Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 1,060, Thomas Baker, Privateer (Rev.) Navy 1797-1801
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Service
Privateer (Rev.)
May 1797-1801

Baker, Thomas Jane
Number
R.1060
contents
Florida residence of widow in 1887
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No 90 (on side) 
Report to Hon. Geo Jones
chairman
Jan 22/58?
"illegible" Navy Wid Ref. 1060
Thomas Baker, 
of in the state of 
who was a Captain
on board of the Delaware
placed on the Pension Roll under the act of the 
of
Certificate payable at Philadelphia
issued on the 1st of Jany 1802,
and sent to
Allowed for disability
$37.50 per month, commencing on the 
20" of August 1801
Died March 7, 1820
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pensioned August 20th 1801
$37.50 per month-
died 7 March 1820.
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The Memorial of Thomas Baker late Commander of the United States "illegible" of War Delaware, sheweth.
That your memorialist during his command of said ship off Curacoa in the early part of last year, was siezed with the yellow fever which threatened his life, and left him so deranged as to render him unqualified for any kind of business- that he still continued in the same deranged state and therefore prayed that his case may be taken into consideration, and such provision made for him as his former services may be deemed to merit. 
The Honble
The Secretary of the Navy  Thomas Baker
We whose names are here to subjoined having been long acquainted with Capt. Baker and with the truth of his statement relative to his derangement in consequence of a disease contracted whilst in the service of the United States- Cap. Baker having been an active officer & having a large family dependent on his Labours for their support. We recommend him as a person entitled to whatever provision is contemplated for persons disabled in the service of the United States

Jno Mullowny Alex Murray
Tho Tingey Stephen Decatur
John Shaw
Wm Bainbridge
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Jane Baker
Pensc.22 Augt. 1837


B317 Aug 22  Rags
Jane Baker Widow of Thomas Baker Captain
“Delaware” U.S.N.
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Pensacola August 7th 1837
Hon: Mahlon Dickerson,
Secretary of the Navy
Sir, Having lately seen a notice in the public prints of an Act having been passed for the relief of the widows of pensioners of the United States Navy, I take the liberty of laying my case before you; and beg to be informed whether any Act has been passed which will embrace it. – My late husband, Capt Thomas Baker, passed his boyhood, and early manhood, in the service of his country, on board some of the most distinguished private armed vessels, during the Revolutionary War; and suffered worse than death by being taken prisoner and confined for more than six months, on board the British Prison ship New Jersey.
He again entered the Navy in 1797 as first lieutenant of the U.S. Sloop of War Delaware, Stephen Decature Capt commanding; and he brought-in, as prize master, the first prize, I believe, taken in the war.  On the appointment of Capt Decatur to the Frigate Philadelphia, [Illegible] Baker received a communication [Illegible] Captain and took command of the Delaware. He was ordered to the West India Station, and while at Curacoa, Yellow Fever [Illegible] [Illegible] [Illegible] violence  among his crew.  He himself was one of the last attacked [Illegible] [Illegible] great fatigue of body, and anxiety of mind which he had undergone, had to enfeebled him that, although his health [Illegible] eventually [Illegible] his reason was destroyed, and he remained ever after in a state of mental alienation. On a proper representation of his case being made, half-pay was granted which he received until his death in 1820, when his family were left entirely destitute. At the time his mind became deranged, his family consisted of a wife and seven children, mostly females,
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The oldest of whom was but sixteen, and all were totally inexperienced and ignorant as to the means of obtaining subsistence. – As the small sum allowed by government (less that $500 per annum) was inadequate to their support, the little property I possessed, was soon expended, and my children scattered to various places, and I was not able to give them an education proper to preserve their station in society. –
The fatal consequence is, that all but two have fallen victim to diseases caused by hardship and exposure, in this unhealthy southern climate, to which they were compelled to come in order to obtain the means of living.
I have made many efforts to call the attention of Congress to my case principally through the delegate from Florida Jos. M. White Esq, but I have never been able to ascertain whether it has been presented to their consideration.-
For seventeen years, I have subsisted prinicipally by my own exertions; but, those exertions must soon cease, as I am now seventy years old,  have lost the sight of one eye, and am otherwise afflicted with the infirmities of age. – 
The act to which, I wish to call you attentions allowed arrearages and $50 per month;  If my case comes within the limits of this Act, my few short years of life may go down to the grave in peace.
For nearly forty years, had my existence been burdened with all the cares, and toils, and agonies which a wife’s and mother’s heart alone can feel at seeing the dear objects of her love perish before her eyes, from a cause she could not remedy; The fatal derangement of her husband’s mind. – If he had lost a limb, been mutilated or deformed in any way and retained his reason, I might not now have been a poor, miserable widow pleading whit my countrymen for some support in my old age. -
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Oh! Sir, will you feel for the aged widow?  Will you lay this before the President, and, I hope, be the means of enabling me in my last hours to say, my husbands blood was not shed in vain! My country is not ungrateful! – 
By reference to the records of the Navy Department; it can be ascertained thay my husband was a pensioner from 1800 to 1820.  Commodore Patterson and a midshipman with him and know’d that I reside in [Illegible].  At the request -of [Illegible] [Illegible] White I sent proofs of my identity to Hathington; should these be mislaid, and it is necessary, I can obtain others. – 
Trusting Sir, that I may depend upon your humanity for every attention to this letter I will not further encroach upon your time but
Remain very respectfully your obedient servant
Jane Baker
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[FRONT]

