ABOUT ROBERT WALKER, ESQUIRE, AND HIS MORAVIAN CONNECTIONS:

My name is Fred Coffey, and for some time I've been trying to learn all I can about my GGGGG Grandfather, Robert Walker (my mother was a Walker). Robert had a lot of interactions with the Moravian settlement called Wachovia. This is in present day Forsyth County, North Carolina, in the vicinity of the modern city of Winston-Salem.

I've been finding a lot of information about Robert Walker, Esquire, in the Records of the Moravians in North Carolina. This is a multi-volume set of books edited by Adelaide L. Fries, M.A., Archivist of the Moravian Church in America, Southern Province. The first of these volumes was published by Edwards & Broughton Printing Company, Raleigh, NC, in 1922.

So I decided to write this as a separate paper just addressing what I learned from the Moravian records about Robert. Robert reportedly had good rapport with the Moravian community – before moving to Richmond his property was just outside the Moravian block, to the East.

I'm also researching some other ancestors, so I'm going to cheat a bit, and sneak in observations about a couple of my other ancestors who were Moravians, and who are also found in those same records. One is Andreas Fulk Jr. (aka Volck, Folk or Volk), born in New York in 1722. The other is Johann Heinrich (Henry) Arney, born in 1755 in Pennsylvania, who married this Andreas Fulk's daughter Maria Magdalena. (In the early 20^th century, a descendant of this marriage will marry into my Walker family.)

The Moravian Diaries tended to report all sorts of trivia, including the weather. Here's one of the earliest entries I found, starring my 6G Grandparents, Andreas and Maria Fulk:

July 23, 1768 (Bethania Diary): "For some days the weather has been very hot and oppressive, with frequent thunderstorms. As Andreas Volk and his wife were approaching Bethania there was a sharp clap of thunder, the horse reared, the girth broke, and the saddle and Volk fell one way, and his wife fell the other. Neither was hurt."

And of course important marriages were covered (Chistina is my GGGGGG Aunt):

December 30, 1768 (Bethania): "Benjamin Leinbach came to Br. Graff and announced his engagement to Andreas Volk's daughter, Christine, and asked for the publication of the Banns, and that we would marry him. For this latter he was referred to Br. Loesch as Justice of the Peace; the Banns can be published by Br. Bachhoff as Public Reader and Clerk of Dobbs Parish."

(To understand the next few items completely, you may want to do some separate reading on the "Regulators". Wikipedia says "The War of the Regulation was a North Carolina uprising, lasting from approximately 1764 to 1771, where mostly lower class citizens took up arms against corrupt colonial officials. While unsuccessful, some historians consider it as a catalyst to the American Revolutionary War." The General Waddel, mentioned below, was assigned by the Governor to deal with the Regulators.)

Wednesday, February 13, 1771 (Bethabara Diary): “Mr. Walker, returning from the county court in Salisbury visited Brother Marshall. Among other things he brought the news that in the last meeting of the assembly, Rowan County was divided into 4 counties, and according to his account Wachovia will fall into Surry County. ...He said further that the last Assembly passed a law whereby the Regulators were proscribed, etc.”

May 8, 1771 (Bethabara): "Mr. Walker came, and reported among other things that Gen. Waddel is in Salisbury, and his troops camped three miles this side of the Yadkin; also that the Regulators from New Garden Settlement were going thither and trying to seize horses and provisions."

May 10, 1771 – Wachovia Map:

I found in this book a map drawn May 10, 1771. And it shows a notation like this:

° Rob. Walker

This circle appears to show the location of Robert's house, which was commonly used as a landmark for the area. And it appears to lie on a road that runs from the southeast up toward the Townfork settlement – a prime location for Robert's tavern? I am hoping to find a better resolution copy of this old map to include in this discussion. But as a first step I have made a tracing of the 1771 Wachovia borders, plus a modern tracing showing the relationship to modern Forsyth County, and have overlaid these both on a current highway map. They fit fairly well. Here's what it looks like, showing where Robert's house is indicated:

This would place Robert's place in or close to the southern quarter of the city limits of modern Walkertown, NC. Within the accuracy of what I have done, this location is consistent with another examination posted elsewhere.

