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John Baker (abt. 1722 - 1792)

Colonel John Baker
Born about in Dorchester, Berkeley, Province of South Carolinamap
Son of [father unknown] and [mother unknown]
[sibling(s) unknown]
Husband of — married about 1744 in South Carolinamap [uncertain]
Father of
Died at about age 70 in Liberty County, Georgia, United Statesmap
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Profile last modified | Created 19 Feb 2017
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Contents

Biography

John was a member of the Midway Congregational Society from 1752-1792.
John was an early settler in Liberty County, Georgia
John Baker was a Georgian.
U.S. Southern Colonies Project logo
John Baker was a Georgia colonist.
Flag of SC
John Baker migrated from SC to Georgia.
Flag of Georgia
1776 Project
Colonel John Baker served with 3rd Georgia Regiment (1776), Continental Army during the American Revolution.

John was born in 1722. See Research Notes regarding his lineage and birth place.

He moved to Midway, Liberty County, Georgia in 1752, probably from Dorchester, South Carolina.

He married about 1744 to Sarah (Godfrey?). He was about 22 years old. They had at least 5 children together:

  1. Stephen Baker (1759-1807) m. 1799 Martha Fuller
  2. Whitmarsh Baker (1761-??) m. 1787 Ann Carter Oswald
  3. Sarah Baker (b. c1765) m. Capt Michael Rudulph
  4. Ruth Baker (b. 1767)
  5. John Baker Jr (1771-1802) m. 1793 Mary Blackswell (Blackwell/Blacksell?)

12 May 1767 - Gov James Wright of Georgia, Warrant of appraisement for estate of John Lupton, planter, late of Parish of St. John. Samuel Jones and Benjamin Andrews, executors. To Messieurs: John Baker, Senr., James Maxwell John Davis, John Goulding, Samuel Stevens; signed James Wright, attested Thomas Moodie. Memorandum. Oath of appraisers, signed John Baker, James Maxwell, John Davis; attested Parmenas Way, Parish of St. John. Inventory of estate of John Lupton, signed John Baker, James Maxwell, John Davis. View online.

1774 - was a member of the Provincial Congress of Georgia

Jul 1774 - attended a committee meeting in Savannah to discuss the British Port Bill

8 Feb 1774 - Gov James Wright of Georgia, Warrant of appraisement for estate of Robert Miller, planter, late of Parish of St. John. Parmenas Way, executor. To Messieurs: James Maxwell, John Elliott, William Quarterman, James Stewart, William Baker; signed James Wright, attested Thomas Moodie. Memorandum. Oath of appraisers, James Maxwell, John Elliot, and William Quarterman; attested John Baker, Parish of St. John. Inventory of estate of Robert Miller, signed James Maxwell, William Quarterman, John Elliot. View online.

11 Apr 1774 - Gov James Wright of Georgia, Warrant of appraisement for estate of William Simpson, planter, late of Parish of St. John. Elizabeth Simpson, executrix. To Messieurs: James Steuart, Samuel Burnley, William Baker, John Elliott, Thomas Sumner; signed James Wright, attested Thomas Moodie. Memorandum. Oath of appraisers James Steuart, Samuel Burnley, and William Baker; attested John Baker, Parish of St. John. Inventory of estate of William Simpson, signed Samuel Burnley, James Steuart, William Baker, Junr. View online

1776 Magistrate of St John's Parish

8 Jan 1776 - Commissioned by the Ga Council of Safety as Capt of the St. John's Riflemen, Volunteers

about 1776 - Two English loyalists, Charles and German Wright (brothers of Georgia's Royal Governor Wright) built a ford to protect their land, called Fort Wright, and was a haven for loyalists from Georgia and Northern Florida, and outlaws of the Florida Rangers. The Rangers would rob the Georgians and store their plunder at the fort. Capt Baker tried to burn the fort but was unsuccessful because of treachery among his men, including two brothers named McGirth.

Mar 1776 - The British were sailing up the river searching for provisions and seized several boats loaded with rice at Savannah. Capt Raymond Demere was taking prisoner by the British, after he boarded one of their warships unarmed and under a flag of truce. Col Lachlan McIntosh ordered Capt Baker and Capt James Screven to demand the return of the prisoner. The two Captains rowed out to the stern of the armed vessel, and angered at the indignity to which they were subjected, fired on the British and were fired upon in return. They were able to return to shore without any injuries.

