Andrew Baker Jr. (abt. 1749 - 1815)

Born about 1749 in Augusta, Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth (Avent) Baker — married 1769 in Colony of Virginia, British Colonial America

Descendants

Died 24 Sep 1815 at about age 66 in Jones, Lee, Virginia, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Barbara Mead [send private message], Anne Baker [send private message], Daphne Maddox [send private message], Amanda Fishel [send private message], and Sherry Baker [send private message]

Biography

Rev. Andrew Baker Jr. served with Wilkes County Regiment, North Carolina Militia during the American Revolution.

Early Life
Andrew Baker Jr. was born in 1749^[1][2] in what was then Augusta County, Virginia^[1] and would become Grayson County, Virginia.^[1]

His father, Andrew Sr., was the first settler of what is now Grayson County VA,^[3] but in 1751 he was run off his land due to the Indians.^[3] Andrew Sr.'s land records show he moved the family to North Carolina.

Marriage
Andrew Baker Jr. married Elizabeth Avant/Avent.^[1][2][4][5] This was probably about 1769,^[1][2] based on the birth date of their first known child, Solomon, in 1870.^[5] Andrew was about twenty and Elizabeth was about seventeen: she was born 12 Oct 1752 in Brunswick County, Virginia^[1] (and died in 1844^[1]).

Anecdote on the marriage of Andrew and Elizabeth recorded by Grace (Witt) Brockman, as told by her cousins Newt Click and Ellen Click on 25 Aug 1938 near Sneedville, TN:^[4]

"Elizabeth Avant (or Avent) was of French Huguenot descent, from an aristocratic family, and when she married our great-great grandfather, Rev. Andrew Baker, her people disinherited her and told her never to return home; she said that she never would until they sent for both of them. After many years, the Avants sent for Elizabeth and her husband to come and see them in their old age. Rev. Baker told her if she would not cry when she went home, he would send to the big seaport town (Wilmington?) and buy for her the nicest dress they could find. She promised and she got the dress, but when she came in sight of the old home of her parents she burst into tears."

Adult Life
He became a Baptist Minister and was pastor of various churches in North Carolina and Virginia.^[2] There are a couple of versions of the story of how Andrew Baker came to be a minister.

This was recorded by Grace (Witt) Brockman, as told by her cousins Newt Click and Ellen Click on 25 Aug 1938 near Sneedville, TN:^[4]

"When Rev. Baker was first married, he was a fiddler for dances (before he became a preacher). One night he and his wife left their children at home and went off to a dance and stayed all night; when they returned they found their house burned up, along with their children. He never went to another dance and became converted and a preacher."

The above was confirmed - though specifically for only one child - by Mrs. Meorle Ramsey of Route 1, Sneedville, TN, another of Andrew's descendants, who told Grace (Witt) Brockman that she had a letter in her possession telling of:^[4]

"Andrew and his wife going to a party and one of their children burning up in their house while they were gone.^[4]

Further credence is given to her statement as she was also the owner of the 1796 family bible (see Family Bible) at the time.^[4]

Another version found by Grace (Witt) Brockman:^[4]

"He left his wife and children at home. The mother laid down with a headache and the little girl playing by the fire caught her dress afire and burned to death, before they could put it out."

Andrew and Elizabeth's family bible lists the birth dates of their nine children, born 1770 to 1791.^[5] (See Family Bible, below.)

None of the nine named children in the bible died young (all died in the 1800s - well after records of Andrew as a minister in the 1780s and 1790s) so this raises some questions. Was it an earlier child who died, born before Solomon (born 13 Aug 1870) - meaning Andrew and Elizabeth were married nearer 1768 when Elizabeth was perhaps 15 or 16? Or was there an earlier first wife before Elizabeth whose child died in the fire - possibly with her?

In the Revolutionary War Andrew saw service as a Captain^[1][6] and chaplain.^[1] One Revolutionary War pension record indicates that Andrew went to Grayson County, VA during this period where he may have been trying to defend his father's land. See Revolutionary War, below.

Not yet thirty, he was already a Captain in 1778, when the area in which he lived in Wilkes County, NC was named "Captain Baker's District" in the tax list - and he was in charge of the wartime tax return for "his" district that year.^[6] His brothers John, James, Morris and Robert lived nearby:^[6]

In the 1787 census of Wilkes County, NC Andrew's household is listed in Captain Vannoy's District.^[7] Andrew was the only white male over 21, he had 4 boys aged under 21, and there were three white females in the household; there were no slaves.^[7]

Andrew had a long career as a minister serving at least half a dozen churches - see below for several accounts of his Life as a Minister. His last pastorate was at Thompson's Settlement Baptist Church near Jonesville, Lee Co., VA.^[2]

Death: On 24 Sep 1815 Andrew died at the age of 66 in Jonesville, Lee Co., VA.

Found multiple copies of death date. Using 24 Sep 1815.

Burial: Robert Clark Cemetery, Van, Lee Co., VA.

This cemetery is just four miles from the Thompson Settlement Missionary Baptist Church, where he was pastor at the time of his death.

Timeline

1769: Montgomery Co., VA- married Elizabeth Avent

1778: Tax list, Wilkes Co., NC^[6] - Capt. Andrew Baker (£244), James (£152), John, (£223), Morris (£257), Robert (£139), Thomas Calloway (£60)

1779: Soldier, Kentucky Co, VA- Andrew Baker and George Baker under Capt. Ruddles

1782: Tax list, Wilkes Co., NC - Capt. Andrew Baker, James, Morris

1785: Wilkes Co., NC Rev. Andrew Baker performs marriage of Robert Bingham and Elizabeth McNeil

1787: Tax list, Wilkes Co., NC- George, James, Peter, John, George, John, Bazel, Obediah, Morris Baker, Thomas Calloway, and Andrew Baker

1790: First US Census, Wilkes County, Tenth Company (now in Ashe and Alleghany Counties): Andrew Baker; brothers James and Morris nearby in Wilkes Co.'s 16th Company.^[8]

1790: Watauga Co., NC. - Three Forks Baptist church is formed and Andrew Baker is listed as one of 7 ministers of this church. Source: A History of Watuaga Co. by J. P. Arthur

1794, 22 Feb: dismissed by letter from Brier Creek church - see Brier Creek Baptist Church, below.

1794-1797: Rev. Baker performed marriages in Washington County, VA - see list, below.

1800: Andrew Baker again elected pastor at Brier Creek Baptist Church

1800: Tax list, Grayson Co., VA : John, Thomas, Minister Andrew Baker, Andrew Jr., James Baker.

1802, May 27: Rev. Andrew Baker resigned from Brier Creek Baptist Church

1805: Tax list Grayson Co., VA : Andrew Baker, 400 acres; also Joseph, Thomas and John

1806, Mar 22: Andrew Baker and wife Elizabeth of Grayson Co. - see Land Records

1809, Dec 19: Andrew Baker, Sr. of Grayson Co. - see Land Records

1810, Feb 16: Andrew Baker Sr. of Washington Co., VA - see Land Records

1811, 03 Oct: Rev. Andrew Baker and wife first received at Thompson Settlement Missionary Baptist Church, by letter

1813, 10 Sep: Andrew Baker of Lee Co., VA - see Land Records

1815, 24 Sep: Andrew died in Jonesville, Lee Co., VA at the age of 66.

Family Bible

Andrew Baker and Elizabeth Avent's family bible was donated to the Lee County Historical Society in Jonesville, Virginia on 20 Aug 2016.^[5] The Bible had stayed in the family until then, amongst the descendants of Andrew and Elizabeth's youngest daughter, Martha Baker, who married Eli Davis.

Note: when Grace Witt Brockman did her family research and collected family history stories in the 1930s she placed these in this bible for safekeeping - it was in the custody of her cousin at the time. In the 1960s it was loaned to Grace so she could have all the contents recorded for posterity: she paid a photographer to photograph it and took it to the Library of Virginia at Richmond, Virginia where the frontispiece and main family pages were microfilmed. (The bible was never owned by Grace - this was validated by the Head Archivist and the Virginia State Library).

It should be noted that Martha's name is no longer in the bible as it was on the last page which is now missing. This has been missing since at least 1960 when Grace's cousin could not find it in time for photographing.^[5] Fortunately Grace had transcribed everything in the 1930s when the page was still present so Martha's dates are still known, but no image exists.

Children of Rev. Andrew Baker and Elizabeth Avent named in the bible (plus Martha):

1. Solomon, born 13 Aug 1770^[5] - mistyped by F.S. Nelson as 13 Apr 1770^[1]
2. Henry, born 14 Aug 1774^[5][1]
3. Andrew, born 18 Feb 1777^[5][1]
4. Joseph, born 08 Apr 1779^[5][1]
5. James, born 27 Jan 1782^[5][1]
6. John, born 15 Aug 1784^[5] - mistyped by F.S. Nelson as 16 Aug 1784^[1]
7. Nancy, born 10 Jan 1787^[5][1]
8. Elijah, born 08 May 1789^[5][1]
9. Martha, born 27 Oct 1791^[1]

Revolutionary War

Captain Andrew Baker: Andrew Baker served in the Wilkes County North Carolina Militia. Records obtained from the North Carolina State Library and Archives prove that Andrew and James Baker were both on the Wilkes County North Carolina Militia list. Also obtained was a report from Col. Benjamin Cleveland stating that Andrew Baker took protection of the enemy and Micijah Pennington was a Tory. This report by Cleveland evidently was unfounded as both men went on to become Justices in Wilkes County N.C. Many thanks to William Dobbs Bennett and to his article "The New River Valley Settlement".

