Hugh Baker, John Baker

Hugh Baker (died 1664)

Father John Baker claimed a headright for transporting Hugh Baker, one of eight, to the Virginia colonies. This would mean that father John Baker most likely fathered Hugh Baker in England probably just before coming to Virginia, which is in keeping with my theory that John Baker accompanied Captain William Eppes to St. Christopher's Island and then returned to England with Eppes at the conclusion of his indenture, or perhaps John Baker sailed back to St. Christopher's Island and caught a ship to England. The Caribbean then had an English population larger than all of Virginia because sugar and rum were being shipped to England in large volumes.

Hugh Baker was located in Northampton County at the time of his death and signed his will with a mark, which would indicate he was not educated. Hugh married Mary Mumms on or before February 16, 1651, and Mary was the daughter of William Mumms (Mums, Munn) who had served with father John Baker under Captain William Eppes at the Eastern Shore plantation. William Mumms was declared as a headright to Richard Johnson in Henrico County in 1639 on the property adjoining the first John Baker at City Point. It is possible that both Hugh Baker and Mary Mumms could have been childhood sweethearts.

Hugh Baker must have later settled back on the Eastern Shore next to the exact location where father John Baker had been listed in the muster of 1625. We don't know when Hugh resettled, but probably sometime after his father John died around 1656 but after 1651 because Hugh Baker was not recorded in the March 1, 1651 Oath of Fidelity for Northampton. Other than Hugh Baker coming to Virginia in 1637, we know very little about Hugh Baker other than the Northampton Records and the recorded will of Hugh Baker in 1664. We found it ironic that another Hugh Baker of Saint Marys City died that same year, 1664, and he seemed to have ties to the Bakers of the Eastern Shore.

Since we found no record of land patents by Hugh Baker, we feel that he must have received his land or dwelling from either his father or father-in-law Mumms. Possibly he inherited the 50 acres his father possibly received for working on company lands in the 1620s. He made no reference to any brother or sister and we have always questioned if he was estranged from them? This is a drawing from the Arlington House archelogy dig.

William Mumms stated he was actually at this house on a New Years Eve, and the house was located on Old Plantation Creek adjacent to the original fort where Mumms and the 1st John Baker served.

In the will of Daniel Gugley (W1641) of Northampton County, he left his estate to William Taylor, Philip Taylor, William Jones, Thomas Wyatt, Henry Bagwell, and a chest to William Mumms. Mumms subsequently leased land from Hannah Savage Gugley on Cherristone Creek near Old Plantation Creek. Phillip and William Taylor were apparently related and there is the beginning of a historic relationship between the Bakers and Taylors for about four generations. Philip Taylor (W1645) was the chief Lieutenant to William Claiborne at Kent Island.

We know little about Thomas Wyatt (D1641) other than he also probably came from the distinguished Wyatt family of Kent, England into which Captain Henry Fleet was married. Fleet's ship AFRICA had been purchased by John Townsend. William Jones is probably the same as Captain William Jones closely related to Edward Baker (D 1664).

In 1642, it was recorded that Argoll Yeardley owed Mumms £10 which was a considerable sum considering the size of an estate in the same period was only £7. Argoll was the son of Governor George Yeardley who had been the wealthiest man in Virginia early in 1620. In May of 1643, Mumms served on the Northampton Jury with: John Seawine, Richard Lemon, John Stringer, and John Webster. In 1644, Mumms appraised the estate of Philip Chapman along with Captain William Roper. In January of 1645, William Mumms and his wife Joanne, testified that they were at the home of Argoll Yardley on the previous Christmas. Later in that year, Mumms appraised the estate of William Berryman along with John Webster, John Stringer, and Francis Pettit. The same four appraised the estate of Richard Lemon in 1645. In 1650, Mumms was a witness to the will of John Webster along with John Savage and Samson Robins.

The following will is recorded in its original form at the Northampton Courthouse:



Witnesses: John Savage, Thomas Harmanson, and William Webster

The last will and testament of Hugh Baker was written April 24, 1664, proven in open court on the 28th of June 1664, and recorded the 6th of July 1664 by the corporal oaths of Captain John Savage, Thomas Harmanson, and William Webster and approved by the court. Thomas Harmanson was a brother-in-law having married Elizabeth Mumms. The will of Hugh Baker would indicate that Hugh had a modest estate, however he did have a will, which was not so common for someone of modest means. (Wills: Northampton County, Virginia Book IX, page 197.)

The will of William Mumms was written on Feb. 26, 1657 and registered in Northampton County on May 10, 1658. Mumms made reference to his daughter Mary Mumms and her husband Hugh Baker, and mentioned their minor children Thomas Baker, William Baker, John Baker, and Jone Baker. (Indicating that Mary Baker must have been born after that 1657 date.) It also mentioned his two cows, one of which was in possession of Hugh Baker. The page is missing but it appeared he may have a sister named Jone, and a daughter-in-law who was named Hester Berry. A Robert Berry was in the area at that time.

John Baker                         William Mumms

|Hugh Baker = Mary Mumms|

| Thomas Baker | John Baker  | William Baker  | Joane Baker  | Mary Baker

Wife Mary Mumms

Her father, William Mumms (1600-1657), came to Virginia on the SAMPSON in 1619 with Henry Wilson, Nicholas Sumerfield (B1610), and James Blackborne (B1604) who were listed as indentured servants with Mumms and John Baker at the Eastern Shore plantation muster in 1624. In 1639, a land patent in Henrico at the "neck of Land" by Richard Johnson for 350 acres included head rights for William Mumms. It is interesting that Richard Johnson was in the 1624 muster of William Farrar at Turkey Island who claimed head rights for Jonathon and William Baker in 1637. The Mumms name did not appear on the Eastern Shore again until 1643, which could mean that this was the same William Mumms who had gone up the James River with Baker, and then later returned to Northampton County.

Mumms (Mumm/Munn) is an unusual name but we found this name in Kent England in the same period, and in the general area as the Bakers of Brookland and not too distance from Eppes at Ashford. A William Mumms was born at CRANBROOK on September 28, 1589.

Joane Mumms and Grace Robins were the guardians of Margery Gugley, daughter of Hannah Savage Gugley (D1641), and John Webster was the guardian of Margery's brother John Savage. Joane Mumms married secondly Jacob Bishop.

Jacob Bishop

It appears that Jacob Bishop took responsibility for Hugh Baker's children in 1668 or 1669 because it is recorded in 1669 in Northampton County: ... I Jacob Bishop of the County of Northampton, Plantor, ... .. of a young black mare ... four children: William Baker, John Baker, Jone Baker, Mary Baker, children of Hugh Baker. .... cropt and slit on left year, ... on right ear". 17 Mar 1668, 28 Jan 1669. Signed F. Jacob Bishop, witnessed by John Stringer and by William Waters.

Son Thomas Baker was not mentioned perhaps because he was no longer a child, but considered an adult. This is also probably the year that Jacob Bishop married Mary Baker. Jacob does not appear in the tithables, but if his father was Henry Bishop and this is understandable since he had multiple properties.

Jacob Bishop purchased land in Accomack County at GARGATHA in 1691 from Thomas Kitson Jr. and it later became known as the BAKER FARM. Jacob Bishop lived at GARGATHA until his death in 1695.  It is possible that Kitson's wife Ann was Ann Baker, daughter of stepson John Baker. Richard Kitson was a witness to the will of John Baker, and later in 1712 we found John Kitson, William Baker, and William's brother-in-law as witnesses to Ann Clemens. Ann Clements had married Henry Perry of BUCKLAND, neighbor to the 1st John Baker, and resettled on the Eastern Shore. Henry Perry called Francis Potts a kinsman, and Potts was married to Susanna Baker.

Jacob Bishop had purchased 150 acres on the Eastern shore of Accomack in GARGATHA near stepson John Baker in 1695. His wife was still alive in 1701 when court records reflect "William Baker's cattlemark was registered in Northampton County by his mother".

Jacob Bishop's Children

| Jacob Bishop (D 1757) = Patience Nock   | Wm Bishop = Anne

|John Bishop     Patience Bishop = Thomas T. Taylor (D1774), Newport R.I.

| Mumms Bishop | Jacob Bishop

Hugh Baker's Children

We know from the records in Northampton that younger sons William and John Baker were born in 1652 and 1653 respectively, so we can estimate that eldest son Thomas Baker was born sometime between 1647-1652 since he had not reached seventeen at the time of Hugh's will. If Hugh returned to the Eastern Shore immediately after his father's death, it would mean that all three boys were born in Charles City County and they would have resettled with their father. These ages also help us better understand Hugh Baker's age. If his eldest son was born in 1648, it's probable that Hugh was born sometime in the early 1630 period and he came over as a small child.

