A Patriot of the American Revolution for PENNSYLVANIA with the rank of Private. DAR Ancestor # A004950

Becker/Baker History & Allied Families by Merritt Peterson & Margaret Hanks, 1990

Jacob Baker according to family records was born 24 Aug 1731. After his marriage to Mary Magdalene in 1755, they settled in Heidelberg Township, Lancaster County (now Lebanon County). After the Revolutionary War, Jacob was not able to meet loan payments and lost all property. The Baker family then emigrated to Southwestern Pennsylvania by 1784. In 1787, he purchased an 181 acre property, which he farmed in Quemahoning Two, Bedford County. Jacob dictated his will in 1793. He died before the new Somerset County formed in 1795 and became his will probate location. He was buried in Quemahoning Twp.

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• Baker.. ;

Records research has not ended concerning the circumstantial indication that the subject Jacob Baker may possibly have been the son Jacob of Jörg/Georg Ernst Becker (1706-1788), who landed at Philadelphia 12 September 1750, at age 44. Nothing hints at any connection between George Ernst and the storied George Peter of Strasbourg; but significant documented facts that distinguish the family of George Ernst in Pa. are found in tellthgs of the minors whom “George Peter Becker” supposedly sent to Pa.

• BAKER, JACOB
• Ancestor #: A004950
• Service: PENNSYLVANIA Rank: PRIVATE
• Birth: 8-25-1731 LANCASTER CO PENNSYLVANIA
• Death: 1790 SOMERSET CO PENNSYLVANIA
• Service Source: PA ARCH, 6TH SER, VOL 2, P 699
• Service Description:
• 1) CAPT JOHN MILLER, 3RD COMPANY, YORK CO

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• DAR and Find a Grave have different marriage and death dates for this individual. Ancestor #: A004950 Service: PENNSYLVANIA Rank: PRIVATE CAPT JOHN MILLER, 3RD COMPANY, YORK CO (York was created in 1749 from Lancaster, Co.)

DAR records: Only wife listed is: Mary Magdalena Brecht. DAR: Married in 1755. DAR records say he is born in Lancaster, PA. and died Somerset, PA . Conflict: FAG says Ontario with no proof.FAG needs to correct this. No headstone in cemetery or records with FAG profile.

I have used the DAR information for his birth, wife, children and their marriages as the keep multiple records on ancestors and cross referenced.

Resided Drumore, Township, Lancaster, PA

  s. Benjamin m. Sarah Morningstar confirmed pension record DAR

  d. Margaret m. Isaac Reed   

Sources:

History of the Church of the Brethren of the Western District of Pennsylvania by Blough, Jerome E., 1861-

https://archive.org/details/historyofchurch00blou

Genealogy Somerset County, PA:

http://www.pagenweb.org/~somerset/index.htm

http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/BRECHT/2000-02/095103...

Married 1755, Lancaster Co., PA.

1 Jacob Baker 1731 - 1790

.. +Mary Magdalena Brecht 1724-1748 - 1787-1838

......... 2 Catherine Baker 1759 - 1777-1870

............. +Nicholas Hinicle Schultz 1746 - 1844

......... 2 John Baker 1762 - WFT Est 1763-1852

......... 2 Henry Baker 1772 - WFT Est 1773-1862

......... 2 Margerat Baker 1764 - WFT Est 1765-1858

......... 2 Benjiman Baker 1765 - WFT Est 1766-1855

......... 2 Michael Baker 1768 - WFT Est 1769-1858

......... 2 Eva Rose Anna Baker 1769 - 1845

............. +George Carpenter 1755 - 1830

......... 2 Jacob Baker 1770 - WFT Est 1771-1860

......... 2 Johnathan Baker 1776 - WFT Est 1777-1866

......... 2 Elizabeth Baker 1776 - WFT Est 1777-1870

......... 2 Sarah Baker 1781 - WFT Est 1782-1875

......... 2 Samuel Baker 1783 - WFT Est 1784-1873

......... 2 Emanuel Baker 1785 - WFT Est 1786-1875

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/95072808/jacob-baker

Jacob Baker BIRTH 25 Aug 1731 Heidelberg Township, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, USA DEATH 1794 (aged 62–63) Quemahoning Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania, USA BURIAL Sipesville Cemetery Sipesville, Somerset County, Pennsylvania, USA MEMORIAL ID 95072808 ·

A search of cemetery failed to find any remaining gravemaker. The headstone no longer exists (Apr 2013).

