William
Anderson Walker
left a family Bible now owned by his grandson, Bill
Walker, of New Tazewell, Tennessee. It is entitled "The
Holy Bible containing the Old and New Testaments translated
out of the original tongues and with the former translations
diligently compared and revised" and was published
by the American Bible Society in New York, dated 1877.
Inscribed by hand next to the title page is "W.
A. Walker/his book". Billy passed it to his son
James Ottis Walker who then passed it to Bill. All but
one of the family pages have come out of the book although
clearly belong with it.
Analysis
The entry marked "*" is somewhat scrambled
and, if a year is given, the year is unreadable. In
addition, no S. H. Walker is known in this family. The
entry may refer to Billy's cousin Samuel H. Walker (son
of John Gilmore Walker) who lived nearby and was born
on 17 August 1857, but the listing in Billy's Bible
is curious.
Otherwise, this Bible is clearly the family Bible of
the family cited, with a date that suggests that many
of the births were recorded contemporaneously; in addition,
the style, spelling, and writing instruments also suggest
a number of entries made at different times.
Specifically, though, other sources are available for
many of the dates:
William Anderson Walker's birth
date matches his tombstone, examined in person and
via photo in Burch Cemetery, Claiborne County, Tennessee.
Mary Jane Liford's birth date
matches the same tombstone.
The marriage date matches the
Claiborne County license book.
Dora's tombstone in Burch Cemetery
lists only a year 1872, while the 1900 Census shows
May 1872, corresponding to the family record.
Magnolia's tombstone as transcribed
at the Kokomo, Indiana, Public Library in South Union
Cemetery matches the family record.
Barrett's birth date matches
the date on his tombstone in Pruden Cemetery in Bell
County, Kentucky as transcribed by C. Richard Matthews.
Martin's birth and death dates
in the family record match his tombstone in Burch
Cemetery.
Ava's birth date matches her
tombstone in Burch Cemetery.
Ida's birth date matches the
transcription of her tombstone in South Union Cemetery
as with Magnolia's.
While a specific date is not
known for William from other sources, the 1900 Census
gives a matching month and year.
Isaac's birth date matches
his tombstone in Burch Cemetery.
A specific date is not known
for Everett from other sources; in 1900, the entry
appears to say June 1890, off by a month.
Ora's date matches information
submitted by her son to The People's History of Claiborne
County.
James' birth date matches Social
Security records and his tombstone in Burch Cemetery.
Overall, the list appears to be complete, as the number
of children listed for Mary in the 1930 Census was 11,
with one, Martin, being dead.
Images
[Title
page]
Orie Walker was borne in the year of hour lord
July the 3 day 1893
James Ottis Walker was born Apr the 12th 1896
Dora R. Bell Walker was brn may the 9 in the
year of our lord 1872
Zelphia Magnolia Walker was born on the 12th
day of December in the year of our lord 1874
barit fontin Walker was born in the year of our
lord March the 6 1877
Martin tilmon was born in the yer of our lord
May the 11 1879
Did February the 23 1890
avia Walker was born January the 19 day 1882
idia Walker was born January the 19 day 1882
Willey Martin Haynes Walker was born in the year
of our lord March the 9 1885
isaac Walker was born in the yer or hour lord
august the 29 187
evvert Walker was born in the yer of hour lord
may the 15 1890
S. H. Walker was born in the yer of our world
aug the 17*
William A. Walker and Mary Jane liferd was meried
on the March 18 in the year of our Lord 1871
William A. Walker was born in Clairborne county
Tennessee
Mary Jane Walker [no further content]
W. A. Walker was born oc17 1848
Mary Jane Walker was born on the 2 may in the
year of our lord in the year of our lord 1857
