Simeon Walker was born in 1754 or 1755, the second child of Joseph and Elizabeth (Martin) Walker in the small community of Woodbury, Connecticut. This was then Connecticut Colony, British Colonial America.

Simeon was christened on January 11, 1756 and had nine siblings - five brothers and four sisters. Little is known of his youth, other than what one can derive from the formative events of our country. A short list includes the French & Indian War ending in 1759, the tax impositions - Sugar Act 1764, Townshend Acts 1767-78, and Tea Act 1773 (followed by the Boston Tea Party) - and a flood of new immigration.

The first recorded aspects of his life appear to be an affidavit, dated 1832, in the application for a pension from the United States Government, wherein he makes the following handwritten statements, which bear his signature:

“I was born in Woodbury in the State of Connecticut and was nineteen years of age when I entered the service.

In May of 1775, I enlisted in the Connecticut Troops for the term of seven months.”

He enlisted in Colonel Benjamin Hinman's Fourth Connecticut Regiment. This regiment was raised on the first call for troops. April-May 1775, and recruited mainly in Litchfield County. Upon the surprise of Ft. Ticonderoga, May 10, Gov. Trumbull ordered this regiment to march as soon as possible to secure that post and Crown Point against recapture. A request to this effect was also made by the Continental Congress.

The regiment reached Ticonderoga in June and Col. Hinman assumed command until the arrival of Gen. Schyler. It took part in the operation of the Northern Department until the expiration of its term of service in December 1775. This regiment suffered much from sickness, and many men were mustered out in Oct. - Nov. 1775.

Simeon continues: "I marched to Fort Ticonderoga on Lake Champlain by the way of Greenbush and Fort Edward, New York. I was a private in the company called 'The Colonel's Company' in Colonel Benjamin Hinman's regiment. Another Hinman (David), was First Lieutenant, a Ensign Torrence (Ensign was actually Ashael Hurd). I remained at Ticonderoga until some time in the fall being taken sick with fever and ague."

Simeon was discharged on September 7, 1775, stating: "I was permitted to return home and was sick during the winter. I had served with him for 15 months”.

Many men of this company, including Col. Hinman, Lt. Hinman, Lt. Hungerford and Ensign Hurd were all from Woodbury, thus recruitment fell among many local friends and relatives.

In June 1776, he continues: “I enlisted for a term of six months in the Connecticut Troops (in the fourth Connecticut Regiment of 1775). I was in the Company of Captain Hurd, in the regiment of Colonel Silliman in Wadsworth's brigade. I marched to Norwalk, Connecticut and there took shipping for New York City from the City on to Long Island. My brigade was relieved by Lord Stirling the day before the battle at the time of the taking of General Sullivan and his troops. Then we crossed to New York City, left the City at the time of the evacuation by the American Troops. Then we traveled by Haarlem to White Plains and was in the battle of White Plains. I continued service until the expiration of my term and was discharged (as he thinks) at a place called North Castle, a few miles from White Plains.”

The last of his military service was in 1777, when he stated: “I was out seven times in the State Militia on alarms. I was at Peekskill, Horseneck, Fishkill, and Redhook, at the time of Burning of Sopus. I probably served as much as two months in that year. I was also out a few days (probably about three weeks) at the "Burning of Norwalk."

His final statement concludes: “I lived at Woodbury until 1780 when I removed to Peacham, Vermont. Peacham was at that time a frontier town, being the most Northerly settlement in this part of Vermont.”

In the town of July 6, 1780 Simeon is next found on lot #66, which he had purchased from the town Proprietors. In 1773 lots were selling for one shilling an acre. Prices evidently rose during the next decade, for in 1783 the proprietors voted 10 acres to Simeon, conditioned upon his paying 6 shillings an acre for it. Two years later it was selling at 12 shillings an acre.

Zadok Thompson described the people of Peacham, as "A brave. hardy but uncultivated race of men. They knew little of the etiquette of refined society, were blessed with a few of the advantages of education, and were destitute of the elegancies and in most cases the common conveniences of life. They possessed minds which were naturally strong and active and they were aroused to their highest energies by their difficulties.”

