Timothy Baker born 1680 died 1747

 Timothy Baker was the first of his surname to maintain a permanent residence in Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Estimated to have been born circa 1680, he is the first of record on November 22, 1707 when he purchased 302 acres from Joshua and Rebecca Wright "Lyeing & being between Greater Shabbentunk & Run Called Lesser Shabbentunk" in what was later to be Maidenhead Township in Hunterdon County. By March 1709 Timothy's position in the area was sufficient enough for him to be appointed a constable of Maidenhead.

Timothy became a prominent member of the Maidenhead Presbyterian Church, and was among those who purchased land for the congregation on January 8, 1710. Timothy Baker was included in a list of those from Maidenhead for the promoting of a County in the upper parts of Burlington County, which resulted in the formation of Hunterdon County in March 1714. In April 1717 Timothy Baker of County of Hunterdon.... yeoman sold 50 acres of land in Mansfield Township, Burlington County.

Timothy was appointed one of the surveyors of the highways of Maidenhead Township in March 1718 and in January 1718/19 was among the Townships overseers of the poor. On March 28, 1719 he was appointed a Justice of the Peace for County of Hunterdon and in this capacity paid a peny pr week for the upkeep of a certain Negero wench in January 1719/20.

On "8br y 3d 1720 Timothy Baker was listed in the inventory of Andrew Heath and in May 1721 was again assigned a "Commission of the Peace for the County of Hunterdon". In 1722 he was listed as the head of a family residing in Maidenhead and was paid a small sum out of the estate of John Muirhead in April 1728. Timothy was among those who contributed to a parsonage for a Presbyterian society for the use of the Town of Maidenhead" in November 1730.

Timothy's participation in both the church and the community at Maidenhead continued through the 1730's, he being elected as an overseer of the roads from 1731 to 1733 and appointed an Elder in the Presbyterian Church in 1733. The name of Timothy Baker of Maidenhead appears on a 1738 Hunterdon County poll-list and in October of the same year he was involved in a controversy among the members of the Maidenhead Presbyterian Church.

On April 6, 1739 Timothy Baker of Maidenhead made his last will and testament. By this instrument he left his loving wife Susannah the best room in my dwelling house. He named his 3 daughters Mary, Grace, and Ruth and his Eldest son Samuel Baker as well as his other sons, Mathis Baker, Thomas Baker, and Timothy Baker. Further in his will he referred to his one daughter Grace Colman.

In 1741 Timothy was listed as a Freeholder of Maidenhead Township and in 1744 continued to be implicated in the dispute among the member of the Presbyterian Church. On June 9, 1747 Timothy's last will and testament probated, indicating that he probably died at about this time. Were it not for his will, the construction of his family would have been difficult, for no Family Bible, civil or church records seems to have survived giving the names of this children.

From his will it is known that Timothy's wife's given name was Susannah. There is but one other known reference to her, namely on September 12, 1734 when as "Susannah Baker" she joined the Presbyterian Church of Maidenhead. There is no other record surviving as to when she and Timothy passed away, and though they were probably interred in the Maidenhead Presbyterian Churchyard, no stone survives marking where they are buried.

As for the children of Timothy and Susannah Baker, only 3 of their sons left any evidence as to their existence in and around Maidenhead Township, namely Samuel, Matthes (as he personally signed his name) and Timothy, Junior. Aside for the reference to him in his father's 1739 will, there is but one other known record on Thomas Baker. In May 1757 he was a defendant along with his brother Matthew Baker in the Hundterdon County Court of Common Pleas. Virtually nothing is known concerning Timothy's daughters except for Brace Baker who married a man named Colman. Based on the surviving documents concerning Timothy and his sons who continued to reside in Hunterdon County, his immediate family may be as follows:

Timothy Baker (perhaps the son of Samuel Baker) born circa 1680 possibly in Bucks County, PA, died circa May 1747 Maidenhead Township, Hunterdon County New Jersey. Married circa 1703 to Susannah, surname unknown.

Children of Timothy and Susannah:

• Samuel, born September 1704G
• Grace born circa 1707 (married Colman)
• Matthes, born circa 1710
• Mary, born circa 1712
• Thomas, born circa 1715
• Ruth born circa 1718
• Timothy, Junior born circa 1720