Sketch XLV

An Illustrious Ancestor—Walker Family

Not many of our old families can trace their ancestry back to so illustrious a personage as the one claimed by the Walker family, of Woodhouse. This old Norfolk family are the lineal descendants of George Walker, Bishop of ‘derry, who, refusing to hold quiet possession of his bishopric, placed himself at the head of a troop and fell at the battle of the Boyne in the cause of Protestantism. He was born of English parents in the County of Tyrone, in the early part of the 17th century. He was educated at the University of Glasgow, and, entering the Church, became rector of Donoughmore. When the Irish army of James II entered Ulster and took possession of Kilmore and Coleraine, Mr. Walker sought refuge in Londonderry. The lands of this county were held by the Corporation of the City of London, having been confiscated during the reign of the first James. A colony of English and Scotch had been planted there and Londonderry, therefore, was English head-quarters in Ireland during these troublous times. The town was able to ward off attacks from the pike-armed Celts, but it was not sufficiently fortified to withstand a siege by regular troops. Lundy, the Governor, was prepared to make a surrender, but some of his officers and the citizens of the town protested against such an act, and firmly resolved to hold their position at all hazards. Bishop Ezekiel Hopkins was a strong advocate of passive obedience, and while he was urging the people to make no resistance, a Scotch lad interrupted him by shouting; “A good sermon, my lord; but we have no time to hear it now.” This lad was one of the daring band, known as the “thirteen Scotch apprentices,” and immediately after the interruption this band of your Scotch heroes closed the gates and defied the enemy. It was now that Rev. George Walker came forward, a man unknown and well advanced in years, and began to harangue the people to fight to the last. His words were words of inspiration to them, and so enthused did they become in their determination to hold their position or die, that Lundy would have fallen a victim to their fury if Walker had not protected him until he succeeded in escaping from the city. The particulars of the siege, which is the most memorable in British history, are known to every student of history, and it is not necessary to dwell upon it here. Mr. Walker and Major Baker became joint governors, assisted by Captain Adam Campbell. When the inhabitants were reduced to great extremity by hunger, Mr. Walker kept up their spirits by preaching rousing sermons to them in the Cathedral, and placing himself at the head of sallying parties.

When the English fleet brought relief Walker went to London, where he was warmly received, thanked by the House of Commons, created Doctor of Divinity by Oxford, and made Bishop of ‘Derry by the King. It is said that Bishop Walker’s portrait was in every house in England, and a lofty pillar was erected to his memory in Londonderry. A recollection of this terrible siege has been kept alive to this day by the Walker club and Campbell club of Londonderry.

Just one hundred years after the battle of the Boyne a great-grandson of the old hero of Londonderry bade his young wife an affectionate farewell and came to America to learn for himself what the chances in the new country were like. He was favorably impressed, and resolved to return to old Erin for his girl wife; but when he reached New York he received the sad intelligence that she had died in child-birth, and was buried. The cord that bound Henry Walker’s heart to the “Little Green Isle” was thus cruelly severed, and he turned his face once more towards Maryland, but not accompanied, as he had fondly anticipated, by his bride of only one short year. But he was a true son of Britain, and found numerous friends among the persecuted U. E. Loyalists, whose homes had been confiscated by the victorious Americans.

In the month of June, 1793,[1] a party of these Loyalists, consisting of twelve families from North Carolina and Maryland, arrived on the Niagara frontier, and Henry Walker, who was twenty-five years old at the time, came with them.[2] Solomon Austin and family were of this party, and soon after they effected a settlement in Lynn River Valley.[3]

Henry Walker married Mary, eldest daughter of Solomon Austin, and erected a home of his own among the Austins; and before the sun had been given a chance to kiss the rich, virgin soil of the picturesque little valley the cooings of the first-born Walker, of Norfolk, might have been heard mingling with the warble of the birds as they flitted about among the waving tree-tops. It is said that this pioneer baby was the first white child born in Norfolk; but as similar honors are claimed by several other old families, it would be safer for the Walkers to confine their claim to the township of Woodhouse. This priority of birth has been claimed by the McCalls and Culvers also, but there are good reasons for assuming that Sarah Fairchild, who was born in Townsend March 26th, 1794, was the first white child born in the county; that is, as far as the records produced would seem to indicate.[4]

In Henry Walker’s family were two sons—James and Solomon; and two daughters—Rebecca and Esther.[5] Mrs. Walker was entitled, as a daughter of a U. E. Loyalist, to a land grant, and if she or her husband had attended to it while Sir John Graves Simcoe was Governor, they would, no doubt, have secured it.[6] The old pioneer died in 1834, in his 67th year.

