The following research was submitted by Frank Rowland Trowbridge Jr., March 2001. Frank is the husband Josephine Walker a grandaughter of JEREMIAH JACKSON WALKER. They both have been involved in family genealogy for years and have graciously shared their finding with other family members.

In 1960, Isaac George Walker, Jr. published a book entitled, FAMILY OF JEREMIAH JACKSON WALKER. This book was widely distributed to family members, who lovingly call it "The Blue Book" on account of the color of the binding. Over the ensuing years, several major discrepancies have been noted, largely due to the availability of old records via microfilm. One major discrepancy lay in the parentage of Jeremiah Jackson Walker's father, Jeremiah Walker.

The "Blue Book" stated that Jeremiah Walker was the son of the Reverend Jeremiah Walker, a noted and fiery Baptist preacher who was imprisoned in Chesterfield Jail in Amelia Co., VA in 1773 for his religious views. Just in the recent past, it has been determined that "our" Jeremiah was not the son of the Reverend Jeremiah, thanks to technology not available when George Walker wrote his book in 1960.

While the Reverend Jeremiah Walker did have a son whose name was Jeremiah, this individual died in Albert County, Georgia in 1802 as attested to by original documents found in the Elbert County, Georgia Courthouse.

An all-out search ensued for the origin of Jeremiah Jackson Walker's father. Using the sketchy references George Walker made in his book concerning the activities of Jeremiah Walker in Greenville District, SC and very fragmentary, marginal notes found in an old Walker Bible, the compiler was able to determine the true identity of this individual, who, in reality, came to Georgia from Chester District, South Carolina. Proof of this fact may be found in the land transactions of Chester and Fairfield Districts, SC and by a request made by Jeremiah Walker and his wife Elizabeth of Sumter County, GA to the Court of Chester District, SC dated February 1839 to sell their Chester District property. This document is on record in the Chester County, SC Courthouse. Additionally, the compiler has found the complete lineage of Jeremiah Walker's wife, Elizabeth Delashmet all the way back to her family origin in Rochechouart, France in the time of Louis XIV.

The antecedants of Jeremiah Walker from Chester District have proven to be extremely difficult to locate. To date, his parentage is still lacking in primary evidentiary 'proof.' There is a strong case of circumstantial evidence which suggests that his father's name was ANDREW WALKER but so far no "proof" has surfaced which could definitely prove this relationship.

This belief is based on the following facts learned about Andrew Walker, the assumed father of Jeremiah Walker:

1 - He apparently came from somewhere in VA as his daughter Margaret was still living in 1850 and gave her place of birth as VA. He also served 45 days in the SC Militia in l782. A record of his service has been located in the state Of South Carolina, "Audited Accounts of payments Made to Members of the SC Militia." No pension application was made because Militia members were not offered pensions for revolutionary service until l832. He was probably already dead by that time and his descendants did not make application. We found evidence where he (or possibly his son, also named Andrew) purchased 250 acres of land from John McClurkin and his wife Margaret in Sept l792, a month or so before John McClurkin died.

2 - In his will, executed in November l792, John McClurkin named Andrew Walker, his father-in-law, to be coexecutor of his estate.

3 - Margaret Walker, widow McClurkin, married John Boyles shortly after becoming a widow and had seven children by Boyles. One of her daughters was named Elizabeth and one of her sons was named Jeremiah. Did she name her children for Jeremiah Walker and his wife?

4 - The census for l800 shows an Andrew Walker, age 26-45, next to a Jere Walker, age 10-16. Jere's age is obviously in error as later census records place his d.o.b. as l780. This Andrew Walker's name appears as Andrew Walker, Sr. in a Fairfield District census taken in 1829. The compiler believes that this Andrew was Jeremiah's brother. The l8l0 census lists Andrew McClurkin, known son of Margaret and John McClurkin, next to Jeremiah Walker (Jere or Jerry).

5 - Jeremiah named his first-born son Andrew (b. Sept 22, l805), probably after his father, in keeping with the custom of the time.

This circumstantial evidence strongly suggests that Andrew was Jeremiah's father. For lack of any better evidence, we are claiming this relationship. If later information proves us wrong, we stand corrected.

6 - There is strong evidence that Andrew may have had other children. There was a Drury Walker who lived close by Andrew that we are claiming as a son. Drury named one of his sons Andrew (b. abt 1800). Drury was born in 1766 and died in 1846. He is buried in Aimwell Cemetery, not five miles from Blackstock, where Jeremiah made his home. There are several cases where Drury witnessed legal documents involving Jeremiah and an Andrew (probably his brother).

This is the major part of the documentation which I have found which would appear to be more than ample to satisfy the most discerning of genealogists concerning the origins in SC and GA of this particular Walker family. I will keep on attempting to locate some evidence of Andrew in the VA records but the chances that I will find anything are slim to none at this point in time.

I will keep you posted and you can rest assured that I will shout it out to you when and if I find out anything positive on him.

Frank