Photo Leah Ferree Baker 1716–1778

Spouse AnnaMarie Magdelena Brecht Baker 1738–1827 (m. 1755)

Siblings Henry Baker 1730–1758

Philip Baker 1738–1788

Photo Peter Baker 1742–1824

Elizabeth Baker 1750–1830

Mary Baker 1755–1855

Children Maria Cristiana Catharine Baker Fockler 1759–1848

Photo John Baker 1762–1811

Richard Baker 1762–1819

Photo Maria Margaret Baker Reed 1763–1850

Benjamin Baker 1765–1851

Photo Michael John Baker 1768–1854

Photo Eva Rosanna Baker Carpenter 1769–1845

Jacob Baker 1770–1827

Henry George Baker 1772–1803

Anna Maria Baker Morningstar 1777–1870

Samuel Baker 1779–1779

Photo Samuel Baker 1783–1863

Photo Sarah Ann Baker 1785–1853

Photo Emanuel Baker 1788–1860

Infant Baker 1789–1789

Infant Baker 1790–1790

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/95072808/jacob-baker

Taken from Church Records of Berlin, Somerset County, Pennsylvania 1788-1856 Translated from the German by E.C.Saylor: A Samuel Baker was baptised in the Evangelical Reformed Church (Brothers Valley Township Somerset County Pennsylvania) on Jan 3, 1785, born Oct 1, 1784. Parents are listed as Jacob Baker, no wife given. Witness are Casper and Catherine Pheill.

According to the Baker letter from Eber Cockley to Crystal Jensen (genealogy.com): Jacob Baker acquired a Land Warrant issued 1 Aug 1780 location Milford Township (Bedford) now Somerset County Penn (Somerset organized 1795). Jacob Baker killed in an Indian attack on the settlement in 1790, buried Beam Union Churchyard in Lincoln Township Somerset County. (Beam Cemetery is a German Reform Church Cemetery. Jacob Baker is listed as buried with no marker in the Beam Cemetery, www.usgwarachives.net/pa/somerset/wpa/lincoln/BEAM-CEMETERY26.jpa). Jacob Baker was a Revolutionary War drummer in 1778 under Capt Robt McCurdy Seventh Bn., Lancaster County. (This recorded in the PA Archives FIfth Series, Volume Seven, page 658, served for 46 days)

According to the DAR, Jacob Baker served in the Third Company, York County under Captain John Miller, taken from PA Archives Sixth Series, Volume Two, page 699. This does not necessarily contradict the Baker Letter, as he served under McCurdy for only 46 days. No time period is given for Miller. The son of Jacob and Maria Magdalene Becker born September 10, 1770 is baptized in the United Reformed and Lutheran Church called Blimyers in Hopewell Township, York County, PA. This places the family in York County before the Revolutionary war. It also suggest that Jacob Baker surname was originally Becker. Information is from "Publications of the Pennsylvania German Society" Volume 8 page 158. I

In PA Archives Series SIx. Volume Three, page 42: Jacob Baker listed in "A list of male white inhabitants of Brothersvalley Township made subject by law to the performance of MIlitia Duty. Taken by Michael Boyer (1789).

The Jacob Baker family may had been the source of one of the biggest genealogical scams of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Supposedly descendants of this family were entitled to million of dollars of inheritance if they sent money to probate the will. It was called the Baker Hoax (members.tripod.com/~Crystal_J/Baker.2.html).

An example of how the Baker Hoax penetrated the American media and was legitimized can be seen in a write up of the Baker family in a published history of Somerset county (HIstory of Bedford and Somerset counties Pennsylvania by E. Howard Blackburn and William H. Welfley, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1906) On page 172, it is written "He married Sarah Baker, a descendant of George Peters Baker, on the RIver Rhine, Germany. He was very wealthy. He had four sons and a daughter, who emigrated to this country about 1752. One son died soon after arriving here. The family was highly educated. The surviving brothers were surgeons and performed much government work. They possessed large estates in many sections of the United States. Prior to 1800 they were officers in the army, one Colonel Henry Baker, became a merchant and had ship at sea, also owned much land near Philadelphia Pennsylvania, where he died in 1801. Before his death his lands were leased for ninety nine years, and the business portion of the city today is located on this tract. By will his estate fell to his brothers, Jacob and Peter, and the sister Elizabeth. They resided in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania and later moved to Somerset county, where Jacob was killed by Indians around 1816. Peter emigrated to Ohio.Colonel Henry died single." This is the foundation of the Baker Hoax.

• Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Dec 24 2021, 19:07:07 UTC
• Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Dec 24 2021, 19:08:26 UTC

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A search of cemetery failed to find any remaining gravemaker. The headstone no longer exists (Apr 2013).