Charles Walker (abt. 1783 - 1826)

Born about 1783 in Berkshire, England

Husband of Hannah (Binns) Walker — married 17 Feb 1813 in Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia

Descendants

Died 2 Jun 1826 at about age 43 in Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia

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Biography

Charles Walker was a convict after the Third Fleet transported to Sydney Cove

Charles Walker was convicted at Middlesex Gaol Delivery (the "Old Bailey") for a term of 7 years on 15 February 1809. On that day he was acquitted on a charge of "feloniously stealing on the 28th of June , ten yards of sarsnet, value 2 l. 16 s. the property of Nathaniel Roberts and John Bellamy Plowman , in their dwelling house" in Chandos street, Covent Garden. However in the second trial, he was found guilty of theft by embezzlement: "he was empowered and entrusted by them to receive money for them, and being such servant and so employed, did receive and take into his possession the sum of 3 l. 7 s. for his said masters, and that he afterwards fraudulently and feloniously did embezzle, secrete, and steal the same." The two trials can be seen here and here.^[1][2] His age was recorded as 25.

He was one of 200 convicts transported on the ship Ann, which left England in August 1809, and arrived Sydney, New South Wales on 27 February 1810.^[3]

Marriage: Charles Walker married Hannah Ward at St John's Church Parramatta by banns on 17 February 1813. Charles signed the register and Hannah marked with a cross. They were both of the parish of St John's Parramatta. Witnesses were Thomas Rose and Elizabeth Marr.^[4] Hannah was a widow: her maiden name was Binns or Bains, she had arrived as a convict on the Indispensible in 1796, and she had previously been married to Joseph Ward, farmer and Chief Constable of Parramatta who had died in 1812.

Charles Walker received a Conditional Pardon on 31 January 1814.^[5]

He received his Certificate of Freedom on 17 March 1814, which had the information: born in Berkshire, England, employment: clerk; age: 31 years; height 5 feet 7 inches; complexion: Fair & ruddy; hair: sandy; eyes: hazel.^[6]

In the 1814 muster he was listed as a landholder at Parramatta.

In 1815 and 1816 he was on lists of persons licensed as publicans at Parramatta.

Charles Walker, publican of Parramatta was on a list of persons who are to have lands located and marked out in 1816.

He was a publican of the Red Cow, Parramatta on a list of persons licensed as publicans for 1817

He was a Publican of Parramatta in a bill for horses for John Oxley's expedition in 1817.

In 1818 and 1819 Charles Walker, was on lists of applicants for renewal of spirit licenses at Parramatta.

On return of horned cattle issued from the Government Herds between 8 May 1814 & 9 Jan 1819; payment for horses.

Colonial Secretary's Letter 27 June 1818: re purchase of horse from Walker for Oxley's expedition: three oxen issued to Walker from Government herd in payment for horse.

Colonial Secretary's Letter 5 July 1822, Appointed Treasurer of the Agricultural Society of New South Wales at the Society's inaugural meeting.

In the 1822 muster he was listed as Charles Walker, (Trial Sentence: 7 years; arrived per ship Anne, Free by Servitude) Licenced Victualler of Parramatta, with one adopted child, age 7. Land holdings: 160 acres, cleared: 30 acres, cultivated, 20 acres garden & orchard, 400 bushels maize held, 13 horses, 57 horned cattle, 14 hogs.

Colonial Secretary's Letter 22 Dec 1823: Trustee for three orphan girls named Rutter; mother was Charlotte O'Meara. Memorial for license of occupation at Fish River.

Death: Charles Walker died on 2 June 1826 and was buried on 4 June 1826 at St John's Cemetery, Parramatta. His burial was recorded by Rev. Samuel Marsden who noted he was aged 43, free, Publican, of Parramatta.^[7][8]

Death and funeral notices:
Sydney Gazette Saturday 3 June 1826:

DEATH: At Parramatta, yesterday morning, after only a week's illness, Mr. CHARLES WALKER, innkeeper in that town. For a number of years past the deceased has been respected for his public worth as one of the first innkeepers in Australia, and his loss will be proportionably felt.

Sydney Gazette Wednesday 7th June 1826:

The remains of the late Mr. Charles Walker, innkeeper of Parramatta, were interred on Sunday afternoon last. The funeral consisted of nearly 200 mourners.

He was buried in the grave of his wife Hannah's first husband Joseph Ward. His wife Hannah Walker carried on as publican of the Red Cow Inn, George Street, Parramatta, until her death in 1851, when she was buried in the same grave.

The grave has the inscription:^[9]

Sacred

To the Memory of

Mr. JOSEPH WARD

who departed this

Life May 5th 1812 Aged

48 years

Also

To the Memory of

Mr. CHARLES WALKER

who departed this Life

June 2nd 1826 Aged 43 Yrs

Also

HANNAH WALKER

Who died October the

First 1851 aged 76 years

The Relict of the Late

CHARLES WALKER

Sydney Gazette Wednesday 5th August 1826:

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that all Persons having Claims against the Estate of the late Mr. CHARLES WALKER, are requested to transmit the same to the undersigned. And all Persons, who stand indebted to the said Estate, are requested to discharge the same forthwith.

HANNAH WALKER, EXECUTRIX

Parramatta, Aug 21, 1826.

Research Notes

"Spouse Elizabeth Collins - Treadaway - Hibbs - Walker - Arndell (born Dring)" unlikely

Who was Charles Walker, the father of Elizabeth Hibb's daughter Ann born in 1814 in the Hawkesbury district? More likely he is Charles Walker, who had arrived as a convict on the ship Earl Cornwallis in 1801. In 1814 he was mustered in the Windsor district as a Landholder & Boatman.

Sources

1. ↑ Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 07 September 2023), February 1809, trial of CHARLES WALKER (t18090215-72). https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/browse.jsp?id=t18090215-72-defend632&div=t18090215-72#highlight
2. ↑ Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 07 September 2023), February 1809, trial of CHARLES WALKER (t18090215-73). https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/browse.jsp?id=t18090215-73-defend645&div=t18090215-73#highlight
3. ↑ New South Wales, Australia, Convict Indents, 1788-1842 for Charles Walker, Bound Indentures 1801-1814 Ancestry.com sharing link
4. ↑ New South Wales, Australia, St. John's Parramatta, Marriages, 1790-1966 for Charles Walker, Vol 01, Baptisms, 1790-1825; Marriages, 1789-1823; Burials, 1790-1825 Ancestry.com sharing link
5. ↑ New South Wales, Australia, Convict Registers of Conditional and Absolute Pardons, 1788-1870 for Charles Walker, indexed by Ancestry.com as "Absolute"[?] 1814 Ancestry.com sharing link
6. ↑ New South Wales, Australia, Certificates of Freedom, 1810-1814, 1827-1867 (NRS 12208) Register of Certificates of Freedom 4 Feb 1810 - 26 Aug 1814 Ancestry.com sharing link
7. ↑ New South Wales, Australia, St. John's Parramatta, Burials, 1790-1986 for Charles Walker, Vol 02, Baptisms, 1826-1834; Marriages, 1826-1834; Burials, 1826-1834 Ancestry.com sharing link
8. ↑ NSW Government. Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. Deaths search page Death registration #318/1826 V1826318 10
9. ↑ Dunn, Judith, The Parramatta cemeteries: St John's. Parramatta. Parramatta and District Historical Society, 1991. p. 129 (2N12).

• Biographical report for Charles WALKER Person ID: B#10012275101, Biographical Database of Australia (BDA) https://www.bda-online.org.au/mybda/search/biographical-report/10012275101?f=charles&l=walker&ol=&i=1&s=&p=
• Marion Purnell, "Charles Walker, 1783–1826", Australian Royalty database https://australianroyalty.net.au/tree/purnellmccord.ged/individual/I65192/Charles-Walker
• Community contributors, "Charles Walker", Convict Records database https://convictrecords.com.au/convicts/walker/charles/111168
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/188737526/charles-walker: accessed 07 September 2023), memorial page for Charles Walker (1783–2 Jun 1826), Find a Grave Memorial ID 188737526, citing St. John's Cemetery, Parramatta, City of Parramatta Council, New South Wales, Australia; Maintained by Stombell (contributor 48335209).
• Colonial Secretary Index, 1788-1825, State Records of New South Wales, https://colsec.records.nsw.gov.au/w/F58c_wa-02.htm#P944_28333