She and her second husband, Dr. Thomas Walker, built “Castle Hill” on land she inherited from her first husband Nicholas Meriwether.

^BIRTH **From ?; AB-CTK has 19 March 1721. Others have 1720/1.

Known as Nicholas the Younger (also Nicholas Junior) to distinguish him from his grandfather, Nicholas II, and his uncle, Nicholas III. Many Meriwether genealogies mistakenly state that it was Nicholas III who married Mildred. That is incorrect. 214,330

^DEATH Griffith’s transcription of the NM II Bible Leaf states "Nicholas Meriwether my grandson Departed this Life ye 12th Day of May 1738. (Should be May 3 1758 MM)”; the correction was added by Minor Meriwether. It makes better sense that the date really is 12 May 1738 and it is for this Nicholas [M1211], son of William, and not Nicholas [M1223], the son of David, who did in fact die 5 May 1758 as shown in a subsequent entry in the Bible. Problem is the May 1738 date conflicts with the Dec 1738 will date and the May 1739 birth of Mildred. I've entered the date as 1739 at this time on the assumption that Old Nick [M12] was confused as to the year, or that there was a transcription error by Griffith. jmo

NICHOLAS MERIWETHER AND MILDRED THORNTON 331

Nicholas Meriwether, sixth child of Nicholas II, b. July 4, 1699, d. 1739, m. Mildred Thornton, daughter of Mary Taliaferro and Francis Thornton, Sr. (WARNING TO GENEALOGISTS: Mildred Thornton was i sister of Elizabeth Thornton who married Thomas Meriwether in '735.) Nicholas Meriwether and Mildred Thornton had one daughter: Mildred Meriwether, who married John Syme, half-brother of Patrick Henry. No further record for Mildred Syme.

After the death of Nicholas Meriwether in 1739, Mildred Thornton married the famed Dr. Thomas Walker of Charlottesville, Va. Mil- dred (Thornton) Meriwether had inherited a tremendous acreage from ler first husband and the storied and fabled "Music Hall" near Charlottesville today is the historic home she inherited from Nicholas Vleriwether and where she and Dr. Walker raised their large family. There will be a great many records in Part Two: The Robert Lewis- fane Meriwether Family of this book just to list the Lewis, Minor and Vleriwether descendants of Mildred Thornton—the widow Meri- wether—and Dr. Thomas Walker through their daughter Mary Walker who married Col. Nicholas Lewis, of Albemarle County, Va. This Col. Nicholas Lewis was himself a grandson of Nicholas Meri- wether II.

Note: Above is INCORRECT! Nicholas was the son of William Meriwether & Elizabeth Bushrod.

Thomas Walker [?]

Thomas Walker (1714–1794), the early explorer of Kentucky, was a member of the Committee of Safety of Albemarle county, Va. He was commissioned to treat with the Indians and President of the Board to determine the boundary line of North Carolina.

DAR: 2635, 3046, 4982, 5515, 6748, 9374, 11519

An extensive biography of Dr. Walker can be found in Papers of the Albemarle County Historical Society, Vol 1 1940-1941.

Thomas Walker
American Virtual Biographies 347

WALKER, Thomas, planter, born in Gloucester county, Virginia, 25 January, 1715; died at Castle Hill, Albemarle County, Virginia, 9 November, 1794. His progenitor, Thomas, was an early settler of Virginia, and a member of the Provincial council in 1662. The younger Thomas was educated at William and Mary, adopted the profession of medicine, and settled in Fredericksburg, Virginia. In 1750 he went on an expedition to the west, and was probably the first white man that entered Kentucky, preceding Daniel Boone by thirteen years. His hatchet with which he marked the trees that divided the lands that he had bought from the Indians was discovered a few years ago, and is preserved in the Louisville, Kentucky, museum. Walker mountains in southwestern Virginia are named in his honor. He was commissary-general of Virginia troops under George Washington in Braddock’s army, and was at that general’s defeat in 1755. In 1768 he was a commissioner with Andrew Lewis on the part of Virginia to treat with the Six Nations of Indians at Fort Stanwix, New York He was a member of the Virginia house of burgesses in 1775, organized a plan of defence, and served on the second general committee of safety. With his son, Colonel John Walker, he was commissioned to treat with the Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, Indians in 1777, in order to conciliate them toward the colonists during the Revolution, and in 1778 he was president of the board of commissioners to determine the boundary-line between Virginia and North Carolina. General Walker was the intimate friend of General Washington, both his wives being near kinswomen of the latter, and he was the guardian of Thomas Jefferson. By his marriage with the widow of Nicholas Merriwether he came into possession of one of the most valuable landed properties in Virginia, known as the Castle Hill estate, which subsequently became the property of his relative, William C. Rives.

His son, John, senator, born at Castle Hill, Albemarle County, Virginia, 13 February, 1744; died in Orange county, Virginia, 2 December, 1809, was carefully educated, settled on his estate, Belvoir, Albemarle County, and engaged in planting. During the Revolution he was extra aide to General Washington, who, in a letter addressed to Patrick Henry, dated Morristown, New Jersey, 24 February, 1777, explains his post as one of great trust and importance, and recommends him for “ability, honor, and prudence.” In 1790 he was appointed by the governor United States Senator in place of William Grayson, deceased, serving from 4 May 1790, to 6 December of the same year, when the senator that was chosen by the legislature took his seat. He married Elizabeth Moore, granddaughter of Governor Alexander Spotswood. See the “Page Family in Virginia,” by Richard C. M. Page (New York, 1883).

Thomas Walker (1714-94), the early explorer of Kentucky, was a member of the Committee of Safety of Albemarle County, Va., and the House of Burgesses. He was a commissioner to treat with the Indians, and president of the board to determine the boundary line of North Carolina. He was born in King and Queen County; died in Albemarle County, Va.

During the Revolutionary War, Gen. Tarleton and a number of troops rode up to Castle Hill and ordered Dr. Walker and wife to prepare breakfast for them. Tarleton was on his way to Charlottesville to capture Thomas Jefferson and other lawmakers meeting there, as Dr. Walker well knew, so while Mrs. Walker ordered the cooks to be slow in preparing breakfast, Dr. Walker was busy mixing mint juleps for Gen. Tarleton and his troops. A messenger was sent to warn Mr. Jefferson the British were coming. Mr. Jefferson and the lawmakers rode out of Charlottesville as the British rode in. 348During the Revolutionary War, Gen. Tarleton and a number of troops rode up to Castle Hill and ordered Dr. Walker and wife to prepare breakfast for them. Tarleton was on his way to Charlottesville to capture Thomas Jefferson and other lawmakers meeting there, as Dr. Walker well knew, so while Mrs. Walker ordered the cooks to be slow in preparing breakfast, Dr. Walker was busy mixing mint juleps for Gen. Tarleton and his troops. A messenger was sent to warn Mr. Jefferson the British were coming. Mr. Jefferson and the lawmakers rode out of Charlottesville as the British rode in. 348