Mary Ayers

notes

from "A Case Study: Francis Walker of Middleboro, Massachusetts and Woodbridge, New Jersey" Judith H. Swan, Evaluator March 1, 2006

The above paper was transcribed by Wm. A. Martin and is a true version as written with the exception of some formatting. It is produced for the purpose of posting to an Internet website.

The only clues to the parentage of Mary (Walker) Ayres are that she married in Woodbridge and that she named children, Francis, Benjamin and Patience, names that do not occur in the Ayres family. These clues are contradictory; the location points to Mary being the daughter of Francis Walker of Woodbridge, while the names of Francis Benjamin, and Patience, lend support to the theory she is the daughter of Francis Walker of Middleboro. John and Mary (Walker) Ayres did not follow the traditional naming pattern of 1st son after the father’s father, 1st daughter after the father’s mother, 2nd son after the mother’s father, 2nd daughter after the mother’s mother, etc. They have no daughter named Elizabeth (if Elizabeth Soule was Mary’s mother) or Hannah (after John’s mother). The naming pattern of Patience Walker and her husband, Francis Drake, is less indicative of a relationship between Patience and Mary, and between Patience and Francis and Elizabeth. Several theories have been offered for why there is no obvious connection between Francis and Elizabeth, and Mary, as well as Patience, and theories about the age of Mary. This evaluator could offer more theories on both sides of the issue, but, in the end, without credible evidence, they are only theories.
Conclusion #5: There is no credible evidence to name Francis and Elizabeth (Soule) Walker as the parents of Mary (Walker) Ayers.

from https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Walker-446

RootsWeb: [1] Archiver > MAYFLOWER > 2004-12 > 1104244286

"From: "Susan E. Roser" Subject: Elizabeth Soule/Francis Walker Date: Tue, 28 Dec 2004 09:31:26 -0500

The listing of four children of Elizabeth Soule & Francis Walker in the 1980 edition of Mayflower Familes (MF) for the Soule family, was hastily done and almost immediately caused corrections from the genealogical community.

The children listed were Francis, Mary, Isaac and Patience. These children are carried further in the 1980 version of the silver MF book (this work has since been updated and revised and is currently in the form of pink "Mayflower Families In Progress" (MFIP) booklets).

In "The Genealogist" 1 [1980]: 228:229, ["Mayflower Families To Date: A Critical Examination"], by Neil Thompson, FASG, it was stressed that the researchers had relied heavily on the unreliable work of Ora E. Monnette ("First Settlers of ye Plantations of Piscataway and Woodbridge, Olde East Jersey, 1664-1714", 6 parts 1930-1934] for the identification of the Walker children. Note that in the biblio in MF 3 with the above source is the cautionary note "Acceptable only after verification".

In one paragraph, Thompson states that there is no proof for any children other than Isaac and no others shared in any property.

An article in the "Mayflower Quarterly", 50 [1984]: 31-40, ["Elizabeth Soule, Wife Of Francis Walker, And Their Posterity"], by Robert C. Anderson, F.A.S.G., went into great detail on the available and existing proof for the Walker children.

First, there was a Francis Walker of Woodbridge NJ (living as late as 1706) and a Francis Walker of Middleboro MA (died before 1702). The two were different men and no connection between them has been found. Francis of NJ cannot be the son of Francis (& Elizabeth) of MA because he was born too early to be their son. From his land dealings we know Francis of NJ was born no later than 1659 - Francis & Elizabeth did not have a child until at least 1667. Note as well that there was only one Francis residing in Woodbridge - this is known from the absence of the use of "Sr." or "Jr." in the records.

Francis Walker of Middleboro never lived in Woodbridge NJ - although his son Isaac did for a time.

When Francis of MA died, son Isaac returned from NJ to take care of his father' s estate. He acted alone when he disposed of his father's lands. If there were other children, they would have shared in the lands, or Isaac would have bought their shares in order to dipose of the lands. There is no mention of any other heirs in the records.

This leads to the conclusion that Francis & Elizabeth (Soule) Walker of Middleboro MA had only one child, son Isaac, born ca1667.

There is no controversy over this, the Mayflower Society accepts only one child, Isaac.

Interesting to note however that there is still a bit of a mix-up in biographical information pertaining to the two Francis Walkers. In the updated MFIP, George Soule, [1999], #7, it states that if Elizabeth Soule died early, husband Francis Walker may have m. 2nd to Anne and had these additional children. Robert Anderson, in MQ, already pointed out that Francis of MA never lived in NJ and that it was Francis of NJ who had married Anne. MFIP also quotes Monette and gives early biographical info on Francis of MA's early life in New Amsterdam, Staten Island and Woodbridge - however this info pertains to Francis of NJ - not Elizabeth Soule's husband.

Food for thought - what is the family connection between Francis of NJ and Francis of MA - cousins? Isn't it a little ironic that son Isaac lived in NJ where these other Walkers lived? What brought him there? No connection has been found.

Hope this helps answer some questions.

Susan E. Roser www.rootsweb.com/~canms/canada.html"

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