1776-1777 - commanded the 3rd Regiment of Georgia Militia based in St. John's Parish, as rank of Colonel. Enlistment 8 Jan 1776 1783 Georgia Continental Army, Light Horse Regiment; Georgia Militia, 1st Battalion, 3rd Regiment; St John's Parish Militia

abt Apr 1777 - Aug 1777 - commanded the Georgia Light Horse Regiment, and was reapppointed on 21 Aug 1781

12 May 1777 - Second Florida Expedition: Col Baker was in charge of a land-based advance from Sunbury to a site on the St. John's River. He began to prepare for the arrival of Col Samuel Elbert with men aboard seven vessels moving through the coastal waters to the St. Mary's River. 400 British regulars and Florida Rangers made camp near Col Baker. Thomas Brown, leader of a force of Florida Rangers and Creek Indians under the command of Maj James Mark Prevost, moved inland searing for Baker's mounted militia. About 12 miles inland along the St. John's, Brown's men found them, and he sent a group of 10-15 Creek Indians to steal their horses. Baker's men were able to recover the horses. After not hearing from Col Elbert, Col Baker, thinking that there must be a significant force of Rangers nearby, opted to leave, which is exactly what Thomas Brown expected. They ambushed Baker and his men, who dismounted and returned fire. The militia line broke towards the rear and ran headlong into Provost's Regulars. The militia ended up scattered and some forty men were captured or surrendered, 24 of these may have been massacred by the Creek. Col Elbert and his men had been stricken by disease on the boats and decided to wait for Baker and his men at Amelia Island. Baker's men straggled in, and the combined forces returned to Savannah on 15 Jun. Another historical marker, called "Battle of Thomas Creek" was placed by the Florida Society, Children of the American Revolution in Cooperation with Department of State, in 1975 (Marker Number F-236).

1778 - A disagreement occurred between Col Baker and Maj John Jones, over a misunderstanding of orders, and a duel began to commence in full uniform, on horseback with broadswords, near the Midway church. Gen James Screven appealed to their patriotic ideals and the men returned their swords to their scabbards.

8 Nov 1778 - actively involved in the defense of St. John's Parish and Midway Church when it was attacked by forces under Lt Col J M Prevost; Col Baker was wounded at Bulltown Swamp and the Americans had to retreat. A historical marker was placed at the location of Bulltown Swamp in 1957 by the Georgia Historical Commission (Marker Number 089-16).

1779 - he attacked and dispersed the Georgia Royalists under Capt Goldsmith near Sunbury

1781 - He gathered the militia of South Georgia and took part in the siege and capture of Augusta

1782 - Commissioner of Confiscated Estates & Agent for Sequestered Estates

after 1782 - He served under Gen James Jackson to fight against the Indians

31 Dec 1783 - Georgia. Governor Lyman Hall, Bond of Thomas Stone of Savannah for £880, half of which to be paid on or before 31 December 1790. Signed Thomas Stone; attested Ezekiel Stallings, John Baker. View online.

28 Apr 1784 - Certified Nathaniel Baker as a "refugee soldier" (one who served outside his state of residency). Nathaniel was born 25 May 1760 in Midway to Benjamin Baker and Elizabeth Lax of Dorchester, South Carolina . He served in the South Carolina Militia and was at the fall of Charleston on 12 May 1780.

He married on 19 Jun 1784 in Liberty County, Georgia, to Mary Jones, widow of Maj Mathias Lapina (Rev Soldier of Georgia Line). He was about 62 years old. They had at least 2 children together:

  1. Mary Ann Baker (b. ) m. John J. Maxwell
  2. Matilda Amanda Baker (b. ) m. abt 1809 Springfield, GA to Thomas Hutson Harden

1784 - Commissioner of Sunbury Roads

1785 and 1791 - a Merchant, with the firm of Baker and Troup, with the George Troup, residence of Belleville, McIntosh County, father of Gov. George M. Troup, in Charleston, South Carolina, and Sunbury, Georgia.

1785 - Commissioner of Sunbury

5 Jul 1785 - purchased Lot 25, originally deeded to John James, confiscated from Estate of William Watson & sold by Liberty County Sheriff. Sold by Col John Baker and wife, Mary, to Stephen Baker, 1 Aug 1791. Sold by Stephen Baker and wife, Martha, to Andrew Maybank, trustee for Mary Ann Baker, 2 Sep 1791. Sold by John Jackson Maxwell and wife, Mary Ann, to Samuel Wilkins, 13 Apr 1810.

5 Aug 1786 - Petition of John Baker to Governor Edward Telfair and Council to order and audit the treasury certificates, property of his wife Mary Baker, formerly wife of Mathias Lapine. Signed John Baker. View online.

