Dr. Thomas WALKER

Male 1715 - 1794  (79 years)


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  • Name Thomas WALKER 
    Prefix Dr. 
    Born 25 Jan 1715  Rye Field, Walkerton, King and Queen County, V Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    _UID 22F1D37F33D048639108B74A57DF3B0523CB 
    Died 19 Mar 1794 
    Buried Castle Hill-Walker Family Cemetery, Cismont, Albemarle Co., VA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • Tombstone dates
      b. Jan. 25, 1715 d. Mar. 19, 1794
    Notes 
    • WALKER FAMILY BIBLE RECORDS 1709-1930

      J. Thos. Walker borne Jany ye 25 1715

      He was the famous Virginia explorer of southwestern VA. and the guardian of Thomas Jefferson.

      He was raised as Englishman in the Tidewater region of Virginia. Walker's first profession was that of a physician after he attended the College of William and Mary and studied under his brother-in-law Dr. George Gilmer.

      Walker became a man of status in the county when he married Mildred Thornton (widow of Nicholas Meriwether) in 1741, and acquires a large portion of land from her late husband?s estate. Here, Walker would set his roots and build his home known as Castle Hill, and have 12 children, who would become prominent Albemarle Co. citizens in their own rights. He began his path to establishing his status by becoming a vestryman in April 1744, a position he would hold until 1785. He served Virginia proudly as a delegate to the House of Burgesses from Albemarle County, a trustee to the newly formed town of Charlottesville.

      On July 12, 1749, the Loyal Land Company was founded with Walker as a leading member. After receiving a grant of 800,000 acres in what is now southeastern Kentucky, the company appointed Walker to lead an expedition to explore and survey the region in 1750. Walker was named head of the Loyal Land Company in 1752.

      During the expedition, Walker gave names to many topographical features including the Cumberland Gap. His party built the first non-Indian house (a cabin) in Kentucky (today's Dr. Thomas Walker State Historic Site). Walker kept a daily journal of the trip.

      At the age of 64, Walker again journeyed to the western areas of Kentucky and Tennessee to extend the border between Virginia and North Carolina westward. This controversial mapped border would forever bear the title of the "Walker Line" and today stands as the separating point between the two states.

      He also had great influence in dealing with Indian affairs. Walker represented Virginia at the Treaty of Fort Stanwix and Treaty of Lochaber (1770) and dealt with the peace negotiations after the Battle of Point Pleasant. In 1775, Walker served as a Virginia commissioner in negotiations with representatives of the Six Nations in Pittsburgh at Fort Pitt.

      Walker is also credited as the first American to discover and use coal found in Kentucky [
    Person ID I6439  Master File
    Last Modified 29 Aug 2011 

    Father Thomas WALKER,   b. 1684, King and Queen Co. VA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1715, Walkerton, King and Queen Co. VA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 31 years) 
    Mother Susannah PEACHEY,   b. ca 1688, King and Queen Co. VA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 03 Nov 1736, King and Queen Co. VA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 48 years) 
    Married 24 Sep 1709  St Clemen's Church, St. Stephen's Parish in King and Queen Co. Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • Old New Kent County [Virginia]: Some Account of the Planters ..., Volume 1 By MALCOLM HART HARRIS, MD, p. 451

      says they married in London, 24 Sep 1709.
    Family ID F4673  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 Mildred THORNTON,   b. 21 Mar 1721,   d. 16 Nov 1778, Albemarle Co. VA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 57 years) 
    Married 22 Jun 1741 
    Children 
     1. Mary WALKER,   b. 04 Jul 1742, Castle Hill, Albemarle Co. VA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1824, Albemarle Co. VA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 81 years)
    +2. John WALKER,   b. 13 Feb 1744, Castle Hill, Albemarle Co. VA Find all individuals with events at this location
    +3. Susanna Thornton (Sukey) WALKER,   b. 14 Dec 1746, Castle Hill, Albemarle Co. VA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 26 Feb 1808, Madison Co. VA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 61 years)
     4. Thomas WALKER, Jr.,   b. 17 Mar 1749, Castle Hill, Albemarle Co. VA Find all individuals with events at this location
     5. Lucy WALKER,   b. 05 May 1751, Castle Hill, Albemarle Co. VA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1800  (Age 48 years)
     6. Elizabeth (Betsey) WALKER,   b. 01 Aug 1753, Castle Hill, Albemarle Co. VA Find all individuals with events at this location
    +7. Mildred Thornton WALKER,   b. 05 Jun 1755, Castle Hill, Albemarle Co. VA Find all individuals with events at this location
     8. Sarah WALKER,   b. 28 Mar 1758, Castle Hill, Albemarle Co. VA Find all individuals with events at this location
     9. Martha WALKER,   b. 02 May 1760, Castle Hill, Albemarle Co. VA Find all individuals with events at this location
     10. Ruben WALKER,   b. 1762, Castle Hill, Albemarle Co. VA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1765  (Age 3 years)
    +11. Francis WALKER,   b. 22 Jun 1764, Castle Hill, Albemarle Co. VA Find all individuals with events at this location
     12. Peachey WALKER,   b. 06 Feb 1767, Castle Hill, Albemarle Co. VA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 29 Oct 1811, Mercer, KY Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 44 years)
    +13. Mildred WALKER,   b. 1765, Castle Hill, Albemarle Co. VA Find all individuals with events at this location
    Last Modified 29 Aug 2011 
    Family ID F4679  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 2 Elizabeth Gregory,   b. 1724, Bridge Creek, Westmoreland Co. VA Find all individuals with events at this location,   bur. Castle Hill-Walker Family Cemetery, Cismont, Albemarle Co., VA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Married 14 Jan 1781 
    Last Modified 29 Aug 2011 
    Family ID F4678  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart