B89 - Charles Walker Family, 1860

see TC. 11-1

Charles Walker was born in Birstwith, Yorkshire, England on 22 Feb. 1860, the 2nd child of Thompson and Rachel Hannah (born Walker) Walker.

Charles attended the Friends Ackworth Boarding School from 1871 to 1874. Immediately following his term at Ackworth he attended the Friends Bootham School for boys, in York from 1874 to 1876 and on 14 Feb. 1877 was apprenticed to Octavius Corder, a Quaker and Pharmaceutical Chemist of Norwich in County Norfolk for a period of 3 years. He subsequently entered the examinations of the Pharmaceutical Society and was awarded the Bronze Medal in 1879 for his work on the "Herbarium". The medal, as of 1992, was in the possession of Charles' grandson, Christopher Walker of Bexhill-on-Sea in East Sussex, England. In February 1880 Charles sat for the “Jacob Bell Scholarship for Chemistry”. Upon completion of his apprenticeship Charles began working as an Assistant in Retail Pharmacies, first in Eastbourne and then Doncaster. While in Doncaster Charles met his future wife.

On 31 July, 1888 Charles married Elizabeth Ann Garrett of Doncaster, Yorkshire. Charles and Elizabeth took up residence in Hull about 1890, where Charles opened his own business. They had three children:-

Dorothy Mary and Charles Frederick were born in Hull. Margaret was born in Harrogate.

See separate biographies for the children.

While in Hull Charles served as Clerk to the Hull Preparative Meeting of Friends from 1893 to 1896. It is believed that he did not serve beyond 1896, as that was probably about the time when the family moved to Harrogate. In the Harrogate Trade Directories of 1900, 1901 and 1902 Charles is listed as having a dispensing, photographic and operative Chemist Shop, at 3 Cold Bath Road, Harrogate, Yorkshire. From family letters written at this time he “used his wheels to travel back and forth from Harrogate to Birstwith”. A bicycle of some description no doubt. It was about 1903 that Charles left Harrogate to go into partnership as a Chemist in Aldgate, in East London. This venture proved to be a grave disappointment as his partner let him down, leaving him with heavy debts. These he paid off over a period of years by working long hours, till 8 p.m., then walking 5 miles home through the somewhat notorious east end of London. He finally moved to Lee in South-East London where he managed a retail Pharmacy until after World War I, followed by a move to Mottingham, also in South-East London. His shop here included the Pharmacy where he made pills in the dispensary and a photographic developing and printing shop. He became known as the "Doctor" to the poor families living in the neighbourhood. His daughter, Dorothy, was his assistant and dispenser. It is believed that Charles ceased active membership in the Society of Friends when he moved to London.

About 1930 Charles retired to Chistlehurst and then Clacton, Essex where he was confined to a wheel chair. Over many years Charles took considerable interest in the Walker Family History. This is substantiated by a copy of a letter which he wrote to his cousin, Edwin Walker, in 1915, and by a copy of his genealogy Note Book, both of which are part of theses Records. The book contains charts and notes of many branches of the Walker Family and other associated families. This included branches of the family in Canada, Australia, the United States and England. He was also very knowledgeable about wild plants and flowers. He was known as a very patient, gentle and kind man. To his grandchildren he was known as “Adda”. On Christmas day he would arrive at the family home in Chistlehurst, by taxi, dressed as Father Christmas.

Charles Walker died on 21 Jan. 1939, just one month prior to his 79th birthday, in a Nursing Home in Bromley, Kent, and was buried in Bromley cemetery.

Elizabeth Ann Garrett died on the 20 Mar. 1954 in Filey, Yorkshire, where she was living with her daughter, Dorothy, her son Charles (known as Tom) and his wife Marion. It is not known exactly where she was buried.

Wedding picture of Charles Walker & Elizabeth Ann Garrett Taken in Doncaster, Yorkshire on 31 July, 1888

In the front row from left to right it is believed they are:- Mary, Charles’ older sister, Charles’ mother, Rachel Hannah Walker, Charles, Elizabeth and her mother.

Sources

• Society of Friends Library, London, Eng.

• Records from Bootham School, York.

• Douglas R Watkins, Australia.

• Christopher T. Walker.East Susssex, Eng.

• Maria Walker's letters.

• Richard B Walker, Eng.

• Quaker records, Brotherton Library, Leeds, Eng.

By:- R.B. Walker Eng. & H.L. Walker, Can., - Rev.- 13 January, 2005.