John Walker Family Org.

Celebrating 75 Years documenting the Walker's in  America
DISCOVER

Descendants

Research

Queries

Why start with John Walker?
Great question...


Family History has a beginning...
According to our religious tradition, that was Adam and Eve. You may have another tradition, and that's cool; but you did come from somewhere or more accurately stated, from someone... right?
Records about our first ancestors are a little hard to come by, although we are learning a great deal through DNA.  And the last of our family was just born a moment ago!
So, where do we start?  That's a great question, look around and perhaps you'll discover the answer. But don't just ask about the who, ask about the why? Families matter, our family matters, and our history has shaped us and that matters.
Welcome to the John Walker Family Website.
ABOUT US

A few words about our organization


1

Our Mission

To serve the descendants, living and dead, of John and Lydia Holmes Walker. To encourage accurate genealogical research, promote the preservation of historically significant material, and to organize family history collaboration.

2

Our  Scope

Research is currently oriented to the first 3 generations of descendants (we do not collect information about living relatives) and the paternal Ancestors of John Walker b. 1794, in Peacham, Caledonia County, Vermont, USA.

3

Our Method

We support Family Search as the preferred platform for research. While the open nature of the Family Search presents challenges, this permanent and well maintained service is the best  place to collaborate we have found.

4

Our Hope

We hope is that an article, an insight, a reference link, or an image will inspire a deeper understanding of your place in our family. Religious affiliation is neither presumed nor required to participate in any of our activities.

Our Reunions are now online


Due to the size of our extended family, we no longer hold in person family reunions. Our last reunion, planned for 2020 was cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns. Photographs of previous reunions are found below. If you would like us to help promote a branch reunion please use the "Contact Us" form below.
By David Walker August 3, 2025
A Question: Submitted by Eileen Wilcox, Rexburg, Idaho I was looking at the Family Search.org recently. I looked under Wm H. Walker and found some amazing things... namely sealings in Logan for a number of wives I’ve never heard of!! Is there some explanation for this? Here are the additional wives names: [the sealing dates were in various months during 1885 and 1886] Deborah Tisdale Catherine Walker Abigail Walker Wealthy Walker Hannah Walker Mary Walker Caty Sproat Ann Elizabeth Waldron Phebe Walker Mary Leonard Hannah Leonard Caroline Leonard Phebe Leonard Answer by family genealogist Eldon Walker: Very interesting about the 13 wives of William Holmes Walker. You have probably missed many more than that. I had seen this years ago, and was concerned as to what was happening. In doing some research, then, I found that many of the families had children that died early, were not married, nor were they sealed to anyone. The practice for some reason existed then, that the families wanted their children to be sealed to a worthy man. Many women who were sealed to their husbands, and the husbands were not worthy went to the temple and were sealed to some important official in the Church, such as Brigham Young, Parly P. Pratt, Lorenzo Snow, etc. They also felt that everyone needed to be sealed to someone, and so when William was in the temple, they asked to be sealed to him. They at this time did not llok upon the sealing as being married. It was only a sealing. So the question is: When is a sealing not a marriage and when is it only a sealing. I did not look at the age of these individuals, nor to see if they were dead or alive when they were sealed. (I am assuming they were dead - correct me if I am wrong.) I am certain that there were not any children begotten by William to any of these women. So, my suggestion is that we ignore them as wives and treat them as only a sealing. I went to the Temple Department today to see what they felt about this situation, and I got the feeling from them that I am on the right track. The members back then knew how important the sealing process was, and so they took all kinds of efforts to get this done. Of course, today they would not do it. Answer Submitted by Eldon Walker, Salt Lake City, UT
By David Walker May 1, 2020
We were so excited to host the 2020 National Family Reunion in historic Brigham City, Utah. Unfortunately the world had other plans. We'll try again next year.
By drw.aa January 21, 2020
In a statement by Lucy Walker (daughter), John "served two missions to the Eastern States" during the time between the passing of Lydia, his first wife in 1841, and his reappearance at Winter Quarters in 1846. There is however, no corroborating information found in the Missionary Database maintained by the church history archives. Click here for more information. More information about the missionary service of John Walker is needed. The Eastern States Mission was organized on 6 May 1839 when John P. Greene was sent to New York City to preside over the Saints in that area. The mission was not officially discontinued, but work in the area was temporarily suspended in 1850, 1858, and 1869.
By gladdad September 2, 2007
Robert Walker was born 1607 in Manchester, England. He was indentured to the Winthrop Co. and arrived in America in 1630. He became a 'freeman" in 1634, married Sarah Leager, and settled in Boston, MA.
By David Walker January 28, 2007
As I approach my 8th year of serving the John Walker Family Organization, and approach an end to my term as President, it dawns on me that the consequence of my service has been quite different than was intended. I believe this has been a good thing and would invite you to take a moment to consider this month’s message. Over the next year I will elaborate upon these ideas in the form of monthly newsletters. So what were those unintended consequences?
By David Walker October 1, 2006
The following timeline is from the book entitled From England to Boston: A Biographical Sketch of Robert Walker and Sarah Leager Walkerby Brett C. Walker Manchester Cathedral 1607/07 Robert Walker born in Manchester, Lancashire, England 1612 Sarah Leager born 1623 Robert began an apprenticeship as a linen weaver 1629 Robert completed his apprenticeship and married Sarah Leager in England 1630 They join the Puritan fleet led by John Winthrop and sail to America, landing in Salem, MA 1631 They moved to Boston 1632 Robert became 131st member of the First Church in Boston 1634 Robert became a freeman 1669 Robert co-founded the Third Church in Boston (Old South Church) - Sara is co-founder 1687 Robert died of a stroke at age 80 in Boston, MA 1695 Sarah died at 83 in Boston, MA
By David Walker August 20, 2004
The Walker Family is a great American Family. We arrived in the new world in 1630 as Robert Walker and Sarah Leager, who came from England to Boston via the Winthrop Fleet of 1630 . We were probably not the first family with the Walker surname in the New World, but close. This is a family of Patriots and Pioneers and we are growing larger each year. Due to the sheer number of related Walker descendants, our primary research is focused on our English ancestors down through the first 3 generations of John & Lydia Walker. Beyond that the scope is simply too large for a volunteer edndeavor. Of necessity, Family History has a beginning point and our beginning starts with John Walker , born on 20 June 1794, in Peacham, VT. He lived there until his conversion to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) in 1832. The family migrated to Western Missouri in the Spring of 1838, but did not stay long due to the political unrest present upon their arrival in October of 1838. The family settled for a time in Nauvoo, Illinois then ultimately journeyed West in company with the Mormon Pioneers.

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