The Walker Family

 

The Walker family was very interesting to research and I've spent a lot of hours trawling through records and  reports and it took a very long time to unravel some of the confusing family members so I hope you will enjoy this family as much as I have done.

The Walker's go  back a long way but stayed within the same area so was slightly easier to trace. It does get a little complicated though, there are two sides to the Walkers plus another side of a different surname, Fry.  There is quite a bit of history included within this family tree.

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I will start with my grandfather Arthur Walker who was born in Skipton at 12 Union terrace on 17th November 1901 just after the death of Queen Victoria. He was baptised at Christ Church in Skipton on 18th June 1902.  

In 1911 he lived at home at 12 Union Terrace with his family.

He married Mary Burrows at the registry office in Skipton in 1935 and they went on to have four children, all of who are still living.  In 1939 he was at home with his eldest daughter while Mary was in hospital having given birth to the second daughter a few days earlier.

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Arthur's working life was spent in the weaving mills in Skipton, he loved to go for a few pints on pay day at the Working Mens Club opposite Skipton bus station. He was too young to serve his country in WWI but did his national service and was in the RAF. In WWII he was stationed in the Isle of Man as home guard as he was too old to go to the front. 

He used to play the harmonica often and the family had get-togethers, not just his own family but Mary's side aswell. In fact the Burrows family were regular visitors. Some of the Burrows lads would 'borrow' Arthur's shoes and pawn them for beer money then buy them back on payday and pawn them again a few days later.

Arthur was a very quietly spoken man and never needed to raise his voice, his children didn't defy him. Being brought up in the time that he was and coming from a very large family, he would have to have been frugal, and when we used to visit we always had to have a slice of bread and butter with our pudding to 'fill us up'.

On his 80th birthday we had a Jacob's Join and surprised him, there were quite a few people there and he was so pleased, out came his harmonica and songs were sang. 

Arthur died on 15th April 1990, it was Easter Sunday and we had been to visit him not long before he passed away. At his funeral the wake was at the Craven Arms in Skipton, it was just as he would have wanted it, lots of beer, songs and music. He outlived Mary who died on Christmas Eve 1978, we had also been to visit her the day she passed away.

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Above top left Arthur and Mary. Right Arthur centre of picture. Below left and right Arthur on duty as home Guard.

 

The parents of Arthur were Thomas Henry Walker and Margaret Whittingham. Thomas was born in Bradley on 3rd January 1870. Margaret was born in Skipton on 11th August 1871. 

In the 1871 census Thomas lived with his parents in Woodman Terrace, Skipton. His father died in 1880 and Thomas was missing from the 1881 census but all his siblings were living at home with their mother, he was back home in 1891 and was a warp dresser.

He married Margaret in 1897 in Skipton. Margaret already had two sons, one Samuel Whittingham born in 1891 and Fred Walker Whittingham born in 1896, the middle name suggests that Fred was Thomas's son.

The children they had during their marriage were: James, Martha, Arthur, Minnie, Allan, Jack, Albert, Lewis and Lily who were twins. 

In 1901 the family lived at 12 Union Terrace and Thomas and Margaret saw out their days there.

 

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Thomas Henry died on 22nd October 1954 and Margaret in Raileswood Hospital on 29th January 1961.

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T H Walker and Margaret Whittingham with Minnie Walker (left)

 

The parents of Thomas Henry were Aaron Walker and Mary Smith. Aaron was born in Bradley on 9th March 1843 and baptised at Kildwick Church on 14th May 1843. Mary was born in Kelbrook about 1836.

In 1861 Aaron lived at home with his family in Bradley and was an overlooker in the mill. His marriage to Mary Smith took place at Skipton Registry Office on 22nd November 1862. The couple moved to Skipton around 1868 with two children. In 1871 Aaron was a warp dresser in a mill. 

They had a total of eight children: Albert Edward, Alice Ann, Amelia, Thomas Henry, John William, Martha, Lewis, Alfred.

Aaron met a tragic end on 3rd August 1880 due to an accident whilst working in a mill in Colne He was taken to Bradford Infirmary but died from shock to the nervous system. See Coroners inquest. He was buried at Kildwick Church on 5th August 1880.

It must have been a difficult time for Mary as she had all eight children under 16 at home. In 1881 her and the children were living in Skipton, Albert was a warp dresser and Alice Ann aged 14 was a weaver, I would imagine that it was difficult to manage with only two children's wages coming into the family pot.

Looking at the 1891 census things seemed to have improved. The family were living at 12 Union Terrace, Skipton. There were two adult sons working and Lewis was an office boy aged 15, Alfred aged 12 was a scholar. 

Mary died in 1897 and is buried in Kildwick Churchyard.

