Birth & early life
Born in 1834, the son of James Walker of Alma Farm, Terrington St Clement, Norfolk, and his wife, Mary.
p>[PB: Was it named "Alma" Farm before the Crimean War, which seems unlikely, or (re)named later? Much of the land in the area was reclaimed from marshland in the C19, presumably requiring new names.]
1841 Census
Not found
1851 Census
Clenchwarton, Norfolk [3 miles miles SE of Terrington St Clement]
James Walker 42, Railway Contractor, born Terrington St Clement.
Mary Walker, 48, born Bonby, Lincs
Charlotte Walker, 18, born Bonby, Lincs
William Walker, 16, born Bonby, Lincs.
Mary Walker, 11, born Wilts.
Ann Walker, 9, born Essex.
Jane Walker, 6, born Essex.
Alfred Walker, 3, born Oxfordshire.
Caroline Walker, 15, visitor, born Norfolk
Also 5 servants: 2 Agricultural Labourers and 3 General Servants.
[Source: Ancestry: James and William Walker et al, 1851 Census.]
[CP: I wonder if this is how William Walker's father James, described as a "Railway Contractor" in 1851, earned his money to buy farms, as per file notes?
Also of note, the various places his children were born probably indicative of where his occupation took him with the rapid growth of railways at this time.
PB: Was James Walker himself involved in land reclamation in the area - which might have been related to his work in railway construction?]
1851 Census
Terrington St Clements, Norfolk.
Henry Bates, 44, Farmer of 271 acres, employing 5 Labourers and 8 boys, born Terrington.
Mary Bates, 38, wife, born Terrington.
Elizabeth [future wife], 15.
Also 7 more siblings, all born Terrington, a widowed mother-in-law and three servants.
[PB: According to the 1861 Census, James Walker was a "Farmer of 800 Acres employing 56 men and 10 boys". Three children were still living at home, and a number of servants are shown]
James Walker, National Probate Calendar, 1885.
(Click on image to enlarge)
Enlistment
Enlisted at Dublin on the 2nd of January 1853.
No other enlistment details are shown.
He was slightly wounded in action at Balaclava, where he received a gun-shot wound in the left shoulder.
Sent to Scutari on the 4th of November 1854, and invalided to England on the 8th of February 1855.
Medals
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava and Sebastopol.
The distribution of Crimean Medals on Horse Guards Parade, 18th of May 1855. Painting by Sir John Tenniel.
He was presented with his Crimean medal by Queen Victoria at a ceremony on the Horse Guards Parade on the 18th of May 1855. His name appears on the Nominal Return of those present now in the PRO, also on a similar roll which appeared in the United Services Magazine for June of 1855 and on that which appeared in the Illustrated London News of the 26th of May 1855.
Further detailed medal information archived.
Life after service
He was known locally by the nick-name "Captain Walker."
He married, on the 1st of January 1857, Elizabeth Bates. They had one son, Henry James, who was baptised at St Clements on the 19th of October 1857.
Marriage registered
William Walker married Elizabeth Bates, March Quarter 1857, Wisbeach.
[PB: An Ancestry family tree says there is a marriage notice in the Stamford Mercury, 9 Jan 1857. FOLLOW UP.]
Birth registered
Henry James Walker, December Quarter 1857, Wisbeach
1861 Census
Terrington St Clements
William Walker, 26, Farmer - 330 acres employing 20 men and boys, born Bonby Lincs
Elizabeth Walker, 23, born Terrington,
Henry James Walker, 3, Scholar, born Terrington.
His father owned three farms, Alma (purchased in 1853 and where William later lived), Balaclava and Admiralty. These names still exist.
He [PB: presumably WW's father. Is this a quote? Source?] turned his professional and general knowledge of landworks to the marshes on the south coasts of the Wash and between 1858 and 1868 had enclosed over 1500 acres, adding a rich tract to the county and providing much additional local labour.
1871 Census
Norfolk Street, St Margaret's, Kings Lynn.
William Walker, 36, Superintendent of the Wash [illegible word], born Bonby, Lincs.
Elizabeth Walker, 35, wife, born Terrington,
Henry James Walker, 13, son of [sic], born Terrington.
Also two servants are shown.
[PB: Superintendent of the Wash?]
Death & burial
Death registered
William Walker, December Quarter 1874, Wisbech.
Terrington St Clement, Parish Church, Norfolk. Graves of William Walker and other family members can be found are close to the porch.
(Click on image to enlarge)
William Walker died at Terrington St Clement on the 27th of November 1874 and was buried in Terrington churchyard. The grave is the fifth from the church door. (See photographs of the Walker family graves, and in particular that of William Walker, in the 11th Hussar file.)
[PB: An Ancestry family tree says there is a death notice in the Pall Mall Budget, 4 Dec 1874. FOLLOW UP.]
Photographs of the Walker family graves at Terrington St Clement. Probably taken by EJB in 1980s, but may be earlier.
(Click on images to enlarge)
The inscription, though now [1980s?] barely legible, states: "William Walker, who died Nov. 27th 1874, aged 40 years. Eldest son of James and Mary Walker."
The inscription at the top of the stone reads: "Served in the Crimean War and was wounded in the Charge at Balaclava, October 25th 1854."
No obituary appeared in the local newspapers of the time. He had little interest in military life and nothing was ever made public of his part in the Charge.
Further information
1881 Census
Terrington Lodge, Terrington.
Mary Bates, 68, widow, Annuitant, born Terrington.
Elizabeth Walker, daughter, (Late wife), widow, 45, Annuitant, born Terrington.
Rachel Bates, daughter, 37, unmarried, born Terrington.
Alice Bates, daughter, 27, unmarried, born Terrington.
1891 Census
Alma Lodge, Terrington.
Elizabeth Walker, late wife, 55, sister-in-law, widow, living on own means, born Terrington.
[She is living with her land-owning widowed sister-in-law and her in-laws' 6 children.]
1901 Census
22 Wharf Street, Sutton Bridge, Lincolnshire
Elizabeth Walker [wife], Head, widow, 65, living on own means, born Terrington.
Also her sister-in-law Mary (recorded as 'feebly minded'), a sick nurse and two servants.
1911 Census
St Clements, Sutton Bridge.
Elizabeth Walker, Head, 75, widow, born Terrington.
Rachel Bates, sister, 67, single, born Terrington.
Alice Bates, sister, 57, single, born Terrington.
Mary Walker, sister-in-law, 72, single, recorded as 'dumb from birth', born Terrington.
[N.B. Elizabeth's son, Henry James, recorded as died. Date of death has so far not found.]
Death registered
Elizabeth Walker's death is either (1) aged 85 years, September Quarter 1922, Wisbech, or (2) aged 88 years, March Quarter 1925, Wisbech.
References & acknowledgements
Additional marriage, birth and death registrations, and Census information for 1851, 1861, 1871, 1881, 1891, 1901 and 1911 kindly provided by Chris Poole.
