The earliest information we have on our forebears is nearly four centuries old. The Reverend William Walton was born in 1600 and died in 1668. In an alumni report of Emanuel College, Cambridge, England it is noted that William Walton entered that institution on February 18, 1617 and graduated with a B.A. degree in 1621. He was awarded an M.A. degree in 1625. Records show that he was "probably of Somerset", England. Another source, however, unsubstantiated, suggest Essex County.

The alumni records show that he entered college as a "sizer", that is, one who works part time to finance his education.

William married Elizabeth Cooke, daughter of William and Martha (White) Cooke of Stratton, England, who became our pioneer ancestress. The date of her birth is not known but she died in 1682. Her maternal uncle, the Reverend John White, was Patriarch of Dorchester, Dorset, England, and became founder of Dorchester,Massachusetts in America.

Records show that William and Elizabeth were among the first settlers of Hingham (then known as Barecove, Mass.) They were also among the 29 men who, with Reverend Peter Hobart, and his little band of colonists, drew house lots and received grants of land for pasture and tillage in the first distribution of lots in Hingham on Sept. 18, 1635. That date establishes the beginning of the Walton family in America. That area is now a part of Melville Gardens at Downer's Landing. It is a sunny nook sloping down to the shore and, for more than three hundred years, has born the name of Walton's Cove. The bell tower of the old Ship Church still stands. It bears the date of 1631,

On the third of March 1635 his son Nathaniel was born. On March 8, 1635 he took the oath of "freeman".

The family moved to Marblehead, Mass., one of the oldest settlements in the colony, and most primitive, in 1637. It was in need of a minister. William Walton was the first missionary and he served as teacher and preacher for the next thirty years.

The houses were rude log huts with thatched roofs in which sputtering pine knots were the chief source of light. Cooking was done on spits, in kettles hung on a crane in the fireplace or in fireplace ovens. There was no magistrate - not even a constable to enforce the law. For further information read "Walton History" by Hattie Walton Heninger. Court records reveal that much of the turbulence of which Marblehead had been accused was due to the prevalent use of rum which was made from foreign molasses imported by the colonies.

The congregational form of church government was established by law in Mass. in 1651. Their little chapel, though built of rough-hewn logs, was a sacred edifice dedicated to the worship of God. The people met there on the Sabbath day, the men sitting at the head of the pews with muskets loaded in the event of an Indian attack.

William Walton died of apoplexy November 9, 1668 at Marblehead. He died intestate and under the court's appointment, Elizabeth administered his estate with the approval of the children. It is believed his resting place is "Ould Burial Hill." Elizabeth died in 1682.

Samuel Walton, son of William Walton and Elizabeth Cooke Walton was born June 5, 1639 at Marblehead, Mass. He died in 1717 and was buried at Reading, Mass. He married Sarah Maverick who was born at Chelsea, Mass. and died at Reading, June 10, 1714. She was the daughter of Elias and Ann Harris Maverick.

Samuel was among 14 householders who took the oath of allegiance Dec. 28, 1667. He served in civic and church activities as a "tithing man" (tax collector), constable and selectman. He was a farmer and also a mariner who found the fishing business highly competitive. After the death of his father and mother and the settlement of his fathers estate he inherited the place of his birth where all his children were later born.

Samuel Walton, son of Samuel Walton and Sarah Maverick Walton, was born at Marblehead in 1684. He was called "The miller of Hampton Falls". On December 22, 1702 he married Hannah Leach, daughter of John and Mary Leach. They moved to Reading where the births of their children are recorded. Samuel's name was on the proprietor's list when the town was incorporated by Charter on November 25, 1753. Samuel had a grist mill in North Hampton. He died November 9, 1753. He was buried at Hampton Falls. His wife Hannah, preceded him in death by six years and was buried at Reading.

Samuel Walton, (1705-1750), son of Samuel Walton and Hannah each, was born in Reading, Mass. October 7, 1705. He married Rebecca Davis, on March 6, 1729, daughter of Joshua and Rebecca Pierce Davis. They settled in Lynn, Essex County, Mass. A few years after their marriage an important event occurred in their lives. It all came about through the governor of Massachusetts bestowing grants of land on the legal heirs, male and female, of soldiers who had fought in King Phillips war. These grants were in fulfillment of a proclamation made to soldiers on Dedham Plain in the name of the government. It was said that "if they played the man, took the fort and drove the enemy out of Narragansett, they should have a gratuity of land besides their wages." Under that proclamation, Samuel's legal heirship came through his mother Hannah, the granddaughter of John Leach Sr., who was a soldier in that deadly struggle.

The grant was called Narragansett No. 3 or Souhegan West, until it was incorporated as Amherst, New Hampshire County, Mass. Samuel and Rebecca went with their children, to face an uncertain future in an unbroken wilderness. The land, densely forested, through which the Souhegan River flows on a meandering way to join the Merrimac was rich and fertile. It was, however, lonely and unsettled. The wives with their husbands and children helped to clear the land of trees, brush and stumps to make it habitable. Their homes, historians tell us, were the first in Amherst. Their son Benjamin was one of the first white children born in Amherst. They later moved to the east near Baboosuck Pond. The reason for this scattering out and moving to "other parts" was that they now felt it unnecessary to live in the fort, due to the promise of the government that they would be protected from attacks by the Indians - a promise that was never kept. Samuel died sometime before February 16, 1750. Through his widow his estate was administered by his son Samuel, who died before 1760.

Reuben Walton, son of Samuel and Rebecca Davis, whom she named as one of her minor children in a bond at the time of her husband's death, was born in Souhegan West, now Amherst about 1734-35. The death of his father left him on his own resources at the age of 14. In 1759 he married Mary Thompson.

In 1769 Rueben and Mary and their four sons sought land on a new frontier in the wilderness of Cheshire County, New Hampshire. The settlement was called Limerick, but was incorporated as Stoddard. This was a land grant from the Masonic Proprietors to Colonel Stoddard.

Their four sons Benjamin, Artemas, Reuben and Jonathan were born in Amherst. Mary's grandson Artemus, said she was of Scottish descent and that she possessed a "bright intellect and happy disposition." Mary was the daughter of Noah and Susannah Place Thompson.

The nearest town to Amherst was Peterborough. Provisions were packed in on their backs through a pathless wilderness where trees were blazed to guide the travelers on their way. In winter it was a great hardship as the snow was very deep. They built a pole house on three acres of land.

As they continued their journey through Peterborough an incident happened that was to change the life of young Reuben. For some reason, never divulged, Reuben was left at the home of the Hon. Hugh Wilson, member of the House of Representatives and the family travelled on without him. After Hugh Wilson had died, Reuben was treated badly by Wilson's son. Later when Reuben was a grown man living in Rumford, Maine it was verified that he had run away from the Wilsons. He assumed the name of John Thompson which was his mother's maiden name. In 1780 he joined the Continental Army using this alias. In 1782 he came home from the Army on leave. It was at this time that his mother verified the fact that he was her son Reuben.

Reuben Walton, Jr., son of Reuben Walton and Mary Thompson was born about 1765 at Amherst. He married Ruth Peabody May 30, 1787 in nearby Lyndborough. She was the daughter of Capt. Isaac and Sarah Wilkins Peabody. The census for 1790 lists them at Lynborough with a son and two daughters who are identified in family records as Artemas, Sally, and Elizabeth.

After the Revolutionary War the British government offered large tracts of land in Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia to Americans who would settle there. Many, including the Reuben Walton family, flocked there. He apparently went there to be near his son but did not remain there long and returned to Mexico, Maine where his brothers lived. Mexico was a government grant known as Holmanstown and was incorporated in 1818.

Reuben's last home was built amidst the scenic beauty of Rumford Falls, where the water plunges over the rocks in a foaming torrent. It was here that Reuben, in poor health, was living (with eight dependents) when he applied for a pension. He said "Pride would not allow me to apply for a pension as long as I was able to work."

Artemus Walton, son of Reuben and Ruth Peabody was born Sept. 4, 1788 and died August 20, 1853 in Dixfield, Maine. On February 19, 1815 he married Abigail Stevens of Rumford, Maine. Abigail died before 1840. Their children were Charles Wesley, born 1819 in Mexico, Maine, Eliza and Emily. Charles Wesley was my great-great-grandfather and therefore our line of heritage. Abigail was instructress of their son Charles Wesley until he was 12 years old. Their home in Mexico, Maine was an opening in the forest, a long distance from school.

Oxford County land records reveal that Artemas purchased 50 acres of land on the east side of the Swift River, which he conveyed to Arthur Walton. Artemas served on the Town Council as surveyor of highways, sealer of leather, and member of the school board. Aside from this he was engaged in the manufacture of shoes. He understood the precess of Morocco tanning and his shoes were made from that leather.

Artemas was a capable violinist. He played for dances in Mexico and nearby towns. He owned a Stradivarius violin made in Cremona, Italy in 1732. This treasured instrument has been handed down from father to son, and in 1969 was in the possession of Artemas' great-grandson, Mark Walton, of Salt Lake City, Utah.

Charles Wesley was born December 9, 1819, and died January 14, 1900 in Portland, Maine. As a youth Charles Wesley had very little opportunity to attend public school because of the distance in those sparsely settled areas. His mother supervised his education until he was l2, after which he had a year of instruction under a private tutor. When Charles was about 16 his father encouraged him to become a printer and arranged an apprenticeship with David Marks of Dover, New Hampshire, publisher of The Morning Star, a religious paper. After working there about two years, he changed his mind and returned home with a determination to educate himself in law. Like his father, he loved the violin and with it he earned his first money toward the goal he had set. Following his mother's death in 1840 he made his home with his aunt, Susan Walton. At this time he was about 20 years old.

He married Hannah Wheeler Kimball who was born March 17, 1822 in Mexico, Maine. She died January 4, 1870 in Portland, Maine and was buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Deering, Maine. She was the daughter of John and Hannah Wheeler Kimball. They had three children Cora, Wesley Kimball (my grandfather) and Elizabeth (Lizzie) who were all born in Mexico, Maine. Cora married Reuel Small, an official reporter in the U.S. Congress House of Representatives in Washington, D.C. My father Reuel had great admiration for his uncle for whom he was named. Lizzie married Courtney Crawford, a sea merchant. After his death she spent many years in Salt Lake City. She was active in civic affairs and for many years held a position of trust in the Utah State Land Office. In her religious life she was a devout member of the Catholic Church and was personally recognized by the Pope.

Early Mexico records testify to Charles Wesley's ability and willingness to serve his community. He also filled the offices of town clerk, justice of the peace, constable, tax collector, and school board trustee. He practiced law in Dixfield for about 12 years and for 10 years in Portland. He was elected county attorney in both Oxford and Cumberland Counties, and rose rapidly to the position of United States Representative from his district.

The honorary degree of Doctor of Law was conferred on him by Bowdoin College June 25, 1845. He opened the first law school in Mexico, Maine. On May 14, 1862 he was named Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the state of Maine. On the expiration of his term of office, May 15, 1897, Judge Walton retired from the bench. He was a member of the court for 35 years, a length of service unprecedented in the history of the state. A memorandum concerning his judicial record was published in Maine Reports, Vol.90 p.603-4. It was said that a truer system of law prevails in Maine than would have, had he not lived. A beautiful oil portrait of Judge Walton graces a wall of Androscoggin County Court House in Auburn, Maine.

Continue to Chapter 2, The Huffacker Family page and the rest of the history,
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