Charles Walker was born about 1745 and lived in Orange County VA. He was a member of the crew that helped George Washington survey his property on the far side of the Alleghany mountains before the American Revolution. His surveying compass is still passed down in his family.
After the war, Charles, like many former soldiers, looked to migrate westward beyond the mountains. In 1782, Charles and his wife Margaret Peters along with Margaret's brothers John and Christian Peters, left the Valley of Virginia and traveled west eventually settling in the Shenandoah Valley on the east side of the New River near the present-day town of Narrows in Giles County VA. John Peters settled a short distance up the river.
As the map shows, they were right on the border of VA and present-day West Virginia.
On that trek across the mountains was baby Chrispi Anos Walker, the son of Charles and Margaret Walker and the 4X-great grandfather of my sons. He was born in Rockingham County VA 14 March 1782. He was known in the family as Anos. Like many other young people at the time, Anos was illiterate, but was determined to improve this deficiency by getting an education. Eventually he became very good with figures, was an able speaker and loved to debate.
Now Anos was engaged to marry his cousin, Frances Jane (Frankie) Peters, the youngest child of his uncle John Peters, mentioned above. However, Frankie's parents were vehemently opposed to the marriage, in part because of the close kinship, and kept her under watch. Anos was forbidden to come to their home.
Frankie, however, was determined to escape the watchful eye of her family and slip away undetected. Anos managed to get a message to her informing her of a certain time when he would be at his parents' house with a marriage license and a preacher.
Just after daybreak on the morning of April 11, 1810, 16-year-old Frankie slipped away from her home and started running toward the Walker home.
Her absence was soon observed, however, and two of her brothers (She had five older brothers.) started chasing her. She had a lead though and arrived breathless at the Walker home. She rushed through the doorway shouting "Now or Never!!"
Her sudden arrival at that early hour took Anos by surprise, but hearing the urgency in Frankie's voice, he sprang out of bed, roused the preacher and was married forthwith in his nightshirt. The two brothers arrived too late to prevent the marriage and eventually the family was reconciled to the newlyweds.
Chrispianos Walker served in the War of 1812, volunteering into the 4th Regiment of the Virginia Militia at Giles County Courthouse. He served as the Orderly Sergeant of his company.
Anos and Frankie later moved to Mercer County and raised a family of eleven children. Anos was a very competent surveyor and served as a justice of the peace for Mercer County. In 1837, he was appointed a commissioner to survey a site for the new county courthouse.
By 1852, Anos and Frankie were living at Devil's Fork in the newly formed Wyoming County. Anos Walker died in 1876. After her husband's death, Frankie went to live with her daughter Valerie and died at her daughter's home at the age of 90 in 1884.
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