John Walker, Senior

Early Family

Ann Walker’s father, John, was the fourth child born to William and Elizabeth (née Caygill) Walker and was baptized in 1753.¹ His siblings were Mary (1747-1822),² William (1749-1804),³ Elizabeth (1750-1829)⁴ and Ann (1757-1847).⁵ William Walker was a wealthy worsted manufacturer and also served as a Justice of the Peace for West Riding.⁶ John’s mother Elizabeth died in 1767⁷ and his father William many years later in 1786.⁸

Marriage & Children

John married Mary Edwards in 1795 at St. John the Baptist Church in Halifax.¹ Mary was the daughter of John and Elizabeth (née Lees) Edwards of Halifax. John lived at Crownest, his family’s estate and Mary at Pyenest.

John and Mary had five children. Their first was William John Walker who died at 3 weeks in 1798 while the couple was living at Cliff Hill.

Their other children were Mary (1799 –1815), Elizabeth (1801–1844), Ann (1803 –1854) and John (1804 –1830).²

Their daughter Mary died in February 1815 while living at Crownest. John and Mary’s anguish is evident by the words of her death notice. Having lost two children, William and Mary, the couple would be spared the loss of the other three, all who died after their parents.

Crownest

John’s father, William Walker Snr owned Crownest, which would become the family home. Learn more here about the history of Crownest and the Walker family.

It is reported that William Snr brought timber back from Russia to rebuild Crownest, Cliffe Hill and Lightcliffe Church. He personally hired the craftsmen to do the work.

William Snr was a capable, hands-on manager of his estate as evidenced in these newspaper advertisements where he personally took rental inquires.

After their father’s death in 1786, brother William and his unmarried sisters Mary and Ann continued to live at Crownest which was part of his inheritance until his death in 1809. An interesting book about agriculture gives some insight into the fields of Crownest and William’s attention to them as well as the husbandry in Halifax. Here are some excerpts.

John and William, like their father, accepted tenant applications personally.

By 1810 John and his family were living at Crownest after William’s death, as verified by this newspaper advertisement.

Watch this video for more history.

Inheritance

William Snr died in 1786.

In their father’s will John and William were both well provided for with generous inheritances.

After his brother William’s death in 1809, John inherited the bulk of the Walker Estate and, as such, moved his family from Cliff Hill to Crownest. His sisters, Mary and Ann, moved from Crownest to Cliff Hill. Sisters Mary died in 1822 and Ann in 1847, after which, John’s daughter Ann his last surviving child, moved from Shibden Hall into Cliff Hill until her death in 1854.

Family Business

The exact year that William and John Walker founded their company is unclear. Most probable is that they worked with their father until his death and then continued the business. The Leeds Intelligence in 1797 lists their partnership below.

The following document from 1 January 1805 shows that William, John and William Priestley were invested in the goods kept in hand for the purposes of trade – materials, cloth machinery etc – for the Walker trade business.

The account record books for 1805 and 1806 show entries for the expenses for a year of Carriage of Goods, Rent of Warehouse, Coals for Dryhouse, Taxes of Dryhouse and other items. The 1806 List of Debts show a Large Ledger, Country Ledger and Irish Ledger. Dividends are also shown for William & John Walker as well as William Priestley.¹

An 1809 List of Debts shows a loan to John Walker, Walterclough with 4% interest. Not to be confused with the Crownest Walkers, Walterclough Walker was John’s cousin.² It was John Walker of Walterclough’s daughter, Caroline Wyvill Walker whose diary entries are included later in this blog.

The name “Walker Wm & John, merchants, Crownest” is listed in the 1809 business directory, Holden’s Triennial.

By 1811 John’s nephews, Edward Priestley and William Priestley, also received dividends. There are expenses for William and Edward travelling to London on separate occasions: also for pencils, address cards, newspapers and subscriptions to the Society of Prosecuting Felons in 1811 and 1812. There are also dividends from Calder & Hebble Navigation.³

Another interesting expense for foreign postage paid in London for letters to Lisbon.

Anne Lister noted in her journal on 17 March 1819 that John was giving up his business, which was confirmed a month later in the newspaper.

“Mr Walker, Mr P- & Mr Edward P- entirely giving up business – all will be finally done with in 2 or 3 weeks” West Yorkshire Archive Service, Calderdale SH:7/ML/E/2/0120

Community

In 1799 John was appointed General Commissioner of Income for the Division of Morley.

In 1809 the Clerk of the Court of Requests called a meeting to elect John its Treasurer, however no record of confirmation has yet been found. Learn more about the Court of Requests here.

John’s uncle on his mother’s side, John Caygill, donated land for the Piece Hall to be built in Halifax in 1779.

John was also on the Piece Hall Committee at some point. Learn more about the history of
the Hall here.

This 1822 article below lists John as a committee member of the Piece Hall.

In John’s will he bequeathed two rooms at the Piece Hall to his son John:

“two Rooms in the Colonade[sic] of the Halifax Piece Hall marked respectively Nos 90 and 110”
National Archive PROB11/1687

The Piece Hall was restored in 2017, after which the The Caygill Rooms were named by the Trust for his uncle John Caygill.¹

Blackguard

According to the Oxford Reference, a blackguard is:

“A man who behaves in a dishonourable or contemptible way. The sense ‘scoundrel, villain’ dates from the mid 18th century, and was formerly considered highly offensive.”
Oxford Reference

These interesting journal entries from Caroline Wyvill Walker and Anne Lister speak to John Walker’s character.

Anne Lister, 8 July 1822:

“- Dined at 5, & at 6 drove over to Lightcliffe to speak to & explain this curious business with Mr Walker about the Hipperholme-school-trust-farm – they, of course, thought it very odd & were very sorry but agreed my uncle could not well have done otherwise than he has done in being offended at Mr W-‘s last note as well as his conduct when he saw him last at Crownest, & in determining not to act singly – Mr P[riestley] agreed it would be best to call a meeting of the trustees to settle about selling the crop & to order the immediate appointment of the new trustees, till which was done the farm not to be let – they were not surprised at Mr W’s conduct his family saw enough Mr P said he had been spoilt all his life and I think it was Mr P who said he was sometimes like a madman in his passions Mrs P said he blackguarded his wife and daughters -“ West Yorkshire Archive Service, Calderdale SH:7/ML/E/6/0023

While dining with the William and Eliza Priestley at Lightcliffe on 18 October 1822 she again wrote:

“- speaking of Mr Walker at Lightcliffe we all agreed he was rather a blackguard than a gentleman -“
West Yorkshire Archive Service, Calderdale SH:7/ML/E/6/0061

Caroline Wyvill Walker wrote in her journal on 22 April 1823:

“His great fondness for money made him indifferent to bienseance [“propriety” or “decency”] where that was concerned […] My poor, dear brother would say: – I am going to meet the lion in his den, when going to meet Mr Walker at the room he did business in at Halifax”
John Lister, Memoirs of Miss Caroline Wyvill Walker of Walterclough Hall, Southowram near Halifax (Halifax Antiquarian Society, 1908)

These two observations shed a striking light on the nature of John Walker’s character.

John’s Illness & Death

John died and was buried in April 1823. First-hand accounts from the journals of Anne Lister and Caroline Wyvill Walker report his illness and death. If Anne Lister was correct, he may have died from Hydrocephalus; however, there is no death certificate to confirm that.

On 5 February 1823, Anne Lister first mentions John not being well.

“- Mr Walker rather better on the whole but has not strength to throw the gout out – suffers from sickness at his stomach & indigestion – never likely to be the man again he was 6 months ago – Mrs Walker, too, very poorly -“
West Yorkshire Archive Service, Calderdale SH:7/ML/E/6/0089

She continues:

28 Feb 1823 Anne Lister:

“- Mr Walker of Crownest now dangerously ill – Mrs P[riestley] just told me at the door that she and Mrs Walker were not now at all on terms from a low lived sort of letter Mrs W had sent her but I am to go some afternoon soon and she will tell me all about it -“
West Yorkshire Archive Service, Calderdale SH:7/ML/E/6/0097

10 March 1823 Anne Lister:

“- Expecting Miss Pickford according to appointment made on Saturday to walk to Crownest – At 10 50/60 set off to meet her – came up with her near the brick house in the new bank – brought her in to see my aunt, &, after sitting about ¼ hour, we pursued our walk down the fields by Lower brea to Crownest – Mr Walker rather better, but Mrs Walker engaged ‘with the Doctors’, and we only saw the 2 girls – must have sat with them near an hour”
West Yorkshire Archive Service, Calderdale SH:7/ML/E/6/0101

16 March 1823 Anne Lister:

“- Came away immediately – walked along the flat & down the Cunnery-lane with Mr Henry Edwards (of Pyenest on horseback) Mr Walker of Crownest worse – little or no chance of his recovery – tho’ he was out yesterday in the carriage”
West Yorkshire Archive Service, Calderdale SH:7/ML/E/6/0103

19 March 1823 Caroline Wyvill Walker:

“Wednesday, 19th March. – Poor Mr. Walker, of Crownest, it is to be feared approaches near the end of his career. His bed is removed into the dining-room. He is so weak that he is carried to and from the carriage when he rides out, and for this last fortnight he has become very deaf. On Mon­day we took tea with Miss A. Walker at Cliff Hill. She had just left Crownest, and seemed much affected with the state of her brother, but exerted herself to keep up her spirits.”
John Lister, Memoirs of Miss Caroline Wyvill Walker of Walterclough Hall, Southowram near Halifax (Halifax Antiquarian Society, 1908).

29 March 1823 Anne Lister:

“- Out at 8 50/60 & set off to Lightcliffe – Met Mr W[illiam] Priestley – Mr Walker not likely long – perhaps not many hours – a suffusion of water on the brain but he was nevertheless more sensible more himself yesterday than for some days before – an expiring effort of nature – sat with Mrs William Priestley till 12¼ ” West Yorkshire Archive Service, Calderdale SH:7/ML/E/6/0108

31 March 1823 Anne Lister:

“- Mr Walker gradually getting weaker sleeps a great deal from the opiates he takes – Talked all the evening -“
West Yorkshire Archive Service, Calderdale SH:7/ML/E/6/0109

Anne Lister was travelling at the time of John’s death, however, Caroline Wyvill Walker writes:

“Tuesday, 22nd April. – We have just heard that Mr. Walker, of Crownest, is no more. A long and most severe illness has terminated his existence. […] Mr. Walker died at two o’clock this morning, his power, alas! is terminated.”
John Lister, Memoirs of Miss Caroline Wyvill Walker of Walterclough Hall, Southowram near Halifax (Halifax Antiquarian Society, 1908).

Other diarists also mentioned John’s death.

W. H. Rawson was the husband of John’s niece Mary (née Priestley). Here’s W. H. Rawson’s diary entry:

“22 April 1823 Mr John Walker of Crownest. obit a71-
Buried at Lightcliffe Church April 29
Mary Walker – __ – Jn Walker. Elizabeth & Anne
a18 21 ½ 20″
West Yorkshire Archive Service, Calderdale WYC:1525/6/8/4

Christopher Rawson’s (brother of W.H. Rawson) diary entry:

“22 Apl Jn. Walker obit his estate about 130m! To Elizabeth and Ann 10,000 & 300£ each in hand. to JW 3000 p.a Mrs W 900 p.a & after death to JW”
West Yorkshire Archive Service, Calderdale WYC:1525

Robert Parker, a friend and solicitor, wrote in a letter to his father:

“Mr Walker of Crow Nest died on Thursday leaving an immense fortune to his son who is not twenty years of age.”
25 April 1823 West Yorkshire Archive Service, Calderdale FW:3/3

John’s Will

John Walker left the bulk of the estate to his son John, but he also made ample provision for his wife, two daughters, and sisters. To Mary, his wife, he left his personal possessions, a total of £1,800, a life interest in several properties, and permission to live at Crownest until their son John reached the age of 21. He left his unmarried sister Ann a life interest in Cliff Hill and a £100 annuity. Daughters Ann and Elizabeth were treated equally: a total of £7,000 plus £1,000 in shares, New House to Elizabeth and Cliff Hill to Ann, along with ownership of various other “Messuages Dwelling Houses or Tenements” and “Closes or Parcels of Land or Ground”. John also made provision for any future children of his daughters: £3,000 for each, and the inheritance of the properties left to their respective mothers.

John also left various sums and annuities to some of his Edwards and Priestley relatives, as well as small(er) bequests to friends and associates.¹

Aftermath

Within 7 months of John’s death, his wife Mary also died. The three remaining children Elizabeth, Ann and John would be without parents and living at Crownest. Elizabeth married Capt George Sutherland in 1828 and John married Fanny Penfold in 1830. John died while on his honeymoon, intestate and without surviving issue (Fanny had a stillborn son). Without a will or heir the entire estate went to Elizabeth and Ann, making them immensely wealthy.

References

Early Family

1) West Yorkshire Archive Service; Wakefield, Yorkshire, England; Yorkshire Parish Records; New Reference Number: WDP53/1/1/10
2) West Yorkshire Archive Service; Wakefield, Yorkshire, England; Yorkshire Parish Records; New Reference Number: WDP47/1/1/1
3) West Yorkshire Archive Service; Wakefield, Yorkshire, England; Yorkshire Parish Records; New Reference Number: WDP47/1/1/1
4) West Yorkshire Archive Service; Wakefield, Yorkshire, England; Yorkshire Parish Records; New Reference Number: WDP53/1/1/10
5) West Yorkshire Archive Service; Wakefield, Yorkshire, England; Yorkshire Parish Records; New Reference Number: WDP47/1/1/2
6) 28 November 1786 Leeds Intelligencer
7) West Yorkshire Archive Service; Wakefield, Yorkshire, England; Yorkshire Parish Records; New Reference Number: WDP53/1/1/11
8) West Yorkshire Archive Service; Wakefield, Yorkshire, England; Yorkshire Parish Records; New Reference Number: WDP53/1/1/8

Marriage & Children

1) West Yorkshire Archive Service; Wakefield, Yorkshire, England; Yorkshire Parish Records; New Reference Number: WDP53/1/3/10
2) In Search of Ann Walker Family Tree

Family Business

1) West Yorkshire Archives, Calderdale WYC 1525 7/1/11/6
2) West Yorkshire Archives, Calderdale WYC 1525 7/1/11/6
3) Holden’s Triennial for 1809, Calderdale Libraries
4) West Yorkshire Archives, Calderdale WYC 1525 7/1/11/8

Community

1) The Piece Hall Charitable Trust, Masie Townson, Visitor Experience Assistant

John’s Will

1) National Archives PROB11/1687

Special Thanks

Diane Halford for archival research.
Martin Walker & Trish Rafa for editing.
Sarah Rose, Calderdale Libraries

In Search of Ann Walker’s research into Ann’s life is ongoing, therefore new discoveries may change the way we chronicle her life in the future.

How to cite this article:
Deb Woolson (2025) “John Walker, Senior”: In Search of Ann Walker [Accessed “add date”]