Simeon's pension calculated in 1832, was in the amount of 100.00 and is recorded in Book B, Vol 4 p. 92. Lucy Walker, a granddaughter, recounts that Simeon was wounded in 1756, this would most likely have been at the battle of White Plains, however, there is no official collaborative information to support this. There is also an entry that Simeon was sworn in as a freeman on the 18th March 1783, ,this does not suggest any kind of indenture, rather compliance with a Vermont constitutional statute.

Simeon married Mary Miner in 1782, in Woodbury, CT. The Miner family was prominent New England family as evidenced by the fact that on April 14, 1794 Mary was one of a dozen signers of the original Covenants for the Congregational Church in Peacham. The church and the school, which was constructed shortly thereafter on land’s owned by John Walker were essential components of this frontier New England town. In 1795 Simeon was appointed constable for the town of Peacham.

Simeon and Mary were the parents of ten or more children. The eldest, Abigail was born in Woodbury, Connecticut, all others were born in Peacham. There were many land transactions recorded for Simeon during these years and five of their children were married between 1816 and 1819.

Simeon and Mary are enumerated in the 1830 Census as living with Abel Walker, their son. In the 1840 census Simeon is listed as living with Abel according to the ages in that household.

On 7 September 1842, Simeon made a court appearance before the Justice of the Peace and gave him the power of attorney to act for him on his pension. On the 8th Joseph C. Fuller, attorney, acknowledges his affidavit. This was the last payment he received on his pension, he therefore must have died between September 8, 1842 and December when the next quarterly pension would be paid.

He died in Peacham, Caledonia, Vermont, United States, at the age of 86, and was buried in Cabot, Washington, Vermont, United States.

“Joseph, son of Captain Timothy and Sarah Walker, was born February 13, 1731. He married and had issue: Joseph (2), baptized November 11, 1753; Simeon, January 11, 1756; Caleb, March 8, 1759; Phoebe, November 4, 1764; Caleb, March 30, 1766; Mary, June 4, 1769; Timothy, January 6, 1773; Reuben, 1777; Elizabeth, December 14, 1780” (see Jordan).

“Captain Timothy Walker, son of Deacon Zechariah and Elizabeth (Bull) Walker, was baptized June, 1693, died June 15, 1786. By his wife, Sarah, he had children: Elisha, born February 7, 1724, married, November 2, 1752, Isabel Ward; Sarah, baptized, November 7, 1725; Elizabeth, September, 1728; Joseph, see forward; Timothy, born December 14, 1732; Samuel, baptized, April 11, 1736; Gideon, born April 27, 1739; Mary, baptized, August 23, 1741; Abigail, baptized, April 26, 1747” (see Jordan).  Note the difference in names for his wife.

"Native of Woodbury, soldier under Gen. Nicholson in reign of Queen Ann, assisted in building of Ft. Ann, died in Woodbury at age 94." [Excerpt from the Massachusetts Centinel (precursor to the Columbian Centinel) newspaper - 8 Jul 1786]

 Nicholson burned the fort (Fort Schuyler)when he and his army left, but he returned in 1711 and built the Queen's Fort, later renamed Fort Anne (after Queen Anne of Great Britain), at the same site. It fell into ruins during the English colonial period

“Deacon Zechariah Walker, only son of Rev. Zechariah and Susannah Walker, was baptized with his sister Abigail in the Stratford Church, May 22, 1670, his father then being the pastor. He settled in Woodbury, Connecticut, where he was a deacon of the church and a land owner. He died December 21, 1753.

“His wife, Elizabeth, daughter of Deacon Samuel Bull, died December 19, 1749; children: Mary, baptized January, 1689, married, February 13, 1707, Lieutenant Joseph Judson; Abigail, baptized, September, 1691, married Valentine Prentice; Timothy, of whom further; Josiah, baptized, September, 1694; Joseph, died unmarried in 1727; Zechariah (3), born May 14, 1702; Peter, born October 24, 1706; Elizabeth, born December 16, 1708, married, June 26, 1729, Caleb Martin ; Gideon, born December 16, 1711, died April 30, 1780, married, November 6, 1735, Mary Munn, who died April 6, 1793; he had no children, but adopted two, Esther and Zechariah” (see Jordan).

Note the different mother's and wife's names.

