1796, married, July 7, 1821, Charles Stockton Gaunt, of Philadelphia, afterwards
a Commodore in the United States Navy, and another, Anna Maria, born Septem-
ber 24, 1787. married George William Bartram, son of John Bartram, the eminent
botanist.
Hilarius Baker, third child of the German Schoolmaster, generally known
as Hilary Baker, was born at the ancestral home of his family in Bonnheim.
Hesse-Darmstadt, February 21, 1746, and accompanied his parents to Pennsyl-
vania, when a lad of eight or nine years. He was educated under his father at the
Germantown Academy, and at the close of his school days became a clerk in the
prominent mercantile house of Drinker & Company, and remained in their employ
tor several years. Sometime prior to the Revolutionary War, however, he engaged
in the hardware business on Dock street, Philadelphia, and was the agent of or
'nteiested in the iron forge near Valley Forge, from which the historic encamp-
ment of Washington's Army took its name. Tradition relates that he made almost
daily trips to this forge from the city during the winter of 1777-78, and that his
gig was provided with a false bottom, in which he carried despatches of import-
ance to Gen. Washington, with whom he was on tenns of intimacy. He later car-
ried on business at No. 82 High (now Market) street, dealing in iron, oil, tar.
liquors, wines, groceries, etc. He was appointed Clerk of Quarter Sessions for
the County of Philadelphia, August 19. 1777, and February 4, 1779. was named
BAKER 1659
as official interpreter of German for the several courts of the city, and on the
same day was commissioned a Notary Public for the state, and it was before him
that most of the Philadelphians took the Oath of Allegiance prescribed by the
Act of Assembly of June 13, 1777. He was "Clerk" of Capt. Joseph Watkin's
first company, Philadelphia City Artillery, Col. Marsh, being appointed or enlisted
August 10, 1780. He was one of the signers of a petition to the Pennsylvania
I.egislature in 1785, for the enactment of legislation to encourage the production
of bar-iron. He was an Alderman of Philadelphia from 1789 to 1798, was a
delegate to the State Convention of 1787 and the Constitutional Convention of
1789-90, and took an active part in the framing of the Constitution of Pennsyl-
vania. He was elected Mayor of Philadelphia, 1796, re-elected 1797, and died
while filling that office. September 25, 1798, from yellow fever contracted in the
conscientious discharge of his duties when most of the Philadelphians who could
do so had fled from the city. He was universally latnented by all who knew
him, and many of the obituary notices published at the time of his death were
highly eulogistic. Among these was a poem written by Hon. .Alexander Dallas,
I ublished in the city papers of the time.
"The dire disease which through the city sheds
Its mortal poison o'er our guilty heads.
\\ lenghth has levelled in the silent dust,
The man. whom friends and foes alike could trust.
When public duty claimed this good man's care
Peace to preserve, the general woe to share ;
A thousand victims by the fever slain
Could raise no fears his ardor to restrain:
No gainful motive, nor ambitious view,
Could lure his soul such labours to pursue.
Faith gave him courage, hope illumed his eye.
To seek his Saviour and himself deny.
With elevated trust he looked above
For surer recompense than earthly love.
Yet even here the tributary tear
Shall sadly flow and grace his honoured bier.
His fellow citizens shall long proclaim
To listening children Baker's modest fame.
The mournful story of his death shall tell.
\uA bid them live like him— like him excel
Friend of our city, patron of her laws.
In every danger faithful to her cause,
Embalmed, O, Baker, in our grateful hearts
Thy virtue lies, which all around imparts
Its force and beauty, worthy to descend
From age to age, till time itself shall end.
But our weak praise no lasting joy conveys.
Soon must it vanish in a brighter blaze.
Go faithful servant of a gracious Lord
From Him receive thy adequate reward."
His death was largely due to his strenuous efforts in behalf of the suffering
inhabitants of the stricken city over which he was presiding as chief magistrate.
When merchants, officials, and all who could afTord to do so were fleeing from the
city, he remained steadfastly at his post doing his utmost to stamp out the plague,
indeed it is said of him that he visited the tenements of the poor and carried the
sick in his own arms to the hospitals provided for their treatment.