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A bit about the other children of Aaron and Mary:

 Albert E born 17 Sept 1864 in Coventry, I have no idea why.  Marriage to Hannah Ellison in Skipton in 1886, children Emily and Eva. .signed up for WWI aged 45, he had previously been in the army in the North Riding Reg. At the time of attesting he was married and lived at 16 Cumberland Street, Skipton. 
His first military record shows that his service lasted from 10th January 1882 to 3rd April 1908 which may have put him in the Boer War. He was promoted to Sergeant. He earned himself a long service medal in the T/A. Death 2 Sept 1941

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Lewis  born 1876 in Skipton. Marriage to Harriet Ann Birtwell aka Nellie. Children: Sylvia Caroline, Harold. Nellie had a daughter Jemima Holmes Birtwell who was born in Morecambe
Lewis fought in WWI, he signed up in Halifax, his address on signing up was 21 Ermystead Street and he was a builders clerk, 39 years old  He signed up voluntarily and left as a corporal.
Death 1945 Wharfedale.

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Alice Ann Walker born 6 Dec 1866 in Skipton. Marriage to William Martindale in Skipton in 1886. Children: Alice, Dora, infant male, Martha Annie, John, Florence Mary, William. 
Death 1949 in Haslingden Lancs.

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Amelia Walker, born 31 Dec 1867 in Bradley. Marriage to William Henry Barrett in 1888 in Skipton. Children: Emily, Ernest, Edith. Death 5 Nov 1939.

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John William Walker born 1873 in Skipton. Marriage to Lilly Wood in 1894 in Skipton. Children: Carrie, Ida, Annie Wood, Mary. Death 1914 Skipton.

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Martha Walker born 1874 in Skipton. Death 1883 Skipton.

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Alfred Walker born 1879 in Skipton. Marriage to Louisa Maxfield in 1901 in Skipton. Children: Mary Agnes, *Alfred Maxfield Walker. Death 1952 in Earby.

*Alfred Maxfield Walker was married twice, to Rosa Ellis and Ann Mary Jenkinson.

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Moving on to the parents of Aaron Walker. Thomas Walker was born  in Kilnsey about 1820,  son of Hannah Vicars he was baptised at Conistone in Craven Church on 12th December 1821, he was illegitimate along with his brother William.. His mother obviously went somewhere to have him as she lived in Bradley, she was widowed.

In 1841 he was living in Bradley with his mother and her second husband William Fry, he was aged 15 and a worsted weaver.

He married Mariah Walker at Kildwick Church on 4th January 1843. They had four children: Aaron, Hannah, Caroline and Alfred. 

In 1851 the family were living in Bradley, both Thomas and Maria worked in the mills, Thomas as a warp dresser, Maria as a weaver.

The family lived in Bradley and in the 1861 census and both Thomas and Maria were warp dressers. There was another son, Sargison Walker aged 25 a Corn Miller. He was the illegitimate son of Mariah. 

By 1871 Maria was 50 and no longer working. Thomas was still working as a warp dresser. They had a granddaughter Alice Ann Walker aged four staying with them.

In 1881 Thomas was recorded as a cotton worsted manufacturer.

Mariah died in 1881 and was buried in Kildwick on 11th July.

Thomas re-married in 1882 to Alice Whiteoak who was from Kildwick. They remained in Bradley but had no children together.

Alice died in 1900 and was buried at Kildwick on 22nd September.

Thomas was living with his daughter Caroline and her husband Joseph Brown in Bradley in the 1901 census, he was in his 80's and a retired warp dresser. He died in Bradley on 26th April 1901, his was buried in Kildwick on 29th April.

His probate leaves his estate to his daughter Caroline (Brown), £483 6s. 

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Thomas and Mariah's daughter Hannah was born in 1844 and died in 1845.

Caroline married Joseph Brown who was from Glusburn. They had no children. In 1911 they lived in a five roomed house named Alma Cottage in Bradley. Caroline died in 1913 and is buried in Bradley cemetery.

Alfred died aged 17 in 1874, he is buried in Kildwick Cemetery. 

It's no surprise that Mariah died in 1881, after losing three of her children. I will write more about Mariah further on in the book.

The Father of Thomas Walker is unknown. 

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The line of John Walker and Hannah Vicars​

John Walker was born on 12th February 1787 in Bradley, Yorkshire son of Matthew Walker and Anne Robinson, he was baptised at Kildwick Church on 11th March 1787.

John married Hannah Vicars at Kildwick Church on 4th April 1809, they had four children together: Anne, Hannah, Grace, Mary. 

John died aged 30 in 1817 and was buried in Kildwick on 20th January 1817.

The story doesn't end there as Hannah and her family were interesting and I will add more about them later.

 

​The children of John and Hannah:

Anne was born 30 October 1809, baptised in Kildwick 24 December 1809. No further records were found.

Hannah was born 2 October 1811, baptised 27 October 1811. Death  Bradley 1841, burial at Kildwick 11 November 1841.

Mary was born 21 February 1814, baptised Kildwick 20 March 1814. Twin to Grace. No further records found.

