John WALKER

                   John Walker was born in Wigdon, Scotland, married Katherine Rutherford onJanuary 7, 1702 in Scotland. From Scotland he moved his family andsettled near the town on Newry, Ireland.  He and family with three ofbrother Alexander's children left Strangford Bay in May 1726 (anotherrecord says 28) with 300 on board a vessal commanded by Richard Walkerand landed inMary August 2, 1728. His brother, Alexander, remained inScotland and never immigrated.  John transported his family and settledin Chester Co., Pennsylvania where he died Septemer1734. His wife died in1738, and both are buried in Nottingham (Presbyterian) Meeting House inChester co., Pennsylvania.

Most of the family left Pa. and settled in Rockbridge and adjoiningcounties in Virginia.  John must have contemplated this move, and hadbeen to Virginia a short time before his death.  He selected a farm uponwhich he erected a small building.

Katherine Rutherford was the daughter of John Rutherford and IsabellaAllein. They had eleven children: Elizabeth, John, James, Thomas,William, Jane, Samuel, Alexander, Ester (died young(, Joseph, Mary (Diedyoung.) His children were born in Scotland, Ireland, and America.

The Walkers were staunch Presbyterians and helped to build the first logchurch which they named New Providence in memory of Providence church inIreland from whence they had come.  In 1900 some of the descendents werestill living on the original land, and were active elders in the NewProvidence Church.

The two John Walkers, uncle and nephew, with their family arrived atMaryland in August 1726. They settled in Chester Co., Pa.. In 1734 theymoved to the Valley of Virginia and was one of the earliest settlers inRockbridge County. The gallant Uncle and Nephew took up land on bothsides of a creek which still bears their name, flowing parallel to themountain range two miles distance from the natural bridge.

The two Johns were distinguished as "Gunmaker John" amd "GunstockerJohn". Gunmaker John Walker made the locks and barrels on the anvil ofhis shop and Gunstocker John made the woodwork.  The brave emigrants,buried in the wilderness, were dependent on themselves for everything andarms were a necessity in the neighborhood of war like savages of themountains.