Baldridge

   Baldridge is an English surname, after a Welsh name meaning "king," derived from an altered spelling of the cognate German personal name Baldrich, composed of the elements bald (‘bold’, or ‘brave’) + ric (‘power’). The family was first found in Northumberland, where they held a family seat from ancient times. The Baldridge Coat of Arms is a silver and blue shield, superimposed by a saltire.
   Our lineage to this family can be traced back to RICHARD BALDRIDGE, who was born about 1654 in Cardiff, Glamorgan County, Wales, but moved to Ireland prior to 1689 (he was married in Ireland in 1688). Family tradition holds that he was a tailor. We don't know the surname of his spouse, but her first name was SARAH, and we know they had a son together, named WILLIAM ALBERT BALDRIDGE, who was born in 1689 in Tyrone (Ulster), Ireland.
   William married JANETTE HOLMES (b: 24 Jun 1694 in Down, Ireland) the daughter of SIR JAMES HOLMES and MARGARET JANE JENNINGS on 16 Jun 1714, in the Parish of St. Andrew, County of Tyrone, Ireland, Established Church of England. A story has been handed down through the family that, "a daughter of Sir James Holmes, Governor of Belfast, Ireland married William Baldridge, a Welsh merchant tailor, against the wishes of her parents. Finding them obdurate, the your couple came to America and settled in Lancaster, Pennsylvania." (Beers, HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PA., 513.) "According to court evidence.....Janette married against her parents' desire and wish, a Mr. William Baldridge, who owned a large notion store. He was born the son of Richard Baldridge of Wales, a merchant tailor who carried on his business in four of the large cities of Ireland."
   We do know that William and Janette were married in County Londonderry, Ulster Province, Ireland, on 16 June 1714, and very likely made their living in or around the city of Coleraine as "yeomen"—a class of small, independent, freeholding farmers. By the mid-1720's, they were the parents of six children. At a time variously reported as 1726 and 1745, this Ulster-Irish (Scotch-Irish) Baldridge family, except for their eldest son, John, emigrated onboard the "Queen Margaret" to Little Britain Township in souther Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where they raised the following children:

CHILDREN OF WILLIAM BALDRIDGE AND JANETTE HOLMES

JOHN BALDRIDGE was born in 1715 in Coleraine, Ulster, Ireland. He married REBECCA CLARK (b: 1720 in Coleraine, Ulster, Ireland) in 1733 in Coleraine, Ulster, Ireland. Family listed below. He died on 15 Jul 1766 in Martic Twp, Lancaster County, PA. She reportedly lived to be 103 and died on 1 Jul 1823 in Belwood, Cleveland County, North Carolina.

ALEXANDER HOLMES BALDRIDGE was born in October of 1717 in (Ulster) Coleraine, Ireland. He married JANE RAMSEY and they had the following children: John, b: 28 Sep 1754 in Lancaster County, PA; William, b: 1761 in Lancaster County; and Alexander Jr,. b: 1766 in Lancaster County, PA.

MARGARET BALDRIDGE was born in 1719 in Ulster, Coleraine, Ireland. She married John Poston, Sr., in 1737 in Chester County, PA. They had the following children: Mary, and Rebecca. She died on 8 Feb 1765 in Chester County, PA.

JANETTE BALDRIDGE was born in 1721 in Coleraine, Ulster, Ireland. She married MATTHEW ATCHISON. No further information

ELIZABETH BALDRIDGE was born in 1723 in Coleraine, Ulster, Ireland. She married JOHN BROWNLEE. No further information.

MICHAEL BALDRIDGE was born on 19 May 1726 in Coleraine, Ulster, Ireland; Emigration Abt. 1745 on the ship Queen Margaret ship from Ireland. He married MARGARET McCONNELL (b: 1730 in Coleraine, Ulster, Ireland). Then he married MABEL WILSON (b: 1743 in Chester, PA) on 15 May 1763, in Chester County, PA. They had the following children: Mary b: ABT. 1765; Jane b: ABT. 1768; Michael b: 1771; Ann b: 11 Feb 1774 in Brandywine, Chester County, PA; Alexander b: 4 Aug 1777 in Brandywine, Chester County, PA; John b: 1779 in Lancaster County, PA; William Wilson b: 24 May 1782 in Lancaster County, PA. Michael married a third time, to MARGARET RUSH (b: 1763 in Lancaster County, PA) in 1784 in Lancaster County, PA. They had the following children: Elizabeth b: ABT. 1785; David b: 16 Feb 1787; and Eli b: 1789. The original "plantation" of patriarch William Baldridge was inherited by Michael Baldridge in 1772. He named the property "St. Michael's" and abtained from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania a new land patent in his own name dated 4/15/1789. The original homestead in Lancaster County was sold on 5/27/1802. Around 1811, he left Lancaster County, PA and moved the family to Belmont County, OH. Michael died on 12 May 1812 in St Clairsville, Belmont, Ohio.