Grace was born 21 February 1814, baptised Kildwick 20 March 1814. Twin to Mary.

Marriage to Solomon Metcalf 27 September 1842. In 1851 the couple lived in Chorley, Solomon's occupation was a police constable and in 1861 they had moved to Toxteth. No children were found. Grace died in West Derby in 1864.

Sarah, there wasn't any record of a birth or baptism but there was a death with a ? for 1810.

 

Matthew Walker was born about 1746 in Keighley, Yorkshire West Riding.  His spouse was Anne Robinson, born in Keighley in 1744. They were married in Keighley Parish Church  on 7 August 1764. They had at least four children who were all baptised in Kildwick: Elizabeth, Mary, John, Matthew. The family moved to Bradley where Matthew died in 1814, he is buried in Kildwick Churchyard. Anne died in Bradley in 1831. Matthew's occupation was a hand loom weaver. 

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The parents of Matthew Walker were Robert Walker and Mary Hardaker. Robert was born in Bradley about 1724, baptism at Kildwick Church 4 October 1724. Mary was born in Keighley 21 February 1723/4. Marriage in Keighley 25 April 1745, the same year as the arrival of Bonnie Prince Charlie in Scotland. The couple moved to Pinfold in Keighley which at the time was a slum,  in the area of Westgate and was demolished in the 1930's. The area of Westgate now has tower blocks named Westgate Gardens, the sorting office and a multi storey car park. The children found for Robert and Mary were Matthew and Anne. 

Robert died in Pinfold in 1765 and buried in Keighley on 5 August 1765. Mary died in Pinfold in 1772 and was buried in Keighley 10 February 1772. 

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The parents of Robert Walker were Joseph Walker and Barbara Ibbotson. Joseph was born in Bradley in 1687, he was baptised at Kildwick Church 13 November 1687. Barbara was born in Hubberholme in 1685, she was baptised at Linton in Craven Church 25 October 1685. Marriage 13 December 1712 at Kildwick Church. They had at least six children: William, Margaret, Jane, Thomas, Henry and Robert. Joseph's occupation was a Mason. He died in 1762 and was buried in Kildwick 25 March 1762. Barbara died In Bradley in 1762 and was also buried in Kildwick 13 July 1762.

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The parents of Joseph were Thomas Walker and Maria Craven. Thomas was born at Silsden Moor about 1660 and was baptised at Kildwick Church 6 January 1661, Maria was born in Sutton in Craven about 1664 and was baptised 19 January 1665 at Kildwick Church. Marriage 25 July 1681. There were at least eight children: Ann(a), Henry, Martha, Joseph, Margaret, Susannah, Mary, Thomas. Thomas died in 1719 in Bradley. Maria died 1730/31 in Bradley. 

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Parents of Thomas Walker were Richard Walker and Jana (Jane) Taylor. Richard was born in Addingham between 1613 and 1633. Jane was born between 1618 and 1638 in Addingham. Marriage 22 September 1653. Children: Robert, Richard, Thomas. Richard died in Bradley in 1711, burial at Kildwick Church 3 May 1711. Jane died in 1695, buried at Kildwick 2 April 1695. 

Further research needed for an exact year of birth for Richard and Jane. 

 

Hannah Vicars

 

Hannah was born in Northowram, Yorkshire on 5th June 1790 daughter of John Vicars and Mary Knowles, she wasn't baptised until 7 years of age, the baptism was non conformist at the independent chapel in Northowram on 4th September 1797.

She had at least four siblings: Sarah, William, Grace, Thomas.

Hannah obviously moved away from Northowram as in 1809 she married John Walker at Kildwick Church and was described as a minor (under 21) so would've needed her fathers consent.

Hannah and John lived in Bradley, they had six children: Anne, Hannah, Grace, Mary, William, Thomas. John died in 1817, William was born in 1819 and Thomas in 1820, both were illegitimate, William was born in Kilnsey which suggests Hannah had been up to no good in Bradley, he was baptised at Kildwick and described as the illegitimate son of Hannah a widow. Thomas was born in Kilnsey and was baptised at Conistone with Kilnsey.

Hannah remarried in 1824 to William Fry, the Fry family went on to run the Slaters Arms Inn in Bradley. Hannah had a further four children while with William, James, John Stephenson, Stephen and Robert Fry. Hannah died in 1858 and is buried at Kildwick. 

Her son William Walker seems to disappear, he's only on the 1851 census then has gone, I couldn't find a death for him so maybe he emigrated. Thomas on the other hand was very traceable. 

Hannahs sibling Sarah also had an illegitimate son Currer, it is a very strong possibilty that the father was one of the Currers of Kildwick Hall, the child died aged four. Grace Vicars another of Hannahs siblings stayed in Northowram and married in 1816 at Halifax.  The children of Hannah and William Fry all married and had many children.