By Muriel Bristol | May 18, 2025
Richard Walker was born in the Northeast Parish of Rochester, NH, January 10, 1797, daughter of Joseph and Sally (Pray) Walker. He was a namesake for his paternal grandfather, with whom they lived.
Richard Walker and his father, Joseph Walker, both signed the April 1820 petition requesting the appointment of James Roberts as a Milton justice-of-the-peace. (See Milton Seeks a Magistrate – 1820).
Richard Walker and his father, Joseph Walker, both signed the June 1820 remonstrance petition requesting that Milton not be divided in two parts. He signed also the Milton Militia Division Petition of November 1820. (See Milton Militia Dispute – 1820 and Milton Anti-Division Remonstrance – June 1820).
Richard Walker married (1st), in 1825, Sarah “Sally” Hatch, he of Dover, NH, and she of Milton. She was born in Northeast Parish, Rochester, NH, August 22, 1798, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Henderson) Hatch. Rev. James Walker performed the ceremony.
(The children of Richard and Sarah (Hatch) Walker were: Abbie Eliza Walker (1828–1902), Emma Sarah Walker (1832–1902), Edward Walker (1834–1885), and Charles Walker (1836–1904)).
Daughter Abbie Eliza Walker was born in Milton in 1828.
Richd Walker headed a Milton household at the time of the Fifth (1830) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 30-39 years [himself], one female aged 30-39 years [Sarah (Hatch) Walker], one female aged 20-29 years, one male aged 15-19 years, one female aged under-5 years [Eliza A. Walker], and one male aged under-5 years [Richard Walker]. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Thos Merrow and Chas Swasey.
Daughter Emma Sarah Walker was born in Milton in 1832.
PATENT SUBMARINE WATER WHEEL. THE Subscriber respectfully informs the public, and especially those interested in Mill Seats that he has made a valuable improvement in the construction of WATER WHEELS, and in the application of water thereto, for which he has received letters patent under the seal of the United States, dated March 12, 1833, for the term of 14 years, and is now ready to sell to individuals rights, for states, counties, or a single wheel, a model of which may be seen in operation at his shop in Milton, N.H. The many and great advantages this wheel possesses, over the wheels now in common use, for privileges where there can be but a small head, and especially those of Tide waters, are sufficient to recommend itself to all those that wish to improve such privileges. Said wheel may be built either of wood or cast iron, and will cost one-third less than the common Tub Wheel when built of the same materials; it is so constructed that it will save two feet in any head more than the Tub Wheel; it will also work with perfect ease under any depth of back water and effectually get the strength of all the head above; furthermore the above wheel is so placed for operation that it confines the pressure by which it is relieved of its own specific gravity, and may be made to exactly balance, and run as light as though it did not weigh a pound. RICHARD WALKER. Milton, April 1, 1833.
N.B. Any further information respecting the above wheel may be had by writing to R. Walker, Milton, N.H., and any building new mills, or repairing old ones, that feel disposed to patronize his improvement can be waited on at their respective stands, with a model, if the distance is not too great (Dover Enquirer, April 16, 1833).
Son Edward Walker was born in Portsmouth, NH, in 1834. Son Charles Walker was born in Portsmouth, NH, September 2, 1836.
Sarah “Sally” (Hatch) Walker died in Portsmouth, NH, in 1837, aged thirty-eight years.
Died. In Portsmouth, Mrs. Sarah Walker, aged 38, wife of Mr. Richard Walker, formerly of Milton (Dover Enquirer, February 7, 1837).
Richard Walker, of Portsmouth, NH, received a patent for a rotary power stocking loom, December 5, 1839.
In 1839 a rotary power stocking loom was patented by Richard Walker, of Portsmouth New Hampshire, at which place, during the same year, the largest stocking factory in New England was put in operation. It employed 220 hands, and made 3,000 pairs of woollen hose per week (US Census Office, 1860).
Richard Walker married (2nd) in Portsmouth, NH, in 1839, Elizabeth “Eliza” Hatch. She was born in Newington, NH, in 1803, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Henderson) Hatch (and younger sister of Walker’s deceased wife).
Married. In Portsmouth, Mr. Richard Walker, to Miss Eliza Hatch (Dover Enquirer, December 24, 1839).
(The children of Richard and Elizabeth (Hatch) Walker were: Harriet S. “Hattie” Walker (1843–1873), and Ellen Walker (1845–1934)).
Daughter Harriet S. Walker was born in Portsmouth, NH, in 1843.
Richard Walker and Jefferson McIntire, of Portsmouth, NH, received a patent for a knitting loom, February 12, 1844.
Daughter Ellen Walker was born in Portsmouth, NH, in 1845.
Richard Walker invented a file-making machine, upon which the Portsmouth Journal reported in 1847.
FILE MACHINE. – Most of the files now used in this country are imported, being made in England by hand, with great labor. The Portsmouth Journal states that Mr. Richard Walker has invented and patented a machine, now in operation, which will ere long make files an article of export instead of import. Three machines, which can be tended by one man, can complete twenty common files an hour. A steam engine of five horsepower can put at least 50 of these machines in operation (Pittsfield Sun (Pittsfield, MA), November 11, 1847).
Richard Walker, a machinist, aged fifty-three years (b. NH), headed a Portsmouth, NH, household at the time of the Seventh (1850) Federal Census. His household included Eliza [(Hatch)] Walker, aged forty-seven years (b. NH), Eliza A. Walker, aged twenty-three years (b. NH), Emma Walker, aged eight years (b. NH), Edward Walker, a baker, aged fifteen years, Charles Walker, aged thirteen years, Harriet S. Walker, aged seven years (b. NH), Ellen Walker, aged six years (b. NH), and William Hatch, a farmer, aged eighty-two years (b. NH).
