Marty and Karla Grant

!NOTES:From my web page formerly at: www.martygrant.com

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 Ashe County.

James Baker was born ca 1800/10 (per 1830 census). I don't know where he was born, though probably in Ashe County, North Carolina.

I don't know who James' parents were. Census analysis shows several possible suspects.

James 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). Several of the Baker families listed in Ashe County that year had an apparent son that age. One of these could be James' 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; 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 for this James Baker, for every Baker household in the county that year had at least one son of approximately the same age.

In 1820 James Baker would probably still be home with his parents. He should have been enumerated in either the 16-25 age group (born ca 1794/1804) or in the 10-15 age group (born ca 1804/10), depending on what his actual birth date was. Jacob Baker (1760/65), my ancestor, had one apparent son in each of those age groups; James Baker (1775/80) had two sons of matching ages; Jonathan Baker (1775/80) had three possible matching sons; Thomas Baker (1760/65) had one matching son; Zachariah Baker (1775/80) had one matching son; Elijah Baker (1794/1800) had one matching male, and John Baker (1783) had one matching son. Like the 1810 census, the 1820 census does not help narrow down the suspects too much.

James Baker married someone in the 1820's. There is a marriage record dated 20 Oct 1828 between a James Baker and a Catherine Baker (a cousin?) in Ashe County. This may be the same James Baker under discussion here.

James Baker was listed in Ashe Co, NC for the 1830 census. He was listed as "Jr" and was next door to Zachariah Baker (1775/80) and just a couple of houses from James Baker "Sr" (1775/80) and from Morris Baker (1780/90).

1830 census analysis (based on available evidence): (Explanation of this census)

1830 Ashe Co, NC pg 5 James Baker Jr 0000100000000-1101000000000
Analysis:
1 Male(s) 20-29 (1800-1810) James BAKER (1800/10) s/o ?
1 Female(s) 15-19 (1810-1815) Wife? (1810/15)
1 Female(s) 5-9 (1820-1825) Daughter? (1820/25)
1 Female(s) 0-4 (1825-1830) Daughter? (1825/30)


I was unable to find James Baker on the 1840 census. He may have died in the 1830's or moved away, though the elder James Baker (1775/80) was still there.
Children

James Baker had two daughters per the 1830 census records. I have not identified them yet. I would assume that they migrated away in the 1830's with their parents.