Dr. Simmons Jones Baker

Notes:

Went to London, England

Simmons married Nancy Cleverius Seawell on 21 Dec 1814 in Wake Co., North Carolina. Nancy was born about 1795; died on 4 May 1843 in Raleigh, Wake Co., North Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Elizabeth S. Baker was born about 1816.

Simmons married Polly Turner Smith on 29 Oct 1795. Polly was born about 1777; died on 26 Oct 1812 in Martin Co., North Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Laura Lucinda Baker was born about 1813 in Martin Co., North Carolina.
2. Emily Baker was born about 1797.
3. Anna Maria Matilda Baker was born about 1798.
4. Ann Baker was born about 1796.
5. Mary Eliza Baker was born about 1800.
6. James Lawrence George Baker was born in 1799.
7. Simmons Jones Baker, Jr. was born in 1805; was buried in Marianna, Florida.

Notes:

[Simmons Jones Baker Manuscript]

"...My father was a large man six feet high & weighing two hundred & sixty pounds - He was cheerful but generally grave a kind husband Father & master, prudent & direct in the management of his affairs & was universally respected. as proof of his standing in his County - he when a candidate for the Convention that was to consider & decide on The Federal Constitution (of which he was a warm advocate) received every vote in the County but five. He was Clerk of the Court of Gates from the time it was separated from Hertford until his death, many years. He married Ann Jones daughter of Capt. Albridgton Jones of Southampton Virginia (whose father was a Welshman,) his wife a sister of Col. Charles Simmons of an English family. My mother had several children, twins twice, of which I was
one. My twin Brother Albridgton Jones with one or two others died at the time my mother did - The disease was Dysentery & there is reason to believe badly treated. After -- --- There were four children left, - Henry, who died when nearly grown Elizabeth, Agatha & myself. My two Sisters were extensively known & need no commendation - The were both most excellent women.
Soon after the death of my mother my Father went in to the Army - he was Col. of a regiment
Col. Jonas Johnston of Edgecombe being in command. He was in the battle of Stone River near Charleston in South Carolina under Command of Gen. Lincoln - it was a hard fought battle & I have been told by some who were present that my honored Father acquitted himself like a brave man. He was a member of the Convention at Halifax but did not stay to sign it, having been appointed Col. of a regiment & went home to prepare for active service. He did not attend the Convention at Hillsborough to which as before mentioned he had been elected in consequence of the death of my Brother Henry about the time. After the return of my Father from the Army he married not long after Anna Maria Burgess who made him a most-- excellent wife & very kind stepmother - She was the daughter of the Rev . Thomas Burgess of Halifax an Englishman & of the Episcopal Church -"

Lawrence married Ann Jones about 1770. Ann (daughter of Abridgton Jones and Unknown Simmons) was born about 1752; died in 1775 in Hertford Co., North Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Henry married Catherine Booth between 1735 and 1740 in Isle of Wight Co., Virginia. Catherine was born about 1715 in Isle of Wight Co., Virginia; died about 1775. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Abridgton married Unknown Simmons. Unknown was born about 1732. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

[Will of Henry Baker]

IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN, I, Henry Baker, of Chowan, North Carolina, being in good health of Body and of Sound and perfect mind and Memory, praise be therefore given to almighty God, Do make and ordain this present last will and testament, in Manner and form following, that is to Say: FIRST and principally I command my Soul into the hands of almight God, hoping through the merits, Death and Pasion of my Savior Jesus Christ, to have full and free pardon and forgiveness of all my Sins and to Inherit everlasting life; and my Body I commit to the earth to be buried at the Discretion of my Executors almighty God to bestow upon me, I give as follows: FIRST, I will that all my Debts and funerall Charges be paid and Discharged. ITEM, I give to my son, Henry, all the Land whereon I now live, to him and his heirs. ITEM, I give unto my Son, Henry, these Negroes, To Wit, Guy, Clouse, Bobb, Ceasar, Ned, Jacob, young Diner, and Hager and their increase. ITEM, I Give unto my Son Henry, my watch, Seal, Desk, Six
rusia Chares, ye great Glass, my Sword, one ovel table, besides what I have already or heretofore given him. ITEM, I give unto my son, John, all my land at a place called Little Town, and my land joining on Banks, Wynn and ascue, and the Land bought to William Garrat, all in Bertie precinct, with ye Stock thereto belonging, to him and his heirs. ITEM, I give to my Son, John, these negroes, To Wit, Arthur, Juno, Finney, little Bobb, and Dick and their increase. ITEM, I give to my Son, Blake, my land bought of John and Thomas Wickings in Chowan, and five hundred acres thereto adjoining, which I took up; and my land at Ahoskey marsh in Bertie and the Stock thereto Belonging, to him and his heirs. ITEM, I give to my son, Blake, these negroes, To Wit, Cipio, Joe, Patt, and Argalus and their increase. ITEM, I give to my Daughter Mary, these Negroes, To Wit, Darby, Lucey and Peter and their Increase. ITEM, I give to my Daughter, Sarah these Negroes, Cato and Priss and their Increase. ITEM, I give to my Son, David, 130 acres of Land at Meherring Landing and adjoining to the ferry, to him and his heirs. ITEM, I give to my Daughter Ruth, twenty shillings. ITEM, I give to my Son Laddock, twenty shillings. ITEM, My will and desire is that my wife, Ruth, have the use of these negroes, To Wit, Tom, Bendo, Daniel, Dinah, and Joyce, Brady, during her natural life and after her Decease I give Tom and Dinah to my Son, Henry, Daniel to my Son, John, and Bendo to my Son, Blake. ITEM, I give my wife Ruth, all the rest and residue of my personall Estate whatsoever and my will and desire is that my wife, Ruth, have and enjoy the Back room and Entry and half ye Orchard to be Divided from the house Westerly and Land adjoining to the plantation to work on Dureing her Natural Life or widowhood. ITEM, My will and desire is that if it so
happens that my Son, John, should die in his Minority, that then the Land I have given him Shall go to my son Blake, and his heirs. My will is that my land at ye Knuckles, in Nansemond, be Sold by my Executor towards ye payment of my Debts. I do hereby nominate, Constitute, ordain and appoint my Brother William Baker to be my Executor; and in case of his Death, I do appoint my Brother, James Baker; and in case of his Death, I do appoint my Brother, Lawrence Baker, of this my last will and Testament, revoaking and making null and void all former Wills. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and Seal, this Ninth Day of January, 1737. Signed, Sealed, Published, and Declared, by the Said Henry Baker as his last Will and Testament in Presence of the Subscribers, Edward Vann, John Brady, Edward Warren
Note: May ye 1st 1739. Came before me Edward Vann, John Brady, and Edward Warren, and Made Oath
that they saw Henry Baker Sign, Seal, and publish ye within as his last will and testament; that he was of Sound and Disposing mind and Memory at that time and That these Deponents Subscribed as Witness thereto. At ye Same time William Baker the oath appointed by law to be taken by the Executor.

[North Carolina Will Abstracts, 1660-1790]

Name Location Will Date Probate Date
Henry Baker Chowan County 09 Jan 1737 01 May 1739
Will
Sons: Henry ("All the land whereon I now live * * * these negroes vizt: Guy, Clouse, Bob, Caesar, Ned, Jacob, Young Diner and Hagar * * * my watch, seal, desk, 6 Russia chares, ye great glass, my sword, one deal table"); John ("All my land at a place called Little Town and my land joining on Banks Wynn & Askue, and the land bought of William Garret in Bertie precinct * * * these negroes, vizt, Arthur, Juno, Finney, Little Bobb and Dick * * *"); Blake ("land bought of John and Thomas Wilkins in Chowan * * * land on Ahoskie Marsh in Bertie and the stock thereto belonging * * * these negroes, vizt, Cipio, Joe, Patt and Argalus"); David ("130 acres of land at Meherring Landing adjoining to the ferry"). Daughters: Mary and Sarah (two negroes to each), Ruth. Son: Zadock, (twenty shillings). Wife: Ruth (six negroes). Brothers and Executors: William, James and Lawrence Baker. Witnesses: Edward Vann, John Brady, Edward Warren. Proven before W. Smith, C. J. Original of this will is missing. Abstract made from recorded copy No. 81 in Land Grants, Book 4.

[Bertie County, North Carolina Vital Statistics, 1700s-1920]

Name: Baker, Henry Sr.
Birth Date: Bef 1700
Death Date: Jan 11, 1739
Spouse: Ruth
Children: Henry, John, Blake, Davis, Zadock, Mary, Sarah, Ruth
Other: Wealthy. Owned land in Bertie and Chowan county. Brothers: William, James, Lawrence, Henry
Birth Place: Bertie co., NC
Marriage Place: Bertie co., NC
Death Place: Chowan co., NC
Occupation: Planter

[Candy Baker]

CAPTAIN HENRY BAKER II:
When Angela Bray ran off with the Ships Captain, Henry Baker married Ru
Chauncey.

He inherited 4550 acres which included 2500 acres at "Bucklands". Sheri
of Nansemond Co., VA, colonel of the militia and Burgess, 1723-26. When
the VA-NC line was re-drawn, the property was located in Chowan Co., NC;
these acres are in present-day Gates Co., NC. "Bucklands" is located 2
miles off Highway 13 on highway 37. House still standing but in need of
repair in 1972. In 1722 he established the first ferry across the Chowan
River, not far from Winton.

Henry married Angelica Bray between 1704 and 1715. Angelica (daughter of Nathan David Bray and Judith Horn) was born between 1673 and 1685 in Isle of Wight Co., Virginia; died between 1718 and 1730 in Kingston, Jamaica. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]