Father Joseph Walker died of lung fever in Milton, January 22, 1850, aged eighty-one years. He was a farmer (1850 U.S. Census Mortality Schedule).
DEATHS. In Milton, 22d ult., Mr. Joseph Walker, aged 81 years (Dover Enquirer, February 5, 1850).
The last will of Joseph Walker was proved in Strafford County Probate court held in Dover, NH, February 5, 1850 (Strafford County Probate, 61:414).
Richard Walker appeared in the Portsmouth, NH, directory of 1851, as a machinist, with his house at 6 Hanover street.
Richard Walker moved his family from Portsmouth, NH, to Hopedale village, in Milford, MA, in 1853. In so doing, they were joining a particular utopian Christian-socialist commune – the “Hopedale” community – which had been founded in 1843 by the Unitarian Rev. Adin Ballou (1803-1890). (Rev. Adin Ballou would officiate at the subsequent marriages of five of the six Walker children).
And there was Richard Walker, an ardent spiritualist and “heavy thinker on important subjects,” who was becoming locally well known as the inventor of improvements in textile machinery; before he joined the community in 1853, Walker had patented the first power loom for knitting underwear. The Practical Christian probably understated the situation when in 1857 it said of the villagers that “in respect to business enterprise, and the laudable ambition to acquire property for good use, they have their full share” (Spann, 1992).
Daughter Emma Sarah Walker married in Milford, MA, September 25, 1853, James M. Morey, both of Natick, MA. He was a cordwainer, aged twenty-four years, and she was aged twenty-one years. He was born in Wilmot, NH, in September 1829, son of William and Mary M. (Fifield) Morey. Rev. Adin Ballou performed the ceremony.
COURT OF COMMON PLEAS. … The case of Austin vs. M’Intire & Walker, on the Stocking Loom, was tried again; and is thus reported in the Boston Herald. No. 2 was first in order. Elijah Austin et al. vs. Richard Walker et al. of Portsmouth. This was an action for covenant broken. It appeared, during the trial, that Walker, one of the defendants, had invented a rotary stocking-loom, and in ’39 obtained a patent for the same: that an agreement was entered into between the parties that, for the sum of $1000, the defendants should sell the plaintiff’s said patent-right, and the right to make and sell these machines in all the world, with the exception of this country: that plaintiff should send a suitable agent to Europe to make sale of the patent right, and that when the sales amounted to the $2500 the plaintiffs should pay defendants the further sum of $1500: that if plaintiffs were unable to sell said patent-right for enough to pay the agent’s expenses, then the defendants should pay back $1000 and a reasonable proportion of the expenses arising from the agency. Christie & Kingman, for plaintiff; Wells of Exeter, Hatch and Emery of Portsmouth, for the defence. The closing argument for the defence was made by Mr. Wells, on Thursday afternoon. Mr. Christie followed, on Friday morning, in an argument which continued for three and three-quarters hours. The jury retired, late on Friday afternoon, after an impartial charge from the Hon. Court. The jury after being out till Saturday morning, were discharged by the Court, being unable to agree (Portsmouth Daily Chronicle (Portsmouth, NH), January 24, 1854).
Richard Walker, a machinist, aged fifty-eight years (b. NH), headed a Milford, MA, household at the time of the First (1855) MA State Census. His household included Eliza [(Hatch)] Walker, aged fifty-two years (b. NH), Abby Walker, aged twenty-seven years (b. NH), Edward Walker, a soap maker, aged twenty-one years (b. NH), Charles Walker, a book binder, aged nineteen years (b. NH), Harriet Walker aged twelve years (b. NH), and Ellen Walker, aged ten years (b. NH).
… Rev. Adin Ballou is the author and founder of this system of life, and resides among bis people – editing the paper and other productions with which their local press teems, and preaching in their Chapel. He is much respected and beloved by the Community. We found several old acquaintances here – the family of Mr. Richard Walker, and Mr. George Hatch and lady, all formerly of Portsmouth (Portsmouth Daily Chronicle (Portsmouth, NH), September 27, 1855).
(Mr. George O. Hatch (c1824-1900) was also a native of Milton. His “lady” was Sarah Jane (Farnum) Hatch (1831-1906)).
Son Edward Walker married in Milford, MA, November 29, 1855, Chloe Hunt Cook, both of Milford, MA. He was a soap maker, aged twenty-seven years, and she was aged twenty-eight years. She was born in Milford, MA, February 2, 1837, daughter of Stephen and Diana (Hunt) Cook. Rev. Adin Ballou performed the ceremony.
Daughter Abbie E. Walker married in Milford, MA, December 27, 1856, William B. Franklin, she of Milford, MA, and he of Schaghticoke, NY. He was a machinist, aged forty-one years, and she was aged twenty-eight years. He was born in Pittston, NY, in March 1815, son of Eleazar and Phebe Franklin. Rev. Adin Ballou performed the ceremony.
Son Charles Walker married (1st) in Milford, MA, May 9, 1858, Elizabeth A. “Lizzie” Farnham, both of Milford, MA. He was a bookbinder, aged twenty-two years, and she was aged twenty-one years. She was born in Chester, NH, circa 1837, daughter of Rufus G. and Lydia N. (Davis) Farnham. Rev. Adin Ballou performed the ceremony.