I disagree that the mother to Deacon Zachariah Walker is Susannah Walker (Rossiter).  Susannah Walker is Rev Zachariah Walker's SECOND wife with whom he had no children.  Deacon Zachariah Walker and Abigail Walker were twins.  Their mother was Mary Prudden.

I also disagree that Elizabeth Bull was ever Deacon Zachariah Walker's wife.  His wife's name was Elizabeth Miner.  Deacon Samuel Bull could not have been Elizabeth Bull's father because he was born after her.

Abigail Prudden was married to Joseph Walker first and then to

Richard Hubbell.  Her sister Mary was married to Rev. Zachariah

Walker.

These notes found and need to be studied

HUSBAND - Zechariah Walker Reverend

     1.  History of Ancient Woodbury, William Cothren (1854) Vol 1 p744-5,

         FHL, SLC, Utah.

     2.  The American Genealogist, vol 21, p 67-8, FHL, SLC, Utah

     3.  History and Genealogy of the Families of Old Fairfield, Donald

         L. Jacobus. Vol 1 p 637-8, FHL

     Note:  Submitted records say Rev. Zechariah Walker and Mary Prudden were

     married in 1669 at Woodbury, Connecticut.  Woodbury was not in existence

     in 1669.

     The tract of land for a new town (Woodbury) was granted on May 9,1672,

     History of Ancient Woodbury Vol. 1 p 35.

     Rev. Zechariah Walker moved his family to Woodbury 27 June 1678.  He

     became the first minister there.  History of Ancient Woodbury Vol. 1p 744

     Other Marriages:  8 Jul 1675   Susanna Rossiter

     In THE AMERICAN GENEALOGIST  Vol. 9, p. 16-31 an article by Donald Lines Jacobus and the Woodbury Church Records 1670-1700.

P. 19   WALKER my wife Susanna adm. 8 July 1675

     WIFE - MARY PRUDDEN

     The American Genealogist Vol. 21 p 67-8.

     1.  Families of Old Fairfield, by Donald l. Jacobus Vol. 1 pt 2 p494-5

     CHILD 1 - ZECHARIAH WALKER DEACON

     History and Genealogy of the Families of Old Fairfield, by Donald L.

     Jacobus Vol 1 pt 2 p 36.  The American Genealogist Vol 21 p 68.

     History of Ancient Woodbury Vol. 1 p 744-5; Vol 3 p 233 (date ofdeath)

     T.I.B. slg of ch to par, film #170,717

     CHILD 2 - ABIGAIL WALKER

     Abigail Walker died young.  Families of Old Fairfield, by Donald L.

     Jacobus, Vol 1 pt 2 p 637-8.

     CHILD 3 - ELIZABETH WALKER

     Families of Old Fairfield Vol. 1 Pt 2 p 637-8

     The American Genealogist Vol. 21 p 68

     History of Ancient Woodbury says Elizabeth was born 1 Mar 1674/5.Vol 1 p

     745. T.I.B.

!1. History of Ancient Woodbury, William Cothren (1854) Vol 1 p 744-5,

     Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.

 2. The American Genealogist, Vol 21, p 67-8, Family History Library,

     Salt Lake City, UT.

 3. History and Genealogy of the Families of Old Fairfield, Donald L.Jacobus

     Vol 1 p 637-8, Family History Library.

 4. T.I.B., slg of ch to par film #170,715, #170,717

_______________________________________________________________________________

From CONNECTICUT PURITAN SETTLERS, 1633-1845 found on Ancestry.com

First Sttlers of the Colony.Walker, Rev. Zechariah, Stratford--was first settled at Jamaica, L. I., and preached there for a time, and about 1668 removed to Stratford, where he had a severe contest with Rev. Mr. Chauncy, and a part of the congregation at Stratford. The controversy closed by Gov. Winthrop's advising Mr. Walker and his friends to remove and settle a new town, with which he engaged they should be accommodated; and Mr. William Curtiss, John Sherman and others were authorised to locate at Pomperaug (now Woodbury); therefore Mr. Walker with his friends moved there from Stratford about 1672-3. Woodbury was settled by several different companies at different times, and embraced a large territory.

____________________________________________________________________________________________

In THE AMERICAN GENEALOGIST  Vol. 9, p. 16-31 an article by Donald Lines Jacobus and the Woodbury Church Records 1670-1700.

