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Thomas Baker was born 8 January 1711 according to the David Baker Family bible. He died 10 Jan 1777.
He married Dorothy Davenport. Born 2 November 1716, died 1790. See Bible Source Below.
1711 - Year of birth per the Baker family. [1]
"In the late 1720s-early 1730s, a Thomas Baker, reportedly the son of a William Baker and who had brothers named Josiah and William, married Davis Davenport’s granddaughter Dorothy, daughter of Martin Davenport. Their eldest son was named William and they also had a son named Josiah. The Bakers and Davenports, as well as other related families, were intermarried and in concurrent settlement in Spotsylvania, Louisa, and Culpeper counties in Virginia, and then in Western North Carolina from the early years of the Eighteenth Century and forward.
"Baker Family Genealogy claims that the Thomas who married Dorothy Davenport was born in Pennsylvania of a family that first arrived in America in 1635. That identification, as has been outlined above and will be discussed at various points below, is problematic at best. Moreover, the presence of a Thomas Baker line in the neighborhood of Davis and Martin Davenport from at least 1696 forward suggests that a Virginia origin for our Baker Family is far more likely. Marriages among commoners in those days, a description fitting both the Davenports and Bakers, were preponderantly among neighboring families, work days being long, travel being done by horse or foot, and parents exercising their influence."
1706 - Deed by Henry Nelson of King & Queen County and Elizabeth his wife to Thomas Baker of King William County, for 3000 lbs tobacco, 200 acres part of parcel granted to Henry Nelson by patent 23 October 1703. (King William County Records Book 1:330, Dated November 20, 1706) [The 1703 patent was for 2340 acres between North Wales Path and the branches of Perryes Swamp and Dorrells Swamp]
1718/9 - Land Patent: Thomas Baker, 132 acres of Escheated Land in New Kent County, on Baker’s branch, cornering on James Duke on Ware Creek, to mouth of Haynes Spring branch, being land escheated from John Haynes (Haines), Decd., by inquisition of Edmund Jennings, Esqr., for 100 acres. Upon survey returned by John Syme, Surveyor, found to contain 132 acres. For 2 pounds of Tobacco for every acre. (Virginia Patents, 11:13)
Thomas Baker died on 10 Jan 1777 in Culpeper County, VA, at age 66. In David Baker's Revolutionary War service pension application, he stated that his father had died while he was in service (and thus between February 1776 and February 1778).
The family history, repeated at various websites, is that Thomas Baker operated a gunpowder mill and was making gunpowder for the Continental Army when the mill exploded and he was killed. There is no known documentation of this story. To the contrary, although both will and deed books survive in their entirety in Culpeper County, there is no documentation even to suggest that Thomas died there. [3]
Bible of David Baker naming his parents, brothers, & sisters, with birth dates. These were also named by Charles Baker, with comments.
Thomas Baker born 8 Jan. 1711, died 10 Jan. 1777;
Wife
Dorothy Davenport Baker, born 2 Nov. 1716, died 1790, age 74.
Children
See also:
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Thomas is 22 degrees from Herbert Adair, 19 degrees from Richard Adams, 17 degrees from Mel Blanc, 25 degrees from Dick Bruna, 16 degrees from Bunny DeBarge, 31 degrees from Peter Dinklage, 17 degrees from Sam Edwards, 15 degrees from Ginnifer Goodwin, 17 degrees from Marty Krofft, 12 degrees from Junius Matthews, 14 degrees from Rachel Mellon and 13 degrees from Harold Warstler on our single family tree. Login to find your connection.
gives a good run down of why Thomas Baker is most likely related to this family. It seems wrong to leave Thomas Baker parents as William Baker & Mary from Massachusetts, when there is absolutely NO proof to that connection at all. Of course I am willing to be proven wrong. So, I suggest we disconnect this Thomas Baker from these Massachusetts's parents and just leave it blank. Also, where does this middle name "Corbie" come from or is this something just copied without proof. I would suggest that we also take off that middle name, until further proof is provided. In this time period most people did not have middle names yet.
https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Corbie-3
Notionally his mother's maiden name... if she's Mary Corbie who married William Baker. This line should be documented enough to prove or disprove the New England origin hypothesis. And Anne Baker here is profile manager for both family groups.
Can we resolve this?
The placement is spreading online to other websites where less diligent researchers cut and paste whatever they see connected. This can create a self-reinforcing fallacy thru repetition etc. I see Ancestry.com is now robo-suggesting the William Baker by Mary Corbie placement... so that means, lots of living people will one-click to add that notional ancestor. Sigh.
Not an expert in this family. What are the best primary sources?
I would like to correct a couple errors with Thomas' parentage, but want to give you a heads up. It looks like Thomas' mother needs removed and Mary Unknown put in her place. Thomas' mother's maiden name isn't known, and this Thomas is not connected to the Winslow family, so her marriage to a different William Baker is making incorrect relationship show up. Please post here if you have sources that indicate otherwise. Thank you!