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THE BABERS
submitted by Jim G. Faulconer
The Baber family has been in this country since the late 1600s. What
follows here is attempt to trace what is known about one line of the
family. This writer has relied primarily on the research contributed by
Lenore Babers O’Donnell, in John Boddie’s Historical Southern Families,
Vol. XIII, pages 152-157. Another source is the article on the Babers of
Clark County, Kentucky, by Kathryn Owen, in the “Clark County Weekly,”
January 11, 1980.
* * *
The English home of the Babers was Chew Court Farm in Somersetshire.
Adin Baber of Kansas visited this site in 1919. He said that one of the
early Babers had returned from the crusades, and had rebuilt the church
there. A monument built by Francis Baber in 1643, to the memory of his
father and mother, still stands. The family coat of arms is there: a
crest on Esquire’s helmet, on a wreath, cock rising, or, jelloped gules;
shield argent, on a fess gules, three hawks heads erased of the first.
Motto: UNICUMQUE SUM. This is the same crest that is above the door on
the Chew Manor House which was formerly owned by the Babers.
Robert Baber, first of this family in Virginia, sailed from Bristol,
Somerset, England, about 1668, and landed in York County, Virginia. He
was a member of the Church of England, for the birth of his son Edward
is recorded in the Charles Parish Register, page 45, as follows: “Edward
Baber, son of Robert by Sarah, born October 12, 1686.” Robert moved to
Old Rappahannock County, where he appeared as a witness in several
transactions. On January 22, 1718, he received a grant for 300 acres in
King William County, which was formed from King and Queen County in
1702. (P.Bk.10, p. 409) He also patented 500 acres on the upper end of
Reedy Swamp in that same year. The date of his death is not known.
Neither is his wife’s maiden name.
The children of Robert Baber are assumed to be as follows:
1. Robert Baber (Jr.) was deeded land in King William County in 1723,
and his brother, Edward, was witness. (Ryland, Vol. I, pp. 80-86) In
that same year, Robert Baber of St. Margaret’s Parish conveyed land to
Edward Baber of the same parish. He also sold land to William Isbell in
1723. He received a grant for 400 acres in St. Margaret’s Parish on July
13, 1726. Robert was a member of the jury in Caroline County on May 4,
1736. He moved to Albemarle County where his will was proved in 1749.
(WB 1, p. 4) His will mentions his wife, Margaret, and the following
children: Robert, Elizabeth, Rachel, William, Ann (Nancy), Sarah, Juriah,
John and Charles.
2. Edward Baber was born on October 12, 1686, in Charles Parish.
3. Thomas Baber. More below.
4. John Baber
* * *
Thomas Baber, son of Robert and Sarah Baber, eventually settled in
Fluvanna County, Virginia. Some have suggested that he married Elizabeth
Lawson, but this researcher has found no proof of that. Thomas wrote his
will on October 4, 1778, as follows: (WB 1, O.S., pp. 13-15)
“I Thomas Baber of the County of Fluvanna being very Sick and weak in
Body but of sound mind and memory do make this my last Will and
Testament in manner and form following.
First and principally I recommend my Soul into the hands of Almighty God
my Creator hoping to receive Salvation through the merits of my blessed
Saviour and redeemer Jesus Christ, and my Body to be Buried in a decent
manner at the direction of my Executors hereinafter mentioned and for my
Estate I give and dispose thereof in manner and form following.
Item I hereby impower my Executors to sell as much of my Estate as will
pay all my just Debts.
Imprimis I give devise and bequeath unto my beloved wife Elizabeth Baber
during her life without any interuption, the Plantation and land where
on I now live also part of an entry of Land Survey by Thos. Baber Junr.
being the part that joins one Beginning at Thomas Baber Junr. and
William Pace’s corner line running thence to Strange’s corner on the
Great Branch be the Same more or less.
Also all the rest of my Estate both real and personal except the
remainder part of that Survey above mentioned, only that it is my will
and desire that my son Standley Baber shall be maintained out of my
Estate so long as his leg shall continue sore likewise the charges in
curing of his leg to be paid out of my Estate.
Item I give and bequeath unto my son Standley if he should be living at
my wife’s death the land and plantation whereon I now live to him and
his Heirs forever, but if he should die before his Mother and leave no
Heir lawfully begotten, I then leave it to be sold with all the rest of
my Estate that shall remain at my wife death and the rest of my Estate
that shall remain at my wifes death and the amoung of said Sail to be
equally devided among all my Children then living and if any of my
Children shou’d die before their Mother and leave her or Heirs lawfully
begotten they shall inherit their part equally.
