Marty and Karla Grant

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

There are probably records for James Baker in Rowan and Surry County that may be illuminating. I have some of his Wilkes County records. There may be more in Ashe County waiting to be found. I'm sure I do not have all of the applicable records for James Baker, but I'll get them as time permits.

James Baker was born ca 1758 or before (perhaps much before). I base this on the first record that I have for him so far dated 1779 where he was named to be a juror. He had to be at least 21 already to be a juror, so born ca 1758 or before. I've seen other researchers list his birth in the 1720's or thereabout, but I have no idea what they base that on. I don't know where he was born.

I don't know who James Baker's parents were. You'll find contradictory parents listed for him in various places on the Internet, but never with any proof attached, so I won't mention any of those names here.

I don't have any early records on James Baker yet. The first one I've found so far is dated 1779 putting him into the Ashe County, NC area at that time.

James married Mary --- at some point in time, but I don't know when or where, nor if she was his only wife, but she was his wife at the time of his death (1801) as named in his Will. I have no idea what her maiden name might have been.

Surry County was formed from Rowan County in 1771 and this included the area where James Baker lived.

Wilkes County was formed in 1777 from Surry County and included the area where James Baker lived.

The first record I've found for James in Wilkes County is a Court record dated 5 Mar 1779 where James Baker and others were ordered to attend the next court as jurors. (Wilkes Co, NC Court Minutes from Wilkes County, North Carolina Court Minutes 1778-1788 Volumes 1 & 11 by Mrs. W. O. Absher.) (Note: This book can be purchased from Amazon.com)

On 7 Dec 1780 James Baker was listed as a juror in Wilkes County Court. (Wilkes Co, NC Court Minutes from Wilkes County, North Carolina Court Minutes 1778-1788 Volumes 1 & 11 by Mrs. W. O. Absher.)

On 5 Dec 1781, James Baker proved the Last Will and Testament of Hugh Smith, Deceased. He was listed as the Executor. (Wilkes Co, NC Court Minutes from Wilkes County, North Carolina Court Minutes 1778-1788 Volumes 1 & 11 by Mrs. W. O. Absher.)

On 4 Jun 1782 an Inventory of the Estate of Hugh Smith, deceased, was proven by James Baker, Executor. (Wilkes Co, NC Court Minutes from Wilkes County, North Carolina Court Minutes 1778-1788 Volumes 1 & 11 by Mrs. W. O. Absher.)

On 23 Oct 1782 Morris Baker received a 91 acre State Land Grant on North Side South Fork New River, bordering James Baker and Andrew Baker. This deed shows that James, Morris and Andrew were probably closely related, perhaps all brothers. (Wilkes Co, NC Deed Book A-1 page 322 from Wilkes County, North Carolina Deed Books A-1, B-1, C-1 1778-1803 by Mrs. W. O. Absher.) (Note: This book can be purchased from Amazon.com)

On 29 Sep 1784 George Morris sold 300 acres to James Baker, on the South side South Fork New River, bordering Charles Rowland. Witnessed by James Bunyard and Robert Nall. (Wilkes Co, NC Deed Book A-1 page 521 from Wilkes County, North Carolina Deed Books A-1, B-1, C-1 1778-1803 by Mrs. W. O. Absher.)

On 23 Oct 1784, James Baker received a State Land grant of 100 acres on east side of South Fork of New River bordering Morris Baker. (Wilkes Co, NC Deed Book A-1 page 359 from Wilkes County, North Carolina Deed Books A-1, B-1, C-1 1778-1803 by Mrs. W. O. Absher.)

On 25 Apr 1785 James Baker was named overseer of the road in room of (in place of) John Read who resigned. The road was not described, but it was probably near his home. (Wilkes Co, NC Court Minutes from Wilkes County, North Carolina Court Minutes 1778-1788 Volumes 1 & 11 by Mrs. W. O. Absher.)

On 22 Sep 1785 James Baker received a State Land Grant of 320 acres on Buffalow Creek. (Wilkes Co, NC Deed Book B-1 page 18 from Wilkes County, North Carolina Deed Books A-1, B-1, C-1 1778-1803 by Mrs. W. O. Absher.)

