Person Page - 177

     John Sherman Baker Shoe Cobbler's Kin:

p 849: "JOHN SHERMAN BAKER b. 1 Aug 1828 Cape Girardeau (now Bollinger) Co., MO d. 8 Mar 1915 Walnut Grove, AR m. 1854 to Elverene Elizabeth Weaver b. 8 Oct 1829 near Memphis, TN d. 15 Dec 1929 Carroll Co., AR, dau of Cannon O. and Abigale Coley Weaver."

1850 Carroll Co AR Census has age 20 b MO.

Shady Grove Cemetery listing: "Baker, John S. - Aug. 1, 1826 - March 8, 1915"

Wesley Smith (a descendant of John Sherman Baker and Louvencia Elvirene (Weaver) Baker through dau Sarah Melissa, his great grandmother, gives slightly different information from the above (as already just seen):

"John S. Baker and Elvirene [Weaver] Baker, with their two children Sarah Melissa and William W..... Also planning to go with them, was Elvirene's father and mother, C. R. (Cannon Roar) and Abigail [Bolton] Weaver and their children: Lorenzo Dal and his wife Mary [Fanning] Weaver; Alfred "Pink"; Mary Catherine and her husband, Jacob Houston; Sarah Malissa; George Ann; Henry Edward; Ruth; and Julia Ann. The Weaver's oldest son, William..."

John and his family were (almost) involved in the infamous Mountain Meadows Massacre, surviving because of sickness. See below, and also my http://alvyray.com/Family/Stories/MountainMeadowsMassacre.htm
where I have added to the below the substantial information recently (25 Apr 2001) supplied by Wesley Smith (see above). His evidence is so strong and thorough that I have adopted his version of things in most cases.

From http://www.heritage.state.ar.us/atr/dateline.html, under 1857:

"In one of the most shocking acts to occur in the westward migration, a band of Mormons and Indians slaughtered a group of Arkansawyers in southern Utah. The California-bound Arkansas emigrants surrendered to their captors, only to become their victims in the 'Mountain Meadows Massacre.' Of the 120 members of the wagon train, only seventeen children were spared."

From The Shoe Cobbler's Kin, p 849:

"John Sherman Baker was a farmer & left his farm only twice after his marriage. The first time in 1857 was to try to make it to the gold fields of California. There have been many stories, articles, and books written and recorded about the terrible and cruel tragedy of the 'Mountain Meadows Massacre'. I have listened to my own grandmother & some of her relatives discuss and retell the stories handed down through the family by her father (my gr-grandfather) John Sherman Baker of the tragedy that befell them and how they missed by a day or so being massacred along with the other adults of the Fancher wagon train at 'Mountain Meadows'. The story similar to my grandmothers, was told by Sallie Baker Mitchell, a relative to our Bakers (and one of the seventeen children that lived through the tragedy) in an article in 'The American Weekly' August 1940, the only remaining survivor at that time... When William Wilkerson Baker returned from their investigative trip of the gold fields in 1856, the stories told inspired some relatives and friends and other families in the area to pack up, form a wagontrain to California...[account of the Sutter's Mill discovery of gold in CA]

The John Sherman Baker family worked through the winter of 1856 and early Spring of 1857 getting his wagon, oxen team, and family prepared for the trip. When the time came to pull out John was sick with Erysipelias (medical term - an acute febrile disease associated with intense local inflammation of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, caused by a hemolytic streptococcus) and could not travel. ...[author's note about similar disease elsewhere in the family].

The John S. Baker family and some of his wife's relatives waited a few days and then set out to try and overtake the Fancher Train. A number of times they came across places where the Fancher train had camped and found the coals from their campfires still warm, but they never did catch up with the train & that is why they missed the 'Mountain Meadow Massacre' - but they ran into the tail-end of the trouble, just the same, and had a terrible time themselves.

At the time of the massacre, John S. Baker and party were only about two days travel behind the main train and someone came along and told them about it and warned them they might have trouble. They were all pretty scared as they made camp that night. They broke camp early next morning, and set out to skirt around the meadow and head on across the desert.

It is not known whether the band of Indians that attacked them soon after they got started that morning were those that were in on the Massacre, or another band that heard about it and wanted to kill these travelers for their belongings and livestock.

