Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Francis Baker and Isabel Twining of 17th century Yarmouth, MA


Francis Baker was born about 1611 in St. Albans, Hertfordshire, England. He came to Plymouth Colony on the ship Planter in 1635. He was called a tailor on the passenger list, a common subterfuge by which many skilled artisans left England. His parents are not known.

Francis married Isabel Twining 17 June 1641, probably at Plymouth. Isabel was the daughter of William and Ann (____) Twining. Some sources have her as the daughter of William Twining Jr., but that’s inaccurate.

Francis was permitted to dwell at Yarmouth in June 1641. He lived at what became the Mayfair area in Dennis, at the head of Kelley’s Bay on Bass River and near Follins Pond. His original neighbors were Thomas Folland, Gabriel Whelden and William Twining.
Follins Pond, Dennis source: Wikipedia

The family is believed to have been Quakers, as were many of their neighbors in the Mayfair area. Swift wrote that Francis was “not in full accord with Puritan notions.”

In 1653 he was in court for "selling wines without license." On 8 June 1655 John Hall of Yarmouth complained that Francis Baker was abusing his servant Samuel Hall, who was John Hall’s son, by kicking him and unreasonably striking him. The court took Samuel away, putting him in the custody of his father and the father was to pay Baker 8 pounds for Samuel's remaining term. There is no record of Francis being warned or fined.

In 1659 he was living in Eastham on 10 acres "lying upon Poche" by the land of his father-in-law William Twining. He soon sold the land and returned to Yarmouth where he was a copper and later a blacksmith. He served the town as surveyor of highways and on the jury. (Note that Nancy Thacher Reid writes that he never left Yarmouth.)

Francis Baker wrote his will on 4 March 1692/3. Isabel is named as “Jesball,” and he leaves her his house and lands (meadow and uplands) at Yarmouth, his cattle and moveable goods during her lifetime. He left five shillings to each of his children John, Daniel, William, Elizabeth Chase and Hannah Pearse. He left two shillings to his grandson Samuel, the eldest son of his son Nathaniel. All other real estate and moveable goods to go to his son Thomas. Thomas and widow named executors.

The inventory was taken on 24 November 1696 by Benjamin Gage (signed by a mark) and Isaac Chace and sworn to 8 December, 1696 by Thomas Baker of Yarmouth. The real estate, housing lands and meadow and orchard, had a value of £30.

Francis Baker died 23 July 1696 at Yarmouth at age 85, the last of the “First Comers” to pass on. He and Isabel had been married 55 years. Isabel died 16 May 1706.

The Baker homestead was not sufficiently large enough to accommodate the growth of this family and the second generation settled in the area near the present day Ezra Baker School where West Dennis and South Dennis merge, and northward and eastward along the shore of Grand Cove.

Francis and Isabel had eight children: Nathaniel, John, Elizabeth, Samuel, Daniel, Thomas, Hannah, and William. My information on the Baker children is not complete.

Nathaniel married and had three sons Samuel, Nathaniel and Silas. I’ve seen conflicting information on his wife/wives. Some sources give his wife as Desire (perhaps Gray) and others give Mary Pierce as his first wife, Desire as second. Nathaniel died December 1691 in Yarmouth.

John Baker married Alice Pierce, daughter of Abraham. They had seven children: Jonathan, Isaac, Mary, John, Bethiah, Elizabeth, and Sarah. They raised their family in Yarmouth. I believe he served in King Philip’s War, despite his Quaker religion.

Elizabeth married John Chase and they had eight children: Sarah, Desire, John, Thomas, Jeremiah, Isaac, William, and Jonathan.

Samuel married Martha ____ and had Martha, Daniel, Hannah, and Sarah. I believe he also served in King Philip’s War. Have read his children relocated to Swansea.

Daniel married Elizabeth Chase and had Joseph, Daniel, Samuel, Abraham, Elisha, Hannah, Thankful, Tabitha, and Elizabeth. Daniel served in King Philip’s War. He built a house in Dennis, now the oldest one standing in town and known as the Judah Baker house.

Thomas married Bersua (Lewis?) and had Mary and Thomas. He seems to have also served in King Philip’s War.

William Baker married Mercy Lawrence and lived at Yarmouth. They had 12 children: Mercy, William, Dorcas, Experience, Judah, Elizabeth, Josiah, Johanna, Patience, Elisha, James, and Thankful. He also served in King Philip’s War.

Hannah married Abraham Pierce and lived at Plymouth. Children: Abraham, John, Samuel, and Isaac.

I have many Baker lines and descend from siblings Nathaniel, Elizabeth, John, William, and Daniel.

Sources:

Charles F. Swift, History of Old Yarmouth; comprising the present Towns of Yarmouth and Dennis from the Settlement to the Division in 1794:  With the History of Both Towns to 1876.  Yarmouth Port, MA:  The Historical Society of Old Yarmouth, 1975 reprint.