Richard Walker, a machinist, aged sixty-three years (b. NH), headed a Milford, MA, household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. His household included Eliza [(Hatch)] Walker, aged fifty-seven years (b. NH), Hattie Walker, aged seventeen years (b. NH), and Nellie Walker, a bookbinder, aged fifteen years (b. NH). They shared a three-family house residence with the households of [his son,] Edward Walker, a machinist, aged twenty-four years (b. NH), and Edwin Straw, a needle maker, aged twenty-seven years (b. England).
Wm B. Franklin, a woolen manufacturer, aged forty-five years (b. NH), headed a Greenwich, NY, household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. His household included Abby E. [(Walker)] Franklin, aged thirty-two years (b. NH), Willie T. Franklin, aged twelve years (b. NY), Charles L. Franklin, aged three years (b. NY), and Lela W. Franklin, aged one year (b. NY). Wm B. Franklin had personal estate valued at $2,000.
James Mowry, a blacksmith, aged thirty years (b. NH), headed a Milford, MA, household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. His household included Emma [(Walker)] Mowry, aged twenty-eight years (b. NH), and Minnie Mowry, aged one year (b. MA). They shared a two-family residence with the household of Mary Hayward, a straw sewer, aged sixty-one years (b. VT). Their residence adjoined that occupied by [his father-in-law,] Richard Walker, a machinist, aged sixty-three years (b. NH), and [brother-in-law,] Edward Walker, a machinist, aged twenty-four years (b. NH).
Edward Walker, a machinist, aged twenty-four years (b. NH), headed a Milford, MA, household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. His household included Chloe H. [(Cook)] Walker, aged twenty-two years (b. MA), and Emma L. Walker, aged two years (b. MA). They shared a three-family house residence with the households of Edwin Straw, a needle maker, aged twenty-seven years (b. England), and [his father,] Richard Walker, a machinist, aged sixty-three years (b. NH).
Charles Walker, a bookbinder, aged twenty-three years (b. NH), headed a Milford, MA, household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. His household included Lizzie [(Farnham)] Walker, aged twenty-three years (b. NH), and Winnie B. Walker, aged four months (b. MA).
Richard Walker, a machinist, aged sixty-seven years (b. NH), headed a Milford, MA, household at the time of the Second (1865) MA State Census. His household included Eliza [(Hatch)] Walker, housekeeping, aged sixty-three years (b. NH), Hattie S. Walker, a bookbinder, aged twenty-two years (b. NH), and Nellie Walker, a polisher, aged twenty years (b. NH). They shared a two-family residence with the household of [his son,] Edward Walker, a machinist, aged twenty-eight years (b. NH).
Edward Walker, a machinist, aged twenty-eight years (b. NH), headed a Milford, MA, household at the time of the Second (1865) MA State Census. His household included Chloe [(Cook)] Walker, a housekeeper, aged twenty-six years (b. MA), Emma Walker, aged eight years (b. MA), and Frankie Walker, aged two years (b. MA). They shared a two-family residence with the household of [his father,] Richard Walker, a machinist, aged sixty-seven years (b. NH) (b. NH).
Daughter Hattie S. Walker married in Cumberland, RI, September 16, 1865, Jonathan B. Saunders, she of Milford, MA, and he of Westboro, MA. He was a painter, aged twenty-six years, and she was aged twenty-two years. He was born in Upton, MA, son of Samuel R. and Elizabeth (Beals) Saunders. Rev. John Boyden performed the ceremony.
Mother Sarah “Sally” (Pray) Walker died of old age in Milton, April 18, 1867, aged ninety years, six months. [Her gravestone says 1868]. She was a widow.
Daughter Ellen Walker married in Milford, MA, August 12, 1867, Alenza Tracy Gifford. He was a merchant, aged twenty-four years, and she was aged twenty-three years. He was born in Rockville, CT, August 12, 1843, son of Eli and Lois Abby (Tracy) Gifford. Rev. Adin Ballou performed the ceremony.
MITREING MACINES. RICHARD WALKER, Milford, Mass., Dec. 3, 1867. In this machine the cutters are placed opposite each other, the moving one being attached to a lever oscillated by a cam. Another cutter slides in a head, adjustable to any angle to cut the required mitre (Ringwalt, 1871).
Elizabeth “Eliza” (Hatch) Walker died of congestion of lungs in Milford, MA, December 17, 1869, aged sixty-six years, five months, and nine days. (The 1870 U.S. Census Mortality Schedule gave her cause of death as Old Age).
William B. Franklin, a machinist in paper mill, aged fifty-five years (b. NY), headed a Stillwater, NY, household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Abba E. [(Walker)] Franklin, keeping house, aged forty-three years (b. NH), and Charles L. Franklin, aged fourteen years (b. NY). William B. Franklin had personal estate valued at $1,400. They shared a two-family residence with the household of Clark Hood, a boatman, aged twenty-eight years (b. NY).
James M. Morey, a blacksmith, aged forty-two years (b. NH), headed a Milford, MA, household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Sarah E. [(Walker)] Morey, keeping house, aged thirty-eight years (b. NH), Minnie M. Morey, attending school, aged eleven years (b. MA), and Richard Walker, a journeyman machinist, aged seventy-three years (b. NH). James M. Morey had personal estate valued at $300.
Edward Walker, works in machine shop, aged thirty-five years (b. NH), headed a Milford, MA, household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Chloe H. [(Cook)] Walker, keeping house, aged thirty-two years (b. MA), Emma L. Walker, attending school, aged twelve years (b. MA), and Arthur F. Walker, attending school, aged six years (b. MA). They shared a two-family residence with the household of Frank B. Seagrave, works in machine shop, aged twenty-five years (b. RI). Edward Walker had personal estate valued at $200, and Chloe H. Walker had real estate valued at $100.