One Andrew Baker and George Baker (held by some to be this Andrew Baker Jr. and his brother George) are listed as privates serving under Captain Isaac Ruddle for Kentucky County, Virginia in the Revolutionary War "in 1779-1780 at Ruddle's and Martin's Stations, near now Cynthiana."^[1][9] Note: the County of Kentucky, Virginia was formed 01 Jan 1776 and remained a Virginia county until Kentucky gained statehood in 1792.

DAR and SAR membership was gained by many of Andrew's descendants. Some are based on the Virginia service record, which is a contentious issue - see DAR & SAR, below.

We know from the Revolutionary War pension records, of men who fought for Andrew and alongside him that he was a Rev. War Chaplain and Captain.

William Sparks of Wilkes County

Fought in the Rev. War under Captain Andrew Baker. Page 8 of this pension:

Upon my return from this campaign the Militia company in the bounds of which I resided, was organized into a company of mounted militia men under Andrew Baker a Captain and my Brother John Sparks as Lieutenant. In this company I served till the close of the war of the revolution. We furnished our own horses, arms and equipments. Our part of the country was almost constantly infested with robbing and murdering parties of Tories, Hessians, and I was constantly either out in pursuit of such parties or in obedience to the order of my Captain, held myself in readiness to march at a moments warning.

John Church, served from N.C.

Appears he lived near old Andrew Sr. and Rev. Andrew Baker. Transcribed by S. Baker

Rev War pension, Page 29:

That in the months of August or September he volunteered and was called in to service for three months under the command of Col. Benjamin Cleveland, Captain George Morris, Lieut., John Sparks (he believes), marched to the Calloway settlement on New River in pursuit of Tories and returned to Wilkes, this was in 1780. This affiant received no discharge. He further states that in the month of December 1780, He volunteered and was called into service for three months, under the command of Capt. Andrew Baker (a clergyman) and Lieutenant John Parkes and marched in pursuit of a company of Tories who had ? in Grayson county Virginia and found the Tories at one Gibsons in Grayon, fired upon them, they dispersed, we captured none was remained in the settlement for several days, then returned home to Wilkes having served one month.

James Cox of Grayson County VA

The Captain Baker here is presumed to be Andrew because of the location. Note that this James Cox is the son of the old Cox who lived on the Peach Bottom Property and is the claimant in the case of Cox vs Newell. It looks like Rev. Andrew was a hero to James Cox here!!

Grayson County

On this 24th day of September 1832 personally appeared in open Court, before the Justices of the Court of Grayson now sitting James Cox a resident of Grayson County & State of Virginia aged 69 years & 7 months, who being first duly

[page] 46

September 24th 1832

sworn according to Law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under Capt John Cox at the age of 15 or 16 and assisted in building a fort on New River, near the mouth of Peach Bottom Creek, in the year 1778 and from that time until the year 1780 he acted as an Indian Spy for the said Capt John Cox, and from his intimate knowledge of the country, was upon every occasion sent as a pilot to conduct those who were unacquainted with the mountains, in safety to where the different parties had their encampments. The tories about this time or about the time the British were invading North & South Carolina, became very troublesome in the county where he was (having but very few neighbours who were not tories) and those, with those of the adjoining State of North Carolina, would frequently assemble themselves & overrun the country. The declarants father, the aforesaid Capt John Cox, Enoch Osborne & his family, Benjamin Phipps, Peter Houk, & William Hardin were the only whigs who would render any assistance when required. In this situation, surrounded by tories, the declarant and a few others had to combat the whole neighbourhood, and when they found themselves too weak, declarant was sent as an express [?] to Col. Benjamin Cleveland who was stationed on the Yadkin River near where the town of Wilksboro has been since built, to inform him of the fact that the tories were collecting in large bodies in the mountains shortly after his return from Col. Clevelands camp he was taken prisoner by the tories who intended to take & deliver him to the British, but in the mean time Col. Cleveland and Majr Jone [?] had joined their forces and overtook the tories at a place called the big Glade, now in Grayson County Va. The tories when they discovered the whigs determined to seek safety by flight and in their terror forgot the declarant who availed himself of the opportunity and immediately run with all speed to the whigs and informed them of what the tories had done, the whigs then pursued them, wounded some and took others prisoners whip'd or flogged several severely, & hanged one man where the declarant now lives. After this the declarants father Capt John Cox being on an expedition against the Indians, the tories under a Capt. Green made another ascension into the mountains and the declarant raised his fathers company and pursued the tories under Green, & killed & made prisoners of Green & his entire company. Green afterwards died of his wounds, and only one of the said company survived; this was a brother of the said Green, who afterwards enlisted in the Regular army of the United States. Sometime after this affair, a certain Capt. Roberts, of the tory party, came into the neighborhood with a company of Six Hessians, and this declarant with Majr

[page] 47

September 24th 1832

Love pursued them into Carolina near the head of new River, determined to overtake them, but Capt Baker of North Carolina had heard of them, got in before the declarant & his party, overtook, killed & wounded the whole party except Roberts, their Capt, who made his escape. This declarant does not now recollect the precise time he was engaged in the War of the revolution, but he is very certain that he served under his father Capt. John Cox, and Majr William Love, as an Indian Spy, for the term of 2 years and that he was engaged under the same officers, against the tories for 2 years more making in all 4 years service.

