Marty and Karla Grant

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

William Baker was born ca 1807/08 (per 1850 census). He was born in North Carolina, probably in Ashe County where he later lived.

I don't know who William's father was, but his mother was apparently named Mary Baker (c1775) who was living with him in 1850 and 1860 (and probably in 1840 as well). I'm not sure who her husband was, but Jonathan Baker (1775/80) seems like the best suspect, but I can't be sure without further evidence.

William Baker would probably have been home with his parents for the 1810 census and listed in the "under 10" age group (born ca 1800/10). All of the Baker families listed in Ashe County that year had an apparent son that age. One of these could be his father. Unfortunately the census taker that year only used initials, so it is difficult to know who was who. J. Baker, probably James Baker (1775/80) had three sons that age; Z. Baker, likely Zachariah Baker (1775/80) had one son that age; another J. Baker (still unidentified) had five sons that age (this could be Jonathan Baker (1775/80); another J. Baker, probably John W. Baker (1783) had two sons that age; S. Baker, likely Samuel Baker (1755/65) had four sons that age; M. Baker, likely Morris Baker (bef 1755) had one son that age; and finally, another S. Baker, likely Solomon Baker (1770) had two sons that age. As you can see the 1810 census does not narrow down the list of possible parents very much.

In 1820 William Baker would probably still be home with his parents. He should have been enumerated in the 10-15 age group (born ca 1804/10). Jacob Baker (1760/65), my ancestor, had one apparent son 10-15; James Baker (1775/80) had one son 10-15; Jonathan Baker (1775/80) had two possible matching sons; Thomas Baker (1760/65) had one possible matching son; Zachariah Baker (1775/80) had one matching son; Elijah Baker (1794/1800) had one matching male, and John Baker (1783) also had one matching son. Like the 1810 census, the 1820 census does not help narrow down the suspects too much as almost all the Bakers in Ashe County had a son about William's age.

William Baker would have been 22 by the time of the 1830 census, so he should be listed in either the 20-29 age group (born ca 1800/10). Jonathan Baker (1775/80) had four sons 20-29 and he was the only Baker in Ashe that year with any apparent sons this age. Assuming William was still living at home at this time, then that makes Jonathan the prime suspect to be his father.

William Baker, "Esq" (Esquire, meaning he was a County official, probably a Justice of the Peace) was listed in Ashe County for the 1840 census. His household contained an adult male born ca 1770/80 and one born ca 1800/10. At first I though the older man was named William, but it appears that the younger one is William, based on census analysis. I could be wrong about this, but I'm not aware of any William Baker born in the 1770's in this area at this time. This older man could easily be William's father Jonathan (if that is his father) or some other older relative. An older woman of that same age was also there, and that is likely his mother Mary who was still with him in 1850 and 1860. They were not near any other Bakers.

!CENSUS:1840 Ashe Co, NC pg 2 William Baker 0010010010000-0000000010000
Analysis:
1 Male(s) 60-69 (1770-1780) Jonathan BAKER (1775/80) father? --> gone by 1850
1 Male(s) 30-39 (1800-1810) William BAKER (1807/08)
1 Male(s) 10-14 (1825-1830) Brother? (1825/30) --> gone by 1850
1 Female(s) 60-69 (1770-1780) Mary (—) Baker (1774/75) mother


William Baker was still in Ashe County for the 1850 census and not real far from John W. Baker (c1783). William's mother Mary was with him and an apparent brother named Franklin Baker (c1815). Two Phipps children were also there. (William later married Celia Phipps, perhaps the mother of these two kids).

!CENSUS:1850 Ashe Co, NC pg 297 # 866
William BAKER, 42, NC
Franklin, 35
Mary, 75
Nancy PHIPS, 16
Franklin, 12;

On 25 Aug 1856 "William Baker" married Celia Phipps in Ashe County. She was born ca 1813/14 (per 1850 census) in Ashe County. She was listed on the 1850 census with children but not husband, apparently widowed (or a single mother). I don't know if Phipps is her maiden name or if it was a previous husbands name.

They were still in Ashe County for the 1860 census not close to any other Bakers. Their post office was listed as Helton. Celia's Phipps children were there too, but listed as Bakers instead of Phipps, a common census error.

!CENSUS:1860 Ashe Co, NC pg 376B South Eastern Dist, Helton PO # 1013/1013
William BAKER, 52 NC
Sela, 45
Robert, 12
Otta, 10 m
Mary, 7
Mary, 86;

I have not yet traced this family beyond this point.

!CENSUS:1860 Ashe Co, NC pg 376B South Eastern Dist, Helton PO # 1013/1013
William BAKER, 52 NC
Sela, 45
Robert, 12
Otta, 10 m
Mary, 7
Mary, 86;