Individuals from Chrisman Pedigree, page 81

Jacob Basford

Children:

m: Nancy Poor

Notes:

Several counfounders and parentage is uncertain. Here is the explanation plagerized from Des cendants of Jacob Basford and Elizabeth Clifford (http://www.basford.org/genealogy/jacob-basford/JacobBasfordRegister/rr01/rr01_017.htm#P13874):

There are at least two Jacob Basfords living in the Eastern Townships that have been difficult to straighten out. One is the son of Jacob and Leah (Harris) Basford who was born 6 Oct 1778. It appears that this Jacob is probably the one who married Hannah (Flanders) Libby and had a son WIllard.

There is also a Jacob Basford who filed land papers with his wife Nancy in 1821(?) in the Township of Stanstead. This must be the same Jacob who married Nancy Poor. A listing of the family members was given: Jacob Basford; Nancy Basford, my wife; James Basford, my son, 19 years old; Rhuhama(?) Basford — 18 years old; Charlotte Basford — 16 years old, Mary Basford — 15 years old; Ro__y Basford — 13 years old; Cynthia Basford — 11 years old. Since he only married Nancy a few years before, the children must have been from a first wife. [317]

This must be the Jacob Basford who married Nancy Poor 8 Sep 1818, Dunham, Canada East. Witnesses to his marriage to Nancy Poor were Henry Basford and William Gates, who would be the brother and brother-in-law to Jacob the son of Joseph and Lean (Harris) Basford. [316] This would suggest that it would be likely that this would fit in that family. However, many of the facts do not support this conclusion as will be discussed below.

One scenario is that Jacob the son of Joseph and Leah married once, had some children; was married a second time to Nancy Poor in 1817; then was married a third time to the widow Hannah Flanders, and had a son Willard. However, Jacob the husband of Hannah is believed to have three daughters: Roxanna, Abigail and Sophronia. Jacob the husband of Nancy did have a daughter Roxey who could be the Roxanna, but Sophronia and Abigail are not listed in the record of his children found in the land petition. It might be possible that only Rozanna was his daughter, and that the other two "sisters" are actually cousins?

Another scenario is that there were two Jacobs: one married Nancy Poor as his second wife, and the other married Hannah Flanders as his second wife. The Census data confirms that there were indeed two Jacob Basfords in that area in 1831; one lived in Shefford, and the other lived in Brome Township. One of them must be the son of Joseph and Leah, but it is not clear who the other one would be. He could be Jacob the brother of Joseph, or possibly he could be a son of that Jacob?

For now, I will assume that the Jacob who married Hannah Flanders was the son of Joseph and Leah (Harris) Basford based on the close matching of the birthdate. I will also assume that the three Basford girls who married George brothers were his daughters by a first marriage. This would imply that the Jacob who married Nancy Poor must be a different person since he did not have daughters named Sophronia or Abigail. I will assume that this other Jacob must be a grandson of Joseph and Elizabeth (Goodhue) Basford, but it is not clear who his father would be. The best bet would be that he would be the son of Jacob (b. 5 Aug 1754) but we know very little about this family so far.

He might be the Jacob Basford whose name appears on the list of petitioners for the settlement of the township of Raxton, Canada East. [219] (If it is not his uncle Jacob.)

He might be the Jacob Basford in the 1825 census for Stanstead, Canada East. [2]

He might be the Jacob Basford in the 1831 census for Shefford, Canada East [214]
family of 8
1 male under 5
1 male age 5-14
1 single male 14-18
1 married male 30-60
2 femalies under 14
1 married female 14-45
1 single female 14-45

There was another Jacob Basford in the 1831 census for Brome Twp., Canada East [2]

Could he be the father of Lydia Basford, "daughter of Jacob and Lydia Basford," who died 28 Dec 1842 aged 12 years, 11 months, 19 days, and is buried at All Saints Church, Dunham, Quebec, Canada. [198] If so, then he must have had a third wife after Nancy.

