Jeremiah Walker (1747 - 1792)

Born 1747 in Granville, Province of North Carolina

Ancestors

Husband of Mary Jane Graves — married about 1765 in Province of North Carolina

Descendants

Died 1792 at about age 45 in Elbert, Georgia, United States

Walker Land Grants, Wilkes County, GA

Biography

This profile was started by Allan Thomas

A General History of the Baptist Denomination in America and Other Parts of the World
By David Benedict 1813, London: Printed by Lincoln & Edmands, No. 53, Cornhill, for the Author

JEREMIAH WALKER (c. 1747-1792)

Jeremiah Walker was born in Bute county, North-Carolina, about the 1747. He possessed rare and singular talents. When but a small boy, although descended from rather obscure parentage, and having very little education, he was remarkably fond of reading and improving his mind. He was noticed as a boy of very moral and virtuous habits. When quite young he embraced vital religion, and being baptized, soon began to preach. The few Baptist preachers that were then in the ministry were very illiterate. Mr. Walker had very little opportunity to improve his small stock of literature. The invincible energies of his genius towered above every obstruction. He quickly shone forth with such splendor as to make it questionable, whether the obscurity of his education, as well as the lack of education of his society, did not, by leaving his mind unshackled from scholastic dogmas and from critical strictures, rather advance than impede his real greatness.

After preaching in his native neighborhood, and in Pittsylvania county, Virginia, for some few years, he was induced to move down and take the pastoral charge of a new church called Nottoway, formed in Amelia county, Virginia, (now Nottoway) in. 1769. Here he disseminated his evangelical principles far and near. He was almost incessantly employed in preaching the gospel. In a few years, aided by others, particularly certain young preachers of his own raising, he planted between twenty and thirty churches south of James-river. These churches had gifted members, who afterwards became distinguished preachers. All of whom were either brought to the knowledge of the truth through his ministry, or were nurtured under his fostering hand after they were brought. All who knew Jeremiah Walker relate every thing that is desirable in a minister of the gospel. Jeremiah's talents as a preacher, were equaled by few of any denomination. He had a melodious, affectionate looks, impressive and winning manner, conclusive reasoning, and elegant and well chosen figures. These advantages were heightened by an unaffected simplicity. In private conversation, he was uncommonly entertaining and instructing to all, but especially to young preachers. Affable with all sorts of people, he was beloved and admired as far as he was known. Besides this, he was considered by all his acquaintances exemplarily pious, and, no doubt, was so at that time. No spot nor wrinkle was found in his character.

So distinguished a man among the despised Baptists, could not long escape the notice of their opponents. When persecution began to arise, the enemies of the cross soon cast their eyes on Jeremiah Walker. Him they viewed as the champion. "If we can but silence him," said they, "the whole host beside will hide themselves in dens and caverns." Accordingly he was arrested in Chesterfield county, by virtue of a warrant from a magistrate, and, after examination, was committed to jail. His patience, humility, and uniform prudence and piety, while in prison, acquired for him the esteem of all, whose prejudices would allow them to think favorably of a Baptist. He kept a journal or diary, when confined, in which are some of the most pious and sensible reflections.

When Mr. Walker came out of jail, he stood, if possible, in higher estimation than he had done before. Wherever he went to preach, he was attended by a large concourse; and from his preaching the most beneficial consequences were constantly produced.

Here, alas! we could willingly drop the pencil, and leave the picture with these bright colorings: but our wishes cannot be indulged; candor compels us to forego the desire. Like the inspired historians, we must not only exhibit the goodness and greatness of God’s people, but their foibles and their follies too. They told of David’s rise; they told of his downfall likewise. No maxim is more surely established by experience and observation, than this -- High delights are fraught with great dangers. God hath set adversity over against prosperity. And whenever a man in any character arises to distinguished eminence, he may look for some downfall, unless he watch his steps with a commensurate vigilance.

Mr. Walker had arrived to a degree of distinction far above his associates. In whatever direction he might travel, he was hailed by many as a father in the gospel. Caressed by his friends; admired by all, even by his enemies; invited to the society of the great; very influential, and indeed all-powerful in Associations and other places among the Baptists; still young and inexperienced; it will not appear strange to an experienced mind, that this man, thus standing on a pinnacle, should tilt over.

