Person:James Walker (199)

Records in Wayne County, Kentucky

p. 406-407

To all to whom it may Concern be It known that I James Walker of the County of Wayne and State of Kentucky for diverse good cause and consideration ? thereunto moving as also in further Consideration of Taking a farm of 20 acres on my land and using all industry for a living once to pay me the Half what he can make fourteen years also to pay his own Taxes and find himself and if now required In the winter season to assist me in getting wood and feeding my stock have released from slavery, liberate, manumuted and set free and by these presents Do hereby release from slavery liberate manumut and set free my Negro man named Merida being of the age of thirty years and able to work and gain sufficient livelihood and maintinance and him the said Negro man Named Merida I do declare to be henceforth free man ? and discharged

In Testimony whereof I have set my hand and affixed my seal this seventeenth day of March In the year of our Lord 1817

(Signed) James Walker

Signed sealed and delivered

in the presence of us

Merida

Gideon Walker

Katharine Walker

Wayne County Court Clerks office

May the 19th 1817

the written Instrument of writing was this day acknowledged before me by James Walker party thereto to be his act and Deed whereupon the same is admitted to Record

Teste John Chrisman Clk

[in Wayne County, Kentucky Marriages and Vital Records Volume Two...Compiled and Published by June Baldwin Bork, 1973 - Ms Bork includes some materials on the Walkers and the following court depositions pertaining to Merida. p. 48, 49]

The deposition of Betsy Fry taken 25th April 1827 in Wayne County.

Questions by Merida to Elizabeth "Betsy" Fry:

Please state what you know relative to my freedom or what you may have heard Walker Sr. Say concerning it.

Answer: I heard Walker Sr the Defendent state and say some 4 or 5 years ago that Dianna, the Sister of the Complainants Mother (Diana the sister of Merida's Mother, Barbary) that he knew that she and her sister were free and that her children and her sisters children (Merida and others) were free and that he would pay Andrew and Jack, two of the children, for their labor at his death in Land, that he could not do well without them and that they were free previous to Merida's buying his freedom and that Jack was the brother of Merida.

The deposition of William Stanton taken in Russell County, Ky the 21 April 1827.

Questions by Merida: Please state what you know relative to my being born free.

Answer: I knew a James Walker in Orange County in Virginia who I believe to be the Defendant in this case. The said Walkers father was in possession of an old Lady of Colour by the name of Barbary who was reported and said to be free by the neighborhood and that the said Walker never disputed her being free and that Barbary is the Grandmother of Merida and that She Did Not Show or Possess Any Negro Blood.

Question: How long has it been since you knew James Walker Sr in Orange County, Virginia?

Answer: Something like 40 or 42 years ago and I am now 57 years old.

Question: Do you know of your own knowledge that the James Walker you know in Orange County is the same James Walker who is Defendant in this suit?

Answer:

Yes he is the same man as I have heard from his sister and brother in law that he was the same man. I have not seen him for near 40 years. I never saw him in Kentucky.

Question: Do lyou know of your own knowledge whether Barbary whom you have mentioned above was free and whether she was the Grandmother of Merida?

Answer: I don't know of my own knowledge that Barbary was free. I have heard such a report through the neighborhood, but she was held and acted as a Slave and said Walker exercised all acts of ownership over her and as to Merida being the Grandson, I have heard it reported that he was.

Question: How long has it been since you saw Merida and where was he born

Answer: I never saw him in my life nor do I know when or where he was born.

Question: Did you ever hear James Walker say that Barbary was free and did you ever hear Barbary claim her freedom in his presence?

Answer: I never heard him say anything on the subject and neigher did I hear Barbary claimher freedom in his presence.

The deposition of Francis Nicholas taken 21 April 1827

Questions by Merida: What do you know relative to my freedom?

Answer: I heard James Walker some 7 or 8 years ago say that Jack, the brother of Merida was a Free Man and I asked him why so and he said that he was borned free and that their Mother was Free if she knew it. I have heard Walker state this several times.

14th June 1827 - This day came Peter Caterin before me to take the deposition of Reubin Coffey of Bath County, Ky by S.C. Gill, Justice of the Peace for Bath County.

Questions by Merida and Peter Catron:

Did you know a woman by the name of Barbary that was kept in slavery by a certain Mr Walker living in Orange County, Virginia near the head of the Rapid Dam? [Rapidan]

Answer: I did and was kept in slavery and was kept partly naked and her head trimmed and very much sunburned and I supposed her to Be a White Woman.

Question: Did you no anything about her being a Slave?

Answer: James Walker Seignor told me that he was glad that the thing was coming to issue and that they were free people at Winchester in Kentucky, Clark County, when there was a suit brought for someof the family in that Circuit Court.

