Andrew Baker (1749-1815) and Elizabeth Avent of Wilkes and Ashe County, North Carolina and Virginia

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The author (Marty Grant) isn't related to Andrew Baker as far as can be determined, but he could easily be related to my ancestor Jacob Baker (1760/65) who also lived in Ashe County.

This is the famed Reverend Andrew Baker of whom much has been written and published. In fact, I once thought he was my ancestor. An early published work on my Fouts family declared that he was the father of my ancestor Mary Margaret Baker (1790-1858) who married Jacob Fouts in Ashe Co, NC. That turned out to be wrong, but it did cause me to do some research on Andrew Baker.

There seem to be two different Andrew Baker's in the same area at the same time, or for a short time anyway. One was this Andrew Baker (wife Elizabeth Avent) and the other one was listed as "Jr", meaning he was younger than our Andrew ("Sr" and "Jr" in those days did not mean father and son, only that one was older than the other). This younger one was listed in association with the Vannoy family and may be the same Andrew Baker who had a wife named "Susan" listed in Rowan County records early on, and Wilkes County later. There is certainly room for error in determining which one is which. The 1787 and 1790 census records only show one Andrew though. "Jr" bought land in 1792, sold it in 1793. Perhaps he was not in the area for very long at all.

There are probably records for Andrew Baker in Rowan and Surry County that may be illuminating. I have some of his Wilkes County records. There may be more in Ashe County waiting to be found. This page is by no means complete.

Andrew Baker was born before 1765 (per 1810 census). Some published works online and elsewhere give "1749" for his birth year, but I don't know the source for that. It could be correct. I don't know where he was born, though Virginia seems likely, or possibly North Carolina.

I don't know who Andrew Baker's parents were. You'll find contradictory parents listed for him in various places on the Internet, but never with any proof attached, so I won't mention any of those names here except to mention James Baker, Esquire. He is not Andrew's father contrary to many published reports. In fact they were around the same age more or less.

Baker DNA Study notation: Quite a few descendants of Rev. Andrew Baker have taken the Y-Chromosome DNA test. Their results match one another (as expected) and also show that they are related to other Bakers. Their DNA group has been labeled the "Yellow Group" (arbitrary color codes used to distinguish each distinct family). Morris Baker, John Renta Baker, Robert Baker and other Baker lines also belong to this group showing they are all related with a common ancestor somewhere in the line. That common ancestor has not been determined. In fact, most of the Bakers that were in Ashe County fall into this "Yellow Group" though not every line has been tested yet.

Descendants of Andrew's sons: James, Solomon and Andrew (Jr) have participated in the DNA test, and they all match one another as expected.

I don't have any early records on Andrew Baker yet. The first one I've found so far is dated 1779 putting him into the Ashe County, NC area at that time. Based on the birth date of his children he married sometime before 1770, presumably in North Carolina. His wife, per many sources, is Elizabeth Avent, daughter of Peter Avent and Amelia Massey. The Avents were from Eastern North Carolina (Northampton County) but apparently moved into the western part of North Carolina and some point and later returned to the east. Before I realized this wasn't my family I had done a great deal of Avent research most of which I've discarded since then. Peter Avent lived in the west long enough for Andrew to meet Elizabeth apparently. That she is their daughter is proven by Peter Avent's Will naming his daughter "Eliza Baker." Further proof that this is the same person is in her obituary she was listed as an "Avent." I no longer have this record, but I think other researchers have it (from the late 1840's, I think). Elizabeth was born before 1765 (per 1810 census) or "12 Sep 1752" (source?). I don't know where she was born. I don't think her parents were in Northampton Co, NC yet by then, probably still nearby in Sussex Co, VA in the early 1750's.

I don't know where Andrew Baker and Elizabeth Avent married.

Surry County was formed from Rowan County in 1771 and this included the area where Andrew Baker lived.

Wilkes County was formed in 1777 from Surry County and included the area where Andrew Baker lived.

