut Grove, Ashe Co. NC (5) Samuel b. abt 1700 d. 1757 Mecklenburg
Co. NC; m.Elizabeth Thompson. (6) Robert Jr. b.abt 1708; d.abt 1759.
Now child # (2) Andrew was married to Mary Bolling: Their children
were: (1) Abednego m.? Floyd. (2) Lenard (3) Elijaah b.1742,
Lunenburg Co. VA: m. Sarah Copeland The next Andrew Baker is the
brother of my 4 great grandfather Morris (Morry) Baker. This Andrew is
Rev. Andrew Baker born 1749, Augusta Co. VA later of Grayson Co. VA. he
died Sept 24, 1815, Lee Co. VA . He is buried in Robert Clark's
Cemetery south west of Jonesville, Lee Co. VA. He was married to
Ellizabet Avent they had 9 children (1) Solomon b April13, 1770 (2)
Henry b. Aug.14,1774 (3) Andrew b.Feb.18, 1777 (4) Joseph b. April 8,
1779 (5) James b, Jan.27, 1782 (6) John b.Aug. 15. 1784 (7) Nancy b.
Jan. 10, 1787 (8) Elijah b. May 8, 1789 (9) Martha b. Oct. 27, 1791
Much has been submitted by Carol Wytt-- ewyatt@wsnet.com I don't know if
this is a good e-mail address. Much of what she had came from bible
records belonging to Grace Witt Brockman of Houston, TX. a descendant of
Martha Baker Davis, daughter of Rev. Andrew Baker. I hope I have been
of some help. Oh!! Rev. Andrew was a Private under Capt. Isaac Ruddles
during the Revolution ( This came for Collins History of KY) If this
information turns out different please let me know. Pam Pickler

Subj: Robert Baker
Date: 6/6/00 6:17:10 AM Pacific Daylight Time
From: ekony@ctos.com (Elliot & Willy Konieczny)
To: bbrown7152@aol.com

Hi Byron,
Haven't heard from you in quite some time. I been
working on a booklet for our Baker Family Reunion
in Allendale, Mo. Wanted to put in a few things about
our descendents, and while checking I came across this:

Robert Baker married Susanna Packer
December 24, 1709
at the Philadelphia Monthly Meetings of Friends
From: "RECORDS OF PA. MARRIAGES"
Vol. 11 Page 204

Either Robert was married before, or a lot of the
birth dates for his children are wrong. Or we have
the wrong wife for Robert. Robert Jr., is listed as
being born 23 years before Robert and Susanna
were married.

You may pass this on, I had deleted some address'
when the last virus came out, not wanting to cause
a problem for other people on my address list.

Let me know what you think.

Willy



More About Robert Baker and Susan Packer:
Marriage: Abt. 1685, Pennsylvania.

Children of Robert Baker and Susan Packer are:
  1. +Andrew Baker, b. 1692, Pennsylvania, d. date unknown, Grayson Co, Virginia.
Created with Family Tree Maker


Search for Family - Learn About Genealogy - Helpful Web Sites - Message Boards - Guest Book - Home
© Copyright 1996-99, The Learning Company, Inc., and its subsidiaries. All rights reserved.
© Copyright 1995-97 by Matthew L. Helm. All Rights Reserved.