Amy (Magrah) Baker (abt. 1660 - bef. 1745)

Wife of John Gatewood — married about 1680 in Colony of Virginia

Descendants

Died before 18 Jun 1745 before about age 85 in South Farnham Parish, Essex County, Virginia

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Biography

Amy was born about 1660. Where she was born and details of her early life are unknown.

Amy's maiden name is unknown.^[1] Her use of "M." as her mark, and the "association of Thomas Magrah with the Gatewood family, suggest the possibility that Amy and Thomas Magrah may have been related."^[1] Thomas Magrah signed a will 21 November 1722, he gave generous bequests to some of the sons and one grandson of John and Amy Gatewood, Amy was a witness to the will.^[2]. No others were named in Thomas' will. As in the inventory of the estate of John Gatewood, the inventory of the estate of Thomas Magrah contained a large quantity of cloth and needles, so both men may have been tailors. Thomas may have been the indentured servant mentioned in the inventory the estate of John Gatewood. There is no mention, however, of anyone named Magrah or any variant spelling in any primary record associated with John and Amy Gatewood's family before Thomas made his will.

Recent research by Carol Gothberg suggests that Thomas Magrah was from Barbados and close in age to the children of John and Amy Gatewood. It is also worth noting that the Meriwether family were neighbors of John Gatewood, though no connection to Amy Gatewood has been proved.

John Gatewood and Amy were probably married about 1680 in South Farham Parish, Rappahannock County, Virginia.

After being widowed, she married Joseph Baker. (He wrote his will 20 September 1720, probated 15 November 1720, see his profile for FAG link to will.) Joseph was a wealthy merchant, and left large bequeaths to the Gatewood children.

Amy (Gatewood) Baker left the following will, written 4 April 1744, probated 18 June 1745:^[3]

Will of Amy Baker of Essex County and Parish of Southfarnham, being sick and weak of body, dated 4 April 1744.

To my grand daughter Amy Gatewood the daughter of my son James Gatewood one Negro boy Bristol and girl Frank together with my tract of land called Norths hole, also a feather bed and furniture, also one cow and calf, one iron pott and a sow and piggs.

To my grand daughter Ann Gatewood the daughter of my son James Gatewood one Negro woman Jenny, boy Will.

If either of my grand daughters should die and leave no lawful issue her part to go to the survivor.

To my grandson Benjamin Gatewood the son of my son James Gatewood the tract of land that I know live on and a Negro Guy.

To my grandson James Gatewood the son of my son James Gatewood one Negro Essex and a Negro Sarah.

All of my wearing cloathes to be equally divided between my three daughters Frances Arnold, Amy Scott and Sarah Ferguson.

To Katharine Gatewood the widow of my son William Gatewood one gold ring of twenty shillings price.

My grand daughter Amy the daughter of my son John Gatewood one gold ring.

All the rest to be equally divided between my seven children John Gatewood, Thomas Gatewood, Henry Gatewood, James Gatwood, Frances Arnold, Amy Scott and Sarah Ferguson.

My two sons Thomas Gatewood and James Gatewood executors
Amy (A) Baker
Wit: Thomas Barker, Mary (M) Anderson.
18 june 1745. Presented in Court by Thomas and James Gatewood executors and proved by all the witnesses.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Uhrbrock, Richard S. Gatewood Family of Essex County, Virginia, Virginia Genealogical Society Quarterly, volume 12, number 2 (April 1974), pp. 44-55. Available online at Ancestry.com.
2. ↑ Will of Thomas Magrah, https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/memories/LWW7-ZP3
3. ↑ "Essex County, Virginia Wills No. 7, 1743-1747, The Virginia Genealogist, volume 16 (1972), pp. 141-142.

Acknowledgements

• Magrah-6 was created by Lorene Hanley through the import of Lorene_s Ancestry.ged on Nov 16, 2----
• This biography was auto-generated by a GEDCOM import. Magrah-5 was created by Jerry Smith through the import of FullTree.ged on Aug 23, 2014.
• McGraw-1154 was created by Virginia (Ghee) Mullaney in Nov 2018.
• Payne family tree