The first record I've found for Andrew in Wilkes County is a Land Grant dated 3 Mar 1779 to Matthew Sparks for land on Little Naked Creek, South Fork New River, bordering Andrew Baker. (Wilkes Co, NC Deed Book A-1 page 25 from Wilkes County, North Carolina Deed Books A-1, B-1, C-1 1778-1803 by Mrs. W. O. Absher.) (Note: This book can be purchased from Amazon.com)

On 23 Oct 1782 Morris Baker received a land grant on North Side of South Fork of New River bordering James Baker and Andrew Baker. This shows these three men were probably closely related, perhaps all brothers. (Wilkes Co, NC Deed Book A-1 page 322 from Wilkes County, North Carolina Deed Books A-1, B-1, C-1 1778-1803 by Mrs. W. O. Absher.)

On the same date (23 Oct 1782) Andrew Baker received a State Land Grant for 21 acres bordering his own land and Morris Baker. (Wilkes Co, NC Deed Book A-1 page 337 from Wilkes County, North Carolina Deed Books A-1, B-1, C-1 1778-1803 by Mrs. W. O. Absher.)

On 1 Oct 1783 Andrew Baker (and Ephraim Parmely and Edward Cross) witnessed a deed from James Bunyard to Charles Dobson. (Wilkes Co, NC Deed Book A-1 page 260 from Wilkes County, North Carolina Deed Books A-1, B-1, C-1 1778-1803 by Mrs. W. O. Absher.)

On 22 Nov 1783 Andrew Baker and William Nall witnessed a deed from George Morris to Morris Baker. (Wilkes Co, NC Deed Book A-1 page 327 from Wilkes County, North Carolina Deed Books A-1, B-1, C-1 1778-1803 by Mrs. W. O. Absher.)

On (blank) Aug 1785, Andrew Baker and William Nall witnessed a deed from Jonathan Smith to Thomas Dixon. (Wilkes Co, NC Deed Book A-1 page 545 from Wilkes County, North Carolina Deed Books A-1, B-1, C-1 1778-1803 by Mrs. W. O. Absher.)

On 22 Sep 1785 Andrew Baker received a State Land Grant for 320 acres on Upper Fork Naked Creek bordering James Baker. (Wilkes Co, NC Deed Book C-1 page 68 from Wilkes County, North Carolina Deed Books A-1, B-1, C-1 1778-1803 by Mrs. W. O. Absher.)

Andrew Baker was listed on the 1787 State Census in Wilkes County. He was listed in Captain Nathaniel Vannoy's District. He was the only Baker in that district then. His neighbors were all known Ashe County families. One of his "next door" neighbors was John Fouts and just two houses away was David Fouts. These were both my Fouts, and this closeness to Andrew Baker may be one of the reasons early researchers thought Andrew was the father of my Baker who married into the Fouts family. The number and ages of the children don't correlate with all the children listed in Andrew's family bible record, so some of his sons must have died young or just not been at home in 1787.

1784-1787 NC census analysis (based on available evidence): (Explanation of this census)

1787 Wilkes Co, NC pg 171 Andrew Baker 1-4-3-0-0
Analysis:
1 Male(s) 21 - 60 (1727-1766)	Andrew BAKER (1749)
4 Male(s) -21 +60 (1766-1787)	Solomon BAKER (1770) son
				Son? (1766/87) --> gone by 1790 
				Son? Andrew (1777)
				Son? Henry (1774) Joseph (1779) or James (1782) or John (1784)
3 Female(s) all ages (bef 1787)	Elizabeth AVENT Baker (1752)wife
				Daughter? (bef 1790) --> gone by 1790
				Nancy BAKER (1787) daughter
  

On 21 Feb 1787 Andrew Baker, Alexander Buchanan and James Sartain witnessed a deed from Josiah Sartain to Robert Shepherd. (Wilkes Co, NC Deed Book D page 114 from Wilkes County, North Carolina Deed Books D, F-1 & G-H 1795-1815 by Mrs. W. O. Absher.) (Note: This book can be purchased from Amazon.com)

On 17 Apr 1788 Andrew Baker and James Bunyard witnessed a deed from James Baker to Christian Shearer. (Wilkes Co, NC Deed Book B-1 page 15 from Wilkes County, North Carolina Deed Books A-1, B-1, C-1 1778-1803 by Mrs. W. O. Absher.)

