I began researching the Baker family to find the ancestors of my paternal grandmother, Amy Martha Baker (b.1914 d.1990). I was surprised to find that she had two lines of descent from Richard II and Abigail (Beverly) Baker through their sons Samuel Patrick Baker and John Baker. Richard Baker II was the son of Richard Baker I and Mary "Polly" Mullins. One of the mysteries of this family, is the origin of Richard Baker I. Some sources claim that he immigrated to America between 1775 - 1785. Other sources report that Andrew Baker (son of Robert Baker) and Mary "Polly" Bolling (daughter of Major John Bolling and Elizabeth Blair) had a son Richard born about 1747/48 who married a Miss Mullins. I feel that this is our Richard Baker but I have not been able to verify this. Some descendants of Richard and Abigail Baker have reported Native American/Melungeon ties although no one can provide any proof except oral tradition. Please e-mail me if you have heard of this rumor in your Baker family lines. In closing, I hope that you enjoy the following information and find it useful in your search for your roots. I have tried to be very thorough in my research, however, mistakes happen so I urge and encourage you to verify this information (and, indeed, all genealogical information) for yourself because a genealogy is only as good as its sources. Please let me know if have any corrections or additions to this information. Additional information is available on some of these descendants, so e-mail if we have a link and maybe you can help fill in the missing blanks or solve the mystery of Richard Baker's parents.
Richard Baker II was born on July 25, 1797 in Washington Co., TN and died August 25, 1871 in Wise Co., VA. He was the son of Richard Baker I and Mary "Polly" Mullins. Richard Baker II married Abigail Beverly. Abigail was born about 1805 in Wythe Co., VA and died 1862 in Wise Co., VA. Abigail was the daughter of Elijah Beverly, Sr. and Mary "Polly" Freeman. Richard and Abigail settled in Russell Co. (now Wise, Co.), VA on Guest's River between Tacoma and Ramsey near Norton, VA. They later moved to the Bold Camp section of Wise Co., VA near Pound, VA. Richard and Abigail are buried in the Jim Baker Cemetery, Wise Co., VA. They had 12 children of which 11 lived to adulthood. I. Samuel Patrick Baker b. 1822 in Russell Co., VA d. 1862 on 8 May 1843 married Malinda Estep b. abt. 1824 in Scott Co., VA d. 17 Oct 1884 daughter of Samuel Brooks Estep and Mary Lane. Malinda, on 4 May 1865, married 2nd John F. Perry b. 1846 son of James and Sarah Perry. i. James Monroe "Jim" Baker b. 26 Jul 1857 d. 27 Sep 1906 on 30 Nov 1876 married Margaret Hesterann Roberson daughter of William a Roberson and Matilda Roan Vanover. 1. William Patrick Baker b. 27 Sep 1877 d. 5 Oct 1884 2. Almira Renfro Baker b. 17 May 1879 d. 29 Sep 1884 3. Rhoda Catherine Baker b. 15 Nov 1881 d. 1 Oct 1884 4. Vaturia RoeAnn Baker b. 3 Aug 1884 d. 6 Oct 1884 5. John Fletcher Baker married Orpha Powers daughter of James "Jim" Powers and Artie Stanley 6. Claude Luther Baker married Gracie Vanover 7. Bertha Baker 8. Belvie Lockwood Baker married Charlie Powers son of Jim Powers and Artie Stanley 9. Sarah Geneva Baker 10. Margaret Otella Baker 11. Samuel Patton Baker 12. Hetty Baker 13. Jessee Baker ii. George "Dump" Baker iii. Lovell Baker b. 1847 in Russell Co., VA on 26 Mar 1867 married Sarah C. Gentry b. abt 1844 daughter of David Gentry and Dorothy Gordon. 