see cht. 8-0
Thomas Walker was born in Driglington, Yorkshire, England on 10 Mar. 1763, the 4th child of Robert (1717) and Hannah (born Hopkins) Walker.
In approximately 1772/73 Thomas moved , with his parents to a small cottage situated in a field just adjacent to the new Quaker School at or near Gildersome, a village about 3 miles from Leeds. In 1809 Thomas’ nephew, Robert Spence, included an entry in his diary concerning Thomas’ father’s death as follows:- My Uncle, Thomas Walker, the youngest of the family carried forward the business (a cloth manufacturer) on his own and his mother’s account. Either a short time before or soon after his Mother’s decease he (Thomas) married Elizabeth Jackson, daughter of John Jackson, of Gildersome Street.
Thomas did marry Elizabeth Jackson on 5 July, 1792 at Gildersome. Elizabeth was born in 1767 and was indeed the daughter of John Jackson. Several entries concerning their marriage appear in Brighouse Monthly Meeting Minutes, as follows;
Monthly Meeting held at Shewboard near Todmorden on 11 May, 1792; Thomas Walker and Elizabeth Jackson both of Gildersome Meeting appeared here and laid before us their intentions of marriage with each other; they gave account of the clearness from others, and have consent of parents, his appears by a note from his mother signed and attested, and the verbal account of her father on behalf of himself and wife. Joseph Travis and Thomas Hopkins are appointed to make further enquiry of his clearness and report at their next appearance.
Monthly Meeting held at Leeds on 25 June, 1792; Thomas Walker and Elizabeth Jackson appear a second time and declared their intentions of taking each other in marriage. Joseph Travis reports enquiry has been made and nothing appears to the contrary and women Friends giving the like account on her behalf, they are at liberty to solemnize their intentions when they and Friends think proper. Joseph Travis and John Ellis are appointed to see that good order be kept and made before our next.
Monthly Meeting held at Shewboard near Todmorden on 13 July, 1792; Joseph Travis gives account, the marriage of Thomas Walker and Elizabeth Jackson was orderly accomplished. (5 July, 1792, as stated above)
Shortly after their marriage Thomas and Elizabeth emigrated to New York City, U.S.A. on a ‘Certificate of Removal’ from Brighouse Monthly Meeting. It would appear from the Minutes of several Meetings that the request for a certificate was not initiated until after they had already arrived in New York. The Minutes read as follows;
Monthly Meeting held at Shewboard near Todmorden on 9 Aug. 1793; Thomas Walker and his wife and child, removed to New York in America, request a certificate.
Monthly Meeting at Bradford on 4 Dec. 1793; Thomas Walker’s certificate deferred. The Friends appointed not being prepared.
Monthly Meeting at Halifax on 8 Dec. 1793; A certificate addressed to Friends in New York in North America on behalf of Thomas Walker, his wife and child has been produced. But as some doubts have arisen respecting his conduct relating to some continual engagement respecting his farm, Thomas Hopkins, Wm. Bilton and Joseph Firth are appointed to join Friends before nominated in order to make further enquiry into that matter and produce another, or make a report at our next.
Monthly Meeting at Halifax on 15 Dec. 1793; A certificate on behalf of Thomas Walker, his wife and child, addressed to Friends of the Monthly Meeting of New York has been read, approved and signed, which Thomas Hopkins is desired to forward.
In this writer’s opinion a conundrum arises as to who the child mentioned in these Minutes could be. It could not have been a child of Thomas and Elizabeth as the New York Monthly Meetings show the births of their children as follows;
Eliza J. Walker ; As yet nothing is known of her.
See separate biographies for Robert J., John Jackson and Thomas E. Walker.
So, who is the child mentioned above in the 3 Monthly Meeting Minutes? It could very well be Joseph Walker, son of Robert Walker, Thomas’ eldest brother. Joseph was born in 1781 and would therefore have been 12 years of age in 1793, an age that was not uncommon for boys to go into apprenticeship in those days, especially with an Uncle. This would seem to be the only plausible explanation. We do know that Joseph did in fact go to New York to work with his Uncle Thomas, but have previously been unable to establish the year that he went.
Elizabeth Jackson died on 11 Aug. 1800, in New York, and was buried in the Houston Street Quaker Burial Ground. It would appear that the cause of death was due to the birth of her last child, Eliza who was born in July of that year.
On 3 Jan. 1802 Thomas married Elizabeth Hannah Hoyland. Elizabeth was born on the 6 Aug. 1761 at Sheffield, England, a daughter of William and Mary Hoyland, both deceased at the time of Elizabeth’s marriage. Prior to marriage Elizabeth conducted a school in Birmingham. In 1798 she removed to the United States and continued teaching school in New York City. She and Thomas took up residence in Westchester County where they were members of Purchase Monthly Meeting. They apparently had no children, probably because Elizabeth was 41 years of age at the time of her marriage. She was, however, very active in the Quaker movement. In 1807 she was acknowledged as a Minister and did some visiting to Canada. In 1816 Elizabeth traveled in the western and southern States, and in 1823 made a return visit to England and other places on the Continent, returning to America in 1825.
Thomas became a very well-to-do merchant in New York in the Dry Goods Import business. It would appear that Thomas retired from business about 1809. His nephew, Joseph, as mentioned above, carried on the business until about 1828/29, when he returned home to Darley, England to retire.
Elizabeth Hannah Hoyland died on 8 Aug. 1827, in her 66th year. there is a record of her extensive travels in the Ministry in New York Memorials of 1846 and in the New York Yearly Meeting Memorials of 1859. See also the British Friend of 1882, page 124. Thomas Walker died in New York on 10 Mar. 1842.
Sources:-
- Friends Library, London, Eng.
- Haverford College, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
By:- R. B. Walker, Eng & H..L. Walker, Can. - Rev:- 23 February, 2002.