On 25 Apr 1787 a deed from Richard Allen, Sheriff, to Andrew Baker for 200 acres, formerly belonging to John Bader, was acknowledged in court. I did not find the corresponding deed for this court record. (Wilkes Co, NC Court Minutes from Wilkes County, North Carolina Court Minutes 1778-1788 Volumes 1 & 11 by Mrs. W. O. Absher.) (Note: This book can be purchased from Amazon.com)

On 29 Apr 1788 the Wilkes County Court ordered a road jury be named to view the road a new road through Thomas Dicksons on New River instead of present road. These men were probably all neighbors and some probably related to each other: David Smith, John Boyd, Leven Cole, John Anderson, Alexander Johnson, Ambrous Collens, James Sparks, Andrew Baker, James Baker, William Scott, John Parmely, Ephraim Parmely, Alexander Smith, George Baker, James Bunyard and John Read. (Wilkes Co, NC Court Minutes from Wilkes County, North Carolina Court Minutes 1778-1788 Volumes 1 & 11 by Mrs. W. O. Absher.)

On 30 Jul 1788 Andrew Baker sold 320 acres to Adam Bower, being land on Upper Fork of Naked Creek on James Bakers line and side of Phenix (Phoenix?) Mountain. Witnessed by Phillip Johnson. (Wilkes Co, NC Deed Book C-1 page 67 from Wilkes County, North Carolina Deed Books A-1, B-1, C-1 1778-1803 by Mrs. W. O. Absher.)

On 31 Oct 1788 Andrew Baker and David Smith were listed as witnesses in the case of John Robins vs. Benjamin Herndon, and each attended 3 days and 56 miles (that is how long they spent at court, and how many miles round trip it was, total). (Wilkes Co, NC Court Minutes from Wilkes County, North Carolina Court Minutes 1778-1788 Volumes 1 & 11 by Mrs. W. O. Absher.)

On 31 Oct 1788 it was ordered that a jury view the road from foot Mountain to head of Reddies River to Doeny's Nob (Knob): William Nall, John Robins, Andrew Baker, James Baker, Justice Boling, William Colvard Jr, David Owen, Morris Baker, John Koonts, Alexander Smith, David Smith, Robert Nall, Fredrick Blair, John Anderson and John Tiry. (Wilkes Co, NC Court Minutes from Wilkes County, North Carolina Court Minutes 1778-1788 Volumes 1 & 11 by Mrs. W. O. Absher.)

On 20 Apr 1789 and 27 Apr 1789 Andrew Baker (signed with mark) and William Sturdie and Paul Prock witnessed deeds from Nathaniel Vannoy to David Phouts (Fouts) (who happens to be my ancestor). The first deed was for land on Beaver Creek, the second on Negro Mountain. Could this be Andrew Jr instead of the one we are studying? (Wilkes Co, NC Deed Book B-1 page 271, 272 from Wilkes County, North Carolina Deed Books A-1, B-1, C-1 1778-1803 by Mrs. W. O. Absher.).

On 13 Aug 1789 Andrew Baker sold 200 acres to Peter Eller on Mouth of Roan Creek. Witnessed by Daniel Johnson, Zachariah Wells and James Bunyard. (Wilkes Co, NC Deed Book D page 242 from Wilkes County, North Carolina Deed Books D, F-1 & G-H 1795-1815 by Mrs. W. O. Absher.)

