Marty and Karla Grant

!NOTES:See wife's notes;

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

Sarah Baker is an apparent widow. The one and only record I have for her is her entry on the 1840 census in Ashe County. It seems likely that she is a widow of some Mr. Baker who died in the 1840's. There are only a few choices for her Mr. Baker.

Sarah was born ca 1770/80 (per 1840 census). I don't know her maiden name. Her 1840 census listing showed her as "Sally" which is a common nickname for "Sarah."

Sarah probably married her Mr. Baker before 1810 (for her 1840 census entry seems to show a daughter born ca 1800-10). She may have married quite a few years before 1810.

Looking at the 1810 census as a stating point, Sarah should be with her spouse and would be between 30 and 40 years of age, so she should be enumerated in the age 26-44 group (born ca 1765/84). The correct family would also have at least one daughter "under 10" (born 1800/10). Unfortunately the census taker in 1810 only used initials for each household, but many of the Bakers had an apparent wife this age and one daughter that age: J. Baker, probably James Baker (1775/80) was a match; Z. Baker, probably Zachariah Baker (1775/80) was a match; S. Baker, probably Samuel Baker (1755/65) was a match; S. Baker, probably Solomon Baker (1770) was also a match. Of these, James (1775/80) was married to Ann Cox (proven). Zachariah Baker (1775/80) was married to Sarah Cox, which makes them an attractive possibility for a match. Samuel Baker's wife is not known, and neither is Solomon's.

For the 1820 census, this Sarah would have been between 40 and 50 years of age, so she should be enumerated in either the 26-44 group (born ca 1775/94) or in the 45 and up group (born 1775), depending on when her birth day fell in the 1770's. She should also have a daughter at home born 1800/10, so enumerated in either the 16-25 group (1794/1804) or the 10-15 group (1804/10). James Baker (1775/80) was a match, but as noted before, his wife was Ann Cox; Thomas Baker (1760/65) was a match, though in 1830 his wife was older, born 1760/70, so that is not a good match for Sarah, though it could work if she was born ca 1770. Zachariah Baker (1775/80) was a match in 1820, and as noted before his wife is Sarah Cox (proven). John Baker (c1783) was also a match, but he was also listed in 1840 and 1850, so not Sarah's husband. Of these, Thomas and Zachariah seem the most likely matches.

In 1830 Sarah would have been between 50 and 60 years of age, so she ought to be enumerated in that age group, though there is room for her to be in the next category older or younger depending on her actual birth date. Her family should also have an apparent daughter (1800/10) so aged 20-29. Zachariah Baker (1775/80) had a wife (1770/80) and daughter (1800/10) and we know his wife was named "Sarah." In fact, he is the only good match in 1830.

Sarah's husband must have died in the 1830-1840 time period for she is listed as head of household in 1840 in Ashe County. Also it should be noted that Zachariah Baker was not listed in 1840 Ashe County (though I did find someone of his same name and exact age in Morgan Co, TN that year, but he had no wife at home with him there). Could this Sarah in 1840 Ashe County be Sarah Cox Baker, proven wife of Zachariah? If so, did Zachariah die in the 1830's, or is that him in Tennessee without his wife? Sally was two houses from Hiram Baker (c1804), her son perhaps? (I've speculated that Hiram was a son of Thomas Baker (1760/65) which may or may not be true).

!CENSUS:1840 Ashe Co, NC pg 17 Sally Baker 0000000000000-0200010010000
Analysis:
1 Female(s) 60-69 (1770-1780) Sarah “Sally” (—) Baker (1770/80) widow of ?
1 Female(s) 30-39 (1800-1810) Daughter? (1800/10)
2 Female(s) 5-9 (1830-1835) Daughter? Granddaughter? (1830/35)
Daughter? Granddaughter? (1830/35)

There is one other thing worth considering regarding Sarah "Sally" Baker. I have assumed that she is the older woman in this household in 1840 (born 1770/80), but "Sally," the head of household here, might be the younger woman born ca 1800/10. There is no way to be positive which of these two woman was considered the head of household, and there is no way to know which of the two women was Sally. If the younger one was Sally, then that means this is a woman who probably married a Mr. Baker no later than the early 1830's, and that he died before 1840.

I did not find Sarah on the 1850 census in Ashe County.

Further research is needed to figure out if this Sarah is the same as Sarah Cox Baker, wife of Zachariah, or if she is widow of some other Baker, yet unidentified, and whether or not she was born ca 1770/80 or ca 1800/10.

Children

Sarah (---) Baker in 1840 had one apparent daughter born 1800/10 and two girls 1830/35. Nothing else is known of them.