Francis Walker (abt. 1787 - 1833)

Husband of Ann (Comstock) Walker — married 3 Sep 1813 in Lexington, Fayette, Kentucky

Died 1833 at about age 46 in Lexington, Fayette, Kentucky

Biography

Francis is said to have been born in England.

Found on the Fayette county webgen site. Francis Walker was apparently quite an accomplished stone cutter. http://www.rootsweb.com/~kyfayett/orders_1782-1821.htm which refers to Section A, part 2 of the Deed book of Fayette county, court records of 1803. This would mean that Francis Walker was born circa 1787: p. 326: 9 April 1804 Francis Walker about age 16 bound to Peter Paul Stonecutter bound to the said Peter Paul to be taught art of stone cutting to age 21.

Fayette Co Deed book A, p.326 This Indenture made this 9th day of April 1804. Between Levi Todd, Clerk of Fayette County and Peter Paul Stonecutter of the said county. Pursuant to an act concerning the poor and on order of the court of said county made in February 1804. Witnesseth that Francis Walker who is about 16 years of age is bound apprentice to the said Peter Paul until he shall arrive to the age of twenty one years, who is to teach the said Francis or cause him to be taught the art & mystery of the stone cutting, business or trade, in a masterly and workmanlike manner wlso reading writing and arithmetick as far as and including the rule of three with propriety and at the expiration of the apprenticeship is to furnish the said apprentice a decent new suit of clothes in addition to his common wearing apparel and pay him in specie Three pounds ten shillings and during the said apprenticeship is to observe towards the said apprentice a proper and becoming treatment and Behaviour and such other duties as the law proscribes. In witness whereof the said Levi Todd Clerk as aforesaid & the said Peter Paul have hereunto set their hands & Seals the day & year above written. Signed: Levi Todd, Peter Paul Executed in Court. Teste: David Todd, DC Fayette County, April Court 1804. This indenture of appreticeship was proced in Court acknowledged by the said Levi Todd and Peter Paul parties thereto and ordered to be recorded. Teste: Levi Todd, Clk. Note in Margin: Examined & delivered to Owner

<http://www.rootsweb.com/~kyfayett/dunn/barton_abraham.htm> which took it from an undated manuscript called “Old Houses of Lexington” by Frank Dunn. Gideon Shryock is described as the most prominent architect in Kentucky in the 1827-1837 time period and was builder of the old state capitol in Frankfort (still standing). Morrison College is part of Transylvania University, the most prominent university west of the Appalachians at the time. The building, constructed in 1834 in the Greek Revival style, is still in use as the administration building of the university and is landmarked. Walker’s home and stone yard was on the SE corner of Upper and Second Streets in Lexington. Francis Walker, a fine stone cutter who had been apprenticed to Peter Paul, Sr., in 1804 when 16 years of age, had his residence and stone yard on the south-east corner. He bought the property from Charlton Hunt in April, 1833. This later became Doyle's marble yard while still owned by Francis Walker, and was where Joel T. Hart, "sculpturer," was working in 1838. Still later it was owned by Pruden, another famous marble man. Francis Walker apparently worked on Morrison College and other Shryock masterpieces at this time, as his deed from Charlton Hunt was predicated upon a "note with Gideon Shryock as security" being paid by "said Walker and Shryock or either of them."

Comstock researcher Lyndon Comstock found a Lexington city directory of 1818 and Francis was listed as a stonecutter. He was located on Market Street.

1820 Census, Lexington, Fayette Co KY, p.68 Francis Walker had in his household: 2 boys under 10, 1 boy 10-16, 1 male 16-26 [and he's actually 18 or older], 1 male 26-45 [presumably Francis] 1 girl under 10, 1 lady 16-26 [presumably Nancy] and 1 lady over 45 [probably either his mother or hers or some older aunt and she may be the mother of the extra males, in other words perhaps a younger brother or cousin or nephew of either Francis or Nancy is in the household. Or there could be boarders and the extras are of no relation. There's really no way no know - we just know someone that age lived there when the enumerator visited.] There are two people engaged in Manufacture in the household. [the male 16-26 could be an apprentice to Francis....] 1 male slave under 14, 1m 14-26. 1 female slave under 14, 1f 26-45 Total 4 slaves

1830 Census, Lexington, Fayette Co KY, p.260 Francis Walker: 2m 10-15 [the two boys under 10 in 1820], 1m 40-50 [Francis, b. 1780-1790] and 1 female age 30-40 [Nancy, b. 1790-1800]; a male and female slave.

There was a terrible cholera epidemic in Kentucky in the summer of 1833, which killed 500 people, nearly 10% of the population, of Lexington. A Francis Walker and his wife and their son Francis, Jr. were among the victims. Unless there was another Francis Walker in Lexington (pop. 7,000 at the time), which is unlikely, then this was how they died. List of deaths in the CITY OF LEXINGTON, Kentucky from June 1 to August 1, 1833. Most of these deaths were caused by cholera. Persons whose names are preceded by a star (*) died of other diseases. This list was reported to the City Council of Lexington by a committee appointed for that purpose, consisting of Messrs. Leavy, Layton, McKinney and Gough. It was published in the Lexington Observer and Reporter Thursday, August 22, 1833. Ward No. 4 Francis Walker, Sr., and wife; Francis Walker, Jr.;

Sources

• G. Glenn Clift; Compiled, Kentucky Marriages 1797-1865 (Genealogy Publishing Co. 1978).

U.S. Federal Census

Lexington city directory of 1818

Fayette Co KY Deed book A,

Lexington Observer and Reporter Thursday, August 22, 1833.