On 24 Jan 1786 it was ordered that several men including James Baker act as a road jury for a road from John Sheppards to foot of Mountain at head of Reddies River. All of these men presumably were neighbors and lived in that area: William Nall, Morris Baker, James Baker, Martin Adams, John Read, Jesse Ray, John Robins, William Vias, James Sheppard, Barnet Owen, David Owen, Francis Vannoy, Martin Gambill, John Tyre, Nathaniel Vannoy and Robert Sheppard. (Wilkes Co, NC Court Minutes from Wilkes County, North Carolina Court Minutes 1778-1788 Volumes 1 & 11 by Mrs. W. O. Absher.)

James Baker was listed on the 1787 State Census in Wilkes County. He was listed in Captain Nall's District. His probable brother Morris Baker was also listed in that district.

1784-1787 NC census analysis (based on available evidence): (Explanation of this census)

1787 Wilkes Co, NC pg 173 James Baker 1-4-1-1-0
Analysis:
1 Male(s) 21 - 60 (1727-1766) James BAKER (bef 1758)
4 Male(s) -21 +60 (1766-1787) Son? (1774/87)
Son? (1774/87)
Son? (1774/87)
Son? (1774/87)
1 Female(s) all ages (bef 1787) Mary — Baker, wife

On 23 Jan 1787 a road crew was named for the road from James Bakers on New River to Franklins Road: Martin Gambill, David Richardson, William Richardson, Cannaday Richardson, James Williamson, John Fips, Moses Toliver, Jesse Toliver, Zachariah Wells, Ephraim Osborn, David Smith, Alexander Smith, Alexander Johnson, William Scott, William Collens and Morris Baker. (Wilkes Co, NC Court Minutes from Wilkes County, North Carolina Court Minutes 1778-1788 Volumes 1 & 11 by Mrs. W. O. Absher.)

On 7 Apr 1787 James Baker sold David Smith 100 acres bordering Morris Baker on South side of New River. Witnessed by Robert Nall and Phillip Johnson. James Baker signed with a mark. (Wilkes Co, NC Deed Book C-1 page 9 from Wilkes County, North Carolina Deed Books A-1, B-1, C-1 1778-1803 by Mrs. W. O. Absher.)

On 27 Jun 1787 it was ordered that all hands (able bodied men) within 10 miles of the road from James Bakers to Franklins road help clear out the said road with Alexander Smith and Martin Gambill as overseers. (Wilkes Co, NC Court Minutes from Wilkes County, North Carolina Court Minutes 1778-1788 Volumes 1 & 11 by Mrs. W. O. Absher.)

On 18 May 1788 James Baker and William Nall witnessed a deed from William McClain to Stephen Scrich. (Wilkes Co, NC Deed Book B-1 page 12 from Wilkes County, North Carolina Deed Books A-1, B-1, C-1 1778-1803 by Mrs. W. O. Absher.)

On 29 Apr 1788 the Wilkes County Court ordered a road jury be named to view the road a new road through Thomas Dicksons on New River instead of present road. These men were probably all neighbors and some probably related to each other: David Smith, John Boyd, Leven Cole, John Anderson, Alexander Johnson, Ambrous Collens, James Sparks, Andrew Baker, James Baker, William Scott, John Parmely, Ephraim Parmely, Alexander Smith, George Baker, James Bunyard and John Read. (Wilkes Co, NC Court Minutes from Wilkes County, North Carolina Court Minutes 1778-1788 Volumes 1 & 11 by Mrs. W. O. Absher.)

On 17 Mar 1788 James Baker sold Christian Shearer 320 acres on a Branch, including his improvement into Buffalow Creek, Rich side of Negro Mountain and Naked Creek. Witnessed by Andrew Baker and James Bunyard. James Baker signed with a mark. (Wilkes Co, NC Deed Book B-1 page 15 from Wilkes County, North Carolina Deed Books A-1, B-1, C-1 1778-1803 by Mrs. W. O. Absher.)

On 31 Oct 1788 it was ordered that a jury view the road from foot Mountain to head of Reddies River to Doeny's Nob (Knob): William Nall, John Robins, Andrew Baker, James Baker, Justice Boling, William Colvard Jr, David Owen, Morris Baker, John Koonts, Alexander Smith, David Smith, Robert Nall, Fredrick Blair, John Anderson and John Tiry. (Wilkes Co, NC Court Minutes from Wilkes County, North Carolina Court Minutes 1778-1788 Volumes 1 & 11 by Mrs. W. O. Absher.)

On 28 Jan 1789 it was ordered that Jesse Ray (who was married to Eleanor Baker) and his company assist James Baker and his company in opening the enwr road from far end of Dockreys Knob to the Top of Blue Ridge. (Wilkes Co, NC Court Minutes from Wilkes County, North Carolina Court Minutes 1789-1797 Volumes III & IV by Mrs. W. O. Absher.) (Note: This book can be purchased from Amazon.com)

James Baker was listed on the 1790 census in Wilkes County. He was listed next door to Morris Baker (brother?). They were in the 16th Company, which is presumably that part of Wilkes which later became Ashe County.

!CENSUS:1790 Wilkes Co, NC pg 124 James Baker 1-4-1-0-2
Analysis:
1 Male(s) 16 and Up (before 1774) James BAKER (bef 1758)
4 Male(s) under 16 (1774/1790) Son? (1774/87)
Son? (1774/87)
Son? (1774/87)
Son? (1774/87)
1 Female(s) any age (before 1790) Mary (—) Baker, wife

On 28 Jul 1790 a road jury was made to view the road from Bear Creek up a ridge along the ridge to the Waggon Road: James Bunyard, James Baker, Morris Baker, Peter Eller, Fredrick Black, John Fouts, John Sheets, David Smith, Thomas Dixon, Alexander Smith, William Sturdie, Owen Williams, Christian Shearer, Henry Michael and Bob Gardner. (Wilkes Co, NC Court Minutes from Wilkes County, North Carolina Court Minutes 1789-1797 Volumes III & IV by Mrs. W. O. Absher.)

On 25 Oct 1790, James Baker was listed as a member of a Grand Jury in Wilkes County. (Wilkes Co, NC Court Minutes from Wilkes County, North Carolina Court Minutes 1789-1797 Volumes III & IV by Mrs. W. O. Absher.)

James appeared on several juries and road juries in the early 1790's in Wilkes County.

On 3 May 1793 James Baker and others were ordered to view the road from Bar Creek to the Virginia line to be in direct course to cross Iron Mountain at Head of Fox Creek. (Wilkes Co, NC Court Minutes from Wilkes County, North Carolina Court Minutes 1789-1797 Volumes III & IV by Mrs. W. O. Absher.)

On 4 May 1796 James Baker was appointed Constable for 1796. Alexander Smith, Esquire gave Security. (Wilkes Co, NC Court Minutes from Wilkes County, North Carolina Court Minutes 1789-1797 Volumes III & IV by Mrs. W. O. Absher.)

Sometime before April 1797, James Baker moved his family to nearby Jefferson County, Tennessee. On 28 Apr 1797, James Baker of "Jafason" County, Tennessee sold 300 acres to John Koons, being on south side of South Fork New River, Charles Rowlands line. Witnessed by Martin Gambill and Morris James. This seems to be the same land he bought in 1784 from George Morris. (Wilkes Co, NC Deed Book D page 148 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)

James Baker, Anny Baker and Zachariah Baker witnessed a deed on 8 Jul 1798, but I'm pretty sure that is a younger James Baker, and not this one. (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.)

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.

For the 1800 census, James Baker was not found. He was probably in Jefferson County, Tennessee and unfortunately the 1800 census is lost for Tennessee.

According to Gale Wallen, James Baker made his Will on 11 Mar 1801 in Jefferson County, Tennessee. She shared this:
Jefferson Co TN Will Book 1:24I, James Baker of Jefferson Co, Tenn.wife Marymy six sons: William, Morriss, John, Robert, James and Larkinmy two daus: Nancy and MaryAll an equal share of all my estate what shall be left at the marriage ordeath of their mother, Mary Baker, Executrix, Son William Baker and FriendRichard Bailey, Executors.Signed by mark of James Baker 11 March 1801Wit: Elihu Macy, James Hodges