Revolutionary War Burial Paul Baker
Paul Baker was born to Aaron Baker and Jemima Clark on 2 May 1759 in Northampton, Hampshire Co, MA. His family moved to Pittsfield, MA and there he enlisted as a militia volunteer in December 1776 under the command of Captain Amos Rathbone in Colonel Simons’ Regiment. His company left Pittsfield on December 18th and marched to West Stockbridge, MA where they received orders to proceed to Albany, NY which they reached on December 22nd. The day after Christmas they marched to Fort Edward on the Hudson River and stayed there for two days before going on to Fort Ann and Ticonderoga. They kept the fort there until 17 March 1777 when all militia members were discharged. Paul served a second term in the militia from June to early November 1778 guarding Albany under the command of Captain Porter. Perhaps he saw opportunity in New York as he moved to the state in 1785 after his marriage to Eunice Pelton. After residing briefly near Schenectady, he relocated to Saratoga County where he lived for over 40 years before making a final move to Gates, Monroe County in 1830. In 1832 Paul made application for a pension but despite his detailed deposition and the sworn statements of two character witnesses, his request was denied in 1834. The reason given was that he only appeared for four months on the rolls of Captain Porter’s company in 1778 and that the 1776 rolls for Captain Rathbone’s company were “not found in this office”. Paul died on 12 March 1844, aged 84 years and 10 months.
Eunice Pelton was born about 1759 in Massachusetts. She married Paul Baker on 6 May 1784 in Pittsfield, Berkshire Co, MA. The town marriage records document her name as Mrs. Eunice Pelton so presumably she was a widow. Her maiden name is unknown. She died aged 75 years and three months on 12 December 1834.
