Marty and Karla Grant

!NOTES:I (Marty Grant) don't know how or if I'm related to John W. Baker, but he could easily be related to my ancestor Jacob Baker (1760/65) who also lived in Ashe County.

John W. Baker was born ca 1782/83 (per 1850 census) somewhere in Virginia (per 1850 census). I don't know what his "W" middle initial stands for.

I don't know who John's parents were. Since he was not born in Ashe County he may not be closely related to the other Ashe County Bakers, though her certainly could be related anyway since Ashe County borders Virginia.

John Baker would have probably been home with his parents for the 1790 census. Unfortunately the 1790 census is lost for Virginia.

He would probably have been home with his parents for the 1800 census, but that census is also lost for Virginia. It is possible that he was already in Ashe by then, but I have no way to know that for sure. If he was there (in Ashe) he would have been about 17 years old, so should be listed in the 16-25 age group (born ca 1784/90). Jonathan Baker (1775/80) had an extra male that age with him. Thomas Baker (1760/65) had an apparent son that age in 1800.

John Baker married someone before ca 1810, possibly in Ashe County (no marriage record found). I don't know his wife's name, but she was born ca 1775/94 (per 1830 census).

John may have been listed on the 1810 census in Ashe County, but the census taker only used initials that year, and there are three men named "J. Baker" listed. One of them is possibly John Baker. I've picked one that roughly matches his 1820 census entry, and although this might not be him, it fits fairly well. The problem with this entry is that there were several other men that could be this "J. Baker" instead: James Baker (1775/80), Jonathan Baker (1775/80), and Jacob Baker (1760/65). The "J. Baker" I picked was next door to "L. Fouts" (Leonard Fouts) who was my Uncle, and who's brother Jacob Fouts married Jacob Baker's daughter. This may mean that I've chosen the wrong "J" to be John.

!CENSUS:1810 Ashe Co, NC pg 7 J. Baker 21010-11101-0-0
Analysis:
1 Male(s) 26-44 (1765-1784) John W. BAKER (1782/83)
1 Male(s) 10-15 (1794-1800) Elijah BAKER (1794/1800)
2 Male(s) 0-9 (1800-1810) Son?
Son?
1 Female(s) 45 & up (before 1765) Mother? Mother-in-law? (Bef 1765)
1 Female(s) 16-25 (1784-1794) Wife?
1 Female(s) 10-15 (1794-1800) Daughter?
1 Female(s) 0-9 (1800-1810) Daughter?

John Baker was listed on the 1815 Ashe County Tax list in Captain Weaver's District. He was taxed for 500 acres on Grassy Creek (which is where Morris Baker lived).

John Baker was listed on the 1820 census in Ashe Co, NC. He was next door to Elijah Baker, his son.

!CENSUS:1820 Ashe Co, NC pg 20 John Baker 310010-21010
Analysis:
1 Male(s) 26-44 (1775-1794) John W. BAKER (1783/84)
1 Male(s) 10-15 (1804-1810) Son? (1804/10) –> gone by 1830
3 Male(s) 0-9 (1810-1820) Son? (1810/15)
Son? (1810/15)
Son? (1810/15)
1 Female(s) 26-44 (1775-1794) Wife? (1775/94) –> gone by 1830
1 Female(s) 10-15 (1804-1810) Daughter? (1804/10) –> gone by 1830
2 Female(s) 0-9 (1810-1820) Daughter? (1810/15)
Daughter? (1815/20)


Mrs. Baker died in the 1820's, presumably in Ashe County.

On 3 Apr 1830, John W. Baker obtained a marriage bond in neighboring Wilkes County to marry Keziah Cearley, daughter of Clement Cearley. Keziah was born ca 1790/1800 (per 1830 and 1840 census).

John Baker was still in Ashe Co, NC for the 1830 census. He had an older woman living with him born ca 1740/50. This could be his widowed mother or mother-in-law. They were listed not too far from Jonathan Baker (1775/80), relationship unknown.

!CENSUS:1830 Ashe Co, NC pg 14 John Baker 0103001000000-0011010000100
Analysis:
1 Male(s) 40-49 (1780-1790) John W. BAKER (1782/83)
3 Male(s) 15-19 (1810-1815) Son? (1810/15)
Son? (1810/15)
Son? (1810/15)
1 Male(s) 5-9 (1820-1825) Son?
1 Female(s) 80-89 (1740-1750) Mother? Mother-in-law? (1740/50) * Not in 1820
1 Female(s) 30-39 (1790-1800) Keziah CEARLEY (1790/1800) wife, m 1830
1 Female(s) 15-19 (1810-1815) Daughter? (1810/15)
1 Female(s) 10-14 (1815-1820) Daughter? (1815/20)


John was still in Ashe for the 1840 census. He was just a few houses from Harrison Baker (1816).

!CENSUS:1840 Ashe Co, NC pg 28 John Baker Sr 0001100100000-1002001000000
Analysis:
1 Male(s) 50-59 (1780-1790) John W. BAKER (1782/83)
1 Male(s) 20-29 (1810-1820) Son? (1810/15)
1 Male(s) 15-19 (1820-1825) Son? (1820/25)
1 Female(s) 40-49 (1790-1800) Keziah CEARLEY Baker (1790/1800) wife
2 Female(s) 15-19 (1820-1825) Daughter? (1820/25) * Not in 1830
Daughter? (1820/25) * Not in 1830
1 Female(s) 0-4 (1835-1840) Daughter? (1835/40)

John was still in Ashe for the 1850 census.

!CENSUS:1850 Ashe Co., NC pg 296 # 849/849
John Baker, 67 Farmer $2500 VA
Keziah 45 NC
Jacob McGrady 18 Laborer;

On 21 Jul 1855 John Baker made his Will in Ashe County. He named his wife "Kisiah", the heirs of "Eli J. Baker" (presumably his son), son John C. Baker, daughters Elizabeth Duvall, Sarah Greer and Eveline Smith. Executor William B. Smith. The Will was witnessed by Phillip Perkins and James H. Senter. The Will was proven in Court in August 1855, so John had died by that time. (Ashe County, North Carolina Will Book A page 105).

!CENSUS:1830 Ashe Co, NC pg 14 w/John BAKER age 30-39 (1790/1800);

!CENSUS:1840 Ashe Co, NC pg 28 w/John BAKER Sr age 40-49 (1790/1800);

!CENSUS:1850 Ashe Co., NC pg 296 # 849/849
John Baker, 67 Farmer $2500 VA
Keziah 45 NC
Jacob McGrady 18 Laborer;

!NAMED:21 Jul 1855 Ashe Co, NC Wills A-105 John BAKER pr Aug 1855. Wife Kisiah, heirs of Eli J. BAKER, son John C. BAKER, daughter Elizabeth DUVALL, Sarah GREER, Eveline SMITH. Executor: William B. SMITH. Witness: Phillip PERKINS, James H. SENTER;

I didn't find Kesiah on the 1860 census.

!NOTES:John Baker and his first wife and second wife Kesiah Cearley had lots of children per the 1820, 1830 and 1840 census. His Will (1855) only names five children. The rest may have died before then, or perhaps were left out of the Will for various reasons.

Unknown Daughter (1835/40). John W. Baker had an apparent daughter this age. She was home in 1840, age "under 5" (born ca 1835/40), but gone by 1850, so possibly married or dead by then.

I don't know who this child might have been.