Timothy Baker (abt. 1647 - 1729)

Born about 1647 in Lynn, Essex, Massachusetts

Husband of Grace (Marsh) Baker — married 16 Jan 1672 in Northampton, Hampshire, MA

Husband of Sarah (Hollister) Baker — married 1679 (to 1691) in Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts

Descendants

Died 30 Aug 1729 at about age 82 in Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Homer Hopper [send private message], Brian McCullough [send private message], and Barbara Baker [send private message]

Biography

TIMOTHY BAKER, Northampton, s. of Edward, freem. 1676, m. 16 Jan. 1672, Grace. d. of John Marsh of Hadley, had Grace, b. 1673, a. son; Timothy, 1675; and his w. d. 31 May 1676. For sec. w. he took Sarah, wid. of Rev. Hope Atherton, dau.of John Hollister, and had John, b. 3 Feb. 1680; Thomas, 14 May 1682; Edward, 12 Nov. 1685 ; Prudence, 14 May 1687; and Deliverance, 13 Nov. 1689. His w. d. 8 Dec. 1691; and he d. 30 Aug. 1729. His third s. was the youth, wh. m. Christina, d. of Richard Otis, that was taken by the Ind. at 3 mos.old, from Dover; with her mo. when they k.her f. 1689, and car. to Canada, there after a priestly educat. made a Catholic by bapt. and married a Frenchman, wh. had by her, two ch. bef. his dau Baker had been made a prisoner by the Indians & prob. taken to Canada in 1704, and in differ. capacity in 1719, accomp. Col. Stoddard to bring home the prisoners from Quebec. Many descend. in N. E. and remote parts spring from this m. among others Hon. John Wentworth, late M.C. from Chicago, and present mayor of that prospererous city. From: Savage

Timothy's father's estate in Northampton lay on the south side of Elm St. beginning near the junction of Prospect St. with Elm and extending westward. The original home lot and residence left to Timothy was on the north side of Elm at the corner of Prospect. Timothy passed it on to son John and John to son Stephen, who eventually moved to Chesterfield. There was a "Baker's field", a "Baker's Elm", planted by Timothy, at the corner of Prospect and Elm, apparently still standing, at least to the end of the 20th century, and another "Baker's Hill" associated with the property, though the names have long passed on into history. Timothy was a leading citizen, being a selectman and "often on important committees." He was dignified as "Mr." from the first, afterwards becoming "Ensign", then "Lieutenant" of the "Train-band". (Ever since the English had first settled in New England they had maintained a posture of military preparedness based largely upon the old militia system of the mother country. In theory every able-bodied man of military age was required to be a member of a local militia company, or "trainband,"as it was called, the unit around which all military preparedness was built). Timothy was made Freeman in 1676. He married first Grace Marsh of Hadley, MA . Nelson Baker's 1867 Genealogy states that the first child Grace died soon after birth and second child, Timothy "died in infancy." Grace herself died soon after the birth of her son. Timothy then married Mrs. Sarah Hollister Atherton, the widow of Reverend Hope Atherton of Hatfield, MA. She was the daughter of Lt. and Deacon John Hollister of Wethersfield, Connecticut. It is supposed that both Timothy and Sarah are in the Old Burying Ground in the vicinity of "Shop Row" (1850's) in Northampton. Timothy left the property inherited from his father to his son John who left it to his son, Stephen, who lived there until he sold it and moved to Chesterfield, according to an 1833 statement made by Abner Baker. from Descendants of Edward Baker of Lynn, MA, Genealogy by Nelson Baker, 1867. Also see the 1851 Otis Genealogy by Horatio N. Otis, NEHGR vol 5, p 191

