Family talk:Jonathan Bacon and Elizabeth Giles (1)

Baker vs. Bacon [7 November 2012]

According to Source:Baldwin, Thomas Williams. Bacon Genealogy : Michael Bacon of Dedham, 1640 and His Descendants, p. 34, Jonathan, the husband of Elizabeth Giles, is the son of Michael and Sarah Bacon, b. Billerica 14 Jul 1672 (this is found in Billerica VR p. 13). According to this page, Elizabeth's husband is Jonathan Baker, s/o John and Susanna Baker, b. Woburn 2 Apr 1674 (found in Woburn births, Vol. 1, p. 14).

The marriage record in Billerica say "BAKEN (see Bacon), Jonathan and Elizabeth Giles, June 3, 1694, in Woburn". The marriage record in Woburn says "Jonathan Baker and Elizabeth Giles, of Billerica, Jan. 3, 1694." Clearly Baken or Baker was written and misread in one or the other record. The question is which one is correct.

I note the following:

• Jonathan Baker was too young to marry, being not yet 20. Not foolproof, but fairly reliable indicator. Jonathan Bacon was 21 1/2.

• I cannot find any births in Woburn or Billerica for children of Jonathan and Elizabeth Baker.

• I can find births in Billerica for Jonathan and Elizabeth Bacon: Elizabeth 26 Nov 1695, Sarah 25 Dec 1696, Anna 28 Apr 1698, Jonathan 18 Dec 1700 (dup under Bakon), Mary 18 Sep 1702, Bridget 5 Jan 1706/07, Anna (again) 19 Aug 1709. Sarah is the only one that appears to be named after a potential grandparent.

• I cannot find a death of Jonathan Baker or Jonathan Bacon that would rule either person out, though I haven't yet found any positive indication that Jonathan Baker lived to adulthood outside the marriage record in question. Michael Bacon deeded property to his son Jonathan Bacon 1 Sep 1697, according to the Bacon Genealogy, and his first wife, named Elizabeth d. 1738, and he died 1754 at age 82, which calculates to a birth in 1672, matching the birth of Jonathan Bacon in Billerica.

I believe Bacon is the correct answer. Sources are needed to support Baker as the right answer. --Jrich 10:39, 7 November 2012 (EST)

Removed Thomas Baker as husband. --Jrich 03:46, 14 August 2022 (UTC)