Abstract of his pension file....looks like the pension application was rejected, but he was a minute man...not one of the regular regiments....so that may still qualify for DAR...not sure...he applied for the pension in 1843 and died in 1844 Abstract of application: State of TN: Wilson County declaration dated April 20, 1843 John Baker a resident of Wilson County TN aged 96 years service info: He entered service in Stafford County VA as a volunteer under Captain JohnVant he doesn't recollect the names of any of the ? officers of the company except the first Sargeant he recollects that the name of that officer was Ford; doesn't recall the date that he entered the service bt was some time previous to the declaraion of Independence; he was first mustered into service at an old Field about eight or nine miles from the Rive Potomac, Vants company which be belonged then marched to the Potomac and there was joined to the regiment called the regiment of minutte men commanded by Colonel William Philips, they marched down the River potomac serveral miles, they camped near the river for serveral days, then dismissed and returned home with orders to return to the river when ever notified to do so, that said regiment was kept organised as a regiment of Minuttte men to prevent the British ? from coming up the river and plundering the inhabitance and precuring fresh water, he was often called out and encamped upon the river generally from ten to twenty days at a time and sometimes longer sometimes would be dismissed and in the course of one or two days would be called out and incamped and marched up and down the river, did this til the end of the war. During his service Capt Vant resigned and the company was then commanded during the remainder of the time by Capt William Hardin....signed John Baker (his mark) Declaration of William Vantrease andBenjamin Pritchett Questions and Answers: Q. When and in what year were you born A. I was born in Stafford County VA in the month of January 1747 or 1743 or 1741 Q. Have you any record of your age and if so where is it A. My age was recorded in a Bible before I removed from the state of VA, which I left there and I have had no record of my age since that time Q. Where were you living when called into service where have you lived since Revolutionary War and where do you now live A. I lived in Stafford County VA when I was called into service I removed from there about 18 months after the war - I went to South Carolina on BROAD RIVER about 60 or 70 miles from Charleston remained there about three years I then removed to Red River, Logan County Kentucky resided there about 14 years - was in a campaign of 16 days against the Indians under Colonel Whitley and removed from there to PON River (not sure of the name of that river) in Kentucky resided there about 3 years then removed to BEDFORD CONTY TN remained there about 9 years I then removed to Wilson County TN where I now reside Q. How were you called into service were you draughted di you volunteer were you a substitute and if a substitute for whom A. Entered the service as a volunteer under Captain John Vant I served all the time as a volunteer Q. State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops where you can recollect and the general circumstances of your service A. I do no now recollect that there was any regular troops with the regiment in which I served if there was any regular or continental malitia troops with us I can not now recollect the officers there might sometimes have been other malitia with us besides the regiment to which I belonged but if so I cannot now state by who they were commanded. I recollect no other officer being with us in particular excpet them herein before named Q. Did you ever receive a discharge from the service and if so by whom was it given and what has become of it A. I received nothing but a verbal dishcarge I beieve the whole of the company to which I belonged were all verbally discharged when the news of peace reached us Q. State the names of person to whom you are known in your present neighborhood and who can testify as to your present Charlter for veracity and their beief of your service as a soldier in the Revolution A. I am well known to my general neigborhood and expect al who knoes me would give me a good character for veracity and also believe that I served as a soldier of the revolution I will here state the names of William Vantrease a Clergyman and Benjamin Prichkette or Prichette who both live near me and sho have both been acquiainted with me for many years. Court stuff... That's it on the pension application....not sure why it was rejected...this file is in the pension records twice...looked like they microfilmed it twice for some reason...but both were the same...