The History of the Walker Family and the Times They Lived

By Terry W. Drake

The History of the Walker Family and the Times They Lived is a genealogy study into the families that have married into the Drake family. This study is based on the families that married into the Bettie Eileen Walker Drake family. This study includes the marriage of Merrill Clayton Drake to Bettie Eileen Walker. The Walker family study traces their ancestry back to their origin in England. The study takes into consideration the hardships they faced in migrating from England to the Virginia Colony. This book attempts to report the immigration of the Walker families and identifies the ships that they sailed on to immigrate to America. It describes world events that occurred during their lifetimes that had an effect on their existence. The study was developed from family data available to the author. It includes war records for selected individuals drafted into World War II and other wars starting with the American Revolution. This study is a dedication to my family.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jul 6, 2017
• ISBN: 9781543418781

Terry W. Drake

The author was born in Pittsburg, Kansas, on July 20, 1948. It is a small town in the south east corner of the state. He joined the United States Air Force in the middle of the Vietnam War era in August 1966. He served four years in the military, acquiring the G.I. Bill for his college education. He attended the University of Missouri at Kansas City, where he earned his Bachelor in Business Administration degree and continued on in graduate school. He obtained his Master in Business Administration in May 1975 and received his Certificate in Public Accounting in June 1976. The author is the former General Manager for the Board of Public Utilities in Kansas City, Kansas, and a former Board Member for the American Public Power Association. He has served on the Board of Western Fuels Association and is a member of The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. In his last eight years in public service, he lived in the United States Territory of the Virgin Islands on St. Thomas. He served as the Chief Financial Officer for the Water and Power Authority and as a special financial consultant to the Government of the Virgin Islands. The author began his new career in writing after the death of his wife Deanna in 2004 and now lives in Kansas City, Kansas. Mr. Drake is the father of three children. His elder daughter Terry Christine Drake lives in Everett, Washington, with her two sons Sean and Jacob, his younger daughter Dresden Marie Drake Goldberg lives in Frisco, Texas, with her husband Stephen Arnold Goldberg and their twin girls Hannah and Harper, and the authors son Brandon Octavian Lee Drake lives in Tampa, Florida, just after serving eight years in the United States Navy stationed in Japan.

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Copyright © 2017 by Terry W. Drake.    761315

Cover Image from Swyrich Corporation

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Rev. date: 07/05/2017

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Contents

Introduction

Generation I

Generation II

Generation III

Generation IV

Generation IV continued

Generation V

Generation VI

Generation VII

Generation VIII

Generation IX

Generation X

Group II Generation XI

Group II Generation XII

Group II Generation XIII

Group II Generation XIII

Group II Generation XIV

Group II Generation XV

Group II Generation XVI

Group II Generation XVII

Group II Generation XVIII

Group II Generation XVIV

About the Author

Introduction

I have chosen the Walker family as the subject to this history in honor of my late mother Bettie Eileen Walker (1925-2004) who married in 1946 to Merrill Clayton Drake (1925-1963). She had eight children by my father before his tragic death. Her life history will be shared at the conclusion to this genealogy study. My book The History of the Drake Family and The Times They Lived describes the family history of the Drake Family in more detail. Please send your comments, changes, additions and corrections to [e-mail] for inclusion in subsequent publications. Genealogy studies are living documents that need constant revision for additions to the family tree.

Generation I

The year 1400 begins this History of the Walker family in England. The political climate introduces King Henry IV (1367-1413) to the thrown in England. He had been boyhood friends of Richard II his cousin. A committee of regents had been appointed to provide guidance in the affairs of the underage King Richard II (1367-1400). In 1387 Henry participated in the Lords Appellants Rebellion to satisfy his desire to be King. King Richard II had the coconspirators executed or exiled. Although Henry Bolingbroke had been forgiven for actions he participated in against the throne during the rebellion he still harbored thoughts of being King. In 1398 he was overheard by the first Duke of Norfolk making treasonous remarks and a dual was arranged to satisfy the conflict. John of Gaunt pleaded before the King to have Henry banished from the kingdom instead of executed. Henry was exiled to the Netherlands in order to prevent additional bloodshed and to prevent a dual between Henry and Duke Thomas De Mowbray.

