Eastern States Missions

A Question: Submitted by Eileen Wilcox, Rexburg, Idaho I was looking at the Family Search.org recently. I looked under Wm H. Walker and found some amazing things... namely sealings in Logan for a number of wives I’ve never heard of!! Is there some explanation for this? Here are the additional wives names: [the sealing dates were in various months during 1885 and 1886] Deborah Tisdale Catherine Walker Abigail Walker Wealthy Walker Hannah Walker Mary Walker Caty Sproat Ann Elizabeth Waldron Phebe Walker Mary Leonard Hannah Leonard Caroline Leonard Phebe Leonard Answer by family genealogist Eldon Walker: Very interesting about the 13 wives of William Holmes Walker. You have probably missed many more than that. I had seen this years ago, and was concerned as to what was happening. In doing some research, then, I found that many of the families had children that died early, were not married, nor were they sealed to anyone. The practice for some reason existed then, that the families wanted their children to be sealed to a worthy man. Many women who were sealed to their husbands, and the husbands were not worthy went to the temple and were sealed to some important official in the Church, such as Brigham Young, Parly P. Pratt, Lorenzo Snow, etc. They also felt that everyone needed to be sealed to someone, and so when William was in the temple, they asked to be sealed to him. They at this time did not llok upon the sealing as being married. It was only a sealing. So the question is: When is a sealing not a marriage and when is it only a sealing. I did not look at the age of these individuals, nor to see if they were dead or alive when they were sealed. (I am assuming they were dead - correct me if I am wrong.) I am certain that there were not any children begotten by William to any of these women. So, my suggestion is that we ignore them as wives and treat them as only a sealing. I went to the Temple Department today to see what they felt about this situation, and I got the feeling from them that I am on the right track. The members back then knew how important the sealing process was, and so they took all kinds of efforts to get this done. Of course, today they would not do it. Answer Submitted by Eldon Walker, Salt Lake City, UT

We were so excited to host the 2020 National Family Reunion in historic Brigham City, Utah. Unfortunately the world had other plans. We'll try again next year.

Robert Walker was born 1607 in Manchester, England. He was indentured to the Winthrop Co. and arrived in America in 1630. He became a 'freeman" in 1634, married Sarah Leager, and settled in Boston, MA.

As I approach my 8th year of serving the John Walker Family Organization, and approach an end to my term as President, it dawns on me that the consequence of my service has been quite different than was intended. I believe this has been a good thing and would invite you to take a moment to consider this month’s message. Over the next year I will elaborate upon these ideas in the form of monthly newsletters. So what were those unintended consequences?

The following timeline is from the book entitled From England to Boston: A Biographical Sketch of Robert Walker and Sarah Leager Walkerby Brett C. Walker Manchester Cathedral 1607/07 Robert Walker born in Manchester, Lancashire, England 1612 Sarah Leager born 1623 Robert began an apprenticeship as a linen weaver 1629 Robert completed his apprenticeship and married Sarah Leager in England 1630 They join the Puritan fleet led by John Winthrop and sail to America, landing in Salem, MA 1631 They moved to Boston 1632 Robert became 131st member of the First Church in Boston 1634 Robert became a freeman 1669 Robert co-founded the Third Church in Boston (Old South Church) - Sara is co-founder 1687 Robert died of a stroke at age 80 in Boston, MA 1695 Sarah died at 83 in Boston, MA