Walker Hall Winery

History

Colonial Residency

The Walker Family lived in Orange County, North Carolina during colonial times and in the American Revolution Walker, William (c. 1744-1819) served under British General Cornwallis. After the patriots confiscated his vast land holdings (an 800 acre plantation) in North Carolina, he brought his wife Sarah and their family to Upper Canada (the closest british colony) in 1794 and settled in Clinton Township, Lincoln County.

Arrival in Upper Canada

On 10 Jul 1794, William Walker filed a land petition stating that he just arrived with his family (eleven in number, four of whom were men able to bear arms). He came from North Carolina. He "has suffered everything but Death by the American Revolution". William had 800 acres of land all of which was confiscated and sold by the Patriots. He received a recommendation of the Executive Council for a grant. He stated that he faithfully adhered to the British Government and could procure witnesses of his Loyalty. He requested an allotment of land adequate to his family and asked the Council to consider his long travel near 1000 miles. He wished a grant of land to immediately improve for his further subsistance or such other relief as the Council might approve. The Executive Council ordered him and his family a grant of 1200 acres.2

On 13 May 1796, William Walker, late of North Carolina filed a second petition stating that he came to the Province 2 years earlier. He had a wife and 10 children and received a grant of 1200 acres. During the American Revolution, he served in the army of Lord Cornwallis then lost all of his property, both real and personal. He lost 800 acres of land. William expended £700 to raise sufficient supplies for his family. He requested additional land in the Long Point Settlement. The Executive Council ordered that if his children were of age they would receive lands in their own right.3

Settlement in Clinton Township

William received a government grant of 1,200 acres, Lots 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, Concession 7, Grimsby Twp., Lincoln Co. He also later received Lots 19 and 20 in the Front Concession of Clinton Twp. on Lake Ontario. William made his home on the Clinton grant at the end of The Thirty Road on Lake Ontario, known as "The Harbour" a port of call for lake boats for many years. In 1804, William was chosen as one of five Freeholders to choose two representatives of the district to run for a seat in the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada. William was listed on the 1812 and 1816 Voters List and on the subscription lists for the building of St. Andrew’s Church at Grimsby.4

The Family Interest in Townsend Township

On 8 Nov 1799, William filed a petition stating that the following of his children had been on their lots at Townsend Twp., Norfolk Co. about 3 years and have from ten acres upward cleared: Ralph Walker Lot 8, Concession 7; Isaac Walker Lot 8, Concession 8; William Walker Jr. Lot 1, Concession 9; John Walker Lot 2, Concession 8. William requested grants for his sons.5

Will

The will of William Walker dated at Clinton Twp., Lincoln Co. on 13 Apr 1819, probated on 2 Nov 1819, included the following bequests:

“That is to Say First I give to my eldest son Robert Walker in Orange County State of North Carolina the sum of One Hundred Pounds New York Currency if called for within the space of seven years after my decease. I give to my son John the like sum of one hundred pounds of like money.

“I give to my son Ralph Walker the sum of Four Hundred Pounds like money as above said and I give and bequeath to my son Thomas one Hundred pounds like money. I also give and bequesth to my grandson Archibal McKool son of William McKool the sum of two hundred pounds like money. I give and bequeath to my son Phillip the sum of hundred pounds like money, all the above said gifts and bequeaths to be paid in one year after my decease. I also give to my daughter Margaret McKool one hundred pound like money to be paid her by my executors in year after my decease together with my large case of drawers. I also give to my daughter Sarah McKool the sum of one hundred pounds like money and in like manner, together with my best bed and bedding with curtains thereunto belonging.

“I give and bequeath to my daughter Nancy Henry the sum of five pounds like money.I give and bequeath to my granddaughter Sarah Henry my small chest of drawers. I also give to my granddaughter Catharina Walker, daughter of my said son Isaac one hundred pounds like money to be paid to my said granddaughters as they may severally come of lawful age.

“I give and bequeath to my granddaughter Sarah Walker, Daughter of my said son Isaac, the sum of twenty pounds like and to be paid in like manner when she becomes of lawful age.

“I also will and order that my dwelling house and lot wherein I now live with the appurtenances, thereunto belonging to be sold by my executors within two years after my decease and the money arising therefrom to be disposed of for the following manner, that is to say, I give to my two daughters Margaret and Sarah McKool, fifty pounds each out of the last mentioned property of my said house and lot; the remainder to be equally divided among my three sons to wit, Ralph, Thomas and Philip and my granddaughters, Elizabeth Walker, daughter of my said son Isaac and I do further will and order that all the remainder of personal property not heretofore bequeathed shall be sold by my executors and the money arising therefrom to be equally divided among all the legatees heretofore named both children and grandchildren excepting my son Robert and my granddaughter, Sarah, daughter of John Henry and lastly I do by these presents nominate and appoint my sons Ralph Walker and Thomas Walker my trusty friend Jonathan Woolverton, Executors of this my Last Will and Testament…”

Gravestones in St. Andrews Anglican Church Cemetery

The inscriptions on their gravestones in St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church Cemetery read:

“Erected to the memory of William Walker Sr. who departed this life October 22nd, 1819, in the 76th year of his age.” “Here lies the body of Sarah Walker, wife of William Walker who departed this life the 6th day of April, 1806, in the 60th year of her age.” “Elizabeth, wife of William Walker, b. 1762, d. 1817.”

Children of the first marriage (born at Orange County, North Carolina):

  • *a i. Robert Walker, born 1767; mar. Elenor Latta
  • *b ii. John Walker, born c. 1768; mar. Eleanor Muckle
  • *c iii. William Walker, born c. 1778; mar. Margaret McCool
  • d iv. Margaret Walker, born c. 1773, died at Townsend Twp. on 23 Dec 1838 ae 65y. She married on 18 Apr 1799, William McCool (son of Archibald and Margaret McCool), born in Ireland c. 1766, died at Townsend Twp., Norfolk Co., Upper Canada on 12/14 Jul 1836 ae 70y1,2. They were buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Waterford. See the McCool genealogy for the continuation.
  • *e v. Ralph Walker, born 4 Mar 1775; mar. Elizabeth __________
  • *f vi. Isaac Walker, born c. 1776
  • *g vii. Thomas Walker, born 1780; mar. 1st Sipharah Shevelier; mar. 2nd Elizabeth (Secord) Newkirk
  • h viii. Sarah Walker. She married on 12 Jul 1803, Joseph McCool (son of Archibald and Margaret McCool), born in Ireland. See the McCool genealogy for the continuation.
  • *i ix. Philip Walker, born 25 Oct 1785; mar. Susannah Cline
  • *j x. Ann Walker, born 1787; mar. John B. Henry


Walker, William, born perhaps at Orange County, North Carolina c. 1744, died at Clinton Twp., Lincoln Co., Upper Canada on 22 Oct 1819 in 76th y.1 He married first to Sarah _________, born c. 1747, died 6 Apr 1806 in 60th y.1 William married second to Elizabeth Baldwin, born in 1752, died in 1817.1 They were buried in St. Andrews Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Grimsby, Lincoln Co.

Sources: 1. Gravestones in St. Andrews Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Grimsby; 2. Upper Canada Land Petition “W” Bundle 1, Doc. No. 9; 3. Upper Canada Land Petition “W” Bundle 2, Doc. No. 46; 4. Annals of the Forty, Vol. 9, p. 52; 5. Upper Canada Land Petition “W” Bundle Misc 1796-1815, Doc. No. 34; 6. Lincoln County Surrogate Registry, wills filed by year.