"Oh, popular applause, what heart of man Is proof against thy sweet seducing charms! The wisest and the best feel urgent need Of all their caution, in thy gentlest gales. But, swell’d into a gust, who then, alas! With all his canvas set, and, inexpert, And therdore heedless, can withstand thy pow’r?" In every good there will be some evil. The plain, familiar, affectionate manners of the Baptists in those days, under suitable restrictions, were surely favorable to vital piety. This habit, however, among the unsuspicious and incautious, exposed them to snares, into which too many fall. It would have been happy for Mr. Walker, if he had observed somewhat more of etiquette, especially among females. Their fondness for his company, under the pretense of religious affection, was often nothing more than carnal love in disguise. He was ultimately entrapped. In the year 1774, he attempted a criminal intrigue with a young woman, for which he was excluded; but soon again restored, on account of his apparently deep contrition. His deportment after this was so correct for some years, that he had almost regained his former standing. But, lamentable to relate, about the year 1784 or 1785, he fell into a similar transgression, in which things were carried much farther than the first. He was immediately excluded from fellowship. He sunk down into the utmost contempt. His name sounded with infamy far and near. The friends of religion were abashed beyond expression; while their enemies triumphed, as if the Baptists had sunk never to rise again. In no great while after this wretched event, he moved to Georgia; from whence, in the year 1788, he visited Virginia; professed to be again restored to divine favor, and petitioned the church from which he had been excluded, to re-instate him into membership. After some impediments were removed, he was received as a member, and also permitted to resume his ministry.

The sequel of his life is almost a continual struggle against the prejudices of both church and world. The sword never departed from his house. After his restoration, his morals were correct; for in truth, except the above sin, no other seems to have been capable of producing a momentary temptation to his mind.

He became an Arminian after his downfall, and thereby excited among the Georgia Baptists no small degree of contention. Finally, however, they split. Mr. Walker, with a small party, formed a distinct society, called General Baptists.

In 1791, he traveled into Virginia, and attended the Association, holden by the Middle District, at Cedar Creek, in Lunenburg county. From thence he went to the General Committee, in Goochland; and then went through various parts of the State, leaving his pamphlets and his verbal argument in favor of Arminianism, whithersoever he went. In this journey of Mr. Walker, those who associated with him, found him still the same pleasant, sensible, instructing, genteel character, that he had formerly been. Alas, alas! that so splendid a garment should be so spotted!

In his last illness, he endured, with remarkable fortitude and Christian resignation, the most excruciating and acute sufferings. He died September 20th, 1792. Reverend Abraham Marshall preached his funeral sermon from Zechariah, 11:2 "Howl, fir-tree; for the cedar is fallen."

Mr. Walker married Miss Jane Graves, in North-Carolina, when very young. They lived together in great harmony for many years. After he went to Georgia, she died, and he married a widow lady, with whom he lived also in the strictest harmony; for, his slips notwithstanding, he was exceedingly affectionate and kind in his family.

Mr. Walker had a principal hand in drafting for the Baptists their petitions and remonstrances to the Virginia Assembly; he also took an active and successful part in supporting them in the House, where he gained the applause of the candid members, as a man of sense and address. He published a number of pamphlets, mostly on controversial subjects; the most distinguished of which was the one entitled, "The fourfold foundation of Calvinism, examined and shaken." ^[1]

Will

Will of Jeremiah Walker. Elbert Co., GA, WB A, pp. 25-28, w. 14 Sep 1792, p. unknown, recorded 17 Oct 1792. Digital image at Ancestry.com - https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8635/images/004968238_00069?pId=819673

wife Milly
John Williams Walker (no relationship given)
daughter Polly Coleman, her three daughters Elizabeth, Narcissa, Melanda
son Henry Graves Walker
son Memorable Walker
son Jeremiah Walker
son James Sanders Walker
sons Jeremiah and John Williams Walker (John Williams Walker is the youngest son and under 20 years old)
daughter Elisabeth
all my children that is Polly Coleman Elisabeth Marshall Henry Graves Walker, Memorable Walker, Jerimeah Walker, James Sanders Walker and John Williams Walker
Exrs: brother Sanders Walker, James Tate Esq.
Wit: William Tate, Richard (Harvy ?), John _?_, Jesse Jones

Slaves

• See space page for further details and to record research.
• Summary: he willed 14 slaves to his wife and children.

Research Note

Middle names in the 18th century were rare. Unfortunately, there is not yet any proof from primary sources (will, deeds, estate accounts) that this Jeremiah Walker had a middle name.

Sources

1. ↑ http://www.fbinstitute.com/baptist-in-america/benedict36.htm

• Find A Grave: Memorial #183860121
• http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=johnnystree&id=I14527