Hilary Baker married at the Lutheran aiurch of St. Michael's and Zion, Sep-
tember 4, 1783. Anna Maria, born 1761, daughter of Johann Martin Kreider. of
Germantown, bv his wife, Susanna I^ouise Pons.
i66o BAKER
About this Susanna Louise Pons, tradition, supplemented at various points
by fragmentary records, has woven a web of romance international in its char-
acter. She was born May 12, 1731, at OtTenbach, on the river Main, in Hesse
Darmstadt, where, at the French Reformed Church, appears the baptismal, mar-
riage and death record of her family, founded there by Jacque Pons, a French
Huguenot, born in Douphiny, France, 1668, died, in Offenbach, May 15, 1742.
From the fact that these records show the baptisms of children of Jacque Pons,
by Isabeau Berneaud, and also by Marie Berneaud, ranging from 171 1 to 1731.
it has been assumed by the family in America, that there were two Jacque Pons,
both mentioned as "Stocking manufactures," but to the writer of this sketch, it
seems certain that there was but one Jacque Pons, stocking maker at Offenbach,
and that he was either twice married, his two wives bearing the same maiden
name, or that the name of the wife was Isabeau (Elizabeth) Marie, and was
sometimes mentioned on the record as Isabeau and other times as Marie. Jacque
Pons, stocking manufacturer, a Huguenot refugee from Dauphiny, France, where
he was born in 1668, was married at Isenbourg, Germany, about 1710, to Isabeau
Berneaud. and four or five children were born to them there, as shown by the
records of the French Church at Offenbach, where the family later settled.
Jacque Pons died at Offenbach, May 5, 1742, and his wife, Elizabeth or Isabeau,
died there three months earlier, February 15, 1742. Two or three other children
were born at Offenbach, the youngest of whom was Susanna Louise Pons, before
mentioned, who was born May 12, 1731, and continued to reside in Offenbach
until the age of eighteen years, when she received the following certificate, evi-
dently for the purpose of removing elsewhere :
We the Pastor and Ancients of the French Church of Offenbach on the Main, attest.
that the young girl Susanna Pons, (daughter of the deceased Jacques Pons, Manufacturer
of Stockings, and of Elizabeth Pons, bom Berneaud) an Inhabitant of this district and
Member of our Church aged 18 years, was born, raised, instructed and received for 3 years
to make Confession. Also she has sojourned in this place since her reception until now ;
having always professed, the Reformed religion, frequented Our Holy Assemblies, and on
Occasions Participated in ye Holy Sacraments without having committed any impropriety,
that has come to our knowledge; in faith of which we have signed the present Voucher,
which she required. Recommending her to ye Divine Protection and ye Benevolence of our
Brothers.
Done at Offenbach this 2C)th day of May in the year of o\ir Lord, 1749.
Jacque Berard. Pastor
Jean Marquis, Ancient
(SEAL) (Signed) Jean Priral,
Jeremy Meguier
Jacque Charrier
From the date of this certificate to that of the birth of her first child. 1754, or
indeed for some years after, we have no record of the place of residence or career
of .Susanna L. Pons. Tradition founded on statements made by her grandchil-
dren, purporting to have been received from her in her old age, relates that she
was a maid-of-honor or lady-in-waiting to the Queen, but to what queen does
not appear, but she was a beautiful and accomplished girl, and was doubtless a
lady-in-waiting at the Court of the then regal municipality of Hesse-Darmstadt.
