Henson Walker, Sr.

Henson Walker was born 7 November 1787 at Prince George's County, Maryland, the son of Richard Walker, Jr., and Mary Gilpin. Henson worked on his father's farm as a young man and received his schooling near Baltimore, Maryland. Later he went to work on a plantation for Mr. Thomas Arnold, who had a lot of slave labor. Mr. Arnold needed someone to help him supervise the slaves. In 1803, Mr. Arnold passed away and his widow promoted Henson to overseer of the slaves - he was only 16 years of age.

As Henson became better acquainted with Mrs. Arnold and her two daughters, Matilda, age 4, and Cassandra, age 2, his friendship ripened into love. Henson and Mary Frasier Arnold were married in 1809. They had two children, Perry Gilpin, born 15 January 1810, and Mary Ann, born 20 August 1811. In 1812, Mary Frasier Arnold Walker died, leaving the two babies and two stepdaughters in Henson's care.

Henson married Matilda Arnold, his oldest step-daughter, on 17 February 1815, disposed of his holdings and migrated north with his little family until they reached New York State. They settled first near Clifton Springs in Ontario County, New York. There were mineral springs there, later turned into a health spa. Henson and Matilda's first child, John E. Walker, was born there. After about three years they moved to Manchester, 3 miles west of the springs. They took up land and made a home, remaining there until 1835. By that time, there were eleven children including the two born in Maryland. The country which was quite wooded had to be cleared for planting. The family worked the land. The older boys often went to Clifton Springs to swim and also did lots of fishing and hunting.

In 1835, the family started west. Their oldest son, Perry Gilpin, remained on the farm planning later to follow, but never did - he spent his entire life there and never married. Their daughter, Emmeline, died at age 3 and was buried in Manchester.

Henson Sr. and his family settled in Oceola Township, Section 29, Livingston County, Michigan. They built a 15 x 15 feet log home, with a dirt floor and oil paper windows and a stick chimney. That house served them for one year. The next year they built a larger house of better quality of peeled logs. This home was improved on and added to and ultimately replaced with a frame home in which the family lived until after Henson's death in 1853.

Henson was an organizer and financier and a hard worker. Under his guidance a schoolhouse and church were built. As his sons matured, they took up large tracts of land, improved them, and became influential citizens in their communities. The Walker family were republicans and mostly Methodists.

Henson died 20 November 1853 at Howell, Livingston County, Michigan. Matilda survived him for 38 years, dying at the age of 91 in 1891. She never remarried. Henson and Matilda are buried at the Old Riddle Cemetery, Howell, Livingston County, Michigan, which Henson had helped build. A granite slab about 2 1/2 feet with a cylindrical shaft on top marks their resting place.

Marriages and Children

1. Mary Frasier Walker (1778 - 1812)
   1. Perry Gilpin Walker (1810 - 1874)
   2. Mary Ann Walker (born 20 August 1811)
2. Matilda Ann Arnold Walker (1799 - 1891)
   1. John E. Walker (born c. 1816)
   2. George Washington Walker (1817 - 1893)
   3. Henson Walker (1820 - 1904)
   4. Sarah Walker Watrous (1822 - 1882)
   5. Richard W. Walker (1823 - 1904)
   6. Emeline Walker (1826 - 1829)
   7. Thomas Arnold Walker (1830 - 1916)
   8. Robert Wessel Walker (1832 - 1911)
   9. Lewis Walker (1834 - 1863)
   10. Cassie Ann Walker Pettibone (1837 - 1910)

