Francis Baker (abt. 1615 - 1696)

Born about 1615 in England

Husband of Isabel (Twining) Baker — married 17 Jun 1641 in Yarmouth, Plymouth Colony

Descendants

Died 23 Jul 1696 at about age 81 in Yarmouth, Barnstable, Province of Massachusetts Bay

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Disputed Origins

Many claim he was the 24-year-old Francis Baker of the 1632 Planter claiming origins in St. Albans,^[1] and suggest parents as Nicholas Baker and Mary Frances Ingram. But Anderson argues against this:

"On 2 April 1635, "A Taylor Francis Baker," aged 24, was enrolled to be transported to New England on the Planter, having "brought certificate from the Minister of St. Albons in Hertfordshire" [Hotten 45]... There is no evidence to connect this Francis Baker [taylor] with the "Francis Baker, cooper," who was admitted to dwell at Yarmouth on 1 Jun 1641 [PCR 2:17]. The six-year gap with no records, coupled with the differing occupations, makes it extremely unlikely that this was the same man."^[2]

Other suggested parents have included:

• Thomas Baker and Francis Ingram who were married 24 Aug 1592 at St. James Clerkenwell, London.
• John Baker and Margery Madesard of Hertforshire, England

But even the 1951 publication referenced above admits his parentage is not known.

Because his first known record in New England is 1641 (after the period covered by WikiTree's Puritan Great Migration project) and because he's been confused with a PGM-era immigrant, the project has changed the sticker from PGM project to PGM adjunct.

Biography

First record in New England is 1 Jun 1641 when he was admitted to dwell at Yarmouth, MA.^[3]

He settled near Follens Pond, at the head of Bass River, in what was then Nobesussett Territory but now within the bounds of Dennis. At that time, the first white man's house at Nobseussett was less than two years old.^[4]

He married Isabel Twining (daughter of William Twining) in Yarmouth 17 Jun 1641, the first known marriage of record at Yarmouth.^[5]

In 1658 he had a grant of 10 acres of land in Eastham, lying near to William Twining.^[6] In 1659 Francis and Isabel were still living on this land but soon sold it to William Twining Jr. [her nephew?] and returned to their Yarmouth farm. Here he spent the remainder of his life.^{[citation needed]}

Extracts from the Plymouth Colony Records^{[citation needed]}

May 3, 1653 - "Wee Present Francis Baker, of Yarmouth, for retailing of wine contrary to order of Court"

March 6, 1665 - "abusiue carriage to Francis Baker att the same time, they, the said Starr and Barnes, were sentanced by the Court to pay unto the said Baker, each of them, the sume of twenty shillings. And in reference unto the said Francis Baker and John Casley theire breache of the peace att the same time, they were fined by the Court, each of them, the summe of three shillings and four pence to the use of the collonie. And whereas Elisha Hedge hath given testimony that the said Baker and Casley were drunke att the same time, incase any concurrant testimony shall appeer to cleare up the truth thereof, they shalbe lyable to suffer the penaltie of the law for the same.

June 8, 1655 - "Concerning complaint made by John Hall, of Yarmouth, against Francis Baker, of the same towne, for abusing Samuell Hall, his son, and seruant to the said Baker, by kicking of him and otherwise unreasonably stricking of him, the court haue ordered, that the said Samuell Hall shall bee and continew with his said father untill the next Court of Asistants; and then incase the said Baker shall come and complaine to the said Court, hee is to acquaint the said Hall wherwith, that soe hee may come with him, and they shalbee heard."

August 7, 1655 - "In the difference betwixt John Hall and Francis Baker about Samuell Hall, late seruant to the said Francis Baker, the Court ordered that John Hall shall pay unto the said Francis Baker the summe of eight pounds for the remainder of his seruants time unexpired, and the said Samuell Hall is to continuw with his father, and soe the contouersye is ended."

October 30, 1672 - "Francis Baker, of Yarmouth, complained against William Nacarson, of Mannamoicett, in an action of the case, to the damage of ten pounds, for that the said Nicarson neglecteth to pay him for six meat barrells, and for labour done seuerall times about pining of tarr barrells, and triming them, in yeare one thousand six hundred and seauenty. The jury find for the plaintiffe five shillinges damage, and the cost of the suite."

He died in Yarmouth July 23, 1696, aged 85. His will, dated Mar. 4, 1692-93 was probated Dec. 8, 1696.^[7] His widow died May 16, 1706.^[8]

Many of the early Bakers, as well as later ones, sleep in the old graveyard near the South Dennis depot, but the exact burial place of most of the first comers is a matter of conjecture. On an elevation near the old home site is an old burying-ground, surrounded by woods adn overgrown with shrubbery, but the names on the few stones standing there are associated with the early Quaker families who settled in the neighbourhood. About 1714, the first Friends Meeting House was built near this spot. We are told that Francis Baker "was times";^[9] how he regarded those of the Quaker faith or how they regarded him we do not know, but one of the witnesses to his will was evidently a Quaker neighbor; his grandson, Samuel, was publicly censured for his leniency toward the sect^[10] and others of his grandchildren married among them. And it may be that Francis Baker and his wife found resting place on the hill with their gentle neighbours, the Friends. (Possible burried in graveyard near So. Dennis R.R. Station).^[11]

In his will of March 4, 1693, he mentions all of his children except Samuel, leaving it to be supposed that they were (except Samuel) all alive at that date.^{[citation needed]}

Last Will & Testament

In ye Name of God Amen, I Francis Baker of Yarmouth in the county of Barnstable in New England being of disposing mind and memeory at this time Blessed be God. I do new meke and ordaine this to be my last will and testament in manner and form following:

