From the Archives
The Baker family
The City of Vaughan’s archives house more than 600 collections dating from the early 1700s to the present day. Within these files are the stories of how Vaughan evolved from the traditional territories of the First Peoples of Turtle Island to the bustling city it has become.
Let’s look back at our history and share the stories of the people, places and moments that helped shape the city we know today. This month’s feature is on the Baker family.
In the early 1800s, Jacob and Mary (Breck) Baker, accompanied by their eight children and 16 grandchildren, left their home in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, to head to Canada and eventually settled in York County, Ontario.
Jonathan, one of Jacob and Mary’s grandchildren, purchased Lot 11, Concession 2 (present day Dufferin Street to Bathurst Street, north of Highway 407). In 1816, Jonathan married Elizabeth Cober, the daughter of Nicholas Cober and Eve Fisher, who were among the first settlers on Yonge Street. Jonathan cleared most of the land except for 100 acres of bush, which would later be used to produce maple syrup. He also built a barn and a log house on the property, which was replaced with a brick house in 1853. Jonathan and Elizabeth had no children, so the farm was passed down to their nephew, Jonathan Baker Jr., then to his son Jesse, his grandson Amos, and, finally, their great-grandson Paul Baker.
Jesse Baker and his wife, Sophia, had four children: Isaac, Abraham, Amos and "Bertie." In addition to farming and raising her sons, Sophia compiled a notebook containing a combination of home remedies, medical and veterinary advice, and general helpful tips for early 20th-century rural families.
The Baker family has owned the west part of Lot 13, Concession 2 (present day Dufferin Street, just north of Highway 407) since 1829. Jonathan’s brother Michael, and Michael’s wife Mary, farmed this lot before passing it on to their son. Buildings were constructed on the east end of the farm, including a log house, which was built in 1828, one year before the Baker family took ownership of the property.
Other past Baker family farms in the area include Lot 9, Concession 3 (present day Dufferin Street, south of Highway 407) and Lot 14, Concession 3 (present day Dufferin Street, south of Rutherford Road).
VIEW VAUGHAN'S ARCHIVES ONLINE!
Looking for more information about the history of Vaughan? The City's Archival Collection is on digital display for all to explore! The below galleries are available in the City's online gallery on Flickr:
- Archival Awareness
- Early Churches of Vaughan
- Early Communities of Vaughan
- Early Pioneers of Vaughan
- Families in Arms
- From Township to City: The Evolution of Vaughan
- Historical Families of Vaughan
- Historical Photography
- Recollections of Rural Vaughan
- The Mary Wood Collection
- The Way We Were: Representations of Vaughan's Past
- Vaughan’s Forgotten Heroes
- Vaughan Lodge Fonds
- Vaughan Working Environments
- Vaughan Through the Ages: Medicine, Music and Sports and Recreation
- And more!
A personal Flickr account is not required to access the City's online gallery, which contains only a small selection of the full archives collection. If you are looking for a particular image, original file, primary source record or more, please visit the Archival Database or contact the City by calling 905-832-2281 or emailing archives@vaughan.ca.
By managing and preserving both City and community records, the City’s Enterprise Information Management Services team ensures that Vaughan's rich and varied history will continue to be available for future generations. Learn more at vaughan.ca/archives.
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