Sources

• Family Data Collection - Births. Name: Henson Walker; Father: Richard Walker; Mother: Mary Gilpin; Birth Date: 7 Nov 1787; City: Prince Georges; State: MD; Country: USA. Source Information: Edmund West, comp.. Family Data Collection - Births [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2001.
• Maryland Marriages, 1655-1850. Name: Heuson Walker; Gender: Male; Marriage Date: 9 Sep 1809; Spouse: Mary Arnold; Spouse Gender: Male; County: Baltimore County. Source Information: Dodd, Jordan, Liahona Research, comp.. Maryland Marriages, 1655-1850 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004. Original data: Most of the records in this index may be found at the Maryland Historical Society or the Family History Library. More specific source information is listed with each entry. Original marriage licenses should be located at the county clerk's office.
• 1820 United States Federal Census. Name: Henson Walker; Home in 1820 (City, County, State): Farmington, Ontario, New York; Enumeration Date: August 7, 1820; Free White Persons - Males - Under 10: 3; Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 15: 1; Free White Persons - Males - 26 thru 44: 1; Free White Persons - Females - Under 10: 1; Free White Persons - Females - 16 thru 25: 2; Number of Persons - Engaged in Agriculture: 1; Free White Persons - Under 16: 5; Free White Persons - Over 25: 1; Total Free White Persons: 8; Total All Persons - White, Slaves, Colored, Other: 8. Source Citation: 1820 U S Census; Census Place: Farmington, Ontario, New York; Page: 305; NARA Roll: M33_62; Image: 163. Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1820 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: Fourth Census of the United States, 1820. (NARA microfilm publication M33, 142 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.
• U.S. General Land Office Records, 1796-1907. Name: Henson Walker; Issue Date: 15 Apr 1837; Acres: 80; Meridian: Michigan-Toledo Strip; State: Michigan; County: Livingston; Township: 3-N; Range: 5-E; Section: 29; Accession Number: MI0620__.251; Metes and Bounds: No; Land Office: Detroit; Canceled: No; US Reservations: No; Mineral Reservations: No; Authority: April 24, 1820: Sale-Cash Entry (3 Stat. 566); Document Number: 15722. Source Information: Ancestry.com. U.S. General Land Office Records, 1796-1907 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2008. Original data: United States. Bureau of Land Management, General Land Office Records. Automated Records Project; Federal Land Patents, State Volumes. http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/. Springfield, Virginia: Bureau of Land Management, Eastern States, 2007.
• Michigan, Homestead and Cash Entry Patents, Pre-1908. Name: Henson Walker; Land Office: Detroit; Document Number: 15722; Total Acres: 80; Signature: Yes; Canceled Document: No; Issue Date: 15 Apr 1837; Mineral Rights Reserved: No; Metes and Bounds: No; Survey Date: Apr 1837; Statutory Reference: 3 Stat. 566; Multiple Warantee Names: No; Act or Treaty: 24 Apr 1820; Multiple Patentee Names: No; Entry Classification: Sale-Cash Entries; Land Description: 1 E½SE MICHIGAN-TOLEDO STRIP No 3 N 5 E 29. Source Information: Ancestry.com. Michigan, Homestead and Cash Entry Patents, Pre-1908 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1997. Original data: United States, Bureau of Land Management. Michigan Pre-1908 Homestead & Cash Entry Patent and Cadastral Survey Plat Index. General Land Office Automated Records Project, 1994.
• 1850 United States Federal Census. Name: Hamon Walker [Henson Walker] ; Age: 61; Birth Year: abt 1789; Birthplace: Maryland; Home in 1850: Oceola, Livingston, Michigan; Gender: Male; Family Number: 1366; Household Members: Hamon Walker 61; Matilda Walker 51; Thos Walker 20; Robt Walker 18; Lewis Walker 16; Cassia A Walker 13. Source Citation: Year: 1850; Census Place: Oceola, Livingston, Michigan; Roll: M432_356; Page: 419A; Image: 197. Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1850 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: Seventh Census of the United States, 1850; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, 1009 rolls); Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29; National Archives, Washington, D.C.
• Family Data Collection - Individual Records. Name: Henson Walker; Spouse: Matilda Arnold; Parents: Richard Walker, Mary Gilpin; Birth Place: Prince Georges, MD; Birth Date: 7 Nov 1787; Marriage Place: Prince Georges, MD; Marriage Date: 17 Feb 1815; Death Place: Howell, L, MI; Death Date: 20 Nov 1853. Source Citation: Birth year: 1787; Birth city: Prince Georges; Birth state: MD. Source Information: Edmund West, comp.. Family Data Collection - Individual Records [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2000.
• Millennium File. Name: Henson Walker; Gender: Male; Birth Date: 7 Nov 1781; Birth Place: Maryland, USA; Death Date: 20 Nov 1852; Death Place: Howell, Livingston, Michigan, USA; Marriage Date: 17 Feb 1899; Marriage Place: Maryland; Mother: Mary Polly Gilpin; Spouse: Matilda Ann Arnold; Children: Henson Walker; Sarah (Sally Ann) Walker; Emeline Walker; Robert Wes. Source Information: Heritage Consulting. Millennium File [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2003. Original data: Heritage Consulting. The Millennium File. Salt Lake City, UT, USA: Heritage Consulting.
• Find A Grave Memorial# 32136312

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GEDCOM Note

Married in the First Methodist-Episcopal Church--IGI FHC FILM #0013693 Gives marriage license issued 9 SEP 1809 1810 Census Anne Arundel Co. MD, and 1820 Census in Ontario Co., New York 1840 Census in Livingston Co., Michigan; in the 1850 Census have found all the family listed in the Livingston County and Washtenaw County. Listed in the Livingston County History, along with most of his children. Names of children from Henson Walker Family compiled by Jenne Walker Johson, Filed a deed in 1837 for 80 acres---T3 N.5 Es. 29 Michigan Township 3 N Range 5 E Section 29Perry Walker's will. Marriage licenses issued inLivingston and Washtenaw County. History of Livingston County, Oceola Township, Michigan very worth while and also Washtenaw County. History of Ontaio County, New York tells of the farm he rented and when he and his family moved to Michigan. An earlymap gives the location of his farm. Marriage date is the license issue date Roots Web World Connect Project: Ancestors and Cousins of Emily Wilde