The members of this party were John S. and Elverine E. Weaver Baker, their young daughter, Sarah Melissa, about two years old (later became Mrs. Perry Price), their infant son William W. Baker; Dal and Mary Fanning Weaver (Mary - daughter of Wash and Celia Fanning - She m. (2) _____ Boren, m.(3) to Demps Brown); Dal's brother Pink Weaver; two Weaver sisters; and three young men named Smith and their aged Mother.

Dal Weaver and a sister was shot and killed in the first attack and he was later robbed of $1,000 in gold he had in a money belt. A bullet inflicted a scalp wound on little William W. Baker, but he recovered. Several others suffered minor wounds.

There were several wagons in the train and before the men could wheel them around and form a corral, one of the teams got away and took off with its wagon. Some of the Indians overtook that wagon and discovered the two ten-galllon kegs, one of Whiskey and one of Peach Brandy. The Indians then took time out from the pleasure of killing for the pleasure of their 'fire water'. That is the only reason any of the Baker party managed to escape.

Meanwhile, one of the Smith brothers jumped on a horse and took off for help, but the Indians saw him and one of them lassoed him. The last anyone saw of them, he was being dragged away.

When the Indians were all drunk they started to close in on the little party, huddled behind their wagons. But just as the Indians were ready to pounce on them, the men ripped open all the feather beds they had and threw a big cloud of feathers into their attackers' faces. Before the stupefied assassins had time to figure out what happened the adults ran for the cover of the bushes, carrying the children. (John S. Baker carried his young son in his shirt.) Two of the Smith boys carried their aged mother by making a pack-saddle with their hands.

Evidentaly their attackers were too inebriated to follow the Baker party as they fled back toward Arkansas over the trail they had so recently traveled westward. For nearly six days, they struggled without food or water before a detail of soldiers (that had been sent out in response to news of the massacre) from Ft. Riley, Kansas found them. They were so weak they could hardly walk. Ft. Riley was but an outpost at that time for scouting and fighting the Indians and keeping headquarters and the countryside alerted. A police force more or less. The remainder of the unfortunate party was taken to Fort Leavenworth, KS, treated and taken care of until they were able to travel back to their farm in Carroll County, AR.

The second time John Sherman Baker left home was during the Civil War when he enlisted in Co. F 4th Reg., Trans-Mississippi Infantry (Gauses). This Regiment designated as Matlock's Battalion Arkansan Cavalry; Gause's Regiment Arkansas Infantry and 32nd Regiment Ark. Infantry, August 31, 1862 at Crystal Hill by Captain Leslie. He deserted! - Joined from desertion at Little Rock, AR May 1, 1863 - detailed at Nitro Works in Searcy County, ARK. by order of Lt. Gen. Holmes. He was released sometime after Feb 1864."

Notes re Mountain Meadows Massacre:

The wagon train that was massacred was the Baker-Fancher party, led by John T Baker and Alexander Fancher, of 120 persons or so, mostly from AR. John T Baker is not a relative our Bakers, so far as it is understood.

The Mormons thought they were under attack from the US and so enlisted help from the Indians in their area. Brigham Young sent a letter to leave the settlers alone, but it arrived too late.

The Massacre occurred between 7 and 11 Sep 1857 between current communities Enterprise and Central, UT (north of St George, UT). A monument to the killed was erected there in Sep 1990. The head of the Mormon Church attended and spoke.

Juanita Brooks has a book detailing the Massacre: "The Mountain Meadows Massacre." Revised ed, Norman OK 1991. There is no mention of our Bakers in it, although it does refer to several trains that came through the same area in the several days just after the disaster. The Fancher (or Baker-Fancher) train was also to blame for the trouble. They had openly ridiculed the Mormons, saying things like "this is the gun that shot ol' Joe Smith". They also gave the Indians poison meat, killing 4 of them, and they also poisoned an Indian waterhole. Apparently part of the Fancher train was from Missouri, where the Mormons had been foully treated and Joseph Smith had been killed by a mob. This was an ugly incident from all angles.