[Preprinted] No. [Handwritten] 1060
[Preprinted] Received 187
[Handwritten]
Navy Jane Baker widow of Thomas Baker Captain U.S.S.  “Delaware,” 

[BACK]
[Handwritten]
Inv admitted File 90W
Feby 19/89
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Jane Baker
[Illegible first name] Blount
for
Mrs Baker
24th, [illegible] 1839
Mr. Hardin is asked if Cap. Thos. Baker died in the navel service, if so, to state nature,  and his [Illegible] at the time. 
He was discharged under the Pease Establishment act 15 Apl 1801.
[Illegible initials]
[Illegible.  April 1809

13g April 3 [illegible]
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[Faint Stamp]PH224P
[Stamp] FREE
Mr Robert Smith Esq –
Secretary of the Navy
Washington

Jane Baker
21apl 1805
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Philadelphia  April th21 1803
Mr Robert Smith Esquire
Sir
I beg you will pardon the liberty I take in sending these lines to you.  The severity of Winter has been so very [Illegible] that I have expended my Husband’s  half pay in clothes and food for him and five helpless children Their father is intirely incapable of supporting them was it not for the allowance that the States Grants him they would be destitute on a wide and unfriendly world – the favor Sir that I have to beg of you is that would in favor Me [Illegible] [Illegible] Captain Baker pay gratuity – I hope and believe you will grant it me I shall ever consider myself indebted to your [Illegible] and humanity – I remain Sir your very humble Servant
Jane Baker
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I do hereby certify that on my arrival at St Christopers in Jamaican 1000 to take the command of the Squadron on the [Illegible] island station I was informed by my [Illegible] [Illegible] that the US States Sloop of war Delaware Captain Thomas Baker with another armed vessel of the US was on the Curracoa Station and having made myself acquainted with the situation of the French Privateers and conceiving that two vessels were [Illegible] to land off Curaccoa and that one of them could be of some usefully employed elsewhere  I  immediately dispatched the US [Illegible]  Enterprise under the command of Lieut Shaw to the island of Cuaraccoa with a Letter to Captain Baker ordering him to [Illegible] me under [Illegible] [Illegible] and take orders for his future cruising ground. that in a short time [Illegible] fell in with the Enterprise at Sea returning from Cuaraccoa and received a letter from Captain Baker stating that his Life was in a deplorable situation with the yellow fever – and that he was [Illegible] [Illegible] and could  not proceed to windward in his [Illegible] situation - but
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but would comply with any order as long as he was able.  And I do further certify that soon after this communication said Baker in consequence of the [illegible] as I certainly believe became deranged in his mind and [illegible] has been rendered from taking the fever as the service he was before incapable of any living of business and the [illegible]/ with [illegible] to the [illegible] of the many highly intitled to a pension as provided by Law for officers disabled in the Navy of the US.
[illegible] from [illegible] [illegible] Land in the City of [illegible] Linston [illegible]
3r day of Feb 1892
Thomas Tuxtun
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Mrs Baker the wife of Cap. Thomas Baker placed in my hand some years ago as a security for a sum lent her a Certificate from the Navy Department of the United States of a pension to him of thirty seven & a half Dollars That [[Illegible] but I cannot find it after a diligent search.
Philad. June 26 1820
Joseph L. Lewis
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[illegible top right corner]
The hon. [illegible] Secretary of the Navy
W.J.
Washington= D.C.
W.J. Duane, Esq
Phila. 11 July 1829
Requests dup. Cert for the
Widow of Capt Baker.
granted
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The Secretary of [illegible] Navy:  W. J. 
Sir _ I have been requested to send to you the enclosed certificate to show that capt Thomas Baker: pension certifists had been placed in his [illegible] [illegible mark] Joseph L. Lewis esq – of This city, and by him lost or mislaid; and [illegible] in [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] to ask you to be so good as to direct him to a new or duplicate certificate may be forwarded to [[illegible] [illegible].
[illegible]  with treat [illegible]
[illegible]
W.J. Duane
Phil; July 11 – 1829,
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J W Subic [illegible]