   When William and Janette left for the Colonies, they left behind their son, JOHN BALDRIDGE, who was born in 1715, in Coleraine, Londonberry County, Ulster Province, England. He married REBECCA CLARK in 1733, in St. Anns Cathrederal-Ulster Coleraine, Londonderry County, Ireland. Family tradition states: "John, the oldest son of Wm. and Janette, was left with his grandfather, Lord Holmes, and lived with him until the old gentleman's death."
   John and Rebecca and their three children came to America in 1737 along with the families of her father and grandfather, arriving in Pennsylvania aboard the ship "The Village Belle." John brought with him a copy of the Will of his grandfather, James Holmes. (Note: that this was ten years after the Will is said to have been probated. There is a legend that the Baldridges should all be rich because of this will.¹)
   Over the years, various Baldridge descendants have pursued what they felt was their rightful inheritance, but the connection was never proven. So William and Janette Baldridge lived the remainder of their lives as farmers/weavers on land they colonized just north of the present-day Mason-Dixon Line, between Octoraro Creek and the eastern bank of the Susquehanna River. It is believed they were members of the Muddy Run Society, Little Britain Congregation of the Presbyterian Church of Lancaster County, where they were very likely buried, although there are no known tombstones there bearing their names. William died on 25 Nov 1772, and Janette died on 28 Jul 1768.
   Their first son, John, and his wife Rebecca arrived in the American Colonies between 1737 and 1741, with three children, then had another ten after settling in Pennsylvania. They were:

CHILDREN OF JOHN BALDRIDGE AND REBECCA CLARK

WILLIAM BALDRIDGE was born in 1734, in Ireland. He married MARY, and then a woman named BETSY WILSON in about 1780. They had a son named John in 1784 . William died in 1828 in Rutherford County, North Carolina.

MALCOLM BALDRIDGE was born in 1736 in Coleraine, Londonberry County, Ulster Province. He married ELIZABETH WALKER in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and had a son, named James. Malcolm died before 1781 in Orange County, North Carolina.

ROBERT BALDRIDGE was born in 1737 in in Coleraine, Londonberry County, Ulster Province. Robert immigrated around 1737 on the ship "Village Belle" which arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He married HANNAH FRUIT (b: ABT. 1754 in St. Charles County, Missouri) in around 1772 in Orange County, North Carolina (location is also listed as being in Kentucky), and had the following children: Elizabeth; James Sr. b: 1770 in Kentucky; Daniel b: 1776 in Orange County, North Carolina; John b: ABT. 1777 in North Carolina; Alexander b: ABT. 1779 in North Carolina; Melchiah K. b: 1782 in Kentucky; Grace b: 20 Mar 1787 in Virginia; Catherine b: ABT. 1790 in Lincoln County, Kentucky; Robert Jr. b: 1790 in Kentucky; Nancy b: 1790 in Lincoln County, Kentucky; and Margaret b: ABT. 1792 in Kentucky. Military Service: Robert was a private North Carolina Patriot of the American Revolution. ("Cousins", Vol. I; Patriots in North Carolina; "Patriots Index"; In Capt. John McConnels 1st Co., 4 Btn. Pa. Militia 1780-1781.) After the war he went back to farming, and was in Lincoln County in 1790. He received a spanish land grant in Missouri - later called Pond Fort - before 1795. Robert and Hannah settled in Spanish Territory of Upper Louisiana (now St. Louis, Missouri) in 1797. In 1803, they resided in the French Territory of Upper Louisiana (St. Charles County, Missouri.) Sources: Tax lists: 1779 Orange Co., N.C., 1789, 1790 Lincoln Co., Ky.; 1792, 1793, 1794, 1795 Clark Co., Ky.; 1799, 1800, 1801, 1802 Montgomery Co., Ky. Aslo, Census: 1817 & 1819 Missouri Territory, St. Charles Co., Dardenne Twp. Census: BET. 1817 - 1819 Missouri Territory, St. Charles Co., Dardenne Twp. He was one of the first settlers of St. Charles County, Missouri. Robert died on 5 Sep 1822 in St. Charles County, Missouri, and is buried in Dardenne Twp., St. Charles County, Missouri. Probate: 5 Sep 1822 St. Charles County Missouri Probate Court, Box 5, #101, Est. of Robert Baldridge, Sr.

FRANCIS BALDRIDGE b: 1741 in Lancaster Co., Pennsylvannia. He married Elizabeth Turrentine (Birth: 29 Jan 1759 Orange, North Carolina, United States; Death: 1830 Mississippi, United States) in 1775. Francis died in 1835 in Orange, North Carolina.

DANIEL BALDRIDGE b: 1744 in Lancaster Co., Pennsylvannia. He married F. N. Walker or Wilson, and died in 1828, in Weakley, Tennessee, United States.

JAMES BALDRIDGE b: 1746 in Lancaster Co., Pennsylvannia. Family listed below.

MARGARET BALDRIDGE b: 1751 in Lancaster Co., Pennsylvannia. She married Moses Henry in 1772 in Transylvania, North Carolina, and they had a daughter, Rebecca Henry (Birth: 1777 Crowders Creek, Transylvania, North Carolina, United States; Death: 22 Mar 1855 Gaston, Nash, North Carolina). Margaret died on 11 Dec 1843 in Lincoln, North Carolina, United States .

JOHN BALDRIDGE b: 1752 in Lancaster Co., Pennsylvannia. He married Margaret Poston on 29 Jul 1782 in Rowan, North Carolina, United States. They had three children: Elizabeth Baldridge (b. 1787 - 1821); Dornton Baldridge (23 Dec 1788 - 14 Jun 1832); William Baldridge (29 Nov 1792 - 2 Apr 1854). John died in 1834 in Rutherford, North Carolina, United States.

ALEXANDER BALDRIDGE b: 1756 in Lancaster Co., Pennsylvannia. He married Sarah McMurray and they had a daughter, Rebekah Mary Bauldridge, in 1786. Alexander died in 1837 in Rutherford, North Carolina, United States.