Question: Did you know of anything about lthis woman having a child by the name of Barbary?

Answer: I have heard so and believe it to be true.

A Summons for Elizabeth Stanton in the County of Garrard and State of Ky 28 May 1827 to speak in behalf of Merida, a Free man of Colour.

(Note: The above Suit involving Merida and his mother Barbary, and his Grandmother Barbara is established in the Will of Thomas Walker of Orange County, Va. Thomas names the negro woman Barbary and her children, Rachel, Barbary and Dinah. The Grandmother Barbara, according to the Depositions in the above Suit, was born of a Free White Woman. Thomas Walker's Grandson, James Walker Sr., brought Barbary and her son Merida along with him and his new wife, Catherine (Miller) to Kentucky. The Grandmother Barbary was probably born of the "yellow girl" that Jacob Miller raised.")

[1]

Records in Washington County, TX

Deed Book "A":

• Page 8 Deed of Gift 5 Jan 1836 James WALKER, Senr, to James WALKER, Junior, natural love & affection, tract in Lea granted to grantor by Mexican govt as his donation, beg at Samuel MILLER & James WALKER beginning cor, to W side Tongua Spring Branch. Signed also by Catharine WALKER. Wit: Uriah SANDERS, FK HENDERSON. Statement attached saying he has divided his land himself to avoid difficulty in administration. Certif By James HALL, Judge. Asist wit: CB STEWART, RS SMITH.

• Page 9 Deed of Gift 5 Jan 1836 James WALKER, Senr., Dept of Brazos, Juris of Washington, to William TOWNSEND and wife Sally TOWNSEND, love & affection and better maintenance of TOWNSENDS, on Mill Seat Branch, beg cor to Gideon WALKER & James's W line, Abutts cor of Cary D GARY. Signed also by Catharine WALKER, and executed at WALKER'S house before James HALL, Judge. Asist Wit: RS ARMISTEAD, CB STEWART.

• Page 10 Deed of Gift 5 Jan 1836 Same grantor as above, to John M WALKER, love & affection, tract in Lea given WALKER by Mexican govt, beg cor to James WALKER, SW to Woodard's Creek, cor to Gideon WALKER, to fork said creek & Mill Seat Creek, to point on New Year's Creek, abutting Cary D GARY and L___ GILPIN. Signed also by Catharine WALKER. Same parties as above. Wit: Uriah SANDERS, FK HENDERSON.

• Page 11 Deed of Gift, Same date & grantors as above, to Gideon WALKER, same consideration, vicinity, witnesses. etc.

• Page 13 Deed of Gift, Same date & grantors as Page 11, to Lucrecy GILPIN, formerly Lucrecy BELL, same consideration, vicinity, witnesses, etc.

• Page 421 Feb 1836 Polly LAURENCE to James WALKER, tr on New Year's Creek, part of Lea granted Saml R MILLER by Mexican nation, being 164 acres. $200. Instru wit: Lewis CLEMONS, William G HALL. Asst wit: NA MCFADIN, Benj BABBIT.

Deed Book "B":

• Page 1 Act of Emancipation 14 June 1836 James WALKER to his Negro man named Andrew, aged 47 yrs, & also his Negro woman old Nancey, wife of said Andrew, 45 years, for $300. They are not to be free during natural life of James and his wife Catherine WALKER. Wit: Saml K MILLER, FH HENDERSON. (Executed in Dept of Brazos, Washington Juris.)

• Page 2 Bill of Sale 14 June 1836 James WALKER to Carey L GARRY, $300, a Negro woman named Little Nancey or Young Nancey, 21 yrs.; also 1 Negro boy child, son of said Nancey, about 7 months, Nancey to be slave for 14 years & son for term of 34 years. Wit: Same as above.

• Page 54 Deed ___ _____ 1836, James WALKER to Cary D. GARY and wife LUCINDA GARY, for love and tender affection & better maintenance of said CARYS, tract in Lea granted WALKER by Mexican Govt beg on Woodwards Creek In forks of Mill Site Branch & said creek, then N to ashe on New Years Creek to WALKER'S Creek line, then to stake on Mrs HARRINGTON line; th SW to cor said Lea and joining Mrs HERRINGTON Lea; th SE to WALKER'S & Mrs HERRINGTON'S line to stake cor WH TOWNSEND; thn E with TOWNSEND'S line to branch, following to Mill Site Br to Gideon WALKER line. Th to Woodward's Cr & on John WALKER line to beginning. Signed also by Catherine WALKER. Wit: Gideon WALKER, John M WALKER.