Item I give and bequeath unto my Sons John and Obediah the remainder of
that entry above mentioned to them and their Heirs forever on John’s
paying fifteen pounds to my Estate to be devided as followeth John to
have that part lying on the hogpen fork Obediah to have that part that
lies on the Great Branch if John should choose rather to keep his
fifteen pounds than have the land. I then impower my Executors to see
his part and the amount of said sail to be equally devided as the rest
of my Estate above mentioned. Lastly I make constitute and ordain and
appoint my beloved wife, John Martin and William Basket my Executors of
this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking all other Wills by me
heretofore made.
In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this forth day
of October one thousand seven hundred and seventy eight.
Signed Sealed and delivered.
In presence of Thomas X Baber
John Bickley, Mary Taylor
Moss White, Daniel Payne
“At a Court held for Fluvanna County on Thursday the fifth day of
November 1778. This Writing was produced in Court and proved to be the
Last Will and Testament of Thomas Baber deceased by the oaths of all the
witnesses thereto, and admitted to record. And on the motion of John
Martin and William Basket Executors therein mentioned and they making
oath as the Law directs, and performing what is usual in such Cases,
Certificate is granted them for obtaining a Probate thereof in due form.
Test John Cobbs C.C.”
While Thomas Baber mentioned his wife and four sons in the will, we
believe he omitted his daughters. This was not uncommon, for often the
father passed his land to the sons, and the mother passed personal
effects to the daughters. Here, then, are the sons and a possible
daughter, though not necessarily in the correct order:
1. Thomas Baber Jr. possibly stayed in Virginia.
2. Elisha Baber was mentioned in the Pension Applicationbelow. He died
in the Revolutionary War, apparently before October 4, 1778, when the
father wrote his will.
3. Stanley Baber moved to Clark County, Kentucky, about 1786. He bought
100 acres from William O’Rear in 1794. His log homes stood on Four Mile
Creek off the Bybee Road. Here he lived with his wife Calpurnia, and
their children. Stanley’s will was written on January 11, 1828, and
proved in July 1828. The will mentioned his daughter Nancy Baber Hall,
sons Jonathan, James, Duncan, Stanley Jr., daughter Cynthia, and son
Thomas.
4. John Baber moved with his brothers to Kentucky about 1786. He settled
in nearby Madison County.
5. Obediah Baber was born in Fluvanna County, Virginia. He was a
Revolutionary War soldier. On April 4, 1782, he married Hannah Martin,
daughter of John and Rachel Pace Martin. (Douglas Register) They moved
to Clark County about 1786, and bought 35 acres from William and Frances
Bush on May 27, 1794. This was land on Four Mile Creek. (DB1, p. 209) On
August 19, 1796, Obediah bought 18 acres from Uriah and Mary Ingram. The
records of the old Providence Baptist Church show that Obediah and
Hannah were accepted for membership by “experience” on April 11, 1788.
Obediah died on January 28, 1822, and his will was proved in Clark
County in the same year. Hannah spent her last days living with her
daughter Rachel in Montgomery County. On November 14, 1844, Hannah
applied for her widow’s pension for the Revolutionary War service of
Obediah. She noted that she had been married by Philip Webber, a Baptist
minister; and that she and her family had moved from Virginia to
Kentucky in the Fall of 1786. Her brother and sister, Valentine Martin
and Rachel Bush swore to the Revolutionary service of Obediah. Valentine
recalled that Obediah had a brother, Elisha, who had died in the
service.
Obediah and Hannah Martin Baber had the following children: Hiram,
Rachel, Isham, Lucy, Elizabeth, Mary, Hannah, Nancy and Thomas.
6. Margaret Baber, we believe but cannot prove, was a daughter of Thomas
and Elizabeth Baber. She married James Bybee, son of David and Nancy
Bybee of Fluvanna County on September 30, 1786, in Amherst County,
Virginia. This writer suspects they were honeymooning with James’ uncle,
Thomas Bybee, in Amherst County. They were back in Fluvanna County the
next year (tax record), and settled in Clark County, along with the
other Babers and Bybees. They are ancestors of this writer.
* * *
Note: This Baber history should be considered a starting place for
further research. We hope others will publish a more complete record.
This is a beginning. Jim G. Faulconer, 5200 Oakbrooke Dr., Kettering, OH
45440. (JFaulconer@aol.com) March 4, 2001.
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