Is any one on this list researching this BAKER line? The descendants of 1 778--Richard Baker --l 824 written by Joseph Baker 2652 Bob Jones Road Scottsboro, Al. 35769 jcbaker@HiWAAY.net Richard Baker was born in England about 1778 and not much else is known about him such as where he was born, his parents names, when he arrived in this country, or where he raised his family. Family stories say that Richard came here with his father and settled near Connecticut and that they were Quakers. I have not been able to establish either point. He married Sarah Leive or (Lewis). This marriage is said to have been in New York ( not verified ). They had 5 sons, Hiram b. 1805, New York; Lewis b. Jan. 23, 1807 in New York; Stephen b. Feb. 29, 1812 in Dutchess County New York; ( Stephan's death certificate lists his mother as Sarah Leive, and his place of birth as Dutchess Co. N.Y. ) Charles b. May 10, 1823 in New York; Tom (date and place of birth unknown). Sarah is believed to have died in 1823. Richard is said to have married Ester Fyfe and both died in 1824. At the time of Richard's death at least 2 or 3 of the boys were young enough to become wards of the state but I have not found any such records. Another family story places the family in "9 Partners' in Dutchess County New York, but I have not found any record. In the 1 0 year period after R i c h a r d's death H i r a m and L e w i s got married, Stephen and Charles were farmed out to other families as wards of the state. Tom we know nothing about. Stephen acquired a middle name of Tredwell. I believe that this was the name of the family that took him in. Some time in the mid 1830's the boys were unhappy with their lot and decided to go 'west". Tom decided to stay and was not heard from again. Stories say that they left as a group but dates say otherwise,but they all ended up in the same place together.Bakertown, Berrian County, Michigan. Bakertown no longer exists as a town and about all that remains is the cemetary, which is just south east of present day Buchanon just north of US Highway 12 . Bakertown was less than 10 miles north of the Michigan, Indiana state line, while South Bend Indiana was about 25 miles to the south east . Second Generation Hiram Baker b. 1805 N.Y. d. 1901 Bakertown, Mi. Hiram married in about 1823, probably before Richard died. A LDS film #0451029 lists his wife as Mary Traux, along with 4 children. Niles Albert b. 1824 ; Whitman ( I believe it is William ) b. 1826 ; Thomas b.1830; Sarah b. 1832. All born in St. Lawrence Co. N.Y. Mary died and Hiram remarried. The second wife's name was Lucenal. They had at least 1 child, George Lewis N. Baker b. Jan. 23, 1807 in N.Y. d. Nov. 10, 1872 Bakertown, Mi. I do not know the name of his first wife, or when they were married. Their first child was Sarah Jane b. July 24, 1832 at Chautauqua City, N.Y. ; Mary E. b. 1834 in N.Y. ; Rosaline b. 1834 in Indiana ; Kenny R. b. 1839 in Indiana ; His first wife died about 1840 and he married Elizabeth Haseltine in 1842 and moved to Bakertown Mi. They had 5 children Louisa b. 1843 at Bakertown Mi. ; Florence b. 1847 at Bakertown Mi. ; John b. 1853 at Bakertown Mi. ; Lewis W. b. 1855 at Bakertown Mi. ; Clyde H. b. 1857 At Bakertown Mi. Note that Hiram and Lewis have a daughter named Sarah born in the same year in different parts of New York. Stephen Tredwell Baker b. Feb. 29 1812 in New York --Stephen's obituary in the Buchanan Mi. paper lists his birthplace as Dutchess Co. N.Y. while a family story puts his birth at Oneida Co. N.Y. d. May 31, 1904 at Bakertown Mi. Stephen married Margaret McLain, date and place not known. They had 3 children while living in LaPorte Co. Indiana. Emily Margaret b. Aug. 26, 1839 ; Francis A. b. June 18, 1842. ; Lucy ( b. unknown) died at age 16 years. His first wife died at Union Mills, LaPorte Co. In. ( date unknown He then married Eleanor Morgan on April 22, 1849. Eleanor was the daughter of Jessee Morgan at Chesterton, Porter Co. In. Stephen moved his family to South Bend, Indiana. While there they had 2 children, Vittelis b. Apr.6, 1850, ; James b. 1853. They then moved to Bakertown Mi. and added 3 more children. Nora A. b. Oct. 23, 1857 ; Edward Charles b. Sept. 1, 1862; George b., 1865. He was the last of the four to settle in Bakertown. Stephen was mechanically inclined and liked working with machines. When he arrived at Bakertown he found what he called a large river, it was actually McCoys Crek.There he settled and built a carding mill and a saw mill. He also farmed. Charles Baker b. May 10, 1823 in N.Y. d. Charies's wife was named Eliza, date and place of marriage is unknown.They had 2 children, Mary E. Baker b. Apr. 1860 ; Harry Baker b. Nov. 1865. They all lived and died in Bakertown. Tom Baker b. in N.Y. d Tom did not want to leave New York when the others did and nothing was heard from him after that. ------------------------