Tandy Walker of Alabama

My interest in Tandy Walker is from the relationship of the Womack, Riddle and Walker families.  Tandy Walker was a very interesting person.

John Walker, Tandy's brother, married Mary Riddle, sister of Joseph Riddle who married Phoebe Womack.  See Choctaw Riddle family.

There is a lot of good information and misinformation about Tandy Walker.  There were many men named Tandy Walker.  The names derives from the marriage of Sylvanus Walker and Ann "Nancy" Tandy; many of their descendants took Tandy as a first name.

Some resources on Tandy Walker:

• Early History of Grime County, Texas (section on Tandy Walker starts page 147)
• A History of Methodism in Alabama (section on Tandy Walker starts page 90)
• Tandy Walker Land Grant, (in Spanish) Grimes Co, TX, Abstract 57, 27 Apr 1831, Vol 5, Patent 1154 (includes Tandy Walker's signature).
• Tandy Walker on Register of Families (in Spanish), showing Tandy Walker age 62, farmer, wife Mary age 55, arrived June 1830, 2 sons and 6 slaves.
• Tandy Walker, Georgia Archives, 1823 application for compensation for property stolen by Creek Indians.  Signature same as in 1831 Texas land grant.
• Tandy Walker, placed on pension rolls 7 July 1838, by act of US Congress, backdated to 1 Jan 1828.
• Tandy Walker, St Stephens, AL - story of how he rescued a white woman kidnapped by the Creeks.
• Mary Mays and Tandy Walker - appears to be an application for membership to the Choctaw Nation by a descendant.
• Tandy Walker on 1805 Tax List, Washington Co, AL (then part of Mississippi Territory).
• William Walker and Tandy Walker, statement concerning Creek Indians, 10 Dec 1796 issue of "The Augusta chronicle and gazette of the state".
• Tandy Walker, a spy,  injured in Creek War of 1813-1814

Tandy Walker was not in the Revolutionary War.  He was placed on the Pension Roll by an Act of Congress in 1838 for his service as a spy during the Creek War of 1813-1814.  Ancestry has the index of "U.S. House of Representative Private Claims, Vol. 3".  Tandy Walker's name is first mentioned 6 Jan 1819 in a petition for "Relief for disabilities incurred whilst acting as spy in the Creek war".  The petitions continued several times over the years until approved on 7 July 1838, when an Act of Congress placed him on the pension list, backdated to 1 Jan 1828 at $8 a month.

Tandy Walker was too young for military service in the Revolutionary War, since he was born circa 1768, given his age of 62 in the 1830 Register of Families in Texas (then part of Mexico).  Tandy would have been about 13 at the time of the Battle of Yorktown, Virginia, which pretty much ended the war.  Tandy Walker "blacksmith to the Indians" has been thoroughly conflated with cousins and second cousins of the same name who did serve in the Revolutionary War.

Tandy Walker was active in multiple military conflicts.  He was in the Frontier Wars 1790-1796  (Oconee War), in militia companies from Georgia.  He was on the payroll of companies from Glynn Co, GA in 1793 and 1794, along with William Walker, Joel Walker, Elijah Walker, and John Walker, presumably his kin.  They were likely fighting the Creek Indians.

Tandy Walker was also in the Mississippi Territory Militia for the War of 1812, in Carson's Regiment, Captain Josiah Watts' Company of Mounted Volunteer Gunmen.  He appears on muster rolls as a private in 1814 at Fort Montgomery and Mobile.  A John Walker, likely Tandy's brother, was in the same company.

Tandy Walker appears in the database "Alabama Revolutionary War Soldiers" as "private, particular service not shown; enrolled on September 20, 1838, payment to date from January 1, 1828; annual allowance, $96.--Pension Book, State Branch Bank, Mobile."  However, he was on the pension roll due to service in the Creek War 1813-1814, not the Revolutionary War.  Most people on the pension roll at that time were Revolutionary War veterans, because at that time, for veterans of later conflicts, an Act of Congress was required to be added to the pension rolls.

There was a Tandy Walker in the Revolutionary War with extensive records in the 6th Virginia Regiment.  This Tandy Walker moved to Chatham Co, NC, the to Moore Co, NC, where he applied for and received a pension, see pension application.  Note that the pension application states he was in the 6th Regiment of Virginia Continental Line.  His pension record says he died 4 Aug 1836.  He received his pension in North Carolina and almost certainly died there.

There was a Tandy Walker in tax lists of Mecklenburg Co, VA, for example, 1787-B Personal tax list, image 22, at binnsgenealogy.com.  Mecklenburg Co, VA was formed from Lunenburg Co, VA, where the first Tandy Walker, son of Sylvanus Walker and Ann Tandy, lived.

There is a memorial to a Tandy Walker in the Nectar Congregational Methodist Church Cemetery, Blount County, Alabama, but as the cemetery book notes, it is unlikely he is buried here, since he died in North Carolina on 4 Aug 1836.  The memorial states "Tandy Walker, 1760-1843, Private in the 6th Virginia Regiment, Revolutionary War".  There are a few other memorials to Revolutionary War veterans, including a William Walker (1762 - 1840), but none appear particularly old, and were likely placed by descendants in the 1900s.  In any case, this is not Tandy Walker "blacksmith to the Indians".

An index card from the Alabama Archives notes that the book "The Roster of Revolutionary Soldiers and Patriots of Alabama" by Louise Julich says: "WALKER, TANDY WILLIAM, private in the North Carolina Militia was buried in the Antioch Methodist Cemetery, Blount County, Alabama.  The Warrior River Chapter supplied the information and marked the grave."  Antioch Cemetery is in Oneonta, AL, about 10 miles from Nectar Cemetery, mentioned above.  No idea who this William Tandy Walker is, but since this came from a Daughters of the American Revolution chapter, it should be treated cautiously, since their early "genealogical" work is notoriously awful.

There was a Tandy Walker with a letter in the Triana, AL post office (Madison Co, AL), listed in the 11 July 1828 issue of The Democrat newspaper, Huntsvillle, AL (page 3, column 6, newspapers.com).   Triana is on the Tennessee River south of Huntsville.  This is about 45 miles straight line distance from Oneonta, AL.  This appears to be a different Tandy Walker.  The people in Madison Co, AL often came from Tennessee.

There was another Tandy Walker in the Revolutionary War.  This Tandy Walker served in North Carolina as private (North Carolina, Revolutionary War Soldiers, 1776-1783).  Nothing more known.  Also, in "Roster of South Carolina Patriots in the American Revolution", a Tandy Walker served in the SC militia after the fall of Charleston.

In the War of 1812, there was a Tandy Walker, corporal in Captain Johnson's Company, North Carolina Militia; a Tandy Walker, private in 7th Regiment (Saunder's) Virginia Militia; and Tandy Walker, private in Carson's Regiment Mississippi Militia, discussed above.

To reiterate, there were many Tandy Walkers, but Tandy Walker "blacksmith to the Indians" was not in the Revolutionary War.  He was in the Georgia Frontier Wars of the 1790s, the War of 1812, and the Creek War of 1813-1814, during which he was injured, and was eventually added to the pension roll in 1838 by an Act of Congress.

The pension office in Mobile, AL notes he was a private paid $8 a month from 1828 through 1838.  They actually paid veterans twice a year, in March and September, so they would receive 6 months of their pension at once.  This was all back-pay, likely paid in a lump sum in 1838.  Note that was in Texas in the 1830s.  The pension record notes his account was transferred to the Tuskaloosa (old spelling of Tuscaloosa) office, but I cannot find him in the records of the Tuscaloosa pension office.  Another record of the Mobile, AL office has Tandy Walker as a spy being paid $8 a month, and paid in March 1843, but no further payments or other information.