The next item talks about an election to choose members of the North Carolina Assembly. And it may tell us something about Robert's land ownership – more in a moment. And it talks about the boundary of the new Surry County, which has just been drawn far enough north to leave out a good part of the Moravian settlements. Robert wants the new county boundary moved farther south, but the Moravians are upset with the election and Robert is afraid they will decide they want to stay out:

July 3, 1771 (Bethabara): "Early this morning various neighbors passed, on their way to the election at Gideon Wright's, and with them went Br. Bagge and various Brethen from here and from Bethania. But Lanier and his party, probably those who recently held with the Regulators, influenced the rabble, so it came to pass that substantial men, who cared for the best interest of the County, voted for Br. Bagge, but the rest, - the majority,- voted for Lanier and an unknown man, Richard Good, from Town Fork. Mr. Walker was there, but could not vote, as he is not a Freeholder. He came to Br. Marshall this evening in great distress, and begged that the Brethren would not petition the Assembly to remain in the old County in which two-thirds of our Parish lies according to the recent division, for without us Surry County could not support itself. Others who were not pleased with the Election said the Brethren should elect one of their own number without consulting any one else, - - which may come later.

There is a discussion of Robert's land ownership in another paper, but the statement above that "…he is not a Freeholder" is VERY interesting. My preliminary opinion is that it may mean he arrived in North Carolina after 1763, when the Granville Proprietary land offices closed, leaving no effective land office to make grants. He may have technically "squatted" on the land he wanted, and was waiting for the mechanics of legal title. Since the Crown only gave the right to vote to Freeholders (those who owned land), he was thus excluded from the right to vote because he did not yet have proper legal title. (This exclusion only applied to the Assembly election vote – he was obviously NOT excluded from serving as a Court Justice.)

Oh, regarding Robert's "great distress", the Moravians did later (May 6, 1772) organize a "Petition to the Assembly which is to be signed by all the Taxables in Wachovia. It asks that Dobbs Parish remain as a whole, and that Wachovia may be all in one County."

Feb 18, 1772: "Br. Bonn passed on his way to the County Court, which will again be held at the house of Mr. Gideon Wright, on the Yadkin. Our neighbor, Mr. Walker, recently reported for truth that a new Didimus has been issued, and that the Brethren James van der Merk and Charles Holder were not included; nothing was said about it at this Court, and the two Brethren did not attend. It is probable that Mr. Lanier had the paper but did not produce it, which rather annoyed the other Justices. In the Oath which the Justices must take there has been inserted a clause against the Regulators."

Now, let's digress for another weather report and learn how Grandpa Volk is doing:

May 20, 1772: It rained hard for half an hour, with some hail. We were all thankful, for on account of the drought many people have not been able to plant corn. Andreas Volk and six of his neighbors from the New Garden Settlement have been to the Allimance, where the battle with the Regulators was fought last year, and have secured 3000 lbs of flour, at 15 shillings per 100 lbs."

May 27, 1772: "Andreas Volk was given a Certificate which frees him from attending Muster. A number have been issued this year, and the Captains are insisting on it in their districts."

The next note tells us that Robert's place was on the best route from Salem to the Moravian Settlements in Pennsylvania:

Sept 21, 1772: (A report from Wachovia, found in the Bethlehem Archives): At last we found a direct road from Salem to the mill site on the Lech, or Brushy Fork, where we built a bridge and re-opened the old road to Belews Creek, and the neighbors opened a road into this from the east by Mr. Robert Walker's, so that Salem has now good connections in all directions; and as shortly afterwards a road to Buffington's cWorks* was opened from Walker's we have now a good road to Capt. Robert's in Virginia, and from there to Pennsylvania, which we have long desired."

