FALKIRK ARCHIVES Russel & Aitken Papers finding aid (43) Papers of claim to land in Washington; George Walker of Washington, USA, 1889-1897 The finding aid for the Russel & Aitken Papers has been divided into 63 parts. This part contains a list of records relating to the Walker family. Family history George Walker was one of five children of James (1) Walker and Helen May of Sheardale who were married in 1745. George's brothers were James (2) Walker of Mumrills, Laurieston, (1772-1822) who was a merchant in Falkirk; Ralph Walker, a distinguished engineer, inventor and seaman who worked with Rennie & Boulton in the construction of London Docks, and Charles who had no issue and of whom nothing is known. Their sister was Helen, who married Alexander Reddoch, a tobacconist in Falkirk and had four sons including John Wood Reddoch. Janet, the daughter of James (2) Walker of Mumrills married James Aitken, writer in Falkirk, (d 1817) whose firm came to be known as Russel & Aitken after his death. George Walker emigrated to North America probably around the time of the American Revolution. He was a merchant in Philadelphia. He bought a farm of 400 acres where the new city of Washington was to be built, possibly as a result of inside knowledge of the choice of Washington as the capital. Sometime later, over about ten years, he sold some lots from his land, including sales to his brother James Walker (2) of Mumrills, in 1803. George married Martha Cook from an influential Maryland family of Scots extraction. She died in childbirth and they left no issue. George, described as Georgetown merchant was closely involved in the promotion of the building of Washington DC, having acquired 358 acres of ground on which it was built. He conveyed part of this ground to his brother james Walker of Mumrills, probably in security for a loan. He became insolvent and taxes on his unsold Washington property were not paid. James, being non-resident in the US did not pay taxes on his property there and there was uncertainty about whether he should have paid taxes. Washington City Council recovered unpaid taxes by "sales for taxes" although throughout the nineteenth century there were disputes about the legality of these. After abortive claims by descendants of James Walker (1) of Sheardale in 1853 the matter was re-opened by Washington attorneys in the 1880s, who sought our possible claimants. James Aitken, writer, Falkirk (1834-1911) was a grandson of Janet Walker or Aitken and great grandson of James Walker (2) of Mumrills, and was thus the obvious person to coordinate the search for the many descendants of the issue of James Walker (1) of Sheardale who had claims for restitution of the proceeds of allegedly wrongful sales for claims for taxes. James (3) Walker (1781-1862), an eminent Civil Engineer was a son of James (2) Walker of Mumrills. In 1800, he began studying engineering under his Uncle, Ralph Walker, who was at that time engaged constructing the West India Docks. James (3) Walker was principally a Marine Engineer and at the time of his death he was conducting as Government Engineer, the national harbours of refuge at Dover, Alderney and Jersey and the refuge harbour at the mouth of the Tyne. As engineer to the Trinity House of London he constructed a variety of lighthouses including that on the Bishop's Rock. He was also much consulted in navigation and canal works such as the Stockwell Street Bridge at Glasgow. In 1834, he was
appointed President of the Institution of Civil Engineers and was a member of the Royal Society of London and the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Scope & Contents Note These papers relate to the claims in the US courts for restitution of the proceeds of allegedly wrongful claims for taxes on George Walker's Washington properties and they show the progress of the identification of the possible beneficiaries. The papers include some original copy correspondence between George Walker and his brother James, a map of Washington showing the building lots, family trees and lists of beneficiaries, agreements and correspondence with Washington agents and beneficiaries. The bulk of the material dates from the last 15 years of the nineteenth century. Date range: 1757-1897 Reference Code: A1843 Item list Reference No Date Brief Description A1843.001 1889 {copies}, 1786-1804 {originals} Ms copies of letters from George Walker to his brother James as to the sale of lots in the European market (copied by James Aitken in 