Nancy Thacher Reid, Dennis, Cape Cod from Firstcomers to Newcomers, 1639 – 1993, 1996

Clarence Almon Torrey, New England Marriages Prior to 1700,

Library of Cape Cod History and Genealogy, The Baker Family of Yarmouth, Descendants of Francis, No. 73, CW Swift Publisher, Yarmouthport, MA, 1912

45 comments:

  1. I am a descendant of Francis Baker from son Daniel S Marking

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  2. Thanks for your comment. Have you found anything on Daniel's death? I've read he died after 1713, possibly in Rhode Island, but no source.

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  3. Anonymous said...Hello,
    I'm trying to find out information on Jeremiah Kelley (1766-1854) and Hannah Gilman they married and had a daugher names Susannah Kelley (1816-1848). Jeremiah and Hannah would be my 4th great grandparents, and I would love to find out who their parents were, but haven't had much luck so far finding out more about them. I would love to hear from anybody who has the information about this family.
    Thanks,
    Stacy
    robstacy@bresnan.net

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  4. I have a huge ancestry tree and seems William Twining was my 11th great grandfather. I cannot verify all the facts of the people in my tree but it is public under melindahoward206 and is astonishly huge!

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  5. I am a decendant of Francis Baker. My family is buried all over Yarmouth ,south yarmouth and Plymouth

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    1. I am a descendant as well. Hello cousins. Francis, Elizabeth Chase, William Chase, Job Chase, Zenas Chase, Hulda Eldredge, Hulda Bassett, valentine Bassett, Hulda Bourne

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    2. Hi Dennis, there are a lot of old Cape surnames in your line of descent! Chris

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  6. I believe Francis would be my 10'th or 11'th great grandfather.

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    1. Hi Brian: that s an amazing amount of Bakers to research! Chris

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  7. Yeah it took just a couple days for me to track things back to him. I'm a descendent of Francis's son Daniel, and his son David.

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  8. Correction Daniels son Joseph.

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  9. According to a family geneology, I am descended from Francis Baker from a line that settled in Michigan early 1800's. My mother was that last of her line without cousins or sibilings. I am trying to confirm several parts of this geneolgy. If anyone can help with this project please post

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    1. My name is Jon Koeze and I wrote the above despite the fact that its says Anonymous. My Mothers name is Carol Jean Baker.

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  10. Thank you for your history of Francis Baker, the writing and the research, and thank you for sharing this!

    I am a great-grandson of Alfred Landon Baker (1859 Lynn, MA-1929 Chicago, IL) a descendant of Francis Baker (Francis, John, Isaac, Richard, David, Isiah, Benjamin, Addison, Alfred).

    The bits of history I can contribute begin with Benjamin Baker (b. 1809), fourth great grandson of Francis Baker (b. 1611). The rest of my knowledge comes from Florence W Baker’s history in the Cape Cod. If anyone has an interest in the line descending through Benjamin, please contact me. Also, of course I would be very interested to learn more of Benjamin’s ancestors back to Francis.

    Bruce Barker
    Toronto Canada
    brucebar[at]rogers.com

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  12. Not sure where my post went but Francis is my 11th great grandfather on my mother's side. (Francis Baker > Daniel Baker > Samuel Baker > Judah Baker > Barnabus Baker > Barnabus JR > Rueben Baker > Allen Baker > Ephraim Baker > Albro Allen Baker > Russell Baker ( Free Mason, & my Great-Gramps) > Donald Everrett Baker (My Papa) - My mother Julie Baker was Donald's youngest daughter :) VERY awesome history to this family line packed full of some very unique members. I have a TON of family hand written genealogy from his side of the family with plenty of family stories. Nice article. Thank you for sharing :) http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/76477823/family

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    1. Thanks, Laura, for sharing your long Baker line. Chris

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  13. wonderful research! Thanks Cousin!

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  14. Thank you for your collection of information. Frances was my eighth great grandfather. It has been wonderful to read your collection of information as well as how you have tracked the lineage from England. Thank you, you just made my New Year special.

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    1. Thank you, John, for your nice note! Chris

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  15. Thank you for your research! I just found out that Francis Baker is my 9th great-grandfather and I had no idea that my family history is part of first families history! Very cool to be able to trace back all the way to England. My lineage is from his son William and William's son Josiah. This group migrated to NY then WI and MN based on what I have in my ancestory tree. Wow!!

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    1. Congrats on your great discovery! Interesting your family line ended up in WI and MN. Chris

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  16. Genealogy.Com states that Francis Baker's parents were Nicholas and Mary Baker.