*(HISTORICAL MEMO: Troublesome Creek Ironworks, originally called Speedwell Furnace, near Monroeton, Rockingham County, NC. By 1770, Joseph Buffington, an experienced Quaker iron master originally from Chester County, Pennsylvania, constructed Speedwell Furnace on Troublesome Creek. He purchased the “mine hill” in southern Rockingham County, as well as the land for the iron works. Additionally, Buffington constructed a rock dam to create waterpower, a bloomery for pig iron, and an iron forge for finishing items. Unfortunately, Buffington soon discovered that the iron deposits in the area contained far too much titaniferous dioxide to produce valuable iron. He sold the works in 1772, and the site passed through the hands of various people through the course of the Revolutionary War.)

Now, once a road exists the people must undertake to maintain it. Committees from Salem, Bethabara and Bethania met to decide which congregation should take care of each road:

Saturday the 27^th of September, 1772: "Bethabara, with 18 Taxables, takes the road from there (Bethabara) towards Robert Walker, as far as our boundary, 10 miles."

The next two entries are very fascinating. There was a drunken fight (did they imbibe at Walker's Tavern?) that got Robert involved in sorting it out:

Feb 14, 1774: "Br. Schaub reported to the Brn. Kuhnast, Fockel and Blum that late last evening a man, quite bloody, came to our Tavern. This man's wife, and two other men, arrived about daybreak, said they had left this man and his companion some miles beyond Walker's; all three men were held until we could learn something more of the matter. Schneider was sent to Mr. Walker, to report to him and ask that he take charge of the situation; it appears that the man who came to us had badly abused his companion, who reached Mr. Walker's very late half dead; Mr. Walker at once sent a constable for the man here, and the others went with him. This is apparently the company that has been circulating counterfeit money all through this section; the two drank too much and got into a quarrel, and it looks as though they had used swords; the man who came to us had no weapon, but he may have hidden things in the woods, or lost them."

February 16, 1774: "The man arrested here by the constable returned today from Mr. Walker's. They had arranged the matter, and the man had a pass, and said he was going to South Carolina."

October 10, 1774: "The Jury, appointed by the last County Court from Brethren of our three towns, today laid out a somewhat more direct road from our neighbor, Mr. Walker, to the Iron Furnace." (Other reports indicate these Iron Works are "about three-fifths of the way from the boundary of Wachovia to the Virginia line.")

Richmond Court House, 1774:

The editor of the Moravian notes in Volume II included a lengthy discussion of the Wright Court-House and the Richmond Court-house, which became the center of county government after Surry County was formed. That discussion tells us a bit about Robert. You may want to look at, and perhaps print, the following 1774 Key Map:

http://www.coffey.ws/familytree/familynotes/Richmond_Survey_1774.jpg

The Court sat at a courthouse on the property of Gideon Wright for the first few years. A decision was made in 1772 to move to a new location about two miles northeast. And the important people of the time, including Robert, presumably entered requests for land ownership in the vicinity. The new Richmond Courthouse was ready for occupancy in 1774.

The title to these lands was not clear in the early years, because the Granville Land Office had closed and North Carolina had not instituted an alternative. Also the Revolution came on, and property held by Englishmen was confiscated by the new State Government. The editor writes:

"For some years title rested on Entries and Surveys, being finally perfected by State Grants. Across the Town Fork Road from John Armstrong, Robert Walker secured 400 acres (E, Key Map), formerly 'the Douglas Place' his State Grant being dated 1779."

When did Robert physically move to his new land? He may have commuted from his old property in the Walkertown area for a while. The first clear evidence he was living at Richmond there comes on 14 May 1779 when the Court Records show "Ordered Robert WALKER, Esq, have Licence keep Tavern in his now dwelling house in Richmond."

Time to digress again, and talk about another ancestor and a baptism. First the quote, then some discussion:

June 3, 1778 (Bethania Diary): "Johann Jacob Spoenhauer came to me with the request that I would visit him and his brother-in-law Arny, and baptize their children."

