Listed on An Alphabetical List of Taxables in the County of New Hanover St. James/St.Philip's parishes for the year 1762 is John BAKER in the St. James parish. He is being taxed for two white men and one negro man.² A John BAKER is listed in census indexes for Colonial America for the years 1762 and 1763 in New Hanover County, NC. ³ Colony of North Carolina, 1735-1764: Abstracts of Land Patents, Vol. I, has an entry for John BAKER that reads: 6618, pg. 516, John BAKER, 23 April 1763, 300 acres in New Hanover County on the East side of Black River opposite his home place, joining the Bank of the River, Tar Landing, and the River swamp. ⁴ From the date and description of this entry, this land is across the river from the land John F. BAKER purchased from Solomon HUFFHAM in 1761.

With the help of some topographical maps, John F. Baker's plantation, and land owned by several of his descendants, was located in what is now Pender County, NC in an area bounded by the Northwest Branch of the Cape Fear River, the Black River, and east of Highway 11. More specifically, I believe John's plantation to have been located on the Black River near the mouth of Moore's Creek, and the other land holdings to have been located in close proximity to Canetuck Road, which runs through Buckle and Lyon Swamps, and that intersects with Highway 11.

John F. BAKER's will,⁵ dated the 30th of August 1766, reads as follows: North Carolina To all people whom those presents shall come: Greeting: Know all men that I John Baker of New Hanover County province aforesaid, being sick and weak of body, but of sound mind and memory, do make and ordain this my Last Will and to stand in the name of God. Amen. I resign my spirit to God who gave it, where he shall call me hence, and my body to be bury in the earth Christian ?; and as for what worldly goods it hath pleased God to bless me with, I give and bequeath in manner following~ Item. I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Mary BAKER one feather bed and furniture, two pewter dishes, two pewter basins, six pewter platters, four cows and calves~ Item. I give and bequeath I land unto my well beloved wife Mary BAKER, the plantation whereon I live; I lend my two negroes Sam and Will to my well beloved wife Mary BAKER as she goes by the widow BAKER, as long as she goes by that name. Item. I give and bequeath unto my well beloved daughter Emory SIKES, ten shillings proclamation money~ Item. I give and bequeath unto my well beloved son Arthur BAKER, ten shillings proclamation money~ Item. I give and bequeath unto my well beloved daughter Ieminea (?) BAKER, two cows and calves~ Item. I give and bequeath unto my well beloved daughter Branela (?) BAKER, two cows and calves~ Item. I give and bequeath unto my well beloved daughter Sarah BAKER, two cows and calves~ Item. I give and bequeath unto my well beloved son John BAKER, two negroes Sam and Will, all my lands & removeables and if this my son John BAKER should chance to die before he becomes of age or without heirs I continue and appoint Thomas CORBETT and John BAKER the Executors of this my last Will and Testament; and my will and desire is that nothing may be sold. In witness whereof I have set my hand and seal this thirteenth day of August in the year of our Lord God one thousand seven hundred sixty and six.

In the presence of us his

Test John F. BAKER (seal)

Joseph DILLARD mark

Adoniram TREADWELL

John BAKER

New Hanover, September Court 1776 (sic)

The execution of the within Will proved on the oath of Adoniram TREADWELL a subscribing evidence thereto who swore that he saw the Testator sign, seal, publish, execute and deliver the written as his last Will and Testament in due form of law. And at the same time Thomas CORBETT qualified as Executor to the same agreeable to law. Ordered that letters testimentary issued thereon accordingly.~

Letters issued Dec 15th 1767 John LOUDON

In earlier editions of this history I misinterpreted the handwriting in John F. BAKER's will and identified a daughter as Ermoy LIKES. Hattie SQUIRES of Pender County, NC, a MARSHALL descendant, suggested that the last name was SIKES. This was, and still is, a recognizable name in the area. Upon further scrutinizing of the handwriting in the will, I agree with Hattie. Once I found the correct last name, I then found a reference to a Joshua and Amery SIKES in New Hanover County Court Minutes. I next was informed Amery's first name was Emery. Now that I have the full correct name of this daughter, Emery BAKER SIKES, would anyone like to tackle the first name of John's daughter that I've identified as Ieminea?

