Jeremiah Walker (1833-1885) was an interesting man to chase. I first found him with his family in England, and then later, in the Church of the Redemption, Spring Church, in Philadelphia. This is one of those families that was exciting to chase because there were records. It was also incredibly sad to chase this family as so many of the children died young.
Perhaps the best part of chasing this family was tag-teaming with my cousin Jamie. When I’ve done all I can and become frustrated, Jamie will step in and take over. She always seems to find the missing link to take us in the right direction. We were at a dead stop on the two oldest surviving children in this family when she found the right connection. Once I had the right names, I went digging through a different set of records and found the proof that linked his younger two daughters to Jeremiah. Jamie and I work well together and it’s always a lot of fun.
Jeremiah was born about 1833 in Ashton-Under-Lyne, the youngest known child of Jeremiah Walker and Mary Newton. His first documented appearance was on the 1841 census in the home of his parents.1 His age (birth year) remains consistent throughout his reasonably well documented life. He was baptized at the age of 11, on 18 Aug 1844 in St. Michael’s.2
On 13 Aug 1848, at the age of 15, Jeremiah arrived in Philadelphia aboard the Wyoming.3 It appears that he made this trip alone.
He is next found as a weaver on the 1850 census in Westhampton, Burlington, New Jersey.4
Jeremiah was married to Mary Jane Kimble on 28 Jan 1856 in Philadelphia at the Church of the Redemption, Spring Church.5 The record states she was “of Mercer County, NJ” but does not provide us with the couple’s ages or any other helpful information.
We were aware of Mary Jane’s maiden name based on her 1879 death certificate, which stated Mary Jane Kimble was 42 years old (born about 1837) in Burlington County, New Jersey, the daughter of John Kimble and Hannah Steward.6
**NOTE** There is a 7 Sep 1852 marriage record from St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Philadelphia for a Jerry Walker to Mrs. Mary J. Bailie which led to some early confusion. Our Jeremiah would have been about 19 and Mary Jane Kimble would have only been about 15/16. There is a Jerry Walker (1816-1886) buried in Laurel Hill Cemetery along with Mary Jane Walker died (1817-1873) who would be of the right ages for this record. They are both listed as being born in Philadelphia and found on the 1870 census in Ward 7 while our Jeremiah is in Trenton, New Jersey.
Jeremiah appears to have stayed in Philadelphia from at least 1856 through mid-1861. His first three children were born and baptized there. 1861 would have been a difficult year for the family as Scarlet Fever claimed their oldest daughter just weeks after the birth of their third child. Perhaps this was the impetus to move from Philadelphia. By late 1863, he and his family have relocated to Chambersburg, Mercer, New Jersey. His fourth child John Rogers Walker was born there 16 Nov 1863. [Chambersburg was a separate municipality at that time; it has since been incorporated by Trenton and most records are listed with Trenton as the location.] Jeremiah and Mary Jane had the rest of their children there and remained there for the rest of their lives.
He served during the Civil War in the 4th Regiment, New Jersey Infantry, Co B. He applied for an invalid pension, application #183218, and was approved, certificate #133577. There was an application filed for his minor children, application #351584 after his death. Those records should be available through the National Archives.
Mary Jane passed away 4 Nov 1879 and was buried in Mercer Cemetery in Trenton.7 There is a Mercer County Death Certificate which states her death as 21 Nov 1879, which is obviously in error and probably the date the certificate was issued.8 Her obituary appeared 6 Nov 1879.9
I haven’t yet located Jeremiah or his surviving children on the 1880 census or 1885 New Jersey State Census. Jeremiah died 6 Sep 1885 in Chambersburg, Mercer, New Jersey.10 He was interred in Mercer Cemetery.
Together, Jeremiah and Mary Jane had nine known children:
Mary Alice – born 8 Nov 1857 in Philadelphia, and baptized 9 Jul 1860 at the Church of the Redemption, Spring Church, Philadelphia.11 She died of Scarlet Fever on 4 May 1861 in Philadelphia, and was buried 7 May in Cedar Hills Cemetery.12
Margaret Ann – born 3 Jul 1859 in Philadelphia and baptized 9 Jul 1860 at the Church of the Redemption, Spring Church, Philadelphia, along with her older sister Mary Alice.13 Margaret shows her birth date and Jan 1858 on the 1900 census, but her baptismal record provided her birth date. Also, her older sister was born in Nov 1857 so the Jan 1858 date would have been impossible. Margaret married Joseph C. I. Stone on 9 Feb 1879. This date appears in several family trees, however I have not yet found a source record of the marriage.
As I’ve previously noted, there is always one child in the family who seems to pick up the slack. In this family, it was Margaret. After the death of Jeremiah in 1885, Margaret petitioned to be guardian of her younger sisters Mary Elizabeth and Sarah.14
Her sisters remained with her even after their marriages. Since we didn’t find the family on the 1880 Federal Census or the 1885 New Jersey Census we were unaware of the names of the two younger girls until the 1900 Federal Census. The guardian records are filed under the children’s names.
Joseph Stone died 12 Aug 1887 and was interred in Greenwood Cemetery.15 Margaret survived him by more than fifty years. She died 21 Nov 1943 and was also interred in Greenwood Cemetery.16
Margaret and Joseph had two children: Gertrude May (Stone) Schultz (13 Aug 1880-13 Oct 1960) and Anna Lucretia (Stone) Skillman (19 Dec 1881-?)
William Henry Walker – He was born 18 Apr 1861 in Philadelphia and baptized 26 May 1861 at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church.17 On 27 Dec 1888, he married Martha M. Green (1871-1934) in Trenton.18 On the 1900 census, Martha states she’s had 5 children, but only 1 living.19 I know of two of them. William died 16 Jun 1906 of complications from spinal meningitis.20 He was buried in Greenwood Cemetery. Martha married John Henry Dock in 1908. She died 24 Apr 1934 in Trenton and was buried with William.21
Their known children: William (Sep 1892-13 Jun 1893) and Howard (Mar 1896-27 May 1909).
John Rogers Walker – Born 16 Nov 1863,22 Died 30 Jul 1864 and buried 1 Aug 1864 in Mercer Cemetery.23 His obituary was published 1 Aug 1884.24
Jeremiah Walker – Born 27 Jul 1866,25 died 29 Oct 1882 (age 16) of typhoid fever, buried 31 Oct 1882 in Mercer Cemetery.26 His obituary was published on 31 Oct on page 2 in the Trenton Star Gazette.
Joshua O. Walker – Born 9 Sep 1869,27 died 17 Nov 1882 (age 13), buried 19 Nov 1882 in Mercer Cemetery.28 Joshua died less than one month after his older brother Jeremiah. No cause of death was listed, however he’d accidentally shot himself in the hand in June.
Mary Elizabeth Walker – born Aug 1870. She married William Raper (Feb 1858 – ?) on 25 Dec 1890 in Trenton.29 Mary died 18 Jan 1906 and was interred in Greenwood Cemetery on 20 Jan.30
Mary and William had one known child together: Joseph Lester Raper (19 Jul 1892 – 26 May 1899).
Sarah Walker – born 29 Jul 1872.31 She married William F. Brown (Nov 1855 – Bef 1910) on 21 Nov 1894.32 Sarah died 2 Jan 1918 and was buried 5 Jan 1918 in Greenwood Cemetery.33
Sarah and William had one known child together: Anna Alma (Brown) Gallager (6 Feb 1897 – ?)
Abraham Walker – born 4 Apr 1874,34 died 21 Jan 1875, buried 24 Jan 1875 in Mercer Cemetery.35
Footnotes:
1. 1841 Census of England, Lancashire, Ashton Under Lyne, p. 29 Line 17; digital images, The Generatins Network, Inc., “1841 England Census,” Jeremiah Walker, 8 (born abt 1833) Ancestry (http://www.Ancestry.com).
2. St Michaels (Ashton Under Lyne, Lancashire, England), “Baptisms,” Jeremiah Walker, baptized 18 Aug 1844, son of Jeremiah and Mary Walker; FHL microfilm 1,538,434.
3. “Philadelphia Passenger Lists, 1800-1945,” online images(accessed 8 Jul 2017), manifest, Wyoming, 13 Apr 1848, Jeremiah Walker, 15, Spinner, England.
4. 1850 U.S. census, Burlington, New Jersey, population schedule, Westhampton, p. 246A, dwelling 78, family 79, Jeremiah Walker, 18, Weaver; digital images, Ancesty (accessed 8 Jul 2017); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm M432, roll 443.
5. Church of the Redemption (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia County), “Marriage Record,” Jeremiah Walker to Mary J. Kimble; FHL microfilm 1488670, item 1.
6. Mercer County, New Jersey, death certificate (21 Nov 1879), Mary Jane [Kimble] Walker; New Jersey State Archives, Trenton
7. “New Jersey, Deaths and Burials Index, 1798-1971,” database, Mary Jane Walker, age 42, b 1837, d 4 Nov 1879; FHL Film #589828..
8. Mercer County, New Jersey, death certificate (21 Nov 1879), Mary Jane [Kimble] Walker; New Jersey State Archives, Trenton
9. “Walker, Mary Jane, d. 4 Nov 1879, burial 6 Nov.,” Trenton State Gazette, Thur, 6 Nov 1879, p. 2; digital images.
