Series Owners Engineers and Managers Walker Family
Introduction The series of digital books publish the facts identified during hundreds of hours of research. Commentary on the facts is shown in italics. The owners, managers and mining engineers at the Califat coal mine are in capitals. Family members have been included to provide a fuller understanding of their lives. The three main reasons for publication at this time are: To make the research available to people interested in the Califat coal mine. To make the research available to the descendants of the people named in the digital books. To act as a catalyst for obtaining more information. series of digital books These are published on www.swannington-heritage.co.uk/swannington_califat_spinney.html. Owners, Engineers and Managers - Walker Family Owners, Engineers and Managers - Bailey and Lewis Families series of digital books under preparation Owners, Engineers and Managers - Worswick Family Cage Overwind Fatality 29 th May 1863 Flooding Fatality 8 th October 1863 How YOU could help If you have additional or information you could share it with our Research Team. You could join our Research Team in further research on this and other subjects. You could become a virtual member of our Research Team. This book contains extracts from wills and other documents, we need people to transcribe them into word documents that will make research easier. Details of any inaccuracies, information or photographs or offers of help should be sent to swanningtonresearch@gmail.com. Copyright and use of information Copyright 2018 This digital book may be posted on any website or digital platform or printed and copied provided that it is made available free of charge without any commercial gain. Likewise excerpts may be used to evidence research, illustrate talks etc. In all instances the research undertaken by should be acknowledged. is a registered charity 515809. It is run by volunteers. If you have found this digital book of interest and would like to make a donation to the Trust it will help fund our future research, publications and future activities. Owners Engineers and Managers - Walker Family version 1 Page 2 of 25
Contents Introduction...2 Contents...3 Family Relationships...4 Benjamin Walker - Wives and Children... 4 Benjamin Walker - Family Coal Mining Relationships...5 Coleorton Colliery - Walker / Bailey / Lewis... 6 Walker Family... 7 BENJAMIN WALKER 1785-1861... 7 Frances Edwards 1785-1811 (Frances Walker)...13 Mary Walker 1809-? (Mary Martin)...13 Joseph Walker 1811-?...14 Frances Frearson 1791-1858 (Frances Walker)...15 Sarah Walker 1815-1896...16 WILLIAM WALKER 1815-1896...17 Ann Walker 1822-?... 20 Jane Walker 1825-1864 (Jane Blunt)... 20 Hannah Walker 1826-1864 (Hannah Walker)... 21 Dorothy F Walker 1828-1889... 22 Frances Walker 1830-? (Frances Hassall)... 22 Caroline Elizabeth Walker 1835-1918 (Caroline Richardson)... 22 Califat And Associated Collieries...23 Map of Collieries and Railways in north Swannington area...23 Coleorton No 1 - California...23 Coleorton No 2 - Califat... 24 Swannington No 1 - Calcutta... 24 Peggs Green...24...25 Hough Mill... 25 Gorse Field and Califat Spinney...25 Partnership With Leicestershire Industrial History Society...25 Swannington Incline and Snibston No 3 Coal Mine... 25 Archive, Historical Research, Walks and Tours... 25 Owners Engineers and Managers - Walker Family version 1 Page 3 of 25
Family Relationships Benjamin Walker - Wives and Children Owners Engineers and Managers - Walker Family version 1 Page 4 of 25
Benjamin Walker - Family Coal Mining Relationships Owners Engineers and Managers - Walker Family version 1 Page 5 of 25
Coleorton Colliery - Walker / Bailey / Lewis Owners Engineers and Managers - Walker Family version 1 Page 6 of 25
Walker Family BENJAMIN WALKER 1785-1861 Synopsis Benjamin Walker was the oldest of Thomas and Sarah Walker s children, he had four brothers and two sisters. He was a farmer at Smoile in Newbold which included the coal mine. The construction of the Coleorton Railway in 1833 enabled horse drawn trucks to be taken to the bottom of the Swannington Incline and onward transportation via the Leicester and Swannington Railway. The coal mine also benefited from investment from William Worswick. By 1835 Benjamin had move his family to Coleorton, probably Hall Farm where he was resident in 1841 and 1851. In 1849 Benjamin Walker and William Worswick formed the Coleorton Colliery Company and sunk the Coleorton No 1 mine, known as California. In 1854/5 the Coleorton No 1 mine, known as Califat, was established. These were initially very successful and enabled Benjamin Walker to investigate Nottinghamshire coal mines which is why his son William moved to Bulwell just after Benjamin s 1861 death. Baptism 1783 Benjamin son of Thomas and Sarah Walker was one of five children baptised at Coleorton on Christmas Day 1703. Benjamin s Brothers and Sisters Joseph Walker baptised at Coleorton 11 th February 1787 Owners Engineers and Managers - Walker Family version 1 Page 7 of 25
John Walker baptised at Coleorton 6 th February 1789 Thomas Walker baptised at Coleorton 5 th September 1790 Elizabeth Walker baptised at Coleorton 29 th January 1792 Hannah Walker baptised at Coleorton 23 rd March 1794 Owners Engineers and Managers - Walker Family version 1 Page 8 of 25
Hannah was a witness at Benjamin s second wedding in 1812. James Walker baptised at Coleorton 29 th November 1795 Marriage to Francis Edwards 1806 Marriage of Benjamin Walker and Frances Edwards on the 9 th June 1806 at Breedon on the Hill. Marriage to Frances Frearson 1812 Benjamin was widowed in 1811 and left with two young children, it is thus hardly surprising that he remarried the following year. Marriage licence for William Walker and Frances Frearson 14 th October 1812. Owners Engineers and Managers - Walker Family version 1 Page 9 of 25
Marriage to Frances Frearson 19 th October 1812 in St Helens, Ashby de la Zouch. William Willis Bailey (see below) was a witness at the wedding. The other witness was Hannah Walker, Benjamin s sister (see above). Census 1841 Living in the White House, Coleorton Owners Engineers and Managers - Walker Family version 1 Page 10 of 25
Name Age Occupation Commentary Benjamin Walker 55 Farmer Frances Walker 50 Wife Sarah Walker 25 Daughter Ann Walker 20 Daughter Jane Walker 20 Daughter Hannah Walker 15 Daughter Dorothy Walker 15 Daughter age 13 Frances Walker 13 Daughter age 11 Caroline Walker 6 Daughter Hannah Cutler 20? Servant Thomas Kinsey 14? Servant William Hoult 18? Servant Census 1851 Living at Hall Farm or White House, Coleorton Name Age Relation Occupation Born Commentary Benjamin Walker 66 Farmer (occupying 183 acres, Coleorton employing 6 labourers) and coal master Frances Walker 60 Wife Farmer s wife Worthington Sarah Walker 33 Daughter Farmer s daughter Worthington Ann Walker 29 Daughter Farmer s daughter Worthington Dorothy F 23 Daughter Farmer s daughter Worthington Frances 21 Daughter Farmer s daughter Worthington Caroline E 16 Daughter Farmer s daughter Coleorton Mary Martin 44 Visitor Hosier s wife Worthington Daughter William H Blunt 27 Visitor Farmer Breedon on Son in law the Hill Jane Blunt 27 Visitor Farmer s wife Worthington Daughter Rosa Blunt 1 Visitor Farmer s daughter Ibstock Granddaughter Hannah Walker 25 Visitor Farmer s wife Worthington Daughter Caroline E Walker <1m Visitor Farmer s daughter Coleorton Granddaughter Thomas Fairbrother 25 Servant Waggoner Staunton Harold Robert Key 15 Servant Farm servant Loughborough Ellen Smith 19 Servant House servant Ibstock Death 9 th February 1861 The Leicester Chronicle of the 23 rd February 1861 reported on the 14 th February funeral of Owners Engineers and Managers - Walker Family version 1 Page 11 of 25
