see cht. 9-0
Joseph Walker was born in Darley, Yorkshire, England on 6 Sept. 1781, the 2nd child of Robert (1755) and Rachel (born Spence) Walker.
It is not known whether Joseph had any formal education. Although his older sister, Sarah (1780), attended Ackworth Quaker School, Joseph’s name does not appear on the School records.
Until recently it was thought that Joseph was sent from Darley to New York when he was about 19 or 20 years of age. However, new evidence has appeared which suggests that he went with his Uncle Thomas and Aunt Elizabeth to New York in 1793 when he was only 12 years of age. The evidence which justifies this thinking is provided by several entries in the Brighouse Monthly Meeting Minute Books. 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 requests a certificate”.
“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”.
There seems to be only one logical explanation. The child referred to could not have been one of Thomas’ children as the eldest was not born until 1795. It hardly seems likely that they would be taking a non-relative child all the way to New York. We know that Joseph went to New York, but could not previously determine just when he went. This would seem to verify that he went in 1793, with his uncle.
In any case Joseph did go to New York and was an apprentice to his Uncle Thomas in the Merchant business as an importer of dry goods. We do know that he was still there on 28 Aug. 1813 as he is named in his Uncle Joseph’s (1757) Will as residing in New York. It would seem that he was back in England by 25 June, 1829 as evidenced by a Memorial entitled “Rhodes to Walker”, which reads in part:- “Joseph Walker of Darley in the said County etc”. It has been said that he returned to England to live out his final years in his home countryside. During his years in New York Joseph bought a considerable amount of property in the Darley area and made profitable investments in England, particularly in Railway shares. This is substantiated in Biography 35-A which lists all his properties and investments. Part of the real property was an estate at Darley purchased from Mr Joseph Wilks, which later became known as Walker House & Walker Farm House near Stocks Green.
Joseph never married. He died very suddenly on 25 Jun. 1835 while returning home on horseback from Quarterly Meeting at York. He apparently took ill at Swarcliffe Bottom and was seen to be staggering helplessly about by Mr. Wetherill (see letter enclosed with Edwin Walker’s biography). Mr. Wetherill went to Joseph’s assistance and conveyed him to the old house in “The Holme”, where Mr. Wetherill lived. Joseph was past speech and died in the parlor before he could be taken to a Doctor. He was buried in Darley Quaker Burial Ground (row 3 plot 9).
Joseph died Intestate, making it necessary for several Probate Documents such as “Proxy of Renunciation”, “Obligation” and “Affirmation” to be executed in the Probate Courts. The Estate, valued at £46,800 after duties and other costs, was divided into six equal shares of £7,800 between 5 brothers and 1 sister (see Biography 35-A).
Also see Biographies 30-C and 30-D for copies of 2 letters written to Joseph by his father Robert Walker in 1801 and 1803.
Sources
:- Friends Digests at Brothertn Library, Leeds.University.
:- D.R. Watkins, Australia.
:- Borthwick Institute of York University, York
:- C.T. Walker, East Sussex, Eng.
:- R. B. Walker, Formby.
Associated Records:- Link Art. 1-Pg-5-1
By:- R.B.Walker, Eng. & H.L.Walker, Can.-Rev. 23 January, 2002.