Complaint lodged against Dr Thomas Walker
House of Burgesses voted 37 to 32 exonerating fellow member Dr Thomas Walker on 3 April 1759. Close vote. Dr Thomas Walker had been accused of cheating on a supply contract to the military. He was Commissary to the Virginia Regiment and Rangers and militia. This is a big deal, this accusation. Dr Thomas Walker is a well known, rich man, with historic accomplishments.
Fellow Burgess George Washington was not there. He asked to be absent from the rest of the session the day before that vote. He had plans to take the Missus to Mt Vernon. It was finally ready. But would GW have voted for him? Maybe. Maybe not. In 1756 he requested Walker be removed as Commissary and be replaced by John Carlyle and Ramsay. But by 1758 Walker congratulates GW on his winning one of the Frederick Co seats to the House of Burgesses. Both correspond as late as 1785. And that was about draining and developing the Dismal Swamp.
GW was not the only one who didn't vote. There were at least 32 more members who also didn't vote or who were also absent.
That Complaint?
Supplies, labelled spoiled and condemned were still delivered and used. Being compensated for the losses (the condemned goods) and then still delivering those same goods for payment was the allegation.
That complaint was enterred into record 24 Feb 1759, investigated throughout March 1759 and finally resolved 3 April 1759. That complaint was about a supply contract 2 years ago in 1757.
That complaint was lodged by Mr Thomas Johnson, a member of the House of Burgesses from the same county that voted in the accused Dr Thomsas Walker.
And that makes the complaint even more interesting.
Thomas Walker in 1758 was elected simultaneously to two Counties, Hampshire and Louisa. That happened because a land owner can vote and run for office in each county they have land. They just cannot represent two counties at the same time. Thomas Walker had to pick one. He picked Hampshire County.
That's an interesting pick for two practical reasons.
Louisa County is the home of both Thomas Walker and his fellow member accuser, Thomas Johnson.
Hampshire County is well within the theatre of War needing those supplies from Commissary Dr Thomas Walker.
1759 appears to be a year of cleanup, of answering pleas and complaints of those in the war.
Washington's Problem with Walker
Dr Thomas Walker was head Commissary and supplier for the French and Indian War, In 1756, Colonel George Washington wanted John Carlyle and Ramsay to take Walker's place as Commissary for the troops, saying Walker was too remote. He lived in the southwestern area. He lived too far away from the theatre of operations of the Virginia Regiment, even though he owned undeveloped land in it. But this 1759 complaint about a supply contract in 1757 was lodged not by fellow member George Washington but by a different Burgess member, Mr Johnson. That man was physically big, described as having great girth. Washington's request to replace Walker as Commissary was as early as December 1756. Lt Gov Dinwiddie repudiated Colonel George Washington for his audacity in suggesting such an insult to Walker.
But, who is Thomas Walker and why does he matter?
He's was way bigger than Daniel Boone.
Dr Thomas Walker was Mr Big
Dr Thomas Walker was a powerful and rich man in Virginia. Walker attended William and Mary to be a physician, hence "Dr" before his name. July 12, 1749, land, the size of 800,000 acres was awarded by the Executive Council to members of the Loyal Land Company with Walker as a leading member, along with fellow surveyors Joshua Fry and Peter Jefferson of one of famous early maps.
Walker explored Kentucky in 1750, 19 years before the arrival of an unknown Daniel Boone. Walker gave the name to Cumberland Gap, honoring the Duke of Cumberland. Walker built the first White Man cabin in Kentucky.
Thomas Walker's 1750 expedition covered a lot of territory that 6 years later on the Sandy Creek Expedition, Major Andrew Lewis, 3rd in command of the Virginia Regiment, came to know very well, and who was listed as part of this 1759 complaint against Walker.
Dr Walker was associated with Charles Dick, a Commissary for the Braddock Expedition, but then became head Commissary 11 Nov 1755, after the Braddock debacle,
He was advisor to Thomas Jefferson and helped Jefferson on his epic book, Notes on Virginia. When Peter Jefferson, the father of the future President Thomas Jefferson, died in 1757, he named Dr. Walker as guardian of his own son. the future Pres. Thomas Jefferson. Thomas Walker in 1779 surveyed the line between Virginia, Tennessee and North Carolina.
