WALKER Coat of Arms
WALKER was the name used by Anglo-Saxon's when some-one in their family had the job of a fuller, the person who scours and thickens raw cloth by beating it and trampling it in water. Walker was then derived from the old english word wealcere meaning fuller. The family were first found in Yorkshire.
WALKER was the name used by Anglo-Saxon's when some-one in their family had the job of a fuller, the person who scours and thickens raw cloth by beating it and trampling it in water. Walker was then derived from the old english word wealcere meaning fuller. The family were first found in Yorkshire.
John Walker (1752 - ) was the great grandson of Thomas Walker b 1680, the grandson of John Walker b 1700 and the son of John Walker b 1723 although this lineage has yet to be fully and factually documented. What is known is that John, and his ancestors, came from County Durham, with their most recent settlement being the village of Sedgefield. This is where John is baptised on the 8 April 1746. He marries local girl Jane Barker on the 23 March 1783 and they live in Sedgefield raising eleven children - Robert b 1785, Jane b 1788, Dorothy b 1790, John b 1792, Elizabeth b 1794, Ann b 1797, George b 1802, William b 1804 and Alice b 1806.
Robert Walker (1785 - 1871) was the eldest child born to John and Jane on 15 December 1785 in Sedgefield, County Durham and as soon as he was old enough, worked with his father in the village Forge. On 28 August 1813 he marries Ann Lakenby and they have ten children Elizabeth b 1814, John b 1816, Henry b 1818, Robert b 1820, Ann b 1822, Joseph b 1824, Benjamin b 1827, Jane b 1830 (died 1831), Thomas b 1834 (died 1834) and Jane Amelia b 1834.
In the early 1800's when Robert was raising his family and practising his trade times must have been profitable for as well as his younger brother William working with him, he employs three men and has branched out to make bespoke Spade's and Shovel's. Ann, his beloved wife of 40 years passes away on 28 August 1813. Daughter Jane then becomes his support whilst he continues to work until his eighties. On the 17 September 1871 he passes away. His will is read in Durham on the 14 February 1872.
Benjamin Walker (1827 - 1892) The youngest son of Robert and Margaret Walker was born in Sedgefield, County Durham and baptised on the 15 April 1827. After leaving school he took up the trade of Shoemaker. He marries the local Miller's daughter, Margaret Liddell on 18 January of 1854 and they raise two children, Annie b 1856 and Harry b 1860.
In the late 1860's the family move north to the district of Elswick in Newcastle-upon-Tyne where Benjamin starts selling shoes on a commercial traveller basis. The family live well together until on 16 August 1879, daughter Annie (aged 23) gives birth to twin illegitimate children, Alfred and Lily. It appears that Robert and Margaret bring the two new grandchildren up as their own children. Some nine years later, in March 1888, Benjamin's wife Margaret passes away. As noted in the 1891 census, Benjamin, with Annie and her children move to Jarrow . A year later 0n 29 May 1892, aged just 65, Benjamin passes away.
Robert Walker (1785 - 1871) was the eldest child born to John and Jane on 15 December 1785 in Sedgefield, County Durham and as soon as he was old enough, worked with his father in the village Forge. On 28 August 1813 he marries Ann Lakenby and they have ten children Elizabeth b 1814, John b 1816, Henry b 1818, Robert b 1820, Ann b 1822, Joseph b 1824, Benjamin b 1827, Jane b 1830 (died 1831), Thomas b 1834 (died 1834) and Jane Amelia b 1834.
In the early 1800's when Robert was raising his family and practising his trade times must have been profitable for as well as his younger brother William working with him, he employs three men and has branched out to make bespoke Spade's and Shovel's. Ann, his beloved wife of 40 years passes away on 28 August 1813. Daughter Jane then becomes his support whilst he continues to work until his eighties. On the 17 September 1871 he passes away. His will is read in Durham on the 14 February 1872.
Benjamin Walker (1827 - 1892) The youngest son of Robert and Margaret Walker was born in Sedgefield, County Durham and baptised on the 15 April 1827. After leaving school he took up the trade of Shoemaker. He marries the local Miller's daughter, Margaret Liddell on 18 January of 1854 and they raise two children, Annie b 1856 and Harry b 1860.
In the late 1860's the family move north to the district of Elswick in Newcastle-upon-Tyne where Benjamin starts selling shoes on a commercial traveller basis. The family live well together until on 16 August 1879, daughter Annie (aged 23) gives birth to twin illegitimate children, Alfred and Lily. It appears that Robert and Margaret bring the two new grandchildren up as their own children. Some nine years later, in March 1888, Benjamin's wife Margaret passes away. As noted in the 1891 census, Benjamin, with Annie and her children move to Jarrow . A year later 0n 29 May 1892, aged just 65, Benjamin passes away.