Tradition further relates, that while at Court her hand was sought by one of
her own nationality, Paul Gaspard Breton, and that the Queen favored his suit,
but she married, about 1753, Johan Martin Kreider, a young German, with whom
she came to America and settled in Germantown, where they resided until the
BAKER 1661
death of Kreider, prior to February 8, 1776, on which date she married (second),
her old suitor, Paul Casper Breton. The date of the coming to America of Johan
Martin Kreider and his wife is unknown, and it is possible that they came to this
country unmarried, and on different ships, and were married here by reason of
the opposition of her royal patroness to the match, though it is related that the
queen gave the young couple many presents. A Johann Martin Kreider came to
Philadelphia in the ship "Two Brothers," Capt. William Muir, and was qualified
as a subject of the English Crown, September 21, 1751. On the list of pas-
sengers on the ship "Neptune," qualified three days later, we find the name of
Abraham Pons, who may have been a cousin of Susanna L., though his name does
not appear on the records of the French Church at Offenbach. On the list of
passengers of the ship "Two Brothers," Capt. William Muir, two years later,
qualified September 26, 1753, appears the names of Johan Martin Kreider, and
two others of the name. Martin Kreider, of Philadelphia county, was naturalized
in Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, March 13, 1762, but whether the husband of
Susanna L. Pons, we cannot determine. Tradition relates that the children of
Johan Martin and Susanna L. ( Pons ) Kreider were much better or more hand-
somely dressed than those of their neighbors, and attracted much attention. They
were five in number: Catharine, eldest, born in 1754, married, June 21, 1774.
Christopher Baker, brother of Hilary ; Susanna, married and died soon after :
Louis, only son, married Margaret Jenkins ; Maria Louisa, married Hilary Baker ;
Elizabeth, youngest, born at Germantown, 1768, married Dr. Felix Brunot, of
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Susanna L. (Pons) Kreider, as before stated, married (second), at the German
Reformed Church, of Philadelphia, her old suitor in Germany, Paul Casper
Breton, February 8. 1776. They resided at his country seat on the banks of the
Schuylkill, near Point Breeze, the stepfather filling the place of parent to the
orphan Kreider children. This house was raided by the British soldiers during the
British occupancy of Philadelphia, and badly damaged and mutilated. This was
probably owing to Paul Caspar Breton's sympathy with the Patriot cause, and his
warm attachment to the Marquis de Lafayette, with whom he corresponded.
Paul Caspar Breton died in Philadelphia, and his widow removed to her daugh-
ter's, Mrs. Elizabeth Brunot's home in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where she died
in 1814.
It appears that just prior to her marriage to Hilary Baker, Anna Maria Kreider,
known to her friends as "Polly Kreider," was residing at Chestnut Hill, Phila-
delphia, with the family of Abraham Rex. The following letter, written to her
by Hilary Baker, is in possession of the Rex family, into which one of her
descendants married one hundred years later. The superscription is as follows : —
"Miss Polly Kreider.
.'^t Mr. Abraham Rex's.
Chestnuthill."
And the letter as follows :
My Dear Polly Philada. 3qst. July, 1783.
Your esteemed Favour of the First of next month has been delivered me to day, — By
your guarded Expressions, to avoid giving me Uneasiness, I can clearly perceive that the
State of your Health is not better than when I last heard from you. and Sister, you inform
i662 BAKER
me, is also indisposed. I cannot avoid telling you that I am deeply concerned and wait with
impatience the Time when I shall have the Happiness of seeing my dearest Friends convey-
ed nearer to me. For altho' the Place of your present abode is a delightful Retreat, and the
Family with whom you reside, most tenderly kind and affectionate, yet the seperation of
intimate Friends is nevertheless attended with Anxiety, more especially when we know them
to be in a weak state of Health, and the season unfavourable. As I expect to go up by my-
self next Sunday. 1 Intend (Health permitting) to be with you pretty early for I am really
desirous of seeing you,— As the Day of your returning home draws so near I deem it need-
less to send you any Materials to write Letters.
With my best Respects, to Sister. Mr. Rex & Family, and Yourself, I remain Dear Polly,
Your affectionate,
H. Baker.
"Polly" (Kreider) Baker married (second), October 15, 1801, John Richards,
a widower with children. She died November 7. 1808.
Issue of Hilary and Anna Maria (Kreider) Baker:
Catharine Louise Baker, m. Henry Schreiner;
Susanna Louise Baker, m. Charles Richards:
Mary Louise Baker, m. Thomas P. Roberts:
Hilary Baker. Jr.. m. Margaret W. Roberts:
Anna Pauline Baker, m. John Tolbert; of whom presently;
Paul Baker, b. Sept. 12, 1794: d. same year;
William Baker, m. Sarah Whitlock;
Eliza Louise Baker, b. 1798; m. John Van Lew, of Richmond, Va., and was the mother
of Anna Pauline Van Lew, who ni., Jan. 14, 1844 Dr. Joseph Klapp, of Phila., an
account of whom and his ancestry is given in these volumes.
