Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

Collection open for research.

Use Restrictions

Visual materials may require special handling.

Preferred Citation

Fielding Walker Photograph (VC 0030), Thomas Balch Library, Leesburg, VA.

Acquisition Information

Elizabeth B. Monroe, Zionville, IN

Alternative Form Available

None

Accruals

2005.0165

Processing Information

Processed by Donald Cooper, 12 August 2009

Biographical Information

Fielding Walker was born a free Black in Fauquier County, VA around 1835, a son of Samuel (ca. 1790-ca. 1880) and Nancy (ca. 1807-ca. 1870) Walker. He married Sarah Ann Lee Washington (ca. 1845-?), a daughter of Fanny Lee (n.d.) in Oct 1874; it was a second marriage for both. Sarah was a former slave of John H. Lee of Fauquier County. In the 1880 Federal Census, Fielding's wife is listed as Margaret, also known as Maggie (1843-1925); it is unclear whether she was his third wife.

Available sources indicate Fielding headed a blended family, including three children James (ca. 1867-?), Hulda (ca. 1868-?), and Julia (ca. 1877-?), as well as Margaret's children from a previous relationship: Agnes Washington (1871-?), F. Washington (1874-?), and May Washington (1876-?). By 1910, Fielding and Margaret had adopted Ada (ca.1894-?). Hulda married Marshall Jackson (1861-?) in Loudoun County, VA in 1892. Julia married Shedrick Shorts (ca. 1862-?) in Loudoun County in 1892.

Fielding moved his family from Fauquier to Loudoun County sometime between 1870 and 1880. He purchased 2 Dec 1884 a half acre near Bloomfield, VA from A.J. and Lucy Ann Spinks; the deed was recorded in 1917. Fielding died between 1910 and 1920. Margaret was buried in Rock Hill Cemetery, Unison, VA.

Scope and Content

The collection consists of 8.5" x 11" black and white photocopies of an original photograph of Fielding Walker, including a copy of notes on verso. The photocopies are the only item in this collection.

Notes on the verso state that Fielding supposedly served as a personal servant to General Robert E. Lee during the Civil War. No evidence has been found to substantiate this theory.

Related Material

None

Adjunct Descriptive Data

Bibliography

Ancestry Library Edition, United States Census, http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.

Duncan, Patricia B. Fauquier County, Virginia Birth Register 1853-1880. Westminister Maryland: Heritage Books, 2008.

Duncan, Patricia B. Fauquier County, Virginia Marriage Register 1854-1882. Westminister Maryland: Heritage Books, 2008.

Deed Book 9 B: 262 . Loudoun County Circuit Court, Leesburg, Virginia.

Freeman, Douglas Southall. R.E. Lee: A Biography Vol. 1. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1936.

Marriage Register Vol. 3 (1879-1895) . Loudoun County Circuit Court, Leesburg, Virginia.

Original retained by Elizabeth B. Monroe

Other Finding Aid

Past Perfect catalogue record

Technical Requirements

None