Person:Jacob Baker (10)

Jacob Baker was born ca 1760/1765 per census analysis. It isn't known where he was born, though perhaps in Rowan Co., NC where he seems to have lived later on. Jacob's parents are unknown, nor are any siblings known or suspected. He lived many years in Ashe Co., NC where many Bakers lived, but he doesn't seem to be related to that large Baker family.

There were Bakers in Rowan County as early as the 1750's when the county was first formed. The relationships of these early Bakers to Jacob Baker is unknown. Perhaps there is none.

Jacob Baker's name does not appear in the Rowan County Court Minutes (1753-1762) nor in the Rowan County Deeds (1753-1785) (as published by Jo White Linn).

Jacob Baker married someone, probably in the mid 1780's in Rowan Co., NC. No marriage record was found, nor has any record been found that gives Mrs. Baker's name.

Jacob Baker lived somewhere along Grants Creek in Rowan County. Grants Creek rises in southern Rowan in the present City of Kannapolis, and flows north westerly through Salisbury emptying into the Yadkin River. It is about 18 miles in length. Jacob lived somewhere along its waters.

On 11 Feb 1786 Jacob (x) Baker, Oliver Hendren and Thomas Prather witnessed a deed from Jacob Booe, Wheelwright, to Benjamin Booe for land on Dutchman’s Creek. (Rowan Co., NC Deed Book 17 page 512 from Abstract of the Deed Books 15-19 of Rowan County, North Carolina, 1797-1807. James W. Klutz, 1997.)

On 18 Feb 1786 Jacob Booe (signed in German) deeded land to Joseph Booe on Dutchman’s Creek. Jacob (x) Baker, Jacob (x) Coone, Thomas Prather and were witnesses. Jacob Baker signed in the German form. This may not be the same Jacob Baker as Dutchman's Creek is in present day Davie County several miles from Grants Creek. (Rowan Co., NC Deed Book 15 page 136 from Abstract of the Deed Books 15-19 of Rowan County, North Carolina, 1797-1807. James W. Klutz, 1997.)

Jacob Baker of Dutchman's Creek is clearly a different person from Jacob Baker of Grants Creek, but for the sake of completeness, his records will be included herein, just in case.

The 1790 census shows only one Jacob Baker in Rowan. The census was roughly alphabetical, but within groups, presumably by community. Some of the other members of Jacob's group were names that appear with him frequently in the deeds such as Richard Graham, members of the Freeze family, David Houk and others. Griffith Rutherford was also in that group. This is clearly the Jacob Baker who lived on Grants Creek. No sign of the Jacob Baker of Dutchman's Creek on this census.

• 1790 Rowan Co, NC pg 174 Jacob Baker 1-2-2-0-0
• Analysis:
• 1 male 16 and up (born before 1774)=Jacob Baker (1760/65)
• 2 males under 16 (1774/1790)=1-Unknown son; 2-Unknown son
• 2 females (no ages)=1-Mrs. Baker; 2-Unknown daughter

One of the unknown sons may be Phillip Baker (1780/90) who was near Jacob later on in Ashe Co., NC. The unknown daughter might be Mary Margaret Baker (c1790) who was also near Jacob in Ashe County, and was born in Rowan.

Jacob Baker was mentioned in a deed dated 7 Aug 1792 between Capt. Richard Graham and Paul Barringer, Esquire (of Mecklenburg Co., NC). The deed was for land on the north side of Grants Creek adjoining David Boston, Jacob Baker, Frederick Severt, James McCulloch, Martin Phifer and Jacob Boston. Witnesses were Will Cathey, L. S. Beard. (Rowan Co., NC Deed Book 12 page 728 from Abstract of the Deed Books 11-14 of Rowan County, North Carolina, 1786-1797. James W. Klutz, 1996)

The above shows that Jacob Baker was already a land owner by 1792. Where did he get the land? No deeds were found for him prior to that date. Perhaps it was a land grant. There should be a record of it somewhere. Most of the other names in the deed were all found near Jacob on the 1790 census so this is clearly that same Jacob.

On 1 Sep 1793 Jacob Stalling and wife Ann sold land to Jacob Baker, for £65. It was 217 3/4 acres adjoining William Pool, Samuel Howel, Mary Rash, George Koonse, Stephen Ellis, Harvey Jones, Robert Bedwell. Witnesses were James Noland, Henry (x) Baker. (Rowan Co., NC Deed Book 13 page 379 from Abstract of the Deed Books 11-14 of Rowan County, North Carolina, 1786-1797. James W. Klutz, 1996)

The names in this deed were listed on the 1790 census in Rowan in the section after Jacob Baker's section, so they were probably living near him, though not "next door" as it were. Henry Baker could be a brother or other close relation.

On 16 Sep 1794 Samuel Upright, Weaver (signed in german) sold land to Jacob Baker, Blacksmith, for £60, being 60 acres north side of north fork of Grants Creek adjoining Peter Freeze, Jacob Freeze, Henry Houk, Frederick Sickler. Witnesses were Matt Cathey, Alex Cathey. (Rowan Co., NC Deed Book 16 page 204 from Abstract of the Deed Books 15-19 of Rowan County, North Carolina, 1797-1807. James W. Klutz, 1997.)

This is clearly the same Jacob Baker from the 1790 census based on the neighbors.

On 17 Apr 1796 Jacob Baker (and Josiah Tomlinson) witnessed a deed from David Woodson Sr to James Gordon being 278a Jameys Creek. (Rowan Co., NC Deed Book 16 page 381 from Abstract of the Deed Books 15-19 of Rowan County, North Carolina, 1797-1807. James W. Klutz, 1997.)

On 18 Jan 1797 David Houk sold land to Peter Freeze, which included a Sawmill adjoining Jacob Baker, Henry Freeze Sr, John Freeze, the Sawmill dam, James McCulloch and Samuel Freeze. (Rowan Co., NC Deed Book 14 page 752 from Abstract of the Deed Books 11-14 of Rowan County, North Carolina, 1786-1797. James W. Klutz, 1996)

The names in this deed were all listed in the same section with Jacob Baker on the 1790 census.

On 8 May 1798 Jacob Baker (and Martha McPeters) witnessed a deed from John Reed, John Campbell, and Charles McPeters, executors of Daniel McPeters, to Michael Baker, for 173 acres on both sides of Back Creek adjoining Fergus Graham and Stewart. (Rowan Co., NC Deed Book 16 page 260 from Abstract of the Deed Books 15-19 of Rowan County, North Carolina, 1797-1807. James W. Klutz, 1997.)

It isn't certain if this is the same Jacob Baker from Grants Creek or not.

On 18 May 1799 Jacob Booe Sr (signed in German), planter, sold land to Jacob Baker, planter, for £40, 70 acres adjoining Samuel Barley, Squire Boone (formerly), Henry Baker (formerly), and George Boone. Wit: Henry Buckner, Isaac Linster. (Rowan Co., NC Deed Book 16 page 746 from Abstract of the Deed Books 15-19 of Rowan County, North Carolina, 1797-1807. James W. Klutz, 1997.)

This is probably not the same Jacob Baker from Grants Creek, but rather the one from Dutchman's Creek region (present day Davie County).

There were two Jacob Bakers listed on the 1800 census in Rowan Co., NC. One of them had a very large family, but it doesn't align with the 1790 census entry for Jacob (of Grants Creek), so it is probably Jacob of Dutchman's Creek (present day Davie County). This is further proven by the fact that Jacob is listed next to Jacob Booe who sold him the land on Dutchman's Creek. The other entry in 1800 is perfect match for the 1790 entry, so that one is probably Jacob of Grants Creek. He had many of the same neighbors from 1790 and from the various deeds in the 1790's.

• 1800 Rowan Co, NC pg 340 Jacob Baker 02010-01010
• Analysis:
• 1 male 26-44 (born 1755/1774)=Jacob Baker (1760/65)
• 2 males 10-15 (1784/1790)=1-Unknown son; 2-Unknown son
• 1 female 26-44 (1755/1774)=Mrs. Baker (1765/70)
• 1 female 10-15 (1784/1790)=Unknown daughter

As before it seems likely that one of the unknown sons is Phillip Baker (1780/90) and the daughter is Mary Margaret Baker (c1790).

On 24 Nov 1801 Jacob Baker of Rowan Co., NC sold land to Joseph Orneel, late of Newcastle Co., PA, for $180, being 60a north side of north fork Grants Creek adjoining Peter Freeze, Jacob Freeze, Henry Houk, and Frederick Sighler. Witnessed by Matthew Brandon, Betsey Brandon. (Rowan Co., NC Deed Book 18 page 226 from Abstract of the Deed Books 15-19 of Rowan County, North Carolina, 1797-1807. James W. Klutz, 1997.)

This deed in 1801 probably signals Jacob's removal to Ashe Co., NC for just prior he had entered some land in Ashe probably with the intention of moving there.