Andrew Baker was listed on the 1790 census in Wilkes County. They were in the 3rd Company. Phillip Baker was just a few houses away, probably somehow related. None of the names near Andrew were the same names near him in 1787, so he may have moved a little during those intervening years. As in 1787, the enumerations don't add up to equal all of Andrew's children as proven by his family bible. Some may have been living elsewhere by this time, or perhaps died young.

1790 census analysis (based on available evidence): (Explanation of this census)

1790 Wilkes Co, NC pg 121 Andrew Baker 2-2-2-0-0
Analysis:
2 Male(s) 16 and Up (before 1774)	Andrew BAKER (1749)
					Solomon BAKER (1770) son
2 Male(s) under 16    (1774/1790)	Son? (1774/90) Andrew (1777)
					Son? (1774/90) Henry (1774) 
					or Joseph (1779) or James (1782) or John (1784) 
2 Female(s) any age (before 1790)	Elizabeth AVENT Baker (1752) wife
					Nancy BAKER (1787) daughter

On 19 May 1790 William Rutledge sold 320 acres to Andrew Baker land on Middle Fork Brier Creek. Witnessed by William Colvard, Howard Walker and David Johnson. (Wilkes Co, NC Deed Book B-1 page 118 from Wilkes County, North Carolina Deed Books A-1, B-1, C-1 1778-1803 by Mrs. W. O. Absher.)

On 24 Nov 1790 Andrew Baker received a Land Grant of 100 acres on branch of Buffalow near Benjamin Clevelands line and Christian Shearers line. (Wilkes Co, NC Deed Book D page 130 from Wilkes County, North Carolina Deed Books D, F-1 & G-H 1795-1815 by Mrs. W. O. Absher.)

On 2 Aug 1792, Andrew Baker Junr was named overseer of road in place of Robert Cleaveland from Creek below said Clevelands upwards as far as road is laid out. (Wilkes Co, NC Court Minutes from Wilkes County, North Carolina Court Minutes 1789-1797 Volumes III & IV by Mrs. W. O. Absher.)

On 29 Oct 1792 Andrew Baker (and George Hulme and Joseph Jones) witnessed a deed from James Sanders to John Montgomery for land on Moravian Creek. Andrew signed with a mark. This could be "Jr" instead. (Wilkes Co, NC Deed Book B-1 page 236 from Wilkes County, North Carolina Deed Books A-1, B-1, C-1 1778-1803 by Mrs. W. O. Absher.)

On 5 Dec 1792 Andrew Baker Junr received a 97 acre Land Grant on North Fork Lewis Fork bordering Matthew Francis and Baker. Andrew's own son Andrew was born in 1777, so he would be too young to be getting land grants, so I don't know who this might be. (Wilkes Co, NC Deed Book B-1 page 215 from Wilkes County, North Carolina Deed Books A-1, B-1, C-1 1778-1803 by Mrs. W. O. Absher.)

On 21 Jul 1793 Andrew was again listed on a road jury, this one from Jarvis Smith's Iron Works on Redis River to Benjamin Howards. (Wilkes Co, NC Court Minutes from Wilkes County, North Carolina Court Minutes 1789-1797 Volumes III & IV by Mrs. W. O. Absher.) (Note: This book can be purchased from Amazon.com)

On 16 Sep 1793, Andrew Baker Junr sold 97 acres to John Yates, being on the North Fork Lewis Fork. Witnessed by Nathaniel Vannoy, John Harmon and Griffin Pond. (Wilkes Co, NC Deed Book B-1 page 356 from Wilkes County, North Carolina Deed Books A-1, B-1, C-1 1778-1803 by Mrs. W. O. Absher.)

On 2 May 1795 Andrew Baker proved in court the deed from Josiah Sarten to Robert Sheppard for 50 acres. (Wilkes Co, NC Court Minutes from Wilkes County, North Carolina Court Minutes 1789-1797 Volumes III & IV by Mrs. W. O. Absher.)

The above record (2 May 1795) is the last I found for Andrew in Wilkes County. There may be others, but this is all I have so far.

