Fielding Henry Baker

Fielding H. Baker, the oldest son of Robert and Mary (Humphrey) Baker, was born about 1834-1836 in Maury Co., Tennessee; he died of smallpox on 31 Jan 1864 in the Rock Island Prison Camp in Rock Island, Illinois.

Fielding married Marticia Manila Fly, daughter of George W. and Winford Ann Eliza (Lacy) Fly, 29 Dec 1853 in Maury County. Marticia was born 27 Nov 1836 in Maury County and died sometime after 1910 probably in Hickman Co., Tennessee.

Fielding is listed in the household of Robert Baker in the 1850 U.S. census. In the 1860 U.S. census he headed his own household in Maury County and his occupation was listed as shoe/bootmaker. During the Civil War he served in Co. K, 48th Tennessee Infantry. He was captured while on guard duty in Georgia and sent to Rock Island, Illinois where he died.

Children of Fielding and Marticia (Fly) Baker:

• Robert W. Baker, b. 23 Aug 1855, Maury Co., Tennessee; d. 24 Feb 1935, Parker Co., Texas; m. 9 Feb 1879, Hickman Co., Tennessee to Rhoda L. Gossett.
• Mary E. Baker, b. 26 Aug 1857, Tennessee; d. 12 Mar 1932, Nashville, Davidson, Tennessee; m. 15 Jan 1873, Hickman Co., Tennessee to David F. Killough.
• Sarah L. Baker, b. 11 Apr 1860, Tennessee; d. sometime between 1880 and 1900; m. 26 Feb 1880, Hickman Co., Tennessee to Joseph S. Prichard.
• Laura B. Baker, b. 15 Aug 1862, Tennessee; d. 25 Jan 1943, Hickman Co., Tennessee; m. 1) 12 Mar 1878, Hickman Co., Tennessee to James F. Worley; 2) 1 Mar 1913, Hickman Co., Tennessee to Joe Thornton.

(Sources available on request)

Was Mary Baker a Pig Thief?

In 1836 Mary Baker was charged with petit larceny. Coonrod/Conrad Baker accused her of stealing several hogs. Others accused were Theophilus P. Carter, Sarah Baker, Catherine Baker and Thomas Baker.

Witnesses for the defense were: Benjamin Davis, Micajah Pain, Absalom Baker, John and Lewis Humphrey, Mary Hood, Allen McCaskall, Robert Baker, David McCaskell, Richard Harris, Renfro Garner and Thomas Rail. (Polly C. Warren, Jill Garrett's Maury Genealogist, v. 1 - 1972, reprinted 1987, p. 193)

Copies from the original Circuit Court Minutes for September 1836 are difficult to read, but it appears that Mary Baker was acquitted and Coonrod Baker was ordered to pay court costs.

It would be interesting to learn more about this case. A question that arises is who was Coonrod Baker and was he related to Robert Baker's family?

Civil War

Robert Baker had three sons and a brother who served in the Civil War. Fielding H., George W. and William T. Baker, sons of Robert and Mary (Humphrey) Baker all enlisted in Co. K, 48th Tennessee Infantry (CSA) in 1861. In December, 1863 they were all captured and sent to Rock Island Military Prison in Rock Island, Illinois. The prison was over-crowded and one group of arriving prisoners was sick. Soon smallpox spread through the camp infecting both prisoners and guards. The Baker boys all became ill. Fielding and his brother, William, died within a few days of each other. George W. Baker recovered and remained in the prison until the end of the war. In 1865 he signed an oath of allegience to the United States and was released to return home.

Robert's brother, Perry G. Baker, also enlisted in Co. K, 48th Tennessee Infantry. In 1863 he was reported as being absent since the fall of Fort Henry in 1862. What happened to him is not known. He may have been injured, captured or returned home for some reason. He died in 1900, so we know he wasn't killed in action.

Who Are the Parents of Robert Baker?

This is the tombstone for Robert Baker. He is buried in Goshen Methodist Church Cemetery in Maury County, Tennessee. Robert was born 19 Jun 1810 in Tennessee and died 3 Apr 1870 in Tennessee, probably in Williamson County.

Robert's parents were reportedly John Baker and Mary Divenny. They were both reportedly born about 1790 in North Carolina and married about 1808 in Tennessee. The information about John and Mary (Divenny) Baker comes from a 2001 post on genforum.com by Marilyn Baker.

I would like to learn more about John and Mary Baker, when they came to Maury County, where they were before then, and where in North Carolina they were from. There are some other questions that have arisen during the research on this family. Is John Baker related to Samuel Alderson Baker of Hickman and Maury Counties? Is Mary (Divenny) Baker related to the Divinnys in Hickman County, Tennessee?

Through this blog I would like to explore some of these questions and share what I have learned about the Robert Baker family through my research.