Washington Post
Print
Comment (0)
E-Mail
Report
Contributed by Susan
Description: George Walker"™s Wife - A Leaf From the Life of One of the Original Proprietors
Date: November 16 1884Newspaper published in: Washington, DC
Page/Column: Page 3
George Walker's Wife - A Leaf From the Life of One of the Original Proprietors
[Transcriber's Note: One researcher has pointed out the inconsistency in dates - that George met Martha in 1795 while she died in 1793. The article dates are copied as is, but it is suspected that the date of their meeting (1795) should have read 1792.]
To the Editor of The Post: In one of the old numbers of the Sunday edition of your paper - September 30, 1883 - which lately fell into my hands, you gave an interesting account of George WALKER, who, with Daniel CARROLL and David BURNS, comprised the original proprietors of the Federal city. The article, in conclusion, says: "Not even a widow called to drop a tear or claim a dower." It will perhaps interest your readers to know who his wife was and something of the inner life of this remarkable man. It was stated that he was an Englishman. This was a mistake. He was a Scotchman and probably came to this county at the solicitation of his friend and fellow countryman, David BURNS. It was in the year 1795 when he was over forty years of age, that he met Martha CRAUFURD (CRAWFORD?), a beautiful young girl of eighteen, the daughter of David CRAUFURD, a wealthy and aristocratic landed proprietor of Upper Marlboro, Prince George's county, Md., also of Scotch descent. They were married by Bishop CLAGETT, the first Bishop of Maryland (I copy from an old family Bible) and went at once to housekeeping in his fine residence near "Duddington," in this city, where they lived surrounded by every luxury that wealth and affection could supply. Mrs. WALKER's eldest sister, who married Richard FORREST, esq., was also living here at that time; but their married life was of brief duration, for this lovely young wife died at the expiration of a year in giving birth to twins, who also died. Her remains were taken to her old home and buried in the family grave-year, near Upper Marlboro, and today can be seen the marble shaft which the grief stricken husband erected to her memory. It bears the following inscription: "Died on January 22, 1793, Martha, the beloved wife of George WALKER, of Scotland, in the nineteenth year of her age," followed by an appropriate verse in poetry. In a few years Mr. WALKER disgusted with American justice, mourning over blasted hopes and disappointed affections, returned to his native land, where he soon after died. The writer of this article has in her possession jewelry which George WALKER brought from Scotland and presented to his bride, noticeable amongst it being a brooch containing his hair, looking as fresh as when it was placed there. H. H. H.
Washington, November 14.