THOMAS BALDRIDGE b: 1759 in Lancaster Co., Pennsylvannia. He had a son, Samuel Baldridge (1790 - 6 Mar 1845). Thomas died in 1800 in Green, Kentucky, United States

ANN BALDRIDGE b: 1760 in Lancaster Co., Pennsylvannia. She married John Mears (b. 1756) in 1794 in Pennsylvania, and they had Joseph Mears (17 Oct 1794 - 20 Sep 1854). Ann died on 22 Aug 1838 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States.

JOSEPH BALDRIDGE, SR. was born on 14 Dec 1762 in 1in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Joseph married MARY TODD (b: 14 Sep 1767) and they had he following children: William; Rebecca b: Dec 1764 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania; and Joseph Jr. b: 1 Jan 1802. He married again, to JANE GIBBS, in 1788. They had the following children: John and Samuel. Joseph Sr. died in 1839 in Westmoreland County, Pennslyvania. When Josephs' mother remarried after his father's death in 1766, Joseph and his sister Ann did not go to North Carolina with her. Instead he, his wife, Jane, and sister, Ann, crossed the mountains on horseback and located on Loyal Hanna in the County of Westmoreland, Pennsylvania about the year 1790. (Source: History of the Holmes Branch of the Baldridge Family in America - per Prof. Henry Earl Riggs).

REBECCA BALDRIDGE was born in December of 1764 in Lancaster Co., Pennsylvannia. In the book JOHN HAMILL POSTON (1786-1848) His Ancestors and Descendants A POSTON FAMILY GENEALOGY by Colin James, 1959 Colin has this John as the son of John2, son of John1. "JOHN HAMILL POSTON (1786-1848) His Ancestors and Descendants A POSTON FAMILY GENEALOGY "John (3) fought in the Revolution in 1779-1780, serving from Rowan County, North Carolina. He m. Rebecca Baldridge, 1782, Lincoln County, North Carolina; d. 1819, with Rebecca dying 1851. They had 11 ch., bo. 1782-1807, only 3 of which were sons: Robert, John, and William." Rebecca died in 1851.

   John died on 31 Jul 1766 in Martic Twp, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and is buried there at Chestnut Level Presbyterian Church. He was in the process of buying land in North Carolina: The deed records in old Mecklenburg County, NC, and in Rutherford County, NC, indicate that John Sr. did obtained considerable acreage from John Armstrong and Alexander McAllister. In one of these deeds, William and John sold their father's land on the south side of the Catawba River on Indian Camp Creek to John Hill. Rebecca remarried, to Aaron Boggs, with most of the family following her to North Carolina. She died in 1822 in Lincoln County, North Carolina.
   Their son, JAMES BALDRIDGE, was born in 1746, in Lancaster County, Pennsylvannia. His wife is unknown (possibly BETSY WILSON, born 1737 in Tennessee; Died 1805 in Rutherford, North Carolina), but he probably met her after following his mother to North Carolina, as their first children were born in that state. They had the following children:

   James died sometime after 1785. His son, WILLIAM BALDRIDGE, was born in 1770, in Orange County, North Carolina. He died between 1825-1826 in Russell County, Virginia. He married MARY ARNETT (b: Abt. 1774) in 1794, in Russell County, and they had the following children:

   WILLIAM BALDRIDGE, JR., was born around 1795 in Orange County, North Carolina. He married HANNAH ESTEP on 12 Mar 1818 in Scott Co., Virginia. They had the following children:

   William Jr. then married NANCY EMELENE GILLISPIE, 29 years younger than him, on 23 Mar 1843 in Pike County, Kentucky, and had the following children:

Personal Information 1850 Census Image Name: Thomas Baldridge Age: 19 Birthplace: Virginia Home in 1850: Subdivision 7, Claiborne, Tennessee Estimated Birth Year: 1831 Read/Write No Occupation: Farm Hand Property Value: -- Roll: M432_874 Page: 316 Image: 164 View image View blank 1850 census form SOURCE INFORMATION: 1850 United States Federal Census. M432, 1009 rolls. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington DC.

   William Jr. died in 1880, in Floyd County, Kentucky, where his descendants would remain for the last half of the Century. His son, THOMAS BALDRIDGE, was born between May of 1825 and 1830 in Russell County, Virginia. He moved to Tennessee after 1840, and married MARTHA WILBURN (born in 1824 in Tennessee), on the 17th of August in Claiborne, Tennessee (see wedding license). He worked in that county as a farm hand for William Carroll, according to the 1850 census (at right).
   Then some time between 1853 and 1856, Thomas and Martha moved to Johnson County, Kentucky, where by the 1860 census, Thomas had a whopping $15 dollars to his name. But it was in Kentucky that they started a family. They would live in that state for the next forty years.
   But then Martha died before the turn of the century, as the 1900 Federal Census lists Thomas as a 75-year-old widower living on the farm of his daughter, Mary, and son-in-law Thomas Sparks, in Johnson County, Kentucky.
   Thomas and Martha had Mary and the following children:

CHILDREN OF THOMAS BALDRIDGE AND MARTHA WILBURN

MARY ELIZABETH BALDRIDGE was born in Virginia, between 1851 and 1853. She married Thomas Sparks (b. 23 Aug 1850 in Lawrence, Kentucky) on 15 Aug 1872 in Kentucky, and had the following children: William Sparks, b. 1874 in Whitehouse, Johnson, Kentucky; Daniel David "d.o." Sparks, b. 12 Mar 1875; Martha Sparks, b. 1877; Richard Sparks, b. 1879; John Sparks, b. 1 Mar 1883; Venia Sparks, b. 9 Jul 1887 in Johnson, Kentucky. They also raised Mary's nephew, JOHN (b. 1902), after the death of her brother. She died in 1913, in Johnson County, Kentucky. Thomas died on 10 Mar 1932 in Johnson County, Kentucky.