Hugh Baker of St. Marys City

Will written November 28, 1684, Inventory March 3, 1685

Hugh Baker (D 1684) of St Marys City appears to be related in some fashion to the family of the 1st John Baker. We speculate that the William Baker who died in St Marys City in 1675 leaving the very substantial estate of £3,500 may have been the same William Baker that was declared a headright of William Farrar with the 1st John Baker in 1639. Hugh Baker was married to an Elizabeth who remarried Robert Davis of St Marys.

In 1670 in Northumberland across the river from St Marys, Hugh Baker and William Flowers were witnesses to a gift to Ann Price, daughter of John Baker.

In 1679, Hugh Baker and Richard Lloyd were mentioned as debtors in the estate of Thomas Evans in Maryland. Later, Richard Lloyd of St Marys left his estate to a group of people including Elizabeth Baker, widow of Hugh Baker.

The will of the very wealthy Robert Ridgeley (W 1682) mentioned that debtors (along with many others) were Hugh Baker, Henry Baker, John Baker, and John Lewellin. Lewellin had been at TURKEY ISLAND as had Thomas Beale, the man hired by to manage the ordinary owned by sheriff John Baker. What is important about Ridgeley is that Thomas Beale, John Baker, Thomas Baker, and Elizabeth Baker who had married Robert Ridgeley Junior and, along with William Goldsmith had jointly settled an estate inherited by Ridgeley Junior from his father. That estate, settled in 1707, was called BELLAINE, and was clustered on the Nanticoke River near Issac Baker of Sunsetting and granted to George Hutchins. Located very near was SHADWELL granted by Daniel Jennifer of St Marys City to sheriff John Baker and eventually taken over by Charles Hutchins. Again, it appears that Hugh Baker and sheriff John Baker were related, and of course, Daniel Jennifer is the person who married Anne Toft and developed Gargatha!

In 1689, the will of Daniel Clocker Sr. mentioned John Baccer (deceased), John Baker, John Lewellin, Thomas Beale, Hugh Baker (deceased), and Robert Mason. In 1673, Mason, who married a daughter of Nicholas Waddilow of Hacks Neck and Maryland, gifted land to ordinary operator John Baker for his stepdaughter, Elizabeth Bateman Bayly.

Hugh's will mentioned another Hugh Baker, John Baker, and Daniel Clocker. Daniel Clocker was married to Patience Baker, the daughter of William and Mary Baker of St. Marys City (Will 1675). This could indicate that Hugh Baker, sheriff John Baker, and Patience Baker were siblings. We've never been able to review the original of that will.

Hugh Baker mentioned Augustine Herman, Charles Ballard, and Elijah Baker. Augustine Herman's brother-in-law was Dr. George Hack of Hack's Neck, neighbor of Mariner Edward Baker. Herman had been a Dutcg official as has Garret Van Swearingen, to negotiate with the Marylanders over Sussex County, and both became Maryland citizens. Herman's brother-in-law was Dr George Hack and Accomac neighbor of Edward Baker (D 1664). Edward's daughter entered Maryland traveling with the party of Charles Ballard. This was the only mention we ever had of Elijah Baker. Augustine Herman's will was subsequently administered by Caleb Baker.

Daniel Clocker lived across the street from Sheriff John Baker of St. Marys City who administered the wills of William Baker and his wife.

Hugh Baker had a modest estate (£7.09) when settled on March 3, 1685. At the time of his death, he and Elizabeth were living in St. Mary's County.

