Family Relationships in the Walkers of Castle's Woods

The Family of John Walker III

This article is intended to provide genealogical background for the Walker family who settled in Castle's Woods Virignia about 1770. Details of the family history is provided in separate articles about various family members. This article is designed to provide the reader with background information needed to understand some of the Indian Captivity stories told about the Walker family, and about the Cowan and Handley families.

The head of this family was John Walker III of the Wigton Walker line. John III married Ann Houston in March of 1734, on the Nottingham Lots in Old Chester County, PA (modern Cecil County, MD). Their personal history is fairly well documented with primary sources, and their movements in subsequent years is well understood. Shortly after their marriage the young couple settled near Staunton, Virginia. Other family members settled a a few years later immediately to the south in what was called "Borden's Grant" on a stream that came known after them, "Walkers Creek". In the early 1750's John moved his family a few miles south to settle near his relations on Walkers Creek. This may have been a response to hostilities during the French and Indian War, when the Valley of Virginia was exposed to widespread Indian attacks. By 1756 John and his family, along with other settlers, fled even further, settling in Orange County NC. It is assumed that this move was to escape furthr Indian threat.