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John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster

Portrait attributed to Lucas Cornelisz de Kock (1495–1552)

John of Gaunt (1340-1399) was Henry’s father who had arranged his son’s marriage to Mary De Bohun in an effort to merge their vast estates. The marriage had taken place in 1379 when Henry was only twelve and Mary was just ten. She bore him seven children in later years. Her first son Edward died within four days of his birth in 1381 when Mary was only twelve. Mary would have her next child Henry V in 1386 when she was seventeen. Their surviving children were: Henry V (1386-1422), Thomas (1387-1421), John (1389-1435), Humphrey (1390-1447), Blanche (1392-1409), and Philippa (1394-1430). Mary dies from complications during childbirth on June 4, 1394. John of Gaunt dies on February 3, 1399 as the first Duke of Lancaster from the House of Plantagenet.

King Richard II conceals information that leaves the vast estate to Henry IV while he remained in exile. Henry IV learns of his father’s death and conspires with exiled coconspirators from the Lords Appellant Rebellion to reclaim his estate and confiscate land in England to insight a rebellion against the King. Henry IV lands at Ravenspurn, East Riding Yorkshire England while Richard II was on a campaign in Ireland. The rebellion results in the surrender of King Richard II on August 19, 1399. Henry IV has him imprisoned at Pontefract Castle in the city of Wakefield, West Yorkshire England where Thomas Swynford was the constable, Henry IV’s half brother. While imprisoned Richard II refuses to eat or is denied nourishment till he abdicates his throne to Henry IV on September 30, 1399. Although Parliament questions the circumstances behind the abdication of Richard II they approve and coronate Henry IV as King of England on October 13, 1399. Richard II continues his refusal to take nourishment and dies of malnutrition on February 14, 1400. King Henry IV has his body placed on display to discourage his supporters from an uprising.

Richard II King of England.jpg

King Richard II of England

During this uprising that led to the coup Sir William Walker (1370-x) of Clapham Common, Surrey England has a son William Walker (1399-1461) by his wife Isabella Robb (1375-x). Although there is limited documentation surrounding the marriage of Sir Knight William Walker to Isabella Robb it is believed to have been around 1398 in Clapham, Surrey England. The governance of Surrey was vested in the Earl of Surrey who was also the Earl of Arundel. Clapham Surrey England is a borough of London.

Edmund FitzAlan (1285-1326) was 7th Earl of Surrey and the 9th Earl of Arundel when he was executed by Queen Isabella for his defense of King Edward II. Queen Isabella had conspired with Mortimer to overthrow her husband the king and assume power as a regent to King Edward III her son. The property of Sir Edmund FitzAlan was confiscated and his titles revoked. Richard (1306-1376) of Arundel was the son of Edmund and was restored to his father’s properties and titles when King Edward III became of age to rule in his own capacity in 1331. Richard FitzAlan then assumed the titles of 10th Earl of Arundel and 8th Earl of Surrey. His son Richard became the 11th Earl of Arundel and the 9th Earl of Surrey and was executed by King Richard II for his role in the Lords Appellants Rebellion and his continued open opposition to the king. He was attainted for his disloyalty to the throne at Westminster and cast into prison at the Tower of London where he was held to his execution. He was beheaded on September 21, 1397. The property of the FitzAlans was confiscated once again and held by John Holland till they were restored to the family by King Henry IV. You might say the FitzAlan family used poor judgment in their support of the King or lack of support of the right king. Their political views cost them their lives and their wealth at the pleasure of the realm. The Walker families were loyal to the Earl of Surrey and realized peace during the reign of King Henry IV.

Henry IV utilized the knights of Surrey and other surrounding communities to overthrow King Richard II and claim the throne of England. Henry IV would reign from the abdication of Richard II on September 30, 1399 celebrated by his coronation on October 13, 1399 to his death on August 31, 1413.