JOHN BALDRIDGE was born in 1856. He married Martha J. Bowe (Born: Dec 1857 in Floyd, Kentucky) on 27 Feb 1870 in Floyd, Kentucky. They had the following children: Walter Baldridge, b. 4 Mar 1880; Millard Fillmore Baldridge, b. 17 Apr 1882; James T Baldridge, b. 1 May 1884; Millie Lee Baldridge, b. 4 Feb 1886. John died in 1889. Martha died on 2 Jun 1936 in Floyd, Kentucky.

JEFFERSON BALDRIDGE was born in 1859, according to the 1860 census. He was not listed in the 1870 census.

HENRY SHERMAN BALDRIDGE was born in 1866 in Floyd, Kentucky. In 1900, the Federal Census lists him with wife Elizabeth and three children. In 1910, the Kentucky Miracode Index lists him with wife Bettie Whitaker, age 34; Son Ashley, 16; Son Irland, 14; Daughter Ida, 12; Daughter Alka, 09; and son Willie, 06. Henry died on 19 Mar 1938 in Princeton, Mercer, West Virginia.

JAMES BALDRIDGE was born between 1869 and 1871. Family listed below.

ALICE BALDRIDGE was born in 1875, according to the 1880 census.

Personal Information 1902 Enrollment Card Name: James B. Baldridge Enrollment Date: 1 Sep 1902 Birth Year: abt 1867 Tribal Affiliation: Cherokee by blood Census Card #10266 Dawes' Roll: #29312 View image View close-up SOURCE INFORMATION: Original data: Enrollment Cards for the Five Civilized Tribes, 1898-1914; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1186, 93 rolls); Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Record Group 75; National Archives, Washington, D.C.

   Unfortunately, the census pages for 1890 have been lost, but by 1900, Martha had died, and Thomas was living with his daughter, Mary. Family records show that one of Thomas' sons, John Baldridge, had died in 1889. Another son, Jefferson Baldridge, was never listed after the 1860 census, so we can assume he died young, as well. That left two sons, Henry Sherman, born in 1866, and James, born between 1869 and 1871. Henry went on to marry a woman named Elizabeth, and they had three children by the time of the 1900 census. By 1910, the family had grown to five kids. But JAMES BALDRIDGE, our ancestor, is harder to trace. According to his granddaughter, MARGARET BALDRIDGE, James married a person that family records call an "Indian woman," named VASHTI. A Census of the "Five Civilized Tribes" from 1902 lists a James B. Baldridge as affiliated to the Cherokee Tribe by blood (see image at right). There is no record of a wife named "Vashti" but According to Kentucky marriage record transcripts, James Baldridge (age 22) married BARSHEBA "BASH" ROBERTS (age 17) on 22 Dec 1892 in Johnson County. She was the fifth child of GEORGE WASHINGTON ROBERTS (20 May 1837 - 5 Aug 1905) and MARY ELIZABETH HURT (17 Jan 1836 - Jun 1888), who had moved from Washington, Virginia to Kentucky right after getting married in 1859.

CHILDREN OF JAMES BALDRIDGE AND "BASH" ROBERTS

ISAAC BALDRIDGE was born in 1891.

RACHEL BALDRIDGE was born in 1894.

ERVIN BALDRIDGE was born on 8 Jan 1895 in Kentucky, and died 10 Aug 1938 in Paintsville, Johnson County, Kentucky, from acute hepatitis according to his death certificate. Also on this certificate, his wife as Arlie Hall, his occupation as laborer on city streets, his parents as James Baldridge (b. Kentucky) and Bash Robinson (b. Kentucky), and the burial place as Hager Hill, Kentucky.²

MARTHA BALDRIDGE was born on 6 Mar 1896 in Johnson County, Kentucky, and died January 31, 1976 in Paintsville, Johnson County, Kentucky, and is buried in Holbrook-Keaton Cemetery in Paintsville, Johnson County, Kentucky. On 28 Jul 1913 she married James B. Fairchild (14 Jul 1890 - 17 Jan 1954) in Johnson County, Kentucky. She is buried in Holbrook-Keaton Cemetery on Davis Branch in Paintsville, Johnson County, Kentucky. According to her obituary, "Martha Fairchild, 80, died Saturday, January 31, in the Paintsville Hospital following an extended illness. She was the daughter of the late John and Bash Roberts Baldridge. Born March 6, 1895, in Johnson County, she was a resident of Thelma and a member of the Pigeon Freewill Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, James B. Fairchild in January, 1953. Surviving are two sons, Jack of Thelma and Joe of Paintsville; three daughters, Bertha Blanton of Conneaut, OH, Virginia VanHoose of Paintsville and Mary Shockley of Ironton, OH; a brother, John Baldridge of New York; a half sister, Leona Hampton, of Paintsville; 22 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild. Funeral services were held Monday, February 2, in the Jones-Preston Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. James K. Caudill officiating. Burial was in the Holbrook Cemetery at Davis Branch with Jones-Preston Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Paintsville Herald, Wednesday, February 4, 1976." (Rootsweb Obituaries)

THOMAS BALDRIDGE was born in 1896 and died in 1934.

FRANK BALDRIDGE was born in 1898.

JOHN BALDRIDGE was born on 22 Jun 1902, in Johnson, Kentucky. His mother, Barsheba "Bash" Baldridge, died shortly after giving birth to him, collapsing in the garden. John was raised by his Aunt Mary Sparks and became a coal miner and married Thelma Ward in 1923. They had seven children in 22 years. He died on January 15, 1970, in Portland, New York, at the age of 67, and is buried with Thelma at at Portland Evergreen Cemetery in Portland, Chautauqua County, New York, lot 62 B 1.

Personal Information Census Image Name:   James Baldridge Age:   32 Birth date:   Oct 1867 Birthplace:   Kentucky Home in 1900:   Magisterial District 2, Johnson, Kentucky Occupation:   Farmer Months not employed:   3 View image View blank 1900 census form United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Twelfth Census of the United States, 1900. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1900. T623, 1854 rolls. Year: 1900; Census Place: Magisterial District 2, Johnson, Kentucky; Enumeration District: 0039; FHL microfilm: 1240534.

   On page 48 of the 1900 census for District 39 (Magisterial District No. 2) in Johnson County, Kentucky (dated June 23, 1900), James Baldridge is listed as the head of the household for house #496, he's a farmer, born in October of 1867 in Kentucky, parents born in Kentucky, married for 10 years, and he's 32 years old. Also listed are Barsheba (wife, born in February of 1868 in Kentucky, parents born in Kentucky, married for 10 years, she's given birth to 4 children and 3 are still living, age 32), Isaac (son, born in April of 1891 in Kentucky, age 9), Rachel (daughter, born in May of 1894 in Kentucky, age 6), and Frank [Martha?] (son, female, born in January of 1898 in Kentucky, age 2). Times were hard. They lived on a rented farm and James had been unemployed for three months at the time of the census. Eventually he would become a coal miner.
   To start the new century, James and Bash had a son, JOHN BALDRIDGE (probably named after his uncle), who was born on the 22nd of June, 1902, in Kentucky. Unfortunately, Bash passed away after giving birth to John, and according to family legend, passed away in her garden. James, a coal miner working long hours in the mines, could not raise a small child on his own.
   James had to send his new son to live with his sister, Mary Baldridge-Sparks. In the 1910 census, John's recorded as a "nephew" in the household, where his grandfather Thomas had stayed ten years before:

Personal Information Census Image Name:   Thomas Baldridge Age:   75 Birthplace:   Kentucky Home in 1910:   Magisterial District 2, Johnson, Kentucky Relation:   Father-In'Law View image View blank 1900 census form Personal Information Census Image Name:   John Baldridge Age:   9 Birthplace:   Kentucky Home in 1910:   Whitehouse, Johnson, Kentucky Relation to head of house:   Nephew View image View blank 1910 census form SOURCE INFORMATION: US Census Records. Index created from United States of America, Bureau of the Census. 1900 US Federal Census Place: Whitehouse, Johnson, Kentucky; Roll: T624_480; Page: 11B; Enumeration District: 69; Image: 920. 1910: Census Place: Whitehouse, Johnson, Kentucky; Roll: T624_480; Page: 11B; Enumeration District: 69; Image: 920.

Personal Information Census Image Name:   James Baldridge Age:   39 Birth date:   Abt 1871 Birthplace:   Kentucky Home in 1910:   Freeburn, Pike, Kentucky Occupation:   Coal Miner Weeks out of work:   3 View image View blank 1910 census form United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Twelfth Census of the United States, 1900. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1900. T623, 1854 rolls. Year: 1910; Census Place: Freeburn, Pike, Kentucky; Roll: T624_499; Page: 10B; Enumeration District: 0183; FHL microfilm: 1374512.

   Eventually, James moved to District 183 in Pike, Kentucky, an unincorporated community and coal town (In 1932, it was renamed "Freeburn," supposedly for a freeburning coal seam fire). While re-starting his life as a coal miner in this community, James remarried, to AMANDA "MANDY" ADAMS, daughter of ANNA DAVIS and JOEL B. ADAMS (1871 - 26 Dec 1948). This was her second marriage, the first being to ENOCH FAIRCHILD on 1 Mar 1888, Johnson County, Kentucky. She had two children with Enoch, the first being JAMES B. FAIRCHILD (who married James's daughter with Bash, MARTHA BALDRIDGE), and AGNES L. FAIRCHILD (b. 1895, Kentucky, m. WILLIAM BALLARD "BALLARD" RICE).
   On page 20 of the 1910 census for District 183 in Pike County, Kentucky (dated May 2, 1910), James is listed as the head of the household for house #170, working as a coal miner. Also listed are his wife of 9 years, Amanda (age 38, she's given birth to 9 children and 4 are still living), Irven (son, coal miner, age 16), Martha E. (daughter, age 14), Thomas (son, age 11), and Zona (daughter, age 3).
   On page 16 of the 1920 census for District 32 (Van Lear) in Johnson County, Kentucky (dated January 7, 1920), James is listed as the head of the household for house #153, still a coal miner, and 49 years old. Also listed are "Mandy" (age 47), Thomas (son, not working, age 22), Zonie (daughter, age 13), and Leonie (daughter, age 3 years 10 months). Amanda's daughter Agnes lives in house #146.
   James apparently died some time before 1940, as the census from that year for District 58-3 in Johnson County, Kentucky (page 23, dated April 11, 1940), lists 69-year-old Amanda Baldridge as the head of the household for house #194, next to her son, James. She's widowed, not working, and has a 3rd grade education.
   According to her death certificate, Amanda Adams Baldridge died on 26 Dec 1947 in Bridgeford, Johnson County, Kentucky, from coronary insufficiency and arteriosclerotic heart disease. Her obituary, found on the Johnson County Historical & Genealogical Society's website: "Amanda Baldridge, 77, died Friday afternoon, December 26, 1947 at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Leona Haney, of this city, Mrs. Baldridge had been ill for several years and had been confined to her bed for the past several months. Funeral services were held at the home of her daughter at 2:00 P.M., Sunday, December 28, by the Rev. Scott Castle and Rev. Walter Hooper. Burial was in the Town Cemetery."