John Savage

Captain John Savage (B1624) was appointed as guardian to the sons of John Webster in 1650. John Savage was the son of Ensign Thomas Savage (Dc 1627) who had arrived in Virginia on the JOHN and FRANCIS in January of 1607 captained by Captain Christopher Newport. Captain Thomas Savage and Captain William Eppes were recorded in a fight where Eppes placed Savage heels over his head. His mother was a Hannah who arrived in the colonies on the SEAFLOWER in 1621. John Savage was a magistrate, a member of the House of Burgess. He first married Ann Elkington and then Mary Robins, the daughter of Obediance Robins (1600-1662). Their daughter Grace Savage married George Corbin and her will mentioned Jacob Bishop, John Harmanson, Mary Baker and friend William Waters. His other daughter Susanna married John Kendall, son of William Kendall. Captain John Savage lived on the same land patented by his father Ensign Thomas Savage and served in the House of Burgesses for Northampton.

Henry Bagwell

Henry Bagwell was thought to be from Devonshire a he was part of Somers company shipwrecked on Bermuda and who came to Virginia with Sir Thomas Gates on the Deliverance. He married Ann Hawkins, daughter of William Hawkins of Suffolk. She was the widow of Thomas Stratton. They had a son named Thomas Bagwell (1673-1712). Bagwell was the first Clerk of Northampton County having settled in Northampton in 1632 after living on the upper James River where the 1st John Baker settled.

Captain William Jones served with John Baker (circa 1604- circa 1656) and William Mumms at the Old Plantation Creek muster of Captain William Eppes in 1624. Captain William Jones subsequently lived adjacent William Stone in Northampton before Stone became Maryland governor in 1648. Son Captain William Jones claimed a head right for Edward Baker near land owned by George Hutchins in Somerset County. Edward was the son of Hugh's brother, Edward Baker, and Hutchins was mentioned receiving land from the widow of sheriff John Baker of St. Marys City and her new husband, William Goldsmith. Son William Jones was also mentioned as a "good friend" in the will of Richard Jacob Senior.

We think it was the same family found at Kent Island:
    William Jones Sr. of Kent Island (D1668)
    • William Jones Jr.
    • Elizabeth Jones = Captain John Duvalle. His brother Lewis Duvall married Martha Ridgeley, daughter of Robert Ridgeley (1688)

Thomas Harmanson

Thomas Harmanson (1626-1702) witnessed the will of both Hugh Baker and William Mumms. Harmanson was styled a Gentleman and a distinquished lawyer in the 1600s. He patented 800 acres adjacent to John Savage on Old Plantation Creek near land originally patented by Captain William Eppes. He had first married Joan Andrews, the daughter of William Andrews and apparently later married Elizabeth Mumms, the daughter of William Mumms, making him a brother-in-law to Hugh Baker. He witnessed the will of Thomas Eyre in 1657, and Eyre was married to Susanna Baker, sister of Hugh Baker. It is interesting to note that William Andrews and William Farrar of Charles City County exchanged indentures. Harmanson was also the administrator of the will of John Webster, father of William Webster. Harmanson patented 1,300 acres for 26 head rights in 1654 and another 800 acres next to Captain John Savage in 1667.

John Stringer

John Stringer (W1688) was a neighbor to Hugh Baker and left £1000 for land to erect the Mattapony Church. He was married to Susanna Andrews, daughter of William Andrews which made him and Thomas Harmanson brothers-in-law. He would have been the brother-in-law to Hugh Baker. His granddaughter married William Willet who would later sell 600 acres of his land to Hugh Baker's son, William Baker. In May of 1643, he served on the Northampton jury with William Mumms and John Webster and it was recorded that Stringer, Thomas Oxford, and John Tatum lived in the same immediate area. Stringer was a friend of William Waters. In 1669, he claimed William Willet and Samuel Bennett as head rights on Pimmenoe Creek. Stringer was active in land grants higher on the Eastern Shore around Chincoteague and Thomas Savage Jr. assigned John Stringer a land lease in 1678.

In 1675, Colonel John Stringer, Colonel William Kendall (husband of Susanna Baker Eyre Potts), Major Issac Foxcroft (brother-in-law to Francis Potts), Major Spencer, Colonel Thomas Ballard, and Colonel William Waters seized the French ship La Rochelle when she entered Virginia waters. In 1676, some of these men as well as Daniel Jennifer would use nearby Arlington House as their headquarters as they subdued Berkeley's Rebellion across the bay and return Jamestown and government to Governor William Berkeley. Most of these names will be seen repeatedly in this work. Note: A John Stringer was mentioned as a friend and tenant in several Eppes wills in Kent, England in the late 1500's.