Generation II

I Sir William Walker (1370-X) and Isabella Robb (1375-X)

II Sir William Walker II (1399-1461) and Alice Ellis (1400-1466)

Sir William Walker was born in Clapham, Surrey England in 1399. He became Lord Knight of Shropshire. He married in 1418 to Alice Ellis and had four children as follows: 1); Frederick 1423 born in Camberwell Surrey England, 2); Mary 1424 in Lamberth Surrey England 3) Sir William 1425 in Shropshire Bedfordshire England and 4): Humphrey 1440 in Shropshire, Bedfordshire England.

King Henry V had ascended to the throne of England when King Henry IV died on March 20, 1413. King Henry IV had defended his throne on numerous occasions prior to his death during his relatively short reign (1400-1413). The first rebellion was called the Epiphany Rising and occurred in late December of 1399 shortly after King Henry IV assumed power. The rebellion was an attempt to free King Richard II and restore him to power by assassinating King Henry IV. The conspirators were identified as Thomas Holland the 3rd Earl of Kent and nephew of King Richard II. He was executed on January 7, 1400. John Holland was the 1st Duke of Exeter and half brother to King Richard II. He was executed on January 16, 1400. John Montagu was the 1st Baron and 3rd Earl of Salisbury and was beheaded on January 5, 1400. Baron Thomas De Spenser was the 1st Earl of Gloucester and was beheaded on January 13, 1400 in Bristol.

The second rebellion was over a land dispute where King Henry IV overturned a ruling in favor of Owen Glyndwr. Owen Glyndwr of Wales led a revolt which lasted several years from 1400-1412. The revolt ended with the disappearance of Owen Glyndwr. After 1412 he was never heard from again. The rebels dispersed into the countryside.

The Battle of Shrewsbury in 1403 ended with the death of Henry Hotspur Percy who had allied with the Welsh. Henry Percy was killed by an arrow to the face. The organizers of the revolt were captured in battle and publicly executed. Henry Percy Sr. 1st Earl of Northumberland escaped to Scotland where he organized another rebellion at the encouragement of Richard Le Scrope Archbishop of York and Bishop of Lichfield. Sir Richard Venables, Sir Richard Vernon and Thomas Percy 1st Earl of Worcester were hanged, drawn and quartered on July 23, 1403. Their heads were all displayed in the public square to discourage insurrection.

In 1405 Richard Le Scrope participated in a rebellion with Thomas De Mowbray 4th Earl of Norfolk, Sir William Plumpton and Henry Percy Sr. 1st Earl of Northumberland. The revolt was encouraged by the Archbishop over the threat of having church property confiscated. All participants were captured except Henry Percy Sr. who escaped to Scotland once again. Thomas De Mowbray, Sir William Plumpton and the Archbishop Richard Le Scrope were all beheaded on June 8, 1405.

The fourth attempt to dethrone King Henry IV was at the battle of Bramham Moor. In this battle Henry Percy Sr., the 1st Earl of Northumberland was killed on February 20, 1408.

Henry IV would not be challenged again but the remainder of his life he would battle debilitating diseases. His illness led to his death on March 20, 1413. He would name his son Henry V as his successor who turned twenty six on his birthday August 9th. Henry IV was buried at Canterbury Cathedral on the north side of Trinity Chapel and directly adjacent to the shrine of St Thomas Becket. Joan of Navarre, Queen of England and Duchess of Brittany would be buried at his side on June 10, 1437.

Henry V would be King of England from his father’s death till his own death on August 31, 1422. The coronation of King Henry V took place on April 9, 1413 at Westminster Abbey.

Generation III

I Sir William Walker (1370-XXXX) and Isabella Robb (1375-XXXX)

II Sir William Walker II (1399-1461) and Alice Ellis (1400-1466)

III Sir William Walker III (1425-1454) and Alice (1426-1461)

Sir William Walker III was born in 1425 at Rimpton, Bedfordshire England. He married in 1450 to Alice of Bedfordshire. Alice and Sir William Walker III would have three children as follows: 1) Mary of Lamberth 1450, 2) Frederick of Camberwell 1452 and 3) Sir William Walker IV of Sharpenhoe (1454-1529). Sir William Walker III died in about 1454 in Sharpenhoe, Bedfordshire England. His wife Alice would move to Kent and die in 1461 at Speldhurst.

