General Notes

[JOHNBWALKER.FTW]


Source:
"Historical Genealogy of the Basham, Ellison, Hatcher, Lilly, Meadows, Pack, Walker, and Other Families" pg. 85 & 86 ----Compiled by Charles Silas Hatcher

Charles Walker, third son of the immigrant, married Margaret Peters, a daughter of Jacob Peters of Rockingham County, Virginia. Charles was a soldier of the American Revolution, serving in the Rangers commanded by Captain Peter Hogg. The census of Orange County, Virginia, was first taken in 1782 and shows that Charles Walker had a family of nine. He was administrator over his father;s estate in Orange and adjacent counties.

Charles Walker and family of Orange County, Virginia, moved to the New River Valley in 1789, in what is now Giles County, Virginia. He was a brother-in law of John and Christian Peters who moved from Rockingham County, Virginia, to the New River Valley.

Charles was a large landowner and he lived on a beautiful farm on New River opposite the mouth of Wolf Creek, near the town of Narrows, Virginia. Charles and Margaret (Peters) Walker were the parents of eight children: Tradition has it that five of their children went WEST and the other three, Charles, Jr., John, and Chrispianos, settled in the New River Valley, but later moved to other counties.

Source:
"The History of the Walker Family 1734-1990 & Their Kindred With Related Incidents" ---Glennis R. Walker, pg. 21

Charles Walker married Margaret Peters about 1774 in the Valley of Virginia, they lived in Orange County, VA for several years where they started a family. Charles and Margaret were my great great great grandparents. Charles was the third son of Thomas and Elizabeth Taylor Walker, he was born about 1745, and is claimed to have crossed the Allegheny Mountains before the American Revolution, as a member of George Washington's surveying crew to survey and map out some of the vast boundary of land which King George II had granted Washington for military service to ENGLAND before.
A surveyor's compass which Charles possessed and used during the Allegheny trek is now in the possession of Charles' descendant, Vestell Hatcher McKinney of Prosperity, WV I have seen this compass, the Washington Surveying Story and the compass has been handed down in the Walker Family from one generation to another, and many of the early Walkers being surveyors have used this particular compass.
With the conclusion of the Revolutionary War, many of the ex-soldiers, both American and also the British who had not returned to England, began to think in terms of general migration westward beyond the Allegheny Mountains. So it appears in the spring of 1782 Charles and Margaret Walker left the Valley of Virginia, and in company with a nephew, Thomas Walker and John and Christian peters began the westward migration. The Peters' were brothers of Charles' wife, Margaret. On this venture all the migrant's accumulation of worldly property was taken along, such as seed, tools, slaves, livestock and household furnishings. On the rugged trail horses, conveyances, equipment and tempers would be tested to the fullest measure as the travelers lift a string of abandoned campfire sites in their wake as they steadily moved toward their destination.

Source:
"The History of the Walker Family 1734-1990 & Their Kindred With Related Incidents" ---Glennis R. Walker, pg. 22 & 23

------Beyond the Allegheny Mountains------
The Charles and Margaret Walker Family settled on the east side of New River opposite the east side of New River opposite the mouth of Wolf Creek, this being nearby the present-day town of Narrows, Giles County, Virginia. At the time of their settling it was Montgomery County until 1806. The John Peters Family settled a short distance further up the river, while Thomas, the nephew of Charles; and Christian Peters went a distance further and settled in Monroe County. The settlement of Peterstown derived its name for Christian Peters, and he is buried there.
The Charles Walker homesite fronted the New River and backed against Peters Mountain, with much work and thrifty management this vast wilderness of many acres was transformed into a beautiful farm. This was the place of rendezvous for wayfarers up and down New River, as well as for the traffic crossing from Wolf Creek. And anyone having business at the county-seat of Pearisburg could generally find transportation in a rig oxen-drawn or horse-drawn as it meandered it's way past the Walker Farm.