William Webster

William Webster witnessed the will of both Hugh Baker and William Mumms. William Webster was the son of John Webster and mentioned as one of those Virginians from Northampton involved in the Kent Island venture where we found Hangate Baker in 1642 before he came to Northampton in 1649.

The Websters were married into the Baker clan as Jonathon Webster mentioned in 1635 that mariner George Baker was his cousin. George Baker had been a 1637 head right of Henry Perry, and a 1647 head right of Colonel Thomas Johnson of Northampton. Colonel Johnson's granddaughter married William Baker, son of Hugh Baker, and Johnson later resided on the Eastern Shore near Captain Edward Baker, signed a Northampton petition with Daniel Baker in 1651, and his son Governor Thomas Johnson married Mary Baker, daughter of Captain Roger Baker of St. Marys and Virginia, brother of sheriff John Baker of St. Marys City.

William Mumms administered the will of father John Webster in 1650 and was guardian of his children. William Webster's will was recorded on November 6, 1665, leaving two underage children, William and Mary, as well as widow Mary. We found where William Webster rented the PELICAN and got into a legal suit, which was settled by Adam Thorogood. We also know that he had a brother named Samson Webster who died this same year, and John Savage and Thomas Harmanson witnessed this will. William Webster was declared a head right to Robert Bennett in 1652, as had Silvester Baker and Thomas Harwood been in 1638. Robert Bennett was a partner to Thomas Eyre and had property in Henrico adjoining Abraham Woods property at City Point and the John Baker property. Webster was obviously a mariner with these multiple head rights.

In the will of Daniel Gugley (W1641) of Northampton County, he left his estate to William Taylor, Philip Taylor, William Jones, Thomas Wyatt, Henry Bagwell, and a chest to William Mumms. Mumms subsequently leased land from Hannah Savage Gugley on Cherristone Creek near Old Plantation Creek. Phillip and William Taylor were apparently related and there is the beginning of a historic relationship between the Bakers and Taylors for about four generations. Philip Taylor (W1645) was the chief Lieutenant to William Claiborne at Kent Island.

We know little about Thomas Wyatt (D1641) other than he also probably came from the distinguished Wyatt family of Kent, England into which Captain Henry Fleet was married. Fleet's ship AFRICA had been purchased by John Townsend. William Jones is probably the same as Captain William Jones closely related to Edward Baker (D 1664).

In 1642, it was recorded that Argoll Yeardley owed Mumms £10 which was a considerable sum considering the size of an estate in the same period was only £7. Argoll was the son of Governor George Yeardley who had been the wealthiest man in Virginia early in 1620. In May of 1643, Mumms served on the Northampton Jury with: John Seawine, Richard Lemon, John Stringer, and John Webster. In 1644, Mumms appraised the estate of Philip Chapman along with Captain William Roper. In January of 1645, William Mumms and his wife Joanne, testified that they were at the home of Argoll Yardley on the previous Christmas. Later in that year, Mumms appraised the estate of William Berryman along with John Webster, John Stringer, and Francis Pettit. The same four appraised the estate of Richard Lemon in 1645. In 1650, Mumms was a witness to the will of John Webster along with John Savage and Samson Robins.

Jacob Bishop

It appears that Jacob Bishop took responsibility for Hugh Baker's children in 1668 or 1669 because it is recorded in 1669 in Northampton County: " ... I Jacob Bishop of the County of Northampton, Plantor, ... .. of a young black mare ... four children: William Baker, John Baker, Jone Baker, Mary Baker, children of Hugh Baker. .... cropt and slit on left year, ... on right ear". 17 Mar 1668, 28 Jan 1669. Signed F. Jacob Bishop, witnessed by John Stringer and by William Waters.

Hugh Baker's Children

We know from the records in Northampton that younger sons William and John Baker were born in 1652 and 1653 respectively, so we can estimate that eldest son Thomas Baker was born sometime between 1647-1652 since he had not reached seventeen at the time of Hugh's will. If Hugh returned to the Eastern Shore immediately after his father's death, it would mean that all three boys were born in Charles City County and they would have resettled with their father. These ages also help us better understand Hugh Baker's age. If his eldest son was born in 1648, it's probable that Hugh was born sometime in the early 1630 period and he came over as a small child.