Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 1.djvu/386

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

Susanna Peachey, his wife, and great-grand- son of Thomas Walker of Gloucester county, (q. v.), was born January 25, 1715. Educated at William and Mary College, and afterwards studied medicine. He was also an active merchant and surveyor of land, engaging in many enterprises. In 1748 he went on an expedition to Kentucky and kept a diary of his trip. In 1753 Colonel Joshua I'ry recommended the discovery of a route to the Pacific coast, and Dr. Walker was to be the chief conductor of the enter- prise. From 1752 to 1754 he was a repre- sentative in the house of ])urgesses for Louisa county, but resigned when appointed county surveyor. In 1754 he was appointed by Governor Dinwiddie commissary of stores for the troops on the frontier. He was at the surprise of Braddock, and was active throughout the war with Prance. From 1757 to 1 761 he represented Hamp- shire county in the house of burgesses, after which time he changed his residence to the e?st. and represented Albemarle in the house of burgesses from 1761 to 1772. In 1768 he was commissioned to attend, with General Andrew Lewis, the conference with the Six Nations at Fort Stanwix, Xew York; and in 1774 he was commissioner to treat with the Indians after their defeat at Point Pleasant. Again in 1775 he presided over the conference held with the Indians at Pittsburgh. He represented Louisa county in the last house of burgesses, 1775-1776, and in the revolutionary conventions of 1775 and 1776, and was made a meml^er of the committee of safety for the colony in 1775. In 1777 he was a member of the coun- cil of state, and in 1779 was chief of the commissioners on the part of Virginia to meet the commissioners from North Caro-

Ima to run the boundary line between the two states. During the war and for some years after it, he was a member of the house of delegates of Virginia. He was an inti- mate friend of Thomas Jefferson. He died at his residence "Castle Hill," in Albemarle county. November 9, 1794. He married twice, first in 1741, Mildred Thornton, widow of Nicholas Meriwether, and second Elizabeth Thornton. His son John was a senator of the United States and his son Francis, a member of the house of repre- sentatives.

Walker, Thomas, represented Gloucester in the house of burgesses in 1663 and 1666. He was captain of militia in 1663, and major in 1666. In 1683 he was lieutenant-colonel residing in King and Queen county. He was probably father of John Walker, of King and Queen county, and grandfather of I'homas Walker, father of the distinguished Dr. Thomas Walker (q. v.).

Walklett, Gregory, one of the command- ers under Bacon, at West Point. By the terms of his surrender in 1677, his life was spared, but he was prohibited from holding any office in \ irginia.

Wall, John, a burgess for Brunswick county in 1734-1740.

Wallace, Rev. James, of Erroll, Scotland, was born in 16^18, and came to Virginia about 1690, where he was minister of Eliza- beth City parish, twenty-nine years. He also practiced medicine, and was the founder of a well known family. He married in 1695 Anne, daughter of John Sheppard, of Elizabeth City county, and widow of Thomas Wythe, and died November 3, 171 2. He was father of Captain James Wallace, of