PUBLIC "-//University of Virginia::Library::Special Collections Dept.//TEXT (US::ViU::01028::Baker Family Papers)//EN" "ViU01028.sgm" A Guide to the Baker Family PapersBaker family. 10676Processed by Special Collections Dept. staff; machine-readable finding aid created by Elizabeth SlombaFunded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. University of Virginia Library © 1997 By the Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia. All rights reserved.

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 Machine-readable finding aid derived from WordPerfect. [Date of source: 1997. Description is in English. Feb 18, 2004 PUBLIC "-//University of Virginia::Library::Special Collections Dept.//TEXT (US::ViU::01028::Baker Family Papers)//EN" "ViU01028.sgm" converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02.xsl (sy2003-10-15). Feb 27, 2004 converted to conform to eadVIVA.dtd by vivastrict.xsl A Guide to the Baker Family Papers A Collection in the Special Collections Department 10676

Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library 1997 Special Collections Department Staff 1997 Elizabeth Slomba Special Collections, University of Virginia Library, #10676 Descriptive Summary University of Virginia. Library. Special Collections Dept.
Alderman Library University of Virginia Charlottesville, Virginia 22903 USA
Baker Family Papers 1781-1921 10676 ca. 250 items English Administrative Information Access Restrictions

Collection is open to research.

 Use Restrictions

See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.

 Preferred Citation

Baker Family Papers, Accession 10676, Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library

 Acquisition Information

This collection was purchased by the Library on December 30, 1985.

 Funding Note

Funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities

 Scope and Content

This collection of family papers, 1781-1893 and 1917-1921, consists of ca. 250 items, including correspondence, business and legal papers, land surveys, and genealogical material chiefly pertaining to the Baker familyof Gordonsville, Orange County, Virginia. Members of the Baker familyinclude Martin Baker, Sr.( -1821) and his children, Martin Baker, Jr.( -1836), William M. Baker, Clevears Baker, Samuel Baker, Margaret L. Baker, Lucinda (Baker) Ellett, Mary (Baker) Brittain, Catherine (Baker) Moody(1798-), and Elizabeth (Baker) Carter. Members of the related Miller, Quarles, and Swiftfamilies include Ann (Miller) Quarles, Peggy (Mills) Winslow, Peggy Swift (Winslow) Abbitt, and Thomas Swift.

Topics of interest in the correspondence include blacks, the Civil War, temperance, and wife abuse. A glimpse of the changing status of blacks is seen in Margaret Quarles' letter of February 9, 1840, mentioning the death of Sarah Quarles' black woman, Fanny, and in Wesley Swift's letter of December 15, 1853, referring to illness among the blacks as opposed to a later letter, June 1, 1871, in which the correspondent alludes to black office seekers. There are a few letters written during the Civil War period among the correspondence of the Bakerand related families. These letters, 1863-1864, are written mainly by civilians expressing sentiments about the war or giving news about the war to others. In a July 28, 1864 letter, "Claire" writes to "Maggie" about the Confederate encampments near Martin Baker's Henrico Countyland, Yankees visiting the Louisa Courthouse, the 13th Regiment, C.S.A. passing by them, and her brother being taken prisoner at Spotsylvania; and, William M. Baker, Jr.writes from "Camp Near Newmarket Hill" a letter on August 17, 1864 about having "the blues" and trying to get used to camp life. Temperance is discussed in an unsigned manuscript addressed "Gentlemen," probably written around 1854. In two letters, December 29, 1822 and July 4, 1825, Lucinda (Baker) Ellettwrites to her brother, Martin Baker, Jr., concerning her terrible ordeal as an abused wife and seeking assistance from her family.

Among the business and legal papers of Martin Baker, Jr.are an account book, 1818-1833, with the Farmers Bank of Virginia; a copy of his will, June 15, 1835; and an autograph document, March 17, 1825, concerning the sale of two slaves named Philand Mary. There are also papers concerning the estates of Martin Baker, Sr.(1821-1837) and Jr. (1838-1851).

The material is divided into two series: I. Correspondence and II. Business and Legal Papers, and Related Material. Folders within each series are chronological as are items within folders.

 Container List I. Correspondence Miscellaneous Correspondence 1788-1871, n.d. Correspondence of Peggy Mills and Ann (Mills) Quarles and family 1804-1840 Letters from Lucinda (Baker) Ellett 1822, 1825 Correspondence of the Baker and related families 1835-1870, n.d. Letters to Clevears Baker 1844, n.d. Correspondence of William M. Baker 1850-1863 II. Business and Legal Papers and Related Material Business and Legal Papers of Martin Baker, Sr. 1781-1818 Papers re the Estate of Clevears Duke 1787-1847 Deeds and Surveys re Land in Hanover, Henrico, and Louisa Counties 1791-1836 Business and Legal Papers of the Swift and related families 1792-1804 Business and Legal Papers of Clevears Baker 1798-1860 Business and Legal Papers of Martin Baker, Jr. 1800-1835 Business and Legal Papers of Samuel Baker 1802-1818 Business and Legal Papers of the Baker and related families 1810-1872 Miscellaneous Business and Legal Papers, and fragments 1819-1893, n.d. Papers re the Estate of Martin Baker, Sr. 1821-1837 Business and Legal Papers of the Quarles and related families 1823-1827, n.d. Business and Legal Papers of William M. Baker 1825-1867 Papers re the Estate of Martin Baker, Jr. 1838-1851 Genealogies of the Baker and Omohundro families 1917-1921, n.d.