 "...it is almost equally important to copy and publish the records of many towns which have appeared in print in garbled form.  Form a single example, the Woodbury records published in the third volume of the history of that town by Cothren, contain serious misreading of names and other errors, omit thirteen consecutive entries in the early town

vital records, and omit between a quarter and a third of the baptismal entries prior to 1700.  Some publications have

"arranged" or systematized the early vital records, and as every genealogist know, it is often important to know the exact order in which the entries appeared."

"WOODBURY CHURCH RECORDS, 1670-1700 written in the beautiful hand of Rev. Zechariah Walker.  The pages

are not numbered.  The original volume is in the State Library (1932)."

"On ye 5th of May 1670 I was ordained pastor of ye 2d chh: at Stratford.  The ministers present were Mr. Wakeman,

Mr. Haines, Mr. John Woodbridge, Mr. Benjamin Woodbridge, Mr. John Woodbridge was  ye leading person, Mr. 

Benjamin Woodbridge was assistant inye work of ordination."

The entries begin 8 May 1670.  Zechariah says "I removed with my family from Stratford to Woodberry, 27 June 1678."

Therefore, I think at least his family was baptized in Stratford, and perhaps some others, although he wrote them in

his book from the time of his ordination.

____________________________________________________________________________________________

In THE AMERICAN GENEALOGIST  Vol. 9, p. 16-31 an article by Donald Lines Jacobus and the Woodbury Church Records 1670-1700.

P. 26

"In the year of our Lord Christ 1699 or 1700 the Reverend Mr. Zechariah:  Walker Pastor of this Church Changed his earthly Habitation for an heavenly Mansion on ye 20th day of January jn the 63d yeare of his Age.

________________________________________________

Zechariah Walker

Birth: Sep. 15, 1637

Boston

Suffolk County

Massachusetts, USA

Death: Jan. 20, 1699

Woodbury

Litchfield County

Connecticut, USA

Burial:

South Cemetery

Woodbury

Litchfield County

Connecticut, USA

Created by: Lori Linnell

Record added: Oct 17, 2009

Find A Grave Memorial# 43209998

From John Walker Family Newsletter: 1995 No. 2 : Reverend Zechariah Walker:

Son of Robert and Sarah (Leager) Walker, was born 15 Sep 1637 and christened 1 Oct 1637 at Boston, Massachusetts. He was a "debtor" (student) at Harvard College from 1653 to 1655 and was one of 17 students who left the college, probably in protest against lengthening of the course for the degree of Bachelor of Arts from 3 to 4 years. in 1662 he was chosen to serve as the first minister of the newly-organized church at Jamaica, Long Island. He may have had to preach at first in the ordinary, or inn kept by John Baylie in Jamaica. On 14 Feb 1662/3, Mr. Walker's salary was fixed at 60 pounds sterling a year, but since money was scarce, most of the salary was paid in wheat at 6s. a bushel and indian corn at 3s.6d. a bushel. The town of Jamaica built the first meeting house, 26 feet square, in 1663 and there Mr. Walker preached till he left Jamaica in 1668. He was "a man of solid attainments, well educated and sound in doctrine, a pungent and powerful preacher and greatly well loved by the people he served." On 7 Aug 1668 he left Jamaica and became the pastor of the Second Church at Stratford, Conn. He was ordained minister of that church 5 May 1670. He removed to Woodbury with the first settlers of that town and became the first minister there, and remained there till his death which occured on 20 Jan 1699/1700 and he was buried there. (The American Genealogist Vol21 p.67)

The only Robert Walker who was baptized in Manchester Parish Church (now Cathedral) between 1587 and 1630 was Robert, son of Thomas Walker of Higher Ardwick in the parish of Manchester, linen-weaver, who was baptized there 21 February 1607/8. This Robert has, without further ado, been identified by several genealogists as the Robert Walker, linen-weaver who settled at Boston in 1631. 

Thomas Walker was a linen weaber or webster and lived in Higher Ardwick,  located in Manchester, Lancashire, Enlgand located about 2 1/2 miles from the Manchester Cathedral. 

The parents of Thomas Walker are not yet sufficiently documented to list here with any authority.