Joseph Baker (bef 1750-c1795) and unknown of Tryon, Lincoln and Gaston Co., NC

Marty and Karla Grant

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Joseph Baker *might* be my seven times Great Grandfather, but my connection to him is theoretical right now, entirely based on scant circumstantial evidence.

Joseph Baker was born before ca 1750. That’s based on a few things:

∙ 1790 census age 16 and up born before 1774.

∙ Received land grant in 1771. Assuming he was at least 18 then, born ca 1753 or before.

∙ Oldest (suspected) child was born ca 1768, so if we assume Joseph was at least 18 then, then born ca 1750 or before.

He could have been born much earlier than ca 1750.

I don’t know where Joseph Baker was born, nor who his parents were. There were several Bakers in Lincoln Co., NC when he was there, but I don’t know if he is related to any of them. I didn’t find any records associating him with other Bakers.

He was listed as Joseph Beaker on some early records. Was that perhaps his original surname? Beaker is a rare variant of Baker, and the names can be used interchangeably.

Joseph Baker married someone, name unknown, probably in the 1760s. Her name has not been found, nor do I know where they married.

There were no Bakers listed on the 1770 tax list for Tryon County, North Carolina.

On 15 Apr 1771 Joseph Beaker made a land entry in Tryon Co., NC for 200 acres on Beaverdam Creek of the south fork of the Cutapa (Catawba) River joining Peter Eaker on the west and John Teterick. The land was surveyed in 1772 with Benjamin Shaw and Cristley Acker (Eaker) as chain bearers. The land was granted to him on 15 May 1772.

Beaverdam Creek rises on the south side of the present city of Cherryville in Gaston Co., NC and flows generally north easterly for several miles before turning south a short run, then north east again flowing into south side of the South Fork Catawba River across from Long Shoals. The run is entirely in present Gaston County but ends very near the present Lincoln line. The next body of water upstream joining the South Fork Catawba is Indian Creek.

On 13 Aug 1771 Joseph Baker and Benjamin Shaw acted as chain bearers for a survey for Peter Eaker for land on Beaverdam Creek.

The Eakers and Shaws were neighbors to the Bakers. Peter Eacker (also Acre, Acker, etc.) had several land grants on Beaverdam Creek and Indian Creek and Duncan Creek as far back as 1761 when the area was still Anson County. Benjamin Shaw had land in the area back to the 1760s also, the earliest on Duncan Creek and Muddy Fork of Buffalo, and Beaverdam by 1775.

Joseph Baker was listed on a Tryon County jury in April 1775. The very same day Thomas Baker was listed on a another jury. I don’t know if they’re related.

Tryon County was abolished in 1778, effective 1779. The western half became Rutherford County and the eastern half Lincoln. The Bakers fell into Lincoln.

I found a paper in the Lincoln County Civil Action Papers (court records) dated 23 Jan 1785 that includes the signature of Joseph Baker, Clerk of Laws and Court. I don’t know if that is this Joseph Baker or someone else.

Joseph Baker made a land entry on 7 Apr 1789 for 52 acres on Beaverdam Creek joining Joseph Baker Senr and his own improvement. The land was surveyed 5 Dec 1789, (for Joseph Beacker) as 50 acres described as being on the head waters of Beaverdam, and Ann Brown’s line and his own line. Chain bearers were John Beam and Joseph Baker Senr. The land was granted on 20 Dec 1791.

Joseph Baker is on the 1790 census in Lincoln Co., NC in the 6^th Company. He was about 19 houses from his son, Joseph Baker Junr, who was about that many more from Abraham Baker, relationship unknown. Aaron Cox, my ancestor, who married to Olly Baker in 1787, was 17 houses from Joseph Sr. Those four were the only Bakers in the 6^th Company as far as I’m aware.

1790 Census, Lincoln Co., NC, 6^th Company

Page	Name	Males 16+	Males under 16	Females	Others	Slaves
116	Aron Cox	1	1	1	~	~
116	Joseph Baker	1	~	1	~	~
116	Jos. Baker Jr	1	1	2	~	~
117	Abrm Baker	1	~	4	~	~

My Analysis (who each person *might* be):

1m 16+ (before 1774) Joseph Baker (bef 1750)

1f (before 1790) Wife?

Joseph Beaker and Peter Eaker were chain bearers for an undated survey for a land grant for Eaker on Beaverdam Creek. The land was entered 1791 and granted 1794, so the survey would be ca 1792 or 1793.

On 22 May 1792, Joseph Baker Senr, of Lincoln made a deed to Joseph Baker Junr, of the same place, for 5 shillings paid by “said Joseph Baker his son,” for 30 acres on waters of Beaver Dam Creek. Joseph Baker signed with a mark that looks like a combined I and E, similar to IE. Witnesses were Catrina Mauny (signed with mark) and Vallentine Mauny. (Lincoln Co., NC Deed Book 17, pp. 383-384.)

Since Mrs. Baker didn’t sign, perhaps we can conclude she was dead by this time

On 7 Dec 1795, Joseph Baker Senr made another deed to Joseph Junr, but didn’t explicitly refer to him as his son in this one. For 10 pounds he sold him 50 acres on waters of Beaverdam, being the tract where Joseph Baker Senr “now lives.” I believe this is the land granted to him in 1791. Joseph signed with the same mark as before. Witnesses were Michael Eaker. The second name was very hard to make out. (Lincoln Co., NC Deed Book 17, pp. 385-386.)

That was the last record I found for Joseph Baker in Lincoln Co., NC. He either died shortly thereafter or moved away to parts unknown.

His son Joseph Baker Junr remained in the area until his death ca 1826.

That section of Lincoln County became Gaston County in 1846.

Children

No Will, probate, or estate records have been found that prove the children of Joseph Baker. However, a 1792 deed proves he is the father of Joseph Baker Junr, so that’s one proven child.

I suspect, but can’t prove, he was also the father of my ancestor Olly Baker (c1768-1849) wife of Aaron Cox, mainly because they had land in the same general area, and they were in the same district on the 1790 census, and finally, Joseph Jr. named one of his daughters Olly, perhaps after my Olly, if she were his sister.

None of that is solid proof that my Olly belongs here, but it’s all I have.

By the 1790 census Joseph Baker and wife were living alone, all their children gone from home by then. The two known (or suspected) children both married in 1787.

1. Olly Baker (c1768-1849) married Aaron Cox 1787. My ancestors.

2. Joseph Baker (Jr) (c1769-1826) married Elizabeth Jenkins 1787.

For Family Group Sheet and other notes see my database pages for Joseph Baker.

Revised: August 25, 2026

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