Thomas Webb Baker (1782 - abt. 1867)

Born 24 May 1782 in Burke, North Carolina, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Susannah (Wiseman) Baker — married about 1800 in Burke, North Carolina, United States [uncertain]

Descendants

Died about 1867 at about age 84 in Bakersville, Mitchell, North Carolina, United States [uncertain]

Problems/Questions Profile managers: William Wall [send private message] and Anne Baker [send private message]

Biography

Thomas Baker was born 24 May 1782 in Burke County, North Carolina to David Baker and Mary Webb^[1][2][3]. In the 1790 and 1800 Federal Censuses, Thomas was likely counted in the household of his father, David, in Burke County, North Carolina (see early census research note).

Thomas married Susannah Wiseman about 1800 or 1801 in Burke County, North Carolina^[2][4]. Susannah was born 13 December 1781 to William Wiseman and Mary Davenport^[4].

In the 1810 Federal Census, Thomas and his family lived near Morganton, Burke, North Carolina^[5]. It is likely that his wife, Susannah, and five children (William, David, Mary, Clarissa, and Joseph) were also counted in his household (see early census research note).

In the 1820 Federal Census, Thomas and his family lived in Buncombe County, North Carolina^[6]. It is likely that his wife and ten children were also counted in his household (see early census research note).

Thomas Baker was a state senator from North Carolina. He served as state senator from 45th district (Burke-Yancy Counties), from 1834-1840. The legislatures official records show him winning election in 1834,1836, & 1838.

In the 1840 Federal Census, Thomas and his family lived in Yancey County, North Carolina^[7]. It is likely that his wife Susannah, recently widowed daughter Nancy, son Robert, and two grandchildren (Nancy's daughters, Jane and Julia McKinney, from her first marriage) were also in the household (see early census research note).

In the 1850 Federal Census, Thomas and Susannah lived in Yancey County, North Carolina^[8]. Also in their household were two grandchildren (Jane and Julia McKinney), and William A. Carroll (relationship unknown)^[8].

In the 1860 Federal Census, Thomas and Susannah lived in Buncombe County, North Carolina^[9]. Also in the household was granddaughter Jane McKinney and William Carroll (relationship unknown)^[9]. The other granddaughter, Julia McKinney, had gotten married and was living next door with her husband Isaac Crowder^[10].

Thomas and Susannah had at least ten children together. Susannah's obituary noted that she "had quite a large family of fourteen, of which she raised ten to manhood and womanhood"^[4]:

1. William Baker b. 1802 d. before 1873^[2][4]
2. David Baker b. 1804 d. ~1879^[2]
3. Mary Baker b. 1806 d. ?^[2]
4. Clarissa Claudia Baker b. 1808 d. ?^[2]
5. Joseph Baker b. 1810 d. ?^[2]
6. Davenport Baker b. 1811 d. before 31 Jul 1860^[2]
7. Nancy Baker b. 1812 d. 1878^[2]
8. Mira Baker b. 1814 d. ?^[2]
9. Thomas W. Baker b. 1818 d. ?^[2]
10. Robert Flournoy Baker b. 1820 d. ?^[2]

Thomas was about 85 years old when he passed away. According to his wife's obituary, he died about six years prior to her - or about 1867^[2][4]. He is buried in Bakersville Cemetery, located on the hill behind the Old Courthouse in downtown Bakersville, Mitchell, North Carolina^[11].

Research Notes

Middle Name

Thomas is frequently documented^[11] with the middle name of "Webb". Obviously this is his mother's maiden name, but no source has yet to be located that confirms that he had any middle name, let alone the middle name "Webb".

Analysis of Thomas within Early Census Records (1790 - 1840)

Thomas Baker was mapped through multiple early census records. This analysis starts with a proposed list of family members (obtained from the Pamunkey Bakers website), and then adds assumptions (e.g. whether or not someone was present in the household in that census year, or in what age group an individual was counted, etc.) to that list in order to achieve the counts of family members, by age group and gender, noted in each census. Over the early census years (1790 - 1840), it is likely that Thomas appeared in two households:

1. Google Sheet for household of David Baker (father of Thomas). Thomas was likely in his father's household in 1790 and 1800. Very few assumptions were made to match the counts published in these two censuses.
2. Google Sheet for household of Thomas Baker. After his marriage to Susannah, Thomas was the head of his own household. Very few assumptions were used to match the counts published in census years 1810 and 1820, but census years 1830 and 1840 were more problematic. Because of the nature of the assumptions made, the census record linked for 1830 may not actually be for the same Thomas Baker (see next research note, just below). While there are also some interesting assumptions for the 1840 census record, they are specific to certain children, and do not reduce confidence that the record is for this Thomas Baker.