Benjamin Walker, which was attended by his partner William Worswick. The Reverend Francis Merewether, vicar of Whitwick and Rector of Coleorton, was the driving force behind the building of St George s Church, Swannington. Probate 14 th May 1861 Benjamin s will was proved by four of his executors: William Walker, son William Hulse Blunt, married Benjamin s daughter Jane Samuel Hassall, married Benjamin s daughter Frances John Richardson, married Benjamin s daughter Caroline Elizabeth Owners Engineers and Managers - Walker Family version 1 Page 12 of 25
Frances Edwards 1785-1811 (Frances Walker) Frances was Benjamin s first wife and bore him two children, Mary and Joseph. buried four days after Joseph s birth. Frances was Baptism of Frances, daughter of Thomas Edwards at Staunton Harold in the parish of Breedon on the Hill, 6 th February 1785. The Breedon burial register for the 5 th March 1811 records Frances, wife of Benjamin Walker of Newbold. This was four days after the birth of their son Joseph. Mary Walker 1809-? (Mary Martin) Very little is known about Mary Walker. Mary does appear at Hall Farm on the 1851 census, but is listed as a visitor. Benjamin Walker s will lists Mary as his daughter.. I direct my said trustees to stand possessed of the residue of the said trust monies In trust for my said son William Walker and my daughters Mary Martin, Sarah Walker, Ann Walker, Jane Blunt wife of said William Hulse Blunt, Hannah Walker the wife of Thomas Walker, Dorothy Frearson Walker, Frances Hassall wife of the said Samuel Hassall and Caroline Elizabeth Walker in equal shares as tenants in common.. Owners Engineers and Managers - Walker Family version 1 Page 13 of 25
Joseph Walker 1811-? Joseph was born on the first March 1811. His mother, Frances, was buried four days later. This may account for the two year delay before he was baptised on the 11 th April 1813. At the 1838 baptism in Leicester of Joseph s son Richard, 27 year old Joseph is listed as a coal merchant, suggesting that he was part of the family business at that time. By the 1851 census Joseph is living in Wellington, Shropshire and working as a farm bailiff. Thereafter he has not been traced and does not appear with his wife and daughters who continue living in Shropshire and work as teachers. Owners Engineers and Managers - Walker Family version 1 Page 14 of 25
Benjamin s will does not make any provision for Joseph, either because he was dead or there was some form of family rift. However he does provide for his daughter in law.. the sum of four hundred pounds past thereof the trust to invest the same sum in manners hereinafter directed and pay the annual income and produce of such investment to my daughter in law Mary Ann Walker wife of my son Joseph Walker for her life for her sole use free from marital control Similar provisions are made for Joseph s children. Frances Frearson 1791-1858 (Frances Walker) Benjamin s second wife was also named Frances. Frances died in 1858 and Benjamin in 1861. She gave birth to seven daughters and a son. Frances, daughter of Thomas Frearson, was baptised at Worthington Church in the Parish of Breedon on the 5 th July 1791. Frances Walker was buried on the 2 nd October 1858 in Coleorton, aged 67. Owners Engineers and Managers - Walker Family version 1 Page 15 of 25
Sarah Walker 1815-1896 Sarah did not marry and lives with her parents and thereafter with her younger sister Dorothy in Coleorton. In 1881 and 1891 Sarah lived near the George Inn. Her father left her well provided for, as she left an estate of 9,264. Census 1871 Moor Town, Coleorton Name Age Relatio Occupation Born Commentary n Sarah Walker 56 Income from invested Newbold Dorothy Frearson Walker money 46 Sister Income from invested money Newbold Kate Walker 7 Niece Apley, Cannot trace Shropshire Emma Holmes 19 Servant General Servant Queniborough (Domestic) Owners Engineers and Managers - Walker Family version 1 Page 16 of 25
