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John "Gunstocker" Walker
b.Abt 1714 Wigton, Scotland
d.Bet 27 Mar 1797 and 3 Oct 1797 Walkers Creek, Rockbridge County, Virginia
Family tree▼ (edit)
m. 15 Jun 1710
(edit)
m. 1743
Facts and Events
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[edit] OverviewJohn Walker, known to us as "Gunstocker John", was the son of Alexander I, of Wigton, Scotland. A 25 April 1714 baptismal record for a John Walker, the son of an Alexander Walker and Janet Cowan in Wigton, Scotland, is sometimes identified as that of Gunstocker John, but direct evidence for this is not known. (See Analysis. Family of Alexander Walker of Wigton Scotland). He came to America with his Uncle John in 1726. Source:White, 1902 tells us that: John Walker ... came with his Uncle John from Ireland to America. Soon afterwards he m. Mary Culton. They are both buried in a graveyard on the hill in front of his cousin, Alexander Walker's home, which is about one mile from where he settled on Walker's Creek. The farm is now [1902] owned by a Mr. Whitmore. John Walker was a member of the New Providence Church and was an upright, conscientious man. From his occupation he was called "Gunstocker John," and many of the guns he assisted in making were used in the Revolutionary War. [3] [edit] LandJohn owned several tracts in the Walkers Creek area of what is now Rockbridge County and one in Botetourt County. Extracts of the land transactions believed to be his follow:
 Botetourt County, Virginia Deeds Deed Bk 2: 90-92, 13 Mar 1775 (Deed of Release dated 14 Mar 1775): William Thompson and William Preston, executors of James Patton late of Augusta County to John Walker of Botetourt County; 392 acres on “a branch of James River called Cavel (Caval?) Run. No Witnesses. Deed Bk 5: 191-192, 13 Jan 1795: Joseph Walker, attorney of John Walker of Rockbridge County, to William Moore of Botetourt County; 60 pounds; 170 acres on the waters of Graveyard Run the waters of Spreading Spring Branch branch of James River; joining James Moore; Peter Harkley, and John Chambers. Witnesses: Saml. Walker, James McPheeters, Thos. Rowland.  Rockbridge County, Virginia, Deeds Deed Bk A;250-251, 4 Apr 1780: Anthony Kelly and Elizabeth his wife of Rockbridge County to John Walker of same; 95 acres on a branch of Walkers Creek for 1800 pounds. No witnesses. Recorded: 4 Apr 1780. Deed Bk A: 273, 5 Sep 1780: John Walker and Margaret his wife of Rockbridge County to Hugh Kelso of same; 42 acres on a branch of Walkers Creek being part of a tract of 95 acres formerly belonging to William Kelly for 900 pounds. No witnesses. Recorded: 5 Sep 1780. Deed Bk C:105, 17 Sep 1794: John Walker of Rockbridge County appoints his son Joseph Walker his lawful attorney to sell land in Botetourt County adjoining James Moore, Peter Hartley, and John Chambers. Witnesses: Samuel Houston, Polly Moore, John Rodgers, William Davison. Recorded 7 Oct 1794. In his 1797 will, John left "the plantation that I now live on, containing two hundred and seventy-one acres, be the same more or less" to his son William. This 271 acres was presumably composed of the original tract of 213 acres he purchased from Benjamin Borden in 1743 and an adjoining 61 acres purchased from his son-in-law and daughter, Arthur and Mary (Walker) Grimes/Graham, in 1771. Unaccounted for are the remainders of the 392 acre tract he owned in Botetourt County and 95 acre tract he purchased from Anthony and Elizabeth Kelly in 1780. It is possible the deeds disposing of this property during John's lifetime were overlooked when the records of these counties were consulted. It is also possible these lands are part of the remainder of his estate he directed to be divided between his children and grandchildren after his debts and funeral expenses were paid. These deeds may be outside the higher end of the period reviewed which was about 1800. There is also the third possibility the deeds selling these two tracts were not recorded. Whatever the case, reviewing the land records and extending the time period covered needs to be done to sow up these loose ends in his land ownership history. There are also several deeds for a John Walker purchasing property on Walkers Creek in 1778. Initially these were thought to be purchases made by Gunstocker John, however in reviewing the timeline of these purchases and their subsequent dispositions these are now thought to involve his son John who died shortly before him. [edit] OccupationWhite says John's occupation was gunstocking and that appears to be correct. He is identified as "Gunstocker John Walker" in the 1780 patent of his son John Walker's land adjoining his on Walker's Creek as well as in some Rockbridge County tax list. As a gunstocker, John practiced the art of carving gun stocks from wood and attaching them to barrels. But this was not his only skill, the Rockbridge County tax lists also refer to him as a blacksmith which was probably his primary profession and one shared by his brother "Sawney" Alexander, his cousin Alexander, and several of his sons. Gunstocking would have been a nice compliment to his smithing and it may be he was exceptionally skilled at it since he was known predominantly as a gunstocker and not as a blacksmith. A ledger covering the years 1788-1795 for a John Walker who was a blacksmith in Rockbridge County is in the collection of the Wisconsin Historical Society. This was probably Gunstocker John's ledger. His son John, also a blacksmith but known as a gunsmith, died in 1794 leaving his father as the only candidate in the area. John would have been close to 80 years old in 1795, a rather advanced age for a man to still be working as a blacksmith. It is possible by the time period the ledger covers John had taken on more of a managerial role of his blacksmith shop with his adult sons doing the actual work. The ledger records the repair of everyday household items for his customers as the crafting items such as: gate hinges, fire dogs, broad axes, "plow shields," "tommy hawks," and, of course, gun barrels. [edit] Needs1. Complete documentation 2. Discussion of birth order of children
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