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 Ashe County.

James Baker was born ca 1794/1800 (per census analysis). I don't know where he was born, though probably in what is now Ashe County, North Carolina (which was part of Wilkes County until 1799).

I don't know who James' parents were. There were several Bakers in the area who could be his father. James Baker (1775/80) had an apparent son this age. Morris Baker (bef 1755), Zachariah Baker (1775/80), and Thomas Baker (1760/65) also had at least one apparent son James' age (per 1800 and 1810 census records). Any of them (or none of them) could be his dad. I have no evidence to narrow it down yet except that he was living very near to Thomas Baker in 1830. That makes him the prime candidate to be his father.

James Baker would probably have been home with his parents for the 1800 census and listed in the "under 10" age group (born ca 1790/1800). The Baker's I mentioned above as possible parents, each had an apparent son that age in 1800.

James would probably have been home with his parents in 1810 probably in the age 10-15 age group (born ca 1794/1800). James Baker (1775/80) had an apparent son that age, as did Zachariah Baker (1775/80) and Morris Baker (bef 1755) as did an unidentified "J. Baker" who might be John Baker (1783). I don't think he was old enough to be James' father, but could be an older brother instead. (Thomas, whom I suspect is his father was listed in Wilkes County in 1810 and did not have any sons that age with him).

James Baker did not appear to be listed on the 1815 Ashe County Tax list, so he probably did not own any land yet.

James Baker married someone between 1810 and 1820, presumably in Ashe County (no marriage record found). I don't know his wife's name, but she was also born ca 1794/1800.

James 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. He was listed as James "Jr" but that does not mean he is a son of James Sr, only that both were of legal age and had the same name and needed to be distinguished in someway. "Sr" and "Jr was the common way to do it.

!CENSUS:1820 Ashe Co, NC pg 4 James Baker Jr 300100-00100
Analysis:
1 Male(s) 16-25 (1794-1804) James BAKER (1794/1800)
3 Male(s) 0-9 (1810-1820) Son? (1810/20) –> gone by 1830 unless 1820/25
Son? (1815/20)
Son? (1815/20)
1 Female(s) 16-25 (1794-1804) Wife? (1794/1800)


Around 1828 another James Baker (1800/10) came of age and of course it is possible to mix up any records pertaining to them. The younger one used "Jr" on at least one record that I've found, which means that both were listed as "Jr" at various times.

James 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. Thomas Baker (1760/65) was close by, perhaps his father, or at least an Uncle.

!CENSUS:1830 Ashe Co, NC pg 11 James Baker 1220010000000-1000010000000
Analysis:
1 Male(s) 30-39 (1790-1800) James BAKER (1794/1800)
2 Male(s) 10-14 (1815-1820) Son? (1815/20)
Son? (1815/20)
2 Male(s) 5-9 (1820-1825) Son? (1820/25)
Son? (1820/25)
1 Male(s) 0-4 (1825-1830) Son? (1825/30)
1 Female(s) 30-39 (1790-1800) Wife? (1794/1800)
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. The younger James was not listed either, though the elder James Baker (1775/80) was still there.
Children

James Baker had lots of children per the 1820 and 1830 census records. I have not identified any of them yet. I would assume that all of them migrated away in the 1830's with their parents.