Simmons Jones Baker
Encyclopedia
Simmons Jones Baker was a physician, planter, legislator, and slave owner in North Carolina
.
on February 15, 1775 to Lawrence Baker and Ann Jones. His mother died when he was quite young and he therefore lived for part of his childhood with an aunt in Southampton County, Virginia
. During this time he attended the same school run by Rev. Henry John Burges that William Henry Harrison
attended.
Baker traveled to Great Brittan in 1793 at the age of eighteen to study medicine. As was customary at the time there is no evidence of him ever earning a medical degree. However, he did receive certificates from the two of the more famous medical facilities in Britain at the time: St. Thomas's Hospital
in London
and the Royal College of Surgeons
in Edinburgh
.
During this trip he carried with him an armorial seal that had been passed down through his family. He took the seal to the College of Arms
to inquire if any living Bakers in England were still using the same arms. The only one was Sir George Baker
, the physician of King George III
. Baker visited this Dr. Baker on a future trip to consult about a personal illness. The consultation was success and in gratitude he would later name his first son George.
. Four years later he sold that plantation and moved to Martin County
. Baker was made a trustee of the State Bank of North Carolina in 1811. Polly Smith Baker died in 1812 following the birth of their eighth child.
In 1814 Baker was remarried to Ann Cleverius who died in 1843.
Baker moved to Florida in 1828 and acquired a large amount of land near the present town of Mariana
where he lived intermittently with Raleigh for a decade, ultimately staying in Raleigh until his death.
in the State House of Commons
(now known as the State House of Representatives) from 1814 to 1816 and then in the State Senate
from 1816 to 1818. While in the Senate Baker was in a group who, in excitement over the news of the Erie Canal
, investigated the possibility of constructing a canal from Raleigh to Asheville
. The plan was ultimately abandoned. Baker was also involved in the legislation that created the Supreme Court of North Carolina.
in 1812 in Concord Lodge No. 58 in Tarboro. His lodge elected him to represent them at the Grand Lodge assembly in 1814. He would later be elected Grand Master of the state in 1832 and again in 1840. It was in this capacity that Baker laid the cornerstone of the state capitol
building in Raleigh on July 4, 1833.
In the field of education, Baker served as trustee of the Vine Hill Academy when it was first chartered in 1809 as well as serving as a trustee of the University of North Carolina from 1812 until his death.
Within the Episcopal Church Baker was one of the founders of Trinity Church
in Scotland Neck, North Carolina as well as St. Luke’s Church in Marianna, Florida.
in January 1861. Through John Simmons Jr.'s influence in the area, the town of Greenwood, Florida
was named for Baker's plantation he owned with his first wife in Halifax County North Carolina.
Baker also left behind 163 slaves when he died who were carefully appraised by the executors of his estate. He furthermore provided for the maintenance of superannuated (retired due to age or infirmity) slaves in his will.
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
.
Early life and education
Baker was born in Hertford CountyHertford County, North Carolina
-Townships:The county is divided into six townships:Ahoskie, Como, Harrellsville, Murfreesboro, St. Johns and Winton.-Towns:*Ahoskie*Cofield*Como*Harrellsville*Murfreesboro*Winton-Demographics:...
on February 15, 1775 to Lawrence Baker and Ann Jones. His mother died when he was quite young and he therefore lived for part of his childhood with an aunt in Southampton County, Virginia
Southampton County, Virginia
As of the census of 2010, there were 18,570 people, 6,279 households, and 4,502 families residing in the county. The population density was 29 people per square mile . There were 7,058 housing units at an average density of 12 per square mile...
. During this time he attended the same school run by Rev. Henry John Burges that William Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison was the ninth President of the United States , an American military officer and politician, and the first president to die in office. He was 68 years, 23 days old when elected, the oldest president elected until Ronald Reagan in 1980, and last President to be born before the...
attended.
Baker traveled to Great Brittan in 1793 at the age of eighteen to study medicine. As was customary at the time there is no evidence of him ever earning a medical degree. However, he did receive certificates from the two of the more famous medical facilities in Britain at the time: St. Thomas's Hospital
St Thomas' Hospital
St Thomas' Hospital is a large NHS hospital in London, England. It is administratively a part of Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. It has provided health care freely or under charitable auspices since the 12th century and was originally located in Southwark.St Thomas' Hospital is accessible...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and the Royal College of Surgeons
Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh is an organisation dedicated to the pursuit of excellence and advancement in surgical practice, through its interest in education, training and examinations, its liaison with external medical bodies and representation of the modern surgical workforce...
in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
.
During this trip he carried with him an armorial seal that had been passed down through his family. He took the seal to the College of Arms
College of Arms
The College of Arms, or Heralds’ College, is an office regulating heraldry and granting new armorial bearings for England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
to inquire if any living Bakers in England were still using the same arms. The only one was Sir George Baker
George Baker, 1st Baronet
Sir George Baker, Bt, MD, FRS, FSA was an English physician.He was born in Modbury, Devon, the son of George Baker, vicar of Modbury, and his wife Bridget Harris. He was educated at Eton and King's College, Cambridge. In 1749 he went to Leyden University to study physic, becoming MD in 1756...
, the physician of King George III
George III of the United Kingdom
George III was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until the union of these two countries on 1 January 1801, after which he was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death...