Jan 1806----Was formation of Giles County from Montgomery, Tazewell and Monroe Counties.
May 13, 1806----First Grand Jury impaneled in Giles County, Charles Walker was a member.
June 10, 1806----Second Grand Jury impaneled in Giles County, Charles Walker was a member.
June 27, 1807----Charles Walker headed a list of a dozen signatures on a petition to assist John Peters in gaining rights to establish a ferry on New River adjacent to Peters' dwelling in order to aid public convenience.
March 3, 1815----Personal property tax assessment listed Charles & Margaret Walker as owning three slaves, four horses, thirteen cattle, and one chest of drawers of clothes press.

Charles Walker's wife, Margaret was the daughter of Jacob Peters of Rockingham County, Virginia, a German Family who settled in the Valley of Virginia after 1732, Jacob died in early 1801, it is thought he last made his home with Charles and Margaret Walker on New River.
May 5, 1801 at a court held in Montgomery County, VA John Peters, the son of Jacob Peters was granted administration over his father's estate, and Charles Walker was named as one of the appraisers, the appraisement was returned at the July 1803 term of court in Montgomery County, Virginia.

I have made several trips to the former homesites of the Walkers and Peters, I searched for graves and information of graves. The Fairview Cemetery, being quite large came off the former farm of Charles Walker, it is likely Charles and John Peters, and their wives could be buried in the old section of this cemetery, with only native field stones as markers.
A four lane highway extending up the east side of New River has taken up quite a lot of the land formerly included in the Walker and Peters farms.
A plaque on the courthouse grounds at Pearisburg, Virginia lists the names of Charles Walker and John Peters as soldiers of the Revolutionary War. It appears no record has been found where Charles ever made application for a war pension.
Charles Walker, our ancestor is not to be confused with another Charles Walker from BEDFORD County, Virginia, who was born Sept 28, 1760 in King George County, Virginia, and died Jan. 3, 1835 in Campbell County, Virginia. He served in the Revolutionary War under Virginia Service No. S-7802---He is not mentioned again in this book.

Source:
"The History of the Walker Family 1734-1990 & Their Kindred With Related Incidents" ---Glennis R. Walker, pg. 25

The number of children and who they were has long been a controversial subject among historians and genealogists who have searched and endeavored to compile any information on the family of Charles and Margaret Peters Walker. Most family-oriented individuals possessing reliable information agree there were children---Charles Jr., John and Chrispi Anos who belonged to Charles & Margaret Walker. One very reliable source, who was recently yet alive in his nineties stated there were as many as eight children, with some migrating westward in early life. Some researchers have named---Peggy, Catherine, William and Julius in addition to the three first named.

-----Peggy Walker--Born abt 1784, whe married Peter Robinson Nov. 13, 1802 in Montgomery County, (Giles County 1806) Virginia, the surety was covered by Charles Walker.
-----Catherine "Katie" Walker--Given permission Jan. 8, 1908 by parents, Charles and Margaret Walker in Giles County, VA to marry Joseph Miller, bond with surety set Jan. 11, 1808 by Chrispi Anos Walker and Joab Simmons.
-----William Walker--Settled in Cabell County, VA in 1806 (now WV) if he was the son of Charles and Margaret Peters Walker, he could have been an inducement to his brother, Charles Jr., who migrated to Cabell County in 1815.
-----Julius Walker--There has been strong contention from several sources that invariably connect Julius to the family of Charles and Margaret Walker, and include him as a child.

Was in the Rev. War. Had a large farm known as Mulberry Bottom.Believe he had 7 or 8 children. Family tradition says he was withGeorge Washington when he surveyed all the way to the Ohio River. Acompass is still in the family that he used. This is not proven.
Source: June B. Ashworth, Huntington, WV, descendant and familyresearcher in her book "Walker Family History."

Charles Walker , John and Christine Peters, with their families in thge spring of 1782, left their valley homes, crossed the Alleghenies and located in the New River Valley, they had been soldiers in the American Army, Charles Walker from Rockingham Co Va settled on the New River opposite the mouth of Wolf Creek

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     It is believed this Charles Walker, who would have been the ages of 26 and 30,  signed the Orange County Petition.  This petition seeked relief from the 18 month militia service imposed by the Virginia House of Delegates for the Continental Army.  The Petition was rejected but the War ended 19 Oct 1781 with the surrender of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown, Va.  DAR proved he got into the war anywaay.
     There is more information in the book WALKER FAMILY HISTORY by June Asworth.