Francis BAKER (1611 – 1696) was Alex’s 10th Great Grandfather three times over; three of 2,048 in this generation of the Shaw line.  Two children in this family, Elizabeth and Daniel, are our ancestors each marrying a Chase.  A third child, William is also our ancestor and while he did not marry a Chase, his daughter Dorcas did.  We have three Baker/Chase marriages in our line.

Baker – Coat of Arms

Francis Baker was born 7 Jun 1611 in St. Albans, Herefordshire, England. He immigrated from England in 1635 on the “Planter“bringing a certificate signed by the minister in Great St. Albans, Hertfordshire County, his last place of residence, that he had taken the oath of allegiance and supremacy.  He was described as a “tailor,” but he afterwards exercised the calling of cooper and blacksmith.  He married Isabel TWINING on 17 Jun 1641 in Yarmouth, Mass with whom he lived fifty-five years.   This is the first marriage of record at Yarmouth, it lasted 55 years  Francis died in Yarmouth 23 July 1696, aged 85, probably the last of the first comers.

His parents, are not actually known but it is thought to be one of two possibilities. First, though unlikely, it is reported in the Colonial records that he was thought to be a brother of Nicholas and Nathaniel Baker.  It is also possible that he is the son of Thomas BAKER who was christened 7 July 1612 at St James Clerkenwell, London. The date agrees exactly. Thomas’s wife was Francis INGRAM. They were married at St James Clerkenwell, 24 Aug 1592.  It is also possible that he was a son of John Baker and Margery Madestard of Herfordshire, England.

Isabel Twining was born in 1615 in England.  She emigrated with her parents William TWINING and Anne DOANE arriving in Yarmouth not to long before her marriage.  Isabel died 16 May 1706 in Yarmouth Mass.

Children of Francis and Isabel:

The Baker families in Barnstable and West Barnstable, are descendants of Rev. Nicholas Baker of Scituate ; the Hyannis families from Francis, who settled in Yarmouth.

Rev. Nicholas Baker was a graduate of St. John’s College, Cambridge, England, had his Batchelor’s degree in 1631/32, and Master of Arts, 1635. His brother Nathaniel came over with him and both settled at Hingham in 1635. He received a share in the first division of house lots in that town. He afterwards became a large landholder in Hull. He was ordained in Scituate in 1660, where he was instrumental in effecting a reconciliation of the two churches which had held no conmiunication with each other for twenty-five years. He died Aug. 22, 1678, aged 67, of “that horror of mankind, and reproach of medicine, the stone,” a memorable example of patience under suffering. Cotton Mather says :

“Honest Nicholas Baker of Scituate, was so good a logician that he could offer up to God a reasonable service, so good an arithmetician that he could wisely number his days, and so good an orator that he persuaded himself to be a Christian.”

The Yarmouth town records describe Francis as a blacksmith, a cooper and a surveyor.

From Winthrop Society: Passanger on Planter: Francis Baker, Tailor, Age: 24, Date of Record: 1 Apr 1635, Note: Swore oath at St Albans, Herts, Roll #: 45

In 1641, the same year he married Isabel, he was admitted to dwell in Yarmouth, but “not to have any of the lands assigned to others without their consent.” For that reason, probably, he had to take up his residence on the eastern side of Bass River, near Follen’s Pond, which was not then occupied, where he died in 1696 aged 85 years — the last of the first comers. He was not in full accord with the Puritan notions of the time.

Nine of our ancestral families were first comers in Dennis: 1 . Francis Baker, 2. Daniel, Baker, 3. William Chase, 4. Thomas Folland, 5. Thomas Howes, 6. John Joyce, 7. David O’Kelley, 8. William Twining, 9. Gabriel Weldon. Map courtesy of Lynn Keller and Cape Cod Genealogical Society

Francis settled in the part of Yarmouth now known as Dennis about 1642.  On June 1, 1641 he received a grant for land near Follins Pond on Nobscusset Territory (now known as Yarmouth). Follins Pond is noteworthy primarily because there has been an attempt to connect it to the semi-legendary lost Norse colony of Vinland, see Thomas FOLLAND’s page for details

Francis appears on the court records in 1653 for selling wines without a license.  In 1658 he had a grant of 10 acres near his father-in-law in Eastham. The town records list him as cooper, blacksmith and surveyor.”

Francis lived near Follins Pond – A brackish lake located on Cape Cod, separating the towns of Dennis, Massachusetts, and Yarmouth, Massachusetts. The lake is connected to Nantucket Sound via the Bass River. Follins Pond is noteworthy primarily because there has been an attempt to connect it to the semi-legendary lost Norse colony of Vinland.

1 Jun  1641 – Francis Baker, cooper, was “admitted to dwell at Yarmouth, but not to have lands that are assigned formerly to others without their consent.” (Plymouth Colony Records, 2:17). Under this authority, he settled near Follins Pond, at the head of Bass River, in what was then Nobesussett Territory but now within the bounds of Dennis. At that time, the first white man’s house at Nobseussett was less than two years old.

Francis Baker built his house on the east side of Bass River, near the Pond.

7 Jun 1648 – He was appointed surveyor of Highways in Yarmouth (Ply. Col. Rec. 2:124). In 1656 he was member of the jury (jud. Ct. Rec. 79). In 1658 he had a grant of 10 acres of land in Eastham, lying near to William TWINING (Eastham Town Record 1:97). In 1659 Francis and Isabel were still living on this land but soon sold it to his brother-in-law William Twining Jr. and returned to their Yarmouth farm. Here he spent the remainder of his life.