Now, other records show that Johann Jacob Spainhour married Anna Catherina Volck in 1773, and my own 5G Grandfather Johann Heinrich (aka "Henry") Arney married Maria Magdalena Fulk. Anna and Maria were daughters of Andreas and Maria Fulk (see entry above for July 23, 1768). So these men were brothers-in-law because their wives were sisters.

And keep in mind that spelling of the time was flexible: Spainhour & Spoenhauer; Arny & Arney & Erny; Volck & Volk & Fulk & Folk; They are very clearly all the same people.

Anyway, it seems quite clear that the child awaiting baptism is my G4 Grandfather, Jacob Arney, born 18 Mar 1778. He was the second of Henry and Maria Magdalena Arney's 14 children.

Next, we learn that Grandpa Volk is an explosives expert:

Sept. 8, 1778: "Br. Bagge has again begun work on the well on his building lot, and had some rock blasted out by Andreas Volk."

And next we learn that Robert sometimes hangs out at the Salem tavern, and that he doesn't hesitate to invoke his authority. (The following came a day after the theft of a pistol was reported:)

Sept. 17, 1778: "Another theft was discovered, for during breakfast a tumbler was stolen from Br. Fockel's house in Bethabara, and the man at once sold it to another man who was on his way to Salem. Br. Fockel notified Br. Bagge, who found the man and the tumbler in the Salem tavern. As the Justice, Mr. Walker, happened to be there he at once issued a Warrant for the arrest of the thief, who was soon found. Br. Fockel came from Bethabara and identified his tumbler, and the man was sent to prison."

The American Revolution is now in full swing, and the Continental Congress is pushing for new taxes. And we find that Robert is involved in hearings regarding those possible English loyalists in their midst:

October 4, 1778: A much disturbed day because of the settlers from neighboring settlements who came to give in their property lists. There were fights, and also law business for some from the English settlement were examined before the Justices, Michael Hauser and Walker, because of things said against the cause of Liberty."

The following three-day exchange shows that relationships between the Moravians and the Court, including Robert, are not going smoothly. Taxes, never a popular subject anywhere, are at issue. And Robert wants the Moravians to change the road between his house and Richmond:

November 12, 1778: The Brn. Blum, Schaub and Mucke were at Court on business, the first-named concerning the Assessorship which he and his two colleagues have finished. Mr. Walker made many criticisms, but they were able to quote the Act of Assembly and he could do nothing to change their report; others, for lack of this information, had very incomplete reports. Most was said about our Town Lots and Improvements. The people who live on our land in the Mulberry Fields have not been asked to list their Improvements." November 13, 1778: A letter came... in the name of the Court, which said that the Court was not pleased with the Assessment, and that unless satisfaction was given a Remonstrance would be sent to the Assembly. The Brn. Blum and Fockel decided to ride to Court this afternoon, after the services. The complaint was that the houses and lots in our towns had not been listed; and when assurance was given that Michael Hauser had not required it because he did not understand the matter better, the misunderstanding was removed and it was decided that new Assessors should be appointed to list the houses and lots in our towns, and that Mr. Walker should swear them in. The above-mentioned Brethren did not reach home until midnight." November 14, 1778: Mr Walker came from the Court, called on Br. Blum, and had much to say about the affair of yesterday, and of all that the Justices had said after the Brethren left, not only about the Assessment, but also about the Brethren, - - time will show what they are going to do. Among the rest he said that Charles Holder, of Salem, had been appointed Constable. Mr. Walker has long desired a change in the road between his house and Bethabara, and he said the Court had agreed that if we did not make the change before the next Court a new and more direct road would be laid out from his house to Richmond. Br. Blum promised to go with him next week to see what could be done."

January 3, 1779: Mr. Walker and the other two Assessors, Jacob Blum of Bethabara and Friedrich Muller of Friedland, came to lay the Taxes on the lists given in.

