Samuel Baker (1732-?) and Rebecca Baker (1738-1765) Dennis, Mass.

May 6, 2012: Thanks to Marge Howes Perry for sending me information that proves Rebecca Baker's parents were Shubael Baker and Rebecca Chase. Samuel and Rebecca Baker did have a daughter Rebecca, but not the one who married David Howes.

My last blog entry on David Howes and his wife Rebecca Baker (see the entry here) reminded me that I haven’t written very much about my Baker ancestors. I suppose that’s because I find them inordinately confusing!

Rebecca’s parents were Samuel and Rebecca (Baker) Baker. Like researching them isn’t frustrating enough without Bakers marrying Bakers!

Samuel was born in Yarmouth (now Dennis) on 4 June 1732 to Samuel and Patience (Ryder) Baker. (I’ve also seen Patience’s maiden name as Berry).

Samuel married Rebecca Baker in Yarmouth (now Dennis) on 4 December 1755. She was born Dennis on 25 April 1738, so she was just 17 years old. Her parents were Judah Baker and Mercy Burgess.

Dennis Vital records lists three children born to Samuel and Rebecca:

1.      Samuel Baker born 19 of May 1759

2.      Zepheniah Baker born 9 of July 1761

3.      Rebeckah Baker born 23 of August 1763

Rebecca died in Dennis on 14 May 1765. Rev. Nathan Stone’s diary says that Samuel Bakers wife died in “child bed” so she must have given birth to a fourth child.

Samuel married second Sarah ______. Dennis Vital Records has the birth of four children:

1.      Thacher Baker born 24 of Decr 1767

2.      Susanna Baker born 16 of August 1770

3.      Samuel Baker born 13 of Jany 1788

4.      Zepheniah Baker born 26 of Novr 1789

It does seem odd that there would be such a large gap between Susanna and Samuel's births, but this is what is written in the Dennis Vital Records and was published in the Mayflower Descendant as well.  Swift’s 1912 work on the Baker family only gives the first two children for Samuel and Sarah.

Nancy Thacher Reid in her book on Dennis history has a chapter on Rev. Stone's diary and mentions his entry on Rebecca Baker's death in child bed. She also states that her husband Samuel was the man mentioned in the diary as being a Quaker "by profession" who died 14 Feb 1766, and that Rebecca may not have been a Quaker. If this is the case, then Samuel would not have married a second time and had additional children.

The diaries do mention a Samuel Baker quite frequently from the years 1765-1778, but perhaps he is talking about more than one Samuel. He mentions catechizing his children and preaching at his house, which wouldn't be the case if he was a Quaker.

If Samuel was not the one who died in 1766, I have not found his death or burial information. I have not found burial information on either of his wives. Perhaps they were too poor to afford gravestones or the stones didn't survive. Or, if they were Quakers, they often didn't use gravestones because of the perceived ornamentation.

So my Samuel Baker information is as clear as mud! If anyone has any information on Samuel, please drop me a note!

Sources Not Listed Above:

Charles F. Swift, Library of Cape Cod History and Genealogy, The Baker Family of Yarmouth, Descendants of Francis, No. 73, 1912

Derick, Burton N., Dennis Source Records, Volume 1: Church Records, 2004, Diaries of Rev. Nathan Stone

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

Reuben Wixon 1717-1799, Dennis, Mass.

Reuben Wixon was born in Yarmouth, Mass. in 1717, the son of Joshua 3 Wixon (Barnabas 2, Robert 1) and Hannah Baker. Wixon is spelled in a variety of ways, including Wickson, Wixam, Wixom, Wexson, and Wixson. Many people believe Robert 1 Wixon, Reuben's great-grandfather, married a Native American.

Reuben married Dorcas Chase in Harwich on 03 January 1745/46 (Harwich VR). They were married by Joseph Freeman, Justice of the Peace. He was of Yarmouth and she of Harwich at their marriage. The intentions of Rubin Wixon and Dorkis Chase were entered 12 October 1745.

Dorcas was the daughter of William Chase (John 3, William 2-1) and Dorcas Baker (William 2, Francis 1) of Harwich. Her birth record cannot be found, but she is mentioned in her father’s 27 Sept 1771 will.

Reuben was an extensive landowner in Dennis Port. On May 1802 there was a division of some of his land between all his sons. The sons already had houses, some of which are referred to in the division deeds. The land covered a large area which today would be bounded on the east by Division Street, south by the beach, west by Sea Street (with some land west of Sea Street), and on the north by Main Street (Rt. 28). His son Joshua purchase 6 acres of land in the vicinity of Pleasant and Center Streets for $19 in April 1799.

Old Postcard of Dennis Port, showing the post office from my great-grandmother Ethel's collection

Dorcas and Reuben had 10 children born in Yarmouth, now Dennis (Recorded Yarmouth VR):

Anna, b. 07 October 1746, married Thomas Kilby or Killey and 2^nd Joseph Chase

Daniel, b. 18 July 1749, married Jane Chase

Thankful, b. 16 April 1753, married Solomon Crowell

Reuben, b. 03 July 1755, married Lydia Gage

Solomon, b.  01 May 1757, married Thankful Arey and Eunice Howland

Job, b. 01 March 1759, married Desire Chase

Joshua, b. 20 May 1761, married Charity Nickerson (have also seen her name as McKum)

Dorcas, 20 December 1763, married Isaiah Eldredge

Barnabas, b. 28 February 1765, married Jerusha Chase

Elizabeth, b. 1769, Jabez Chase

It is quite remarkable for all 10 children to survive to adulthood in 18^th century New England. I descend from Job who married Desire Chase. I wrote about them here.

The Wixom Family History says Reuben served in the Revolutionary War and was wounded at the Battle of Bunker Hill. He was not an enlisted soldier at the time; he simply hurried to the field, fell in line and commenced shooting, as many others did. Not sure if this is true or just a family story embellished over time, especially since word of the battle would be slow coming to the Cape and “hurrying to the line” would have taken a while coming from the Cape.

Bunker Hill Monument

Reuben’s 22 March 1799 will mentions wife Dorcas, daughters Elizabeth Chase, Annah Chase, Thankful Crowell, Dorcas Eldredge, sons Daniel, Reuben, Job, Solomon, Joshua and Barnabas. It was proved 17 Mar 1800.

Reuben died in Dennis in May 1799, age 82.

Dorcas died in Dennis on July 1801. Rev. Nathan Stone’s diary, pg. 306, date 20 July 1801, states that Reuben Wixon wid was buried. No note of her actual death, but probably a day or two earlier. She is probably buried in the Old Wixon Burying Ground, off Summer Street, Dennis Port.  Perhaps Reuben is buried there also.

Sources Not Mentioned Above:

The Nickerson Family Association, The Nickerson Family, Vol. III, 1997

Derick, Burton N., Dennis Source Records, Volume 1: Church Records, 2004, Diaries of Rev. Nathan Stone.