Person:James Walker (102)

Contents 1 Documentation 2 Related 3 Overview 4 Tax Records 5 Notes	Return to Old Chester|Explanation	Walker Tapestry Register Data Notebooks Analysis Bibliography Graphics Index YDNA. Walker Chalkley's
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Documentation

Document:Will of James Walker, Cumberland County PA, 1750 abstract

Transcript:Will of James Walker, 1750, Cumberland County, PA transcript

MySource:Walke434/Newville Walker Tax Records Tax records of James, children, and brother William.

MySource:Walke434/Walkers in Big Spring Presbyterian Church Church Records.

MySource:Walke434/Newton Walker Land Transactions Land Transactions of Children.

Related

YDNA Walker Group 33

The Early Walker Settlers of Central Pennsylvania

Cumberland County, Pennsylvania ][2]

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

Overview

This article is for the James Walker who wrote his will in Cumberland County PA, in 1750. James Walker settled in the Newville, Pennsylvania area in the 1740's. His name appears in the land warrant for the land of Big Spring Presbyterian Church, suggesting he may have been a church elder.

James identifies his wife as Elizabeth, and lists ten children, some of whom are clearly minors at his death. If we assume he was 20 years at marriage, and that there were two years between children, then his marriage could scarcely have occurred later than 1730, and his birth was most likely prior to 1710. His will identifies his residence as "Hopewell", in Cumberland County. His younger children (Robert, William, Andrew, Joseph) stayed in Pennsylvania throughout the 18th century. However, his older children (John, Samuel, James, Abraham) quickly disappeared from records in the area. Many of them migrated to what is now Caswell, North Carolina along with William Walker shortly after the French and Indian War.

Based on Egle's Descendancy for Walkers in Old Lancaster, it seems most likely that James is the son of Robert believed to have settled in Cumberland County. Other candidates for this James Walker are either not believed to have lived in Cumberland County, or to have been too young to have acquired land in 1737. Egle's Notes and Queries 3#rd series, Vol I, X:58 notes a "memorium mori" "In memory of James Walker who deceased April 23, 1749, in the 4Oth year of his life". This memorial stone was located in the Old Hanover Presbyterian Church near Hershey PA. While the year of birth and death are very close to those for the James Walker of Hopewell, it seems more likely that it commemorates the death of James Walker who lived on the Swartera Creek, a few miles north of Hershey. In anycase, the date on the stone preceeds the date of the will of James of Hopewell township, and so it is not the same person.

Researcher Grant Pinnax notes that while the will is dated 1750, it was not "sworn" until 1779. The term "sworn" probably refers to a probate record where witnesses swore to the veracity of the will. The 29 year gap between will date and sworn date is perplexing, and may indicate that James did not die until considerably later than 1750. In anycase, this probably is the source of commonly seen alternative DOD's for this person (175- vice 1779).

Surveyed for the Big Spring Presbyterian Church. Warrant March 2, 1744 for William Lamond, Alexander McClintock, David Killough, and James Walker. Book C-115 Page 131	Land survey on modern map with relatives and associated families. James Walker's survey is the pink section, while the land of his children are indicated in indigo. William Walker of the orange plot was likely a brother who migrated to Orange County, North Carolina. [3]

Tax Records

Cumberland County Archives Tax Books^{[4] [5]}

1751

Hopewell Township

James Walker

1758 (Mislabeled as 1753)

Hopewell Township

James Walker

1759

Hopewell Township

Widow Walker (Widow of unknown spouse)

1760

Hopewell Township

(No Entry for James Walker)

1763

Hopewell Township

James Walker

From this point forward for at least a decade, no James Walkers are mentioned. It is conceivable that James Walker actually died in the 1750's well before 1779. The James Walker in the tax records may refer to his son James. This son migrated with other relatives and associated families to Caswell County, North Carolina.

Notes

See:

MySource:Land survey, James Walker, 254 Ac, on Swatero Creek, Derry, Lancaster, 1737.jpg

Transcript:Will of James Walker, 1750, Cumberland County, PA

1. ↑ His will was written in 1750, and identifies ten children, some of whom were minors. Allowing a two year birth interval between children implies a DOM of c1730. Assuming marriage at age 20, gives a DOB of before 1710
2. ↑ 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:
3. ↑ Based on USGS Topographic Map. 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:
4. ↑ 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
5. ↑ Cumberland County Archives. "Book of Rates for the County of Cumberland commencing [20th Oct] 20th Dec 1758" on first page. Some of 1762 twp in the volume 1762-1767. 1762 Townships: Aire, Guildford, Hopewell (in 1763 section), Antrim, West Pennsboro 1763 Townships: Guilford, Middleton, Fannet, Hamilton, Hopewell, Letterkenny, Lech, Fernanach, Upper and Lower Terone, Lurgan, Antrim, Allen, East Pennsboro, West Pennsboro, Aire, Antrim 1764 Townships: Middlton, West Pennsborough, Letterkenny, Carlisle (town), Lurgan, East Pennsborough, Antrim, Hopewell, Hamilton, Allen, Peters, Guilford 1765 Townships: Middleton, Peters, Allen Carlisle (town), West Pennsborough, Hopewell, Lurgan, Peters (cont.), Guildford, Antrim 1766 Townships: Peters, Letterkenny, Guilford, Hopewell, Lurgan, Anrtim, Middleton, Allen, West Pennsborough, Carlisle (town) 1767 Townships: East Pennsborough, Allen, Middleton, West Pennsborough, Carlisle (town), Tyrone, Fermanagh, Lach, Teboine, Rye, Newton, Hopewell, Antrim, Peters, Guilford, Letterkenny, Hamilton, Lurgan, Aire, Fannet, Bedford. Inserts. Can be accessed here