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Compiled and authored by Jim Moyer 1/10/2021, 5/1/2022, 3/20/2023, 3/28/2023, 3/29/2023, 3/30/2023, 4/2/2023, posted orginally in 29 March 2023 but moved to post date as April 2, 2023
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Table of Contents
House of Burgesses record on the 1759 complaint:
Dr Thomas Walker, Burgess of Hampshire
Thomas Johnson, Burgess of Louisa
Letter exonorates Andrew Lewis
House of Burgesses record on the complaint:
Complaint Introduced
Saturday, the 24th of February, 32 Geo II, 1759
Mr Thomas Walker, a Member of this House, having informed the House, That his Conduct, as Contractor for Provisions for the Forces in the Pay of this Colony, stationed in the County of Augusta, had been censured, and praying that it might be publickly enquired into.
Ordered, That the Committee of Privileges and Elections do enquire into the same, and report their Opinion thereupon to the House.
.
Committee Report
Tuesday, the 13th of March, 32 Geo II, 1759
...M' Attorney, from the Committee of Privileges and Eledlions, reported.
That the Committee had, according to Order, examined into the Conduct of Mr Thomas Walker, a Member of this House, and one of the Contractors for furnishing the Forces in the Pay of this Colony, that were stationed in the County of Augusta, with Provisions, in the Year 1757 ;
and had agreed upon a Report, and come to several Resolutions thereupon, which he read in his Place, and then delivered in at the Table, where the said Resolutions were again twice read, and agreed to by the House, and are as follow:
In Order to prevent any Mistakes that might happen in the Course of this Enquiry, your Committee thought it expedient that the Objections made to M' Walker's Conduct in that Office should be reduced into Writing ;
and therefore desired Mr Johnson (another Member of this House) who gave Rise to this Enquiry, to put into Writing the Objections he had to make to Mr Walker's Conduct, which he did, at two several Times, in the following Words:
"The following is the Charge against Thomas Walker, Gentleman, one of the Contractors for victualling the Troops in the Pay of this Colony, in the Year 1757, exhibited against him by Thomas Johnson, and which he proposes to make good Proof to : That on the 28th Day of October, 1757, Thomas Walker, Gentleman, did covenant and agree.
Complaint Details
Tuesday, the 13th of March, 32 Geo II, 1759 continued
agree with the Honorable Robert Dinividdie, Esq ; late Lieutenant-Governor of this Colony,
That the said Thomas would take to his own proper Account all fuch Provifion as was then on Hand, that fhould be delivered unto him in the County of Augufta, and give the Government Credit for the fame, after the following Rate, that is to fay ;
For every Bushel of Salt ten shillings;
for every Hundred Pounds of Flour nine Shillings;
for every Pound of Bacon three Pence;
for every Pound of dried or pickled Beef two Pence Half-penny,
and for every Hundred Pounds of Bifcuit twelve Shillings and fix Pence.
And whereas, soon after the said Contract was made, there was delivered to the Officers of the first Virginia Regiment and Rangers, stationed in the County of Augusta, whom the said Thomas Walker had contracted to supply with Provisions,
about eleven Waggon Loads of Bacon and other Provisions, as by Receipt, for Part of the same, by Captain Woodward, an Officer in the first Virginia Regiment,
may appear, notwithstanding the said Thomas hath settled an Account many Months after the Delivery of the said Provisions (with the Government)
and refused to give any Credit for the same,
alledging that the same was unfound and deserved no Credit." Here ends the first Charge ;
the second was as follows :
"A further Charge exhibited by Thomas Johnson against Thomas Walker, Gentleman, as one of the Contractors for victualling the Troops in the Pay of this Colony, in the Year 1757;
That the said Thomas Walker entered into a secret Partnership with Major Andrew Lewis,
one of the principal Officers of the first Virginia Regiment,
stationed in Augusta County,
relative to the victualling the said Troops under his immediate Command;
and that after the Persons appointed to convey a certain Quantity of Bacon from the Hands of Colonel Read, which had been purchased for the Use of the Government, and had obtained a Receipt for the same,
after being first inspected by proper Persons on Oath, and then admitted
some were good,
some indifferent,
and the rest condemned,
the said Walker received the same,
and afterwards the said Lewis (Partner with the said Walker) by Virtue of his own Authority, caused the said Provisions, or at least the greatest Part of them, not then made Use of to be examined and condemned ;
and that the said Thomas Walker as yet has rendered no Manner of Account of the whole or any Part thereof, as the said Thomas Johnfon knows of,
although the said Thomas Johnson expressly charges that some of the said Provisions was actually used ;
but in Order, as the said Thomas Johnson conceives,
to prevent any Discovery thereof,
the said Thomas Walker absolutely denied that the said Lewis was concerned with him in victualling the said Regiment ;
and this he did at a Time it was supposed that the said Lewis was killed in the Battle before Fort Du Quesne;
And further, the said Thomas Johnfon undertakes to prove that the Bacon delivered and afterwards condemned as aforesaid, was good at the Time it was delivered."
So ends the second Charge.
After hearing the said Charges read, and duly considering the same,
your Committee proceeded to hear the Testimony
of the Witnesses produced by Mr Johnson
to prove the said Charges,
as well as those produced by Mr Walker
to exculpate himself ;
And from their Evidence it appears to your Committee
That Mr Walker entered into the Contract mentioned by Mr Johnson, and on the Terms by him alledged. That eleven Waggon Loads of Provisions were sent from Lunenburg to Augusta County for the Use of the Forces Mr Walker was by that Contract to victual :
That the Contract was negotiated in Williamsburg, and concluded the twenty-eighth Day of Odober, 1757 ;
and while the same was in Agitation, and before it was concluded, Mr Walker told Colonel Read, another Member of this House, who had purchased those Provisions, by Order of the Governor, the Year before, that he would go to Lunenburg and see the same inspected before it was sent to Augusta
and Mr Read told him it was too late,
for that the Provisions were then gone,
or going to Augusta,
by the Governor's Order.
That on the twentieth Day of October, eight Days before the Contract was concluded, it appears a Quantity of those Provisions were delivered to Captain Woodward, an Officer of the first Virginia Regiment, in Augusta, and the Residue was, about the last of that Month, lodged on Craig's Creek, [see map] about twelve Miles from the Garison, [we are thinking the garrison was at Buchanan on the James River south of Craig's Creek] the Roads not being passable
Complaint Details Investigated
Tuesday, the 13th of March, 32 Geo II, 1759 continued
passable for Waggons, and for Want of an Escort :
That the Provisions received by Captain Woodward were inspected,
but it does not appear that those left at Craig's Creek were ever inspected.
Yet from the Light your Committee
have been able to discover from the whole Testimony,
it appears that the said Provisions were in general very indifferent, and great Part quite spoiled.
That Mr Walker, in July next following his Contract laid an Account before the Commissioners appointed by Act of Assembly to adjust the same, and did not make any Mention therein of those Provisions, but acquainted them that a Quantity of Provisions had been received from Lunenburg, which he had not then got an Account of, and that he would leave in the Treasury a sufficient Sum to pay for them whenever the Quantity could be adjusted, which he did, where the same still remains, the said Mr Walker not having as yet settled any other Account with the said Commissioners:
The preceeding Facts are all relative to the first Charge exhibited by Mr Johnson.
And with Respect to the second, it does appear to your Committee, that Major Lewis, the Commanding Officer of the Forces stationed in Augusta, was concerned with Mr Walker in the Execution of the said Contract, though not named in it, which your Committee entirely disapprove of, as it might open a Door to great Hardships and Oppression upon the poor Soldiers ; but no such Consequences having appeared to attend it in this Cafe, your Committee have come to the following Refolutions:
Resolved,
That Mr Johnson hath not made good the first Part of his Charge, wherein he alleges Mr Walker refused to account for the said Provisions.
Resolved,
That he hath made good that Part of his Charge, concerning Major Lewis's being in Partnership with Mr Walker.
Blog note: At the time of this complaint, Andrew Lewis is still prisoner in Canada. He wrote a letter from Montreal 31 Oct 1758 saying he is soon to be moved to Quebec.
Resolved,
That he hath not made good that Part of his Charge, touching a Re- inspection and Condemnation of the said Provisions by Major Lewis's Order.
Blog note: This letter exonerates Major Andrew Lewis who was assigned by GW to work with Capt Henry Woodward and therefore with Dr Thomas Walker, Commissary and House of Burgesses member.
Thomas Johnson, who accused Andrew Lewis of secretly colluding with Thomas Walker, probably did not know about the letter GW wrote to Captain Woodward asking Woodward to work with Andrew Lewis about those supplies from Thomas Walker.
And it not appearing to your Committee that any other Inconveniency attended Major Lewis's being concerned in the Execution of the said Contract, than the Absence of some of the Officers from their Posts at some Times neceffarily occasioned thereby.
Resolved,
That Mr Walker hath not been guilty of any Fraud in the Execution of the said Contract.
Upon a Motion made.
Ordered, That Mr Thomas Walker, Contractor for supplying the Troops with Provisions, do, in six Months, at furthest, from this Time, render an Account of all the Provisions he has received in the County of Lunenburg or elsewhere, according to the Terms of the Contract made with this Government, in the Year 1757.
The House being informed.
That M'' Thomas Johnson, a Member of this House, having said that Mr Walker as Contractor to supply the Forces stationed in Augusta with Provisions, had attempted to cheat the Country of eleven Hundred Pounds, was asked, if that was the Case, how it happened that Mr Walker was not only continued in Office, but was courted thereto and carressed by the Assembly,
upon which Mr Johnson said the following Words:
"You know very little of the Schemes, Plots, and Contrivances that are carried on in the House of Burgesses ; in short, one holds the Lamb while another skins; and it would surprise any Man to see in what Manner the Country's Money is squandered away, which I have used my utmoft Endeavour to prevent, in which I could never succeed but once, and that to a trifling Amount." That among other Inftances the said Mr Johnson mentioned the following as a Proof of his Assertions : "That when the Clerk's Salary was proposed to be settled, Mr Randolph, the Clerk, got up, and walking through the Burgesses gave a Nod to his Creatures on each Side, who all followed him out of the House, and promised to be for the largest Sum proposed."
Ordered,
That the said Information be referred to the Committee of Privileges and Elections; That they do examine into the Matter thereof, and report the same, with their Opinion thereupon, to the House.
The Vote is held
Tuesday, the 3rd of April. 32 Geo II, 1759
M"' Attorney, from the Committee of Privileges and Elecftions, reported, That the Committee had had under their Confideration the Information againft M'' Thomas John- fon, to them refen-ed; examined into the Matter thereof, agreed upon a Report, and come to a Refolution thereupon, which he read in his Place, and then delivered in at the Table, where the fame was again twice read, and with an Amendment made and agreed to by the House, is as follow :
It appears to this Committee, by the Evidence of feveral Witneffes, who were folemn- ly examined upon Oath,
That M"' Johnfon, at his own House, on the Evening of Louifa Court Day, in the Month of November laft, introduced a Difcourfe concerning M'' Wal- ker's Conduct as a Contractor for Provisions, and concerning the Proceedings of the House of Burgesses in the Seffion held the September before ; in which Difcourfe, among other Things, he said,
"That Mr Walker had cheated the Country out of eleven Hundred Pounds, and being asked how it was possible for Mr Walker to impose upon so many Gentlemen as the House of Burgesses consisted of, and yet not only continue in Office, but be courted fo to do; answered,
"You know little of the Plots, Schemes, and Contrivances that are carried on there; in short, one holds the Lamb while the other skins; many of the Members are in Places of Trust and Profit, and others want to get in, and they are wilHng to assist one another in passing their Accounts; and it would surprize any Man to see how the Country's Money is squandered away, which he had used his Endeavours to prevent, and could never succeed but once, and that to a trifling Amount. That when the Clerk's Salary was proposed, he walked through the Burgesses, and nodded to his Creatures or Partizans on each Side, who followed him out of the House : That he, Mr Johnson, also received a Nod, which he disregarded, but being afterwards particularly beckoned to went out, and was sollicited by Mr Randolph, the Clerk, and many of the Members, to be for the largest Sum which was proposed for the Clerk's Salary, which he refused, but most of the other Members went in and voted for the largest Sum, which was carried."
Resolved,
That the aforementioned words, spoken by Mr Johnson, are false, scandalous, and malicious, and reflect highly on the Honor of the House.
And a Debate thereon arising, and the Question being put that the House do agree to the said Resolution, the House divided,
Yeas, 37,
Noes, 32,
Resolved in the Affirmative.
And thereupon, a Motion was made, and it was accordingly
Ordered, That the Speaker be directed to reprimand the said Mr Johnson, in his Place, for his Offence, mentioned in the said Resolution.
Mr Johnson was accordingly called in, and Mr Speaker, from the Chair, did reprimand him, in his Place, accordingly.
Upon a Motion made,
Ordered,
That it be an Instruction to the Committee of Privileges and Elections to regulate and settle the Costs and Charges accruing on the information against the said Mr Johnson.
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc2.ark:/13960/t8rb7b88h&view=1up&seq=140&skin=2021&q1=Walker
Dinwiddie refuses to replace Walker
To George Washington
from Robert Dinwiddie,
15 December 1756
Read this admonishment by Dinwiddie 15 Dec 1756 below: You recommend Messrs Carlyle & Ramsay to be Commissaries in the room of Mr Walker, [meaning in place of Mr Walker] which I by no means approve of—the first resign’d when formerly appointed, & when most wanted, I do not incline to give him that Opportunity again;
the other I doubt not is a Gentleman of Capacity,
but a Stranger to the Business,
& not sufficiently acquainted with the People to make Purchases, therefore not eligible.
Mr Walker has a very good Character for Probity & Capacity,
I have therefore orderd him to continue in his Office,
& I expect You will give him Your Countenance & Advice;
& supply him with the Money,
sent up by Capt. Mercer, appropriated for the Purchase of Provisions.
I have ordered him to send Mr Rutherfurd with You to Fort Cumberland, & he to remain at Winchester to do the Necessaries there;2 I therefore expect You will give him all the Assistance in Your Power; it wou’d be cruel to superceed him after he has made such large Contracts for supplying Your Regiment, & at this Time of the Year to leave it to those not so well acquainted with the Business.
Founders Online Footnote 2. Dinwiddie gave these orders to Thomas Walker on 15 Dec., and added: “I wish yo. had been more explicit in regard to the Incovenciences complain’d of, that I might have removed them. but I expect Colo. Washington will now give you his Advice, Assistance & Countenance in every thing relating to yr Duty”
Not just GW, but also William Fairfax wanted to replace Walker
(ViHi: Dinwiddie Papers). Dinwiddie wrote to William Fairfax on 15 Dec. in response to a letter of 27 Nov. from Fairfax recommending John Carlyle and William Ramsay for commissaries for the Virginia Regiment: “I can by no means agree to his [Walker’s] being superceded. he is now at Winchester & I’ve wrote him to confirm his commission, and to Colo. Washington to countenance & suport him therein—There are some Uneasiness on that Head from whence they arise I know not, but am in hopes they’ll now subside” (ibid.).
Walker had left Winchester by 19 Dec., confirming his intention to resign. For GW’s emphatic denial of any friction between him and Walker, see GW to Dinwiddie, 12 Jan. 1757.
Source
It is amazing Colonel GW writes the orders 10 Jan 1756 to Walker in such curt fashion. It is not very deferential, Knowing what a politically big man, Dr Thomas Walker is.
You will do this. You will do that. GW tells Walker.
GW needs supplies for 2 forts on the Patterson Creek, Fort Cocks and Fort Ashby.
Maybe this is the letter that causes Walker to consider he doesn't need this noise?.
Colonel George Washington incurs trouble with Lt Gov Dinwiddie who very much favors Dr Walker.
I am surpriz’d Mr Walker shou’d leave his Duty after the Assurances made me (last Time he was in Town) of discharging that Duty with all Diligence, I fear he was not properly countenanc’d, his Probity Knowledge & Experience makes him as equal to that Service as any in the Country, & as he & his Assistant have made so large Contracts, I shall not appoint another till I have his Reasons for resigning.
Dr. Thomas Walker, burgess of Hampshire
Dr Thomas and the Loyal Company of VA https://www.americanantiquarian.org/proceedings/44806881.pdf
July 12, 1749 Executive Council awards 800,000 acres to members of the Loyal Company of VA
Journal of 1750 Expedition by Walker 6 Mar 1749/50 - 13 Jul 1750
This also contains a Christopher Gist journal to the Ohio 1751:
Map of Walker's travels in 1779
William Ramsay who along with John Carlyle were 2 replacements suggested by GW:
Dinwiddie's refusal to replace Walker
This has info on Ramsay's Wharf in Alexandria VA. https://www.alexandriava.gov/uploadedfiles/historic/info/history/WaterfrontHistoryCameronToKing.pdf
Story on that 1756 time period
One of Thomas Walker's places:
To George Washington from Thomas Walker, 30 June 1756
1. Dr. Thomas Walker had extensive landholdings and business interests throughout Virginia, but by this time he seems to have been settled at Castle Hill in the Southwest Mountains of Albemarle County. This was part of a vast estate which had come under Walker’s control by his marriage in 1741 to Mildred Thornton Meriwether, widow of Nicholas Meriwether. Part of the house now standing was built by Walker in 1765, but there was undoubtedly an earlier house somewhere on the tract.
Source
Castle Hill info
Listing of House of Burgesses
Thomas Johnson of Lousia Co VA
Patrick Henry, American Revolutionary icon and author of the “give me liberty or give me death” speech, was first elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses from Louisa in 1765. Henry was a protégé of fellow Louisa Burgess, Thomas Johnson. Johnson, a man reportedly of enormous girth operated a tavern next to the Louisa Courthouse, and also became the High Sheriff of Louisa.
Ctrl F to find Johnson
Listing of House of Burgesses
Letter exonorates Andrew Lewis
From George Washington to Henry Woodward, 29 July 1757
This letter exonerates Major Andrew Lewis who was assigned by GW to work with Capt Henry Woodward and therefore with Dr Thomas Walker, Commissary and House of Burgesses member.
To Henry Woodward [Fort Loudoun, 29 July 1757] By George Washington Esq; Colonel of the Virginia Regiment, &c. To Captn Henry Woodward.
Sir, You are ordered, immediately upon receipt hereof, to march with your own company (which by a late regulation, has the one that was Capt. Bronaughs added to it) to the plantation of Captn Dickenson on the cow-pasture; and to pursue the following rout, vizt First you are to go up the south fork; thence to the head of the cow-pasture river, and thence down the same to Dickensons; where you are to halt, ’till joined by Major Lewis, & the Draughts sent by him to strengthen your company; or till you receive orders from the Major, what to do, if he shou’d not be there himself.
That he may have timely notice of your coming to Dickensons; you are to dispatch an Express to him at Augusta Courthouse, so soon as you begin your march. I expect you will make but little halt at Dickensons, as your place of destination is vauses, on Roanoake, to relieve the company that is posted there. Not knowing what may intervene at this distance, to render other orders necessary; you are as above, to receive directions from the Major, who is ordered to command the Detachment of the Regimt in that Quarter. And to him you are, till further orders, to apply for instructions in any thing you may require. You are also to send your Returns (agreeably to my General Instructions herewith sent you) to him; who is to send them with his own and Captn Spotswoods, to me.1 As you will receive new Kettles from the public stores (to be delivered you by Maj. Lewis:) I have desired Captn Waggener to call in all the old ones, pots, &c. which were made use of in yours and Bronaugh’s late company; and to send them to this place: and I desire you will be punctual in seeing this done, as well as in seeing that great care is taken of the new kettles. As the Fort which Captn Hogg is building, and to which you are now going, has, either thro’ bad conduct in the Director, idleness in the workmen, or thro’ some other cause which I can not comprehend, been of infinitely more expence to the country, and much longer about, than was ever expected—You are required to finish it with the utmost dispatch; and that in any manner, however rough, if it will secure you upon an attack.
You are for farther direction referred to the General Instructions herewith delivered you. Given at Ft Loudoun, this [ ] day of July, 1757. G:W. LB, DLC:GW.
Founders Online Footnote 1. Henry Woodward and his company, having been at Fort Cumberland, were now on the South Branch. For the arrangements for Woodward and his company to relieve Thomas Bullitt and his men at Vause’s fort on the Roanoke River, see especially GW to Andrew Lewis, this date, but see also GW’s Instructions to Company Captains, this date, n.1.
Source:
House of Burgess references to Walker
notes for later use
Prior to 1759
Thomas Walker elected to 2 counties
Footnote 6: Thomas; Walker; was elected a burgess by both Hampshire and Louisa counties. He chose to serve from Hampshire (see p. 12). