Benjamin Hickman Walker (1870)

Born 1870 in Gateshead, Durham, England, United Kingdom

Husband of Elizabeth Alice (Slade) Walker — married before 30 Sep 1889 in Tynemouth, Northumberland, England, United Kingdom

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Judith Jordan [send private message]

Biography

Benjamin Hickman Walker was probably born in 4th Quarter of 1870, when his birth was registered at Gateshead, Durham, England, to Charles and Frances (Robson) Walker^[1](See Research Notes).

The 1881 Census of England recorded Benjamin Walker, 10, Scholar, living with his parents, Charles, 32, Coal Miner, and Frances Walker, 34, Wife, and siblings John, 7, also a scholar, Charles, 3, and Eleanor Anne, 0, on Davidson Street, Heworth, Durham, England^[2].

Benjamin Hickman Walker married Elizabeth Alice Slade in the 3rd Quarter of 1889 at Tynemouth, Northumberland, England^[3].

The 1891 Census recorded Elizabeth, 22, and husband Benjamin Walker, 20, living with her parents Robert, 54, and Jane Slade, 48, at Station Terrace in Cramlington. Both Robert and Benjamin were Coal Miners^[4]. It also recorded Benjamin Walker, 24, Married, General Labourer, in the house of his parents, so he must have been visiting his parents when they were enumerated and at the house of his in-laws when they were enumerated^[5]!

Elizabeth and Benjamin Walker had 2 children:

• Elizabeth Jane (Walker-56584), born in the 3rd Quarter (Jul-Aug-Sep) of 1891; and
• Alice (Walker-60556), born 19 July, 1907.

Benjamin H., 30, born Gateshead, Coal Miner Stoneman, Elizabeth, 32, Wife, and their daughter Elizabeth, 9, both born Cramlington, were living in their own house at 232 Coquet Street, North Gosforth, Tyneside, at the time of the 1901 Census^[6].

The 1939 Register recorded Elizabeth and Benjamin Walker living at New Ivesley Villas, Westgarth House, Brandon and Byshottles, Durham, England^[7]. The Register gives the dates of birth for Elizabeth and Benjamin as 10 February, 1869 and 6 July 1865, respectively.

Research Notes

There were two Benjamin H. (possibly both Hickman) Walkers living in Northumberland at the same time (a Benjamin H. Walker married a lady surnamed Watkins in 1912 in Northumberland). The man named Benjamin Hickman Walker on his registration of birth I have put as our man, because his Census records for the most part give an age consistent with a birth in 1870, and a birthplace as Gateshead, however on the 1939 Register our Benjamin stated he was born in 1865. If the earlier birthdate is correct, then there was a Benjamin Walker (no middle name on the registration, but it wasn't always included) born in the Auckland, Durham registration district, whose mother's maiden name was Smith, who could be our man:

• FreeBMD.org.uk; Index of Registrations of Births Sep 1865; Walker, Benjamin; Reg. Dist. Auckland; Vol. 10a; p. 206.
• GRO Index: Registration of Birth for WALKER, BENJAMIN; Mother: SMITH; GRO Reference: 1865 S Quarter in AUCKLAND; Volume 10A; Page 206.

Sources

1. ↑ "England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2XW6-96K : 1 October 2014), Benjamin Hickman Walker, 1870; from "England & Wales Births, 1837-2006," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Birth Registration, Gateshead, Durham, England, citing General Register Office, Southport, England.
2. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1881," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q271-GTBZ : 13 December 2017), Benjamin Walker in household of Charles Walker, Heworth, Durham, England; from "1881 England, Scotland and Wales Census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing p. 38, Piece/Folio 5031/56, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey; FHL microfilm 101,775,393.
3. ↑ General Register Office. England and Wales Civil Registration Indexes. Year: 1889; Quarter: Jul-Aug-Sep; District: Tynemouth; Volume: 10b; Page: 400.
4. ↑ The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891; Class: RG12; Piece: 4235; Folio: 129; Page: 27; GSU roll: 6099345
5. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1891", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:WKH2-G2M : Thu Jan 11 08:52:56 UTC 2024), Entry for Charles W Walker and Frances Walker, 1891.
6. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1901," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XS94-953 : 21 May 2019), Elizabeth A Walker in household of Benjamin H Walker, Weetslade, Northumberland, England, United Kingdom; from "1901 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing Longbenton subdistrict, PRO RG 13, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
7. ↑ The National Archives; Kew, London, England; 1939 Register; Reference: RG 101/2760E; Enumeration District: FFHR.