1830 Census Record for Thomas Baker in Burke County, NC

There are three households for an individual named Thomas Baker residing in North Carolina in the 1830 Federal Census (based on this search performed on 4 November 2020):

1. Thomas Baker, aged 30 - 40, residing in Craven County^[12].
2. Thomas Baker, aged 60 - 70, residing in Ashe County^[13]
3. Thoms Baker, aged 60 - 70, residing in Burke County^[14]

Given that Thomas would have been ~48 years old in 1830, none of those records are a great match. It feels like the Burke County record is the closest match (and was included in the early census analysis described just above in the previous research note). The Burke County Thomas Baker, however, is not a clear match (and also not a clear mismatch) to this Thomas Baker, so it is not yet being used as a source for where this Thomas Baker resided at the time the 1830 census was conducted.

Sources

1. ↑ Elma W. Baker, Rugged Trail, p 23.
2. ↑ ^{2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12} “Person Page - 12 - Thomas Baker, M, b. 24 May 1782, d. circa 1867” published within The Pamunkey Bakers - Descendants of the Bakers of Colonial Virginia and the North Carolina Mountains. Pamunkey Baker Association, November 7, 2008.
3. ↑ "North Carolina, Probate Records, 1735-1970," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-20078-6605-12?cc=1867501 : accessed 22 May 2014), Yancey > Wills, 1838-1861, Vol. 1 > image 21 of 231. Thomas is named as one of David Baker's children within David's last will and testament.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4} Bailey, Lloyd R., and Donald Lee. Shuman. “Section Three: Newspaper Articles - Obituary for Mrs. Susan Baker.” within A History of the Methodist Church in the Toe River Valley, pages 179–180. Burnesville, NC: D.L. Shuman, 1986. Originally published 26 July 1873 in the Holston Methodist.
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1810," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH26-63W : accessed 4 November 2020), Thomas Baker, Morganton, Burke, North Carolina, United States; citing p. 322, NARA microfilm publication M252 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 39; FHL microfilm 337,912.
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1820," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHG9-B6M : accessed 4 November 2020), Thomas Baker, Buncombe, North Carolina, United States; citing p. 102, NARA microfilm publication M33, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 80; FHL microfilm 162,796.
7. ↑ "United States Census, 1840," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHYJ-PYW : 19 May 2020), Thomas Baker, Yancey, North Carolina, United States; citing p. 259, NARA microfilm publication , (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll ; FHL microfilm .
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4BL-2H4 : 4 April 2020), Thomas Baker, Yancey county, part of, Yancey, North Carolina, United States; citing family 164, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MD6Q-9FN : 19 March 2020), Thos Baker, 1860.
10. ↑ "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MD6Q-9FL : 19 March 2020), Julia Crowder in entry for Isaac Crowder, 1860.
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1} Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 4 November 2020), memorial page for Thomas Webb Baker (1782–unknown), Find A Grave: Memorial #138612733, Bakersville Cemetery, Bakersville, Mitchell County, North Carolina, USA ; Maintained by Classic T (contributor 47623568).
12. ↑ "United States Census, 1830," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH5M-R2D : 22 August 2017), Thomas Baker, Craven, North Carolina, United States; citing 118, NARA microfilm publication M19, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 119; FHL microfilm 18,085.
13. ↑ "United States Census, 1830," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH5M-D5J : 22 August 2017), Thomas Baker, Ashe, North Carolina, United States; citing 11, NARA microfilm publication M19, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 118; FHL microfilm 18,084.
14. ↑ "United States Census, 1830," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH5M-JT5 : 22 August 2017), Toms Baker, Burke, North Carolina, United States; citing 199, NARA microfilm publication M19, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 118; FHL microfilm 18,084.

Acknowledgements

Congressional records were first entered by Travis Wagner.