Roger Baxter (bef. 1610 - 1670)

On January 1, 1655, Roger Baxter filed the following court document: "Be it known unto all men by these present, that I, Roger Baxter of the County of Kent, Planter, being truly affected in love to Mary Crouch, widow of the late George Crouch, deceased, and am fully determined, God willing to make her my wedded wife and so to make her one with myself; the said Mary having children of her own, desires to reserve some part of the estate which was her husbands Croutch's, to her proper use, namely these particulars herein after expressed: Item, one red cow called Cherry, formally bought of Capt. Vaughan, her mark, the right ear cropped, the left ear under keeled; Item, one cow of reddish color, called Blinks, having but one eye, formally bought of John Deare; Item, the whole plantation that was in their posess ion and did lately belong to her Husband Croutch, with all appurtenances thereunto belonging or anywise appertaining; Item, One single bed with all belonging to it which her Husband Croutch gave to their daughter; Item, one box containing bigness about 1/2 bushel; Item, one iron kettle, containing about four gallons. Now I, Roger Baxter, joining myself in matrimony with the said Mary Crouch, do, notwithstanding, by virtue hereof, disclaim all right, title or claim, or interest for me, my heirs,executors, administrators, or assigns, to all and every particular of the said cattle and goods formerly mentioned or expressed, and do also further covenant, bind and engage myself that the said Mary shall have free liberty all the time of her life to dispose of all or any part of the fore mentioned cattle and goods, and all the expiration of her time here upon earth. If God gives her will and opportunity, then by will, gift, of legacy to dispose of the same to her children, or whom she pleases as being her own proper estate with out the let of hindrance of me, the said Roger Baxter, my heirs,executors, administrators, or assigns, or any person or persons claiming right or interest from under me or mine, and if so happen that the said Marie depart this life without a will or disposal of the said cattle and goods, that the same be left to be disposed of at the discretion of the court to her children - if then being or otherwise according to equity and conscience. I do further covenant and bind myself as before that the said Marie shall have free liberty to dispose of either or both of her children to any person or persons for their better education and bringing up, always provided that this disposal not be done rashly but to take the advise of two honest neighbors or to have the approbation of the court and for the confirmation I have hereunto put my hand in the presence of the court this 1st of January, 1655. Signed, Roger Baxter" (Maryland Archives, Vol. 54, page 45.

https://www.geni.com/people/Roger-Baxter-Jr/6000000014474933282

The following information is excerpted from "Baxter Family Chronicle, Vol. 9, 1997".

Roger Baxter, aged 24, arrived on Kent Island in 1634 aboard either the "James" or the "Revenge" as part of William Claiborne's settlement of Kent Island. This settlement was started in 1631 as part of the Virginia Colony and pre-dates the first Maryland Colony settlement in Saint Mary's by Lord Baltimore, Leonard Calvert. A bitter feud resulted between Claiborne and Calvert over control of Kent Island that included bloodshed and political maneuvering back in England and it's civil war. Roger Baxter's trade was that of "smith" and there is documentation of his receiving payment from Claiborne for building and maintaining wind-driven mills.

Roger Baxter purchased land on January 21, 1641 from Robert Huett and Henry Bellamy. The court record, Maryland Archives, Vol. 54, Page 20, states, "Know all men by these presents, that Robert Huett and Henry Bellamy, both of the Isle of Kent planters for and in consideration of a certain sum of tobacco, to us by Roger Baxter, of the Isle afsd, before, have paid, have bargained, sold, assigned and made over and by these presents, do freely and absolutely sell and make over unto the said Roger Baxter, his heirs and assigns forever, that point of land next to the creeks mouth, commonly called the "Craney Neck", from the point to a great white oak marked with three notches with an axe; provided the said Roger Baxter have upon the ground sufficient timber for a dwelling house, free inlet and outlet for his hogs all the year and if the said Roger Baxter shall have sale thereof, that the said Bellamy and Huett is to have the refusal thereof, and we the said Robert Huett and Henry Bellamy do for us, our heirs and assigns, covenant and promise to and with the said Roger Baxter that he the said Roger Baxter and his assigns shall peaceably and quietly have, hold, occupy, posess and enjoy the said point of land, to him his heirs and assigns forever without trouble or molestation of any man whatsoever and the same we, the said Robert Huett and Henry Bellamy will warrant against all men, by these presents. In witness thereof we have hereunto subscribe the day and year above written". It was signed and delivered in the presence of John Bennett by, "the mark of Robert Huett and Henry Bellamy.

Roger Baxter was assessed by the colony for taxes in 1642. In February 1643, Roger Baxter filed a court complaint, "Roger Baxter complayneth against Edward Commins for defaming him, saying that he was a periur'd (perjured ?) Rogue and that he would justify it". As a result, a warrant was issued to the Sheriff and a subpoena issued to have William Lant, Walter King and John Bennett testify (Court and Testamentary Business 1637-50, page 162. No disposition of the case was recorded. Also in 1643, Roger Baxter is listed in court records for debts owed to Giles Brent (Maryland Archives, Provincial Court, 1637-1650, Vol. 4, pages 234-235). In this same year William Claiborne took advantage of the English Civil War. He and his supporters recaptured Kent Island from the Calverts.

On November 9, 1646, Thomas Kendell left a will in which he left personal property to "The oldest son of Roger Baxter (COW, Vol. 1, page 6). This record establishes that by 1646 Roger Baxter had a wife and at least two sons. The court records two years later, 1648, "Roger Baxter of the Isle of Kent, planter and acknowledged to have given unto his two sons, John and Francis Baxter, 1 Black Heifer going on two years old, with a tagged tail, white udder and two white fetlocks behind, with their increase forever, towards an advance of a portion for them" (Maryland Archives, Provincial Court, 1637-1650, Vol. 4, page 398).

Roger Baxter was given 200 acres of land in 1650 "for transporting himself and his wife into the province" (Queen Anne's County Rent Roll, page 300, Upper Blunt's Point). This property was also mentioned in the survey of the adjoining land owned by John Deare (Maryland Archives, Vol. 54, page 82). November 7, 1650 Roger Baxter was a signer of a petition to have the wild cattle running loose on Kent Island divided (QACM, Emory, Page 15). This same year Parliament won the English Civil War, beheaded King Charles I and abolished the Crown. William Claiborne was appointed Secretary of State for the Virginia Colony.

After the English Civil War, Parliament required all land owners to sign an allegiance to the commonwealth. Roger Baxter signed on April 5, 1652 (Maryland Archives, Vol. 54, page 5). Roger Baxter sold the land he purchased from Robert Huett and Henry Bellamy in 1641, called "Craney Neck", on September 18, 1652; "Know all men by these presents, that I Roger Baxter, do assign all my rights, title and interest of this point of land within mentioned in this Bill of Sale, unto Robert Dunne and John Richeson or their assigns, as witness my hand this 18th day of September, 1652 " (Maryland Archives, Vol. 54, page 20).

In 1653, Oliver Cromwell, who organized and trained the army that defeated King Charles I, seized the Parliament Building, disbanded the Commonwealth and appointed himself "Lord Protector of England", in thus reigned England for the following five years. In this year on Kent Island, personal property was willed to the children of Roger Baxter by Thomas Petts (COW, Vol. 1, page 8). The lands Roger Baxter purchased in 1641 were again sold.

https://www.geni.com/people/Roger-Baxter-Jr/6000000014474933282