Person:William Walker (312)

Introduction

Often Confused With:

William Walker of East Pennsboro (Lived more that 20 miles away)

William Walker of East Pennsboro (the elder) (Lived more than 20 miles away)

William Walker of Hogan's Creek (Migrated to North Carolina)

In the 1740's, a man by the name of William Walker settled in the Lurgan Township area. A close analysis of primary records indicate that this is the man who was killed at McCormick's Fort in 1757. He is often erroneously named as the father of the William Walker of East Pennsboro who married Elizabeth Hodge. He is also confused with William Walkerof Hogan's Creek (who was the brother of Robert Walker). All three of these men were distinct, unrelated men with the same name. William Walker of Lurgan did have a son named William, but this is not the same William in East Pennsboro. Land records show that William Jr. moved to Warrington Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania and did not live in the area.

Cumberland County, Pennsylvania ][1]

Key YDNA Group 6 1. Alexander Walker of Malin Lurgan Walkers 2. William Walker of Lurgan YDNA Group 33 (Letterkenny Walkers) 3. William Walker of Hogan's Creek 4. James Walker of Newville 5. Robert Walker of Yellow Breeches YDNA Group 14 6. William Walker of East Pennsboro Derry Walkers (Likely YDNA Group 5) 7. James Walker of Derry 8. Henry Walker of Derry

Land Location

Warrant October 17, 1749. [2]

Land Survey on a modern map. [3]

Death at McCormick's Fort

In May 1757, a William Walker was reported to be killed in a skirmish with Native Americans at McCormick's Fort. There has been debate over the location of this fort, but a contemporary Boston newspaper noted it was "near Shippensburgh", which is very close to Lurgan Township.

Newspaper record here (Ancestry Account Required) ^[4]

Probate Records

His estate appears in court records in 1765, but the earliest reference to his death is in the Cumberland Administrator book A page 20. The index to this record survives, but the actual estate record has been lost. This location in the records would place his death around 1757 which is further supported by tax records.

William Walker's Probate Entry. Index is in chronological order, suggesting a death around 1757. Direct Link (Requires Ancestry Account)

His wife was named Mary, and he had at least four sons: John, Thomas, William, and Samuel according to court records

Cumberland County Orphan's Court Docket Volume 2, Pages 97-98

Cumberland County Orphan's Court Docket Volume 2, Pages 103-104

His son William cannot be the same William who lived in East Pennsboro, as land records indicate the children left the county after his death. John Walker lived in Charleston, Chester, Pennsylvania, his son Thomas Walker lived in Bedminster, New Jersey, and his son William Walker Jr. lived in Warrington, Bucks, Pennsylvania.

Cumberland Deed Book G, pages 113-115

Tax Records

William Walker can be found on early tax records in Cumberland, PA until 1758. Starting in 1758, the name "William Walker" is replaced with the name "Widow Walker", supporting the idea that he died around 1757 (and at McCormick's fort). Note this year that the list still includes William Walkers in Hopewell Township and East Pennsboro for 1758.

Cumberland County Archives

1750

East Pennsboro Township

William Walker

1751

Hopewell Township

William Walker

Lurgan Township

William Walker

1758 (Mislabeled as 1753)

East Pennsboro

William Walker

Hopewell Township

William Walker Sr

William Walker Jr

Lurgan Township

Widow Walker

Lurgan Township, 1751	Lurgan Township, 1758 (Mislabled as 1753)

^[6]

See Also:

Analysis. Is the William Walker who died at McCormicks Fort William 186?

Land Warrant

Land Survey

Notes

1. ↑ Compiled from Land Warrants and Surveys. See also maps from "First Families of Cumberland County", Hayes R. Eschenmann and Paul Barner, Cumberland County Historical Society. They can be obtained from the society here:
2. ↑ Surveyed 1760. Book A-23 Page 194
3. ↑ Done with the assistance of "First Families of Cumberland County", Hayes R. Eschenmann and Paul Barner, Cumberland County Historical Society. They can be obtained from the society here:
4. ↑ Codman, Ogden. Index of Obituaries In Boston Newspapers, 1704-1800: Boston Athenaeum. Boston: G. K. Hall, 1968. Volume 3 Page 507. Accessed though Ancestry.com U.S., Newspaper Extractions from the Northeast, 1704-1930 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.
5. ↑ Cumberland Probate Index T-Z: Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania, Wills and Probate Records, 1683-1993 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Original data:Pennsylvania County, District and Probate Courts.
6. ↑ Cumberland County Archives. "Tax Rates. 1736 to 1749. 1750, 1751, 1752, 1753" on spine. Transcription “of taxables was compiled from data contained in J. D. Rupp’s History of Cumberland and from a list published in the ‘American Volunteer’ May 1871…” written on the first page. (CCHS note indicates 1753 should be 1758.) Townships: Allen, Antrim, Carlisle (town), Guilford, Hamilton, Hopewell, Lurgan, Middleton, Pennsboro East, Pennsboro West, Peters. Index: CCHS compiled an index. Can be accessed here