James Walker, eldest son of Henry, married Hannah Robinson, and settled near the old homestead. He was only sixteen when the war of 1812 broke out, yet he joined the militia forces and served during the last two years of the war; and later on, during rebellion times, he was first lieutenant in a mounted troop of horsemen. James Walker was one of the pioneer magistrates of Woodhouse, and it may truthfully be said his magisterial duties, as well as the various duties devolving upon him as a citizen, were performed fairly, faithfully and fearlessly. He had two sons—Dr. Robert and William; and three daughters—Phoebe, Mary and Rebecca.[7]

As before stated, James Walker was only sixteen when the war of 1812 broke out. He was too young the first year to enter the ranks, but he drove a yoke of oxen in the transportation service, and while at Fort Norfolk one day he became very much interested in a cannon. The bore of a 12-pounder looked larger to him than the bore of a modern Krupp would look to an old war veteran. It seemed big enough to thrust his head into it, and, boy fashion, he proceeded to put his surmises to a practical test. While thus engaged an officer struck the cannon a sharp blow with a cane, and young Walker was fired end-over-end a considerable distance—at least it seemed so to him. It was some time before he could be made to realize that he had not actually crawled into that cannon and been shot out of it.

Solomon, second son of Henry, married Sarah, daughter of Nathaniel Osborne, and succeeded to the old homestead. He was one of the pioneer councillors of Woodhouse. He died in 1881, in his 77th year. He had four sons—Henry, Nathaniel Osborn, David Marr and Solomon; and three daughters—Mary, Sarah and Alice. Of these sons, Nathaniel Osborne is the well-known Dr. N. O. Walker, of Port Dover, who has practised medicine in South Norfolk for over forty years. David Marr is Judge D. M. Walker, of Winnipeg, Man; and Solomon is mining in the—at present—famous Rossland district.[8]

Rebecca Walker, elder daughter of Henry, married David Marr, Esq., of Marr’s Hill. There were three sons in this family—Dr. Israel, James and Dr. Walker; and two daughters—Caroline and Mary.

Esther Walker, the younger daughter of Henry Walker, married Joseph Carpenter. They settled, finally, in one of the Western States.

It was just one hundred years from the battle of the Boyne to the departure of Henry Walker for America, and it will be observed that more than another hundred years of the world’s history has been made since Henry Walker built his log cabin among the trees in Lynn Valley.

[1] Solomon Austin apparently did not arrive in Norfolk County until 1794. He filed his land petition on July 16, 1794 stating that he came here with his wife and seven children. Henry Walker apparently followed his father-in-law to Upper Canada. Walker’s petition of June 8, 1796 included a certificate written by Robert Kerr stating that Walker had been in the province for one year. Sources: Upper Canada Land Petitions “A” Bundle 1, Doc. No. 14; “W” Bundle 2, Doc. No. 45.

[2] Henry Walker’s gravestone in Old Woodhouse Cemetery states that he died on August 11, 1834 in his 67th year, making him about 26 or 27 years old at the time of his 1795 arrival in Upper Canada.

[3] In response to his 1794 Land Petition, the Executive Council allowed Solomon Austin a grant of 600 acres of land which he located in Lots 4 and 5, Concession 4, Woodhouse Township, located in the Lynn River Valley southeast of Simcoe.

[4] It is uncertain who had the first white child born in Norfolk County, but the oldest known Walker child, James, was born in 1797 according to his gravestone in Old Woodhouse Methodist Cemetery. This was seven years after the earliest settlers arrived in the county and many children were born to the pioneers before him. For a discussion of the priority of settlement in Norfolk County see The Long Point Settlers Journal, Vol. 5, No. 3.

[5] Henry and Mary Walker had two more daughters recorded with them in the 1812 Census of Woodhouse Township— Joanna, born c. 1801 and May born c. 1810. Nothing further has been learned of them.

[6] On May 17, 1802, Mary (Austin) Walker received a grant of Lot 13, Concession 5, Woodhouse Township, as the daughter of a United Empire Loyalist. This was granted with a patent dated on May 17, 1802, recorded in the Abstracts of Deeds Register of the township.

[7]In addition to those named by Owen, James and Hannah Walker had the following younger children:

James Walker, who died on January 5, 1836 ae 3y 9m. He was buried in Old Woodhouse Methodist Cemetery

Sarah Araminta Walker, born in 1837, died on January 7, 1925. She married David Tisdale on November 16, 1858, recorded in the Norfolk County Marriage Register.

Albert Walker, who died on May 20, 1849 ae 6y 10m. He was buried in Old Woodhouse Methodist Cemetery.

Ellen Walker, who died on December 28, 1849 ae 3y 6m. She was buried in Old Woodhouse Methodist Cemetery.

[8]Solomon and Sarah Walker also had an infant son James Walker, who died on February 29, 1848 ae 2y 9m 3d. He was buried in St. Johns Church Cemetery.