BAKER--Richard BAKER b. 1778 in England, was a Quaker, came to this country
with his father (name unknown) they settled near Conn. probably Dutchess
Co. N.Y. Richard married Sarah LEIVE (LEWIS) probably in N.Y. abt. 1804.
They had 5 sons, Hiram b. 1805, Lewis b. 1807, Stephen b. 1812, Charles b.
1823 and Tom ( date of birth unknown) The death cert. of my ggrangfather
Stephen lists his mother's name as Sarah Leive and place of birth as
Dutchess Co. N.Y. Sarah died in 1823 and Richard then married Ester FYFE.
They boyh died in 1824. At the time of Richard's death 2 or 3 of the boys
were young enough to become wards of the State of N.Y. Stephen spoke of
being bound out which I take to mean they were foster children.Stephen used
the name Stephen Tredwell Baker and I suspect that the name TREDWELL was
the name of his foster family. I have yet to find any official record of
this family in N.Y. but family stories place them in Dutchess Co., Onieda
Co., Chautauqua Co. and even St, Lawrence Co. Hiram and Lewis were
supposedly married in Chautauqua Co.but I can not find any records. Some
time in the mid 1830s the boys were unhappy with their lot and decided to
go west. Tom decided to stay and was not heard from again. The others first
went to Wayne Co. Ohio and then on to southern Michigan to a place latter
named Bakertown, Berrian Co. Mich. I have looked at many sources in N.Y.
and have been unable to find any official record of this family in N.Y. If
any one has or can find any information on this family please contact me.
Joe Baker <jcbaker@HiWAAY.net>