Zachariah Baker & Sarah Cox

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

Zachariah Baker was born ca 1775/80 (per census analysis). I don't know where he was born.

I don't know who Zachariah's parents were. There were several Bakers in the area who could be his father. Morris Baker was old enough to be his father, but I don't know if he is. (I've seen other researchers list him as Morrises son, but I have no idea what proof they used.)

Zachariah Baker would probably have been home with his parents for the 1790 census and listed in the "under 16" age group (born ca 1774/90). There were ten Baker households in Wilkes County that year, and all but one of them had at least one apparent son this age, so that doesn't help to narrow down the list of possible parents.

On 28 Apr 1798 Zacheriah Baker and Henry Hardin witnessed a deed from George Sizemore to John Cox for land on Praters Creek. (Wilkes Co, NC Deed Book D page 347 from Wilkes County, North Carolina Deed Books D, F-1 & G-H 1795-1815 by Mrs. W. O. Absher.). (Note: This book can be purchased from Amazon.com)

On 8 July 1798, James Baker, Anny Baker and Zachariah Baker witnessed a deed from William Savage to Henry Hardin for land on Cranberry Creek. I'm assuming that James Baker is the one born ca 1775/80 who was still in the area in 1800. Anny could be his wife or Zachariah's wife. (Wilkes Co, NC Deed Book D page 485 from Wilkes County, North Carolina Deed Books D, F-1 & G-H 1795-1815 by Mrs. W. O. Absher.). (Note: This book can be purchased from Amazon.com)

In 1799, Ashe County was formed from the north western portion of Wilkes County, including the area were most of the Wilkes County Bakers lived.

Zachariah Baker probably married in the 1790's in Wilkes, now Ashe County. His wife was Sarah Cox as proven by several records. She was a daughter of John Cox. Census analysis shows she was born ca 1770/80.

For the 1800 census, Zachariah Baker was listed in Ashe County along with several other Bakers. Unfortunately this census was alphabetical, so I can't tell who his neighbors were, nor where he was living.

!CENSUS:1800 Ashe Co, NC pg 72 Zachariah Baker 10010-10100
Analysis:
1 Male(s) 26-44 (1755-1774) Zachariah BAKER (1775/80)
1 Male(s) 0-9 (1790-1800) Son? (1794/1800)
1 Female(s) 16-25 (1774-1784) Sarah COX Baker (1770/80) wife
1 Female(s) 0-9 (1790-1800) Daughter (1794/1800)

Zachariah was still in Ashe County for the 1810 census, but unfortunately the census taker only used initials, but he was the only "Z" Baker in the county. He was not listed near any other Bakers.

!CENSUS:1810 Ashe Co, NC pg 6 Z. Baker 11010-31010-0-0
Analysis:
1 Male(s) 26-44 (1765-1784) Zachariah BAKER (1775/80)
1 Male(s) 10-15 (1794-1800) Son? (1794/1800) –> gone by 1820
1 Male(s) 0-9 (1800-1810) Son? (1804/10)
1 Female(s) 26-44 (1765-1784) Sarah COX Baker (1770/80) wife
1 Female(s) 10-15 (1794-1800) Daughter? (1794/1800) –> gone by 1820
3 Female(s) 0-9 (1800-1810) Daughter? (1800/10) –> gone by 1820
Daughter? (1800/04)
Daughter? (1804/10)

Zachariah Baker was listed on the 1815 Ashe County Tax list in Captain Weaver's District on "South Fork" (also listed in that district was Thomas Baker, Morris Baker, John Baker, Elijah Baker and James Baker, with James also on South Fork.)

Zachariah Baker was listed on the 1820 census in Ashe Co, NC. There were quite a few Baker families in Ashe County, NC. Unfortunately, the 1820 Ashe County census was alphabetical, so we can't determine where anyone lived, nor who their neighbors were.

!CENSUS:1820 Ashe Co, NC pg 4 Zachariah Baker 310010-11101
Analysis:
1 Male(s) 26-44 (1775-1794) Zachariah BAKER (1775/80)
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? (1815/20)
1 Female(s) 45 & up (before 1775) Sarah COX Baker (1770/80) wife
1 Female(s) 16-25 (1794-1804) Daughter? (1800/04) –> gone by 1830
1 Female(s) 10-15 (1804-1810) Daughter? (1804/10)
1 Female(s) 0-9 (1810-1820) Daughter? (1810/15)

Zachariah Baker was still in Ashe Co, NC for the 1830 census. Fortunately, this one was in the original order, so we can determine (more or less) where each person lived and who their neighbors were. He was listed near Morris Baker (1780/90) and two houses from James Baker (1775/80).

!CENSUS:1830 Ashe Co, NC pg 5 Zachariah Baker Sen 1112000100000-1001100100000
Analysis:
1 Male(s) 50-59 (1770-1780) Zachariah BAKER (1775/80)
2 Male(s) 15-19 (1810-1815) Son? (1810/15)
Son? (1810/15)
1 Male(s) 10-14 (1815-1820) Son? (1815/20)
1 Male(s) 5-9 (1820-1825) Son? (1820/25)
1 Male(s) 0-4 (1825-1830) Son? (1825/30)
1 Female(s) 50-59 (1770-1780) Sarah COX Baker (1770/80) wife
1 Female(s) 20-29 (1800-1810) Daughter? (1800/10)
1 Female(s) 15-19 (1810-1815) Daughter? (1810/15)
1 Female(s) 0-4 (1825-1830) Daughter? (1825/30)

I was unable to find Zachariah Baker on the 1840 census in Ashe County (the younger Zachariah was still there.) He may have died in the 1830's or moved away. An apparent widow Sally Baker (1770/80) was listed in Ashe in 1840. She could have been Zachariah's wife, but I have no evidence that she was the same person as his wife Sarah Cox Baker, though "Sally" is a common nickname for "Sarah" and if it is her, they must have separate for he was still alive then.

I found a Zachariah Baker this same age in 1840 Morgan County, Tennessee who could be the same man. I don't know if he is or not but it looks promising. This man did not have an apparent wife with him. Does that mean Sarah Cox Baker had died or was she back in Ashe County at this time?

Marty and Karla Grant

www.martygrant.com