Deeds: Land Petition of Jacob Basford, Lower Canada Land Papers, RG 1 L 3L, Vol. 38

13 Jul 1821(?)

To his Excellency George Earl of Dulhouse .... Governor in Chief in & over the Province of Lower Canada ___ Admiral of the same. The humble petition of Jacob Basford of the Township of Stanstead in the District of Montreal & Province of Lower Canada. Most humbly _____ that your petitioner would beg to be permitted to approach your Excellency & to state that he has resided in this Province for more than twenty one years last past ,that he has a family who together with himself are desirous of settling in this Province, that he has never received any of the waste lands of the Crown or any of the favor from the British Government. Therefore your Excellencys Petitioner most humbly prays your Excellencys that since his Majesties Government have manifested(?) an intention of providing the settlement & improvement of this ____ by granting portions of the wastelands of the Crown to subjects of tried & established loyalty and attachment to the Government that your Excellency will be favorably pleased to take into your wise consideration the prayer of your petitioner & that your Excellency in your ____ _____ pleased to grant such portions of the waste land of the crown to himself & his family as your Excellency in your proper wisdom may deem ____ & your Excellencys Petitioner and in duty bound will ever pray
Jacob Basford
Stanstead Lower Canada 13th July 1821(?)

Your Excell'ys Petitioner begs to be permitted to give the names of his family (______)
Jacob Basford
Nancy Basford, my wife
James Basford, my son 19 years old
Rhuhama(?) Basford — 18 years old
Charlotte Basford — 16 years old
Mary Basford — 15 years old
Ro__y Basford — 13 years old
Cynthia Basford — 11 years old

We do certify that from _____ & _______ with Jacob Basford we do believe that the statement in this foregoing Petition is true
_______ _____ our hands at Montreal(?) this 18th day of July 1821(?)
____ Hubbard __ __
____ Charles Kilborn __ __

_______________________________________________________________________________
Summary of records (of all confounded Jacob Basfords):
-------------------------
* 6 Oct 1778 NH: Jacob Basford born, son of Joseph Basford and Leah Harris.
* 10 Jan 1785: Hannah Flanders born, dau., Thomas Flanders and Eunice Eastham.
* 1801/2: Son James Basford born
* 1802/3: Dau. Rhuhama born
* 1804/5: Dau. Charlotte born
* 1805/6: Dau. Mary born
* 1807/8: Dau. Roxey born
* 1809/10: Dau. Cynthia born
* June 1814: Dau. Sophronia born
* Sep 1817: Dau. Abigail born
* 18 Sep 1818: Jacob Basford m. Nancy Poor. Witnesses: Henry Basford & William Gates.
* 1821: Stanstead: Land record identifies: Jacob Basford, Nancy his wife, Children: James 19, Rhuhama 18, Charlotte 16, Mary 15, Roxey 13, Cynthia 11.
* 1825 Census Stanstead: Jacob Basford
* 1827: Hannah Flanders' first husband, Moses Libby, dies
* 9 Jan 1830: Lydia, dau. Jacob and Lydia, born.
* 1831 Census Brome Twp.: Jacob Basford
* 1831 Census Shefford: Jacob Basford 1M(<5), 1M(5-13), 1M(14-17), 1M(marr. 30-60), 2F(<14), 1F(marr 14-45), 1F(single, 14-45).
* 12 Aug 1833 Knowlton. Williard C. Basford born to Jacob Basford and Hannah Flanders. His death certificate (Barton, VT, 13 Jul 1918) names these as his parents.
* 28 Dec 1842: "Lydia, dau. of Jacob and Lydia Basford" dies, age 12y, 11m, 19d. Bur. All Saints Church, Dunham, Quebec.
* 3 Feb 1852: Jacob dies, buried George Cemetery, Mansonville, QC. "1791-1852"
* 1875: Hannah (Flanders)(Libby)Basford dies. Buried George Cemetery, Mansonville, QC. "1791-1875"
* Buried in George Cemetery, Mansonville, Quebec: Sophronia (Basford) George (Jun 1814-3 Aug 1881), Abigail (Basford) George (Sep 1817 - 11 Feb 1888).
* 3 Feb 1852: Jacob b. 1779 dies. Buried in George Cemetery, Mansonville, Quebec, with wife Hannah.
* 1875: Hannah (Flanders)(Libby)Basford dies. Bur. George Cemetery, Mansonville, Quebec.

Another possibility not covered in Basford genealogy: Abigail and Sophronia are daughters of Hannah (Flanders) Libby by her first husband. They are adopted by Jacob, hence change their name.

Elizabeth Hobart

m: Ralph Smith (ABT 1590-ABT OCT 1685)

Children:

Notes:

Information from Franklin Smith , a long-time research an d direct paternal descendant of Ralph Smith, who says that Elizabeth Hobart was the mother of Ralph Smyth's children. She came from the same town and came to America at the same time as Ralph Smyth.

Jonathan Thomas Walker

m: Jane Amelia Benson (3 JUL 1813-4 APR 1894)

Children:

Notes:

At one point, he went west for the California Gold Rush with a Gold Stamping Machine.

!Census (1850): Washington DC, enum 2 Jul 1850, h 552/552:
Thos Walker, 38, carpenter, $33,000, Md.
Jane, 36, Md.
John, 16, DC
Jane, 14, DC
Charles, 10, DC
James, 8, DC
Samuel, 6, DC
George, 4, DC
Albert, 2, DC
Susan Benson, 18, Md
[Note: It appears that son John (Jonathan?) and James were swapped in age here]

!Census (1860): Washington Co., District of Columbia, enum 12 Jun 1860 pg. 20, hh 121/131:
Jno T. Walker, 48, merchant, $75000/$17000, b. Maryland
Jane A., 47, Maryland
Elizabeth Lester, 24, Wash DC, married within the year
W.W. Lester, 30, lawyer, [Tenn], married within the year
Chas. H. Walker, 20, clerk, Wash DC
Jno H. Walker, 17, DC
Saml, 16, DC
George, 14, DC
Alice A., 8, DC
Edward S., 5, DC
Eliz Daggs,22, servant, DC

!Census (1870): Queen Ann District, Prince Georges Co., Maryland, post office Buena Vista, enum 9 Sep 1870, p. 47/217, household 329/334:
Walker, J. T., 59, farming, $50000/$20000, Md.
--, Jane, 57, keeping house, Md
--, Samuel, 26 Md
--, Alice, 17, Md
--, Edward, 15, Md

!Tombstone: A large granite monument with several sides and many people represented. Photographs were sent to me (Lonnie Chrisman) by Sarah Mitchel on 9 Mar 2007. On one side the following is engraved: "In Memory of Jonathan T. Walker, born at Toaping Castle, Aug 4, 1811, Died at Pleasant Prospect, Nov 28, 1885, And I heard a voice from Heaven saying unto me, write, Blessed are the dead, which die in the Lord, from henceforth Yea saith the Spirit That they may rest from their [?] and their works do follow them."

Jane Amelia Benson

m: Jonathan Thomas Walker (4 AUG 1811-28 NOV 1885)

Children:

Notes:

!Tombstone: Large granite monument shared by her husband and others. Photos sent to me (Lonn ie Chrisman) by Susan Mitchell on 9 Mar 2007. One one side is engraved: "Jane A. Walker, Born July 3, 1813, Died April 4, 1894. Wm. Wharton Lester, Born Feb 6, 1828, Died Apr. 10, 1903. Elizabeth W. Lester, Born Sept 18, 1836, Died Feb 1, 1926."

Nathan Walker

m: Nancy Baggerly

m: Elizabeth Thomas

Children:

Notes:

Revolutionary war vet.

Sources:

[1] @S328@

[2] @S328@

[3] @S328@

Elizabeth Thomas

m: Nathan Walker (1756-28 DEC 1842)

Children:

Isaac Walker

m: Elizabeth ?Stuart (1733/1734-1800/1810)

Children:

Notes:

Apparently, Samuel Hamilton Walker's family history, c.1883, stated that his wife was a Lad y Elizabeth Stuart of the royal Stuart family. This remains to be verified.

His estate in Greenbelt, Prince George's County, Md., was named Toaping Castle. Today only a foundation remains. At the site of the graveyard, only one stone remains with the names of Isaac and Nathan.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following biography is from "Toaping Castle Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, Hyattsville, Maryland" (http://www.rootsweb.com/~mdtccdar/history.htm):

The Origin of the Name "Toaping Castle"

When a DAR chapter is organized, a name is chosen pertaining to something historic within the area of where the chapter is formed. Toaping Castle was the name of the Isaac Walker family home, which was located on Greenbelt Road across from the entrance to Greenbelt Park. Both Isaac and his son, Nathan, served in the Revolutionary War.

Isaac Walker was a loyal Jacobite, and tradition has it that he was a survivor of the Battle of Culloden Field in Scotland. This battle was fought April 26, 1746, and it forever crushed any hopes that the Jacobite cause had of returning to the throne a descendant of the exiled Stuart King James II, who had abdicated the throne of England by request and fled into exile in France. This was done because of his ties to the Roman Catholic faith, which had angered Protestant England to the point of Revolution. Parliament had decreed that no Roman Catholic would ever again wear the Crown of England.

After the battle, Isaac Walker escaped to France with his wife and young son. He feared for his own life and that of his family. His wife was a member of the same Stuart clan as the deposed succession. With a price on his head, he escaped by tobacco boat to America where he hid for several years. After the Jacobites had been pardoned, his wife and son arrived at the Port of Alexandria. He sought a land grant and named the estate Toaping Castle after the home he had to leave behind in Scotland. He built a log cabin to begin with, but as his family increased, additions were added on and it eventually became a large Colonial home. The house deteriorated, was vandalized, and fell into such decay, it was eventually demolished. The land was cleared for what is now the Golden Triangle Business Park. There was a burial plot set aside within walking distance of the Walker homestead. Some years ago, a stone block, with one slanted side, was placed in the cemetery by the descendants. A bronze marker was attached to this by a District of Columbia DAR chapter, among whose members were several Walker descendants. On the slanted side of the monument, the bronze plaque reads:

Lieut. Isaac Walker
1721-1807

Pvt. Nathan Walker
1756-1842

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following biography was written by Samuel H. Walker (1844-1935) for his parents' 50th wedding anniversary in 1883:

“During the earlier years of the eighteenth century, from 1715 to 1746, Scotland was much agitated by the different attempts of the "Pretenders," James and Charles, to obtain a foothold upon the soil, and recognition as the crowned heads of England and Scotland, in pace of the Elector of Hanover, who, a German, had been crowned as George 1st, King of England.

“This foreign substitution, for the native born house of Stuart, was revolting to the sensitive sensibilities of many Scottish Chiefs, and they raised the standard of rebellion, hoping, while England was entangled with European wars, consequent upon the accession of a German to the throne, to secure recognition from the powers of Europe and support from the nation for the house of Stuart. After many disastrous encounters with the power of England, supported by the Hollanders, in which they suffered great loss of life, the remainder sought safety from the wrath of the King and fled to foreign soil. Of those who were taken many were executed, others were banished, while those who eluded pursuit were for three years published, both at home and the colonies, as rebels and felons, with large rewards offered for their heads.

“Isaac WALKER and his brothers Charles and Nathan were thus forced to flee, with five hundred pounds offered for their heads, and found in France temporary secrecy and security. Isaac Walker's wife, a Stuart, was informed of his intention to sail for America and made all her preparations to follow him, but was baffled for four years, least she should betray his hiding place in the forests of Maryland. He was afraid to communicate with her, and intended to return secretly to Scotland and bring back his wife, whom he had not seen for so long. By some kind providence, the day he intended to sail from Alexandria, the vessel he expected to return in brought his wife, and they met at the wharf. It was stated by Grandfather Nathan that, as his mother came up the hill from the wharf, a parrot called out to her, "Scotch;" when she exclaimed, ‘Laird! How did the poor creature know?’

“The brothers constructed a large white oak log house at the head waters of Bear Garden Branch, in Prince George's County, about nine miles northeast of what was afterwards called Washington, D.C. This house remained standing until about 25 years hence, when some of the logs were used to repair the barn and granary, which are now standing, and a piece of which is the cane this day presented to Jonathan T., Walker by his grandchildren. They named the place "Toaping Castle", after their stronghold in the old country; and after they thought it safe to acknowledge their identity, and danger was over.”

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following info is from Isaac Walker I from Scotland (http://www.users.qwest.net/~willmurray/Walker/isaacwalkeri.htm):

Prince George’s County, with its county seat of Upper Marlboro was established out of Charles and Calvert Counties in 1695. Upon arrival in 1746, the brothers built a log house in Prince George’s County, which they called “Toaping Castle” after their family stronghold in Scotland.

It was four years later, in 1750, that Isaac was able to have Elizabeth (Stuart) Walker join him in America. Perhaps he feared retaliation from his homeland and that his hiding place in the forests of Maryland might be revealed.

In February, 1754, Isaac Walker I received a large patent of land from the Lord Baron of Baltimore. The estate was known as Tugwelltown. Some historical data about the Walkers has been discovered. Lady Elizabeth (Stuart) Walker on August 26, 1771, waived dower, and Isaac, on that date, conveyed to their son, Nathan Walker (1756-1842), the Toaping Castle estate consisting of 188 acres of land. Also Nathan Walker owned 10 slaves, their total value being $574, and 317 acres of land worth $794. Of these 317 acres, 169 were in the tract known as “Toaping Castle” and worth $388.70. We learned this from the 1828 Tax List, Prince George’s County, Maryland, compiled by Prince George’s Co. Genealogical Society in 1985.

Other sources in our research were the Directory of Maryland DAR and Ancestors, published by Maryland State Society, DAR, c 1966, page 727, and Jean A. Sargent, editor, Stones and Bones; Cemetery Records of Prince George’s Co., MD, (Price George’s Co. Genealogical Society, Bowie, MD, c. 1984). From these we learned that Isaac Walker I served in the American Revolutionary War, in the Maryland Militia, commissioned a Second Lieutenant on 2 May, 1775 and made First Lieutenant on 24 May, 1778. Nathan Walker, his son, was a private, and together they served in Capt. Thomas Beall’s Company of the Upper Battalion of Militia in Prince George’s County.

When the first thirteen states were formed in 1776, an original state census was taken by Captain Thomas Dent on August 31, 1776, (Bettie S. Carothers, compiler, 1776 Census of Maryland), Isaac was then 55 years old and his wife Elizabeth, 42. They had three sons living with them, ages 18, 18 and 15, and no daughters. Also listed in the household was a male 75 years old, relationship unknown. It could be that either Isaac or Elizabeth brought their father with them. They also owned four Negroes. Other children of Isaac and Elizabeth listed on the same census were Charles Walker, age 23, with his wife Jane, age 20, and a one-year old son. Also listed were Catherine Walker Sherife, age 20, with husband Thomas Sherife, 40 years old, and daughters 4 and 2 years old. Of Isaac Walkers’ 7 children no listing is made of the oldest son, Isaac Walker II.

When Isaac Walker I died in 1807, he left a modest estate, with his personal inventory having been appraised at $109.49. Elizabeth died between 1800 - 1810. It is assumed that Isaac and Elizabeth made their home with Nathan, their son, until their deaths. They are buried in Walker Cemetery, on the south corner of Capital Beltway and Kenilworth Ave. near Greenbelt, off Walker Drive. Toaping Castle remained in the Walker family until the Federal Government purchased it in 1936. The house deteriorated, was vandalized and fell into such decay, it was eventually demolished. The land was cleared for what is now the Golden Triangle Business Park.

There is a Prince George's County Historical Society marker erected by the City of Greenbelt Bicentennial Committee in 1976, that is located near the family cemetery for the residence “Toaping Castle." It states:

TOAPING CASTLE (Circa 1750) Isaac & Nathan Walker Gravesite
On this site, Isaac, Charles, and Nathan Walker erected a large white oak house, named for their ancestral stronghold in Scotland which the three brothers had fled after the failure of attempts to unseat George I, King of England, as ruler of Scotland. Isaac permanently settled here and obtained land grants for 188 acres. He and his three sons served in the Revolutionary War. The graves of Isaac and his son Nathan are north of here.

Toaping Castle was the birthplace of Samuel Hamilton Walker (Feb. 24, 1817 - Oct. 9.1847), Lt. Colonel of the Texas Rangers and Captain of the U.S. Cavalry. He left home at the age of 19 to fight Indians and later he became a leader and hero of the Rangers. His suggested changes to Samuel Colt's revolver resulted in Colt's success as an arms manufacturer. 1000 Colt-Walker pistols -- the first, heaviest, and longest revolvers ever issued to American forces -- were purchased for the Texas Rangers during the Mexican War. Walker was killed in that war at the battle of Hua Mantla, Mexico.

The family cemetery is all that remains of the Toaping Castle estate.

Sources:

[1] @S328@

[2] @S330@

[3] @S328@

[4] @S328@

Cephas Webb Benson

m: Amelia Harvey (BEF OCT 1784-3 OCT 1826)

Children:

m: Hariett T. Wall (-3 OCT 1831)

Notes:

!Tombstone: Photo sent to Lonnie Chrisman by Sarah Mitchell on 9 Mar 2007. It is a stand-alo ne marker along side the road, which reads: "In Memory of C.W. BENSON, Who departed this life March 4th, 1832 Aged [41] years. " [There is one more line, a saying of some kind, along the bottom that I can't quite make out from the photograph].

Sources:

[1] @S328@

Amelia Harvey

m: Cephas Webb Benson (1788-4 MAR 1832)

Children:

Notes:

Her tombstone is a stand-along sandstone marker that is currently more than half underground . A photograph was sent to me (Lonnie Chrisman) by Susan Mitchell on 9 Mar 2007. The visible portion reads: "SACRED to the memory of AMY BENSON, Consort of..."

Sources:

[1] @S328@

Last Updated: Tue Dec 4 12:47:08 2007 Lonnie Chrisman 4824 Kingbrook Dr., San Jose, CA 95124 1-408-358-1640

Surname Index Main Chrisman.org page