3 May 1653 – “Wee Present Francis Baker, of Yarmouth, for retailing of wine contrary to order of Court”

6 Mar 1655 – “abusiue carriage to Francis Baker att the same time, they, the said Starr and Barnes, were sentanced by the Court to pay unto the said Baker, each of them, the sume of twenty shillings. And in reference unto the said Francis Baker and John Casley theire breache of the peace att the same time, they were fined by the Court, each of them, the summe of three shillings and four pence to the use of the collonie. And whereas Elisha HEDGE hath given testimony that the said Baker and Casley were drunke att the same time, incase any concurrant testimony shall appeer to cleare up the truth thereof, they shalbe lyable to suffer the penaltie of the law for the same.

8 June 1655 – “Concerning complaint made by John Hall, of Yarmouth, against Francis Baker, of the same towne, for abusing Samuell Hall, his son, and seruant to the said Baker, by kicking of him and otherwise unreasonably stricking of him, the court haue ordered, that the said Samuell Hall shall bee and continew with his said father untill the next Court of Asistants; and then incase the said Baker shall come and complaine to the said Court, hee is to acquaint the said Hall wherwith, that soe hee may come with him, and they shalbee heard.”

The controversy was ended when on 7 August 1655 the court ordered John Hall to pay Francis Baker £8 for the remainder of Samuel Hall’s time [PCR 3:88].  Samuel Hall later married [our ancestor] Thomas FOLLAND’s daughter Elizabeth.

16 Mar 1665/66 – Francis received 20 sh. each from Thomas Starr and Jonathan Barns for abusive carriage against him; at the same time he and John Casley were each fined 3s. 4d. for breach of the peace, and Elisha HEDGE [our ancestor] accused him and Casley of being drunk.

30 Oct 1672 – “Francis Baker, of Yarmouth, complained against William Nacarson, of Mannamoicett, in an action of the case, to the damage of ten pounds, for that the said Nicarson neglecteth to pay him for six meat barrells, and for labour done seuerall times about pining of tarr barrells, and triming them, in yeare one thousand six hundred and seauenty. The jury find for the plaintiffe five shillinges damage, and the cost of the suite.”

The Connecticut magazine, Volumes 3-4 By William Farrand Felch, George C. Atwell, H. Phelps Arms, Frances Trevelyan Miller

a) Francis’ Baker became, about 1645, a permanent resident of Yarmouth. He came over in the Planter, 1635, set. 24, from Great St. Albans, Hertfordshire, Eng. He d. July 23, 1696, in Y.; m., June 17, 1641, Isabel, dau. of William Twining; she d. May 16, 1706, in Y.

His lands were bounded by Bass River, near the Second Narrows, and within the present town of Dennis. The abundance and variety of fish found at all seasons in the waters of that river induced many early settlers to build near its banks. Their farm lands were there, and though many times divided and subdivided, they are generally retained by the descendants of the original proprietors.

He was on the tax list, 1696, for 2s. 4d.; townsman, 1679 and 1694. On June 1, 1641, he was permitted to dwell at Yarmouth —called a cooper. June 7, 1648, he and Richard Taylor, surveyors of highways for Yarmouth. May 3, 1653, he was presented “for retailing wine contrary to order of Court,” but was cleared. June 8, 1655, presented for misusing Samuel, son of John Hall, servant to him, ” by kicking of him and otherwise unreasonably striking of him.”

In 1657 took oath of fidelity, and in 1680 he sues Abraham Hedge for £12, for tar barrels. His will, March 4, 1693, shows he had four more children than appear on the town records, making eight in all. Children prob. all born in Y.

Children

1. Nathaniel Baker

Nathaniel’s wife Desire Gray was born 6 Nov 1651 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Mass. Her parents were Edward Gray and Mary Winslow. Desire died 4 Dec 1690 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Mass.

2. John Baker

John’s wife Alice Pierce was born 21 Jul 1650 in Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass. Her parents were Abraham Pierce and Rebecca [__?__]. Alice died 1673 in Duxbury, Plymouth, Mass

3. Samuel Baker

For the hire of horses, the loss of arms, ammunition and money, loss in saddles and bridles in the Second expedition to Narragansett (Great Swamp Fight Dec 19, 1675) under Capt. John GORHAM— Samuel Baker was paid £4 s10 d00.

4. Elizabeth BAKER (See John CHASE‘s page)

5. Daniel BAKER (See his page)

6. Thomas Baker

Thomas’ wife Bathsheba Lewis was born Oct 1667 in Barnstable, Barnstable, Mass. Her parents were George Lewis and Mary Lombard. She first married 10 Aug 1690 in Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass to John O Killey (b. 26 Oct 1673 in Yarmouth – d. 26 Oct 1693 in Yarmouth)  John’s parents were David O’KELLY and Jane POWELL. Bathsheba died 13 Oct 1692 in Mass

7. William BAKER (See his page)

8. Hannah Baker

Hannah’s husband Abraham Pierce was born Jan 1638 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Mass. His parents were Abraham Pierce and Rebecca [__?__] Abraham died in Jan 1718 in Duxbury, Plymouth, Mass

Source:

http://www.genealogyofnewengland.com/f_3f4.htm#45

http://capecodhistory.us/genealogy/us/i6.htm#i6693

William Twining

http://www.laddfamily.com/16356.htm

http://gis.net/~scatt/genealogy/baker_geneology.html

History of old Yarmouth. Comprising the present towns of Yarmouth and Dennis. From the settlement to the division in 1794 with the history of both towns to these times (1884) Author: Swift, Charles Francis

Genealogical notes of Barnstable families  Being a reprint of the Amos Otis Papers originally published in the Barnstable Patriot in 1861; Revised by Charles  F. Swift Largely made from notes made by the author (1888)