DAR & SAR

DAR - ancestor no. A004862

DAR membership was gained by many of Andrew's descendants based on the record of Private Andrew Baker serving under Captain Isaac Ruddle for Kentucky County, Virginia "in 1779-1780 at Ruddle's and Martin's Stations, near now Cynthiana."^[1][9]

The first was to do so was Julia (Parkey) Eaton in VA, and the second Grace (Witt) Brockman, in SC in February 1934. These ladies were both descendants of Andrew's youngest child, Martha Baker,^[1] but later members were also descended of Andrew's sons Solomon, Henry, Andrew Jr. and Elijah.

Controversy:

Note: Contrary to what his DAR record says and the marker at his gravesite, Rev Andrew Baker never fought at the Battle of Ruddle's Station. Baker researchers of the Yellow Group of Bakers have disproved this many years ago.^{[citation needed]} Steps are underway to correct Andrew's Military Service Record though the DAR.

SAR - ancestor no. P-107013

SAR membership was first claimed in TN in 1971 by a descendant of Andrew's son James, Robert Shellito Donnelly. Further admissions were granted to descendants of Andrew's children Solomon, Elijah and Martha but at time of writing there are only nine SAR members. The evidence submitted includes Treasurers and Comptrollers Papers for Wilkes County, NC, (reel 115.45, p. 236) a location which correlates with the known land grants and church records for Rev. Andrew Baker so these are uncontested.

On 23 Sep 2006 two chapters of the SAR (the Martin Station chapter VASSAR of Lee County, Virginia and the General Joseph Martin chapter TNSSAR of Claiborne County, Tennessee) jointly held a ceremony to place a SAR grave marker for Andrew Baker "Cumberland Gap patriot." (See SAR article, including an account of 1780 wartime activity.)

Land Records

Land Grants
Andrew Baker received land grant # 476 in the Naked Creek area. He later acquired grants 1701, 1702, and 1707. He also got grant # 1068 in Roan's creek.

Images of Andrew Baker's grants: work in progress

• 1782, 23 Oct Wilkes County, NC grant #277: 21 acres on S. fork of New River^[10]
• 1785, 22 Sep Wilkes County, NC grant #634: 320 acres on upper fork of Naked Creek^[11]
• 1790, 24 Nov Wilkes County, NC grant #971: 100 acres on branch of Buffaloe Creek, N fork New River^[12]
• 1792, 05 Dec Wilkes County, NC grant #1255: 97 acres on Lewises fork^[13]

Related Baker grants:

• Morris Baker received grants #616 in the Beaver Creek area and 937 in the Dog creek area.
• John Baker had grant # 886 in Roan's Creek and 1458 and 1700 in Peak Creek.
• James Baker had grant 936 in Naked Creek, 1283 in Peak Creek and 1366 in Cranberry.
• Thomas Calloway owned grant # 1155 in Beaver Creek.
• George Baker owned #395 in Buffalo area of Ashe Co.
• Solomon Baker held Grant # 1410 in Horse Creek.

Other Land Records

"Andrew Baker And His Descendants" by Frieda Sims Nelson - page 2^[4]

Extracted from Chackley's Records of Augusta Co., Va. Col. IX. P. 143

Beavens (Blevins) v. Newell, O.S. 174, N.S. 62 Bill, Sept. 27, 1805.

In 1765 or 1768 Andrew Baker [note - this now attributed to Andrew Sr!] settled and made improvements on land under the Loyal Co., now in Grayson Co., Va. Several years afterwards he sold to Jeremiah Harrison who also removed to and lived on the land for some time and then sold it to James Mulkey, who also settled and lived on the land and then sold to James Blevins, father of Orator John B. Blevins, 1772. James Blevins, then moved to the land where he resided until his death in 1801. In 1790 James Newell made an entry on the lands. Geo.[rge] Reeves deposed that Andrew Baker was the first settler on the land in 1768. Copy of survey of 100 (4400) acres (known as the Peach Bottom) surveyed for Peter Jefferson, Thomas and David Meriwether & Thos. Walker, 16th March 1753."

1806, Mar 22: Grayson Co., VA DB. 2 pg 549 - "Andrew Baker and his wife Elizabeth of Grayson Co. " 100 acres to Joel Richardson " on the mouth of the Clay bank, a branch of the Beaverdam...the Rockhouse branch...witnesses Robert Parsons, Nicholas Gentry, Andrew Baker, Jr.