The next train through was the Matthews-Tanner train of Mormons so could not be our settlers. At the same time there was the Powers train of only 3 wagons, hurrying to catch up with the Fancher train. This MIGHT be our party but no mention is made of their turning around and returning east, nor is Powers one of the names mentioned above (Baker, Weaver, Smith). The one after was called the Duke train (or Collins-Turner, or Duke and Turner, or Honea and Davis). It had trouble with the Indians but eventually made it to San Bernardino. This doesn't seem to match either unless some of the party turned around. Needless to say, there was great confusion at the time.

Re Sallie Baker Mitchell (surviving child of the massacre): There were indeed several Mitchells killed, 3 men, 1 woman, and 1 child. Only children too young to remember or talk about what they saw were allowed to live. I do not know her connection our Bakers."

The Wesley Smith evidence clarifies some of the historical confusion: The Bakers' train (under command of Sam Smith) left later than the Fancher train, because of the sickness already described. The Bakers left on 10 May 1857 and attempted to catch up to the Fancher train, which had departed Carroll Co, AR about the end of Apr 1857. They luckily never succeeded. However, they had their own severe troubles. They were attacked 6 Jun 1857 in KS on the Republican River, near the NE line and 80 miles NW of Ft Riley. Of 10 men, 8 women and 10 children, 4 men were killed and 2 men and 1 woman wounded. They lost all possessions and returned to AR, arriving near the end of Sep 1857, according to the recollections of John S Baker (at age 81).

Now here is the problem - and it's not much of one since it is now clear that the two trains were quite distinct. The best estimate of the Mountain Meadows Massacre is 7-11 Sep 1857. There is only one discrepancy that I still detect in the two stories that have sometimes been confused: In the affidavit signed by John Sherman Baker in 1912 (when he was 81), he says:

"Thirteen of us, including women and children, made our escape, and came back to Fort Riley, Kansas; then and there, we heard through a Government Dispatcher or Agent of the said Arkansas Train of Emigrants being all massacred and killed at Mountain Meadows, Utah Territory, by Mormons and Indians. I do not know the exact day or month that the Massacre occurred, can't remember, - but I know it was in the year 1857, and before or soon after the Indians attacked us, that I first heard of the Massacre."

Also:

"After the massacre [I think he means the Mountain Meadows Massacre and not the attack on his own train], I saw seventy or eighty head of good cattle, mostly cows at Ogden, four miles from Ft. Riley, Kansas; they were loose cattle, -the people said that these cattle had returned there from the Arkansas Emigrants' herd [that is, the Fancher train's herd] or drove of cattle."

This is confusing because the Mountain Meadows Massacre in UT apparently occured 3 months after the attack on the Baker's train in KS. I think the sequence is this:

1. The Fancher Train left Carroll Co, AR in late Apr 1857.
2. The Smith Train (with John S Baker's family) left there 10 May 1857 with intent to catch up to, and travel with, the Fancher Train. This is the only connection of the Smith Train with the Fancher Train.
3. The Smith Train was attacked and destroyed in KS near NE border, 6 Jun 1857.
4. Some members of the Smith Train had made it back to Ft Riley, KS by 9 Jun 1857 (newspaper item dated then). Within about a week, ie, ca 13 Jun 1857, all survivors had been located.
5. The Fancher Train was known to be near O'Fallon's Bluffs in NE, 11 Jun 1857.
6. The Fancher Train was massacred in UT, 7-11 Sep 1857.
7. The survivors of the Smith Train returned to AR by late Sep 1857.

If this is the correct sequence then John S could not have heard of the Mountain Meadows Massacre when he returned from his own attack to Ft Riley "then and there" as he remembered at 81 years of age. His affidavit is rather fuzzy on that point anyway. And the timing doesn't seem to be right for him to ever have witnessed cattle returning to Ft Riley from the Fancher Train. This presumably wouldn't have happened until or after the time the Smith Train survivors were returned to AR. I suspect the man's memory must have been playing tricks by this time. Nevertheless, John S never claimed any association with the Fancher party. In fact, his affidavit says this:

"I am not related by blood or marriage to any of the said Emigrants [Fancher party] nor to any of the Seventeen Survivors of said Massacre and I have (no) interest in said claim."

Wesley Smith adds this twist in an email of 1 May 2001:

"Like you, I also had questions about John's muddled paragraph. He was illiterate of course, and his testimony was being transcribed. Perhaps something was lost in the process - and it had been 55 years. I took the "then and there" to mean "during the time he was at Ft. Riley". I have a bigger problem with the "before or soon after". Seems like he would have remembered it was after. It could not have been "before" due to the narrow time window for any train leaving Arkansas for California. Trains had to leave in a short time span in the spring in order to beat the winter weather. I do not have much trouble with the cattle story. John said that "the people said" that they had returned from the Arkansas train but some could possibly have been from other trains. If they lost them at this rate, they wouldn't have any left by the time they got to California. As a matter of fact, Earl told me that his research showed the Arkansas train only had about 200 cattle at the time of the massacre. They were branded with a "B", which was changed to a "S" after the massacre.
     
Concerning the attack in Kansas, according to the story Elvirene [Weaver] Baker told, a white man visited their camp the night before the attack. He told them that there were Indians in the area and that they were very dangerous. If they were attacked they should not resist or they would be murdered - just try to get away.
     
The morning of the attack, the Sam Smith wagon was in the lead and the Indians came from that direction. One of those leading the attack was the white visitor, painted up as an Indian. Elvirene recognized him by his clothes.
     
Contrary to stories about "throwing feathers into the faces of the Indians in order to escape", Elvirene quoted John as saying "let's get the heck out of here" or language of that nature. Since their wagon was farther back from the attack, they grabbed the kids and ran for the brush. Later, as they watched from hiding, the Indians ripped open the feather beds and dumped the feathers, either looking for hidden valubles, or to use the ticks as bags to haul their loot, and she said "the air was full of feathers"."
John was born at Cape Girardeau, Missouri, USA, on 1 August 1826. The Wesley Smith evidence contains an affidavit claiming John was 69 on 20 Mar 1900, implying ca 1831 as birth yr. It also contains an affidavit of John, signed 27 Dec 1912, claiming that he is 81, also implying 1831 as his birth year.

His gravestone says 1 Aug 1826, and Shoe Cobbler's Kin gives 1 Aug 1828.

Assuming 1 Aug 1831 is correct, then he would have been 68 on 20 Mar 1900 and 81 on 27 Dec 1912..^5,2,6,4 He married Louvencia (Lourencia) Elvirene Weaver in 1854.⁵ He resided at Berryville, Carroll, Arkansas, USA, on 20 March 1900.⁷ John died on 8 March 1915 at Walnut Grove, Carroll, Arkansas, USA, at age 88.^5,3 His body was interred at Carroll, Arkansas, USA, at Shady Grove Cemetery.³

     Fannie Baker p 852, Shoe Cobbler's Kin:

"FANNIE BAKER b. 1830 Cape Girardeau (now Bollinger) Co., MO d. 1928 and buried in Missouri m. William Bileow. One source says Stephen Bileow of Carroll Co., AR"

She is not listed in 1850 Carroll Co AR census in the Aaron Baker household. Fannie was born at Cape Girardeau, Missouri, USA, in 1830.² She married William Beleow.² Fannie died in 1928 at Missouri, USA.² Her body was interred.²

     She married Wesley Biggerstaff at Carroll, Arkansas, USA, before 1850.¹

     Frederick Aaron Baker The Shoe Cobbler's Kin, p 852:

"FREDERICK AARON BAKER b. 1832 Cape Girardeau Co., MO d. after Mar 22, 1864 in Federal Prison, Gt. Delaware, DEL., burial place unknown. m.(1) Martha Ann Bussey b. 13 Feb 1840 d. 1857 or 1858, dau of Jamison and Mary Elizabeth Denny Bussey m.(2) Louisa Moody [followed by list of 1 child and spouse]"

http://www.insolwwb.net/~egerdes/ftdelawr.htm:

"Fort Delaware, located on Pea Patch Island, was used as a Federal Prisoner of War Prison. Opened for prisoners April 1862, more than 22, 700 Confederate prisoners were confined there. Of these prisoners, 2346 died at Fort Delaware, known as the 'Andersonville of the North'. The dead were transported across the river to New Jersey, near Fort Mott, which is located near Harrisonville, Salem Co. NJ. The dead were buried in trenches, and individual identification was lost. Today a monument stands at the site of the burials with a bronze plaque listing the names of the interred." The Baker listed there from AR, however, is "Baker, (Corp) R.M. 5th Reg, Co A, 31 Jul 1864", which doesn't quite fit.
     
