BAKER, Richard

1614 - 1689  (75 years)  Submit Photo / Document

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• Name	BAKER, Richard
  Birth	1614	Dorchester, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States
  Christening	17 Jul 1614	Chartham, Kent, England
  Gender	Male
  Death	25 Oct 1689	Dorchester, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States
  Burial	25 Oct 1689	Dorchester, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States
  WAC	5 Feb 1926	SGEOR
  _TAG	Reviewed on FS
  Headstones	Submit Headstone Photo
  Person ID	I25195	Joseph Smith Sr and Lucy Mack Smith
  Last Modified	19 Aug 2021

  
  

  Father	BAKER, Sir John ,   b. 14 Jan 1570, Norwich, Norfolk, England Norwich, Norfolk, Englandd. Mar 1632, Kent, England (Age 62 years)
  Mother	Elizabeth ,   b. 1573, Mancroft, Norfolk, England Mancroft, Norfolk, Englandd. 23 Apr 1661, Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States (Age 88 years)
  Marriage	1594	Mancroft, Norfolk, England
  Family ID	F5427	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

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  Emma-Marie-Salyards Headstone.jpg

  
  

• Notes

  BIOGRAPHY: He was the first mate of the ship Bachelor. He was a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company. According to Colket (q.v.), Richard Baker arrived in Dorchester, Massachusetts about 1639 (first mention in America) and died in Dorchester on 25 October 1689. He was a Proprietor, Master's mate, and a Freeman. Source: "Register" 43:279 (desc.) Information gathered by Trevor Allen. Some notesillegible. LDS Ancestral File shows place of birth asDorchester, Suffolk, MA. [McLaughlin-Middleditch.ged] [Middleditch.ged] RICHARD BAKER was born about 1614 in Norwich, Norfolk, England the son of John and Elizabeth Baker. However, nothing more is known about his early life. His brother, Thomas also came to New England and was a resident of Roxbury where he was the owner of the tide-mill. They also had a nephew, John Baker of Boston who described himself as “smith” and “mariner” and was a prominent and enterprising citizen of Boston. Richard arrived in New England, 28 Nov. 1635, aboard the Bachelor, on which he was second in command or “master’s mate.” The ship was a small “North-sea boat” or “barque” of twenty five tons which had been purchased by the London Company of Lord Say and Seal, Lord Brook, Lord Rich, Sir Richard Saltonstall, and others of influence politically and socially. They had obtained a grant of territory which included what is now the state of Connecticut, and were anxious to get military control of the region by establishing a fort at the mouth of the Connecticut River in anticipation of a like movement on the part of the Dutch of New Amsterdam, who also claimed possession or right of trade there. The Bachelor was to be used to ply between Boston and the mouth of the Connecticut River during the building of the fort. The record does not state that Richard Baker assisted in sailing the Bachelor along the coast. However, his contract required him to do so if the owners desired and it is certain that the vessel was thus employed. If he was in that service part, at least, of his time between1635 and 1639 would be accounted for. The next date of record concerning Richard Baker is 4 Nov. 1639, when he became a member of the church at Dorchester. It is probable that he was married about this same time. He wife, Faith Withington, is recorded as a member of the church some time earlier. Faith was born, 13 Oct 1616, at Leigh, Lancashire, England, the daughter of Henry Withington, the ruling elder of the church in Dorchester and Ann Leech. Richard was made a freeman of the colony 18 May 1642. He became a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company in 1758. In nearly every year from 1642 to 1685 his name is of record as exercising some office in the town administration of Dorchester. He appears not to have aspired to the highest station, and during only one year, 1653, is he recorded as a selectman and he served as constable, 1663. In 1668 he was elected a ruling elder of the church, but declined the office. Both in the town and the church records his name appears from time to time with those of others who were among the principal citizens in the making up of important committees. He was a proprietor in all the “Divisions” of town lands subsequent to the date of the “Great Lots.” Faith died, 3 Feb 1688/1689, at Dorchester, Suffolk, Massachusetts and Richard died 25 Oct. 1689. The inventory of his estate amounted to £1,315, 15s, 00p. He was a man of superior capacity. Children of Richard Baker and Faith Withington: 1. MARY BAKER, chr. 14 Feb. 1641 at Dorchester, Norfolk, Massachusetts; married Samuel Robinson; died 27 Aug. 1714. 2. JOHN BAKER, chr. 30 Apr 1643 at Dorchester, Norfolk, Massachusetts; married Preserved Trott, daughter of ____________; 3. SARAH BAKER, chr. 22 Jun 1645 at Dorchester, Norfolk, Massachusetts, married, 22 Feb. 1664, James White; she died 13 Oct 1688. 4. THANKFUL BAKER, chr. 19 Mar 1646 at Dorchester, Norfolk, Massachusetts; married William Griggs. 5. ELIZABETH BAKER, chr. 27 Oct 1650 at Dorchester, Norfolk, Massachusetts; died young. 6. JAMES BAKER, chr. 30 Apr 1654 at Dorchester, Norfolk, Massachusetts; he died single, 30 Mar. 1721. 7. ELIZABETH BAKER, chr. 20 Jul. 1656 at Dorchester, Norfolk, Massachusetts; married William Pratt of Weymuth, Massachusetts. 8. HANNAH BAKER, born 9 Jun. 1662 at Dorchester, Norfolk, Massachusetts; married, 5 May 1685, John Wiswall. Reference: Edmund J. Baker, “Genealogy of Richard Baker,” NEHGR, Vol. 43. (Jul. 1889); pp. 279-282.