1809, Dec 19: Grayson Co., VA DB 2 pg 552 - "Andrew Baker, Sr. of Grayson Co. to Reuben Debord (of Washington Co, VA) , 100 acres on the Beaverdam branch of Wilson Creek...on the line of Joel Richardson..on the line of John Stogill. Witnesses Amos Debord, John Baker, Elijah Baker

1810, Feb 16: Grayson Co., VA DB2 pg 551 - Andrew Baker Sr, of Washington Co., VA, to Elijah Baker of Grayson Co., 100 acres for 0. On the Beverdam, above his (Elijah's) plantation, being part of a survey Baker bought of Philip Gaines..on William Parson's line, and Reuben Debord's..Wit: Amos & Reuben Debord & Joel Richardson.

1813, 10 Sep: Andrew Baker of Lee Co., VA to Rubin Debord of Grayson Co., 100 acres for 0. On the waters of Bever Dam, a branch of Wilson Creek, near the State line. Witnesses: William Weaver, Josh Weaver. Ashe DB E pg 175

Life as a Minister

Some of the churches in which Rev. Andrew Baker served:

• Eaton's Church,^[1] Surry Co. (now Yadkin Co.), NC
• Brier Creek Church,^[1] Wilkes Co., NC 1781-1794;^[1] and 1800 to 1802;^[1]
• Lewis Fork Church,^[1] Wilkes Co., NC 1792-1794^[1]
• Cedar Island later Ausburn, still later, Fox Creek Church^[1] in Grayson Co., VA
• Sinclair's Bottom Church^[1] in Washington Co., VA
• Providence Church,^[1] in Yadkin Co., NC 1805^[1]
• Thompson Settlement Baptist Church,^[1] in Lee Co., VA

"Annals of southwest Virginia, 1769-1800" by Lewis Preston Summers, page 1631:^[14]

"The first Baptist ministers in this part of the State were Jonathan Mulkey, Andrew Baker, Edward Kelly, Barnet Reynolds and John Brundridge, and they literally took their lives in their hands "going about doing good." They traveled great distances through a comparative wilderness, facing dangers, seen and unseen, for the purpose of dispensing the blessings of the Gospel among the scattered settlers; and all this labor, exposure and danger without the prospect or even hope of earthly reward. They were mostly unlettered men, but not more so, perhaps, than the fishermen who were called from their nets on the sea of Galilee, and thus laid the foundation for their successors to build upon, and upon which has been reared a spiritual temple of magnificent proportions."

Drapers MSS. 12DD 51(8)-52(1)^[1]

"Andrew Baker was a Baptist Minister and served as Chaplain of his Company in the Revolutionary War. He was a great preacher of the frontier settlers. He was one of the very first settlers of Newriver in the New county of Ashe County, N.C. about 1769. (called Wilkes Co., Ashe Co. made in 1799). Rev. Andrew Baker was a chaplain, a good whig, a great influence, eminents for mortality, of the Baptist religion..."

History of N.C. Baptists- G.W. Paschal^[1]

Rev. Andrew Baker was a Baptist Missionary Preacher in Northern Carolina and Southern VA. He moved around among this area starting churches and Pastoring Churches. Rev. Baker was one of the ablest, wisest and most successful ministers in Wilkes Co., N.C. and adjacent parts of Virginia.

Washington County, VA Marriages performed

VIRGINIA COLONIAL ABSTRACTS Vol. XXXIV

Washington County Marriage Register 1782 -1820^[15]

Abstracted by Beverley Fleet

Marriages Performed in Washington County Virginia by Rev. Andrew Baker

extracts compiled by S. Baker

Sep 6, 1794 – Henry Baker to Mary Tilson

Dec 10, 1795- Joseph Bishop – Margaret Curran

Oct 4, 1794 – Joseph Catchim- Mary Courtney

July 23, 1795 – John Crank- Elizabeth Walker

Sept 3, 1795 Jeremiah Clay – Frances Johnston

June 2, 1796 – John Crow-Elizabeth Brittain

Oct 11 1796 – Henry Coontz – Zilphy Roach

July 27, 1795 Saml Douglas – Millie Johnston

Oct 11, 1812 Cornelius Debord- Susanna Baker

Feb 23, 1797 Jeremiah Evans- Polly Lorrmier

Oct 11, 1796 John Ickis- Isabella Huddin

Aug 15, 1794 Thomas Johnston – Patsy Clay

Nov 22 1796 William Jean – Dorcas Reamy

May 20 1797 Joseph John- Jenny Cole

Aug 15, 1797 Adam Surber-Ruth Hubble

May 31, 1796 Nehemaih Williams-Mary Wright

July 1, 1796 David Wheeler- Mary Wheeler

Oct 19, 1796 Jesse Wheeler – Chloe Harrison

Mar 16 1797 Abraham Wilson – Maragret Johnston

July 7, 1797 Robert Williams- Rebecca Gill

Eaton's Church

"Andrew Baker & His Descendants" by Frieda Sims Nelson, page 1^[1]

Eaton's Church constituted Dec. 16, 1790 by ministers who assisted Rev. Petty and Rev. Andrew Baker. Eaton's Church was a continuation of Dutchman's Creek Church which was broken up during the revolution period. It was started on the same site in the former Surry County., now Yadkin County, North Carolina.