In an effort to find out more about the SIKES family, I posted a query on the Internet. Tim WATSON of Newport, Arkansas, a descendant of our Emery Baker SIKES, contacted me. Tim employed GENEALOGY RESEARCH ASSOCIATES, INC. of Salt Lake City, Utah to conduct research on his SIKES ancestors and he graciously allowed me to obtain copies of this research. You will find a separate section on Joshua and Emery BAKER SIKES at the end of my discussion of the BAKER family.

Coinciding with John F. BAKER's death is a 1767 entry in the Census index for Colonial America listing Mary BAKER. ⁶

The State Census of North Carolina, 1784 –1787, New Hanover County, NC, Black River District, dated April Term 1786, lists an Arthur BAKER with one male 21 to 60 years, three males under 21 and above 60, and one female all ages. This entry is just under Thomas CORBETT, Sr. and Thomas CORBETT, Jr.⁷ Arthur is also listed on the 1790 Federal Census with one free white male 16 years of age and up, four free white males under 16, and two free white females including heads of families.⁸ Again, Arthur is listed just under a Thomas CORBETT. According to these records, it appears that between 1786 and 1790 Arthur's family increased by one son and one daughter.

Found in New Hanover County Court Minutes is the following entry: Monday, 4 July 1791, Deeds proved, John JONES to Arthur BAKER, by John G. SCULL.⁹

In research obtained from Ruth BAKER CASON, and a copy later obtained from a transcription of New Hanover County Court Minutes,¹⁰ dated 23 November 1792, comes the following:

Ferry – Moore's Creek and Black River

Ordered that a ferry be established at mouth of Widow Moore's Creek to Cross Black River. That a road be cut from the ferry on Black River to Flower's Ferry on the Northwest River, by a route "most convenient and least injurious to the proprietors of the lands." That the road be opened from said ferry to the main road leading to Mallets Ferry, and that road be laid off by John, Isaac, and James BORDEAUX, Arthur BAKER, and others. Appointed as Overseers: John G. SCULL and John BORDEUAX of the former and Pettygrew MOORE of the latter road.

A second entry in the New Hanover County Court Minutes, also dated 23 November 1792, reads: Deeds proved by Jacob WARREN: Joshua SIKES and Amery (sic), his wife, to Edward SPEARMAN.¹¹

An abstract of a New Hanover County, NC deed,¹² dated 6 Dec 1799, reads as follows:

John JONES to William MARSHALL for 10 pounds a tract of 50 acres on west side of Black River on Buckle Swamp. Begin in the northmost line of my own land that I conveyed to Arthur BAKER my former survey 14 poles from the corner then run north 34 poles to a pine, west 125 poles to Rowe's line, now Marshall's line, then South in Rowe's line now Marshall's line to Rowe's now Marshall's corner, the same course continued across Buckle Swamp to a stake, then East to my own (now Baker's line) then along said line to the beginning. Patent to John JONES 29 October 1787.

The 1800 Federal Census lists Arthur BAKER with two males to age 10, two males between 10 and 16 years of age, one male 45 years and up, one female between 10 and 16 years of age, and one female 45 years of age and up. Isaac BOURDEAUX, one line below Arthur, is listed with two males to age 10, 1 male 26 to 45 years, two females to age 10, one female from age 10 to 16, one female from age 16 to 26, and one female 26 to 45 years. ¹³

An abstract¹⁴ from a Wilmington, NC area newspaper reads: Run-away from the Subscriber, a Negro fellow, about 5 feet 10 inches high, of a yellow complexion, plays on the violin, and it is said that he can read and write; he formerly belonged to Mr. Arthur BAKER, and passes by the name of JOSHUA…A reward of 10 dollars…to any person who will…deliver him to me at my plantation on Black River or to the Goaler in Wilmington. Alexander STRAHAN, dated June 9.