In 1799, Ashe County was formed from the north western portion of Wilkes County, including the area were most of the Wilkes County Bakers lived.

For the 1800 census, Andrew Baker was not found. He was probably just over in Virginia and unfortunately the 1800 census is lost for Virginia. He had plenty of land in Ashe County, but apparently didn't live there, at least not when the census taker came around.

I found an Andrew Baker on the 1810 census in Washington County, Virginia, but I'm not sure if it is the same man or not, but it fits.

1810 census analysis (based on available evidence): (Explanation of this census)

1810 Washington Co, VA pg 12 Andrew Baker 00001-01001-0-0
Analysis:
1 Male(s) 45 & up   (before 1765)	Andrew BAKER (1749)
1 Female(s) 45 & up (before 1765)	Elizabeth AVENT Baker (1752) wife
1 Female(s) 10-15     (1794-1800)	Daughter? (1794/1800)

I was unable to find Andrew Baker on the 1820 census in Washington County. He may have died in the 1810's or else moved away. There was a younger Andrew listed there (born ca 1794/1804). I have seen 24 Sep 1815 listed as Andrew's death date, and that he died in Lee County, Virginia. I don't know what the source for this is, but I believe it is probably correct.

Widow Elizabeth should be somewhere in 1820 but I didn't find her. No Bakers were listed in Lee County. I did not find her in 1830 or 1840 either. I don't know the source, but I've seen "1844" as her death date. I believe there was an obituary or some sort of write up about her around that time in a local Virginia newspaper. I don't have this document, so I don't know what it says, but I believe it listed her maiden name as "Avent."

Children of Andrew Baker and Elizabeth Avent. Andrew Baker and wife Elizabeth Avent had nine children as proven by their family bible record. I believe all of these children were born in what is now Ashe County, North Carolina, but it is possible they were born in different places.  Since most of these children left my area of interest (western North Carolina) I have not traced their families very far.

Solomon Baker (1770)

Henry Baker (1774)

Andrew Baker (1777)

Joseph Baker (1779)

James Baker (1782)

John Baker (1784)

Nancy Baker (1787)

Elijah Baker (1789)

Martha Baker (1791)

Solomon Baker was born 13 Aug 1770 (per Family Bible) presumably in Rowan (now Ashe) County, North Carolina. See his own page for additional information on him.

Henry Baker was born 14 Aug 1774 (per Family Bible) presumably in Surry (now Ashe) County, North Carolina.

Other than his birth, I have no additional data on Henry Baker.

Andrew Baker was born 18 Feb 1777 (per Family Bible) presumably in Wilkes (now Ashe) County, North Carolina.  Other than his birth, I have no additional data on Andrew Baker. There are a couple of records in Wilkes County in 1792 and 1793 for an Andrew Baker "Jr," but it can't be this Andrew as he was not old enough to be conducting business then.

Joseph Baker was born 8 Apr 1779 (per Family Bible) presumably in Wilkes (now Ashe) County, North Carolina.  Other than his birth, I have no additional data on Joseph Baker.

James Baker was born 27 Jan 1782 (per Family Bible) presumably in Wilkes (now Ashe) County, North Carolina.  Other than his birth, I have no additional data on James Baker.

John Baker was born 16 Aug 1784 (per Family Bible) presumably in Wilkes (now Ashe) County, North Carolina.  Other than his birth, I have no additional data on John Baker.

Nancy Baker was born 10 Jan 1787 (per Family Bible) presumably in Wilkes (now Ashe) County, North Carolina.  Other than her birth, I have no additional data on Nancy Baker.

Elijah Baker was born 8 May 1789 (per Family Bible) presumably in Wilkes (now Ashe) County, North Carolina.  Other than his birth, I have no additional data on Elijah Baker.

Martha Baker was born 27 Oct 1791 (per Family Bible) presumably in Wilkes (now Ashe) County, North Carolina.  Other than her birth, I have no additional data on Martha Baker.

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