Hertford County NcArchives Biographies.....Baker, Raleigh James 1859 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/nc/ncfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 February 28, 2008, 11:55 am Author: Leonard Wilson (1916) RALEIGH JAMES BAKER IN business and social circles in Hertford County, North Carolina, the name of Raleigh James Baker, of Ahoskie, occupies a prominent place. Mr. Baker is of English descent and illustrious ancestry. He was born at Harrellsville, North Carolina, October 7, 1859, a son of George Baker and his wife, Mary Ann Outlaw. He attended the public schools of his native place, then took up a course in the Commercial College of Kentucky, at Lexington. In earlier life he was engaged in farming and general merchandising, and has achieved much success in the real estate and insurance business. The Baker family is an old one, as families go in America, but a much older one in Great Britain, where its history goes back many centuries in Counties Worcester, Gloucester and Kent, and where members of this family were prominent in public affairs as early as the twelfth century. Richard Baker was High Sheriff of Gloucestershire in 1129, and many wills are on file in Bristol records showing the family to be possessed of large estates. The coat armor of the Gloucestershire branch is thus described: Arms: Azure, three swans' heads erased argent ducally gorged or. Crest: A naked dexter arm proper, holding a swan's head erased argent. Motto: Honos Virtutis Satelles. The Baker family to which this sketch relates descends from Major Henry Baker, who was born in Gloucester, England, in 1645, and early in life came to Virginia and settled in Isle of Wight County. No relationship can be found between Major Henry Baker and Thomas Baker, who came from Kent, England, in 1635, and settled in Massachusetts. Major Baker was a successful merchant at Smithfield, and filled many positions of honor and trust. In 1692-93 he represented his County in the House of Burgesses. He married Mary, daughter of General Edward Bennett, and had children Henry, Lawrence. William, Sarah, Mary, Catharine and Elizabeth. He died in 1712 and by his will, proved July 28 of that year, we find that he was possessed of a large tract of land extending in various parcels from Smithfield, Virginia, to beyond Gatesville. North Carolina. When County lines were subsequently established, the lands conveyed by Major Baker to his sons Henry, William and Lawrence were found to lie in Hertford County, North Carolina, and they became citizens of this County. Colonel Henry Baker, of Chowan Precinct, North Carolina, eldest son of the major, was commissioned Colonel in the Colonial Militia of his district. He was the proprietor of the first ferry crossing Chowan River, between Mt. Gallant Fishery and the mouth of the Meherrin River. This ferry was in operation prior to 1722, and was known as the Henry Baker Ferry. He was twice married. By his first wife, Angelica Bray, he had a son Henry. He married, secondly, Ruth Chancey, daughter of Honorable Edmond Chancey, of Pasquotank County, who was a judge under the proprietary government of North Carolina. Colonel Henry Baker died in 1738. His will names the following children: John, Blake, Mary, Sarah, David, Ruth and Zadock, to each of whom he left considerable property. He also left to his son Henry, by his first marriage, his home plantation, known as "Buckland." This son Henry was a representative in Colonial Assembly in 1744-45, and was Justice of the Peace of Chowan County. Continuing the direct ancestral line of Raleigh J. Baker, of Ahoskie, we find that John Baker (afterwards a major in the Revolutionary War), the son of Colonel Henry Baker, was born in 1726. In 1760 he was chosen the first High Sheriff of Hertford County. Having in his veins the blood of a noted military family he was destined to go higher, and in May, 1772, we find him mentioned in the report of Colonel Wynn, of the Hertford Militia, as Major John Baker, with the recommendation that he be promoted to lieutenant-colonel. When Hertford County responded for men to enter the Continental Army and fight for American liberty, Major Baker entered as first lieutenant in the Seventh Regiment, in November, 1776. He was promoted to captain in July, 1777, and to major in June, 1778. In 1779 he was elected State Senator, serving five years. He was a valuable member of the General Assembly in those trying times when the country needed her wisest and best men in her councils. By his wife, Elizabeth, Major John Baker had the following children: Henry, Isaac, Benjamin, Dread, Blake, Simon (of further mention), and William. Simon Baker married in 1791, and among his children was a son John, who served in Captain Jenkins' Company from Hertford in the War of 1812. John Baker married, July 16, 1816, Rachel Sowell, daughter of George and Kesia Sowell. This couple had sons George, born April 25, 1817, and John, born December 6, 1820. John Baker, Jr., served in the Confederate Army and was a true and gallant soldier. He married Betty Tayloe. He died April 14, 1880. George Baker lived at Long Branch, Hertford County, in the old Baker homestead. He was a quiet, refined gentleman, and was noted for his genuine hospitality. He married, first, in 1839, Winifred Williford, who died within a few years, leaving a daughter, Lucretia, who married Joseph Winborne. She died December 23, 1870, leaving children. George Baker married, secondly, December 30, 1845, Mary Ann Outlaw, born February 7, 1826, died June 17, 1893. She was a daughter of Wiley and Penny Scull Outlaw, of Bertie County. The children of George and Mary Ann Baker were, (1) Amanda, born April 10, 1848, married November 7, 1867, Joseph Browne, of Bertie County; (2) William Edward, born November 20, 1850; (3) Elisha, born December 29, 1846, died March 30, 1847; (4) John Outlaw, born March 22, 1853; (5) George W., born May 1, 1854, died young; (6) George W., born November 4, 1856; (7) Raleigh James, born October 7, 1859, as previously mentioned. George Baker, father of these children, was a man of wealth and ease previous to the Civil War, and often served his County in official capacities. He lost much as a result of the war, but he kept his valuable lands and later gradually got in position to enjoy many of his former comforts. He died September 17, 1891, at a ripe old age. His son, Raleigh J., married, first, January 15, 1884, near Kelford, North Carolina, Miss Sallie J. Harrell, daughter of John Pembroke and Sarah R. (Garriss) Harrell. She died June 1, 1910, leaving the following children: (1) Pembroke, born May 20, 1885, now of the firm of Garrett and Baker, general merchants, at Ahoskie, North Carolina; (2) Ruth, born November 18, 1887, married April 12, 1910, Carl H., son of Dr. J. H. and Rosa Montgomery Mitchell: they have two children, Jessie Harrell, born 1911, Ruth James, born 1912; (3) Raleigh J., born 1890, died 1895; (4) Sallie R., born May 24,1892, married December 31, 1912, Sidney P. Watson, of Wilson, North Carolina. She died July 24, 1914; (5) Talmadge, born July 20, 1894; (6) Rodney Jasper, born May 31, 1896, died August 31,1896; (7) Janie Belle, born March 20,1898. Raleigh J. Baker married, secondly, December 26, 1911, Lily Walton Scull, widow of W. Drake Scull, and daughter of James and Nannie Sharp Walton, of Greensboro, Alabama. Thus for eight generations the Bakers have been identified with North Carolina, and are among the old and most prominent families of the State. Additional Comments: Extracted from: MAKERS OF AMERICA BIOGRAPHIES OF LEADING MEN OF THOUGHT AND ACTION THE MEN WHO CONSTITUTE THE BONE AND SINEW OF AMERICAN PROSPERITY AND LIFE VOLUME II By LEONARD WILSON, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ASSISTED BY PROMINENT HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL WRITERS Illustrated with many full page engravings B. F. JOHNSON, INC. CITY OF WASHINGTON, U. S. A. 1916 Copyright, 1916 by B. F. Johnson, Inc. 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