George Walker I
The Irish Immigrant
BORN IN Ullster IRELAND ABOUT 1720 DECEASED 1779
SETTLED IN ST. GEORGES PARISH, GEORGIA COLONY AFTER 1750
MARRIED MARY GERHARDT DUHART Burke County, GA ABT 1756
ENSLAVED 3 PEOPLE BY 1768
HAD 12 CHILDREN-ALL WOULD BECOME ENSLAVERS
George Walker left Ireland with his brother, Thomas, his sister and her husband Mary and John Dallas and landed in Delaware. It is believed he came to the US as an indentured servant with blacksmithing as his trade. He left for Georgia some time around 1750 and relocated near Brier Creek in St. George’s Parish. This would eventually become Burke County, GA. He married Mary Duhart in 1756. They raised 12 children in Burke County. All 12 children including the daughters would become enslavers.
What little we know of George Walker I is anecdotal with very limited primary source material available. Burke County records were burned and almost all information on its citizens has been lost. It is believed that he was neutral during the Revolutionary War and as such was able to keep his land. Many Loyalists land had been seized by Patriot militia and most ran out of the county.
George Walker was distinguished in the Colonial Records as being a “Gentleman Lieutenant of the 4th or Brier Creek Company of the 2nd Regiment Augusta Division” commanded by Colonel James Jackson, Esq.
It is believed that both of his oldest sons joined in the fight, John Walker and George Walker II. There was also a notable battle fought very close to the family homestead. The Battle of Brier Creek.
Colonial records of Georgia v. B1-B2 commission books 1754-1827
George began acquiring land in 1760 (100 acres), with additional grants in 1767 (200 acres) and 1768 (200 acres), and in 1769 he purchased 111 acres. This latter parcel he sold in 1772, and in the deed transaction it mentions that George is a blacksmith. In 1783, his heirs inherit his estate.
In 1767 an article in the Augusta newspaper described a robbery occurring at George and Mary’s house. A bandit of “villains” marauding the countryside took a tomahawk to the family’s safe and stole 181 sterling coins. That must have been a scary situation and quite a set back financially. That same year, he is listed on a land deed as having 3 enslaved people. My guess is George acquired the 3 people sometime before the robbery. Between 1760-1767. Unfortunately, I have yet to recover the names of those 3 people.
George and Mary's children included: Clicking the link will forward you to their info page.
· Mary (Walker) Byne (b. 12.10.1757) - Married General William Byne and remained in Burke County. William's lands adjoined George's lands.
· Esther (Walker) Carter (b. 2.29.1759) - lived in Burke County.
· John Walker (b. 09.05.1760) - Married Frances Byne, a sister of General William Byne. They moved from Burke Co. to Morgan Co. in 1810.
· Elizabeth (Walker) Jones (b. 12.25.1761) - Married John Jones, whose lands adjoined George's land.
· George Walker Jr. (b. 11.14.1763) - Settled in Pulaski County, and established the "Longstreet" settlement.
· William "Rich Billy" Walker (b. 09.05.1765) - Settled first in Putnam County, then moved to Harris County.
· Rebecca (Walker) Byne (b. 10.05.1767) - Married Henry Byne.
· Thomas Walker (b. 02.05.1769) - Had lands adjoining George Walker.
· David Walker (b. 11.08.1771) - Settled on Little River in Morgan County, GA.
· Enoch Walker (b. 01.22.1773) - Settled on farm on Little River in Morgan County, along with brother David.
· Margaret (Walker) Reynolds (b. 01.30.1775) - Married Reuben Reynolds and remained in Burke County.
· Moses Walker (b. 05.02.1776) - Settled in Morgan County and Burke Counties.