 B. Homans:  esq
Navy Department
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B. Homans = esq
Sir – I addressed a letter several days ago to the Navy Department enclosing a certificate from Joseph S. Lewis esq to prove that he had lost or mislaid the pension certificate of Capt. Baker= Mrs Baker has to often calledupon me within a few days, enquiring whether I had received a new certificate, [illegible] I am induced to take the liberty to ask you to bestow a few minutes attention to the subject. 
Should you be so good as to reply to this letter, I pray you to let me know, if in your town, whers Wolcolt [illegible] an [illegible]?  cr=
[illegible], of [illegible], [illegible].
I am [illegible], [illegible] [illegible] [illegible],
[illegible]
W.J. Duane
Phil; July 20. 1820.
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B. Homans = esq.
Navy Department-
Washington. D. C.
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Phil: Sept 30, 1820
Sir – I have not had it in my power, until to-day, to inform you, in reply to [illegible] letter which you had the goodness to write to me on the 6th nist that capt. Baker died on the 7th day of March Past.

c 3. Honorous; im. Sv.  N.P. [Illegible]

I am respectfully; [illegible]. W.J. Duane.
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Jane Baker 
for Capt Baker
11 &14 July 1801
[illegible] for a pension
to be granted

Capt Thomas Baker
Pension commenced the 20th August
37 50/100 dolrs. Prmonth.
amt due on the 1st Janry 1802. – amt $163.75 paid to his
wife Mrs Jane Baker

The honorable Samuel. Smith Esq
[illegible]
City of Washington
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Philadelphia 11 12 July 1801

Samuel Linell Esq
Sir
I have the honor to present to you a enclosed the [illegible] of my husband, Thomas Baker, late commander of the United States ship Delaware accompanied by a Certificate  [illegible]  a member of respectable [illegible] of the navy attending the health of the statement [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] Je
to which I beg [illegible] to call your attention
The Services that Capt. Baker has rendered his Country in the Revolutionary War, and in the late Disturbance with Franch are many, and are not unknown to [[illegible] his family which is numerous myself and his children who have ever been supported by his Industry, therefore Look up to our Country for that Support which he is no Longer able to render to himself or us – 
I hope you will take his case into serious consideration and if necessary lay it before his Excellancy the president of the United States who I trust will read it extend to him that support which was Contemplated by Congress
[letter appears torn at this point]
forth the [illegible] reliance the distressed and to comfort [lost text] I hope will ever be a predominant Virtue in the bosom of the
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first officers of our country it will [illegible] to them the blessing of  Heaven, and the greatest of all [illegible] enjoyments, this [illegible] [illegible] done Good
I have the honor to be with the greatest Respect your [illegible] humble [illegible]
Jane Baker
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Thomas Baker
Widow Jane
Captain
“Delaware”
U.S. Navy
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Capt: Thomas Baker passed his boyhood and early manhood, in the service of his country, on board  some of the most distinguished private armed vessels during the revolutionary War and suffered worse than death by being confined for 6 months on board the British Prison Ship New Jersey.
In 1797 he again entered the Navy as first Lieutenant of the U.S. Sloop of War, Delaware Stephen Decatur [illegible]: commanding.  From this vessel, as prize master he brought in the first prize taken in the war.  On the appointment of Capt; Decatur to the Frigate Philidelphia, [illegible] Baker rcd a commission as Post Captain and took command of the Delaware.  He was ordered to the West India Station and while at Curacou, the Yellow Fever Eased with great violence among his crew.  He himself was at last attacked; but the great fatigue of the body and anxiety of the mind which he had undergone had so  enfeebled his system that altho’ his bodily health was eventually re-established, his reason never was, and he remained ever after in a state of mental alienation. On a proper  Eepresentation of his case to Congress, half-pay was granted which he received until his death in1820 when his family were left entirely destitute.  At the time he lost his reason his family consisted of seven children, mostly females and all young.  For these, from that hour he never did a father’s part; a mental imbecilily is worse than death, the body remaining to the right
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the world.  Surely she deserves some recompense who for 20 years nursed and imbecile husband, raised a large family (who are [illegible] dead) by her own exertions & is now left in her old age to poverty. She who, but for her husband’s devotion to his country might yet have been a rich & happy wife. The wives of pensioners have rece’d pensions why should not she?
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Hon Smith Thompson
Secretary of the Navy.  Washington

[illegible] 9th June -
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Philad June 6th 1820
To the Hon The Secretary of the Navy.
Sir
I address you in the confidence That I shall be excused while I relate my unfortunate situation, My deceased Husband Capt. Tho Baker, had for Many Years a Port Capt. In the Navy of the United States be became an invalid while filling that rank, and as a compensation received a pension from the government, which ceased at his death, leaving me destitute of the absolute necessities of life.  After the expenses of his funeral were discharged I found My Self Without a dollar in the World.  I pray you Sir to take my case into Consideration.  I aged, Pors, and in ill health, The half pay of My Husband until the first of July will enable Me to Commence Somelittle business for My future Support [illegible] [illegible] that I must beg your Honour [illegible]. – 
I remain beg Respectfully 
your Obt Svt.
 June Baker
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[illegible] [illegible] 24.1839
To the Hon James N Paulding Sec of the Navy [illegible] 
Sir – I take the liberty of addressing you on behalf of the widow of Thomas Baker formerly a Captain of the Navy of the United States -  W. Baker is now old, inferm and very poor. [illegible] is any altogether through the charity of her friends- Mrs Baker informs me that her husband at the time of his death belonged to the pension and received half pay- If it be the fact that he was in the Americas at the time of his death I am under the impression that his widow is entitled to the benefits of the Act of Congress of March 3d 1837 as set forth in Gordon’s Digest page 712 article 25b8-  I beg leave to refer you to the enclosed statement [illegible] by the designator of Mrs Baker- The Records of [illegible] department of  [illegible] whether the facts [illegible] set forth as to his [illegible], rank at the time of his death [illegible][illegible] correct – I have [illegible] to [illegible] wish the department upon this subject at the [illegible] so [illegible] of Mrs Baker and bring unacquired it with the [illegible] officer to address will thank you to give this communication the proper direction wish a request – [illegible][illegible][illegible] examination, it [illegible] that Mrs Baker is entitled to the benefits of the Act of Congress before [illegible] or [illegible] [illegible]
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Act 1hr [illegible] forms may be forwarded to me with 1hr least possible delay so that 1hr [illegible] necessary to [illegible]1hr pension may be taken for [illegible].  Im old lady’s [illegible] – [illegible] is truly distressing and hr is anxious to know [illegible] [illegible]
I have 1hr known to [illegible]
[illegible][illegible]
Tho.h Blount
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We do certify than in the beginning of March 1800 Capt Thomas Baker, then commander of the U.S. Ship Delaware, in the island of Curacuo, from a violent inflammatory affection of his brain, became Lightly deranged – In which state he continued for some weeks, when he was again restored to his [illegible] reason, but remained entirely  deficient of his recollection; inconsequence of which he was rendered incapable of commanding the Delaware, as any other vessel – That he still continues in this [illegible] Lately situation, totally incapacitated for the [illegible] of a is [illegible] [illegible]  whatever ----
Phila a
July 12th 1801
Jame Anderson } [illegible] Nate