1 Aug 1791 - Col John Baker and wife, Mary, sold Lot # 26 (originally deed to Joseph Bacon [Jones]) to Stephen Baker. Sold by Stephen Baker and wife, Martha, to Andrew Maybank, in trust for Mary Ann Baker, 2 Sep 1791. Sold by John Jackson Maxwell and wife, Mary Ann, to Samuel Wilkins, 13 Apr 1810.

1 Aug 1791 - Col John Baker and wife, Mary, sold Lot # 61 (originally deeded to James Dunham 6 Oct 1760) to Stephen Baker. Sold by Stephen Baker and wife, Martha, to Andrew Maybank, trustee for Matilda Amanda Baker, 2 Sep 1791.

1 Aug 1789 - Will signed and dated. He names his sons: Whitmarsh Baker, John Baker, Stephen Baker; wife, Mary, daughters, Sarah Rudolph, Mary Ann Baker; son-in-law? Mathias Lapere; nephew, Artemus Baker. Executors: Sons, Stephen, Whitmarsh, and John Baker, and nephew, Artemus Baker. Witnesses: Adam Alexander, J. Hardy, John Lawson, Jr. He bequeaths 437 acres of land on Colonel's Island where is lumberyard is; 500 acres known as Butterfields Point on Colonel's Island, and lot 22 in Sunbury; 300 acres near Canoochee; lot # 25 in Sunbury; the Half-Moon tract on Colonel's Island.

He passed away in 1792 in Liberty County, Georgia at about the age of 70. In the book "Georgia's Landmarks, Memorials, and Legends" by Lucian Lamar Knight, it states he is "interred in the old burial ground at Sunbury, but the exact spot of his interment cannot at the present time be identified."

1 Aug 1792 - Will probated on testimony of John Lawson, Jr.

Col John Baker was considered a man of undaunted courage and high character, but was overshadowed by "hard luck" that prevented his success in battle.

12 Dec 1825 - Baker County, Georgia, located near the Lower Flynt River in southwestern portion of the state, was named after Col John Baker. It was formed from the eastern portion of Early County by the Georgia General Assembly.

Research Notes

Birth Location: The "Roster of Revolutionary Soldiers in Georgia, Vol III" indicates his birthplace as Dorchester, Massachusetts, and his father was Benjamin, who came to Midway in 1752. Other family researchers indicate that he is the son of Richard and was born in Dorchester, South Carolina. It would appear, in this researcher's opinion, that Richard of South Carolina is older and possibly could not be the father (see also John Baker (1670-1736). Benjamin of Massachusetts was considered one of the early settlers of Liberty County and was the clerk of Midway Church for 27 years. There are DAR records that Nathaniel, the son of Benjamin, was certified by Col Baker to be a refugee soldier. It's possibly by the birth timelines (which are all mixed) that Benjamin and John could have been brothers, and Nathaniel was Col Baker's nephew. It is still possible that John may have been born in Massachusetts Bay Colony, then migrated with his family to Dorchester, South Carolina, then to Midway in Liberty County, Georgia. However, there is conflicting birth timelines with Benjamin Baker. In the book "Spirit of Patriotism" By Orra Eugene Monnette, it states Benjamin's birth year as 1717. It also relates that his house was "rifled by the British forces, and he and his son, Col. John Baker, were imprisoned." If Benjamin was born in 1717, then he couldn't be the father of John, born in 1722. It must be noted that there are no reliably sourced documents for the birth given for John, only published historical biographies with no citations. When this profile was originally created, it had a birth year of 1755, with no citations listed. As noted above in the marriage to Mary Jones, he would have been about 62 years old, but apparently they had at least 2 children together.

Links

Family Search: PersonID G39M-626
Find A Grave: Memorial #176499876 Headstone Photo: No
Geni.com Colonel John Baker

Sources

Acknowledgement

Baker-25490 was created by [deleted] on 19 Feb 2017. See the Changes page for the details of edits by [deleted] and others.





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Rejected matches › John Baker (1757-1825) › John Baxter (1724-)

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Categories: NSDAR Patriot Ancestors | Baker Name Study | Georgia, Needs Profiles Created | Ivey-594 Ga Research Proj | Namesakes US Counties | Dorchester, Massachusetts | Midway Congregational Church, Midway, Georgia | St. John Parish, Georgia | Liberty County, Georgia | Wounded in Action, American Revolution | 3rd Georgia Regiment (1776), Continental Army, American Revolution | Georgia Colonists