1889). A1843.002 1889-1894 Correspondence between various agents and reports of Washington court cases concerning titles and a memorandum of agreement between the heirs of Helen Walker Reddoch and John H Walter and J Augustus Taylor and James Aitken. A1843.003 1757-1892 Papers tracing Walker descent. Includes family tree, 1889, birth, baptism, death and marriage certificates, various narratives detailing George Walker's land, speculations in Washington and his subsequent failure (with newspaper article); lists of potential beneficiaries, and statement by John H Walter before the Senate Committee of the District of Columbia, 1892. A1843.004 1796-1887 Details and family trees of the Walker family, copy of 1796 letter from George Walker to the Washington Commissioners and another undated letter to the Commissioners; correspondence with Washington agents, marriage, birth and death certifications, print of the 1892 bill, maps of Washington and Report by W A Jackson on George and James Walker's Washington estates. Also excerpts from private journal of James Walker, civil engineer, FRS (Nephew of George Walker) referring to James Walker (2) of Mumrills and his support for Hardie, one of the 1820 radicals who was executed. A1843.005 1892-1897 Papers relating to George Walker Claim. Includes reprints from The Washington Post, prints of memorandum of agreement between J Augustus Taylor and John H Walter over real estate in District of Columbia, letters from James Aitken, indenture concerning real estate of George Walker and report on decision in Supreme Court, Washington, Johnston vs Wyck, adverse to Walkers heirs claims, 1894.
A1843.006 1887-1892 Correspondence with beneficiaries of Walker estate. Includes letters from Chandler, Walter and Aitken and abstract of title to 3, 4, 5 & 6 of square 939, District of Columbia. A1843.007 1890-1893 George Walker's estate. Correspondence of Washington agents and beneficiaries. A1843.008 1889-1896 Correspondence of agents and beneficiaries of Walker's estate, a statement showing the proportionate amount due to each of George Walker's heirs on a division, receipts and a memo as to Washington property. A1843.009 1889-1891 Correspondence with Washington agents, John H Walter and J Augustus Taylor, and with beneficiaries. A1843.010 1888-1894 Correspondence with beneficiaries and papers relating to tracing the descendants of George Walker. Includes letters from John Hewison to James Aitken and memoranda for beneficiaries, and certificate of death of Eliza Goodyear, one of the Walker beneficiaries. A1843.011 1889-1901 Papers relating to the property of the heirs of James Walker. Includes statements and reports showing the condition of his property, Quarterly statements showing squares divided into lots, square footage, assessed value per square foot, values of improvements, date of tax title, length of possession, person currently assessed and sales for heirs with prices, correspondence from Washington agents with accounting for seven beneficiaries, and rough notes of deductions for expenses. A1843.012 1888-1890 Papers mainly relating to heirs of James & George Walker. Includes Memo by James Aitken as to the Walkers heirs Washington property, 1887 and as to implication of transfer of properties to Washington agents with security in favour of the heirs and other problems; draft and copy memos of agreement between the Washington agents, (J Augustus Taylor and John H Walter) and the beneficiaries, incorporating powers of attorney in favour of James Aitken and draft indentures by certain beneficiaries in favour of Washington agents. A1843.013 1889-1890 Papers on Walker heirs. Includes queries put to a contingency lawyer in New York as to clause in conveyance of property in America and a description of Washington lots, draft and copy memos of agreement between the Washington agents, (J Augustus Taylor and John H Walter) and the beneficiaries, incorporating powers of attorney in favour of James Aitken and draft indentures by certain beneficiaries in favour of Washington agents. Mainly relates to heirs of Ralph Walker and James Walker. A1843.014 1886-1890 Papers relating to heirs of James, Ralph and George Walker. Includes draft indentures by heirs of James Walker of Sheardale, relating to George Walker's lots, draft style deeds detailing relationships of different branches of the Walker family, copy indenture of 1803 between George Walker and his brother James Walker of certain lots (price 4000), copy correspondence of
