This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Baker, Hatcher, Turner Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/JCC.2ACEB/2180.2195.2253.2369.2373.2390.2500.2.2.1.1 Message Board Post: Jan, I'm sure there is a connection between these families, your Bassel Baker, born about 1805, is exactly the right age to be a son of the Basil Baker found in Bedford County, VA between 1807 - 1824. Or, he could be a nephew, there was a James Baker in Bedford Co as well, he served as surety for the marriage of both Anna Baker to Eli Hatcher, and Matilda Baker to James Turner. Anna and Matilda were listed as daughters of Basil Baker. I don't know how James Baker was connected, but usually a relative served as surety. Similarities of names of children between our family and yours is amazing. My ggg-grandfather was Samuel Baker, born in Bedford County in 1809. Found in Henry County guardian records for the Hatcher children, and moved to Weakley Co, TN by 1850, he died there in 1885. His children were: Martin, Nancy, William, John, Mark, Riddle, Charles, Mary, James Robert, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Frances, Isaac Newton, Wiley H, Ellen, Louisa Tennessee. Interesting that the name Basil doesn't seem to be repeated anywhere in my direct line. I think the next step would be a better search of the records of Bedford County, VA. I haven't looked at land, tax or probate records for Bakers. The Bedford Co. usgenweb site has marriage bonds, and Basil Baker is listed as surety for 5 marriages between 1805 and 1818, he is also listed in the 1810 census of Bedford Co. as Badzel Baker, and was over the age of 45 which would put him born at least by 1765, he could have been much older. His two proven daughters (from the marriage bonds) are Anna, born 1798 according to the Hatcher Family Bible and Matilda, born about 1804, according to census records in Crawford Co. IN where she and her husband James Turner moved. I'm posting to the message board, so hopefully we will find others searching for these families. Leslie