Annie Walker (1856 - 1893) was born in Sedgefield, County Durham in 1856 but both her early and teenage years living there and in Newcastle-upon-Tyne are a mystery except for the fact that in the 1871 census she was recorded as a 15 year old Scholar.
What all the circumstance were that led her to the port of South Shields is another mystery. But here, on 16 August 1879, she gives birth to twin illegitimate children who she names Alfred and Lily. Annie and the children then move back to live with her mother and father where, as was the practice at the time, Benjamin and Margaret brought the two children up as their own.
In 1888 when Annie's mother dies the family move again because as the 1891 census confirms Annie, her two children (now 11 year old's) and her father Benjamin are in 21 Dee Street, Jarrow. When Benjamin dies just a year later in 1892, Annie remains in Jarrow but only a year later, and on the 4 April 1893, she too passes away. Alfred and Lily are left to defend themselves as 14 year old orphans.
What all the circumstance were that led her to the port of South Shields is another mystery. But here, on 16 August 1879, she gives birth to twin illegitimate children who she names Alfred and Lily. Annie and the children then move back to live with her mother and father where, as was the practice at the time, Benjamin and Margaret brought the two children up as their own.
In 1888 when Annie's mother dies the family move again because as the 1891 census confirms Annie, her two children (now 11 year old's) and her father Benjamin are in 21 Dee Street, Jarrow. When Benjamin dies just a year later in 1892, Annie remains in Jarrow but only a year later, and on the 4 April 1893, she too passes away. Alfred and Lily are left to defend themselves as 14 year old orphans.
Alfred Walker (1879 - 1961) Alfred (and his twin sister Lily) were born illegitimate to Annie, the unmarried daughter of Benjamin and Margaret Walker on 16 August 1879. Although Annie's parents were living in Newcastle, Alfred was born in South Shields.
Once his mother and the family were reunited Benjamin, Alfred's actual grandfather assumed the role of Alfred and Lily's father, a fact confirmed by Alfred's wedding certificate. Grandfather Benjamin, now a widower dies in May 1892 and just eleven months later in April 1893,so too does his mother Annie. Who would have looked after Alfred (and his twin sister Lily) is not known.
On the 13 July 1902, Alfred, now living in South Shields and working as an Iron Moulder, marries Agnes Laurenson, a dressmaker and the daughter of a dockyard worker.
Children soon arrive, Alfred in February 1903, Lily in May 1904 (who fails to survive), Harry in October 1905, Madge in April 1907, Lily in July 1908 and Joseph, November 1909. In July 1912, Roy is born and in May 1918 a daughter Norah. Next born was Robert in January 1920 and then twins Olive and Jack in October 1921 (the latter of whom fails to survive). All of them are raised in 56 Heugh Street, South Shields, a community once part of the old riverside town but in Alfred's day a place of overcrowded housing, poor sanitary facilities and much poverty.
Alfred remains working all his life as an iron moulder - a person who, in hot and dangerous conditions would make the moulds from which castings were made. He was based at the largest Foundry in South Shields sited in Templetown. Following the end of WW2 Alfred takes the family to Highfield Drive, Harton and it's there, after a happy retirement and a long life, he dies on 19 April 1961.
Once his mother and the family were reunited Benjamin, Alfred's actual grandfather assumed the role of Alfred and Lily's father, a fact confirmed by Alfred's wedding certificate. Grandfather Benjamin, now a widower dies in May 1892 and just eleven months later in April 1893,so too does his mother Annie. Who would have looked after Alfred (and his twin sister Lily) is not known.
On the 13 July 1902, Alfred, now living in South Shields and working as an Iron Moulder, marries Agnes Laurenson, a dressmaker and the daughter of a dockyard worker.
Children soon arrive, Alfred in February 1903, Lily in May 1904 (who fails to survive), Harry in October 1905, Madge in April 1907, Lily in July 1908 and Joseph, November 1909. In July 1912, Roy is born and in May 1918 a daughter Norah. Next born was Robert in January 1920 and then twins Olive and Jack in October 1921 (the latter of whom fails to survive). All of them are raised in 56 Heugh Street, South Shields, a community once part of the old riverside town but in Alfred's day a place of overcrowded housing, poor sanitary facilities and much poverty.
Alfred remains working all his life as an iron moulder - a person who, in hot and dangerous conditions would make the moulds from which castings were made. He was based at the largest Foundry in South Shields sited in Templetown. Following the end of WW2 Alfred takes the family to Highfield Drive, Harton and it's there, after a happy retirement and a long life, he dies on 19 April 1961.