. Baker visited this Dr. Baker on a future trip to consult about a personal illness. The consultation was success and in gratitude he would later name his first son George.
Adulthood
Baker returned from his medical studies in Brittan in 1795 and married, in October of that year, Polly Smith of Halifax County. The couple built a house named Greenwood in 1796 on the plantation given to them by Polly’s grandfather near the current town of Scotland NeckScotland Neck, North Carolina
Scotland Neck is a town in Halifax County, North Carolina, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 2,362. It is part of the Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
. Four years later he sold that plantation and moved to Martin County
Martin County, North Carolina
-Politics:Martin County has tended to vote in line with the rest of the country in presidential elections. In 2008, Barack Obama won the county with 52.2% of the vote. This was very similar to his national figure of 52.91%.-Demographics:...
. Baker was made a trustee of the State Bank of North Carolina in 1811. Polly Smith Baker died in 1812 following the birth of their eighth child.
In 1814 Baker was remarried to Ann Cleverius who died in 1843.
Baker moved to Florida in 1828 and acquired a large amount of land near the present town of Mariana
Marianna, Florida
Marianna is a city in Jackson County, Florida, United States. The population was 6,230 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 6,200 . It is the county seat of Jackson County and is home to Chipola College...
where he lived intermittently with Raleigh for a decade, ultimately staying in Raleigh until his death.
Legislator
Baker represented Martin CountyMartin County, North Carolina
-Politics:Martin County has tended to vote in line with the rest of the country in presidential elections. In 2008, Barack Obama won the county with 52.2% of the vote. This was very similar to his national figure of 52.91%.-Demographics:...
in the State House of Commons
North Carolina House of Representatives
The North Carolina House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the North Carolina General Assembly. The House is a 120-member body led by a Speaker of the House, who holds powers similar to those of the President pro-tem in the state senate....
(now known as the State House of Representatives) from 1814 to 1816 and then in the State Senate
North Carolina Senate
The North Carolina Senate is one of the two houses of the North Carolina General Assembly.Its prerogatives and powers are similar to those of the other house, the House of Representatives. Its members do, however, represent districts that are larger than those of their colleagues in the House. The...
from 1816 to 1818. While in the Senate Baker was in a group who, in excitement over the news of the Erie Canal
Erie Canal
The Erie Canal is a waterway in New York that runs about from Albany, New York, on the Hudson River to Buffalo, New York, at Lake Erie, completing a navigable water route from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes. The canal contains 36 locks and encompasses a total elevation differential of...
, investigated the possibility of constructing a canal from Raleigh to Asheville
Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville is a city in and the county seat of Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the 11th largest city in North Carolina. The City is home to the United States National Climatic Data Center , which is the world's largest active...
. The plan was ultimately abandoned. Baker was also involved in the legislation that created the Supreme Court of North Carolina.
Freemason
Baker was initiated into FreemasonryFreemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
in 1812 in Concord Lodge No. 58 in Tarboro. His lodge elected him to represent them at the Grand Lodge assembly in 1814. He would later be elected Grand Master of the state in 1832 and again in 1840. It was in this capacity that Baker laid the cornerstone of the state capitol
North Carolina State Capitol
The North Carolina State Capitol is the main house of government of the U.S. state of North Carolina. Housing the offices of the Governor of North Carolina, it is located in the state capital of Raleigh on Union Square at One East Edenton Street. The cornerstone of the Greek Revival building was...
building in Raleigh on July 4, 1833.
Physician, Educator, Religious Layman
The oral tradition in the region indicates Dr. Baker was a well known and well respected physician, but there is little evidence to prove this. He was however made an honorary member of the North Carolina Medical Society when it was formed in 1849 and two of his sons-in-law and his ward were all physicians, likely his students.In the field of education, Baker served as trustee of the Vine Hill Academy when it was first chartered in 1809 as well as serving as a trustee of the University of North Carolina from 1812 until his death.
Within the Episcopal Church Baker was one of the founders of Trinity Church
Trinity Church (Scotland Neck, North Carolina)
Trinity Episcopal Church is a historic church in Scotland Neck, North Carolina.The congregation was founded in February 1833 by a number of prominent citizens including State Senator Simmons Baker....
in Scotland Neck, North Carolina as well as St. Luke’s Church in Marianna, Florida.
Legacy
Dr. Baker died on August 18, 1853 in Raleigh leaving behind eight adult children including his oldest son James Lawrence George Baker who was a member of the North Carolina General Assembly in 1832 and John Simmons Baker, Jr. who was one of the signers of the Ordinance of the Secession of FloridaOrdinance of Secession
The Ordinance of Secession was the document drafted and ratified in 1860 and 1861 by the states officially seceding from the United States of America...
in January 1861. Through John Simmons Jr.'s influence in the area, the town of Greenwood, Florida
Greenwood, Florida
Greenwood is a town in Jackson County, Florida in the United States. The population was 735 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 735 .-Geography:Greenwood is located at ....
was named for Baker's plantation he owned with his first wife in Halifax County North Carolina.
Baker also left behind 163 slaves when he died who were carefully appraised by the executors of his estate. He furthermore provided for the maintenance of superannuated (retired due to age or infirmity) slaves in his will.