Walker of Baldock & Willian, Hertfordshire

[pastimperfect]

Hi
I have been researching my Walker family for over 30 years.
They first appear in Baldock in the 1600's but by mid 1700's migrated to the nearby village of Willian where there was a Walker in residence until 2004!

Much has been made of the fact that an Elizabeth Walker baptised in 1583 and daughter of Augustine Walker, was the wife of Richard Warren of The Mayflower fame. I have not found any connections to my branch; indeed it is probable that Augustine originated from Warwickshire and lived briefly in Baldock where he was an Ale Taster before retiring to Great Amwell (approx 20 miles from Baldock)

My earliest Walker is Ralph, son of Ralph c 1660 who was Landlord of The Bull PH in Church Street, still standing today but as a private dwelling.

Most of the male Walkers were agricultural labourers and until the 1840's most were baptised in the parish church at Willian. With the advent of the railway and the decline of intense farm labouring, many diversified and moved to Kent or London working as bakers, gas light fitters and even in the Merchant Navy at Chatham. One Walker (William) went one step further and got transported to Van Dieman's Land in 1845 for stealing a copper pot worth £1.

Our branch is also a dying breed. My father Thomas is the last of this branch, having produced four girls and no boys to carry on this line that remained unbroken for so many centuries in Hertfordshire

[chapla1n]

Hi,

I too am looking for Walkers from Willian.

My GGG Granfather was William, born there 13.1.1828 - he married Ruth Bird in Bassingbourn, Cambs.

His father was John, born there 4.1.1779 - married to ?

His father was William, born there 29.6.1746 - married to?

His father was John - married to Anne.

Can you take me back any further, or help with the wives?

I'd appreciate any help you can give.

Blessings

Bob

[janbooth]

Bob,

According to the Militia Lists of Willian, there was a William WALKER recorded in Willian from 1768 through to 1785. In 1768 he was described as a Servant which normally means unmarried and by 1772 was shown as a Labourer as he was in 1773. By 1775 he is shown as a Labourer with 3 children, in 1778 as a Labourer, Poor with 3 children, 1779 & 1781, Labourer with 3 children, 1782 a Labourer with 5 children and back to 3 children in 1784 & 1785. There is a marriage on Hugh Wallis's IGI site (all extracted records so pretty reliable) of a William WALKER and Ann RAMSEY on 18 September 1771 at Willian (which is confirmed by HALS online marriage index), which fits in quite well with the Militia List, and also the births of some children.

There is also a marriage on HALS Online Marriage Index of a John WALKER of Willian and a Sarah PALMER at Weston on 20 February 1813.

Janet

[pastimperfect]

Ralph Walker b 1660 m Mary Fossie in Baldock, Hertfordshire

John Waker b 1684 m Elizabeth Lea in Baldock

Ralph Walker 1718- married Sarah FFolkes - a widow, Baldock

they had

William Walker who married Ann Ramsey and are direct ancestors of my family who moved into the village of Willian around 1771 upon marriage. William came from the nearby town of Baldock

They are the parents of John who married Sarah Palmer of Weston
they had

The 1861 UK Census for Willian shows William living with his mother Sarah (a widow) who was indeed the same Sarah Palmer of Weston married to John Walker

I have all the Walker BMD extracted from Willian Parish Registers

[chapla1n]

Thanks to Janet and Pastimperfect,

So much to get to work on.

Look forward to being in touch again.

Let me know if you want to know more about my William Walker and his family in Cambridgeshire.

Blessings

Bob

[Clive Blackaby]

Let me know if you want to know more about my William Walker and his family in Cambridgeshire.

Bob,
Just in case you're not familiar with the area, you could hurl the proverbial brick from Bassingbourne (Cambs) into Hertfordshire - well almost. At the time you are talking about, half of Royston (now wholly in Herts, and 3 1/2 miles away) was in Cambs, and likewise Baldock is less than 3 miles into Herts.

[pastimperfect]

John Walker

B:
4 Jul 1779 in Willian Hertfordshire
D:
28 Mar 1856 in Willian, Hertfordshire, England

married

Sarah Palmer
Birth: 1787
Weston, Hertfordshire, England
Death: 25 Mar 1865
Willian, Hertfordshire, England
Married: Probably at Weston - not confirmed

I have found 2 children of the marriage:

Sarah
Birth: c 1813 Willian, Hertfordshire
Death: Mar Q 1883 Willian, Hertfordshire
Married:William Hooper c.1814
on 24th November 1838 Willian, Hertfordshire

and had lots of kids!

William
Birth:1831 Willian, Hertfordshire
Death:
Married:


Source: Parish Registers of All Saints Willian, Hertfordshire are lodged with Hertfordshire Record Office and can be found online as HALS
https://www.hertsdirect.org/libsleisure/heritage1/HALS/

If you would like to view my extensive family tree please email me at:
catz2701atyahoo.co.uk then I can send you a seperate personal invitation as this is not a publicly viewed tree

I would be very interested in having more detail of William b 1828 and his descendants!

[pastimperfect]

I have researched William on ancestry.co.uk and it makes interesting reading.

According to the UK Census of 1861 William, who married Ruth Bird on 29 May 1852 at Bassingbourn, was born in Buckland, Hertfordshire c 1828. This would make more sense than Willian, Hertfordshire as Buckland is a small village close to Royston and just a few miles over the border from Bassingbourn, Cambridgeshire.


