John Walker Shefford

[scottwalker01]

There is a a second possibility.

There is a William Inskip who was born in Haynes in 1753 and had a son William born in 1782 and daughter Mary born in 1777 (both born in Campton)

William senior died in 1786 in Shefford, so Dave maybe the William you identified was Mary's brother/John's brother in law

[bedfordshire boy]

With Inskips thick on the ground in Beds I don't really fancy the London William.

I'd rather do some more digging into the farmer in Lower Caldecote to see where that leads. It might lead to Haynes and Campton, who knows.

David

[johnP-bedford]

There’s a marriage at Old Warden on 20 Jun 1793 between John Walker of St James, Clerkenwell, Middlesex and Mary Inskip.  (Old Warden transcript, which doesn't include witnesses).

David;  should have gone to specsavers....  

OK I know generally the PR transcript does not show witnesses - but I was looking at the Old Warden transcript this morning and underneath this marriage entry, clearly stated is Witnesses: Thomas Inskip, Sarah Whitney, William Inskip, Rebecca Whitney, Thomas Day.

So why make an exception here ?  Were they of some standing ?


Cheers John

[johnP-bedford]

..... which leads me to my this tangent...

John Walker, junior when found in Clerkenwell is a clock/watch maker, & seems to be of some repute; Is he the one buried Norwood Cemetery, 2 Feb 1879 age 75 & has a Probate Calendar entry dated 18/3/1879 with an estate worth less £30,000. 

OK so where did he acquire those skills ? - could be by association with Thomas Inskip, watchmaker of Shefford (1780 1849), neighbour of Robert Bloomfield, poet of Shefford, whose MI's are side by side in All Saints Campton cum Shefford.

While Thomas Inskip is listed in BHRS vol 70 Bedfordshire clock & watch makers, John Walker is not.

Any thoughts on this ?

[johnP-bedford]

next ...

Banns at Old Warden... 21 Apr 1776 William Inskip & Sarah Gregory of Clifton
Marriage at Clifton....29 Jun 1776 William Inskip of Old Warden, bach to Sarah Gregory, spinster
Baptism at Campton..11 Oct 1777 Mary Inskip, daughter of William & Sarah

Now was it OK for Mary to get married at age 16+ As a minor would that be the reason for marriage licence ?  & no it was not listed in the marriage licence transcript, before you ask.

[bedfordshire boy]

I wondered exactly the same thing about Thomas watchmaker in Shefford - I came at him via the  probate index books in 1850 where he's described as watchmaker. Was he perhaps apprenticed to Thomas. But if the Walkers moved away after 1808 he'd be too young. I put it on the back burner as I couldn't prove anything

[bedfordshire boy]

David;  should have gone to specsavers....  


So why make an exception here ?  Were they of some standing ?


Cheers John

It's the exception that proves the rule. And I've no idea how I failed to spot the witnesses, other than your very astute observation that I should have gone to Specsavers!. I don't understand why Bedford Record Office should have added them just for this one marriage - they don't seem to have been that gentrified

[scottwalker01]

John/David

Thankyou so much for your assistance with this.  You have found out more in a day or two than I have in over 3 years.

John - clockmaker of some repute, what do you mean by this?

Would it be possible if you could advise the name of the cemetery where John is buried (if indeed it is the John that I am related to).  I will be in London in a fortnight and am hoping to spend a day in Shefford having a look about using the information you have found for me.

John lived in 4 Red Lion St in 1835 and was still listed as a Clock Manufacturer. IN 1826 he was living either with or near his first wife's father (Michael Atkins). Red Lion St which seemed to be a street if watch/clock makers.

In 1851 he was living at 3 Grays Building Hackney. IN 1861 he was living at 21 Gloucester St Clerkenwell.

Thanks again
Scott

[bedfordshire boy]

Would it be possible if you could advise the name of the cemetery where John is buried (if indeed it is the John that I am related to).

As John said, that particular John Walker was buried at Norwood cemetery - full detail: South Metropolitan Cemetery, (West Norwood Cemetery), Norwood Road, Lambeth.

His abode was given as The Grumbles, Upper Hamilton Terrace. Which ties up neatly with the Probate entry that John found, where he was described as late of Cornhill in the City of London and of the Gables, Upper Hamilton Terrace, St John's Wood, a watch, clock and chronometer maker. The executor was Teresa Walker, daughter, spinster, which is odd as I can't see her in censuses. Nor can I find the family in 1871