Thomas Walker

Thomas is best known for transplanting our family from England to New Zealand. He was the eldest son of John (1760-1834) a farmer of Northallerton. As a young man Thomas was a Coachman driving the route from Northallerton to Leeds. He lived in Leeds for a number of years and his sons John and George were born there. In 1819 he married in Northottering. A parish near Northallerton and was popular for marriages in our family. Charlotte Gregson (1791-1866). When his daughter Eliza was born in 1828 he was living at Thirsk. About 1840 Thomas left his homeland for the colonies and spent some 20 years in New South Wales Australia . While there he sent money home to support his family. At one time he was thought to have drowned and died. About 1860 his eldest son John went to Sydney to pick him up and bring him back to Wanganui where he lived out his days until he died in 1868. Thomas had wanted his wife to join him once in Wanganui but she would not being an old lady. Thomas and Charlotte had a family of 4 sons and 1 daughter.