James Pembroke Walker1,2,3

Family Chart
ID# 18540, (abt 1824 - bef 1880)
FatherRobert Walker5 (25 Nov 1794 - 11 Nov 1835)
MotherElizabeth [surname unknown]4 (abt 1796 - )

Key Events:

Birth: about 1824, Kentucky6,7,8
Marriage: 26 Oct 1847, Hickman Co., Kentucky, Modena A. Cobb (Oct 1827 - 1902)1,9
Death: before 188010
ChartsDescendants of Gideon Cobb

Copyright Notice

Narrative:

     James Pembroke Walker was born about 1824 in Kentucky.6,7,8
     He was probably one of the two males age 5 to10 listed in the household of his supposed father, Robert Walker, in the 1830 Federal Census of Columbus, Hickman Co., Kentucky.11
     His supposed father died on 11 Nov 1835, when James was about 11 years old.12
     James married Modena A. Cobb, daughter of John Cobb and Sarah Story Briscoe, on 26 Oct 1847 in Hickman Co., Kentucky.1,9
     James and Modena appeared on the 1850 Federal Census of Hickman Co., Kentucky, enumerated 21 Aug 1850, reporting real estate valued at $2,500. Their son Robert was listed as living with them, as were Robert K. Walker, age 24 and also a merchant, and Barns M. Walker, age 21 and a clerk, who would appear to have been his brothers. Elizabeth [surname unknown], age 54, was listed as living in the same dwelling, and seems likely to have been his mother.2
     James and Modena appeared on the 1860 Federal Census of Columbus, Hickman Co., Kentucky, enumerated 3 Jul 1860, reporting real estate valued at $20,000 and personal estate of $10,000. Their children Robert, John, James, William and Burns were listed as living with them, as was Byron M Glenn, age 28, a merchant clerk.13
     James was one of 21 prominent citizens of Columbus, who along with several from Paducah, were banished to Canada by Gen. E. A. Paine as Confederate sympathizers. An order issued 31 Jul 1864 allowed them until 8 Aug to close their businesses and prepare to leave. James and Barns M. Walker, apparently his brother, were fined $5,000, which they did not pay. It is not clear how long they were away before being allowed to return.14
     He was a merchant, by 1870 a grocer.15,16,17
     James and Modena appeared on the 1870 Federal Census of Columbus, Hickman Co., Kentucky, enumerated 6 Jun 1870, reporting no real estate but $500 in personal estate for him, and real estate valued at $3,000 and personal estate of $500 for her. Their children Robert, John, James, William, Burns, Modena and Bessie were listed as living with them.18
     James died before 1880.10
     
Research Note, 21 Dec 2022:
Several un-sourced online trees show Robert and Elizabeth Walker as James's parents, and there is some evidence to support that claim. She appears in the 1850 census listed as a separate household but same dwelling as James and his two supposed brothers, and as head of the household with one of them in 1860. Robert appears in the 1830 census in Columbus with a household consistent with his supposed family, and was buried in Columbus in 1835. But no explicit evidence has been found he was her husband and father of her sons.2,19

Children:
     Children with Modena A. Cobb

Robert, William, and Bessie all appear with the family in the 1870 census, but no subsequent record has been found of any of them.

Citations

  1. [S2704] "Kentucky Marriages, 1785-1979," FamilySearch.org, record for James P. Walker and Modena A. Cobb, citing FHL#321386 and pg 140, In16.
  2. [S4100] James P. Walker household, 1850 U.S. Census, Hickman Co., Kentucky.
  3. [S12120] John Mercer Walker obituary, News-Democrat, shows name as Pembroke Walker.
  4. [S12137] E. Walker household, 1850 U.S. Census, Hickman Co., Kentucky, shows her as household in same building as his.
  5. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial # 81544300, Robert Walker, shows him as buried in same town as were the boy later lived, with same surname.
  6. [S4100] James P. Walker household, 1850 U.S. Census, Hickman Co., Kentucky, shows age 26 and state.
  7. [S4101] J. P. Walker household, 1860 U.S. Census, Hickman Co., Kentucky, shows age 35 and state.
  8. [S4102] Jas P. Walker household, 1870 U.S. Census, Hickman Co., Kentucky, shows age 45 and state.
  9. [S4100] James P. Walker household, 1850 U.S. Census, Hickman Co., Kentucky, shows them apparently living as husband and wife.
  10. [S4103] John M. Walker household, 1880 U.S. Census, Hickman Co., Kentucky, shows his wife as a widow.
  11. [S12139] Robert Walker household, 1830 U.S. Census, Hickman Co., Kentucky.
  12. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial # 81544300, Robert Walker, shows date and includes tombstone photo showing same.
  13. [S4101] J. P. Walker household, 1860 U.S. Census, Hickman Co., Kentucky.
  14. [S12119] Robertson, Paducah: Frontier to the Atomic Age, pg 54.
  15. [S4100] James P. Walker household, 1850 U.S. Census, Hickman Co., Kentucky, shows occupation as merchant.
  16. [S4101] J. P. Walker household, 1860 U.S. Census, Hickman Co., Kentucky, shows occupation as merchant.
  17. [S4102] Jas P. Walker household, 1870 U.S. Census, Hickman Co., Kentucky, shows occupation as grocer.
  18. [S4102] Jas P. Walker household, 1870 U.S. Census, Hickman Co., Kentucky.
  19. [S12138] Elizabeth Walker household, 1860 U.S. Census, Hickman Co., Kentucky.
  20. [S4100] James P. Walker household, 1850 U.S. Census, Hickman Co., Kentucky, shows them apparently living as parent and child.
  21. [S4101] J. P. Walker household, 1860 U.S. Census, Hickman Co., Kentucky, shows them apparently living as parent and child.
  22. [S4102] Jas P. Walker household, 1870 U.S. Census, Hickman Co., Kentucky, shows them apparently living as parent and child.
  23. [S2922] Register of Births, Kentucky, Hickman Co., 1852, John Mercer Walker.
  24. [S12120] John Mercer Walker obituary, News-Democrat, shows him as son of Mr. and Mrs. Pembroke Walker.
  25. [S2922] Register of Births, Kentucky, Hickman Co., 1854, James P. Walker.
  26. [S4099] "Kentucky, Births and Christenings, 1839-1960," FamilySearch.org, record for Walker, citing FHL #216827.
  27. [S4099] "Kentucky, Births and Christenings, 1839-1960," FamilySearch.org, record for Mary Walker, citing FHL #216827.
  28. [S2922] Register of Births, Kentucky, Hickman Co., 1859, Burns Walker.
  29. [S2922] Register of Births, Kentucky, Hickman Co., 1861, Modena Carie Walker.
  30. [S3462] "Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1947," FamilySearch.org, record for Modena Caroline Woodward, citing cert. no. 14543.