Ode to John Baker of Hartford

By F.G. Baker 6/21/15

He came far across the sea of storms alone,
To Massachusetts’ shore and Boston Town,
As many before had ‘or the water passed,
To find a new home among the Blessed.

Our John Baker left England’s western lands,
To find freedom from God-like King’s demands,
Leaving the lessor fortune of family,
Arrived with promised opportunity.

From fair Boston, he did travel westward,
To the Protestor’s new town of Hartford.
To settle with Burgers wise, land carved,
From Native forests, dense, verdant and wild.

Among the Founders, he pursued their path,
Entered First Church and there found a true lass,
Daughter of John, wooed Lydia Baysey,
And with his approval did her marry.

On Baker Lane they soon would settle down,
And raise a family grown to some renown.
He, weaver like her father, maker of cloth,
While also tending on their home lot the earth.

As time passed John, with e’re growing care,
Rose with good works in public stature,
Raised his, Susannah, Joseph, Lydia, John,
Baysey and William all became the home.

When Lydia passed onward from native Hartford,
Having lived a long life, rich in reward,
John did seek refuge in a second mate,
Kind Rachel Merry from the northern state.

Widow she, from unhappy marriage did come,
To join John and family in goodly home,
Until dear John parted, bathed in family tears,
To reach his final three score and four years.

The children carried on family and name,
Susan wed Robert Webster’s family fame.
But Joseph died young with no loving wife,
And Lydia joined James Ensign’s busy life.

The younger son John, in Mary Grant did find,
A wife to share his life, humble but kind,
And to them several loving children came,
A legacy that was once ill claimed.

Then Baysey Baker, a man of many talents,
Joined with Hannah, daughter of Nathan Willet,
And her mother Sarah of the Adams clan,
Married in Hartford and they sought new land.

To Middletown they moved for better chance,
A family sprung from long, merry romance:
Nathan’, Baisey twice, Hannah had short lives,
Ebenezer, Thankful and Jer’miah died.

Of so much love only three children did be,
And long survive to carry family tree:
Nathaniel, Timothy and Hannah paid,
Credit their parents and a legacy made.

William, a surveyor of Hartford fame,
A man of note, a wife Sarah Smith made.
He was by Hartford chosen to uncover,
New western towns for them to discover.

Thus ends the tale of old John Baker, the man,
Who brought our Baker line to this famous land.
His descendants now include many a great,
But not forgotten, nor his history abate.