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- from "Vital records of Acton, Massachusetts, to the year 1850"
Joel Baker, ch. William and w., bp. Oct. 4, 1778, C.R.I
- from "The Newburyport Political Gazette", 21 Jul 1796 (genealogybank.com)
On Saturday evening, the second of July, at Alstead, in this vacinity, Joel Baker, a youth of eighteen, died; not in the course of nature, but by his own hand. Enamoured of a young woman in the vicinity, he addressed, and was rejected by her. Desperate at the disappointment of the wishes of a heart, unfortunately too susceptible, he communicated to the object of his affections, and to a few of his companions, his intention to abridge a life, no longer gladsome. Their unbelief gave him an opportunity to execute the work of death. He loaded a musket - and perished prematurely.
- from "the Hampshire Chronicle", 26 Jul 1796 (genealogybank.com)
KEENE [N.H.] July 12, On the 2d inst. JOEL BAKER, an apprentice Boy to Lieut. E. Kingsbery in the Paper Mill, Alstead, put a period to his life, by discharging a musket, the contents of which entered the vital part of this body and lodged there. It appears, by the conversion between him and a young man who worked in the mill, that he was fearful who might happen, to him, as the said young man was going to a neighbor's after their day's work was done, he (Baker) enquired how long he should be gone, and wished him to call the mill as he returned home. The young man, not thinking of any such thing taking place, returned in about half an hour, and stopped a few rods from the mill, talking with a person, when they saw Baker come to the door, and they advancing to about three or four rods distance from the mill, they saw hem the second time come to the door. and return back again : and at the same instant heard the report of the gun. They ran to the door, and seeing him lie there in such a condition, they immediately alarmed the workmen, and took him up and carried him to Mr. Kingsbery's house, where he, in a few moments expired, not stirring hand or foot, by uttering a few bitter groans. The next day a Coroner call a jury inquest, who sat upon the body, and brought in their verdict - SELF MURDER. On Monday, his funeral was attended by a vast concourse of people. He carried the gun with which he did the execution, to the mill in the morning, and told the workmen that he was going a gunning after he had done his days work; and there was no perceivable alteration in this behavior during the day. He was 17 years and 8 months old, and had worked in the mill about three years and had behaved exceedingly well, and no one had the least mistrust of this intention.
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1778 - 1796 (17 years)