"Westbrook-Walker Family Saga Began in England" by Joy Graham

Westbrook-Walker Family Saga Began in England

by Joy Graham

Rockdale Reporter - 2012-08-09

One of the early settlers from England to Virginia in America in the 1700’s was John

Westbrook.

When Georgia began to lure new settlers, Westbrook and his family packed their wagon

and moved their family and slaves to Franklin County.

John Westbrook ’s family included seven children. One of the Westbrook sons was named

Stephen.

Both John and son Stephen served in the Revolutionary War. When the war ended they used

their service grants to purchase more than 2,000 acres.

Stephen married twice and had two sets of children. One son was known as a “slave

driver” by his siblings in his younger days.

This could be correct for he grew up among slaves, as his father and grandfather owned

a number of them.

Another of the Westbrook sons was Ervin, born in 1833 in Green County, Georgia.

He married Rachel Walker in January of 1851.

There was a rumor at the time that Rachel was part or full blood Indian.

Ervin and Rachel had 11 children, four born in Mississippi and Albert, Rachel, Lucy,

Mary, and Ervin and Lola in Milam County, Texas.

Rachel was known as an “angel” by many as she also reared several orphans, nieces,

nephews and one granddaughter.

She was obeyed by all these children or “else”.

Next week the family saga will continue in thse column with s tories of Westbrooks and

Walkers when we learn of their trip from Georgia to Texas, where much more of the story

took place.

Research:

• “The Westbrook Connection”

by Sharon Sumners, Davis, El Paso

• www.MilamCountyHistoricalCommission.org

maryjoygraham@yahoo.com

"Milam History"
by Mary Joy Graham
A weekly feature published in the
Rockdale Reporter