CHILDREN OF JAMES BALDRIDGE AND AMANDA ADAMS

ARIZONA "ZONA" BALDRIDGE, daughter of AMANDA ADAMS and JAMES BALDRIDGE, was born February 8, 1907 in Kentucky, died July 10, 1947 in Paintsville, Johnson County, Kentucky, and is buried in Old Town Cemetery in Paintsville, Johnson County, Kentucky. She married JAMES MATHEW "MATHEW" GULLETT, son of CYNTHIA ANN LITTERAL and CHARLES R. GULLETT. He was born June 24, 1890 in Johnson County, Kentucky, died July 1, 1971 in Wayne County, West Virginia, and is buried in Old Town Cemetery in Paintsville, Johnson County, Kentucky. Matthew Gullett married (1) EMMA HOWARD. He married (3) NEVA VANHOOSE.

LEONA BALDRIDGE, b. February 25, 1916, Pike County, Kentucky, d. April 1, 2009, Paintsville, Johnson County, Kentucky, buried in Staffordsville, Johnson County, Kentucky, m. CHARLES "BUCK" HANEY.

The Baldridge family, circa 1940. Front Row: Baby Margaret, held by Thema Ward Baldridge, Paris Jay Baldridge, John Baldridge, Sr. Back Row: Gracie, Garnet, and Jacqulene Baldridge.

   John Baldridge grew up with his aunt and uncle, and then married THELMA WARD (11 Jul 1908 - 29 Apr 1982) of Offutt, Kentucky. Thelma's family was well-established in America from Colonial times, with many frontiersmen and explorers in their past. That adventurous heritage would suit her well with John, as they would move quite a bit over the course of their lives.
   In the 1930 census, John and Thelma paid $11 rent per month on a place in Floyd County, Kentucky, with four children, and John worked as a loader in the coal mines.
   More coal is produced in Pike County than anywhere in the state; generally producing about 20% of all Kentucky coal. Coal mining in Kentucky mines in the early days was a dangerous way to make a living, and the pay was horrible. Most coal miners and their families lived paycheck to paycheck, and many times owed more to the "company store" than they made each payday. It was a constant struggle, and death came all too often. Over 7,000 miners lost their lives in the coal mines of Kentucky between 1890 and the 1960's, when mining deaths began declining. Coal mining was the most dangerous job in Kentucky.

Personal Information Census Image Name:   John Baldridge Age:   27 Birth year:   1903 Birthplace:   Kentucky Home in 1930:   District 7, Floyd, Kentucky Occupation:   Coal Loader Owns radio:   No Read and Write:   No View image View blank 1930 census form  (PDF 136K) Census Place: District 7, Floyd, Kentucky; Roll: 745; Page: 22B; Enumeration District: 27; Image: 496.0.

Personal Information Census Image Name:   John Baldridge Age:   37 Birth year:   1903 Birthplace:   Kentucky Home in 1930:   Freeburn, Pike, Kentucky Occupation:   Miner Highest Grade Completed:   Elementary, 5th grade View image View blank 1940 census form  (PDF 136K) Year: 1940; Census Place: Freeburn, Pike, Kentucky; Roll: m-t0627-01351; Page: 13B; Enumeration District: 98-37.

Ward

   Life in the mines was dangerous and unhealthy, and it that wasn't bad enough, the pay was lousy, too. After 1935, John moved near his father in Johnson County, where they both worked in the mines. Then some time after 1940 and the death of his father, John finally gave up his work in the mines, and they worked as itinerate farmers, ending up in Western New York state in the mid-1940s.
   John's last recorded address was at 14769 Portland, Chautauqua, New York, where he died in January of 1970. Thelma remained in New York on Pecor Street, Portland, until the age of 73, when on Thursday, April 29, 1982, she died unexpectedly at Westfield Memorial Hospital. They are buried together at Portland Evergreen Cemetery in Portland, Chautauqua County, New York, lot 62 B 1.
   She had been a resident of Portland since 1946 and was a member of the Ark of the Safety Holiness Church of God in Jesus Name of Mill Street, in Brocton.
   John and Thelma had the following children:

CHILDREN OF JOHN BALDRIDGE AND THELMA WARD

GRACE D. BALDRIDGE was born on 11 Jul 1924 in Johnson, Kentucky. She married BUSTER FIELDS (1923-2006) and lived in Phelps, Kentucky. She died on 22 Sep 2012. Obituary: "Grace Fields, 88, of Freeburn, died Saturday, Sept. 22, 2012, at Pikeville Medical Center. She was born July 11, 1924, in Offutt, the daughter of the late John and Thelma Ward Baldridge. She was a homemaker, of the Apostolic faith for 69 years, and recently a member of the Cornerstone Apostolic Church at Jamboree. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Buster Fields; an infant daughter, Joy Fields, two brothers, Johnny Baldridge and Paris Baldridge, and two sisters, Jacqulene Dotson and Garnet Honaker. She is survived by four children, Nelson Fields (Joan) of Freeburn, Joan Dotson (Eddie) and Brenda Wolford (Larry), both of Phelps, and Thelma Hurley (Eugene) of Hurley, WV., one brother, Can Martin Baldridge of Brocton, NY., one sister, Margaret Yarbert of Jamestown, NY., ten grandchildren, Missy Fields, Anita Maynard, Krystal Fannin, Laurie Ann Wolford, Nykole Cosmo, Brent Gross, Adam Gross, Dana Bevins, Selena Young and Bryan Hurley, 18 great-grandchildren, Alexandria Smith, Trent Maynard, Kaitlyn Justice, Sutter Niblick, Mykah Fannin, Sydney Fannin, Peyton Gross, Nicholas Cosmo, Elizabeth Gross, Michael Cosmo, Angel Gross, Chloe Cosmo, Melody Gross, Emily Gross, Cody Bevins, Ethan Young, Dylan Young and Emma Hurley, and two great-great-grandchildren, Claire Rogers and Cloey Bevins. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, September 25, 2012, in the R.S. Jones & Son Funeral Home Chapel, with the Rev. Richard McKinney officiating. Burial will follow in Mountain View Memory Gardens, Huddy. Pallbearers are: Trent Maynard, Sutter Niblick, Adam Gross, Brent Gross, Pete Maynard, Mike Fannin and Gary Cosmo. Honorary pallbearers are: Payton Gross, Nicholas Cole Cosmo and Michael Larry Cosmo. Arrangements are under direction of R.S. Jones & Son Funeral Home of Phelps."

JACQULENE BALDRIDGE was born 13 Mar 1926 in Offutt, Kentucky. She married GREEN JR. DOTSON. Jacqulene Dotson, 77, of Pecor St., formerly of Phelps, Ky., died Tuesday in Westfield Memorial Hospital. She was born March 13, 1926, in Offuct, Ky., the daughter of John and Thelma Ward Baldbridge Sr. She is survived by four sons: Ronnie Dotson of Portland, Green Jr. and Michael Dotson, both of Westfield, and Terry Dotson of Bullhead City, Ariz.; three daughters: Sandra Bentley of Phelps, Nancy Reamy of Zephryhills, Fla., and Gracie Bane of Fredonia; 18 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Green Dotson Sr., whom she married in 1943, and who died in 1957; a great-granddaughter; a brother, John Baldridge; and a sister, Garnet Honaker. She died 09 Dec 2003 at Westfield Memorial Hospital in New York.

GARNET BALDRIDGE was born Aug. 19, 1929, in Offutt, Ky., the daughter of John and Thelma Ward Baldridge. She married ROBERT HONAKER and they had six daughters: Mary Louise Kennedy of West Palm Beach, Fla., Kay Gnadzinski of Fredonia, Brenda Johnson of Jamestown, Patricia Lynch of Texas, Carol Sue Meyers of Utica, N.Y., and Elizabeth ''Libby'' Jessie of Dunkirk; a son, Robert Honaker of Dunkirk; 29 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren. She lived on West Main Street, formerly of Pecor Street, Portland. Robert Honaker died in 1981 (1983 here), and she followed him on Thursday (Dec. 5, 2002) in Westfield Memorial Hospital. She is buried at the Evergreen Cemetery in Portland, New York, ae 73 lot D 26.

PARIS BALDRIDGE was born on 17 May 1932 in Offutt, Kentucky; He died on 20 Aug 2009 in Jamestown, Chautauqua, New York. Obituary: "Paris J. Baldridge of the Lutheran Retirement Home of Jamestown, NY and formerly of Portland, passed away at WCA Hospital in Jamestown, NY on August 20, 2009. Paris was born May 17, 1932 to the late John and Thelma (Ward) Baldridge in Offutt, KY. He is survived by two sisters Gracie (Baldridge) Fields of Freeburn, KY and Margaret (Baldridge) Yarber of Jamestown, NY; one brother, Can Baldridge of Fredonia, NY; two sisters-in-law Eileen (Kelley) Baldridge of Brocton, NY and Cindy Baldridge of Sinclairville, NY; and several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. He was predeceased by his parents; a brother, John (2000) and his two sisters, Garnet (Baldridge) Honaker (2002) and Jacqueline (Baldridge) Dotson (2003). Paris was a real joy to all who knew him and will be greatly missed."

MARGARET A. BALDRIDGE was born on 10 Feb 1938 in Pike Co., Kentucky. She married DONALD R. YARBER and lives in Brocton, NY. Margaret Alice Yarber, 77, of Heritage Green Nursing Home in Greenhurst, N.Y., passed away late Saturday evening, Aug. 29, 2015, at Hamot Hospital in Erie, Pa. Her loving family was by her side. Margaret was born Feb. 10, 1938, in Offutt, Ky., and was the daughter of the late John and Thelma (Ward) Baldridge. She was formerly of Brocton, N.Y., and lived in this area most of her life. Margaret made her life as a homemaker for her family, tending lovingly to all their needs. To know Margaret was to be blessed. For those lucky enough to call her family, they were blessed beyond measure. Margaret was the most loving mother, grandmother, sister, daughter, aunt and friend anyone could hope for. She was a bright light in this world, full of optimism and endless wisdom. Margaret could never be described in any simple words because she surpassed the definition of them all. To be loved by her was to know true, unselfish love. Margaret, in essence, was love. Her talents were many, her enemies were none, her convictions were strong and she was the epitome of a life lived authentically. She was an extremely talented artist, making quilts, costumes and other items, a very creative woman who was gifted in creating all kinds of individual designs, repeating none. Margaret lived by the Bible all her life. She is survived by two sons: Donald (Judy) Yarber of Jamestown, N.Y., and Chris (Tammy) Yarber of Jamestown, N.Y.; one brother, Can Baldridge of Dunkirk, N.Y.; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren also survive. She was predeceased by two brothers: Paris Baldridge and John Baldridge; and three sisters: Gracie Fields, Garnet Honaker and Jacqueline Dotson. There will be no visitation. The funeral service will be held at the convenience of the family. Funeral arrangements are being provided by the Morse Funeral Home of Brocton, N.Y. (Jamestown Post-Journal, 31 Aug 2015)

