The Cochrane & Allied Families

Cochranes from Scotland to Colonial Virginia (c 1760), to Kentucky (1811), to Kansas (1859) and beyond. Allied families to the United States from England, Scotland, Ireland and Switzerland.

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WALKER, Dr. Thomas Jr.

WALKER, Dr. Thomas Jr.

Male 1716 - 1794  (78 years)   Has 2 ancestors and 19 descendants in this family tree.


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  • Name WALKER, Thomas  [1, 2] 
    Prefix Dr. 
    Suffix Jr. 
    Birth 25 Jan 1715/16  King and Queen County, Colony of Virginia, UK Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2] 
    Gender Male 
    Land- 5 Dec 1734  Hanover County, Colony of Virginia, UK Find all individuals with events at this location  [3, 4] 
    that he transferred to his grandson, Nicholas "The Younger" MERIWETHER, son of William MERIWETHER, 1650 acres on Turkey Mountains, 
    • This was part of his land grant of 1727. On the grandson's death, this tract would be inherited by the grandson's widow, Mildred THORNTON. She then married Dr. Thomas WALKER, who built their home, Castle Hill, on this tract, that would then be in Albemarle County.
    Individual Event 1750  [4, 5, 6] 
    Funded by the Loyal Company of Virginia, a land investment company, he led one of the first exploratory expeditions from Virginia into the territory that is now eastern Kentucky, beginning March 6 and returning July 13 
    • The Loyal Company of Virginia was formed on 12 July 1749 by Dr. WALKER, Peter JEFFERSON (father of Thomas JEFFERSON), several MERIWETHERs and THORNTONs, and other notable Virginians, to survey 800,000 acres of land west of the Allegany Mountains in order to petition for land grants. Dr. WALKER was selected to lead the expedition because he had previously explored the area two years earlier. He kept a detailed journal of the trip [http://www.tngenweb.org/tnland/squabble/walker.html] in which he gives the names to several landmarks and waterways, among them the Cumberland Gap and Cumberland River.
    Election 1752  Louisa County, Colony of Virginia, UK Find all individuals with events at this location  [7] 
    a Member of the Virginia House of Burgesses for 2 years 
    • He was re-elcted in 1758 for another 2 years. Later in Albemarle County, he was elected in 1761 and served 14 more years through 1775, for a total of 18 years in the Virginia Colonial Legislature.
    Election 1775  Richmond, Henrico, Colony of Virginia, UK Find all individuals with events at this location  [8, 9] 
    a Delagate representing Louisa County to the second, third and fourth Virginia Conventions 
    • These conventions, with representatives from each county and city, progressively became more rebellious toward Lord Dunmore's control and authority in the colony. They led up to the fifth Convention in May of 1776, which resulted in declaring Virginia a free and independent state from Great Britain. In the fourth Convention, Dr. Walker was appointed to the "Committee of Safety", which "shall have full and ample powers during the recess of the convention to direct all such measures and military operations as in their judgments shall be necessary for the public security".
    FindaGrave Memorial ID 8587501 
    Occupation Physician, Surveyor, Explorer, Legislator  [5, 6, 10] 
    Death 9 Nov 1794  Castle Hill Plantation, Cismont, Albemarle, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2, 6, 11] 
    Address:
    "Castle Hill" Plantation, Walker Family
    6106 Gordonsville Rd.
    Cismont, Virginia
    USA 
    Age 78 years 
    Burial Castle Hill - Walker Family Cemetery, Cismont, Albemarle, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [12] 
    Address:
    Castle Hill - Walker Family Cemetery
    6106 Gordonsville Rd.
    Cismont, Virginia
    USA 
    Person ID I729  Cochrane Genealogy
    Last Modified 25 Aug 2025 

    Father WALKER, Col. Thomas Sr.,   b. Abt 1689, New Kent County, Colony of Virginia, England Find all individuals with events at this locationd. King and Queen County, Colony of Virginia, UK Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Mother PEACHEY, Susanna,   b. King and Queen County, Colony of Virginia, England Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Abt Nov 1736, Williamsburg, Colony of Virginia, UK Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F319  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 THORNTON, Mildred,   b. 21 Mar 1720/21, Snow Creek - Thornton Family Home, Essex County, Colony of Virginia, UK Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 16 Nov 1778, Castle Hill Plantation, Cismont, Albemarle, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 57 years) 
    Marriage 22 Jun 1741  [2, 6, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16] 
    Age at Marriage He : 25 years and 5 months - She : 20 years and 3 months. 
    Residence 1764  Albemarle County, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [4, 6, 17] 
    at Castle Hill plantation that Dr. WALKER built 
    • The home was built on the +15,000 acres of land he acquired through his marriage to the widow Mildred THORNTON MERIWETHER. This land was originally granted to Nicholas MERIWETHER II, and passed on to his son, William MERIWETHER, Sr., and then to his son, Nicholas MERIWETHER "The Younger", Mildred THRONTON's first husband.

      During the American Revolution, on 3 June 1781, British General CORNWALLIS and his troops were camped on the North Anna River in Hanover County. Learning that Virginia Governor Thomas JEFFERSON and the Virginia legislature had moved to Charlottesville after the capitol in Richmond had been attacked, CORNWALLIS sent Lt. Col. Banastre TARLETON with 250 men to capture JEFFERSON, Patrick HENRY and other notable Virginia leaders of the Revolution at Charlottesville. They expected to cover the 70 miles in 24 hours, marching through the night.

      Jack JOUETT, a Captain in the Virginia militia, detected their march near Louisa during the night, and correctly guessed their intentions. Knowing that Charlottesville was not protected by any troops, he rode through the night by back roads to reach Charlottesville and warn them.

      TARLETON and his troops arrived at Dr. WALKER's Castle Hill plantation at dawn. The story is told, which may or may not be entirely true, that Dr. Walker and his wife prepared a large breakfast for TARLETON in order to delay him for several hours and give JEFFERSON more time to escape. In any event, Capt. JOUETT did reach Monticello at 4:30 am to warn JEFFERSON, and then proceeded the additional 2 miles to Charlottesville to warn the legislators, who fled and reconvened in Staunton, VA three days later. Because of his heroics, JOUETT is known as "Paul Revere of the South".
    Family Event 4 Jun 1781  Charlottesville, Albemarle, Colony of Virginia, UK Find all individuals with events at this location  [4, 18] 
    Dr. WALKER and his wife Mildred delayed Col. Tarleton and his British troops for several hours at their home, Castle Hill, so that Thomas Jefferson at Monticello could be warned and avoid capture, 
    Children 
    >  1. Female WALKER, Mary "Molly",   b. 24 Jul 1742, Castle Hill Plantation, Cismont, Albemarle, Colony of Virginia, UK Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 9 Feb 1824, Albemarle County, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 81 years)
    >  2. Male WALKER, John,   b. 13 Feb 1743/44, Castle Hill Plantation, Cismont, Albemarle, Colony of Virginia, UK Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 2 Dec 1809, Orange County, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 65 years)
       3. Female WALKER, Susan,   b. 1746, Castle Hill Plantation, Cismont, Albemarle, Colony of Virginia, UK Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Yes, date unknown
    +  4. Male WALKER, Capt. Thomas III,   b. 1748, Castle Hill Plantation, Cismont, Albemarle, Colony of Virginia, UK Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1798 (Age 50 years)
    >  5. Female WALKER, Lucy,   b. 5 May 1751, Castle Hill Plantation, Cismont, Albemarle, Colony of Virginia, UK Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Abt 1800 (Age 48 years)
       6. Female WALKER, Elizabeth,   b. 1753, Castle Hill Plantation, Cismont, Albemarle, Colony of Virginia, UK Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Yes, date unknown
    >  7. Female WALKER, Mildred "Milly",   b. 5 Jun 1753, Castle Hill Plantation, Cismont, Albemarle, Colony of Virginia, UK Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 11 Jun 1790, Williamsburg, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 37 years)
    >  8. Female WALKER, Sarah,   b. 25 May 1758, Castle Hill Plantation, Cismont, Albemarle, Colony of Virginia, UK Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Bef 1790 (Age 31 years)
       9. Female WALKER, Martha,   b. 1760, Castle Hill Plantation, Cismont, Albemarle, Colony of Virginia, UK Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Yes, date unknown
     10. Male WALKER, Ruben,   b. 1762, Castle Hill Plantation, Cismont, Albemarle, Colony of Virginia, UK Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1765, Castle Hill Plantation, Cismont, Albemarle, Colony of Virginia, UK Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 3 years)
    >11. Male WALKER, Francis,   b. 22 Jun 1764, Castle Hill Plantation, Cismont, Albemarle, Colony of Virginia, UK Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Mar 1806, Cismont, Albemarle, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 41 years)
    >12. Female WALKER, Peachy,   b. 6 Feb 1767, Castle Hill Plantation, Cismont, Albemarle, Colony of Virginia, UK Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Yes, date unknown
    Family ID F318  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 17 May 2025 

    Family 2 GREGORY, Elizabeth,   b. Abt 1724   d. Abt 1796 (Age 72 years) 
    Marriage 14 Jan 1781  [1, 6, 19] 
    Age at Marriage He : 65 years - She : ~ 57 years and 1 month. 
    Family ID F371  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 28 Jun 2022 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 25 Jan 1715/16 - King and Queen County, Colony of Virginia, UK Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsLand- - that he transferred to his grandson, Nicholas "The Younger" MERIWETHER, son of William MERIWETHER, 1650 acres on Turkey Mountains, - 5 Dec 1734 - Hanover County, Colony of Virginia, UK Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsElection - a Member of the Virginia House of Burgesses for 2 years - 1752 - Louisa County, Colony of Virginia, UK Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - at Castle Hill plantation that Dr. WALKER built - 1764 - Albemarle County, Virginia, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsElection - a Delagate representing Louisa County to the second, third and fourth Virginia Conventions - 1775 - Richmond, Henrico, Colony of Virginia, UK Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsFamily Event - Dr. WALKER and his wife Mildred delayed Col. Tarleton and his British troops for several hours at their home, Castle Hill, so that Thomas Jefferson at Monticello could be warned and avoid capture, - 4 Jun 1781 - Charlottesville, Albemarle, Colony of Virginia, UK Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - Address:
    "Castle Hill" Plantation, Walker Family
    6106 Gordonsville Rd.
    Cismont, Virginia
    USA - 9 Nov 1794 - Castle Hill Plantation, Cismont, Albemarle, Virginia, USA    		 Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBurial - Address:
    Castle Hill - Walker Family Cemetery
    6106 Gordonsville Rd.
    Cismont, Virginia
    USA - - Castle Hill - Walker Family Cemetery, Cismont, Albemarle, Virginia, USA    		 Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 

  • Photos
    Dr. John Walker    		Dr. John Walker

  • Sources 
    1. [S635] The Meriwether Society, Inc., Society - Meriwether, ((http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~meriweth/ : 2015)), 10 Jul 2015, accessed 10 July 2015), ID #: I337, Dr. Thomas Walker; Various Meriwether Society sources.

    2. [S159] Miriam Margaret (Cochrane) Hunter, Book - Four John Symes of VA, (Coshocton, OH: School Annual Publishing Co., 1986.), 19 Dec 2010, p. 35.

    3. [S1164] Magazine - William and Mary College Quarterly - Series 1 & 2 (JSTOR), 28 Mar 2020, S. O. Southall, "Records of Hanover County," (Series 1) July 1912, Vol. 21, No. 1, p 56; digital images, JSTOR.com (https://www.jstor.org/stable/1922081?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents : accessed 28 March 2020).
      William & Mary Quarterly, Vol. XXI, No. 1      		 William & Mary Quarterly, Vol. XXI, No. 1


    4. [S639] Newsletter - Meriwether Connections, 16 May 2025, Guy Meriwether Benson, "Castle Hill, Home of Dr. Thomas Walker," Vol. XXXIV (No. 1, Jan-Mar 2015): p 9-10.
      Meriwether Connectiions - Castle Hill      		 Meriwether Connectiions - Castle Hill


    5. [S941] Periodical - American Antiquarian Society Proceedings, 22 Aug 2015, Archibald Henderson, "Dr. Thomas Walker and the Loyal Company of Virginia," Vol. 41, Part 1 (April 1931); digital images, American Antiquarian Society (http://www.americanantiquarian.org/aasproceedings : accessed 22 August 2015) p 77-178.

    6. [S1517] Mary B. Kegley and F. B. Kegley, Book - Early Adventures on the Western Waters (VA & WV), (Orange, Virginia: Green Publishers, Inc., 1980.), 28 Jun 2022, p 27-32.

    7. [S495] John H. Gwathmey, Book - Twelve Virginia Counties, (1937; reprint, Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogy Publishing Company, 2006.), 7 Aug 2013, Louisa County, p 247; Albemarle County, p 314.

    8. [S495] John H. Gwathmey, Book - Twelve Virginia Counties, (1937; reprint, Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogy Publishing Company, 2006.), 7 Aug 2013, Louisa County: p 247.

    9. [S942] Periodical - Virginia Law Register (JSTOR), 22 Aug 2015, W. F. Dunaway Jr., "The Virginia Conventions of the Revolution," Vol. X, No. 7 (November 1904); digital images, JSTOR (http://www.jstor.org/stable/1100650?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents : accessed 22 August 2015) p 567-586.

    10. [S495] John H. Gwathmey, Book - Twelve Virginia Counties, (1937; reprint, Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogy Publishing Company, 2006.), 7 Aug 2013, Albemarle County: 344.

    11. [S552] Malcolm H. Harris M.D., Book - History of Louisa County, VA, (Richmond, Virginia: The Dietz Press, 1936.), 30 May 2014, 231.

    12. [S141] Cemetery Records - Find A Grave, (http://www.findagrave.com: n.d.), 10 Jul 2015, accessed 10 July 2015<, Memorial #8587501, Dr. Thomas Walker.

    13. [S141] Cemetery Records - Find A Grave, (http://www.findagrave.com: n.d.), 10 Jul 2015, accessed 10 July 2015<, Memorial #8587513, Mildred Thornton Walker.

    14. [S643] Sarah Travers Lewis (Scott) Anderson, Book - Lewises, Meriwethers & Kin, (1938; reprint, Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2008.), 19 Feb 2022, p 221.

    15. [S635] The Meriwether Society, Inc., Society - Meriwether, ((http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~meriweth/ : 2015)), 10 Jul 2015, accessed 10 July 2015), ID #: I334, Mildred Thornton; Various Meriwether Society sources.

    16. [S607] Alexander Brown, Book - Cabells and Their Kin (Internet Archives), (Cambridge, MA: The Riverside Press, 1895.), 1 Mar 2015, p 189.

    17. [S495] John H. Gwathmey, Book - Twelve Virginia Counties, (1937; reprint, Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogy Publishing Company, 2006.), 7 Aug 2013, Albemarle County: 358.

    18. [S214] Internet - Wikipedia, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page), 17 May 2025, accessed 17 May 2025), Jack Jouett.
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Jouett#Jack_Jouett's_ride.

    19. [S159] Miriam Margaret (Cochrane) Hunter, Book - Four John Symes of VA, (Coshocton, OH: School Annual Publishing Co., 1986.), 19 Dec 2010, p. 216.


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