Census 1881 The Moor, Coleorton. Previous entry on the census form is the George Inn. Name Age Relatio Occupation Born Commentary n Sarah Walker 67 Annuitant Worthington Dorothy Frearson 56 Sister Annuitant Worthington Walker Emma Green 17 Servant Domestic Servant Essex Census 1891 The Moor, Coleorton. Previous entry on the census form is the George Inn. Name Ag e Relation Occupation Born Commentary Sarah Walker 77 Living on her own means Newbold Margaret Addison 49 Companion Lady s Companion Scotland Hannah Dunning 21 Servant General Servant Domestic Ticknall Probate Sarah Walker died in 1896. Her executors included: Frances Hassall, her sister, Samuel Wilkinson Hassall, her nephew and son of Frances, Caroline Elizabeth Richardson, her sister, John Walker Richardson, her nephew and son of Caroline. Sarah s estate of 9,264 would be worth 1,022,000 in 2017. WILLIAM WALKER 1815-1896 Synopsis At the 1863 Califat fatality inquest it was stated that he was manager of the Coleorton Colliery for about 11 years until March 1861, i.e. late 1849 or early 1850. From his father s death in February 1861, William was co-owner of the Coleorton Colliery with William Worswick. Baptism 26 th March 1815 William was born in Worthington on the 26 th February 1815 and baptised four weeks later. Owners Engineers and Managers - Walker Family version 1 Page 17 of 25
Marriage to Emma Bailey 1839 William married Emma Bailey at Horsley, Derbyshire. Emma s father the mining engineer William Willis Bailey, had been a witness at the wedding of William s parents in 1812. Census 1841 William was living in Church Town, Coleorton. Name Age Occupation Commentary William Walker 25 Mineral Agent Emma Walker 25 Wife Mary Walker 1m Daughter Ann Kimber 55 Frances Edwards 14 Owners Engineers and Managers - Walker Family version 1 Page 18 of 25
Census 1851 William was living in Newbold, part of Worthington Parish Name Age Relation Occupation Born Commentary William Walker 34 Mining Engineer Worthington Emma Walker 33 Wife Domestic Duties Worthington Mary Walker 9 Daughter Scholar Coleorton Emily Walker 7 Daughter Scholar Coleorton Kate Walker 5 Daughter Scholar Coleorton George Walker 4 Son Scholar Coleorton William Walker 2 Son Scholar Coleorton Eliza Marsden 19 Servant Servant Thringstone Census 1861 Based upon the ages and birth places of his children in the 1861 and 1871 censuses, William and his family moved from: Coleorton to Newbold between 1844 and 1847 and Newbold to Coleorton between 1849 and 1852. Name Age Relation Occupation Born Commentary William Walker 40 Mining Engineer Worthington Emma Walker 40 Wife Worthington Mary Walker 18 Daughter Coleorton Emily Walker 17 Daughter Coleorton George Walker 14 Son Newbold Birth place change William Walker 12 Son Newbold Birth place change Lucy Walker 7 Daughter Coleorton Catherine Walker 5 Daughter Coleorton Edith Walker 1 Daughter Coleorton Elizabeth 21 Servant General Servant Lount Census 1871 Big changes for the Walker family, they had moved to Bulwell just outside Nottingham. living in Beach House, near Cabbage Alley, Main Street. They were Name Age Relation Occupation Born Commentary William Walker 55 Mining Engineer Worthington Emma Walker 53 Wife M E Wife Foleshill Birth place change William Willis Walker 22 Son Undergraduate Cambridge Newbold Louisa Ann Walker 19 Daughter Coleorton Lucy Walker 17 Daughter Coleorton Catherine Walker 16 Daughter Coleorton Owners Engineers and Managers - Walker Family version 1 Page 19 of 25