CAN MARTIN BALDRIDGE was born on 26 May 1944 in Pike Co., Kentucky. He married EILEEN KELLEY and has three children: John Edwin Benjamin Baldridge, Shannon Patrick Baldridge, and Kimberly Baldridge (b. 1980).

JOHN BALDRIDGE, JR. was born March 9, 1947 in Dunkirk. He attended Brocton schools and graduated from Cassadaga Valley Central School. He was self-employed and owned and operated John Baldridge contracting for 20 years. He married Cindy Briggs (18 Sep 1956 - 19 Aug 2016) on June 9, 1985, and they had the following children: John Baldridge III of West Palm, Fla.; three daughters: Dawn Greenlee and Andrea Carlson, both of Jamestown, and Amy Smith of Bensalem, Pa.; four grandchildren: Andrew and Luke Greenlee and Adrianna Carlson, all of Jamestown and Ryanne Smith of Bensalem. He lived on Hall Road, Cassadaga, and died May 14, 2000 at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute. He was buried in Charlotte Center Cemetery.

Dotson

   Their daughter JACQULENE BALDRIDGE married GREEN JR. DOTSON. They were poor, as mining wasn't a very profitable business, especially with the labor wars going on in the area. The country was coming out of a depression, but you could hardly tell the difference in Pike County. The house was cramped, and the kids slept beside the adults—the oldest sleeping by dad's head, the next at his feet, the youngest over with mom.
   Jacqulene was a member of the Holiness Movement which believes that the carnal nature of man can be cleansed by the power of the Holy Spirit through the confession of sin, repentance and faith. This belief is also called, "entire sanctification" or a "second work of grace" that enables one to live a life set apart from the world. An offshoot that Jacqulene practiced teaches that speaking in tongues, or "glossolalia," is the evidence one has received the second work of grace. However, to achieve and then remain in this blessed state requires intense, sustained effort, and one's life must be marked by constant self renunciation, careful observance of the divine ordinances, a humble, steadfast reliance on God's forgiving grace in the atonement, the intention to look for God's glory in all things, and an increasing exercise of the love which itself fulfills the whole law and is the end of the commandments. Jacqulene would prove herself to be up to that task throughout her life.
   After Green died in a car accident, Jacqulene moved the Dotson family to the state of New York.

PORTLAND -- Jacqulene Dotson, 77, of Pecor Street, Portland, died unexpectedly Tuesday (Dec 9, 2003) at the Westfield Memorial Hospital. She was born at Offuct, Ky. on March 13, 1926, the daughter of the late John and Thelma (Ward) Baldridge Sr. She had been a Portland area resident since 1961 and was formerly of Phelps, Ky. Her religion was well founded and she maintained her membership and support of the Corner Stone Apostolic Church of Phelps. Her hobbies were crocheting, quilting and cooking. She is survived by four sons, Ronnie Dotson of Portland, Green Dotson Jr. of Westfield, Terry Dotson of Bullhead City, Az., and Michael Dotson of Westfield; three daughters, Sandra Bentley of Phelps, Nancy Reamy of Zephryhills, Fla., and Gracie Bane of Fredonia; two brothers, Paris Baldridgeand Can Baldridge, both of Brocton; two sisters, Gracie Fields of Freeburn, Ky., and Margaret Yarber of Brocton; 18 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and three great, great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband Green Dotson Sr., whom she married in 1943 and preceded her in death in 1957; a great granddaughter, Misty Montgomery; one brother, John Baldridge; and one sister Garnet Honaker. Arrangements are by the Morse Funeral home in Brocton.

PORTLAND - Jacqulene Dotson, 77, of Pecor St., formerly of Phelps, Ky., died Tuesday in Westfield Memorial Hospital. She was born March 13, 1926, in Offuct, Ky., the daughter of John and Thelma Ward Baldbridge Sr. A Portland-area resident since 1961, her religion was founded, and she maintained her membership and support of the Corner Stone Apostolic Church of Phelps, Ky. Her hobbies were crocheting, quilting and cooking. She is survived by four sons: Ronnie Dotson of Portland, Green Jr. and Michael Dotson, both of Westfield, and Terry Dotson of Bullhead City, Ariz.; three daughters: Sandra Bentley of Phelps, Nancy Reamy of Zephryhills, Fla., and Gracie Bane of Fredonia; 18 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Green Dotson Sr., whom she married in 1943, and who died in 1957; a great-granddaughter; a brother, John Baldridge; and a sister, Garnet Honaker. The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday in the Morse Funeral Home, Brocton. Interment will be in Portland Evergreen Cemetery.

SOURCES:

NOTES: