| Notes |
- . St. Edmund Parish Register, Register # 383, File #12608.
John Sibbald Walker, Baptized 10 Mar 1819, Curate Wm. Middleton,
Son of Margaret & John Walker, Carpenter, Abode Sedgefield, Durham County, England.
. HAMILTON QUARTER SESSIONS
Walker, Thomas, 1838 June, - Plaintiff, - Page 12,
Walker, John, 1839 March - Plaintiff
Walker, John, 1847 /8 DEC 24, Plaintiff
Thomson, Jane, 1843, June 12, Plaintiff, Page 18.
. 1840 Jul 14 Assessment Hamilton Town:
John Walker: Framed one story dwelling; 1 Male,1 Female, Total 2.
Note1: Son Edward R Walker must have been born after July 14, 1840. - PJA.
. 1841 May Assessment Hamilton Town:
John Walker: 1 Adult, 2 story framed dwelling: 1 @ 60£. - Total Assessment 85£.
. 1842 Assessment Hamilton Town:
John Walker, John Street, 6 houses before Cherry St.: Total 4 persons assessed at £100.
John Walker, Catharine Street, one adult. (nil assessment). i.e. John Walker Senior & Junior. ]
. 1843 ASSESSMENT HAMILTON TOWN. (TWO Separate Entries for:)
John S Walker, 2 Lots, 2 Story, Additional fireplace, Mr. Bowen, Landlord, 200£
Thompson [Thompson crossed out] Mrs. Walker, 1 female, Martial landlord, 60£ .
. 1846 Smith's Canadian Gazetter, Province of Canada West:
Erin, 32,447 Acres are taken up, 7,945 are under cultivation, Tipis holy & stoney. There is a small settlement in sw of twp. called McMillen's Mills, where are a grist & saw mill, tavern & blacksmith shop & between 4-0-50 inhabitants. There are 1 grist & 4 saw mills in two. Crown lands are open for sale at 8 shillings per acre. Speed River, a branch of Grand River, An excellent mill stream, 2 grists & saw mill.
. Hamilton Coach & Carriage Factory, King St. Hamilton. - 70 hands (workers)
Ref: Possible location for apprenticeship for both John & brother George M Walker.
. 1849 Smiths Canadian Gazetteer, Erin, A small settlement in SW of Twp. called McMullen's Mills, grist & Saw mill, tavern & blacksmith shop, 7 between 40 7 50 inhabitants.
. 1850 - First road was planked from Trafalgar, Esquesing & Erin Road from Oakville to Stewarttown.
. 1853 - Stations in 15 locations, from Arthur... Erin ...Wellesley, all of which I have been able to visit during the winter. Want of roads is a difficulty. From Milton I walked through the woods a distance from 10 miles in summer between two stations. In winter it is 16 miles by a round about way.
. Rev. W. W. Bates for Rockwood & Erin.
. 1859 Ontario Directory, Erin, Canada West, Tp. Co. Wellington. Go to Guelph on the GTR. Population about 300.
1873, Erin Population 600.
Ref: The New Work in 1859: being the US & Canada.
. 1859 Oct 19- Erin Agricultural Township Show Fair, Erin Village.
. 1861 Census Erin Village, Wellington
John S Walker, B 1819 England, Blacksmith, 2 half Acres, Concrete 2 stories house
Jane Walker, b. 1821 Ireland; Margaret, b. 1858; Robt., b 1853; Sarah Jane, b. . 1857; Mary Walker b. 1858; Arthur Walker, Apprentice, Age 17, Residing with Wm M Kenney, tinsmith, Erin.
. 1864 Sept 15th, from the Guelph Advertiser from Erin village says ...there are scores of farmers in township who have not a sheaf in the barn, the weather having proved so very unfavourable for harvesting. The crops, however, are very good all around here.
Ref: The Canada farmer, Volume 1.
. 1865-71 Canada Directory, John S Walker Foundry & Machine .
1865-66 Mitchell & Co.'s Canada Classified Directory: Blacksmith, Erin: John S Walker & Iron Foundries & Machines, Erin, ON., John S Walker.
. 1867 Walker, John S., founder, Ref: Wellington Co. Directory.
. 1869 Province of Ontario Gazetteer & Directory
Erin - A village situated in the Twp. of Erin Co. Wellington, 20 miles from Guelph, the county town, 35 miles from Toronto & 12 m. from Georgetown, the nearest station on the Grand Trunk Railway. Stage to Guelph 20 miles. Fare 75¢. Daily mail. Money order office & Savings' Bank. Population 600. Walker, John S., foundry & machine shop.
. 1871 HISTORY OF ALL SAINTS CHURCH (Travel Conditions & John Walker):The Church of England is glad to learn there signs showing of vitality in the pretty village of Erin. The congregation was also without a clergyman for a considerable time, but in the fall of 1865 Rev. Johnstone Vicars was put in charge. (Undated Extract: Guelph Advertiser).
. 1866 July 23rd, All Saints Parish Hall: Church Building Committee, Present Rev J. Vicars, Messrs. Cornoch, Steward, Walker & Campbell. Mr. Aldian, a builder of Guelph will draw up specifications plans for $5. It was moved by Mr. Walker. Seconded by Mr. Stewart that the plans of the Church now exhibited the plans are suitable. Carried.
Moved by Mr. Walker, seconded by Mr. Campbell that Mr. Cornock be treasurer & Mr Carbury, Secretary Carried. Messrs. Cornock & Walker were appointed to request Mr. Campbell, the surveyor, to measure the land. Signed, John Vicars. (Mr. Cornock is the land benefactor.)
All Saints Anglican Church, 81 Main Street, Erin ON.
Ref: Rev. Francis Tremayne, Travelling Missionary, North York Public Library, 6 Fl., Toronto. More church records may be found at, McMaster University Libraries, under the Anglican Diocese.
. 1871 Lovells Province of Ontario Directory
Erin, Ontario, population about 500. Stage coach from Erin to Guelph 75¢ for the 20 miles., Stage coach from Erin to Guelph 75¢. Thirteen miles from Georgetown railroad station.
Walker, Geo. M., of McMillan & Walker,
Walker, John S., Foundry.
. 1871 Oct 27, FERGUS NEWS RECORDER Newspaper:
Garafraxa Ploughing Match:
20 ploughs entered - Mr. Walker's (Erin) plough was a favorite with many. It made a good cut, good turn up, good fearing & good finish.
. 1871 Erin, Wellington Co. Census, (p67):
John S Walker, Age 52 /1819, Born England, Church of England, Blacksmith, married
Elizabeth Walker, 42 /1829, Born Ireland, Ch. of England,
Sara J Walker, 15 /1856, born Ontario; Chars H. 14 /1857; Mary Ann, 12/1958; James W Walker Age 3 /1868.
. 1871 Lovell's Dominion Directory: Toronto Street Railway:
Route - St. Lawrence Hall to Yorkville & St. Lawrence Hall to Lunatic Asylum.
. 1871-1872 Wellington Co. Diretory, Erin:
Walker, Arthur, hardware; Walker, Geo. M. (McMillan & Walker).;
Walker, John S, foundry & machine shop.
. 1875 Wellington Co. Directory & Gazetteer, Erin, Wellington Co.
Erin A village situated on lots 13, 7, 14, 9th & 10 Con., Erin Twp., on the proposed line of the Credit Valley Railway. contains 9 stores, 4 hotels, grist mill (a second one will be built shortly, saw mill, carding factory, 2 foundries, 3 blacksmiths' shops, carriage factory, 4 churches, stave factory & law office, distant from Charleston station of the T.G & B Railway, 8 miles; from Georgetown, GTR station 13 miles, from Guelph the County Town, 19 miles, Mail, daily, stages leave for Georgetown on Mon., Wed. & Fridays, for Guelph. Montreal Telegraph Co. has an office here. Population 500.
. Erin Foundry, by John S. Walker. Size of building 60 x 82 feet, employs 7 men.
. Walker, John S, Foundry.
* 1876 Oct 26 - Erin Fall Exhibition, Tues. 17 Oct:
Implements: Gang plough: 2nd prize, J S Walker.
. 1877 Oct 25, Erin Exhibition: A large number of people, numbering around 3000 people, ventured through the almost incessant drizzle & such prevailed during the whole of last Thursday.,
Implements:
Gang Plow: 2nd. prize, J S Walker
Cultivator: 1st. prize, J S Walker;
Wooden harrow: 1st. J S Walker;
Set horse shoes: 1st, J S. Walker.
Domestic Produce: Honey in a comb: 1s. J S Walker & Strained honey, 2nd. prize, J S Walker.
. 1878 May 16 - There is now a daily mail between Guelph & Erin Village.
Ref: Acton Free Press.
. 1879 Co. of Wellington Gazetteer: Erin, an import postal village. 18 miles from Guelph. The proposed line of the Credit Valley RR runs through the village.There is a good foundry, a flour & Grist mill, & extensive woollen mills mfg. Tweeds, Full- Cloth, blankets, flannels etc. Plain & Colored yarns.
* Walker & Son, blacksmiths. [i.e. John S Walker & Charles Walker]
. 1879 Dec 23, Tues. - John S. Walker, of Erin village, died suddenly on Wednesday morning in a car on the Credit Valley Railway. [= Wed., Dec 17, 1879.]
Ref: The Globe, Toronto.
. 1880 May 1 - Erin Council - Pursuant to adjournment the Municipal Council of Erin Twp. met at Devier's Hotel Hillsbury, at ten o'clock. The Reeve in the chair & members all present. The matter in dispute between Wm. Young & John Walker in reference to the road leading to John Walker's house was called, when a long discussion ensued between the parties. Moved by Mr Reid, second by Dr. McNaughton, that the Reeve be instructed to take legal advice in reference to this road allowance & report was early as possible. Carried.
Ref: Guelph Daily Mercury newspaper, published 1880 Jun 30.
. 1879 Dec 17, Obituary. Sudden Death in Erin Mr John Walker Drops Dead
We regret to learn of the very sudden death this Wednesday morning of Mr. John S Walker, of Erin Village, & the oldest & most respected resident in the place. Mr. Walker was known far & wide as the proprietor of the Erin foundry.
On Wednesday morning he intended to go to Fergus or Elora, & left his house about half past 6 o'clock for the ballast train on the Credit Valley Railway. He was only in the car about 5 minutes when he expired. Heart disease is supposed to be the cause of his death. As we said, Mr. Walker is very old & respected resident of Erin, being in business there for many years. He was in good health up to the time of his death. The deceased never took a very active part in public matters, but he had always the interests of Erin at heart & he will be much missed, not only by his own family, but by the people in the village & township, by whom he was greatly respected for his genuine manliness & honesty.
Ref: Guelph Daily Evening Mercury, pub. Dec 17, 1879. Wed.
. WILL of JOHN SIBBALD WALKER:
Three living grandchildren of deceased Geo Walker, & 6 living children;
Edward (the administrator); William, Arthur; Mrs. Geo L Briggs (Margaret Ann); Robt. H & George Walker;
Edward, "eldest son". His, "mother is Thompson, a long time lunatic in Toronto. "
Note2: The lawyer representing the 4 children of his second companion, Elizabeth Walker, petitioned that the Will's administer present an undoubted security bond (i.e to ensure the corrected distributions to the second family too. )
No distribution was recorded in the administration papers, however, the envelope WILL had the Value as $2,5000. Edward Walker gives the assesses as $2,000. Since at least 1877 son Charles H Walker had already been working this his father operating the Erin Foundry & Machine Shop.
. Tall tombstone with iron on top, reads: In memory of John S Walker who died Dec. 18 1881.
Aged 61y 8mo 19 days. Erin Union Cemetery.
. 1879 Dec 17 Ontario Death Registration # 15745, Wellington Co.
John Sibbald Walker, Died Dec 17 1879, 60 years, 10 mo., 9 days;
Machinist, Born Country Durham, England,
Died of Heart disease, Dr. McNaughton,
Signature of informant Charles Walker, his son, Machinist, Erin., Reported 30 Dec 1879, Church of England.
. 1906 WELLINGTON COUNTY ATLAS
WALKER, John Sible, was b. Durham, Eng., & came to Hamilton in 1827 with his father, Thomas Walker, & the rest of the family.
Thomas Walker later returned to England & secured a situation as Supt. of the bridge building department of the Great Western Railway & died in England.
John S., after learning the blacksmithing trade in Hamilton, went to Slabtown.*
He had m. Jane Thompson who resided with Sir Allan McNabb. After about 2 years, in 1842, he moved to Erin Tp., settling in Erin Village, where he started the first blacksmith shop, & his brother George started a waggon shop opposite. He soon started a foundry ran by horse power for years. Later he sold out & moved to the present Walker foundry site, where he followed his business & made the celebrated Walker plow, the first iron beam, & iron handle plow in Canada. He also made buggies & cultivators & used to shoe the oxen in the district. He never sought municipal or political honours; was a Conservative in politics & a member of the English Church.
Issue: Edward (d. Guelph), William (d.); Flesherton; Arthur, Toronto Junction; George, (d. Erin); John C.; Mrs. G. L. Briggs, Tara; & Robert H., Calgary.
Note3: Slabtown was near St. Catharines, now Merriton, then noted for the Welland Canal & Welland-Western Railway. This flourishing town was located on the line of the Welland Canal on part Lots 10, 11 & 12, Con 9 & 10 Grantham Township. The town was created out of 4 small communities named Centreville (1826), Westport, Protestant Hill & Slabtown.
Ref: Cultural Heritage Assessment Report. Wentworth Co.
. Granddaughter, Ruby Walker told the story of her grandfather, John S Walker's death:
They came & called my grandfather to come & repair the train. The engine would not start. He was a blacksmith, but in Erin village he was the expert on machines, like a garage mechanic. This was an important event & Grandfather, was running up the street in Erin to the train station to repair the engine on the inaugural trip of the Credit Valley Railroad. The train would not start again so John was considered to be the Erin mechanical engineering expert so they called him to repair the train. He ran huffing & puffing up to the Erin train station. He grabbed the handle to pull himself up onto the engine & right then he was struck with a heart attack.
P.S. This would have been before Ruby was born in 1899. So this story must have been a oft repeated story retold with much emotion.
Ref: c. 1982, As told by daughter, Ruby Walker to her grandniece PJ Felker.
. The Credit Valley Railway was given a hearty welcome one night as it arrived on its way thro' to Elora. I am told it was in October 1878. What a giant is seems. I remember how frightened we children were. A sad event of that evening was the sudden death of Mr. John Walker Sr., one of Erin's most prominent businessmen. He was hurrying to see the first passenger train through Erin when he collapsed & died. The evenings excitement was damped by sorrow for the family of Mr. Walker who had a foundry works, wagons & blacksmith shop on Main Street.
. Two of his sons carried on for many years; Mr. Charles & James Walker, who married with 2 ladies named Hamilton, but no relation to each other. Charles's wife was a daughter of Richard Hamilton who kept a grocery store on Main Street, & strange to say, his clerk was a John Hamilton of no relation to either Walker or Hamilton the grocer.
- as recounted by Florence Baker, in the mid 1940's wrote her memoirs of the time she lived in Erin during the 19th & 20th century.
Ref: Gleanings From Memories By Paths of Erin - Part Seven, by Harry Smith. 1871. - - -
- Ontario Land Registry Office Abstract Book 215, Part Plan 61,
VILLAGE of ERIN, Wellington County
. Lot 2, Con 10, [divided into} Part SW Half, Lot 14, p8:
> 1846 Dec 8 - Daniel & Chas. McMillian & Wife, sold to John S Walker, part W 18.2
> 1852 Nov 24, Registered 1852 Dec 8, Bargain&Sale, Hugh, Dan & Chas McMillan, sold to Jno. Sibbald Walker, Lot 2, Con 10 Part SW Half, Lot 14 [ Inc. Lots 2, 3, 7, 14.]
. 1852 Dec 4, B&S, Jno Sibbad Walker & Wife, sold to James Monroe, with other lands together 2r 29p.
> 1853 Oct 24 - John S Walker & Wife, Mortgage - Pm & Perm Bank of Sur., Part W. [i.e. wife, Jane Thompson Walker]
. 1857 May18 - Thompson Geo. M. Walker - to Calvin M Question, unnumbered Lot 2.3
> 1858 Sep 25 - Perm. Bldg. Society, to John S Walker, Part 2 - 12, Erin.
Lot 3, Con 10, Part SW Half, Lot 14, p13:
> 1852 Nov 24, B&S, Hugh McMillan, exec of & Chas McMillan & Mary McMillan, to John Sibbald Walker, with other land together 4acres 1r 4p.
. 1852 Dec 4, B&S, John Sibbald Walker & wife, to James Monro, with other land together 2r 29Halfp.
Lot 7, Con 10 Part SW Half, Lot 14 p21
. 1846 Oct6 B&S,Dan & chareles McMillan & wives, to JohnS ibbald Walker, £1.30.9p with lot 8, (part of 18A 2r);
. 1848 Jul 31, B&S, Dan & Chas McMillan & wives & John Sibbald Walker, to James Young,£1.30p.9/10, Pt of 18 Acres, 2p, with Lot 8;
.
. 1852 Dec 2, B&S, James Young & wife, to John Sibbald Walker, 1r 30p9/10p, with Lot 8, (part of 18a2r);
. 1852 Nov 24, B&S, Hugh McMillan & Donald McBain (Executors of Charles McMillan, co-proprietor with the late Daniel McMillan, Mary McMillan, widow of late Dan. McMillan, & Christiana McMillan, wife of said Chas McMillan, to John Sibbald Walker, with other lands together 4 Acres 1r 4p.
. 1852 Dec 6, Jno Sibbald Walker & wife, to Geo. Michael Walker, 3. [or 34?] & 64440/10000 p.;
. 1854 Nov6, B&S, John Sibblad Walker, to Sencer L Shotter, with other land together 22A 16p.
. 1855 Nov 29, B&S, Geo. Michael Walker, to Peter Cook, 34 64480/100,000p.
. 1856 Aug 22,B&S, Spencer LShotter & wife, to Peter Cook, 1 Acred with provision respecting stream;
. 1856 Aug 22, S L Shotter, to P Cook, with provison respecting stream.
Lot 8, Con 10, p25
> 1846 Oct 6, Dan & Chas McMillan & wives, to JS Walker, with Lot 7 together 1r 30 9/10 p.
. 1848 Jul 31, B&S, John Sibbald Walker, Dan& Chas McMillan & wives, to James Young, With Lot 7, together 1r 30 9/10 p.
. 1852 Dec 2, B&S, James & Yonge & wife, to JS Walker, Lot 7 & with reservation & other land.
. 1853 Mar 16, Release of Judgement, Cal McQuesten & John Fisher, to JS Walker, with other land together, 22a or 16p.
. 1854 Nov 6, B&S, John S Walker, to S L Shotter, with other land.
. 1861 Jun 29, B&S, John Darroch & wife, to Hugh Millan, 12 Acres.
Lot 9, Con 10, p29
. 1852 Nov 24, B&S, Hugh McMillan, Executors of Chas McMillan, to JS Walker Part with other lands 4a 1r 4p.;
. 1853 Mar Release of Judgement, Calvin McQuesten & John Fisher, to John Sibbald Walker, with other land 22A or 16p with reservations;
. 1854 Nov 6, B&S, JS Walker, to SL Shotter, Part, with other lands;
. 1855 Aug 3, Samuel Beals & wife, to John clark, all 28 per.& part Lot 11 with privilege of Lane with provision for waterway.
. 1917 Jul 2, B&S, JohnR Hamilton & James Walker, Excutors, Wm Hamilton, decd, to Jennie Hull, Part, $1.
Lot 11, Con 10, p37
. 1852 Dec 3, B&S John Harris & wife, to John Sibbald Walker, part area.
. 1856 Sep 19, B&S, Reg. 4.27.1864, JS Walker, to John Clark, Part area, right of way through alley;
.1856 Sep 19, B&S, John Sbbald Walker, to John Clark, part A.
Lot 14, Con 10, Lots on Block SE side of Mill St., p45
. 1852 Nov 24, B&S, HughMcMillian, to JSWalker, With other land together 4a 1R 4p;
. 1852 Dec - B&S, JSWalker & Wife, to James Monro, with other land together.
. Lot 9, Con 10, p29 of Geo Arnott, Dec, To Erin Public School Board, all 2 acres, $20.00, Less Half acres.
Ref: Ontario Archives Microfiche # GS 3122-3. - - - [1]
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1819 - 1879 (60 years)