Robert Walker II
| Robert Walker Sr., II | |
|---|---|
| Resting place | USA |
| Residence |
Donegal, Northern Ireland (?–) Donegal Township, Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania (c. 1735–c. 1748) Cumberland Valley, Pennsylvania (c. 1748–1752) Yellow Breeches, West Pennsboro township, Pennsylvania (1752)[1] |
| Children | Robert Walker III[2] |
| Parents | Robert Walker I[3] |
Beginnings in Scotland[4]
"The earlier Walkers do not have good dates, so we use Robert Walker b.abt 1630 [Robert II's great-grandfather]. He was the first we know about. We believe that our ancestor Robert Walker lived in Scotland, Torbolton, Ayrshire before 1665, and fared well until the restoration when he was arrested and fined for selling and 'weaving lining cloth' in defiance of English laws pertaining to Scottish persons. It was prohibited by newly enforced regulations promulgated by the Restored Monarchy."
"He was raised near Glasgow, Scotland. Migrated to Ireland, signed allegiance to King William at the siege of Londonderry, 1688-9. In 1689 he and his son, James b abt 1660 are on the rolls of inhabitants of Londonderry, Ulster, at the time of the siege, by forces under James II and Lord Tyrconel."
"In 1718, a group of Ulster Scots, two Roberts [Robert II's great-grandfather], a William and a James Walker [Robert II's grandfather] were among those living in N Ireland who petitioned Gov. Schute of Massachusetts for permission to immigrate to the American colonies, which request was subsequently granted."
"With six of James Walker's sons taking advantage beginning after 1730, three, James Henry and Andrew locating east of the [Susquehanna River], and three others Samuel, Robert [Robert II's father] and William on the western side. Estates are in court records for those east, but there are none for the three western Walkers."
Time in America[5]
"Robert Walker Sr. came to America with his parents, after first petitioning Gov. Schute of Massachusetts in 1718, for permission to immigrate from Northern Ireland. It is most likely that their home, in Donegal, Ireland, was borderline for the occupations, and no better than the Scotland they had departed one generation earlier. At first, the family came to Donegal Township, then at the western edge of Lancaster Co., PA. The Lowther Manor had been reserved for Wm. Penn's sister, Margaret, but her family never came to take possession. Governor (Lt.) Logan had allowed the influx of Scotch-Irish to occupy this land, but found that the open spaces quickly became crowded; as large numbers of German speaking Anabaptists from the Palatinate were also arriving, but ill-equipped to survive at the Western edge, because of the occasionally hostile Indian, whom Logan knew had to be coerced into peaceful coexistence with the colonists."
"An opportunity arose, in which a Maryland gentleman, [Thomas Cresap], who had been doing a large amount of trade with the Scotch-Irish, through his connection with English merchants, became aroused and was incarcerated. Logan and the House of Deputies, felt that the poorly marked southern boundary of Pennsylvania needed better definition, and had asked Cresap to move on, from the latter's trading post on the western bank of the Susquehanna River, opposite Donegal Twp., which acts precipitated Cresap's War, circa. 1745. While the Walkers are mentioned in names of settlers of that place, in Lancaster Co., they were soon asked to take up lands much farther west, in the Cumberland Valley, which soon was recognized as a County itself in 1750, in which numbered a half dozen Walker families at that time. Similarly, Cresap moved west, first to Williamsport, MD, (nr. Hagerstown); and later Oldtown, further west up the Potomac, across from Green Spring Run, VA."
"Most Cumberland Walkers were closely related, one deed in 1746 was for land sold by William Walker to Philadelphia interests. James Walker executed his will in 1750, witnessed by William Walker, but held on until 1778."
"Robert Walker, Sr. obtained a warrant for about 500 acres on the Yellow Breeches in West Pennsborough Twp. in 1752, from Jaques Le Tort, Logan's French land agent in Carlisle. He was granted a patent about 9 years later from the Penn brothers, Richard & Thomas, sons of William, the original proprietor."
"By then Robert Walker Sr. had a large family, consisting of 4 younger brothers of Robert Jr. and about 4 sisters."
Time In America (Cont'd)[6]
"Back in West Pennsborough, the family of Robert Sr. was experiencing growing pains."
"The next oldest son Andrew, had married Isabelle Thorn, and gone to work for her father, James, in Tyrone Twp. in what is now Adams County, south of Cumberland."
"John, the third oldest, had warranted another 100+ acres, next to Brice's on the south side of the Yellow Breeches, but sold it to his father, who also patented it, and then bought land in Peters Township, southwest 60 miles or so from the Walker homestead. In 1773, Walker Sr. sold the entire plantation, now 700 acres, and with the money, purchased three tracts in Hampshire Co., Virginia, as well as 600 acres near John's place in Peters, from the Widow Barr. Both properties were well situated, with access to the Cresap operations down water 'highways.'"
"Robert Sr's son James, removed to Virginia to settle the land there, and the 600 acres in Peters on the Conococheague was recorded as jointly owned by Robert Sr. and the youngest son, Samuel, who had married the youngest Brice daughter, Isabelle."