Ashe County was formed in 1799 from Wilkes. Jacob Baker's name does not appear in the Wilkes County Court Minutes (1778-1788) or in the deed books (1778-1803), so he does not seem to have been there earlier than 1801. It isn't 100% certain that Jacob Baker of Grants Creek, Rowan Co., NC is the same Jacob Baker who lived in Ashe and Wilkes Counties, but it seems very likely as those counties are nearby, and Jacob's (unproven) children were born in Rowan and married and lived in Ashe.

On 11 Aug 1801 Jacob Baker entered 500 acres in Ashe County on the north fork of New River adjoining Charles Roark's field including a Sugar Camp. (North Carolina Land Entry # 426 from Abstracts of Land Entries Ashe County NC Part 1 (Feb 1800 - Jun 1809) by Dr. A.B. Pruitt, 1994)

On 6 Aug 1805 Jacob Baker entered 100 acres on south fork of New River beginning at lane where said Baker lives. (North Carolina Land Entry # 1256 from Abstracts of Land Entries Ashe County NC Part 1 (Feb 1800 - Jun 1809) by Dr. A.B. Pruitt, 1994)

On 13 Feb 1808 Jacob Baker entered another 100 acres bordering his own land where he lives including vacant land towards Piney Knob. (North Carolina Land Entry # 1833 from Abstracts of Land Entries Ashe County NC Part 1 (Feb 1800 - Jun 1809) by Dr. A.B. Pruitt, 1994)

For some reason he moved to neighboring Wilkes County for a little while.

On 9 Aug 1809, Jacob Baker (and John Judd, and John McQueary) witnessed a deed from Robert Bruce to Larkin Cash for land on Reddies River and Browns Creek. (Wilkes Co, NC Deed Book G-H page 371 from Wilkes County, N.C., Deed Books D, F-1 and G-H, 1795-1815, Mrs. W. O. Absher)

He was listed on the census in Wilkes Co, NC for 1810. Though there were other Baker families there, he wasn't listed near any of them. His 1810 household seemed to contain extra people, old enough to have been with him in 1800, but who weren't. No way to know who they were for certain. They weren't his own children, though a few of them could be. Perhaps he remarried in the 1800's and the rest of these were step-children.

• 1810 Wilkes Co, NC pg 260 Jacob Baker 11211-10110
• Analysis:
• 1 male 45 and up (born before 1765)=Jacob Baker (1760/65)
• 1 male 26-44 (1765/1784)=Unknown
• 2 males 16-25 (1784/1794)=1-Unknown; 2-Unknown
• 1 male 10-15 (1794/1800)=Unknown
• 1 male 0-9 (1800/1810)=Unknown
• 1 female 26-44 (1765/1784)=Mrs. Baker (1765/70)
• 1 female 16-25 (1784/1794)=Unknown
• 1 female 0-9 (1800/1810)=Unknown

By 1815 Jacob was back in Ashe County. He was listed on the tax list there for the year 1815 in "Captain Baker's District". He was the only Baker listed in that district, so presumably he was "Captain Baker". He was listed with 586 acres on Beaver Creek. His land entries total 700 acres, so perhaps he had disposed of some of it by 1815, or perhaps it wasn't granted to him yet.

Jacob Baker was listed on the 1820 census in Ashe Co, NC. Unfortunately, the 1820 Ashe County census was alphabetical, so we can't determine where anyone lived, nor who their neighbors were.

• 1820 Ashe Co, NC pg 4 Jacob Baker 010101-00001
• Analysis:
• 1 male 45 and up (before 1775)=Jacob Baker (1760/1765)
• 1 male 16-25 (1794/1804)=Unknown
• 1 male 10-15 (1804/1810)=Unknown
• 1 female 45 and up (before 1775)=Mrs. Baker (1765/1770)

Jacob 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. Jacob Baker was listed somewhat close to Phillip Baker, who is probably his son (no direct proof of that though).

• 1830 Ashe Co, NC pg 2 Jacob Baker 0001000010000-0000000010000
• Analysis:
• 1 male 60-69 (1760/1770)=Jacob Baker (1760/1765)
• 1 male 15-19 (1810/1815)=Unknown
• 1 female 60-69 (1760/1770)=Mrs. Baker (1765/70)

Jacob Baker was not listed on the 1840 census. However, his suspected son Phillip Baker had moved to Cherokee Co, NC by 1840, and he had an extra male and female with him who were the right age to be Jacob and wife. There is no way to be positive it was them though. If it was, that means that Jacob and wife died sometime after 1840, probably in Cherokee Co, NC.