Brier Creek Baptist Church

Brier Creek Records show Andrew Baker was sent by the church, with Elizabeth Baker received the same day by letter on Nov 24, 1789:^[16]

November the 24th at Church Meeting Received under the Care of the Church John Shepherd, Andrew Baker

By letter Elizabeth Baker, 3 in all―

On 26 Jan 1794 he was sent to help out at Fish Creek Church. On Feb 22, 1794 he and Elizabeth were dismissed by letter. In 1800, Andrew Baker was requested to return to pastor at the Brier Creek Church, which he accepted, and then requested he be released on May 27, 1802.

When the LDS Church photographed the records for the Brier Creek Baptist church the following note, written in pencil was found inside the book:^[17]

"Feb 22, 1794 Andrew Baker was dismissed by letter from Brier Creek church. The church had regularly held conferences but had no pastor from this period till 1800 when Andrew Baker was again elected pastor. May 27, 1802 Andrew Baker resigned. The church met and convened regularly without a pastor for eighteen years till Thomas Martin was elected pastor in 1820."

The book has been scanned by FamilySearch and can be viewed in its entirety here.

Cedar Island aka Ausburn Church aka Fox Creek Baptist Church

Cedar Island Church in Grayson County, Virginia was founded in 1782. It was later known as Ausburn Church^[1] and finally as Fox Creek Church.^[1]

Thompson Settlement Missionary Baptist Church

This was the last church that Rev. Andrew Baker pastored, being Pastor of it at the time of his death on September 24, 1815.^[4] The cemetery in which Andrew is buried is "just behind the churchV^[4] (actually, four miles according to Google Maps).

The church is located 17 1/2 miles southwest of Jonesville, Lee Co., VA.^[4] It is the oldest church in Lee Co.,^[2] constituted December 3rd, 1800.^[4]

The church congregation is still in existence today,^[4] though standing on the site is the 5th building, erected in 1957.^[4] On May 25, 1975, the church celebrated its 175th Anniversary^[4] and in celebration of the 200th year of the American Revolution the following year, the graves of three Revolutionary Soldiers were given special markers: Reverend Andrew Baker, Mr. Marion and Mr. Bishop.^[4]

The minutes at Thompson's Settlement Baptist Church:

• " October (3rd) Third, Saturday A.D. 1811, The church met and after divine service proceeded to business. First, received Rev. Andrew Baker and his wife, sister Elizabeth Baker, by letter. Secondly chose..."^[1][2]
• June 12, 1812 ... Rev. Andrew Baker became Pastor of the Church... Church records^[1]
• Sept. (3rd) Third, Saturday, A.D. 1814 ......Secondly, appointed brother Andrew Baker the delegate to the Association.^[1][2]
• "The Sabbath, the 24th day of Sept. A.D. 1815, was a remarkable day in the memory of several persons, for on this day old Father Andrew Baker expired after some days of sickness, aged 66 yrs. He lived 22 weeks after he baptized James Gilbert and Matilda Randolph [who is the wife of William Randolph]. His remains were buried in Robert Clark's Cemetery, South West of Jonesville, Lee Co., Va...."^[4]

Another quote (source unknown) says:

• "On the Sabbath, the 23rd. day of April, A.D. 1815, a remarkable occurance was transacted by Elder Andrew Baker, who baptized James Gilbert and Matilda Randolph, the wife of William Randolph, in the Loan Branch, a tributary of Walling's Creek. James Gilbert was the last male that he baptized in his lifetime."

DNA

The descendants of the Rev. Andrew Baker, John Renta Baker, Bolling Baker, George Baker, Morris Baker all have matching Y-DNA

We also have one 111 match that is a Hammond with no explanation as to why yet.

• BAKER Family Y-STR DNA study & Lineages viewable at http://www.bakerdna.net/
• My FamilyTree BAKER DNA Project Website - Y-DNA Colorized Chart viewable at https://www.familytreedna.com/public/baker/default.aspx?section=ycolorized

DNA Files:

• 2339-67
• 2357-67
• 2782-12
• 3411-25
• 4003-25
• 4039-12 (Lee Ross Baker)
• 4396-12
• 4461-12
• 4822-37
• 8426-12
• 9207-111
• 11908-25
• 23383-12

Research Notes

Osborne's Settlement

A reference on a Baker website states that Andrew and Elizabeth were married and lived for a time at Osborne's Settlement. In 1774, Ephraim Osborne obtained a Loyal Land Grant of 260 acres on both sides of Saddle Creek, a branch of New River. On the map, this location is about 6 miles east of his 400 acres he owned on Wilson Creek, and about 6 miles west of Independance, near Peach Bottom. Osborne built his fort, and then later was granted a license to operate an "ordinary", like a hotel. There was a Cemetery, but it has been neglected. It is on Rt 711, just east of the River Ridge Thoroughbred Farm's barn # 1 in Independence, VA.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 1.22 1.23 1.24 1.25 1.26 1.27 1.28 1.29 1.30 1.31 1.32 1.33 1.34 1.35 1.36 1.37 1.38 1.39} "Andrew Baker & His Descendants" book by Frieda Sims Nelson - page 1. Self published, Colorado 1975 . Public domain digitized copy available at FamilySearch.org: see page 1 (image 7 of 314). Accessed 29 Oct 2022.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7} Article on Andrew Baker and Elizabeth Avent in "Lee County, Virginia and Surrounding Areas", by Mrs. VanLandingham. Transcript at (https://www.oocities.org/~lgunter/ab1749.htm)
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Cox vs Newell case in the Augusta County VA Chancery Court records, extracted and transcribed by David Hindman.
4. ↑ ^{4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16} "Andrew Baker and His Descendants" book by Frieda Sims Nelson, 1975, - page 2. Self published, Colorado 1975 . Public domain digitized copy available at FamilySearch.org: see page 2 (image 8 of 314). Accessed 29 Oct 2022.
5. ↑ ^{5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12} Family Bible of Andrew And Elizabeth Baker, printed 1796. Donated to the Lee County Historical Society, Jonesville, Virginia on 20 Aug 2016.

   See article on the bible's journey, contents, and donation here.

6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3} 1778 tax list of Captain Andrew Baker's District, Wilkes County, North Carolina. FamilySearch database with images "Tax records (Wilkes County, North Carolina), 1778-1908" (familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS3J-XQ9S-M) > image 59 of 1017. Accessed 30 Oct 2022.
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} Andrew Baker household in the 1787 census of Vannoy's Company, Wilkes County, North Carolina. Original in the State Archives, Raleigh, North Carolina. Public domain transcription by Wilkes Genealogical Society, North Wilkesboro digitized by FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/viewer/544191/?offset=0#page=10&viewer=picture&o=&n=0&q=), page 7, image 10 of 32. Accessed 01 Nov 2022.

   name, white males age 21-60, other ages, all white females, blacks 12 to 50, other ages

   Andrew Baker, 1, 4, 3, 0, 0

8. ↑ Andrew Baker household in the First Census of the United States, 1790 federal census of North Carolina, Wilkes County, Tenth Company. (http://www.fmoran.com/wilkes/1790wilk.html#10). Accessed 01 Nov 2022.

   Name (White Males 16+, 16-, White Females, Slaves)

   Tenth Company, Wilkes County, North Carolina

   Baker, Andw. (2, 2, 2, 0)

   Sixteenth Company, Wilkes County, North Carolina

   Baker, Jas. (1, 4, 1, 2)

   Baker, Morry (1, 4, 5, 0)

9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} "History of Kentucky," vol. 1, chapter "Soldiers of the County of Kentucky," page 13 by Lewis Collins & Richard H. Collins. Published 1882 in Covington, KY by Collins & Co. Original repository: University of Iowa. Google digitized copy available at Hathitrust.org, image 19 of 742. Accessed 29 Oct 2022.
10. ↑ Andrew Baker land grant 23 Oct 1782, Wilkes County, NC, Land Patent Book 49, Page 91, file no. 277. State Archives of North Carolina, MARS database no.: 12.14.124.277. Public domain image at NC Land Grants (https://nclandgrants.com/grant/?mars=12.14.124.277), owned and operated by NC Historical Records Online. Accessed 29 Oct 2022.

    to: Andrew Baker

    issued: 23 Oct 1782 as Wilkes County Grant # 277 (after 2 years, 7 months)

    original request: 03 Apr 1780 as Wilkes County Entry # 1163.

    land: 21 acres in Wilkes County, NC on the South fork of New River. Located "Beg. at a small white oak... in the line of his former survey... along the agreed line of Morris Baker..."

11. ↑ Andrew Baker land grant 22 Sep 1785, Wilkes County, NC, Land Patent Book 59, Page 242, grant no. 634, file no. 637. State Archives of North Carolina, MARS database no.: 12.14.124.638. Public domain image at NC Land Grants (https://nclandgrants.com/grant/?mars=12.14.124.638), owned and operated by NC Historical Records Online. Accessed 29 Oct 2022.

    to: Andrew Baker

    issued: 22 Sep 1785 as Wilkes County Grant # 634 (after 3 years, 7 months)

    original request: 22 Feb 1782 as Wilkes County Entry # 476.

    land: 320 acres in Wilkes County, NC on the upper fork of Naked Creek. Located "Beg. at a white oak in the upper fork of Naked Creek... on the South side of Naked Creek... in the agreed line of James Baker..."