• Page 81 Land Title 13 Oct 1836 Thomas S SAUL, Curator of Est of Alexander DUGGIN, to JGW LAURENCE, tract on Elm Creek in Colony of Nashville Company, the ½ Lea granted by Mexican govt to Duggins as Colonist of said Company (crosses Elm Creek.) $95. Wit: John WAUGH, James WALKER, James GRAY, WM H SLEY.

• Page 110 Bond 5 Dec 1836 MH HINCH to Moses EVANS, $2000. Condition: EVANS gives 2 notes in favor of HINCH, secured by ½ Lea & lab on hdrght said HINCH which will be divided into 2 equal halves. Wit: Jas HAGGARD, James WALKER. Ast wit: Saml R MILLER, William G HALL.

• Page 81 Title Bond 22 Jan 1837 James WALKER to MARTIN & CLOW, $3000. Conditions: Conveys interests in 1/3 League which he is entitled to as Colonist from Repub of Texas. $300. Wit: Thomas F MCKINNEY, Thos S SAUL.

Deed Book "C":

• Page 139 Deed 13 Oct 1838 John W WALKER to Ira ALNEY, tr on E side Woodward Creek, 117 acres, part of Lea granted by State of Coahulla & TX to James WALKER. $234.00. Signed also by Rebecca WALKER. Wit: __ WOODWARD, WH WOODWARD, William WALKER

• Page 151 Deed 26 Dec 1837 Cary D GARY to David HOUSTON, $1000, tract on waters of New Year's Creek. 200 acres beg at crossing of Hog Branch. Wit: Gideon WALKER, Sanders WALKER.

• Page 152 Deed 27 Oct 1838 Same parties as above, $500, tract on New Year's Creek, 205 acres. Wit: Gideon WALKER, Robt MERRITT.

• Page 154 Deed 11 July 1838 Gideon WALKER (signed also by Polly WALKER - no relationship stated) to Cary D GARY, $2000, my right to tract on waters of New Year's Creek, being same tract gifted to me and William TOWNSEN by James WALKER & in SW cor Lea granted said James by Mexican govt, beg on Woodward Creek. Wit: FA HENDERSON, WC PRICE, James MOORE.

• Page 156 Bill of Sale 19 May 1837 Gideon WALKER, Admr Est of James WALKER, Decd, to Cary D GARY, $1250, Negro woman named Nancy, aged 23 yrs, and her child Andrew. Wit: F HENDERSON, JH EVETTS.

Deed Book "D":

• Page 230Bill of Sale 10 Sep 1838 Gideon WALKER, Admr Est James WALKER, Senr, Decd, to Linna BAXTER(?), a colored woman Lytha, 24 years, & her 2 children, 1 called Mary Ann, 8 yrs, and Mirandy, a girl 3 yrs. But it is understood that as soon as a petition is proposed for the purpose of presenting to the next Congress for the purpose of liberating & setting free the said slaves I promise to assign the said petition with all the other heirs of Estate. Wit: James WHITESIDE, Elijah ALCORN.

Notes

James WALKER, Sr. was on the Washington County Tax Roll in 1837. He was reportedly injured during the "Runaway Scrape", and never fully recovered. He died about 1837 and it is thought that he is buried in Peach Creek Cemetery in Washington County, Texas. There is no tombstone, however a bronze medallion from the "Descendants of the Old Three Hundred" was placed near existing Walker grave sites. The medallion is no longer there, only the post with mounting brackets remain as of October 31, 1997. He died interstate and his son, Gideon WALKER, served as the administrator of his estate.

Catherine MILLER WALKER's death date is unknown, however she was still living with son, John M. WALKER, in Washington County, Texas in 1851.

James WALKER, one of Stephen F. Austin's "Old Three Hundred," built his homestead between 1824 and 1826. Situated on his original league of land in a lovely rural setting, this National Register house is one of the oldest in historic Washington County, Texas. The 28 ½' virgin cedar log construction is not visible from the exterior, but the logs have been left exposed inside. Furnished with Texas antiques, the house accommodates up to four people. (Bedroom, living room, loft, full kitchen, and bath with shower). Light breakfast. No children, no pets, no smoking. [2].

1. ↑ Ancestry.com. Public Member Trees: (Note: not considered a reliable primary source).
2.   GenForum.

