Baker Family Genealogy

THE Baker Family is among the forty-nine “best families” selected by the American Historical-Genealogical Society for whom the Society has published family histories during the past few years. The Baker family has been prominent in the British Empire and in the United States, its members having played important roles in war and in peace. Family pride is a commendable trait and should be cultivated. All Bakers have just cause to be proud of their family history and traditions.

In references No. 3, No. 10 and No. 7 we find the following regarding the origin and meaning of the name Baker:

The surname Baker came from the occupation of the men who bore it. The feminine form has become almost equally well established among us,Bagster, Baxter or Backster (the latter spelling found in Foxe’s Roll of Marian martyrs) being among forms of the old female “bakester”.

The name of Baker in England is almost completely supplanted by that of Baxter in Scotland, and all Bakers may be considered of English origin. Such folks as “Elias le Baxter” and “Ralph le Bakster” are very plentifully represented in the olden registers. The ordinances of the Guild of the Purification, 1367, are signed by “Johannes Austyn, Baxter.” The name of Robert le Baker appears in Calendarium Inquisitionum Post Mortem; Walter le Bakare, in Writs of Parliament; and other names of Baker can be found in many documents of ancient origin.

We find recorded at St. Peter, Cornhill, the baptism of Jane Baker, 1555. This is perhaps the first time the name was taken as a genuine surname without the usual “le” preceding it.

The various forms of the name are as follows: German, Becher; Dutch, Becker, Beeke; and Anglo-Saxon, Becca.

The data in this volume is gathered from reliable sources. We have selected what we consider the most important material. Many of the daughters, and sons for whom no issue was shown, have been omitted from the pedigrees. A missing symbol indicates that a name has been omitted. Those desiring further information are advised to consult the volumes mentioned in the list of References.

The compiler hopes that, in producing this volume he is bringing to the Baker Family information which will be of interest and value to them, and that he is rendering an important service to the public. He and his associates will be glad to give their cooperation to members of the family who are interested in having a complete genealogy of the family published.

Unless otherwise plainly shown, the persons in this volume whose names are accompanied by three figures are children of the immediately preceding persons bearing immediately preceding numbers. All persons in each group bearing the same letter as a part of their numbers, are directly related. The generations of the descendants of those bearing numbers of three figures are represented as follows. However, some of our material is published as copied from various records without rearrangement according to this system.

Generations ………1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th
Symbols………… (1), etc. (A), etc. (a), etc. 1, etc. A, etc.
Generations ………6th 7th 8th 9th 10th
Symbols ………… a, etc. (1), etc. (i), etc. 1, etc. i, etc.

Abbreviations: add., address; b., born; ch., children; coll., college; d., died; d.y., died young; d.w.i., died without issue; dau., daughter; grad., graduated; l., lives, lived; m., married, moved; s., son, succeeded; d.s.p., died without issue; d.v.p., died before father; univ., university.

• American Baker Families of Royal Descent
• American Baker Genealogies
• Baker Family Genealogy
• Bakers in the American Revolution
• Battle Hymn of the Bakers
• English Baker Genealogies
• Genealogy of Daniel Baker
• Genealogy of Daniel Baker
• Genealogy of Eber Baker of Marion Ohio
• Genealogy of Edward Baker of Saugus Massachusetts
• Genealogy of Edward D. Baker of Salem Massachusetts
• Genealogy of Elleazer Baker of Dutchess County NY
• Genealogy of Francis and Paul Baker
• Genealogy of Francis Baker of St. Albans England
• Genealogy of George Baker of Pownal Vermont
• Genealogy of Howard Baker of Solon Maine
• Genealogy of James Baker
• Genealogy of Joseph Baker of Marshfield Massachusetts
• Genealogy of Nicholas Baker of Scituate Massachusetts
• Genealogy of Richard Baker
• Genealogy of Thomas Baker of East Hampton Connecticut
• Genealogy of Timothy Baker
• Henry John Baker of Elemore Hall Durham England
• James Baker of Buckland House Somerset England
• Lewis C. Baker Family
• Prominent American Bakers of Today
• Prominent Bakers of American, Past Generations
• Prominent British Bakers of Today
• Prominent British Bakers, Past Generations
• William Baker of Bayfordbury England

Baker Coat of Arms

A COAT of Arms is an emblem or a device which is displayed by titled persons, persons of royal blood, and their descendants. Coats of 6N Arms were originally used for purposes of identification and recognition on the field of battle as well as in civil life.

