Marty and Karla Grant

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

Samuel Baker was born ca 1755/65 (per census analysis). I don't know where he was born.

I don't know who Samuel's parents were. Absalom Baker (died 1777) of Rowan County had a son of this name, but I don't know if this is him or not.

Samuel Baker appears to have had children born before 1790, but I did not find him on the 1790 census in Western North Carolina.

On 29 Jul 1793 Samuel Baker and others were named to be on the road crew to view the road from Deep Gap to Rich Mountain. (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)

On 6 Aug 1794 Samuel Baker and others were named for a road jury to view the road from County road extending through Deep Gap of Blue Ridge to Deep Gap in Rich Mountain at head of Meat Camp Creek from there to the state line on Stone Mountain. This gives us a good clue where Samuel Baker lived for only local residents had to perform such duty. (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)

On 30 Jul 1797 Samuel Baker and others were ordered to view the road from Stonesiphers to Deep Gap of Blue Ridge Mountain. (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)

On 4 May 1798 Samuel Baker (signed with a mark) and Joseph Hagaman witnessed a deed from Joseph Hagerman Sr to William Stevens. (Wilkes Co, NC Deed Book D page 712 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)

On 5 Dec 1798 Samuel Baker received a 100 acre land grant on Watauga River, entered 19 Nov 1780 (I wonder why it took so long to get granted?). (Wilkes Co, NC Deed Book D page 543 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)

On 7 Jun 1799 Samuel Baker received a 50 acres land grant on Watauga, bordering Benjamin Ward. (Wilkes Co, NC Deed Book D page 620 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)

On 23 Dec 1799, Samuel Baker received a 50 acre land grant on Watauga River, bordering Esquire Baird. (Wilkes Co, NC Deed Book D page 615 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)

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, Samuel Baker was listed in Ashe County along with several other Bakers. Unfortunately this census was alphabetical, so I can't tell who his neighbors were, nor where he was living. His household includes a woman born before 1755, who could be his widowed mother, or mother-in-law.

!CENSUS:1800 Ashe Co, NC pg 74 Samuel Baker 01010-01001-0-0
Analysis:
1 Male(s) 26-44 (1755-1774) Samuel BAKER (1755/74)
1 Male(s) 10-15 (1784-1790) Son? (1784/90)
1 Female(s) 45 & up (before 1755) Wife? Mother? (Bef 1755)
1 Female(s) 10-15 (1784-1790) Wife? Daughter? (1784/90)


Samuel may still in Ashe County for the 1810 census, but unfortunately the census taker only used initials, so there are two men named "S. Baker" listed. One of them is probably Solomon Baker (1770) and the other is probably Samuel. If the ages are to be believed, it leaves it clear which must be Samuel, but the enumerations here in 1810 do not line up very well with the 1800 entry so this may not be Samuel at all, but there is no way to be sure. He was next to "J. Baker" (bef 1765), whom I have not positively identified yet. I think this is the right entry for Samuel for he had a neighbor who was a Baird and that name was listed as an adjoining landowner on one of his land grants.

!CENSUS:1810 Ashe Co, NC pg 7 S. Baker 40101-12010-0-0
Analysis:
1 Male(s) 45 and up (bef 1765) Samuel BAKER (1755/65)
1 Male(s) 16-25 (1784-1794) Son? (1784/90)
4 Male(s) 0-9 (1800-1810) Son? (1800/10)
Son? (1800/10)
Son? (1800/10)
Son? (1800/10)
1 Female(s) 26-44 (1765-1784) Wife? (1765/84) * Not in 1800
2 Female(s) 10-15 (1794-1800) Daughter? (1794/1800) * Not in 1800
Daughter? (1794/1800) * Not in 1800
1 Female(s) 0-9 (1800-1810) Daughter?


I did not find Samuel Baker on the 1820 census in Ashe Co, NC. He may have died or moved away. The name is too common to randomly check all the "Samuel Baker" listings in 1820 and hope to find a match.

Children

Samuel Baker had a few children per the 1800 and 1810 census records. I have not identified any of them yet.