I bequeath my soul to God that gave it to me and my body to ye dust from whence it was in decent burial, and for that outward estate which God of his goodness hath given me: my will is and I do will and give to my Loving wife Iesball all my housing and Lands in ye Bounds of sd yarmouth both up lands and meadow Lands during her Natural Life, Also I do will & give unto my sd wife Iesball all my cattle and all my other movable estate for ye comfort of her Life, she my sd wife paying all my just debits and legases to my children here after mentioned

I do will and give unto my Grandson Samuel Baker ye eldest son of my son Nathaniel two shillings ...... unto my son John Baker five shillings ...... unto my son Daniel Baker five shillings ......unto my son William Baker five shillings ..... unto my daughter Elizabeth Chase five shillings ...... unto my daughter Hannah Pearse five shillings

These aforesaid legases to be paid unto all and every of my children above named within one year after my decease: further my will is that what so ever of my mouvable estate and cattel shall remaine and not be expended neither by myself nor wife that after our decease ye remainder there of I do will and five unto my son Thomas Baker, and to my sd son Thomas Baker after my decease and ye decease of my wife Isball I do will and give all my housing orchards and lands and meadows what so ever unto him and his heirs forever I say to my son Thomas Baker his heirs and assigns forever, further I do ordaine nominate and appoint my loving wife isball and my son Thomas Baker executrix and executor to this my last will and testament where unto I have set my hand and seal this fourth day of march Anno Dom one thousand six hundred ninety two three.

The mark of FB Francis Baker (Seal)

Signed sealed and declared in presence of us

John Miller

John Okelia

I Francis Baker do desire that my friends John miller and Thomas Bills boath of sd yarmouth woold be helpful with my executors for ye setling of this my last will as above expressed.

John miller whose name stands as witness to this will made oath before Barnabas Lothrop esqr. Judg of Probate for ye county of Barnstable that he did see ye above named Francis Baker new deceased sign & seal & declare this to be his last will and testament and saw John okelia set his hand as witness to this will December ye 8th 1696: Examined and duly compared with ye original & entered December ye 10:1696:

Attest Joseph Lothrop Regr. His inventory was taken on 24 November 1696 in Yarmouth.^[12]

Children

1. Nathaniel B. BAKER, b 27 Mar 1642^[13]
2. John BAKER, b abt 1645; m. Alice Pearse; d 1712
3. Samuel BAKER, b 1 May 1648; probably died young; not named in father's will
4. Daniel BAKER, 2-3 Sep 1650; m. Eliza Chase 27 May 1674
5. William BAKER, b abt 1652; d 1727; m Mercy ----; she d. 1753
6. Thomas BAKER; b 1654-5; m Bathsheba ----
7. Elizabeth BAKER, b 1656
8. Hannah BAKER, m. ----- Pearce

Research Notes

This information came in on a merge and needs to be incorporated: Francis was born in 1612 in St Albans, Hertfordshire, England. He came to Plymouth Colony on the ship Planter in 1635.^[14] Francis married Isabell Twining on 17 Jun 1641 in Massachusetts.^[15] They had at least six sons and two daughters.^[16] Francis passed away on 23 Jul 1696 in Yarmouth, Barnstable, Massachusetts.^[17] FindAGrave claims a specific birth date of 7 Jul 1612 in Herefordshire.

Sources

1. ↑ Bertha Winifred Clark, Descendants of Francis Baker, Boston 1951
2. ↑ Robert Charles Anderson, Great Migration Begins, Boston, MA: NEHGS 1995, pp 132-133 (membership required to access digital version)
3. ↑ Plymouth Colony Records 2:17
4. ↑ Deyo, History of Barnstable County, p. 536
5. ↑ "Plymouth Colony Records," in Mayflower Descendant, p. 85, citing "C.O., II:20"
6. ↑ Eastham Town Record 1:97
7. ↑ Barnstable Probate Record 2:30
8. ↑ Torry, Clarence A. New England Marriages Prior to 1700. Baltimore, MD, USA: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2004. pg 33 subscription needed
9. ↑ Swift's History of Old Yarmouth
10. ↑ Swift's History of Old Yarmouth
11. ↑ Library of Cape Cod, No. 106, Vol. 2, The Register Press, 1931
12. ↑ Barnstable Probate Records, Book 2, Page 30-31 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9YB-N951 : 21 April 2024)
13. ↑ A Report of the Record Commissioners of the City of Boston Containing Boston Births, Baptisms, Marriages, and Deaths, 1630-1699, Rockwell and Churchill, City Printers, Boston, 1883, City Document #130, p 12.
14. ↑ http://massandmoregenealogy.blogspot.com/2011/08/francis-baker-and-isabel-twining-of.html
15. ↑ "Massachusetts Marriages, 1695-1910, 1921-1924", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FC6M-J5W : 30 December 2022), Francis Baker, 1641.
16. ↑ Birth of children Nathaniel Baker John Baker Samuel Baker Daniel Baker William Baker Thomas Baker Eliza Baker Hannah Baker: "North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000"
    Book Title: Genealogy of the Twining family : descendants of William Twining, Sr , who came from Wales or Engla
    Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 61157 #141763 (accessed 15 December 2023)
    Nathaniel Baker John Baker Samuel Baker Daniel Baker William Baker Thomas Baker Eliza Baker Hannah Baker born to Francis Baker and Isabel Twining.
17. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #60407389

See also:

• Library of Cape Cod, No. 106, Vol. 2, The Register Press, 1931
• Filby, P. William, ed.. Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s, Farmington Hills, MI, USA: Gale Research, 2009.
• William Richard Cutter, Genealogical and family history of the State of Connecticut, (1911)
• William Richard Cutter, New England Families - Genealogical and Memorials, Third series, volume 3 (1915)
• Bertha Winifred Clark, Descendants of Francis Baker, Boston 1951
• https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KN3C-6HY