Two known descendants of Edward and Lt. Timothy Baker (and second wife Sarah Hollister) joined the Baker Family Tree ydna project at the . match 9 descendants of Timothy Baker (1675- 1747) of Maidenhead, NJ. (Haplogroup R1b1b2a1b5) and one known descendant of Timothy's brother John Baker of Dedham, MA Lt. Timothy had one son named Timothy born December 8, 1675 (Northampton Town Records) with his first wife Grace Marsh (d. May,1676) and an infant daughter Grace (Nov.,1673- Feb 1674). It was long thought young Timothy, b.1675-6 must have died with or sooner after his mother, despite the fact that no town record is found. There is a Northampton record for the deaths of both Grace and baby Grace. Furthermore the will of John Marsh, Grace Marsh Baker's father, written March 3, 1688 mentions "my grandson Baker, of Northampton", who can be none other than Timothy, now age 12-13 years. It appears in fact that Timothy, Jr. did survive and was likely raised by his mother's relatives. In some fashion Timothy, Jr. made his way to West Jersey by age 25-27, not an uncommon destination for folks like the Marshes with ties to the Hartford area of Connecticut. This exciting new research on the Edward Baker line is soon to be published by the renowned US genealogist Paul C. Reed.

WILL of John Marsh, written/dated March 3, 1688, and proved December 4, 1688 . Died in Windsor, CT, will presented at the Court at Northampton, MA I, John Marsh, of Hadley, in the county of Hampshire in New England, being very sensible of my own frailty and mortality, yet through the mercy of God, of sound mind and memory at present, do make this my last will and testament as follows: I commit my self soul and body in the hands of the Almighty and Eternal God, and into the arms of my Dear Redeemer the Lord Jesus Christ, in whom I desire steadfastly to belong, and on whom do repose and rest alone for righteousness, life and salvation, leaving my body to be intered with a comely burial. And for my outward estate the Lord hath blessed me with, that after my just debts are paid, and funeral expenses discharged, that then I give to my son, John Marsh, five pounds, I give to my son Jonathan Marsh, all my Gold, I give to my son, Daniel Marsh, my two cob irons, I give to my daughter, Hannah Loomis, alias Marsh, thirty pounds, unless I pay a part of it before my decease, if so then so much shall be discounted from the legacy, I give to my son, Samuel Marsh all my lands within the township of Hadley, I give to my daughter, Lydia Marsh, my green rug, I give to MY GRANDSON BAKER, of Northampton five pounds when he shall attain to the age of one and twenty years, I give and bequeath to my daughter, Lydia Marsh, twenty pounds. All said legacies, my will is, that my Executors see faithfully discharged. And I do constitute and appoint my living sons, John Marsh and Samuel Marsh to be Executors to this my will annuling and making void all former wills at any time by me willed or bequeathed. John Marsh Sealed and subscribed in the presence of Thomas Hovey Thomas Head

Charlie Baker presents some evidence that suggests that Timothy Baker (1675-1747) was not in Northampton, MA when he reached adulthood. Genealogists say that evidence not present can be as important as evidence that is present: The following information was obtained from "Historical Catalogue of the Northampton First Church 1661-1891" written by Rev. Solomon Clark published 1891. In the document it lists the members of the congregation during specific time periods. I am summarizing below some of the names of our ancestors that you may recognize. Specifically missing is Timothy Baker Jr.

Period of 1658 to 1669: Only recognizable name on the list is John Marsh, father of Grace Marsh. He apparently lived in Hadley, MA for a period. Hadley is across the Connecticut River from Northampton. Grace was probably born in Hadley. John Marsh did not appear in the next time period beginning in 1672 so apparently by then he had moved to Windsor. Grace married Timothy Baker Sr in January of 1672 and John Marsh and his family may have still been living in Northampton (Hadley) at the time of his daughter's marriage. [Most of the family trees show that all of John Marsh's children were born in Connecticut but I believe that they are mistaken].

Period of 1672 to 1729: (gap means that no minister was there between 1669 to 1672):

In the congregation during this period were: Timothy Baker Sr. (we know it was senior because he is listed as an ancestor of Osmyn Baker. Sarah Hollister was also Osmyn's ancestor therefore the Timothy Baker listed could not be our Timothy Jr. Sarah [Hollister] Baker Edward (1685-), John (1679-), and Prudence (1687-) - All children of Timothy Sr and Sarah Hollister and half-siblings of Timothy Jr. Timothy Jr. was older than his half-siblings and old enough to be a member of the church had he been in Northampton during this time period (at least when he came of age).

