WEALDEN IRON RESEARCH GROUP
DATABASE

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Name:	Baker, John	Title:
Aliases:
Date of birth:	1581	Date of death:	20/9/1638
Earliest known date:		Latest known date:
Place of birth:		Place of death:
Place(s) of residence:	Speldhurst, Kent Withyham, East Sussex	House/Home/Estate:	Gildredge
Nationality:	English	Role(s):	Ironmaster Lessee/tenant of ironworks Owner/landlord of ironworks
Notes:	East Sussex Record Office, KIR/12 [n.d.] John Baker of Groombridge in Speldhurst, Kent, and Gildredge in Withyham, 1571-1638. John Baker was the second son of Robert Baker of Gildredge in Withyham who was the second son of John Baker of Duckings (see KIR/1). Robert (q.v.) died 8 Jun 1585 but the inquisition post mortem was not taken until 14 Jul 1596. John was the heir, his elder brother Thomas having died, and John's age is given as 14 years 11 months at the time of his father's inquisition (Attree 1912, 14). According to the pedigree (KIR/28/65), he purchased Birchden in Rotherfield from Richard earl of Dorset in 1617 (the pedigree assigns the purchase to his son, who was under age at the time). He seems to have run Benhall furnace in Frant jointly with Edward Honeywood, his son in law (see DYK 72, 224). John Baker married Joan, daughter of William Jefferay of Chiddingly in the late 1590s; their eldest son William was born c1598 and inherited the estate with the exception of Birchden and the land around Gildredge on the Withyham-Rotherfield border, which were settled on William's brother John on the latter's marriage with Elizabeth daughter of John Porter of Lamberhurst in about 1626 (see Attree 1912, 15). John died 20 Sep 1638 and his will (TNA, PROIB 11/178/212)) was proved the same year. Quitclaim East Sussex Record Office, DYK/72 22 Nov 1634 See also DYK/224 John Baker of Speldhurst, Kent, gent, and Edward Honnywood, citizen and ironmonger of London, to William Dyke of Frant, clerk, John Dyke, gent, (son of said WD) and Henry Dyke of London, merchant Annual rent of 12d for a piece of land (3 acres) in Beanhall Pond in Frant Witnesses: Nicholas Crabble, Thomas Weller Seals: Armorial The National Archives, PROB 11/178/212, 31 Aug 1638, proved 27 Oct 1638 Will of John Baker of Groombridge in Speldhurst, Kent, gent
Person Connections:	Baker, John (b.unknown, d.18/12/1644) is John Baker's son Baker, Robert (b.unknown, d.unknown) is John Baker's son Baker, Robert (b.unknown, d.8/6/1585) is John Baker's father Hatch, John (b.unknown, d.unknown) is John Baker's partner Honeywood, Edward (b.unknown, d.unknown) is John Baker's partner Maynard, Richard (b.unknown, d.12/1/1619) is John Baker's partner Sackville, Richard (b.18/3/1589, d.1624) is John Baker's predecessor
Iron Site Connections:	Benhall Forge - Co-owner in 1634 Birchden Forge - Owner/ironmaster 1617-38 Hamsell Furnace - Co-owner/ironmaster 1585-1638
Non-Iron Site Connections:
References:	Cleere, H. F. and Crossley, D. W.. (1995) The iron industry of the Weald. Merton Priory Press. Cardiff (for this connection see page(s) 316, 386) Attree, F. W. T.. (1912) Notes of post-mortem inquisitions taken in Sussex. Sussex Record Society vol 14. Lewes (for this connection see page(s) 15)
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