Henry V had come to his father’s aid during the rebellion of the Welsh headed by Owain Glyndwr. The Glyndwr revolt was over land rights and lasted from 1400 to the disappearance of Owain Glyndwr in 1412. He further distinguished himself at the Battle of Shrewsbury in putting down the revolt of the Percy family which resulted in the death of Henry Hot Spur Percy on July 21, 1403.

King Henry V renews the war on France known as the Hundred Years War. This war had been going on since 1332 but King Henry V was confident in his military leadership and strategy. After negotiations with France failed King Henry V asked the Great Council on April 19, 1415 to renew the war with France. He marched across France with his army till he met the French army at the Battle of Agincourt on October 25, 1415.

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Battle of Agincourt October 25, 1415

Painted by Sir John Gilbert in the 19th century

The English faced superior forces on French soil but were skilled in the long bow and the unexpected advance of their troops. The French had expected reinforcements that did not arrive in time to block King Henry V’s advance. The French Commander in the field was Charles d’Albert who was slain in battle. His two co-commanders were captured and spent the remainder of their lives in Yorkshire. The prisoners were Sir Knight Jean II Le Marge and Charles the Duke of Orleans. Henry V continues his march across France. King Charles VI is forced to surrender and negotiations for peace took several months culminating in the Treaty of Troyes on May 21, 1420. The treaty called for recognition of King Henry V and his heirs to the throne of France upon the death of King Charles VI. Henry would marry Catherine of Valois King Charles VI daughter to secure his claim as King of France.

He continued his campaign in France till he captured the Castle of Montereau and besieged Melun. That November 1420 he returned to England and left his brother in charge of the campaign in France. Sir Thomas of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Clarence and brother of King Henry V is killed at the Battle of Bauge on March 22, 1421. King Henry V leaves England once again in June 1421 with fresh troops to regain the territory lost in his absence. Safely tucked away at Windsor Castle in Berkshire England Catherine gives birth on December 6, 1421 to Henry VI heir apparent to the throne of England and France.

King Henry V reestablishes his campaign in France with the capture of Dreaux and Chartres. In October 1420 he laid siege on Meaux which held out till it surrendered on May 2, 1421. The inhabitants of Meaux were suffering from disease and it is believed that King Henry V himself caught dysentery and died August 31, 1422 at the Chateau De Vincennes near Paris. On his death bed he names his brother John of Lancaster (1389-1435) the 1st Duke of Bedford regent of France on behalf of his son Henry VI.

The war with France under the leadership of John of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Bedford for England made substantial gains in Normandy. The Battle of Verneuil in Normandy France on August 17, 1424 secured his victory over the military encampments in all of Normandy. His progress stalled with the arrival of Joan of Arc who claimed a holy alliance with God to relieve the siege on Orleans. Her proclamation to install Charles VII as King of France and her holy alliance reversed many of England’s military gains.

Joan of Arc at the Siege of Orléans by Jules Lenepveu

Joan of Arc at the Siege of Orleans

Painted by Jules Eugene Lenepveu (1819-1898)

Joan of Arc freed Orleans from the siege on May 8, 1429 after scoring victories at Saint Loup, Saint Jean Le Banc and Les Augustips. Her military campaign continued with victories at Jargeau, Meung-sur-Loire and Beaugency all in June of 1429. Her capture of Reims laid the groundwork for Charles VII to be crowned King of France on December 29, 1429. The Battle of Patay secured the French with the Loire River basin as England withdrew from the valley. Joan of Arc is captured at Compiegne on May 23, 1430 after achieving all that she sought. She was placed on trial at the direction of the Duke of Bedford before a tribunal headed by Pierre Cauchon the Bishop of Beauvais for treason against God. She was found guilty of heresy as a witch and burned at the stake on May 30, 1431. Pope Callixtus III authorized an investigation of Joan of Arc’s conviction and declared charges of heresy on the part of the now deceased Bishop Couchon. She would later be declared a martyr and innocent