   James Walker SR (13 Dec 1755-before May 1837) who married Catherine Miller, daughter of Jacob Miller and ELizabeth Fudge...
   His bible record was found. It was published in the Fayette Co KY Genealogical Society QUarterly Vol 9 #4 Winter 1994. The bible was published 27 Oct 1802 in Philadelphia, printed for Matthew Carey, No 18 Market Street. "This book was purchased Anno Domini 1804 by James Walker"
   
   Catherine Miller Walker did not died in the early 1800's. I don't have it at my fingertips at the moment, but theeis proof in deed records in Washington Co or Brazos Co TX (can't remember which) that she was still alive as late as 1836 when her husband James died and his estate was settled by his son Gideon Walker.
   
   This is what was published in the bible record:
   
   James Walker Sr b. 13 Dec 1755
   married 9 Sept 1783 Catherine B. Miller b. 26 Dec 1764
   
   children:
   ELizabeth b 3 July 1784
   Gideon b 28 Oct 1785
   Jacob b 17 Sept 1787
   Lucretia (my ancestor) b 23 Dec 1789 (first husband was SILAS BELL)
   Susannah b 12 Nov 1791
   James b 10 Oct 1793
   Sarah b 27 Nov 1795
   Mary b 10 Dec 1798
   Thomas b 1 Apr 1800
   Daniel b 1802 (his exact date unrecorded)
   Catherine b 5 June 1803
   William Henry b 22 Jan 1805
   Frankie and Charles...appear to be twins, bible record unclear, states Frankie was born 27 Aug 1806 and Charles born 29 Aug 1806
   John MM b 29 Nov 1807
   Lucinda b 8 May 1808
   Sanders b 18 May 1818
   Andrew born c 1820 (exact date unrecorded)
   
   James Walker SR deeded his sons land in the 1830's in TX shortly before his death. I have copies of all these deeds. If my memory serves me, as I have not looked at them in several years, mention is made of the sons providing for their mother Catherine. No will was made by James SR as he deeded all his land before death. It is believed he did this because of the uncertainty of what was happening with Mexico and Texas at the time.
   
   This James Walker SR was the son of Thomas Walker Jr and ELizabeth, grandson of Thomas Walker SR of Orange CO VA and ELizabeth.
   
   The Thomas-Thomas-James lineage is well supported by the Will of Thomas Walker Sr and by a huge lawsuit in Orange Co VA where a slave sued for his freedom. This lawsuit also establishes the identity of the 2 wives of Jacob Miller SR (Elizabeth Fudge and Margaret Sullivan) and the parentage of Catherine Miller Walker. It is a very interesting document
   
   http://genforum.genealogy.com/walker/messages/23870.html

3.   Daughters of Republic of Texas. Daughters of Republic of Texas: Patriot Ancestor Album. (Texas: Turner Publishing Company, 15 Jun 1995)
   pg. 282.

   James Walker Sr., born in Orange County, VA, was the son of Thomas Walker, Jr. and wife, Elizabeth -- and grandson of Thomas Walker Sr. who made his will in Orange County, VA Jan. 29, 1767 and proved Jan. 25j, 1770. The will is recorded in Orange County, VA Will Book Two, pages 409, 410, 411; quote: "I give the said Negro Jack to James Walker (whom we know as James Walker, Sr.) my grandson, the son of Thomas Walker, my son. I give and bequeath to my grandson James Walker (same as above) the son of my son Thomas Walker, two Negro children named Barbary and Dinah" When James Walker, son of Thomas Walker, Jr. and grandson of Thomas Walker Sr. grew to legal age, he was given the slaves and their increase according to the will.
   
   James and wife Catherine Miller migrated out of Orange and Greenbrier counties, VA, and by 1785 were in Madison County, KY. They then moved to Pulaski and Cumberland counties which (the part the resided in) became Wayne County, KY, where they remained until 1820-23 when they migrated to Texas.
   
   James Walker Sr. was deceased by 1837 (he evidently died 1836 after June 14 when he executed an Act of Emancipation for his slaves - see Washington County Deeds), when his estate in Washington County, TX was administered by his son, Gideon Walker (see Washington County, Deeds)

4.   Walker, Glennis R. The history of the Walker family, 1734-1990: & their kindred with related incidents. (Cool Ridge, West Virginia: G.R. Walker, 1991)
   pg. 12.

   James Walker---Born about 1761 in Orange County, Virginia, he married Catherine Miller Sept. 9, 1783 in Rockingham County, Virginia. It has been reasonably established James and Catherine followed the western migration into the New River Valley. The first census of Virginia in 1790 did not list a James Walker living in Orange or Rockingham Counties, Virginia. However a James Walker did turn up in the New River Valley of Virginia during this period, and was thought to be the migrating James. It is thought their daughter, Jane married Thompson Cole April 4, 1822 in Giles County, Virginia. It is said on good authority James and Catherine are buried in the Horseshoe Cemetery on the James Price Farm at Pembroke, Giles County, Virginia.