Colonel George Walker and Captain John Holcombe both owned land and farmed in Prince Edward County, Virginia. Walker, in particular, was one of the wealthiest men in the county. Walker and Holcombe are recorded on several deeds together and knew each other well. In fact, their children, William Walker and Sarah Holcombe, the next couple in our lineage, married in 1804.
George Walker’s Service In The Revolution
George Walker served as a captain in the Colonial Army as early as 1770. During the Revolution, he served in the Virginia Militia and was appointed lieutenant colonel in 1778 and colonel in 1781. There are no surviving records that detail his specific actions during the war.
He was the fourth generation of “George Walkers:”
- The first George Walker (1635-1698) emigrated from Scotland sometime in the 1650s to the Jamestown settlement in Virginia.
- His son, George (1659-1732), was married to Ann Keith, daughter of the renowned Quaker minister, Reverend George Keith.
- The next George (1698-1773) was a prominent farmer and attorney in Elizabeth City, where he served as sheriff and as a justice.
- His son was Col. George Walker.
John Holcombe’s Service In The Revolution
John Holcombe also served as a captain in the Colonial Army as early as 1770. During the early part of the Revolution, he was a captain in the 4th Virginia Continentals. He was wounded on the thigh on October 4, 1777, at the Battle of Germantown, just north of Philadelphia. This battle, under the command of General Washington, was an effort to dislodge the British from Chew House, a mansion that stood in a strategic location.
Chew House is now a historic site, and the Battle of Germantown is reenacted there annually. The American forces were repulsed during the course of the battle and took more than 1,000 casualties and 50 deaths. However, the battle had a profound influence on the French Court, who were impressed by the ability of the Americans to raise an army and launch an attack against the British. French support for the American cause was thus reinforced.
Holcombe left the Continental Army after Germantown. War Department records indicate that Holcombe was awarded a disability pension in 1807 of $15 per month for his wounds. However, in spite of his wounds, he continued to serve in the Virginia Militia for the duration of the war. He fought at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse on March 15, 1781. In this decisive battle, the colonists were routed, but the British suffered such severe losses that their Southern campaign was effectively ended for the remainder of the war.
Genealogical Societies
Our family has proven our lineage to both Col. George Walker and Capt. John Holcombe to qualify for membership in the Sons of The American Revolution. We have proven our lineage to three generations of George Walkers for membership in the Society of Colonial Wars.
© 2013 W. Mullins