Baker of Liberty County

Benjamin Baker, a brother to William Baker, Sr., was born ca 1722 in South Carolina, died 1 December 1785 at Midway, Liberty County, married 18 November 1753 at Midway, Elizabeth Lax who died 11 July 1799. In 1752, Benjamin was appointed to survey and lay out sundry tracts of land on and adjacent to the Midway and Newport Rivers. He was granted 500 acres bounded east by lands possessed by Samuel Bacon, north by lands of Andrew Collins, all other sides vacant, at the head of the Midway River. He was a Collector at Midway and Newport in February of 1755, also in April of 1760. He was commissioned by the Governor's Council in the Colony of Georgia to erect forts in that vicinity. His wife, Susannah, died the next day after their arrival at Midway, on 8 December 1752, buried Midway Cemetery. Issue:

• William Baker born 14 September 1754 Midway.
  
  
• Rebecca Baker born 20 July 1756, died 7 November 1831 married Rev. Mr. John Osgood, Sr. on 7 June 1798, in Liberty County. Residents of Midway.
  
  
• Samuel Baker born 31 March 1758 Midway.
  
  
• Nathaniel Baker born 25 May 1760 Midway. He married Mrs. Ann Baker on 1 July 1800, in Liberty County. He died 25 November 1803 Liberty Co., Georgia
  
  
• Joseph Baker born 21 April 1762 Midway.
  
  
• Christopher Baker born 22 November 1764 Midway.
  
  
• Elijah Baker born 15 October 1769 Midway, died 17 November 1839, Liberty County. Clerk of the Court for twenty-six years. He married Mrs. Rebecca Norman on 7 March 1797, in Liberty County.
  
  
• Ann Baker born 29 September 1772 Midway.

Another family, John Baker, Colonel, was born 1722 in Dorchester, Massachusetts. He came to Midway with the Puritans in 1752. He died 3 June 1792 in Liberty County. He was appointed a member of the committee which met in Savannah in July of 1774 to discuss the British Port Bill. Later was appointed Colonel in the Continental Army. Married 1st, Elizabeth Filbin, 2nd, Mary (Jones) Lapin, the widow of Capt. Mathias Lapin, Revolutionary Soldier, who lived at Sunbury. Child by 1st wife:

I. Mary Ann Baker who married John J. Maxwell, the son of Capt. Maxwell, Revolutionary War Soldier.

Children by 2nd wife:

II. Sarah Baker married in Liberty County Michael Rudolphy from Elkton Co., Maryland who died at sea.

III. Matilda Amanda Baker who married Thomas Huston Harden, son of William Harden.

IV. Elizabeth Baker married Robert or Thomas Quarterman of Midway.

V. Ann Baker.

VI. Rebekah Baker.

Another family, Richard Baker, planter. In March of 1765, he was the Commissioner of Roads in St. John's Parish, Liberty Co. His wife, Elizabeth, was expecting a child at the time of his death on April 17, 1755, Midway. Issue:

William J. Baker (1752-5/15/1788) Liberty Co., Georgia William Baker had a plantation at Midway, Liberty Co., owning extensive timber tracts and sawmills on the river. William Baker, planter. Lived on two lots in Sunbury, Numbers 87 and 88. Nieces: Sarah Baker and Elizabeth Baker, daughters of Benjamin Baker. William Baker was in partnership with Mr. Jenys at Savannah in 1734. They sold rum to Indian traders, such as Mr. Wiggins, charging a duty on it. Also, they had a shipping vessel called Charming Molly which sailed to South Carolina, to the store of John Baker, Esquire (he died September. 10, 1736). The following is a letter from John Baker addressed to James Oglethorpe, Esquire:

"By the Sea Horse which arrived this morning....I had a letter from my partner accompanying a second bill of Mr. Caustons on the Trustees payable to us for 300 pds. Mr. Jenys took notice that he had enclosed me Mr. Causton's letter of advice, and also our account current with the Trustees, But on perusal I find there is no letter of advice and do suppose it may be with the first bill only, which is onboard the Garland that sailed a few days before this ship but not yet arrived; as this second bill, therefore, my first get to hand (and perhaps without a letter of advice) I take the liberty to enclose you the account current which Mr. Jenys sent me, and hope you find the same to your satisfaction….We have a ship The Charming Molly which will sail for South Carolina in three weeks, if you have any commands that way, I shall be glad to serve you. I am, Sir, Your Humble Servant. John Baker"

John Baker of South Carolina was related to his partners, William and Samuel Baker at Savannah (The other partner was Mr. Jenys). They dealt in everything from skins to lumber, shipping it up and down the Georgia Coast, into South Carolina, and bringing merchandize out of Charles Town to sell at Savannah. In a letter to William Jeffrey from Samuel Eveleigh dated 4 July 1735, Savannah:

"I have consigned to Messrs. Samuel and William Baker...about 70 tons of live oak timber which I have consigned to Messrs. Peter Simond and Company, which was out by white people and has cost me a great deal of money, but I find it will do, I shall, for the future, employ negroes which will come a great deal cheaper. Samuel Eveleigh."

William Baker married 1st, Martha, a daughter of Sir Francis Bathurst, on 1 February 1735, and married 2nd, Rebecca Lupton, the sister of John Lupton and Elizabeth. Rebecca died May 1767.

For a number of years, William Baker had petitioned the Trustees for the right to a Barony. A letter from James Wright to the Board of Trade dated June 15, 1767, at Savannah, reported on the lands in the Altahama, and mentioned Sir William Baker's prior claim. Order in Council dated May 1, 1771, St. James Parish, " the humble petition of several inhabitants of the province of Georgia, setting forth...that they are owners and possessors of several tracts of land which the Trustees foe establishing the said province under the charter of June 9, 1732 allowed to them, or their ancestors, as a recompense for their services and to others of the petitioners or their ancestors, who were ordered by General Oglethorpe's Regt., dispelled, in said province in the years 1748 and 1749....; that Sir William Baker claimed the same under pretense of a prior claim of 12,000 acres from the Lords Proprietors, that the heirs of said Sir William Baker have lately proposed to release their claims." The claims were denied by Committee of Council, on the theory that such claims might set a precedent.

The Last Will and Testament of William Baker, planter, of St. John's Parish, dated 24 May 1765, named wife, Rebecca, and children. Wife to receive whatever estate was hers before her marriage to him. To son, William, two lots in Sunbury, Nos. 87 and 88, a tract of land whereon I now live, one third remaining estate to be given to him at age of 20 years. To daughter, Rebecca Jones, wife of Samuel, 250 acres adjoining East by John Stewart, 100 acres South by Joseph Way. To Sarah, 250 acres adjoining Josiah Powell, 100 acres, and personal estate to be hers at the age of eighteen years. Nieces, Sarah Baker and Elizabeth Baker, daughters of Benjamin Baker. Son-in-law: William Baker. Wife: Rebecca. Issue:[1]

1. William Baker was bequeathed the Sunbury lots.
   
   
2. Rebecca, the wife of Samuel Jones, bequeathed 250 acres of land joining easterly the land of John Stewart and 100 acres joining southerly the land of Joseph Way.
   
   
3. Sarah Baker bequeathed 250 acres adjoining land of Josiah Powell, with another adjoining 100 acres.