Who is this Timothy Baker Page 33-5 April, 1711: James Brown, of Norwalk, atty. for William Baker, now dwelling in the Province of New Jersey, brother of Timothy Baker, late of Wethersfield, decd., exhibited evidence that he is the only surviving brother of Timothy Baker, decd. Whereupon Jonathan Deming, Adms., passed over the estate to James Brown, atty. for William Baker.

Baker, Timothy, Wethersfield. Invt. £21-08-08. Taken 15 December, 1709, by Moses Crafts and Hezekiah Deming.

Court Record, Page 136--5 December, 1709: This Court grant letters of Adms. on the estate of Timothy Baker, late of Wethersfield, unto Jonathan Deming, Jr.

Page 8 (Vol. VIII) 3 April, 1710: Jonathan Deming, Adms., exhibits an inventory of the estate of Timothy Baker.

Page 33-5 April, 1711: James Brown, of Norwalk, atty. for William Baker, now dwelling in the Province of New Jersey, brother of Tim-

Sealed and subscribed in the presence of Thomas Hovey Thomas Head

Charlie Baker presents some evidence that suggests that Timothy Baker (1675-1747) was not in Northampton, MA when he reached adulthood. Genealogists say that evidence not present can be as important as evidence that is present: The following information was obtained from "Historical Catalogue of the Northampton First Church 1661-1891" written by Rev. Solomon Clark published 1891. In the document it lists the members of the congregation during specific time periods. I am summarizing below some of the names of our ancestors that you may recognize. Specifically missing is Timothy Baker Jr.

Period of 1658 to 1669: Only recognizable name on the list is John Marsh, father of Grace Marsh. He apparently lived in Hadley, MA for a period. Hadley is across the Connecticut River from Northampton. Grace was probably born in Hadley. John Marsh did not appear in the next time period beginning in 1672 so apparently by then he had moved to Windsor. Grace married Timothy Baker Sr in January of 1672 and John Marsh and his family may have still been living in Northampton (Hadley) at the time of his daughter's marriage. [Most of the family trees show that all of John Marsh's children were born in Connecticut but I believe that they are mistaken].

Period of 1672 to 1729: (gap means that no minister was there between 1669 to 1672):

In the congregation during this period were: Timothy Baker Sr. (we know it was senior because he is listed as an ancestor of Osmyn Baker. Sarah Hollister was also Osmyn's ancestor therefore the Timothy Baker listed could not be our Timothy Jr. Sarah [Hollister] Baker Edward (1685-), John (1679-), and Prudence (1687-) - All children of Timothy Sr and Sarah Hollister and half-siblings of Timothy Jr. Timothy Jr. was older than his half-siblings and old enough to be a member of the church had he been in Northampton during this time period (at least when he came of age).

Who is this Timothy Baker Page 33-5 April, 1711: James Brown, of Norwalk, atty. for William Baker, now dwelling in the Province of New Jersey, brother of Timothy Baker, late of Wethersfield, decd., exhibited evidence that he is the only surviving brother of Timothy Baker, decd. Whereupon Jonathan Deming, Adms., passed over the estate to James Brown, atty. for William Baker.

Baker, Timothy, Wethersfield. Invt. £21-08-08. Taken 15 December, 1709, by Moses Crafts and Hezekiah Deming.

Court Record, Page 136--5 December, 1709: This Court grant letters of Adms. on the estate of Timothy Baker, late of Wethersfield, unto Jonathan Deming, Jr.

Page 8 (Vol. VIII) 3 April, 1710: Jonathan Deming, Adms., exhibits an inventory of the estate of Timothy Baker.

Page 33-5 April, 1711: James Brown, of Norwalk, atty. for William Baker, now dwelling in the Province of New Jersey, brother of Tim-

Sources

• Genealogy of the Descendants of Edward Baker, Lynn, MA, 1630 by Nelson Baker, 1858

Northampton Town Records

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