Three Forks of the Kentucky River Historical Association

Biography

Robert "Julius Bob" Baker

Compiled by Harley Tucker Bowling

ROBERT BAKER, son of John Renta Baker & Elizabeth Terrill, was born March 1, 1774 in North Carolina. He died November 29, 1859 Owsley County, KY. He was married twice, 1st to Elizabeth "Liddie" Hammonds b. 1775 d. 1824, 2nd Catherine "Kate" Bowling b. 5-10-1777 d. abt. 1850, daughter of James Bowling & Sally Blevins. Kate was the widow of John Amis who was killed August 7, 1807. Robert, Elizabeth & Catherine Baker are buried Cortland Cemetery, Buffalo, Owsley Co., Ky.

In the year of 1791 Robert Baker served as a 17 year old private under Captain Jacob Tipton in the tragic battle that became known as St. Clair's Defeat. Jason Walker Bowling, in an interview with Rev. John Jay Dickey states Robert and his friend William Neal were in St. Clair's Defeat. Captain Tipton had organized this militia company during April-May 1791 at Jonesborough (Washington County, Tennessee), under Regimental Commander, Major Rhea. In one description of St. Clair's Defeat it is stated: "the Indians killed over nine hundred of St Clair's army, took seven pieces of cannon, two hundred oxen, a great number of horses, but no prisoners."

Part of the Tennessee folk ballad "St. Clair's Defeat" goes:

Sinkler was our commander
Which shall remembered be
And there we left 900 men
In the western territ'ry

Robert Baker and William Neal survived this battle and later became residents of Clay County, Kentucky. One story relates that William Neal before his death requested that he be buried along side his old friend Robert Baker. They are buried side by side in Cortland Cemetery.

The first Clay County Court met at the home of Robert Baker on April 13, 1807, shortly after the formation of Clay County. The first Justices of the Peace attending this meeting were Ezekiel Smith, John Haddicks, John Bates, John Gilbert, Robert Baker, Elijah Bowman and William Strong. In his statement supporting the Revolutionary War claim of Thomas Stapleton, Robert stated that he was Sheriff of Clay County in 1810.

On July 31, 1813, (War of 1812) Governor Isaac Shelby, the old hero of the Battle of King's Mountain, issued a proclamation stating: " I will lead you to the field of battle, and share with you the dangers and honors of the campaign." This proclamation raised 4,000 militia men, far exceeding the number requested by Governor Shelby.

Among the men responding to this call were 29 men who formed a company of militia from Clay County under Captain Thomas McJilton, Lieutenant Robert Baker, Ensign Pleasant Parker, 2nd Sergeant Daniel Sybert. The company saw service under Colonel William Williams' 11th Regiment that was attached to the 2nd Division before the battle. Daniel Sibert's letter to his brother gives an excellent description of the company's participation in the battle. Robert Baker's old friend William Neal was a member of Captain Daniel Garrard's company in this campaign.

After these two campaigns Robert Baker settled in the area that became Owsley County. From their home on Buffalo, Robert and Elizabeth Baker raised a family of nine identified children:

1. Mary "Polly" Baker b. 1791 d. 1882 Douglas County, Missouri. Mary Baker was married May 1-1812 Clay Co., to James Turner b. 1790 Wilkes Co., NC d. 1862 Douglas Co. Missouri, son of John Turner & Sarah "Sally" Kimbrough. Their family of nine identified children moved to Indiana, then to Missouri.

2. John Hammond Baker b. 10-12, 1795 d. 12-14-1869 m. 4-21-1825 Clay Co. to Lucinda Amis b. 1-19-1805 d. 3-20-1876, daughter of John Amis & Catherine Bowling.
  After a careful review and interviews with the Baker descendants they seem to have had fourteen children. Ike Gabbard of Ricetown, now deceased, lists twelve. Their family lived house #83 Owsley County in 1850; house #704-710 Booneville, Owsley County in 1860; Lucinda, now a widow, lived house #26-26 Booneville precinct in 1870.

3. Esther Baker b. 10-12-1797 was married August 25, 1812 in Clay County to John Allen b. 1790. John & Esther lived house #429 Clay County in 1850; house #658 Clay County in 1860. Family of eight identified children.

4. Robert "Boston Bob" Baker b. 4-29-1800 Lee Co., VA d. 4-2-1871 Clay Co., Ky. Boston was married three times - 1st on 7-25-1820 Clay Co. to Sarah Rogers b. 5-4-1801 d. 1843 Owsley County. They had 13 children. He m. 2nd about 1844 Mary "Polly" Couch and had 1 child. He m. 3rd 9-2-1847 Hettie Cornett b. 1818 Lee Co., Va. They had four additional children.

5. Nancy Baker b. 1-24-1803 d. abt. 1850 Owsley Co. m. 12-10-1822 Andrew Burns b. 1800 VA d. aft. 1850, son of William Burns & Sarah Bishop. Their family of 10 identified children lived Clay Co.

6. Zilpha Baker b. 4-9-1806 d. abt. 1910 m. 3-16-1821 Clay Co. to James Sandlin b.3-16-1798 d. 8-12-1869 Owsley Co., son of Lewis Sandlin & Sarah Kannada. They had family of 13 children. Family lived house #82 Owsley Co. in 1850; house #105 Breathitt Co. in 1860.

7. Jane "Jennie" Baker b. 11-13-1808 Clay d. abt. 1886 Owsley m. 6-2-1827 Clay Co. to William Abner b. 1807 Clay d. 1885 Owsley, son of Elisha Abner & Nancy Loving. They had family of 10 children and lived house #70 Owsley Co. in 1850; and remaine in Owsley Co through the 1880 census.

8. Andrew "Andy Pandy" Baker b. 1-28-1810 Clay d. 9-15-1854 Owsley. Andy was married twice - 1st abt. 1829 Rachel Wilson and had 2 children; 2nd 10-5-1833 Clay Co. to Mary "Polly" Abner b. 4-3-1816 Clay d. 8-15-1887 Owsley Co., daughter of Elisha Abner & Nancy Loving. They had 10 children. Family lived Buffalo, Owsley County. Andy was shot and killed September 15, 1854. Mary, his widow, was living in Owsley County in 1880.

9. Susan Baker b. 3-20-1813 Clay Co. m. 9-11-1832 William Hunt b. 1810 NC. Family of 4 identified children. Lived Booneville area of Owsley County in 1860. William Hunt was m. 2nd 1-23-1866 Clay Co. to Joannah Gray b. 1846 TN. They lived Clay Co.

See Robert Baker's War of 1812 Land Warrant