It is claimed by some writers that Coats of Arms, in a crude form, were used by Noah’s sons after the flood. There are records of other Coats of Arms, in one crude form or another, at different periods of ancient history. Heraldry, however, as we know it today, did not become of much importance until soon after the invasion of England by William the Conqueror, A. D. 1066. Heraldry became of general interest at about the time of the Crusades.

The Baker Coat of Arms shown in the front of this volume is the Arms used by the Bakers of County Kent, England, and by the Baronets. The southern family also uses this Coat of Arms, and Coats of Arms very similar to it are used by numerous branches of the Baker family.

This is the most widely used of all Baker Coats of Arms. It is described in BURKE’S GENERAL ARMORY, BURKE’S LANDED GENTRY, BURKE’S PEERAGE AND BARONETAGE, and other reliable works on heraldry, in some cases accompanied by illustrations. Crozier records it for Thomas Baker who settled in Massachusetts in 1635, and it has been used for generations by his descendants and by many other American branches of the Baker family.

HERALDIC LANGUAGE ENGLISH DESCRIPTION
Arms……. Argent, on a saltire engrailed sable, five escallops of the field, on a chief of the second, a lion passant of the first. A silver shield, bearing, below a silver lion passant on a black field, a black cross on which are five silver shells.
Crest…… A dexter arm embowed, vested azure, cuffed argen, hand proper, grasping an arrow of the last. A right arm in a blue and silver sleeve, the hand grasping a silver arrow
Motto…… Fidea Coticula Crux. (Latin) The Cross is the touchstone of faith.

In heraldry, a saltire or St. Andrew’s cross is symbolic of courage, and the reward of those who have scaled the walls of towns. Engrailed lines denote the possession of land. Escallops or shells were granted to those crusaders who were truly noble. The lion has always had a high place in heraldry. The arrow signifies martial readiness.

Sir Bernard Burke, of Heralds College, London, said “Heraldry is prized by all who can show honorable ancestry or wish to found honorable families.”

Besides its family significance this Coat of Arms makes an excellent mural decoration and inspires the admiration and comment of all who see it.

It is quite appropriate that members of the Baker family who have a pride in their ancestry should display the family Coat of Arms in proper colors.

Baker Family Genealogy Sources

All of the works listed below will be found in the Library of Congress. Most of them will be found in the libraries of historical and genealogical societies. Some of them will be found in the libraries of all of the large American cities.

1. Americans of Royal Descent, 1891, Browning.
2. Appleton’s Cyclopedia of American Biography.
3. British Family Names, Barber.
4. Burke’s General Armory.
5. Burke’s Landed Gentry.
6. Burke’s Peerage and Baronetcy, 1925, 1926.
7. Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, Bardsley.
8. Dictionary of National Biography, London, 1887.
9. Directories, City and Telephone.
10. English Surnames, Bardsley.
11. Heraldic Illustrations, 1853.
12. Miscellaneous Sources.
13. Officers of the Continental Army, 1775-1783, Heitman.
14. Patronymica Britannica, Lower.
15. Private Collections of Family Data.
16. Revolutionary Records of the Respective Colonies.
17. Surnames of the United Kingdom, Harrison.
18. U. S. Postal Guide.
19. Who’s Who (British).
20. Who’s Who in America, 1926-27.
21. Edward Baker and Desc. of Lynn, Mass., 1630. Nelson M. Baker, Syracuse, 1867.
22. Ancestry Pricella Baker, 1674-1731. William S. Appleton, Cambridge, 1870.
23. Richard Baker, Edmund J. Baker, Boston, 1889.
24. Short Notes on Baker Family and Some Relatives. Geo. Comstock Baker, Comstock, N. Y., 1896.
25. Henry Baker and Descendants, Miles White, Jr.
26. Origin and History Name Baker, with Biography of Most Noted Persons, Chicago, 1905.
27. Eber and Lydia Baker of Marion, Ohio and Descendants, Elwood T. Baker, Chariton, Iowa, 1909.
28. Baker Family of Yarmouth and Descendants, Yarmouthport, Mass., 1912. Descendants of Francis.
29. Baker Family of Yarmouth, Descendants of Silas, Yarmouthport, Mass., 1912.
30. Ancestry of Samuel Baker of Pleasant Valley, Steuben County, N. Y. and Descendants, Frank Baker, Chicago, 1914.
31. Memorial of Justice Frank Baker, Chicago, 1916.
32. Rev. Nicholas Baker (1610-1678) and Descendants, Fred. A. Baker. Detroit, Mich., 1917.