Charles Walker, supt. Riverside Press, aged thirty-three years (b. NH), headed a Cambridge, MA, household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Lizzie [(Farnham)] Walker, keeping house, aged thirty-three years (b. NH), Winnie B. Walker, attending school, aged ten years (b. MA), Charles R. Walker, at home, aged five years (b. MA), Geo. O. Hatch, a house carpenter, aged forty-six years (b. NH), S. Jane Hatch, aged thirty-nine years (b. NH), and Jacob Arakeylen, a painter, aged twenty-two years (b. Turkey). Charles Walker had real estate valued at $5,000 and personal estate valued at $1,000.
Jonathan Sanderson [Saunders], a house painter, aged thirty-five years (b. MA), headed a Milford, MA, household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Hattie [(Walker)] Sanderson [Saunders], keeping house, aged thirty years (b. MA), and Charles R. Sanderson [Saunders], aged six months (b. MA). Jonathan Sanderson had personal estate valued at $100.
Alonzo Gifford, a machinist, aged twenty-six years (b. MA [SIC]), headed a Providence, RI, household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Nellie [(Walker)] Gifford, keeping house, aged twenty-six years (b. MA [SIC], and Lois E. Gifford, aged two years (b. MA).
Daughter-in-law Elizabeth A. (Farnham) Walker died in Cambridge, MA, March 15, 1872. She was born in Chester, NH, circa 1837.
Richard Walker of Milford, Mass., filed for U.S. Patent No. 137,808, August 30, 1872. His patent was for “Automatic Signals for Railroad Crossings” (U.S. Patent Office, 1873).
Daughter Harriet S. (Walker) Saunders died of consumption in Milford, MA, January 4, 1873, aged twenty-nine years, nine months, and seventeen days.
SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT. SUFFOLK COUNTY – AT BOSTON, JUNE 17. IN CHAMBERS. Before Ames, J. A hearing was had on the petition of Jonathan Saunders of Milford, praying that his minor child, Charles Saunders, aged four years, should be taken from the possession of Richard Walker, by whom the boy is detained. Mr. Walker is the boy’s grandfather, and claims that after the birth of the child he was obliged to support it and the mother, as Mr. Saunders was unable to do so. It is further alleged that it was the wish of the deceased that Mr. Walker should keep the boy (Boston Globe, June 18, 1873).
WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS. … Judge Ames of the supreme court has given a decision in Jonathan Saunders’s habeas corpus case to recover his little son from Richard Walker of Milford, the boy’s grandfather, who took him after the death of Mrs. Saunders. Custody of the child was granted the father, with the usual visiting permission to the relatives of the deceased mother (Springfield Republican (Springfield, MA), July 2, 1873).
Son Charles Walker married (2nd) “at Mr. [William] Smith’s” in Cambridge, MA, March 30, 1875, Jeanie McGillavray Smith, both of Cambridge, MA. He was a printer, aged thirty-eight years, and she was aged twenty-four years. She was born in Manchester, MA, July 6, 1851, daughter of William and Ellen M. (Mahoney) Smith. Revs. Melville Chapman and George R. Leavitt performed the ceremony.
Alenza Gifford, a machinist, aged thirty-two years (b. CT), headed a Providence, RI, household at the time of the RI State Census of 1875. His household included his wife, Ellen [(Walker)] Gifford, a housekeeper, aged thirty years (b. NH), and his daughters, Lois E. Gifford, aged six years (b. MA), and Maud L. Gifford, aged three years (b. Providence). They shared a two-family residence on Railroad Street, with the household of John H. McCoy a boiler shop foreman, aged forty years (b. NY).
Son Charles Walker of Cambridge, MA, printer, was initiated into the Amicable Lodge of Masons, May 3, 1877. He was passed there, June 7, 1877, and raised there, September 6, 1877. (Their records gave his birth at Portsmouth, NH, September 2, 1836, and his death [in Cambridge, MA,] June 29, 1904).
Son Edward Walker of Milford, MA, was a Prohibitory delegate, i.e., a delegate to the Prohibition party state convention, which was held at Horticultural Hall in Boston, MA, September 24, 1879. Delegates mentioned represented Lynn, Framingham, Holliston, Milford, and Newton, MA (Boston Post, September 22, 1879).
William B. Franklin, a machinist, aged sixty-five years (b. NY), headed a Stillwater, NY, household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included Abbie [(Walker)] Franklin, keeping house, aged fifty-two years (b. NH), Randolf Botts, a printer, aged forty-six years (b. VA), Cornelia Botts, keeping house, aged thirty-nine years (b. NY), John R. Botts, a machinist, aged twenty-one years (b. NY), Emma M. Botts, at school, aged twelve years (b. NY).
James M. Morey, a blacksmith, aged fifty years (b. NH), headed a Milford, MA, household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included Emma [(Walker)] Morey, keeping house, aged forty-eight years (b. NH), and Minnie M. Morey, aged twenty-one years (b. MA). They resided on Hopedale Street.
Edward Walker, a machinist, aged forty-five years (b. NH), headed a Milford, MA, household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included Chloe H. [(Cook)] Walker, keeping house, aged forty-three years (b. MA), Arthur F. Walker, at school, aged sixteen years (b. MA), and Edward L. Walker, aged five years (b. MA). They shared a two-family residence on Hopedale Street with the household of Joseph Bailey, a machinist, aged fifty-five years (b. England).