    (b. 1574, d. April 04, 1631)
    Nicholas Baker was born 1574 in Farmingham, Suffolk, England108, and died April 04, 1631 in Framlingham, Suffolk, England1

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    1. Posted by Keith Graham, direct decendant of Francis Baker, 10 generations.

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    2. Thanks, Keith. Is there a source given for Nicholas and Mary as Francis' parents? Chris

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  17. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    1. Unfortunately I don't know about a wax seal. Chris

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  18. I am a descendent of Peter Baker born Yarmouth 1714, married Melicate Gray and added 12 more Bakers.
    I believe he was 3rd gen. from Francis but don't know his father. Anyone have data?

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    1. Tom, I believe Peter Baker is great-grandson of Francis. Francis - John - John - Peter. His parents were John and Hannah (Jones) Baker. Hope that helps, Chris

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  19. Do you know anything about lot baker? I am trying time find information on his son stephen born 1754. Do you have any information on stephen and his descendants?

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    1. I don't know anything about Stephen Baker b. 1754. Wish I could help, Chris

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  20. I am trying to find out how we are connected to Francis ans Isabel Baker. We have several DNA connections to them. My great-great grandfather was Stephen Harrison Baker who was born in 1790 in New England, supposedly Connecticut. I would really like to discover which of Francis' decendents connects us. Please contact me at cshelton52@hotmail.com id you can help me. Thank you.

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    1. Hello, I'm not familiar with Stephen Harrison Baker but best of luck in your search. Chris

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  21. Herman Ellsworth Baker (son of Mayhew Baker) is the last of my direct line to live in Falmouth. There’s been questions whether Herman is the father or grandfather of my grandfather Robert Clifton Baker. The disconnect happens around the time of the influenza outbreak in Minneapolis around 1919. If anyone has any info I’d appreciate it. -Michelle Baker

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  22. Wonderfully written, thank
    you. My line: Francis, John, Jonathan, Isaac, Seth, Zenas, Lewis, Ahira (Hiram), Edgar, Raymond, to my father, Edwin. Does anyone have any information on Lewis' first wife, Bethana...can't find any mention of her other than her death in 1825...but having fun looking!

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    1. Hi Judith, I don't have any information on Lewis' first wife, but hopefully someone else reading this can help. Chris

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  23. I descend from Nathaniel and Nathaniel and so forth down to Hannah Amelia Baker whos son was Ammi Howard, his son Albert a seaman/mariner came to Tasmania Aust , met his wife Amelia Smith married and migrated to the mainland Victoria Australia. Albert and Amelia are my Great Great Grandparents.
    I descend from several wonderful American lines via Albert :)

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    1. I'm sorry for this very late response. Blogger hasn't been notifying me of comments like in the past. That's really interesting how your Baker/Howard line went to Australia. Such an adventurous lot! Chris

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  24. Hello, I just recently came across your blog. I am just blown away. My Grandpa wasn't sure about a marriage between his folks and wasn't sure who his grandparents were. I believe I found some folks through your blog and blind luck. So I'm going to write this to see if it makes sense. Francis Baker is my 10th Great Gpa, through the three Nathaniel's Sr, Junior and III (7,8,9 Great Gpa's), via Abraham(6), on down thru Jedediah -5th Great and 4th Great Gpa Ezra Baker and so on. That's a lot of awesome information, thought I would share....I live in the Pacific Northwest. S. A. Baker

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    1. Hello, I only share your line through Nathaniel 2, son of Francis, but hopefully someone else with a similar line will read and comment. Best of luck in your research, Chris

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    2. Hi...I follow you thru Abraham when my 4x great is Abraham Jr. brother of Jedediah who changed his name to Washington. I live in the Deep South. S.O.Noles

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  25. I am a great granddaughter of Judah Baker

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  26. I am also a descendant of Francis and Isabel, and have genealogical records collected by my aunt Elizabeth Carver Baker showing descent through a Dr Theophilus Baker, who I think had moved to Ohio and had a Revolutionary War pension. Eventually they made their way to Minnesota. It was a shock reading Francis’ story because my aunt’s research had some of the same details, no doubt from the same sources. She did her work “old school,” by mail. She wrote to historical societies, distant cousins, and libraries, but now we make connections with a few clicks and keystrokes.

    I’ll have to dig her records out and have a look, it’s been a long time.

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    1. How wonderful, Virginia, you have your aunt's research. Such respect for people who did their research old school. Must have been a true labor of love!

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    2. Hi Virginia my family also settled in MN but don’t see Dr. Theophilus in my tree must have been a group of cousins that made it to MN! I’m descended through Francis’s son William & grandson Josiah lineage. I have an extensive tree on Ancestory.

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I'm now moderating comments on this blog. My apologies for any ensuing delays, but the large number of "spam" comments have made this necessary. ~Chris