Walkers on the Swartara

Contents 1 Related 2 Location 3 Discussion		Walker Tapestry Register Data Notebooks Analysis Bibliography Graphics Index YDNA. Walker Chalkley's
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Related

[[person:Henry Walker

[[person:James Walker

[[person:John Walker

Location

The map below show the location of several warrants and patents issued to Walkers, based on township maps for the area in the PA archives. The parcels in pink are those originally warranted by Henry Walker, and later devised to his sons James and John. The parcels in Green were initially warranted to James Walker, believed to be Henry's brother.

Discussion

The "ox bow" on which these Walker lands lie is a distinctive feature along Swartara Creek. Immediately to the south is the modern town of Hershey. Old Hanover Presbyterian Church was sited in that general area. A memorial stone in the graveyard is described c1900 in Egles Notes and Queries (3rd Series, Vol I, X:58)

In memory of John Walker who deceased April 23 1749, in the 40th year of is age.

This presumably represents James the immigrant brother of Henry. Here it is interesting to note the following warrants and patents data:

Person	Location	Date of Warrant	Date of Patent		Survey
James Walker Person:James Walker (???)	Derry Twnshp Upper Swatera Creek	10 Aug 1737	4 January 1738	James Walker	C 224 80
James Walker Person:James Walker (???)	Derry Twp	11 Jan 1744	26 Apr 1749	James Walker	C224 201

The first warrant, for land on Swatera Creek, in Derry Township, is clearly the parcel which was acquired by James the immigrant, and brother of Henry, and for which patent rights were secured in 1738, well before his death in 1749. The second patent is also for land in Derry Township, but exactly where is not obvious from the survey record. What is interesting here is that the patent was secured on 26 April 1749, two days after the death of James the immigrant. While its possible that the survey process was underway before his death, and chance alone led to the recordation two days after he died, it seems likely that this would have been noted in the record. Possibly the land was signed for by son James. Alternatively, this may be a record for a different James Walker altogether. In anycase, determining the locating of this particular parcel is needed simply because we need to know how close it may have been to other Walker land holdings. That may give some idea as to who the property belonged to, and whether that person had a connection with the other Walkers in the area.