Charles Walker, superintendent, publishing house, aged forty-three years (b. NH), headed a Cambridge, MA, household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Jennie M. [(Smith)] Walker, keeping house, aged twenty-eight years (b. MA), his children, Minniehill Walker, at school, aged twenty years (b. MA), Charles R. Walker, at school, aged fifteen years (b. MA), and Willie H. Walker, aged one year (b. MA), his father, Richard Walker, a machinist, aged eighty-three years (b. NH), and his niece, Emma L. Walker, works in publishing house, aged twenty-two years (b. MA). They resided at 39 Western Avenue.
Samuel R. Sanders [Saunders], a laborer, aged sixty-seven years (b. MA), headed a Milford, MA, household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Elizabeth B. [(Barry)] Sanders [Saunders], keeping house, aged sixty-seven years (b. MA), his son, Jonathan Sanders [Saunders], a house painter, aged forty-two years (b. MA), his grandson, Charles R. Sanders [Saunders], at school, aged ten years (b. MA), and his daughter, Amelia [(Saunders)] Marshall, at home, aged forty-three years (b. MA). They resided on South Bow Street.
Alenza Gifford, a machinist, aged thirty-six years (b. CT), headed a Providence, RI, household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Ellen [(Walker)] Gifford, keeping house, aged thirty-five years (b. NH), and his children, Lois Gifford, at school, aged eleven years (b. MA), Maud Gifford, aged seven years (b. RI), and Richard Gifford, aged three years (b. RI). They resided on Railroad St. (or Byfield St.).
Son Charles Walker, who had been manager of the printing department of Houghton, Mifflin & Co.’s Riverside Press as early as 1870, and who had become superintendent of the Riverside Press by 1880, provided a tour to the Boston YMCA, in 1881.
LOCAL SUMMARIES. … The Saturday afternoon excursion party from Boston Young Men’s Christian association, last week, visited the Riverside press, at Cambridge, by courtesy of Houghton, Mifflin & Co. The men were received by Mr. Charles Walker, superintendent, and under his guidance made an inspection of the entire establishment, and witnessed bookmaking through the successive stages of composition, stereotyping, press work, drying, folding, paging, sewing, marbling and gilt edging to binding in various paper, cloth and leather covers. Embossing by machinery, and the finer work done by hand was of special interest. The lithographic process was also examined from the artists drawing on Bavarian stone up to the finished impressions (Boston Post, July 18, 1881).
Son-in-law Alenza T. Gifford appeared in a list of some sixty-four patents issued to inventors in January 1883, for his invention of a magazine electric lamp.
LIST OF PATENTS Issued to New England inventors for the week ending January 23, 1883, as reported from the office of C.A. SHAW, solicitor of patents, 11 Court street, Boston: … Alenza T. Gifford, Providence, R.I., magazine electric lamp (Boston Globe, January 27, 1883).
Richard Walker died of senility in Milford, MA, November 15, 1883, aged eighty-six years, ten months, and five days.
RECENT DEATHS. Richard Walker, a well-known inventor, died in Hopedale, Milford, Mass., on the 15th inst., at the age of nearly eighty-seven years. He was born in Milton, N.H., in 1797. In middle life he removed to Portsmouth, N.H., and thence in 1853 to Hopedale Community, Milford. During the last seven or eight years of his life he resided with his son, Mr. Charles Walker of Cambridge, Mass. He was a man of remarkable mechanical skill and genius for invention, having patented many useful and valuable machines. He was in early life the inventor and patentee of the first power loom tor knitting woollen undergarments, incurring at the time the hostility of the English hand-loom workmen. Later, he was the inventor of several useful cotton machines and other improvements. He joined the Masonic fraternity when twenty-one years of age, and was subsequently elected master of Strafford Lodge, Dover, N.H. During the Morgan anti-Masonic excitement he was an earnest and loyal defender of the brotherhood. He was an ardent Spiritualist, a frequent and interesting contributor to the various Spiritualistic journals of the day, and ever ready in public and private to give his testimony to that belief (Boston Evening Transcript, November 17, 1883).
Son Edward Walker died of heart disease in Milford, MA, February 12, 1885, aged fifty years, seven months, and eight days. He was a married machinist.
Son-in-law Alenza T. Gifford appeared in a list of some eighty-three patents issued to inventors in November 1886, for his invention of an electric lamp.
LIST OF PATENTS Issued to New England inventors for the present week, as reported from the office of C.A. SHAW & CO., solicitors of patents, 11 Court street, Boston: … Alenza T. Gifford, Hopedale, Mass., electric lamp (Boston Globe, November 6, 1886).
Son Charles Walker gave an address on the art of printing at the Methodist Episcopal Church in Cambridge, MA, April 2 1890.
SUBURBAN AFFAIRS. … At the Harvard Street M.E. Church, in Cambridge, Wednesday evening, the members were entertained at a supper, and with singing by a quartet, a flag drill by young women, dumb bell drill by boys, and an address by Charles Walker of the Riverside Press on the art of printing, the speaker reviewing progress of the art from the earliest methods to the present development (Boston Evening Transcript, April 4, 1890).
Son-in-law Alenza T. Gifford appeared in a list of some seventy-nine patents issued to inventors in July 1890, for his invention of a milling machine.
LIST OF PATENTS Issued to New England inventors for the present week, as reported from the office of C.A. SHAW & CO., Solicitors of Patents, 63 Court street. Boston: … Alenza T. Gifford, Hopedale, Mass., milling machine (Boston Globe, July 23, 1890).
Daughter Sarah Emma [(Walker)] Morey of Onset, in Wareham, MA, made her last will, November 17, 1891. She left her house lot (#561 on the Onset Bay Grove Association plan), with buildings, in Wareham, MA, to her husband, James M. Morey, of Wareham, MA. She left all her garments or wearing apparel of all descriptions to her daughter, Minnie M. Southwick, (née Morey). Edwin A. Parsons, Avery F. Keith, and James H. Young, J.P., signed as witnesses (Plymouth County Probate, 220:278).
Son-in-law Alenza T. Gifford received a patent in July 1896, for his invention of a hydrocarbon burner.
LOCAL MATTERS. … A patent was granted Tuesday, to Alenza T. Gifford of this city for a hydrocarbon-burner and connection therefor (Fitchburg Sentinel (Fitchburg, MA), July 7, 1896).
MILFORD. Mrs. Chloe Walker is the guest of her cousin, Mrs. W.S. Heywood, in Dorchester (Boston Globe, February 19, 1900).
Charles Franklin, a farmer, aged forty-two years (b. NY), headed a Schaghticoke, NY, household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of ten years), Lottie [(Snow)] Franklin, aged forty-two years (b. MA), and his parents, William Franklin, aged eighty-five years (b. NY), and Abbey E. [(Walker)] Franklin, aged seventy-two years (b. NH). Charles Franklin owned their farm, with a mortgage.
James M. Morey, aged seventy years (b. NH), headed a Wareham, MA, household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of forty-six years), Emma S. [(Walker)] Morey, aged sixty-eight years (b. NH). James M. Morey owned their house, free-and-clear. Emma S. Morey was the mother of two children, of whom one was still living.
George H. Davis, a shipping clerk, aged thirty-eight years, headed a Hopedale, MA, household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of fourteen years), Emma L. [(Walker)] Davis, aged forty-two years, his daughter, Letty L. Davis, at school, aged thirteen years, and his mother-in-law, Chloe H. [(Cook)] Walker, aged sixty-three years (b. MA). George H. Davis rented their house. Emma L. Davis was the mother of one child, of whom one was still living. Chloe H. Walker was the mother of three children, of whom three were still living.
Charles Walker, supt. Riverside Press, aged sixty-three years (b. NH), headed a Cambridge, MA, household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of twenty-five years), Jeanne M. [(Smith)] Walker, aged forty-eight years (b. MA), his children, William H. Walker, a medical student, aged twenty-one years (b. MA), and his servant, Clifford H. Walker, at school, aged seventeen years (b. MA), and Kate Murphy, a servant, aged twenty-eight years (b. Ireland). Charles Walker owned their house at 155 Western Avenue, with a mortgage. Jeanne M. Walker was the mother of three children, of whom two were still living. Kate Murphy had immigrated in 1890.
John Sanders [Jonathan Saunders], a house painter, aged sixty-one years (b. MA), boarded in the Milford, MA, household of Martha Mariner, aged sixty-three (b. Nova Scotia), at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. John Sanders, a widower, was one of five boarders in her household.
Alenza T. Gifford, a civil engineer, aged fifty-five years (b. CT), headed a Fitchburg, MA, household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of thirty-three years), Nellie [(Walker)] Gifford, aged fifty-four years (b. NH), and his daughter, Maud L. Gifford, a teacher, aged twenty-six years (b. RI). Alenza T. Gifford rented their apartment at 22 Pearl Street. Nellie Gifford was the mother of three children, of whom three were still living.
Daughter Sarah E. (Walker) Morey died of Bright’s Disease in Wareham, MA, September 4, 1902, aged seventy years, seven months. She was the wife of James M. Morey, and daughter of Richard and Sarah Walker. (Her last will was proved in a Plymouth County Probate Court held in Wareham, MA, December 1, 1904 (Plymouth County Probate, 220:278)).
Daughter Abbie E. (Walker) Franklin died in Schaghticoke, NY, October 2, 1902. Son-in-law William B. Franklin died in Schaghticoke, NY, January 22, 1903.
Son Charles Walker died of cystitis, chronic bronchitis, and consumption at 155 Western Avenue in Cambridge, MA, June 29, 1904, aged sixty-seven years, nine months, and twenty-seven days. He was the married superintendent of Riverside Press. Henry O. Marcy, M.D., signed the death certificate.
CHARLES WALKER DEAD. He Was Superintendent of Riverside Press in Cambridge. Charles Walker, superintendent of the Riverside press, Cambridge, died at his home on Western av. last night, after a long illness. Mr. Walker was born in Portsmouth, N.H., Sept 2, 1836. In 1861 he removed to Cambridge, entering the employ of Hon. H.O. Houghton at the Riverside press. There he had been located ever since, rising step by step until he reached the position of superintendent. He served in the Cambridge common council in 1879-80 and ’81. In 1886 he was elected one of the public library trustees. and also the same year a member of the board of overseers of the poor. He held the latter office until last fall. Mr. Walker was a member of the Cambridge club, Amicable lodge of Masons, Knights of Honor and Legion of Honor, and an active member of the Harvard-st Methodist church, as well as a teacher in the Sunday school. He was married twice. He is survived by a wife, three sons and a daughter (Boston Globe, June 30, 1904).
Son-in-law Jonathan B. Saunders died of heart disease at the Soldier’s Home in Chelsea, MA, August 4, 1904, aged sixty-five years, eleven months, and twelve days. He was a single painter. W.E. Hamlin, M.D., signed the death certificate.
RECENT DEATHS. Mr. Jonathan B. Saunders, a Civil War veteran. died this forenoon at the Soldiers Home, Chelsea. at the age of sixty-five. He was a native of Upton, Mass., and had been living for some time in Milford. He belonged to Major E.F. Fletcher Post 22. G.A.R., of Milford. He served as a private in Company C, Sixth Battery, New York Light Artillery. He entered the home from Lynn on July 25, this year (Boston Evening Transcript, August 4, 1904).
Frank A. Southwick, a factory machinist, aged fifty-three years (b. MA), headed a Southampton, NY, household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of thirty years), Minnie M. [(Morey)] Southwick, aged fifty-one years (b. MA), and his father-in-law, James M. Morey, a widower, aged eighty years (b. NH). Frank A. Southwick owned their house, free-and-clear. Minnie M. Southwick was the mother of three children, of whom three were still living.
George H. Davis, a cotton machinery order clerk, aged forty-eight years (b. NH), headed a Hopedale, MA, household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of twenty-four years), Emila L. [(Walker)] Davis, aged fifty-two years (b. NH), his mother-in-law, Chloe H. [(Cook)] Walker, aged seventy-three years (b. MA), and his sister [daughter], Letty L. Davis, aged twenty-three years (b. MA). George H. Davis rented their house on Peace Street. Emila L. Davis was the mother of one child, of whom one was still living. Chloe H. Walker was the mother of three children, of whom three were still living.
Clifford H. Walker, a general practice lawyer, aged twenty-eight years (b. MA), headed a Cambridge, MA, household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. His household included his mother, Jeanie A. [(Smith)] Walker, a widow, aged fifty-eight years (b. MA). Clifford H. Walker rented their house at 473 Wendell Street. Jeanie A. Walker was the mother of two children, of whom two were still living.
Alenza T. Gifford, electrician shop. aged sixty-six years (b. CT), headed a Fitchburg, MA, household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of forty-two years), Ellen [(Walker)] Gifford, aged sixty-five years (b. NH), and his daughter, Maud L. Gifford, a school teacher, aged thirty-six years (b. RI). Alenza T. Gifford rented their house at 75 Blossom Street. Ellen Gifford was the mother of four children, of whom two were still living.
Son-in-law James M. Morey died in Brooklyn, NY, December 16, 1913, aged eighty-four years.
OBITUARY. James M. Morey. Sag Harbor, L.I., December 19 – Funeral services of James M. Morey, who died Tuesday, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Frank Southwick, on Main street, were held here Wednesday, and the body taken to Hopedale, Mass., for burial. Mr. Morey was 84 years of age. He was a member of the Sag Harbor M.E. Church, and a brother of Montgomery Lodge, F. and A. Milford, Mass. (Brooklyn Eagle (Brooklyn, NY), December 19, 1913).
Daughter Ellen (Walker) Gifford returned home to Fitchburg, MA, in December 1917, from an extended visit to Connecticut.
Mrs. Alenza T. Gifford of Blossom street has returned from an extended visit in Connecticut (December 11, 1917).
Edward L. Walker, a civil engineer (metropolitan water management), aged forty-five years (b. MA), headed a Framingham, MA, household at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. His household included his mother, Chloe [(Cook)] Walker, a widow, aged eighty-two years (b. MA), and his boarder, Mary L. Stimpson, a widow, aged eighty-five years (b. MA). Edward L. Walker rented their apartment at 44 Union Avenue.
William H. Walker, a hospital doctor, aged forty-one years (b. MA), headed a Hartford, CT, household at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. His household included his mother, Jeannie M. [(Smith)] Walker, a widow, aged sixty-seven years (b. MA). William H. Walker rented their apartment at 341 Washington Street.
Alenza T. Gifford, a master mechanic, aged seventy-six years (b. CT), headed a Fitchburg, MA, household at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Ellen [(Walker)] Gifford, aged seventy-five years (b. NH), and his daughter, Maud L. Gifford, a public school teacher, aged forty-six years (b. RI). They resided on Blossom Street.
Daughter-in-law Chloe H. (Cook) Walker died in Framingham, MA, June 1, 1922.
Son-in-law Alenza T. Gifford died of heart disease in Holyoke, MA, June 25, 1925, aged eighty-one years.
A.T. GIFFORD DEAD. Father of Fitchburg Teacher Victim of Heart Disease; Was Civil War Veteran. Alenza Tracy Gifford, Civil war veteran and former resident of Fitchburg, died of heart discase Thursday morning at the home of his son, Richard T. Gifford at Holyoke, following an illness of about a week. He was in his 82d year. Mr. Gifford was born in Rockville, Conn., Aug. 12, 1843. At the outbreak of the Civil war he enlisted in the Connecticut Volunteers with the 20th regiment, Co. E, and served throughout the war. He was an expert mechanic and for several years was associated with the Pratt Read Co., of Deep River, Conn. He worked until Wednesday of last week. He was a member of Post 22, G.A.R.. of Milford, Mass., an honorary member of the American Legion at Deep River, a member of Mt. Vernon lodge, A.F. & A.M., the Royal Arch chapter of Providence, R.I. He was one of the oldest members of the Masonic lodge. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Ellen (Walker) Gifford of this city, Miss Maud L. Gifford, a teacher at Fitchburg High school, a son, Richard T. Gifford of Holyoke and two sisters, Mrs. Isaac C. Alden of Akron, Ohio, and Mrs. Daniel Simonds of Fitchburg and Longmeadow. The funeral and burial will be in Hopedale Saturday afternoon at 2 o’clock (Fitchburg Sentinel (Fitchburg, MA), [Friday,] June 26, 1925).
DEEP RIVER. The funeral of A.T. Gifford was held at Hopedale Saturday afternoon (Hartford Courant (Hartford, CT), June 28, 1925).
Daughter-in-law Jeanie McGillavray (Smith) Walker died in Hartford, CT, August 7, 1927, aged seventy-five years.
Obituary. Mrs. Jeannie M. Walker. Mrs. Jeannie M. Walker, 75, widow of Charles Walker, formerly of Cambridge, Mass., died at the home of her son, Dr. William H. Walker of No. 400 Washington Street, Sunday morning after a long Illness. She was a member of the Harvard Street Methodist Church of Cambridge. Mass. She leaves another son, Clifford H. Walker of Waban, Mass., one stepson, Charles R. Walker of Braintree, Mass., and one stepdaughter, Mrs. Baker of Templeton, Mass. The services will be held Tuesday afternoon at the Cambridge Cemetery, Cambridge, Mass. (Hartford Courant (Hartford, CT), August 8, 1927).
Ellen [(Walker)] Gifford, a widow, aged eighty-five years (b. NH), was a roomer in Fitchburg, MA, at the time of the Fifteenth (1930) Federal Census. Maud W. Gifford, a public school teacher, aged fifty-seven years (b. RI), was also a roomer in the same rooming house. George H. Hastings, aged seventy-five years (b. MA), was proprietor of the rooming house, which had twenty roomers. He had real estate valued at $20,000.
Daughter Ellen (Walker) Gifford died in Fitchburg, MA, April 16, 1934, aged eighty-nine years.
MRS. GIFFORD DEAD. Mother of F.H.S. Teacher Was Prominent in Unitarian Branch Alliance. Mrs. Ellen (Walker), widow of Alenza Gifford, died last night, at her home, 924 Main street, after an illness of eight years. She was in her 90th year. She born in Portsmouth, N.H., daughter of Richard and Eliza (Hatch) Walker. Her father was one of the early members of the Hopedale community. Mr. and Mrs. Gifford and their children moved to this city 42 years ago from Hopedale and became active in the religious and social life of the community. Mrs. Gifford was a member of the Fitchburg Woman’s club, the First Parish (Unitarian)church and its Branch alliance. She served the latter organization for many years as corresponding secretary. She is survived by a daughter, Miss Maud L. Gifford of Fitchburg high school faculty, and a son, Richard T. Gifford of Hartford, Conn. The funeral will be Thursday afternoon at 1.30 o’clock at the home. Burial will be in Hopedale (Fitchburg Sentinel (Fitchburg, MA), April 17, 1934).
Funeral of Mrs. Ellen Gifford. The funeral of Mrs. Ellen Gifford was held yesterday afternoon at 1.30 o’clock at her home, 924 Main street. Rev. Howard A. Pease officiated. Burial was in Hopedale cemetery and the bearers were Richard Gifford of Hartford, Conn, Edward L. Walker of Rutherford, N.J., Harold Eames at Gardner, Harlan K. Simonds of this city, Clifford H. Walker of Waban and Dr. William L. Walker of Newton, Conn (Fitchburg Sentinel (Fitchburg, MA), April 20, 1934).
References:
Find a Grave. (2024, June 16). Alenza Tracy Gifford. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/271567439/alenza-tracy-gifford
Find a Grave. (2015, February 28). Sarah Emma [Walker] Morey. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/143152580/sarah_emma-morey
Find a Grave. (2017, May 10). Charles Walker. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/179205013/charles-walker
Find a Grave. (2014, September 11). Edward Walker. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/135760260/edward-walker
Find a Grave. (2010, June 5). Joseph Walker. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/53278620/joseph-walker
Find a Grave. (2013, September 24). Richard Walker. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/117585273/richard-walker
Spann, Edward K. (1992). Hopedale: From Commune to Company Town, 1840-1920. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=_54oZLPtj7UC&pg=PA141
U.S. Census Office. (1860). Manufactures of the United States in 1860. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=CwQ57OV14AQC&pg=PR43
U.S. Patent Office. (1873). Specifications and Drawings of Patents Issued from the U.S. Patent Office. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=jMk6AQAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA490
Wikipedia. (2025, March 24). Adin Ballou. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adin_Ballou
Wikipedia. (2024, October 13). Hopedale Community. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hopedale_Community
Dudley Burnham signed the 
That in 1778 in the month of October or November he enlisted as a marine on board the U.S. the Ranger, then under the Command of Capt. Thomas Simpson. That it was then at Portsmouth, N.H. Some time [in] his said engagement, the ship’s crew being completed, she sailed on a cruise with the Frigate Warren and Sloop of War Queen of France, all in Company under a Commodore whose name is not now recollected by him. That during said cruise they took a British privateer and [did] sail out of 
Father-in-law (and stepfather) Wentworth Hayes was among the three hundred ten Rochester inhabitants that petitioned the NH legislature, August 30, 1785, seeking repeal of an act requiring milled boards to be square-edged and an inch thick (and other lumber in proportion). Those inhabitants described themselves then as being “largely Concerned in Lumber.” They sought also repeal of an act forbidding transport of lumber to the British West Indies, and seeking the issuance of a new paper money (Hammond, 1884). (See 
Timothy Roberts signed the 
Timo Roberts signed the April 1820 petition requesting the appointment of his son, 
Timothy Roberts, aged seventy-five years, had been a Private in the NH militia. He had been placed on the Strafford County Revolutionary War pension roll, March 4, 1831, at the annual rate of $26.66, and had accrued $79.98 (by January 18, 1833).
Milton Observer 