Later in 1779, the news is about the war, about soldiers and other visitors passing through, and about an active small-pox epidemic:

July 20, 1779: "Several strangers from Virginia spent the night in the tavern. With them was our old acquaintance, Mr. Galloway. Mistress Walker, from Richmond, was here; she said that Mr. Snead threatened to burn the house of any person from that town who came here and brought back small-pox."

And Grandpa Andreas Fulk is kept busy arranging for the baptism of his grandchildren:

Jan 10, 1780 (Bethania Diary): "Andreas Volck came for me, and I rode with him to the home of Heinrich Demuth, where I baptized Demuth's twins, George and Andreas, and little Anna Catharina Erny." (Anna Catharine Arney was born 25 Nov 1779 – she is the third of Henry Arney's 14 children.)

The war is coming closer, there is news of patriot defeats, and Robert is worried:

August 20, 1780 (Salem Diary): The Brethren of the Aufseher Collegium had a short conference… It was decided to refuse to accept articles which persons might wish to store here for fear of the English. Shortly afterwards Mr. Robert Walker, Sr. came to Br. Bonn with just this request, but he refused to keep anything for him."

Next, the actual shooting part of the Revolution is now upon Surry County. On October 8, 1780, a band of Tories (loyal to the King), under the leadership of Colonels Gideon and Hezekiah Wright, attacked Whig targets in the town of Richmond. The Sheriff was killed, and a distant in-law of mine was wounded. My 6G Grandfather Andreas Fulk sent his son (probably his youngest son, Andreas III, who would have been age 15) for help:

October 9, 1780 (Salem Diary): “Andreas Volk’s son came for the doctor for the brother-in-law Johanna Krause, who was shot in the leg yesterday while standing guard at Richmond, which was again visited by a strong party of Tories under Gideon Wright. The bullet had remained in his limb; Joseph Dixon was sent to bind up the wound. The Tories had expressed sympathy for the injured man, saying the ball had not been meant for him but for someone else, and so on. What consequences this may have remains to be seen.”

MEMO: There were several more entries in the record for Andreas Fulk, but none of outstanding interest. He was included on a list of residents of Bethania, and identified as born in 1722. Many of the later entries clearly refer to his son Andreas III. I'll jump ahead to one final entry:

August 17, 1790 (Bethania Diary): Young Andreas Volck brought word that his father passed away peacefully last evening."

In 1782 the civic and church life of the Moravians was rapidly returning to normal. The Surry Court Records show that on 17 August 1782, it was "Ordered Robert WALKER, Esq. appointed Commissioner of Specific Tax;" And Robert is soon busy as a tax collector:

November 5, 1782 (Minutes of Salem Boards, Auf Col): "Mr. Walker will use the Magazine building and in it will store the Specific Tax*. We think he should pay £3 per year rent." November 21: "Mr. Walker intends to collect the Specific Tax this month, and George Hauser, Jr., the money tax. As there are still Tickets** in town which can be used it will be well to collect them, and so help each other, and if there are not enough it will be better to pay the tax in money at 2/6 per bushel than to deliver it in kind, which would cost more."

*Otherwise known as the grain tax.

**Auditor's Certificates for supplies furnished, issued prior to the Act of April, 1782, were still tender for the Specific Tax.

November 27, 1782 (Bethabera Diary): "Mr. Walker was here to collect the grain tax, which was paid to him in Tickets and money."

This next entry is a bit puzzling. Robert Walker Esquire died in 1786. Was his house still occupied by in wife in 1789? Or could they be talking about his son Robert? Or was it just what "used to be" his house? (Robert’s wife Mary took over the tavern after Robert’s death, and she then married Jesse Lester, who became the proprietor. In 1789 Richmond was about to be abandoned, with Jesse Lester and Mary working to open a new tavern in Rockford. The Moravians may have continued to think of it as the “Walker House”?)

April 17, 1789 (Salem Diary): "We heard that yesterday morning the house of Mr. Cummins and Mr. Walker, in Richmond, was burned."

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