1861 England Census

Name: William Walker
Age: 33
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1828
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Ruth
Gender: Male
Where born: Buckland, Hertfordshire, England

Civil Parish: Bassingbourn
County/Island: Cambridgeshire
Country: England

Occupation:Agricultural Labourer
Registration district: Royston
Sub registration district: Melbourn
ED, institution, or vessel: 4
Neighbors: Living next to John Bird Ruth's father?
Household schedule number: 115

Household Members:
Name Age
George Walker 3
Henry Walker 8
Ruth Walker 33
Sarah A Walker 6
William Walker 33
William Walker 1

1891 England Census

Name: William Walker
Age: 58
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1833
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Ruth
Gender: Male
Where born: Buckland, Hertfordshire, England

Civil Parish: Bassingbourn
Ecclesiastical parish: Bassingbourn
Town: Bassingbourn
County/Island: Cambridgeshire
Country: England
Registration district: Royston
Sub registration district: Melbourn
ED, institution, or vessel: 4

Household Members:
Name Age
Ruth Walker 60
William Walker 58

The William Walker b 1828 Willian shows consistently in the UK Census as unmarried and indeed if you look at the 1891 UK Census again you will find this William still in Willian and single:

1891 England Census

Name: William Walker
Age: 62
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1829
Relation: Head
Gender: Male
Where born: Willian, Hertfordshire, England

Civil Parish: Willian
Ecclesiastical parish: Willian
Town: Letchworth
County/Island: Hertfordshire
Country: England


Condition as to marriage:
Registration district: Hitchin
Sub registration district: Baldock
ED, institution, or vessel: 9

Household Members:
Name Age
William Walker 62

The good news is though that there is someone researching William and Ruth on ancestry.co.uk!

Login name caj1968

They have William's parents as:
Robert Walker
Birth: c 1805 Buntingford, Hertfordshire
Died: c 1888 Royston, Hertfordshire

Ann Camp
Birth: c 1806 - location not given
Died: before 1851 - location not given

The Camp family are incidentally related to me but through another family

[chapla1n]

Thanks Pastimperfect,

Plenty of food for thought, but I'll have to wait for time at the weekend to sort it out.
Anyhow, thanks for your thoughtfulness, and yes I would like to view your information, so I'll email you soon.

Regards Bob

[pastimperfect]

The Militia Ballot List index is derived from the justices' copies that are held in the Hertfordshire archives. The Herts Family History Society (https://www.hertsfhs.org.uk/hfphs1.html)have transcribed these.

No returns were made for 1766-67, 1770-71, 1774, 1776-77, 1788-91, 1795, 1799 and 1800; not all parishes have a complete set of lists and in Hertfordshire few of the later returns after 1786 survive. For 1762, 1778, and 1786 the lists were prepared twice during the year.

1758:
Ralph WALKER Victualler(Baldock)
Ralph WALKER Labourer(Baldock)
John WALKER Labourer (Norton)
1759:
Ralph WALKER Victualler(Baldock)
Ralph WALKER Labourer(Baldock)
John WALKER Labourer (Norton)
1760:
Ralph WALKER Ale Drawer(Baldock)
Ralph WALKER Labourer(Baldock)
John WALKER Labourer (Norton)
1761:
Ralph WALKER Labourer(Baldock)
Ralph WALKER Jnr Labourer(Baldock)
John WALKER Labourer (Norton)
1762:
Ralph WALKER (Baldock) short
1763:
William WALKER (Baldock)
1764:
William WALKER Labourer (Baldock)
1765:
William WALKER (Baldock)
John WALKER Servant (Norton)
1766:
No Returns made
1767:

1768:
William Walker Servant (Willian)
1769:
William WALKER Labourer (Baldock)
William WALKER Blacksmith (Baldock)
1770:
No Returns made
1771:

1772:
William WALKER Labourer (Baldock)
William Walker Labourer (Willian)

1773:
William WALKER Labourer (Baldock)
William Walker Labourer (Willian)

1774: No Returns made

1775:
William WALKER Labourer (Baldock)
William Walker Labourer (Willian) 3 children
1776:
No Returns made
1777:

1778 (April):
John WALKER Labourer (Baldock)
William WALKER Labourer (Baldock)
William Walker Labourer (Willian)poor 3 children
1778 (Dec):
John WALKER Labourer (Baldock)
William WALKER Labourer (Baldock)
William Walker Labourer (Willian)3 children
1779:
William Walker Labourer (Willian) 3 children
Edward WALKER Servant (Weston)
1780:
John WALKER Labourer (Baldock)
William WALKER Labourer (Baldock)
William Walker Labourer (Willian)3 children
Edward WALKER Servant (Weston)
1781:
John WALKER Labourer (Baldock)
William Walker Labourer (Willian) 3 children
1782:
John WALKER Labourer (Baldock)
William Walker Labourer (Willian) 5 children
Edward WALKER Servant (Weston)
1783:
No Returns made

1784:
James WALKER Labourer (Baldock)
William Walker Labourer (Willian) 3 children
Edward WALKER Servant (Weston)
1785:
James WALKER Labourer (Baldock)
John WALKER Labourer (Baldock)
William Walker Labourer (Willian) 3 children
Edward WALKER Servant (Weston)

No Walkers listed for Letchworth (Old Village)