Edith Isabella Walker 11 Daughter Scholar Coleorton Jane Gibson 18 Servant General Servant Farnsfield Mary Simpson 18 Servant General Servant Cotmanhay William s occupation is mining engineer. Death 13 th November 1878, Probate 2 nd December William Walker died at Luss, Dumbarton, North Britain (Scotland). sons: His executors included his George Willis Walker, who in 1871 was a mining engineer living in Swannington, he then changed career to become a lace bleacher. William Willis Bailey, who in 1871 was a Cambridge undergraduate later became a university tutor. Ann Walker 1822-? Apart from living with her father Benjamin at the time of the 1841 and 1851 censuses, nothing is known about Ann Walker. Jane Walker 1825-1864 (Jane Blunt) Jane married William Hulse Blunt who had been farming in Ibstock. By 1851 they were farming Hall Farm, Coleorton on behalf of Jane s father Benjamin. Jane died in 1864. Census 1861 - Knighton Based on the census information, the family must have moved by 1853. Name Age Relation Occupation Born Commentary William H Blunt 37 Farmer 203 employing 5 Breedon men + 1 boy Jane Blunt 36 Wife Newbold Rosa Blunt 11 Daughter Scholar Ibstock Benjamin W Blunt 8 Son Scholar Knighton William H Blunt 6 Son Scholar Knighton Arthur H Blunt 5 Son Scholar Knighton Frances F Blunt 2 Daughter Knighton Louisa M Blunt 1 Daughter Knighton Mary A Billson 19 Servant Governess Leicester Owners Engineers and Managers - Walker Family version 1 Page 20 of 25
Lydia Lawe 18 Servant General Servant Caroline Pallett 15 Servant Undermaid Samuel Hubbard 18 Servant Cow Man Move to Normanton Turville The family moved to 273 acre Hill Farm, Normanton Turville between 1861 and 1864. This was part of the Normanton Turville Hall estate bought by William Worswick in 1860, the hall was occupied by his son Richard Worswick. Jane died in October 1861. Blunt family after Jane s death William Hulse Blunt remarried to Sarah. He was still farming at Normanton Turville in 1871. By 1881 William Hulse Blunt was farming at Belton and continued to do so in 1911 aged 87. Their sons: Benjamin Walker Blunt became a Mechanical Draughtsman William Hulse Blunt became a Mechanical Engineer Arthur Henry Blunt, became a Civil Engineer, then a Surgeon Hannah Walker 1826-1864 (Hannah Walker) Marriage 1850 Hannah married her cousin Thomas Walker, son of James Walker a farmer at Smoile, at Derby. James, born in 1896 was the youngest son of Thomas and Sarah Walker, and 13 years younger than his oldest brother, Benjamin. Their daughter Caroline Elizabeth may have been born while Hannah was staying with her father if her husband had already become a coal higgler. A coal higgler transports coal from pit head to market using a train of pack horses. Census 1861 The family was living in Thringstone. Name Age Relation Occupation Born Commentary Thomas Walker 38 Coal Higgler Worthington Hannah Walker 38 Wife Worthington Caroline Elizabeth Walker 10 Daughter Scholar Coleorton Sarah Frances Walker 8 Daughter Scholar Aston Ayss, Shropshire Kate Walker 7 Daughter Scholar Wellington, Shropshire Benjamin Walker 5 Son Scholar Uffington, Shropshire Arthur Walker 3 Son Scholar Thringstone Thomas Henry Walker 1 Son Scholar Thringstone Owners Engineers and Managers - Walker Family version 1 Page 21 of 25
Death 1864 Hannah had two more children before her death in 1864. Thomas remarried in Leicester in 1866 to Fanny Livermore (nee Wadd). They moved to Derby where he was a coal merchant in 1871. Dorothy F Walker 1828-1889 Dorothy lived with her sister Sarah in Coleorton and died before her. Frances Walker 1830-? (Frances Hassall) Frances married Samuel Hassall who farmed in the London and Sussex area. Caroline Elizabeth Walker 1835-1918 (Caroline Richardson) Married John Richardson a farmer at Galtby. Richardson: Had several children including John Walker John Walker Richardson, Mining Engineer, Kibworth Harcourt 1881 with parents John Walker Richardson, Colliery Manager, London Road, Hugglescote, 1891 John Walker Richardson, Colliery Mining Engineer, Kibworth Harcourt 1901 with parents John Walker Richardson, Colliery Mining Engineer, Kibworth Harcourt 1911 widowed mother living with him and wife Owners Engineers and Managers - Walker Family version 1 Page 22 of 25
