RootsChat.Com

Hi

I don’t know if you have sorted your Robert Walker out but as I was looking at the Masham registers yesterday, (I also have Walkers from Masham), I thought I would have a look at your Robert too.

Marriages
24 November 1819 Robert Walker husbandman and Elizabeth Berry, spinster, both of this parish, by banns were married. Both sign (she signs Elisabeth). Witnesses Christopher Walker, Matthew Metcalf and Mary Handley
30 June 1822 Robert Walker, bachelor, and Elizabeth Haykins, spinster, both of this parish, by banns, both mark. Witnesses Farey (sic) Wilson and Mattw (sic) Metcalf
21 March 1836 Robert walker widower, and Elisabeth (sic) Marsden spinster, both of this parish, by banns, both mark.  Witnesses John Howe (mark) and Chrisr (sic) Marsden

Baptisms
8 June 1823 Matthew son of Robert and Elizabeth Walker, Fearby. Labourer
29 March 1825 William son of Robert and Elizabeth Walker, Fearby. Labourer
5 December 1827 Mary daughter of Robert and Elizabeth Walker, Fearby. Labourer
Earlier baptism
29 January 1797 Robert son of Robert and Mary Walker, Warthermarske.
(from 1803 baptism of daughter Mary it is revealed that Robert snr was a husbandman and Mary was Mary Thorpe before marriage)

Burial
12 December 1834 Elizabeth Walker of Fearby aged 45

Conjecture
It looks to me that your Robert Walker is the one born 1797 above. He marries first Elizabeth Haykins in 1822 who is the mother of his children. She dies in 1834 and he remarries in 1836 to Elizabeth Marsden. Therefore the Elizabeth on the 1841 is not the mother of Mary but the step mother.

Elizabeth Haykins was not baptised in Masham. (I also wonder if Haykins is a bad attempt at Hawkins)

The identity of the further child Matthew might prove useful in trying to take the family back.

I understand the difficulty trying to trace Walkers in Yorkshire as it is something like the fourth most common surname there. Findmypast are supposed to be putting Yorkshire parish records onto their site and when I contacted them in January they said they were making good progress and to expect news “later this year” so maybe when they arrive they will help.

Incidentally you said you had Robert, Elizabeth and Mary in 1851. I couldn’t find that do you have a reference so I could look it up please.

Warthermarske is two and a half miles from Fearby and two miles from Masham.