BIRTHS

William Baker was born on the Congarees, South Carolina, this 14th day of Sep. in the year of our Lord, 1759.

Mary Ann Baker was born Saturday, March 5, and in the year of our Lord, 1791.

Lewis Baker was born Tuesday, December 25th, and in the year of our Lord, 1793.

Ann Baker was born Saturday, Feb. 21st, and in the year of our Lord, 1795.

Lavinia Baker was born Tuesday, Aug. 31, and in the year of our Lord, 1797.

William Baker was born after sunset, Aug. 17th and in the year of our Lord, 1801.

Harriet Baker was born Sunday, Oct. 16th, and in the year of our Lord, 1803.

John R. Baker was born [entry not completed]

Ellen B. Baker was born January 1st, and in the year of our Lord, 1809.

Ann Elizabeth Baker was born November 15th, and in the year of our Lord, 1832. 

[child of Wm. Baker IV]

William Henry Baker was born July 9, in the year of our Lord 1834

[child of Wm. Baker IV]

MARRIAGES

William Baker entered into the state of Matrimony with Miss Barbara Lykes,

January 31st, in the year of our Lord, 1790.

William Baker entered into the state of Matrimony with Miss Mary Muller on

Thursday, 1st Mar. in the year of our Lord, 1832.

DEATHS

Mrs. Barbara Baker, spouse of William Baker, departed this life April 2nd, at 5 o'clock

and in the year of our Lord, 1816.  She was committed to the earth April 3rd, at one o'clock.

Mr. William Baker departed this life the 3rd day of March at 12 o'clock in the year of

our Lord, 1829.  He was committed to the earth March 4 at 3 o'clock, aged 69 years,

John Rufus Baker departed this life 8 Oct. 1823.

Epitaphs from the Baker Family Cemetery (formerly in Lexington Co SC, currently in Calhoun Co., SC)

To the memory of William Baker, who departed this life on the 31st of March, 1829, aged 69 years, 6 mos., 17 days.

To the memory of John Rufus Baker, who departed this life on the 8th of Oct. 1823, in the 18th year of his age.

To the memory of Barbara Baker, who departed this life on the 2nd of April, 1816, aged 49 years, 1 mo., 29 days.

Reader, the tomb of virtue joins a tear,

Pause for a moment and give ear

Where buried worth, beneath this marble lies

Til the last trumpet calls her to the skies.

To the memory of Mary Ann Wannamaker, who departed this life on the 30th day of May, 1821, aged 30 years, 3 mos., and 25 days.

Original immigrant William Baker, grandfather of the William Baker who owned this Bible, arrived in Saxegotha SC by 1738.  His 150-acre land grant (surveyed 8 Feb 1738/9 for a household of 3 persons) was located on Sandy Run Creek at its mouth on the Congaree River.  This was near the southeastern corner of Saxegotha Township, and currently in Calhoun Co.,

SC.  In 1740, he joined the other German-speaking settlers in signing a letter (as Wm. Becker) to recruit more colonists from Switzerland and Germany.  He had four additional family members by 1744, and was granted another 200 acres of land on the opposite side of the Congaree River.  He was successful as a shoemaker, and purchased additional land from his neighbors.  His estate included 600 acres.

He was an Elder of the German Congregation of the Dissenting Protestants at the Congarees.  Swiss Reformed minister Christian Theus was the pastor from 1739 to 1788.  In 1751, Baker donated ½ acre of his land, on which a meetinghouse had been built, to the permanent

Baker's will (SC Will Book QQ, 1760-1767, p. 102) was signed on 1 Oct 1759 and proven 3 Apr 1761.  The will named wife Ann, sons John, William and Lewis, and daughter Mary.  Witnesses to the will were Henry Gallman, Jethro Manning, and John Conrad Geiger, all with strong family ties to the Swiss Reformed component of the congregation.

William Baker II and his wife Catherine (Catey) sold his father's original 150-acre land grant on Sandy Run Creek to Andrew Kegler in 1766 (SC Deed Book I-3, p. 159).  His brother, Lewis Baker, witnessed the deed.  Kegler may have been a relative by marriage.  

John Baker and his wife Ann sold property in the Dutch Fork, on the waters of the Broad River, in 1755 (SC Deed Book Q-Q, p. 64).  The deed was witnessed by William Baker. 

The 100 acres had been granted to 1752 immigrant Ann Leyther [Leitner], on behalf of herself and her 24-year-old daughter Anna Maria.  It was adjacent to the 100 acres granted

herself and her 24-year-old daughter Anna Maria.  It was adjacent to the 100 acres granted

Note that William Baker I drafted his will within a month following the birth of grandson William Baker III, owner of the Bible.

Children of William Baker III (1759-1829):

1.  Mary Ann Baker (5 Mar 1793 – 30 May 1821) married David Wannamaker (1779-1872).

2.  Lewis/Louis Baker (b. 25 Dec 1794); no reported marriage or issue.

3.  Ann ("Nancy") Baker (b. 21 Feb 1795) married William Geiger Jr. (b. ~1796).

4.  Lavinia Baker (31 Aug 1797 – 1864) married Henry Seibles (1793-1867).

5.  William Baker (b. 17 Aug 1801) married Mary Muller (1813-1894).

6.  Harriet Baker (16 Oct 1803 – 18 Jun 1894) married Lewis Pou (9 Nov 1790 – 3 Apr 1868).

7.  John Rufus Baker (1805 – 8 Oct 1823) did not marry.

8.  Eleanor Barbara Baker (1 Jan 1809 – 1881) married John Conrad Geiger (30 Aug 1801 –10 Mar 1890).