Added 24 Mar 2000:

From "They Died at Fort Delaware, 1861-1865, Confederate, Union and Civilian", compiled by Jocelyn P Jamison, p 3:

Confederate Dead: Name: "Baker, FA", Rank: "Pvt", CO: "C", UNIT: "5th, AK" Captured: "Helena, AK", Date: "7/4/64", Date OD: "7/31/64", REF: "1", where Reference 1 is "Found in 'o Those Who Wore the Gray' and on Tape 47 of National Archive records". He is the only Baker listed from AK which is of course is not Arkansas's abbreviation AR, but that of Alaska! Clearly Arkansas is meant. The monument inscription is therefore mangled: wrong initials, wrong company, but otherwise correct: right surname, right regiment, right state, right death[ date.

1850 Carroll Co AR Census has age 18 b MO.
Frederick was born at Cape Girardeau, Missouri, USA, in 1832.^1,2 He married Martha Ann Bussey.¹ He married Louisa Moody.¹ Frederick died on 7 July 1864 at Federal Prison, Fort Delaware, Delaware, USA.^1,3

     William Wilkerson Baker The Shoe Cobbler's Kin, p 852:

"WILLIAM WILKERSON BAKER b. 1833 Carroll Co., AR d. Sept 1885 Waterford, CA m. 1857 Carroll Co., AR to Caroline Pinkston b. 1833 TN d. Waterford, CA. This family is buried in Roberts Ferry Cemetery (formerly Horns Ranch Cemetery) Waterford, CA. Mildred Adkison's note: He homesteaded 160 acres on the south side of the Tuolumne River near the present Bridge during his excursion trip to California. Upon the return they established a ferry across the river, operated a general store just east of the Tim Bull road on the north side of La Grange Highway. He was elected County Treasurer 1885, but before he could serve his term he died....The twin daughters were born just after the wagon train crossed the Nevada line and became known as the 'covered wagon twins', and were featured among the county's 'covered wagon Babies' during a fair in Turlock. [Followed by a list of 4 children and their dates and spouses.]"

1850 Carroll Co AR Census has age 16 b AR. William was born at Carroll, Arkansas, USA, in 1833.^3,2 He married Caroline Pinkston at Carroll, Arkansas, USA, in 1857.³ William died in September 1885 at Waterford, Stanislaus, California, USA.³ His body was interred at Waterford, Stanislaus, California, USA, at Roberts Ferry Cemetery. Formerly Horns Ranch Cemetery.³

     Willie Emily Baker The Shoe Cobbler's Kin, p 852:

"WILLIE EMILY BAKER b. 13 Jan 1835 Carroll Co., AR d. 12 Feb 1911; buried Shady Grove Cemetery, Carroll Co., AR m. Piolet Brumley b. 6 May 1825 Miller Co., MO, son of David Daniel and Sarah _____ Brumley. [Followed by a list of 10 children and 9 grandchildren]"

1850 Carroll Co AR Census has age 14 b AR. Willie was born at Carroll, Arkansas, USA, on 13 January 1835.^1,2 She married Pilot (Piolet) Brumley.¹ Willie died on 12 February 1911 at Carroll, Arkansas, USA, at age 76.¹ Her body was interred at Carroll, Arkansas, USA, at Shady Grove Cemetery.¹

     James "Jimmie" Baker The Shoe Cobbler's Kin p 853:

"JAMES (JIMMIE) BAKER b. AR d. young." James was born at Arkansas, USA, circa 1837.¹ James died before 1850.²

     Barbara Baker The Shoe Cobbler's Kin p 853:

"BARBARA BAKER b. AR d. young." Barbara was born at Arkansas, USA, circa 1839.² Barbara died before 1850.³

     Benjamin Alfred (Alphous) Baker The Shoe Cobbler's Kin, p 853:

"BENJAMIN ALPHOUS (ALFRED) BAKER b. 11 Jan 1840 Walnut Grove, Carroll Co., AR d. 18 Nov 1891 Carroll Co., AR; buried Shady Grove Cemetery, Carroll Co., AR m.(1) Laura Adeline Moody (13 ch.) m.(2) Matilda Evans Wood (3 ch.). Mildred Adkison's note: The records I have does not list date of enrollment. He was 5 ft 7 in tall, dark hair, blue eyes, florid complexion. He was captured in Carroll Co., AR Aug 15 or 18, 1863 and sent to Springfield, MO on 31 Aug 1863; to Gratiot Street Military Prison 4 Sept 1863; to Camp Morton, Indianapolis, Ind 11 Nov 1863; released from prison 18 May 1865 on oath to allegiance to the Union. [Followed by list of 15 children 10 grandchildren.]"

1850 Carroll Co AR Census has age 12 b AR

Shady Grove Cemetery Listing:

"Baker Benjamin S, - Pvt. Co C7 Reg. Ark. Cav. CSA - Soldier - Jan. 11, 1840 - Nov. 18, 1891"

Alva M Smith 24 Jun 2001:

"Frank Baker [of Frank Baker 1983 evidence] descends from Frank Sherman Baker; son of Rufus Carlee Baker; son of Benjamin Alfred Baker; son of Aaron Baker." Benjamin was born at Walnut Grove, Carroll, Arkansas, USA, on 11 January 1840.^1,2 He married Laura Adeline Moody circa 1859. First child born 1860.¹ He married Matilda Evans Wood circa 1880. First child born about 1881. First wife died 1880..¹ Benjamin died on 18 November 1891 at Carroll, Arkansas, USA, at age 51.¹ His body was interred at Carroll, Arkansas, USA, at Shady Grove Cemetery.^1,3

     Louisa Eliza Baker The Shoe Cobbler's Kin, p 853:

"LOUISA ELIZA BAKER b. 1841 Walnut Grove, Carroll Co., AR d. 7 [sic] buried in Missouri m.(1) _____ Dalton m.(2) Jeff (Josh) Bowman m.(3) Austin Harris [followed by list of 1 Dalton child and 4 Harris children]"

1850 Carroll Co AR Census has age 10 b AR, and gives her name as Louisa M. Louisa was born at Walnut Grove, Carroll, Arkansas, USA, in 1841.^3,2 She married (?) Dalton.³ She married Jeff "Josh" Bowman.³ She married Austin Harris.³ Her body was interred at Missouri, USA.³

     Francis Marion Baker The Shoe Cobbler's Kin, p 854:

"FRANCIS MARION BAKER b. 19 Jan 1842 Walnut Grove, Carroll Co., AR d. 3 Dec 1889 m. 1859-60 to Malinda Price b. 28 Dec 1841 Franklin Co., AR, dau of William and Cynthia Wood Price. Francis served in the Confederate Army and Malinda drew a pension from the State of AR after his death until she remarried [followed by list of 1 child and 14 grandchildren]"

1850 Carroll Co AR Census has age 8 b AR.

Shady Grove Cemetery listing: "Baker, F. M. - Jan. 19, 1848 - Dec. 3, 1889 - (Jan. 19, 1842 - Dec. 8, 1889?)." Francis was born at Walnut Grove, Carroll, Arkansas, USA, on 19 January 1842.^4,2,3 He married Malinda Price in 1859.⁴ Francis died on 3 December 1889 at age 47.^4,3 His body was interred at Carroll, Arkansas, USA, at Shady Grove Cemetery.³

     Joseph Coutret Killed in the 1875 hurricane that wiped out Indianola TX. Joseph was born at Paris, Ile de France, France, in 1809.³ He married Alaniza (?) before 1852.⁴ Joseph died in 1875 at Indianola, Calhoun, Texas, USA.³

     Alaniza was born at Bern, Switzerland, in 1834.¹ She married Joseph Coutret before 1852.² Alaniza died in 1875 at Indianola, Calhoun, Texas, USA.¹

     Washington was born at New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana, USA, in 1852.¹ Washington died in 1875 at Indianola, Calhoun, Texas, USA.¹

     Eleanora was born at Indianola, Calhoun, Texas, USA, in 1858.¹ Eleanora died in 1875 at Indianola, Calhoun, Texas, USA.¹