On a family descendancy chart found with a Bordeaux Family History compiled by Milton L. JACKSON, there is a reference to a daughter of Arthur BAKER having married James BORDEAUX. The reference does not give the first name of the daughter, but it lists her death date as c1838.¹⁵ Listed in the Futch, Reaves, & Bordeaux Family Directory, Vol. 4, is James BORDEAUX (1783-1860) who married Rebecca BAKER, daughter of Arthur BAKER.¹⁶ I am assuming Rebecca is the youngest female listed on the 1790 and 1800 census entries for Arthur. As with the family of Joshua and Emery BAKER SIKES, you will find more on the BOURDEAUX family after my discussion on the BAKER family.

A New Hanover County, NC deed,¹⁷ dated 10 November 1802, John G. SCULL to Arthur BAKER reads as follows:

State of N. Carolina N. Hanover County | This Indenture made the tenth day of November in the year of Our Lord One thousand Eight hundred & two between John G. SCULL of the County of Brunswick of the one part & Arthur BAKER of the County of New Hanover of the other part. Witnesseth that for and in consideration of the sum of One Hundred & twenty five pounds currency for the State aforesaid to the said John G. SCHULL in hand paid by the said Arthur BAKER afor ? before the sealing and delivery of these presents the receipt whereof the said J.G. SCULL doth hereby acknowledge & therefore doth release acquit and discharge the said Arthur BAKER his heirs Executors & Administrators by these presents he the said John G. SCULL hath granted bargained sold alieved and confirmed unto the said A. BAKER his heirs and assigns a certain piece or parcel of land situated lying & being in the County of New Hanover & State aforesaid bounded as follows: lying on Bear Swamp, between Buckle Swamp and the N. West River, containing one hundred acres beginning at a small oak in the center of three marked oaks, thence running North One Hundred and Eighty poles to a Red Bay in a Branch crossing a Ridge thence East One Hundred and thirty Six poles to a stake thence South One hundred & Eighteen poles to a stake thence West One hundred and thirty Six poles to the first Station: also another piece or parcel of land, situated lying and being in said County joining the above One hundred acres. Beginning at a small oak N. 118 poles to a Red Bay thence South 45 west 210 poles, thence South 63 East 140 poles, thence North 45 East 130 poles to the first Station containing One hundred and twenty acres: and all houses buildings orchards, ways (?), waters, water courses, profits, commodities hereditaments and appurtenances whatsoever so the said premises hereby granted or any part thereof belonging or in anywise appertaining and the reversion & reversions, remainder & remainders, rent issues & profits thereof and also all the Estate right title Interest use trust claim & demand whatsoever of him the said John G. SCULL of in and to the said premises and all deeds ---deuces and writings touching the same or in anywise concerning the same. To Have and To Hold the lands hereby conveyed and every part and parcel thereof with their and every of appurtenances unto the said Arthur BAKER his heirs and assigns forever to the only proper use & behoof of him the said A. BAKER & of his heirs & assigns forever & the said J.G. SCULL for himself his heirs & assigns doth covenant grant & promise to & with the said A. BAKER his heirs & assigns by these present that the said J.G. SCULL now at the time of sealing & delivery of these presents is seized of a good sure perfect & indefeaseable Estate of inheritance in fee simple of and in the premises hereby granted, bargained and sold & that he has good power & lawful &absolute authority to grant and convey the same to the said A. BAKER in manner & form aforesaid & that the said premises now are and so forever hereafter shall remain to be free & clear of and ? all former gifts grants sales dower, right of title of Dower Judgements execution ? title changes & hindrances whatsoever the (grint ?) rents hereafter to become due only ? excepted and that the said John G. SCULL & his heirs & all & singular the premises hereby bargained and sold with the appurtenances unto the said Arthur BAKER his heirs & assigns & all & every person & persons whatsoever shall & will forever ? these presents In witness where of the said John G. SCULL hath hereunto set his hand & seal the day & year first above written.

Signed Sealed & Delivered in presence of John MARSHALL

John G. SCULL (seal)