12. ↑ Andrew Baker land grant 24 Nov 1790, Wilkes County, NC, Land Patent Book 74, Page 270, grant no. 971, file no. 974. State Archives of North Carolina, MARS database no.: 12.14.124.975. Public domain image at NC Land Grants (https://nclandgrants.com/grant/?mars=12.14.124.975), owned and operated by NC Historical Records Online. Accessed 29 Oct 2022.

    to: Andrew Baker

    issued: 24 Nov 1790 as Wilkes County Grant # 971 (after 3 years, 1 month)

    original request: 10 Oct 1787 in Wilkes County (no entry # recorded).

    land: 100 acres in Wilkes County, NC on Buffaloe Creek, off the N fork of New River. Located "On a horn beam and chestnut on a branch of Buffaloe Creek [sic], one of the Creeks of the North fork of New River near Ben Cleaveland's line running East along Shearer's line..."

13. ↑ Andrew Baker Jr. land grant 05 Dec 1792, Wilkes County, NC, Land Patent Book 79, Page 330, grant no. 1255, file no. 1063. State Archives of North Carolina, MARS database no.: 12.14.124.1063. Public domain image at NC Land Grants (https://nclandgrants.com/grant/?mars=12.14.124.1063), owned and operated by NC Historical Records Online. Accessed 29 Oct 2022.

    to: Andrew Baker Jr.

    issued: 05 Dec 1792 as Wilkes County Grant # 1255 (after 12 years)

    original request: 20 Nov 1780 as Wilkes County entry #1381

    land: 97 acres in Wilkes County, NC. Located "On Lewis'es Fork... a conditional line between Matthew Francis and said Baker..."

14. ↑ "Annals of southwest Virginia, 1769-1800" by Lewis Preston Summers, page 1631. Published 1929 in Abingdon, Va. by L.P. Summers. Microfilmed by FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9DX-C67T?i=1222&cat=72352) > image 1223 of 1226. Accessed 31 Oct 2022.
15. ↑ "Virginia Colonial Abstracts Vol. XXXIV", "Washington County Marriage Register 1782 -1820" abstracted by Beverley Fleet. Published 1961 by Baltimore Genealogical Publishing Co.. Google-digitized public domain copy of an original book at the University of Georgia is available on Hathistrust.org. Accessed 07 Nov 2022.

    Note: book is out of print and publisher has no plant to reprint so declared it is now in the public domain.

16. ↑ Brier Creek Baptist Church, Wilkes Co., NC church minutes 1783-1955, page 4. microfilmed by the Historical Commission, Southern Baptist Convention, Nashville, Tennessee. FHL Film 984264. FamilySearch database with images "Church minutes, 1783-1955," (https:/familysearch.org/search/catalog/354675) > Image 11 of 276 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4K-JWH6). Accessed 02 Nov 2022.
17. ↑ Brier Creek Baptist Church, Wilkes Co., NC church minutes 1783-1955, front page. microfilmed by the Historical Commission, Southern Baptist Convention, Nashville, Tennessee. FHL Film 984264. FamilySearch database with images "Church minutes, 1783-1955," (https:/familysearch.org/search/catalog/354675) > Image 6 of 276 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4K-JWC5).

• North Carolina State Library and Archives. Misc. Rev War Accounts Wilkes County
• Virginia Memories, Chancery Court Records Augusta County, Cox vs Newell
• National Archives: Revolutionary War Pensions, John Church, William Sparks, James Cox
• Wilkes County Records, Abshear
• Personal research David Hindman, Sherry L Baker, Gwen Bjorkman, Gale Wallen, Travis Wagner.
• Some Descendants of Andrew Baker http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~katy/baker/b14077.html#P14077
• "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/QVK5-B9WG : 13 December 2015), Andrew Baker, 1815; Burial, Van, Lee, Virginia, United States of America, Robert Clark Cemetery; citing record ID 50911809, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com. (Includes image of old Bible record that shows the names and dates of birth for children.)

See also:

• FamilySearch ID no. LZGR-RCK: https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LZGR-RCK

• Paternal and Maternal relationships are both confident based on a triangulated group on MyHeritageDNA who share a 15.6 cM segment on chromosome 1, consisting of Jonathan Wilson and S.C. Jenkins, his 6th cousin 2x removed, and J.H. Quillen, his 5th cousin 3x removed. (S.C. Jenkins and J.H. Quillen are 5th cousins 1x removed.) These matches have been independently verified by via the MyHeritage Chromosome Browser. Their most-recent common ancestors are Andrew Baker and Susannah Unknown, the 7x great grandparents of Jonathan Wilson and 5x great grandparents of S.C. Jenkins and 4x great grandparents of J.H. Quillen.