George Baker, George Baker [?], William Baker, John Baker, Hugh Baker, John Baker

George Baker

George Baker (Died 1796)
Worcester County, Maryland

George Baker (possibly son of George, son of William) of William Baker of Gargatha moved to Maryland, and his wife was a Margaret. We thought she may be Margaret Whaley, daughter of Nathaniel and Martha Whaley and great granddaughter of Edward Whaley and Elizabeth Ratcliff, but never found any confirmation of that.

George Baker was listed as a taxpayer on the Worcester Tax Roll of 1745 which would indicate that he was in residence that year. A decade later, George Baker purchased the fifty acre WHALEYS VENTURE on November 27, 1757 from Nathaniel Whaley for £15. Not exactly as precise as global positioning, his property was marked by a "Cypress in the Pocomoke River 100 yards north of a glen". The area was then used to "mine" cypress logs that had long been under water and resistant to fire. They were dragged by mules to Shingle Landing where they were shaved into shingles and shipped for the housing industry in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, etc.

His land agreement was signed in the presence of Major John Evans and Joshua Mitchell.

Major John Evans was the captain of the Worcester Militia in 1748 under whom brother Solomon Baker served. Josiah Mitchell purchased FRIENDSHIP from Major Evans and we can assume that they were all three neighbors. George Baker later willed this land to his wife, and then son William Baker in 1796.

WHALEYS VENTURE is north of Whaleyville, and just above an abandoned church. It was adjacent to the land patent DESART. This 50 acres of property extended from a branch of the Pocomoke River down to a sharp turn in the road and was patented in 1747 by Nathaniel Whaley who is reported to be the grandson of General Edmund Whaley. General Whaley was the cousin of Oliver Cromwell and commanded Cromwell's Household Regiment, both were Regicides!

In 1761, George Baker sat in Pew #18 of the St. Martens Parish P.E. Church and his brother Solomon Baker sat in Pew #8. Eli Dale Sr., who was later a witness to both of their wills, also had a pew.

George Baker appeared in the Tax Rolls of 1774 with only the inherited property called WHALEY'S VENTURE, then patented the 315 acre BAKERS INTEREST on Nov. 6, 1792 and willed it to son Salathiel Baker in 1796.

We have found no evidence that he fought in the Revolutionary War and he most likely was too old. In the Worcester County Census of 1783, George Baker was registered in the Buckingham Hundred section of Worcester, owning 50 acres of WHALEYS VENTURE, and living among the Bakers. Living on one side was Salathiel Baker and Thomas Gray, and on the other side was Archibald Baker, Zadok Baker, and William Baker. Living next to William Baker was William Ake with 100 acres of land. William Ake's grandson married William Baker's granddaughter.

George Baker appeared again in the first Federal Census of 1790 living next to his sons Archibald and Salathiel Baker. From this census, we know that wife Margaret was born before 1755. One son older than 16 years of age lived with him in 1790 (probably son William Baker), wife Margaret, and one daughter born between 1755 and 1774.

George Baker, Salathiel Baker, George Bell, Richard Sampson, Benjamin Evans, John Bratten, Seth Whaley, and Jesse Dale were a part of a small group that purchased DAVIS LOT from Jesse Davis in 1794 for a school in Whaleyville.

George Baker's will was presented on March 4, 1796, and in his will he left WHALEYS VENTURE to his wife Margaret, and then to his son William Baker after Margaret died. His son Salathiel was to receive Baker'S INTEREST and some &"Afrigians". Other children mentioned were Archibald, Ann, Ester, Mary, and Betsy Baker. Witnesses to the will were George Bell, Jesse Dale, and John Milborn Dale.

There was a reference in some research that George Baker was a friend of Benjamin Evans who we think may have been a member of the Blackwater Presbyterian Church. On January 29, 1796, Benjamin Evans and John Dale of neighboring BEAR QUARTER were involved in some manner in George Baker's estate. Ben Evans was the son of Thomas Evans of Kent County.

Margaret Baker

Margaret Baker most likely died sometime between 1800 and 1810. In the census of 1800, she was living near Isaac Baker, Salathiel Baker (son), Elijah Baker (grandson), Salathiel Baker (son), and William Baker (son). We have not been able to identify her family, but thought for a long time she may be a Whaley. Click here to read about the Whaleys of Whaleyville

The Will of George Baker:

In the name of God, amen. I George Baker of Worcester County in the state of Maryland being at this time in a sick and low condition, but through the mercy of God am of sound and disposing mind and memory do make this my last will and testament in manner and form following:
First, I do desire my body may be decently buried and that all my just debts be paid by my executor hereafter mentioned and named as soon as conveniently may be.
Item. I give and bequeath to my dear and well beloved wife (Margaret) all my tract of land called Whaley Venture containing fifty acres during her natural life with the appurtenances thereto belonging.
Item. I give and bequeath to my son Will Baker after the deceased of my loving wife all my tract of parcel of land called Whaleys Venture to him, his heirs and Afrigans forever. And I give to my son William one feather bed.
Item. I give and bequeath to my son Salathiel Baker all my tract of land called Bakers Interest to him, his heirs and Afrigans. Item. I give and bequeath to my seven following children; Salathiel, Archibald, Ann, Esther, Mary, Betsy, and William all the remainder of my estate after the forgiving legacees are taken out and my just debts are paid to them equally. Have and have alike to them and their heirs.
Lastly, I do nominate and appoint my son William Baker executor of my last will and testament. Hereby revoking other will or wills by me herefore made and I declare and pronounce this and no other to be my last will and testament. In testimony whereof I have hereto affixed my hand and seal this 29th day of January Anno Dominio 1796.
Signed, sealed, published and delivered by the said George Baker to be his last will of testament in his presence at his request of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto:
George Bell
Jesse Dale
John Milborn Dale
His Seal (George Baker)
The 4th day of March 1796 then came forward William Baker and made oath on the holy evangelis of almightly God that the within instrument of writing is that of whole will and testament of George Baker, late of Worcester County deceased that hath came to his hands of ______ that he doth not known of any other. Before Levin Handy, Register Wills.
Worcester County 4th day of March 1796. Then came George Bell, John Dale, and John M. Dale.
4th day of March 1796 came Margaret Baker, widow of George Baker late of Worcester County deceased and made her election to stand and abide by forever. Lecacees bequeathed to her in the will of the said husband deceased with regard to the real estate only and that she claimed her dower or third part in the personal estate according to law. Before Levin Handy

The Bells may have had connection to the Bakers in St. Marys, Maryland and there were interactions with the Bells in Northampton and in Gargatha in Accomack.

George Baker's reference to "Seven following children" perhaps was trying to specify that one or more other children were being excluded. George Baker and Margaret's family according to the will:

William Baker of Whaleyville, our ancestor

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