From Tandy Walker's 1823 application to Georgia for compensation for property stolen by Indians, he said his father was William Walker.  The 1796 newspaper article says William Walker and Tandy Walker were from Columbia Co, GA.  The following deeds may refers to William Walker, father of Tandy:

• Columbia Co, GA Deed Book A:47 (LDS Film # 008135388, image 28) - Joshua Perkins to William Walker, lease for 100 acres, recorded 19 Oct 1791.  22 Dec 1774, Joshua Perkins of GA, carpenter, to William Walker of Ninety Six District, SC, 100 acres in St Paul's Parish.  Signed Joshua Perkins.  Witnesses David Thweatt, Samuel Walker, Thomas Glascock.
• Columbia Co, GA Deed Book A:48 (LDS Film # 008135388, image 29) - Joshua Perkins to William Walker, release 100 acres, recorded 19 Oct 1791.   23 Dec 1774, Joshua Perkins of GA, carpenter, to William Walker of Ninety Six District, SC, 100 acres in St Paul's Parish, sold to Perkins by William Lynn.  Signed Joshua Perkins.  Witnesses David Thweatt, Samuel Walker, Thomas Glascock.  Proved 6 July 1775 by Samuel Walker,
• Columbia Co, GA Deed Book A:52 (LDS Film # 008135388, image 31) - William Walker to John Fluker deed for 100 acres, recorded 20 Oct 1791.  17 [?] Sep 1784, William Walker to John Fluker, 100 acres on Germanys Creek in Richmond Co, GA.  Signed Wiliam (his & mark) Walker.  Witnesses Owen Fluker, Henry Bell.  Proved by Henry Bell 6 Sep 1790.

The following are what I believe to be the records of Tandy Walker, "blacksmith to the Indians".  The records show he was born circa 1768 to William Walker and Sarah (last name unknown).

The 1794 tax list of Glynn Co, GA lists Tandy Walker, William Walker and Joel Walker in a row.  See here (this is both the 1792 and 1794 tax lists).  While in Glynn Co, GA, Tandy Walker was in the Georgia Militia, listed in 1793 and 1794, see above, along with William Walker, Joel Walker, Elijah Walker, and John Walker.

In Tandy Walker's statement, made 20 Jan 1823, he said he was living in 1791 near Traders Hill on the St Marys River, when the Creek Indians stole his horses.  When he had horses stolen in 1792 and 1796, he was living in "Glen County" [sic, Glynn County] on the "Alatamahaw" River [Altamaha River].  In another statement, also made on 20 Jan 1823, Tandy Walker stated he was the Executor of the Last Will and Testament of William Walker deceased, and that William Walker in 1791 was a citizen of Georgia living near Traders Hill on the north side of the St Marys River, when several of his horses were stolen by the Indians of the Creek Nation.  This statement does not specify how Tandy Walker was related to William Walker.

Tandy Walker made his statements from Dallas Co, AL, and they were rejected because received a response in which he was told his statements had to made to court in Georgia.  So, Tandy Walker and his witness Caldwell Eastiss traveled to Jasper Co, GA where made another statement on 7 July 1823.  In this statement, Tandy Walker specifies that William Walker was his father, and Tandy Walker was the Administrator of William's estate.  In a second statement on 7 July 1823, Tandy spoke of the horses stolen from him, including "one black elegant gelding taken forcibly by said Indians from under deponents wife in the year 1796".  So, Tandy Walker was a married man in 1796.

Caldwell Eastiss was a witness for Tandy Walker in all these statements, and swore that he lived near Tandy Walker and William Walker in Georgia, and knew of the stolen horses.  He must have been a good friend of Tandy Walker, since he traveled with Tandy to Georgia, so Tandy could give his statements there.

So far, I have found no probate records for William Walker.  William Walker married Sarah LNU (last name unknown) and he died by 4 Mar 1807, as proved by the following records in Washington Co, AL (then part of Mississippi Territory):

• Washington Co, Mississippi Territory Deed Book A:171 (LDS Film # 007651265, image 620).   "I Sarah Walker of the Mississippi Territory and County of Washington, widow" to "my son Tandy Walker" a negro woman named Betty for $400.  The first child Betty may have to go to "my son William".  Signed 4 Mar 1807, Sarah Walker.  Witness:  James Ford.  Acknowledged before me and recorded 9 Apr 1807, R Harwell Clk.
• Washington Co, Mississippi Territory Deed Book A:171 (LDS Film # 007651265, image 620).   "I Sarah Walker of the County of Washington and Mississippi Territory" to John Walker for $100, negro boy Ben.  Signed 4 Mar 1807, Sarah Walker.  Witness:  James Ford.  Acknowledged before me and recorded 10 Apr 1807, R Harwell Clk.

Note that Sarah Walker says she is a widow and states that Tandy and William are her sons.  She does not state John Walker is her son, but another record shows Tandy and John were brothers.  Tandy Walker had a daughter, Sarah Newstep Walker, whose name may be a clue to the maiden name of Tandy's mother.

The last known record of William Walker, father of Tandy Walker, is statement he made 7 Nov 1796 in Columbia Co, GA.  His son Tandy Walker made a similar statement the same day, and both statements were published in the 10 Dec 1796 issue of the "The Augusta chronicle and gazette of the state" newspaper (page 3, column 4).  William Walker, of Columbia Co, GA, swore he was employed by James Seagrove, the superintendent of the United States, at the treaty held at Colerain, as an artisan on the part of the US for the benefit of the Creek Indians.  He swore he was "generally acquainted" with the Creek language.  Tandy Walker swore he was an artisan who assisted William Walker, and was also "generally acquainted" with the Creek language.  Both William Walker and Tandy Walker swore that they overheard various Creek leaders state promises made by representatives of the Federal Government which went against the goals of the Georgia government.

Colerain was a town in Camden Co, GA on the St Marys River.  The Treaty of Colerain was signed here between the US and the Creek Nation.  James Seagrove was the US ambassador to the Creek Nation.  He wrote several letters to President George Washington, who was interested in the progress of negotiations with the Creeks.  The government and people of Georgia were dissatisfied with the treaty, and thought the US should have forced the Creeks to cede more land. 

William Walker and Tandy Walker were artisans, likely blacksmiths, who were employed by the US to provide services to the Creeks.  These agrees with "The Reminiscences of George Strother Gaines", p.131, which states Tandy Walker had been a government blacksmith for the Creeks, and spoke Creek fluently.

Tandy Walker and his brother John Walker applied for pre-emption land in Washington County, Mississippi Territory.  Their case was heard 31 Mar 1804 (American State Paper, Public Lands, Vol I, page 666).  Witnesses deposed that Tandy Walker inhabited and cultivated the land on the west side of the Tombigbee River by at least 3 Mar 1803; that Tandy Walker was the head of a family and John Walker was at least 21.  The claim was signed by John Walker "for self and brother Tandy".

On p.665 of the same book, John Wamack [Womack] and John Walker were chain carriers for a claim made by Peter Cartwright.

Tandy Walker appears in various tax lists of Washington Co, as well as a signer of a few petitions during this time.  This was also when he was employed as a blacksmith by the US, at St Stephens in Washington Co.

In 1815, Tandy Walker was on the tax list of Clarke Co, AL, formed from Washington Co on the east side of the Tombigbee River.  On 15 Aug 1817, the state of Mississippi was formed from the western half of Mississippi Territory, and the eastern half became Alabama Territory until 14 Dec 1819, when Alabama became a state.  Tandy Walker was living in Marengo Co, AL by 1818 - an Act of the Alabama Territory on 16 Nov 1818 established three voting precincts in Marengo Co at the homes of Tandy Walker, Jesse Birdsong and William Hopkins.

Perry Co, AL was created in 1819, partially from Marengo Co, and it is possible that Tandy Walker's home then fell into Perry Co.  The Choctaw tribe application (link above) seems to say Nancy C Walker, daughter of Tandy Walker and Mary Mays, was born in Perry Co, AL.  Additionally, "A History of Methodism in Alabama" states Tandy Walker is buried in Township 18, Range 6, which is in southwest Perry Co, and near the town of Newbern.

The area is close to the junction of Marengo, Perry and Dallas Counties.  Tandy Walker was in Dallas Co, AL in 1823 when he made his initial statement about property stolen by the Creeks.  Tandy Walker's signature on his 1823 statements matches his signature on his 1831 Texas land grants.

More later.