***David Walker has done extensive research on this lineage and I am using an excerpt here. However, I HIGHLY recommend visiting his website for more detailed info.

Excerpt from David Walker’s Website

“William "Rich Billy" Walker was born in Burke County, GA, and moved to Putnam County where he was noted as a large landowner , and according to the 1810 Census, he is the largest enslaver in the county with 47 enslaved. In the 1820 Census, he is living in Putnam County, and the tally of family members by age indicates that all of his children, except for the eldest (Virgil) are living with him. The 1820 census also indicates that he has 62 enslaved. Most of his children were born in Putnam County. By the mid-1820s, he had migrated to Mulberry Grove, Harris County, GA, and is noted as one of the original pioneers of the county. He had large plantation holdings in Harris, Putnam, Troup, Jasper, and Meriwether counties, well over 20,000 acres according to some reports, with over 1,000 slaves.”

He eventually settled in Harris County around 1825, however it is noted they had houses and land holdings prior to this. They settled near Mulberry Creek and created a massive plantation work camp. He had skilled African artisan laborers clear and use timber from the land, bricks from the soil and crafted 6 houses for each one of his children on what is today Hoody Hudson Road in Harris County. Son, Virgil H Walker’s house remains in excellent condition. A testament to the craftsmanship of those workers.

The plantation work camp was a fully functioning community. Reports of a looming house, brick kiln, tannery, gin mill, steam mill, distillery, apiary, and black smith shop have been recorded. In addition to a livery, carriage/wheel house and food production the amount of labor required to manage all of this was enormous. Similarly fashioned like his brother, George Walker’s plantation complex, the enslaved communities at each house work with each other.

William “Rich Billy” Walker died in 1831, leaving a considerable estate built by the enslaved populations. However, these estate records do not tell the full story and I believe through the years “Rich Billy” deeded in gift prior to his demise enslaved individuals and families to his children.

At his demise in 1831, He owned land and enslaved people in Putnam County, Meriweather County, Jasper County and Harris County. He is buried along with several enslaved people on the back side of his plantation off Hoody Hudson Road. We believe these people would have been close to the family perhaps worked in the house. However, we are confident to have discovered the sacred burial ground for the majority of the enslaved community here.

It does appear that the Walker family rarely sold any enslaved and so it is possible to track many families through the inheritance path from William Walker to his descendants.