William Walker (abt. 1691 - aft. 1750)

Born about 1691 in Newry, Armagh, Ireland

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth (Curry) Walker — married 1715 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Descendants

Died after 1750 after about age 59 in East Pennsboro Township, Cumberland, Pennsylvania

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Note: This William is not the William Walker who died in 1757 at McCormick's Fort. That William lived on the other side of the county. Please do not merge with William d. 1757

Biography

William Walker was born circa 1691 in Newry, Armagh, Ireland.

William Walker undoubtedly the oldest, but surely a young man at the time he came to America in 1710, landing in Philadelphia. We know little of William's early years in America, but can surmise that he lived and worked in Philadelphia for it was there that he married Elizabeth Curry of Philadelphia. They probably settled in Lancaster Co., for it was there that their first son, John was born. When William's five brothers and their families came over in 1732, he certainly must have been of great help for they were all settled on the Pennsylvania frontier on both sides of the Susquehanna River below present day Harrisburg. William, Robert, and Andrew settled in East Pennsboro Twp., while Henry, James and Samuel settled on the east side of the river. By 1744, William had acquired land adjoining his brother Henry and had moved his family to their new home east of the Susquehanna River.

Often Confused With:

William Walker of Lurgan (Lived more than 20 miles away. This is the man who died at McCormick's Fort.)

William Walker of Hogan's Creek (Migrated to North Carolina)

Adapted from WeRelate.

Early Walker Settlers of Cumberland, Pennsylvania [1]

Key YDNA Group 6 - Yellow 1. Alexander Walker of Malin Lurgan Walkers - Red 2. William Walker of Lurgan YDNA Group 33 - Magenta 3. William Walker of Hogan's Creek 4. James Walker of Newville 5. Robert Walker of Yellow Breeches YDNA Group 14 - Green 6. William Walker of East Pennsboro Derry Walkers - Blue 7. James Walker of Derry 8. Henry Walker of Derry (Derry Walkers likely YDNA Group 5)

Overview

William Walker is believed to have been born about 1691 in Ireland, and to have immigrated to America with his father sometime before 1734. ^[2] Unsourced materials suggest that William married Elizabeth Curry in Philadelphia, prior to 1715. This implies that the date of immigration could have been no later than 1715. If correct, this raises the question of where William was living prior to his appearance in what is now Cumberland County in 1734. Direct documentation of this marriage has not so far been located. Examining early records for other members of this family may give insight into the timing, and whereabouts of their settlement in early years. It was long assumed this was the William Walker who was killed by Indians at McCormick's Fort, but this was another William Walker who lived over 20 miles away in Lurgan Township. His son William Walker matches into Group 14 of the Walker YDNA Project^[3], while other Walker families in the area match to different YDNA lines.

In 1734 William entered a survey for a parcel on Conodoguinet Creek, a tributary of the Susquehanna.[4] This area would later become East Pennsboro Township, Cumberland County, PA. Williams land lay a few miles northeast of Silver's Spring Presbyterian Church.	William Walker Grant
March 18, 1733/34. William Walker, 400 acres, on the south side of the Conodoguinet, three miles above Pexton Mannor, [5] "where he had liberty from the honorable Proprietor to settle October last". From A history of Cumberland Valley, citing the Blunston licenses.

Marriage

William married:

1. Elizabeth Curry - circa 1715

Notes

Emigrated abt. 1710 landing in Philadelpha. He settled E. Pennsboro Twp, Cumberland, PA, m Elizabeth Curry b Philadelphia, PA, d Cumberland Co., PA (unknown). William Walker undoubtedly the oldest, but surely a young man at the time he came to America in 1710, landing in Philadelphia. We know little of William's early years in America, but can surmise that he lived and worked in Philadelphia for it was there that he married Elizabeth Curry of Philadelphia.

Sources

1. ↑ Compiled from Land Warrants and Surveys. See also maps from "First Families of Cumberland County", Hayes R. Eschenmann and Paul Barner, Cumberland County Historical Society. They can be obtained from the society here:. DNA groups from publically available information from FTDNA Walker DNA Project here
2. ↑ Egles Notes and Queries
3. ↑ DNA groups from publically available information from FTDNA Walker DNA Project here
4. ↑ Lancaster County Deed Abstracts by Mayhill, 1973, lists several deeds involving William Walker, for land on Conodoguinet Creek, beginning 1744. See [http://books.google.com/books?um=1&q=%22McCormick%27s+fort%22+%22Conodoguinet%22+Walker&btnG=Search+Books Indians, Indians, by Hayes R. Eschenmann, 1992.
5. ↑ Pexton Manor was a 7000 acre tract reserved for the use of the Indians. It lay in the general area between modern Camp Hill, Lemoye, and New Cumberland. See:Google Maps

• Walker, Harry C. Personal recollection, as told to Anthony Walker at family gathering. Notes in the possession of Anthony M. Walker.

• http://walkerfamilygenealogy.com

• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/12877099/william-walker

• Cushing, Thomas. History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania (A. Warner & Co., Chicago, 1889, Part 2, p. 502)

Acknowledgements

• WikiTree profile Walker-8013 created through the import of Kenneth LeRoy Jordan Family Tr.ged on Jan 14, 2013 by Kenneth Jordan.