10. Mercer County, New Jersey, death certificate (6 Sep 1885), Jeremiah Walker; New Jersey State Archives, Trenton.
11. Church of the Redemption (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia County), “Baptismal Record,” Mary Alice Walker; FHL microfilm 1,731,982, item shows birth date of 8 Nov 1858.
12. Pennsylvania City of Philadelphia, Philadelphia City Death Certificates 1803-1915, FHL microfilm 1,977,529, Mary Alice Walker, died 4 May 1861; digital image, Family Search, New Family Search (http://pilot.familysearch.org: 2 Jul 2017).
13. Church of the Redemption (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia County), “Baptismal Record,” Margaret Ann Walker; FHL microfilm 1,731,982, item shows birth date of 3 Jul 1859.
14. Mercer, New Jersey, Probate, Guardianship, Vol C: 97, Mary E. and Sarah Walker, daughters of Jeremiah Walker dec’d.
15. Obituary, “Stone – 12 Aug 1887, 29 years, Greenwood Cemetery,” Trenton Evening Times, 14 Aug 1887, p. p5; digital images(accessed 8 Jul 2017).
16. Obituary, “Mrs. Margaret Stone, died 21 Nov 1943,” Trenton Evening Times, 22 Nov 1943, p. 13; digital images(accessed 8 Jul 2017).
17. “Pennsylvania, Church and Town Records 1708-1985,” St Makr’s Episcopal Church, Frankford, William Henry Walker, born 18 Apr 1861, Baptism 26 May 1861, Parents Jeremiah and Mary Jane Walker; digital images,
18. “New Jersey, Marriage Records, 1670-1965,” database(accessed 8 Jul 2017), Wm H. Walker and Martha M. Green, 27 Dec 1888, Trenton, Mercer; FHL Film #495708.
19. 1900 U.S. census, Mercer, New Jersey, population schedule, Trenton, enumeration district (ED) 80, p. 1A, dwelling 14, family 14, William Walker, 37, Martha 28, Howard 4; digital images, Ancestry; citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T623, roll 982.
20. Death Notice, “William H. Walker died Saturday,” Trenton Evening Times, 18 Jun 1906, Monday, p. 1; digital images.
21. Death Notice, “Mrs. Dock Succumbs,” Trenton Evening Times, Tuesday, 24 Apr 1934, p. 8; digital images.
22. “New Jersey, Births and Christenings Index, 1660-1931,” database, John Rogers Walker, Birth 1863, FHL Film 542528.
23. “New Jersey, Deaths and Burials Index, 1798-1971,” database, John R. Walker, age 8 mo, died 30 Jul 1864, Laurence, Father Jeremiah Walker, Mother Mary; FHL Film 584570.
24. “Walker, John Rogers. 30 Jul 1884, funeral 1 Aug 1884,” Trenton State Gazette, Monday, 1 August 1884; digital images.
25. “New Jersey, Births and Christenings Index, 1660-1931,” database, Jeremiah Walker, born 27 Jul 1866, Laurence Twp.
26. Mercer County, New Jersey, death certificate (29 Oct 1882), Jeremiah Walker; New Jersey State Archives, Trenton.
27. “New Jersey, Births and Christenings Index, 1660-1931,” database, Joshua Walker, 9 Sep 1869, Trenton, Jermiah Walker, Mary Jane; FHL Film #494165.
28. “New Jersey, Deaths and Burials Index, 1798-1971,” database, Joshua O. Walker, 17 Nov 1882
29. “New Jersey, Marriage Records, 1670-1965,” database, Wm Roper and Mary E. Walker, 25 Dec 1890, Trenton; FHL Film #495712.
30. “Mrs. William Raper, 18 Jan 1906, Greenwood Cemetery 20 Jan,” Trenton Evening Times, Friday, 19 Jan 1906, p. 2; digital images.
31. “New Jersey, Births and Christenings Index, 1660-1931,” database, Sarah Walker, 29 Jul 1872, Trenton, Jerry & Mary J. Walker; FHL Film #494173.
32. “New Jersey, Marriage Records, 1670-1965,” database, William F. Brown and Sarah Walker, 21 Nov 1894, Trenton; FHL Film #495720.
33. “Mrs. Sarah Brown, died 2 Jan 1918, burial 5 Jan,” Trenton Evening Times, Wed, 2 Jan 1918, p. 2; digital images.
34. “New Jersey, Births and Christenings Index, 1660-1931,” database, Abraham Walker, 4 Apr 1874, Father Jeremiah Walker, Mother Mary J.
35. “Deaths – Walker, Abraham d. 21 Jan 1875, burial 24 Jan,” Trenton State Gazette, 23 Jan 1875, Sat., p2; digital images.