Califat And Associated Collieries Map of Collieries and Railways in north Swannington area Coleorton No 1 - California The Coleorton No 1 Colliery was known as California as it opened in 1849. Owned by Benjamin Walker and William Worswick. Closed by 1873. A spur to the Coleorton horse drawn railway took coal through the tunnel under Tugby s Lane, Loughborough Road and St George s Hill to the Leicester and Swannington Railway. Owners Engineers and Managers - Walker Family version 1 Page 23 of 25
Coleorton No 2 - Califat The Coleorton No 2 Colliery was known as Califat as it was developed in 1854-5. Russian troops advanced along the Danube in January 1854 and laid siege to the town of Calafat which was part of the Turkish Ottoman Empire. British and French troops aided the Turks by landing troops on the Crimean Peninsular. Calafat is now a town in Romania. When the colliery adopted the name the spelling changed from Calafat to Califat. Owned by Benjamin Walker and William Worswick. Closed by 1873. The Califat horse drawn tramway took coal to a weighbridge near what became the Fountain Inn (closed 2013). It then crossed the road to access the bottom of the Incline, the western end of Robert Stephenson s Leicester and Swannington Railway. Swannington No 1 - Calcutta The Swannington No 1 Colliery was known as Calcutta. It was owned by William Worswick. It opened around 1853. It had closed by 1877 when it became a pumping station. From 1877 to 1947 coal went down the Incline to feed the boilers. In 1947 an ellectric pump was installed and the incline closed. Peggs Green Walker and Worswick bought the Peggs Green colliery in the late 1850 s. Owners Engineers and Managers - Walker Family version 1 Page 24 of 25
Hough Mill Gorse Field and Califat Spinney Hough Mill is a 200 year old windmill that fell into disuse during the 1880 s. The Trust bought the derelict shell of the mill in 1994. After a structural restoration the mill opened to the public in 2000. Restoration continues as volunteers make the milling machinery. Hough Mill is open 2-5pm on Sundays and bank holidays April to September. The Gorse Field is the site of former bell pits and gin pits, it was also mined for clay. It is believed that the bricks for the Califat coal mine were made in a field kiln on the Gorse Field. In north Swannington and Coleorton most coal mining evidence has been ploughed over. It is very visible in the Gorse Field. The former Califat coal mine site has a rich mining and social history. Part of the spinney has been planted as an arboretum and contains many trees that are unique within the National Forest. Partnership With Leicestershire Industrial History Society The Califat coal mine excavations are led by our partner Leicestershire Industrial History Society. They take place on the second Tuesday of the month, digging from 9.30 to 1pm followed by a pub lunch. Site tours take place during the Festival of Archaeology in July and Hello Heritage in September. Swannington Incline and Snibston No 3 Coal Mine The Swannington Incline is the western end of Robert Stephenson s 1832 Leicester and Swannington Railway, the first railway in the English Midlands. Snibston No 3 was the third colliery sunk by George Stephenson s Snibston Colliery Company. Archive, Historical Research, Walks and Tours actively promotes heritage via its archives, research, heritage events, walks and tours. Website is www.swannington-heritage.co.uk and the Hough Mill brand is used on Facebook, Twitter and Youtube. Owners Engineers and Managers - Walker Family version 1 Page 25 of 25