Elijah Baker (1742 - November 06, 1798) was an American Baptist minister who preached in Virginia and Maryland. He is known to have preached in Henrico, James City, Charles City, and York Counties[2] before traveling Gloucester County and ultimately founding numerous churches on the Eastern Shore of Virginia and Maryland.[3] [4] Elijah Baker's conversion and ordination is credited to Rev. Shubal Stearns of Sandy Creek Baptist Church in Sandy Creek, North Carolina.[5] Baker is credited with planting the following churches:[6]
- James City Baptist Church, 1773
- Charles City Baptist Church, 1776
- Grafton Baptist Church, 1777
- Lower Northampton Baptist Church, 1778
- Mesongoes Baptist Church, 1779
- Hungo's Baptist Church, 1783
- Matompkin Baptist Church, 1785
- Chincoteague Baptist Church, 1786
- Seacock Baptist Church, 1787
- Portsmouth Baptist Church, 1789
- Pungoteague Baptist Church, 1790
- Machipongo Baptist Church
- Boars Swamp Baptist Church
- Four Mile Baptist Church
Elijah Baker[1] | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1742 Orange or Lunenberg County, Colony of Virginia, British America |
| Died | November 06, 1798 Salisbury, Somerset County, Maryland, United States |
| Occupation | Baptist minister |
| Known for | Preaching and church planter in Maryland and Virginia between 1776 and 1798 |
| Spouse(s) | Sarah Copeland, Ann Widgeon |
| Children | Elijah Baker |
Baker was jailed for preaching for 56 days in Accomack County in 1778, one of the last ministers to be jailed in Virginia for opposing the state-sponsored Anglican church. [7][8][9]