1. Samuel P. Baker b. 1869 2. Edward S. Baker b. 1875 in VA 3. Joseph C. Baker b. 1878 in VA iv. Cornelius H. "Keel" Baker b. 1844 in Russell Co., VA married 1) Rebecca Gilliam (widow of Oliver S. Powers) b. 1844 in Russell Co., VA a daughter of John and Martha Gilliam and on 19 Feb 1886 married 2) Almedia Elliott b. 1851 in Scott Co., VA a daughter of Landon C. and Rhoda Eliott. 1. William S. Baker b. 1868 2. Howard Baker (?) 3. Haley Baker (?) 4. Martha Louemma Baker b. 12 Jun 1870 d. 16 Aug 1932 on 27 May 1886 married M. Columbus Keith son of William and Milea Keith. 5. Sarah D. Baker b. 1873 6. James H. Baker b. 1875 7. Hetty S. Baker b. 1878 8. Sherman Baker v. Amanda Baker b. 1858 on 5 May 1885 married William Floyd Perry vi. Mahala Baker b. 1852 married 1) Lee Williams and 2) married L.S. Gilliam 1. Rich Williams 2. John Williams 3. Caroline Williams married Unknown Webb vii. John R. Ransom "Dump" Baker b. 1859 in VA on 1 Oct 1879 married Lucy Cox b. 1856 in VA daughter of Granville Cox or David and Louisa Ann Cox. viii. Charles H. Baker b. 1853 d. 9 Oct 1884 on 19 Oct 1876 married Martha Jane Stallard b. 2 Jun 1861 d. 11 Jul 1928 daughter of Andrew Jackson Stallard and Margaret Hillman. 1. Samuel Jackson Baker b. 1879 married Margaret Elizabeth McPeek 2. Isaac Fortner Bakeer married Healtha Mullins 3. L. E. Alloria Baker b. 1881 d. 1884 ix. Nancy Baker b. 1846 in KY x. Mary "Polly" Baker b. 1848 in Russell Co., VA on 2 Jan 1873 married Jacob Hubbard xi. Samuel Baker b. 1850 in Russell Co., VA d. in childhood. II. Amanda Baker b. 1824 in Russell Co., VA d. 1905 in Dickenson Co., VA in 1840 in Scott Co., VA married Charles Rufus Hibbitts b. 1818 in Franklin Co., VA d. 1864 in the Battle of Cranesnest during the Civil War. i. Joseph Hibbitts b. 26 Sep 1840 d. 13 Jun 1910 married 1) Sarah Ratliff daughter of John H. Ratliff & 2) Lucy Reynolds ii. Mary Ann "Polly" Hibbitts b. 27 Mar 1842 d. 16 Feb 1926 on 3 Jan 1861 married Emanuel Hopkins "Hop" Dotson 1. Jack Dotson 2. Joe Dotson 3. Fronie Dotson 4. Richard Dotson 5. Mary Dotson 6. Nancy Dotson 7. Sarah Dotson 8. Charley Dotson 9. Manda Dotson 10. Solomon Dotson iii. Richard Hibbitts b. 1844 d. 1926 married 1) Elizabeth Ann "Betsy" Henderson b. 1843 d. 1885 & 2) Dicy Mullins Children of Richard Hibbitts and Elizabeth Ann "Betsy" Henderson 1. Robert Hibbitts 2. Joe Hibbitts 3. Cynthia Hibbitts 4. John Hibbitts 5. Sarah Hibbitts 6. Bill Hibbitts 7. Nannie Hibbitts married George F. Austin Children of Richard Hibbitts and Dicy Mullins 8. Durand Hibbitts 9. Ben Hibbitts 10. Bailey Hibbitts iv. John D. Hibbitts b. 1846 on 26 Mar 1868 married Sarah Jane Hamilton 1. Logan Hibbitts 2. Martha Hibbitts 3. Newton Hibbitts 4. Mary Hibbitts 5. Albert Hibbitts v. Cornelius "Keel" Hibbitts b. 20 Jun 1848 d. 16 Sep 1922 on 5 Dec 1872 married Malinda Mullins b. 2 Oct 1851 d. 28 Dec 1935 a daughter of John Mullins and Polly Bentley. 1. Mary Ann Hibbitts b. 3 Oct 1873 d. 5 Jan 1955 on 24 Dec 1895 married William Jack Howard 2. Sarah Jane Hibbitts b. 7 Nov 1875 d. 1 Jun 1943 on 12 Feb 1895 married Tom C. Patton 3. Emery Jesse Hibbitts b. 12 Sep 1877 d. 24 Oct 1954 on 4 Jan 1900 married Mary Catherine Reams b. 1876 d. 1958 4. Amanda Margareen Hibbitts b. 3 Sep 1879 d. 14 Feb 1890 5. Charles Logan Hibbitts b. 13 Jan 1882 d. 18 Sep 1960 on 13 Jan 1908 married Lillie Ann Chesnut b. 1890 d. 1976 daughter of E. B. "Dick" Chesnut and May Eliza Reams. 6. Sima Roberta Hibbitts b. 29 Jul 1884 d. 25 Feb 1915 on 10 Feb 1912 married Elijah Jowdy. 7. Benjamin Harrison Hibbitts b. 7 Dec 1887 d. 5 Dec 1966 married Cora Mae Seeley b. 1897 d. 1963. 8. John Tyler Hibbitts b. 31 Jan 1890 d. 22 Sep 1965 married Mary Ethel Seeley b. 1899 d. 1959 vi. Ollie Hibbitts b. Oct 1850 married Charles Wellman vii. Nancy Hibbitts b. Ca 1852 on 10 Apr 1891 married Jim Swindall viii. Solomon Hibbitts b. 6 Jun 1854 d. 1937 on 8 Apr 1880 married Sally Mullins. ix. Amanda Melvina Hibbitts (twin of Florina) b. 15 Aug 1856 d. 13 Mar 1929 on 1 Mar 1873 married Alexander Hill x. Florina Hibbitts (twin of Amanda Melvina) b. 15 Aug 1856 d. 10 Dec 1856 xi. Charles Rufus Hibbitts, Jr. b. 12/15 Dec 1858 d. 23 Oct 1937 on 17 Jul 1890 married 1) Lydia Swindall b.24 Sep 1869 d. 13 Jun 1915 (sister of Jim Swindall married to Nancy Hibbitts) & 2) Julia Swindall (a cousin of Lydia and Jim Swindall) III. Mary "Polly" Baker b. 1825 married James Butcher and moved to KY. IV. Cornelius H. "Hick" Baker b. 1829 in VA married Socia/Soshie/Sotia Hammonds b. 1828 in VA. He is said to have found a silver mine in the side of Cumberland Mountain and never could find it again and went crazy. i. William "Bill" Baker b. 1852 in VA ii. Samuel "Sam" Baker b. Jan 1849 in VA married Frances J. Spears. The 1900 Dickenson Co., VA Census lists his wife as Martha A. b. Mar 1862. 1. John W. Baker married Frankie Vanover daughter of John R. Vanover and Virginia "Jane" Mullins 2. Ira Baker b. 1868 in Johnson Co., KY on 22 May 1884 married Mary Jane Blevins b. 1868 in Johnson Co., KY daughter of J.H.R. and M. J. Blevins. 3. George W. Baker b. May 1886 4. Socia J. Baker b. Jan 1892 5. Nancy M. Baker b. Jan 1896 iii. John Jack Baker b. 1853 in VA iv. Henry Baker b. 1854 in VA v. Richard Baker b. 1865 in Johnson Co., KY on 20 Apr 1885 married Nancy Hall b. 1866 in Wise Co., VA daughter of Henry and Malinda Hall. vi. George Baker vii. Margaret Baker viii. Adeline Baker ix. Caroline Baker b. 1864 in Johnson Co., KY on 8 Dec 1881 married James Henderson Baker b. 1856 in Wise Co., VA a son of John and Elizabeth Baker. x. Jackson Baker b. 1850 in VA xi. Nancy M. Baker b. 1857 in VA xii. Mahala Baker b. 1860 in VA V. Susannah Baker b. abt 1830 in Scott Co., VA on 26 Nov 1848 in Scott Co., VA married David Forester Stallard b. 1831 son of Rawley Duncan Stallard, Jr. and Mary Jane Forester. David and Susannah divorced and he married Malinda Smith, daughter of Henry Wood Smith and Lucinda Bevins. i. John W. Stallard b. abt. 1849 in Russell Co., VA ii. Joseph H. Stallard b. abt. 1852 in VA iii. Mary E. Stallard b. abt. 1854 in VA iv. Rolley D. Stallard b. abt. 1856 in VA v. Sarah H. Stallard b. abt. 1858 in VA iv. Lucy A. Stallard b. abt. 1865 in VA VI. Nancy married Thomas Webb son of Billy Webb and moved to KY. i. Ben VII. John Baker b. 1833 in Russell Co., VA d. June 7, 1889 married Elizabeth Gordon b. 1833 in Wythe Co., VA d. July 27, 1905 daughter of Dorothy Gordon. He was a shoemaker. He got his back hurt in the second year after his marriage and could not work at hard work after that. i. William J. "Bill" Baker b. 1852 in Russell Co., VA in Mar 1871 married Mary "Polly" J. Mullins daughter of William and Sarah Mullins. 1. Sarah E. b. 1874 in VA 2. Rally D. b. 1877 in VA 3. Casby J. b. Aug 1879 (daughter) ii. Richard Gaston b. 1856 married Hazy Vanover iii. James Henderson b. abt. 1857 in Wise Co., VA on 8 Dec 1881 married Caroline Baker b. 1864 in Johnson Co., KY daughter of Cornelius H. "Hick" Baker and Socia Hammonds iv. Robert L. Baker b. 1864 in Wise Co., VA on 26 Apr 1883 married Elizabeth Phipps b. 1865 in Russell Co., VA daughter of William and Caroline Phipps. v. John R. "Johnny" b. 1868 in VA married 1) Jane Fleming & 2) Tina Mullins vi. Joseph B. Baker b. 1870 in VA married Flora Colley vii. Caroline Jane b. 1854 married James Henderson Vanover b. 23 Jun 1837 d. 12 Feb 1938. 1. Elbert Monroe Vanover 2. Sarah Dorothy Vanover b. 5 May 1875 d. Feb 1946 married William Powers. 3. Malinda Vanover b. 5 Aug 1877 d. 1885 4. John Bradford Vanover b. Jan 1879 d. 1879 5. Weddington Vanover b. 12 Jun 1881 d. 12 Apr 1902 6. Ollie Frances Vanover 7. Sarepta Ernestine Vanover 8. Robert Lemuel Vanover 9. Malvrie Mabel Vanover 10. Abby Gracie Vanover viii. Alva D. Baker b. May 1860 in Wise Co., VA d. 1954 on 26 Jul 1897 married General Jackson Lane b. May 1829 in Scott Co., VA d. 1908 son of Joe and Catherine Lane. 1. James Milton Baker b. May 1879 in VA (father unknown but family tradition says he may have been a Belcher) married Sarah Vionna Keith daughter of M. Columbus Keith and Martha Louemma Baker. 2. McClelland Baker b. Aug 1883 in VA (father unknown) 3. Emily J. Lane b. Aug 1891 in VA (father unknown) 4. Belva/Belvy Lane b. 24 Dec 1897 d. 10 Dec 1919 on 30 Jun 1914 to Fred Rife b. 1895 son of B.B. and Lucy Rife of Buchanan Co., VA . xi. Frances M. Baker b. 1865 in Wise Co., VA on 6 Mar 1884 married W. S. Vanover b. 1868 in Wise Co., VA son of Eli and Ollie Vanover. x. Martha Ellen Baker b. 1872 married S. J. Colley xi. Helen Baker married Gar Robinson xii. Lucy H. Baker is shown on the 1880 Wise Co. VA census. She may be Helen married Gar Robinson. VIII. America b. 1836 in Russell Co., VA married Basil B. Mullins b. abt. 1831 i. James M. Mullins b. abt. 1859 ii. Alexander "Alex" Mullins b. abt. 1860 iii. William H. Mullins b. abt. 1862 iv. Richard Gaston Mullins b. abt.1864 married Nancy Ann Hollyfield 1. David Bartley Mullins v. David F. "Dave" Mullins b. abt. 1866 vi. Manda M. "Mandy" Mullins b. abt. 1857 vii. Rebecca Jane Mullins b. abt. 1855 1. Charlie Todd Mullins 2. James Campbell Mullins b. 1 Mar 1891 viii. Charlotte Mullins b. abt. 1868 IX. Sarah A. "Sally" Baker b. 1842 in Russell Co., VA married Augustine T. "Doc" Jones b. 1822 in Estill Co., KY son of Lar. and Elizabeth Jones. Sally married second Samuel Vanover. i. Eliza J. E. Baker b. 1864 ii. Jessee L. Baker b. 1864 iii. Mary A. Baker b. 1866 iv. Frances Baker b. 1867 v. Roseabell Baker b. 1874 vi. Cassy A. Baker b.1876 X. Eliza J. b. 1844 in Russell Co., VA married Ben Hubbard/Salyer son of Jesse Hubbard's wife prior to her marriage to Jesse and Ben went by both names. Children of Eliza J. Baker & Robert Henderson Kilgore i. Richard Augustus Baker b. 1866 married Mary Francis Riggs 1. Ballard Henderson Baker Children of Eliza J. Baker & Ben Hubbard/Salyer ii. Joseph Henderson Baker b. 1875 married Cynthia McPeek XI. Richard III b. February 22, 1846 in Russell Co., VA married on February 8, 1869 Nancy Margaret Gentry b. June 20, 1846 daughter of David Gentry and Dorothy Gordon. i. James N. "Jimmy" Baker b. 1868 in Wise Co., VA on 27 Sep 1889 married Florence J. Riggs b. abt. 1872 daughter of Henderson and Sarah J. Riggs. ii. Caldonia Baker iii. Bradley Baker XII. George (died young)
The Southwest Virginian Vol VI June 1983 #29 p. 21-22, September 2, 1936 Interview with Richard Baker III by James Taylor Adams, transcribed by Nancy Clark Brown. Pioneer Recollections of Southwest Virginia. Collected, Compiled, and Edited by Elihu Jasper Sutherland Supplemented by Hetty Swindall Sutherland, 1984. Country Roads and Lanes: The Ancestry and Descendants of General Jackson Lane by Fannie Lane Steele. A Partial Cemetery Record of Wise Co., VA by James Taylor Adams. The History of the Pound, edited by Rhonda Robertson and Nancy Clark Brown, 1993. Short Family Bible 1850 Russell Co., VA Census 1860 Russell Co., VA Census 1860 Wise Co., VA Census 1870 Wise Co., VA Census 1880 Wise Co., VA Census 1900 Dickenson Co., VA Census Wise Co., VA Marriage Records Dickenson Co., VA Marriage Records
© Martha Short 1998-2005