     He married Electa Parrott at Richland, Ohio, USA, on 21 November 1834.^1,2

     She married John Long.²

     He married Sarah Huffman.¹

     ABRAHAM PIERCE (PEARSE) He came to Plymouth Colony in 1623 on the third boat, Anne. From pp 337-8 of "Plymouth Colony: Its History & People 1620-1691" by Eugene Stratton, we know that he had sons James, Abraham Jr, Isaac, and daughters Rebecca (Wills), Mary (Baker), and Alice (Baker). So he would be a Pilgrim but not a Mayflower Pilgrim. He would be, however, one of the "Old Comers". He was also one of the fifty-eight Purchasers of 1626, who, according to Stratton, "were privileged above all others in future land grants in the colony." ABRAHAM was born at Duxbury, Lancashire, England, in 1600.² He married REBECCA (?) at Plymouth Colony, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA, in 1658.² ABRAHAM died before 3 June 1673 at Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA.^2,3

     She married ABRAHAM PIERCE (PEARSE) at Plymouth Colony, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA, in 1658.¹

     James was born before 1660.¹ James died in 1660 at Plymouth Harbor, Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA.²

     She married (?) Wills.¹

     He married Rebecca Pierce.¹

     She married (?) Baker before 3 June 1673.¹

     He married Mary Pierce before 3 June 1673.¹

     ?FRANCIS BAKER Stratton p 185:

"On 8 June 1655 John Hall of Yarmouth complained that Francis Baker was abusing Samuel Hall, servant of Baker and son of John Hall, by kicking him and unreasonably striking him. The court took Samuel away from Baker, putting him in the custody of his father, and the father was to pay Baker [pounds]8 for Samuel's remaining term."

Shurtleff p 287:

"ffrancis Baker & Isabell Twineing of Yarmouth marryed the xviith day of June 1641."

There is a William Baker in or near the Plymouth Colony during this period, and also a Rev Nicholas Baker, which leaves the parentage of the children listed here questionable in some cases, unless stated otherwise.

From "Planters of the Commonwealth", pp 140-143:

"PLANTER of London, Nicholas Trerice, Master. She sailed from London about April 10 and arrived at Boston June 7, following.
...
The following passengers certified from St. Albans, Herts:
...
Francis Baker [age]24 [profession]tailor [to settle in]Boston"

NB, this places his birthdate at abt 1611.

On this same ship were, p144:

"The following passengers certified, but no place stated:

Mrs. Eylin Hanford [age]46 of Fremington, county Devon [to settle in]Scituate

Margaret Hanford 16

Elizabeth Hanford 14"

These would be Eglin (Hatherly) Hanford and her two daughters. Margaret's daughter, Fear Robinson, married Samuel Baker, who might be a relative.

Text of the Will of Francis Baker - (Barnstable Probate Records, Book 2, Page 30). I copied this from http://members.alo.com/jrogerson/francis.htm:

"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."

Also from website:

"He died in Yarmouth July 23, 1696, aged 85, probably the last of the first comers. His will, dated Mar. 4, 1692-93 was probated Dec. 8, 1696 (Barnstable Probate Record 2:30). His widow died May 16, 1706."
?FRANCIS was born at England circa 1611.^6,7,8 He was christened at St James, Clerkenwell, London, England, circa 1615.⁶ He emigrated, on 10 April 1635. Point of origin: (an unknown value).⁹ ?FRANCIS immigrated, on 7 June 1635. Destination: (an unknown value).¹⁰ He married ?ISABEL TWINING at Yarmouth, Barnstable, Massachusetts, USA, on 17 June 1641.^6,11,4 He took an oath of allegiance at Yarmouth, Barnstable, Massachusetts, USA, in 1657.¹² He made a will at Yarmouth, Barnstable, Massachusetts, USA, on 4 March 1693.⁴ ?FRANCIS died on 23 July 1696 at Yarmouth, Barnstable, Massachusetts, USA.^6,13 His body was interred at Yarmouth, Barnstable, Massachusetts, USA.⁶ ?FRANCIS's will was probated at Yarmouth, Barnstable, Massachusetts, USA, on 10 December 1696. Will witnessed and signed 8 Dec 1696, examined and entered 10 Dec 1696.⁴