1886 referring to efforts by proprietors to realise assets in 1853 (between James Chandler and John Hewison); memos and indentures relating to Ralph Walker's claim, and a letter from John H Walter to Russel & Aitken, stating 300,000 fully covered the amount of George Walker's heirs' claim. A1843.015 1888-1892 Papers relating to heirs of George & James Walker. Includes letters from agents and heirs to James Aitken who raised the question of George Walker's citizenship and difficulty of proof; memorandum of agreement between James Walker's heirs, J Augustus Taylor and John H Walter and James Aitken, 1889, and business account by the heirs of the late Mr George Walker to Russel & Aitken, 1885-1891, and correspondence with beneficiaries, including Patrick, Chandler, Denton, Vallance, Lavender, Wright, Goulding, Cooper, Davis, Goodyear, Gabbeth, Bulford, Stockwell, Rothwell, Chisholm, Clifford, Williams and Hewison. A1843.016 1888-1894 Papers concerning heirs of George Walker. Includes correspondence with Washington agents, (Walker & Walter, Real estate Brokers, Washington); letter, 1886, on the merits of George walker's position following his disputes with the Washington Commissioners; list of beneficiaries, memoranda of agreement between heirs and J Augustus Taylor, John H Walter and James Aitken, acknowledgement and obligation by Taylor and Walter to Helen Reddoch's heirs, letters to Russel & Aitken from heirs and agents, certificate of death of Mrs Goodyear (one of the Walker heirs) and correspondence with beneficiaries including Dalziel, Chandler, (list of connections), Rothwell, Patrick, Hewison, Berry, Goodyear, Reddoch, Harnett, Wester, Read and Morrison. A1843.017 1889-1895 Papers relating to heirs of James & Ralph Walker. Includes various memoranda of agreement between heirs and John H Walter and J Augustus Taylor and James Aitken, correspondence, acknowledgement and obligation by Walter and Taylor to James Walker's heirs, vouchers for expenses of London visits (H R Maxwell of Ross), letters from heirs and agents to Russel & Aitken and cuttings from the Washington Post about decisions in Supreme Court as to tax titles and likelihood of a Bill in Congress which would adversely affect the interests of the heirs. A1843.018 1891-1901 Reports about condition of George Walker's property and sales made. Includes quarterly reports from 5 June 1891-31 March 1901, details of remittances by Washington agents, 1891-1894 and letters from real estate broker to James Aitken. A1843.019 1886-1889, 1840 Papers relating to Walker property. Includes New York solicitor's opinion of legal position of George Walker's estate, 1887, rough estimate of value of property, 1889; correspondence file of James Chandler, 1886-1889, about his researches into the George Walker claim and
his contact with certain Washington agents with reference to the 1853 investigation of the claim which did not then proceed; and correspondence with Walker & Walter, 1889 Also includes inventory of household effects of the late Mrs Agnes Walker of Belch, 1840. A1843.020 1889-1894 Draft business accounts of heirs & representatives of George Walker and heirs of Ralph Walker with Russel & Aitken. A1843.021 1892-1897 Issues of The Washington Post and the Washington Law Reporter containing articles about litigation on various land dispute cases, including verdict on the George Walker lands A1843.022 1912 Papers relating to Walker property. Correspondence relating to possible further claim. A1843.023 1840-1859 Papers relating to executry of Janet Walker or Aitken, spouse of deceased James Aitken. Includes petition in debt case, James Walker, civil engineer, London, executor for Agnes Walker or Belch, Henry Aitken, heir of Janet Walker or Aitken and the Trustees of deceased Margaret Walker or King against the three daughters of Robert Walker of Mumrills, (Margaret Walker or Chisholme, Jane Walker and Christina Walker) A1843.024 1827-1843 Papers relating to executry of Agnes Walker or Belch, daughter of the deceased James Walker of Mumrills, spouse of the deceased John Belch, banker in Stirling (and sister of Robert Walker of Mumrills). Includes settlement, 1827. A1803.165 11 Jul 1799 Plans and drawings referred to in the Second Report from the select committee upon the improvement of the Port of London A1803.166 28 Jul 1800 Plans and drawings referred to in the Third Report from the select committee upon the improvement of the Port of London
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