Anna P.\uline Baker, fifth child of Hilary and "Polly" (Kreider) Baker,
married John Tolbert, son of Capt. Samuel Tolbert, whose commission as Captain,
dated October 2, 1776, is in the possession of his granddaughter, Caroline (Tol-
bert) Emory. Samuel Tolbert was commissioned January 15, 1776, Second
Lieutenant in First Pennsylvania Regiment, Col. Philip De Haas, and participated
in the unsuccessful and disastrous campaign against Canada. On the date above
mentioned, October 2, 1776, he was promoted to the Captaincy of a company in
the Second Pennsylvania Regiment, and continued in the service until peace was
declared. On October 10, 1783, he was promoted to the rank of Major, by
brevet, the certificate of this appointment, signed at Princeton, is also in the
possession of Mrs. Caroline (Tolbert) Emory.
Caroline Tolbert, daughter of John and Anna Pauline (Baker) Tolbert, was
born September 17, 1822, and is still living. She married, June 16, 1852, Charles
Emory, of Philadelphia, long identified with the banking business in that city.
He was a son of John Martin Groome Emory, Esq., a lawyer of Easton, Talbot
county, Maryland, and was born at Easton, February 24, 1819. He came to
Philadelphia at the age of seventeen years, and resided there until his death,
November 19, 1878.
IsAREL Tolbert Emory, only child of Charles and Caroline (Tolbert) Emory,
born in Philadelphia, March 30, 1856, married, October 28, 1885, Walter Edwin
Rex, Esq., of Chestnut Hill, a great-grandson of Abraham Rex, of Chestnut Hill,
at whose house "Polly" Kreider, Mrs. Rex's great-grandmother, was staying in
1783, when she received the above quoted letter from her prospective husband.
Hilary Baker.
Walter Edwin Rex was born on the old homestead at Chestnut Hill, Philadel-
phia, April 10, 1847. He is a son of George Rex, grandson of John Rex, and
great-grandson of the before mentioned Abraham Rex, who Dr. John F. Watson.
BAKER 1663
in his "Annals of Philadelphia," credits with being the first to introduce clover
seed, in the vicinity of Philadelphia.
Walter E. Rex was educated in private and public schools of Philadelphia and
at the University of Pennsylvania, receiving his degree of Bachelor of Laws at
the latter institution in 1875. He was admitted to the Philadelphia bar in the
same year, and has since practiced his profession in Philadelphia. He served as a
member of Common Council of Philadelphia from 1879 to 1883. representing the
twenty-second ward. In the latter year he was elected to the office of Register
of Wills for Philadelphia county, and served a term of three years. His beautiful
home at Chestnut Hill is located on part of the Rex estate, formerly owned and
(^cupied by his great-grandfather. Abraham Rex, and is surrounded by several
acres of lawn and gardens.
Issue of Walter E. and Isabel Tolbcvt (Emory) Rex:
Charles Emory Rex, b. Sept. 4, 1886; d. Nov. 12, 1891;
Isabel Margaret Rex, b. Sept. 28, 1889;
Hilary Baker Rex, b. Oct. 15, 1893;
Walter Edwin Rex. Jr.. b. Oct. 2. 1896.
BRICE FAMILY.
John Brice, American progenitor of the Brice family with which this narrative
is concerned, was born in England, between the years 1660 and 1670, and was
a son of John Brice of the Parish of Haversham, county of Bucks, who died
there "J"ne ye 23rd, 1685."
John Brice, of Severn, Anne Arundel county, Maryland, "Gentleman, merchant
and Planter," was a Justice of the County Court, and Captain of the military
forces in Severn Hundred. His name appears as one of the signers of a petition,
addressed to John Seymour, Royal Governor, under date of November 18, 1708.
for the incorporation of the Town of Severn into City of Annapolis, which peti-
tion was granted. In 17 13 he presented to Westminster Parish, on the north
side of the Severn river, Anne Arundel county, a silver cup. bearing the following
inscription :
"The Gift of John Brice, for the use of Westminster Parish in Maryland."
He died at Annapolis, December 13, 1713, and his will dated on that day shows
that he was the owner of considerable estates in Maryland ; in addition to planta-
tions and lands referred to generally it mentions the following plantations and
estates, "Baronneck," (escheated lands purchased September 14, 1700) ; "Hop-
kins Plantation;" "Howards Addition;" "Doderidge Forest;" "Randall Delight;"
"Memkin's Purchase;" "Point Look and Lying;" and "Brices Shore." The will
mentions his brother, Thomas Brice, of London, England ; a sister Elizabeth ; and
"Cousin John Brice," apparently a resident of Maryland.
John Brice married. December 16, 1701, Sarah, eldest daughter of Matthew
and Sarah (Dorsey) Howard, a niece of Capt. Philip Howard, and at the time of
the marriage widow of Capt. John Worthington, of Anne Arundel county. She
died at Annapolis, 1735.
- Issue of Capt. John and Sarah (Howard) Brice:
John Brice, b. Sept. 24, 1703; d. inf.;
John Brice, b. Nov. 4, 1705; d. Sept. 26, 1766; m. Sarah Frisby; of whom presently;
Ann Brice, b. May 30, 1708; m. Vachel Denton, Mayor of Annapolis, 1722-29; d. s. p.;
Rachel Brice, b. April 13, 171 1 ; m. Philip Hammond, of Annapolis, Speaker of the
Lower House of Assembly of Md., Keeper of the Rent Roll and Treasurer of the
Western Shore, vestryman of St. Ann's Parish, 1727-29, and 1740; nine children.
John Brice, only surviving son of John and Sarah (Howard) Brice, of
Annapolis, Maryland, born November 4, 1705, was Chief Justice of the Provin-
cial Court of Maryland, 1745, to his death while on his circuit, holding court in
Charles county, September 26, 1766. He was also Mayor of Annapolis, 1755-62;
Commissioner of the Loan Office in 1764; was appointed Notary Public for the
Province, by Edward Jennings, May 8, 1734; and was Vestryman of St. Ann's
Parish, 174 1-43- 59-61, and held that position at the time of his decease.
He married, September 9, 1730, Sarah, eldest daughter of James Frisby, of
Cecil county, Maryland, by his wife, Ariana, daughter of Matthias Vanderheyden,
by his wife Anna Margaretta, daughter of Augustine Herman, of Bohemia Manor.
Sarah (Fisby) Brice died .\pril 8. 1782.
1 66s
fsstie of Chief Justice John and Sarah (Frisby) Brice:
Ariana Brice, b. Jan. 19. 1731 (was godmother of Recca, dau. of Hon. Benedict, Cal-
vert, Jan. I, 1749) ; m., Sept. 11, 1750, Dr. David Ross, who was delegate to Congress,
1786-87: she d. April 14, 1797; they had three sons, the eldest of whom, David, m. a
Miss Bardley, of Phila., and six daus., four of whom were m., Sarah and Ariana being
the first and second wives of Dr. John Stuart, of Bladenburg; and Marian and Eliza-
beth being, respectively, the wives of Cunning M. Corbett, of Scotland, and Jonathan
Smith, of N. H.;
Sarah Brice, b. June 3, 1735; d. Aug. 29, 1802; m., Nov. 19. 1761, Richard Henderson, of
Bladensburg; three sons and three daus.;
John Brice, b. March 7, 1736; d. inf.;
John Brice, b. Sept. 22, 1738; d. July 20, 1820; m. Mary Clare McCubbin ; of whom
presently ;
Denton Brice, b. June 15, 1740; d. in childhood;
Ann Brice, b. Aug. 4, 1744; d. s. p.;
James Brice, b. Aug. 26, 1746; d. at Annapolis, while a member of Annapolis Bar,
March 15, 1775; was commissioned Captain of Independent Company of Militia of
Annapolis; July i. 1776, appointed by Council, Lieutenant of militia for Anne Arundel
CO., and is referred to in Md. archives as "Colonel Brice" ; was elected a member of
Governor's Council, April 18, 1777, but declined; was again elected by the General
Assemblv and took his seat, Nov. 25, 1777; was a member of Committee of Observa-
tion for CO. of Anne Arundel, Jan. 16, 1775; was commissioned to sign bills of credit,
Aug. 14, 1775; also served on committees on fortification, etc., at different periods
during the Revolution; m.. May 24, 1781, Juliana, dau. of Thomas Jennings, of Annap-
olis, Attorney General of Province of Maryland; she d. Dec. 8, 1837; three sons and
three daus.;
Benedict Brice, b. April 1, 1749; d. 1786; m., Jan., 1775, Mary, dau. of John and Ann
(Turbutt) Goldsborough, who d. March 20, 1796, having m. (second) Dr. James
Cooke; her dau. by Brice, Sarah Goldsborough Brice, b. Aug. 10, 1776, m. Andrew
Price, of Baltimore;
Charles Brice, b. June 20, 1750; d. s. p.:
Edmund Brice, b. Nov. 24, 1751; a Colonel in the Revolutionary War; d. Oct. 15, 1784;
m. Harriet, dau. of Henry Woodward, by his wife, Mary, dau. of Richard Young;
granddaughter of Amos Woodward, by his wife, Achsah, dau. of Caleb Dorsey, of
"Hockley"; she m. (second) Dr. William Murray, of West River; she had, by Brice,
one son, James Edmund Brice, Consul to Cape Haylien, San Domingo, 1822, d., unm.,
there, Aug. 11, 1827;
Denton Brice, b. Aug. 20, 1753; d. s. p.;
Margaretta Augustina Brice, b. Jan. 10, 1755; m., Nov. 12, 1775, Maj. Andrew Leitch,
who d. Oct. I, 1776, from wounds received in a skirmish at Kings Bridge; m. (sec-
ond) William Sydebothani, of Bladensburg;
EHzabeth Brice, b. June 4, 1757; m. (first), July 15, 1773. Lloyd Dulany, son of Daniel
Dulany, by his third wife, Henrietta Maria, dau. of Col. Philemon Lloyd, and widow
of Col. Samuel Chew; he was killed in a duel in Hyde Park, London, June 18, 1782;
m. (second) his half-brother, Walter Dulany's son, Maj. Walter Dulany, of the
British Army, m. by the Bishop of London, at St. George's Chapel, Jan. 25, 1785; she
had three children by second marriage.
John Brice, second son of John Brice, Chief Justice, by his wife, Sarah Frisby,
born at Annapolis, Maryland, September 22, 1738, was active in public affairs
during the War for Independence. In the preliminary preparation for the strug-
gle, he served on the following important committees: On November 9, 1774, as
a member of the Committee to carry into effect the Resolutions of Continental
Congress held in Philadelphia : August 14, 1775, was commissioned to sign Bills of
Credit; July 11, 1776, member of Committee to wait on Council of Safety; July
16, 1776, committee to direct the work on the fortifications and breastworks of
the city of Annapolis; January 16, 1775, was a member of the Committee of
Observation, for the City and County, and of the Committee on Fortifications at
Horn Point, Beamer's Hill, and Windmill Point. He was a member of the
Common Council of Annapolis, 1773-4: was a member of the Supreme Execu-
i666 DRICE
live Council of the State in 1779; was commissioned Captain of an Independent
Company of Militia, March 20, 1779. He was commissioned Judge of the
Orphans' Court of Anne Arundel county, and Justice of the Peace and Pleas,
Xovember 19. 1778, and also filled the position of County Qerk of the county,
nn([ was Mayor of Annapolis in 1780.
Judge Brice married, 1766, Mary Clare, daughter of Nicholas MacCubbin, by
his wife, Mary Clare, daughter of Dr. Charles Carroll, and a sister to Qiarles
Carroll, barrister, of Baltimore. Mrs. Brice died in Baltimore, January 3, 1806,
the Judge and his family having removed to that city about 1800. He died there
July 20, 1820.
Issue of Judge John and Mary Clare (MacCubbin) Brice:
John Brice, b. Jan. 24, 1770; d. in Baltimore, 1840; was cashier of National Mechanics
Bank of Baltimore, 1817-23; m., April 20, 1794, Sarah Lane; fourteen children;
Nicholas Brice, b. April 23, 1771; d. May 9, 1851; m. Maria Margaret Tilghman ; of