East New Market

Property Reports

12 Railroad Avenue

John Arlington Baker House

Key date analysis:

A 1910 property tax assessment record describes this house as a new house.

Who built it:

The John A. Baker house was built by John Anthony Baker around 1909.  The structure replaced an earlier house which was moved to the east side of North Main Street.  The earlier structure was known as the James M. Murphy House. 

Longest Residents:

India M. Baker 52 years.

More Research:

When exactly was the James M. Murphy house moved? 

Historic Records:

417 MLB 217 - 22 December 1999 - Jeffrey Lee Allendorf, & Sandra D. Allendorf, his wife, to Stephen B. Myers & Jill B. Myers, his wife,

239 PLC 683 - 21 May 1986 - Milton McMahon & Henrietta McMahon, his wife to Jeffrey Lee Allendorf, & Sandra D. Allendorf, his wife,

171 PLC 262 - 19 October 1971 - T. Willis Smith & Katherine W. Smith, his wife, to Milton F. McMahon & Henryetta P. McMahon, his wife, for $5:  lot in East New Market more particularly described according to a survey dated 2 June 1963.  Beginning at a concrete monument now set at the intersection of the easterly property of Edgar R. Twilley with the north side of Railroad Avenue, per deed dated 8 November 1941 in 44 RSM 1, for the land was conveyed to Edgar R. Twilley by Henry H. Coulbourne, S74/50E 380.9 feet from the intersection to the back of a sidwalk on the north of Railroad Avenue with the face of the East curb, thence binding with the back of said sidewalk of Railroad Avenue S74/50E 100 feet to a granite stone heredated 8 December 1954 in 91 RSM 34, was conveyed by Hilda C. McGuigan to Lois W. Leary, thence leaving Railroad Avenue and binding with a fence and western outline of the said Lois W. Leary land, the three following courses N15/28E 78.85 feet to the corner of the foundation of the said Lois W. Leary dwelling house, N61/41W 13.77 feet to a fence post, N10/43E 205.1 feet to a concrete stone now set and to be the southernmost outline of the property of Lawrence Adshead, thence running and binding with said outline and along a fence, N89/18W 125.18 feet to a concrete store now set at the northeast corner of the land conveyed to Edgar R. Twilley, thence running on the easternmost outline of said property and along a line of iron pipes heretofore set, S5W 261 feet to the place of beginning.  Being the same land which was conveyed unto the said T. Willis Smith & Katherine W. Smith, his wife, by Agnes S. Vane, Administrix C.T.A.of the estate of India M. Baker, deceased, by deed dated 16 July 1963 in 134 PLC 53.

[Katherine was known as Anne.  The W. may stand for Wheatley]

134 PLC 53 - 16 July 1963 - Agnes S. Vane, adminstratrix c.t.a, of the estate of India M. Baker, to T. Willis Smith & Katherine Smith, his wife, for $7000.  Whereas India M. Baker departed this life testate on or about 25 November 1961, leaving a will which was duly admitted to probate in 4 APM 45.  Agnes S. Vane, administratrix, entered into a contract to sell land known as the home place of India M. Baker.  [described in 171 PLC 262].  Being the same land conveyed to India M. Baker from John A. Baker on 27 June 1933 in 30 JFD 88.

East New Market Cemetery - India M. Smith Baker - 22 October 1876 - 25 November 1961

East New Market Cemetery - John A. Baker - 2 October 1865 - 3 December 1941

1940 Census
Dwelling #86, household of John A. Baker and India Baker.

30 JFD 88 - 27 June 1933 - John A. Baker to India M. Baker, his wife, for $5:  All that house and lot now occupied by the said John A. Baker and India M. Baker, his wife, known as his home property, in East New Market.  Fronting 100 feet on Railroad Avenue, which the said John A. Baker obtained by the Last Will and Testament  of his mother, Margaret A. Baker, and being in part the same property which the said Margaret A. Baker obtained by deed from James M. Murphy & wife, by deed dated 20 May 1875 in 10 FJH 140.  Beginning at a stone at the SW corner of the front yard of the premises now owned and formerly occupied by Major S. Fletcher (now owned by Margaret Maurice) , and from thence running with the present division fence between the two lots in a straight line 290 feet to the line of Mrs. Margaret A. Baker's lot on the North, thence with said last named lot 149 feet to the line of Mrs. Eliza Hubbard's lot, on the West, thence with Mrs. Hubbard's line 254 feet to the street, and thence 93 feet to the said stone, the place of beginning.  The said described lot being the same that was conveyed to the said Mary E. Murphy by Major S. Fletcher & wife, on 1 August 1874 in 9 FJH 474

1930 Census
Dwelling #68, household of John A. Baker, county commissioner

1920 Census
Dwelling #33, household of John A. Baker, canner

1910-1918 Tax Record
John A. Baker
New House
Lot on Railroad Avenue in East New Market
100 x 30 @ $5.00 per front foot         $    350.00
Dwelling                                         $ 3,300.00
Outbuildings                                    $    150.00 
Original House after move.
Lot on North [main] Street East New Market
300 x 300 @ $2.50 per front foot        $  750.00
2 acres of land adjoining above
@ 100.00 per acre                           $   200.00
Dwelling on same                             $   900.00

1910 Census
Dwelling #36, household of John A. Baker, vegetable packer/canner

1900 Census
Dwelling #268, household of John A. Baker, farmer

1896-1910 Tax Record
John A. Baker
1896 - House & lot in ENM 4 acres ground $15

1896 Tax Record
John A. Baker
House & Lot situated in New Market, lot containing 4 acres $1500

1 JWF 344 - 29 November 1889 / 12 March 1892 - Will of Margaret A. Baker
Item Sixth - I give and devise unto my dear and well beloved son John Anthony Baker, all my real estate wherever situated, and not herein before otherwise disposed of or devised in fee simple.

1880 Census
Dwelling #2, household of Margaret A. Baker, farming

1876 Tax Record
Margaret A. Baker
Dwelling house in ENM of Murphy 3/4 acres - $2000

10 FJH 140 - 26 May 1875 - James M. Murphy & Mary E. Murphy, his wife, to Margaret A. Baker for $2250:  Lot in East New Market.  Beginning at a stone at the SW corner of the front yard of the premises now owned and formerly occupied by Major S. Fletcher, and from thence running with the present division fence between the two lots in a straight line 290 feet to the line of Mrs. Margaret A. Baker's lot on the North, thence with said last named lot 149 feet to the line of Mrs. Eliza Hubbard's lot, on the West, thence with Mrs. Hubbard's line 254 feet to the street, and thence 93 feet to the said stone, the place of beginning.  The lot being the same conveyed to the said Mary E. Murphy by Major S. Fletcher & wife on 1 August 1874 in 9 FJH 474.

9 FJH 474 - 11 August 1874 - Major S. Fletcher & Willie K. Fletcher, his wife, to James M. Murphy & Mary E. Murphy, his wife, for $350:  Lot in East New Market.  Beginning at a stone at the SW corner of the front yard of the premises now owned and formerly occupied by Major S. Fletcher, and from thence running with the present division fence between the two lots in a straight line 290 feet to the line of Mrs. Margaret A. Baker's lot on the North, thence with said last named lot 149 feet to the line of Mrs. Eliza Hubbard's lot, on the West, thence with Mrs. Hubbard's line 254 feet to the street, and thence 93 feet to the said stone, the place of beginning.  Being a portion of the land conveyed to the said Major S. Fletcher by William Christopher and wife on 1 Janary 1864 in 5 FJH 497.

History of East New Market - 1871-1913 by Frank E. Loomis
At this time the railroad had been built about four years, owned principally by county stockholders.  The president was Wilson Burns of Cambridge.  Our station agent was James Murphy who married a sister of Dr. Jacobs and afterwards became conductor and I think remained so until the road went into the hands of receivers.

1867-1876 Tax Record
Mrs. Margaret A. Baker
1875 House & Lot from J.M. Murphey $1500
James M. Murphy
1873 - House & Lot $1500
reduced
1875 - by House & Lot to Margaret A. Baker $1500
Major S. Fletcher
1867 - House & Lot 7 acres from William Christopher $2000
William Christopher
1867 - House & Lot 7 acres - House and lot 7 acres $2000
reduced
1867 - House & Lot 7 acres to Major S. Fletcher $2000

American Eagle - 10 December 1856 – Married –
On Monday by Rev. Mr. Kemp - Mr. James M. Murphy of Queen Annes County to Miss Mary E. Jacobs, only daughter of Kendall M. Jacobs of this county.

See the Historic Record Report for Buckland for further history about this land.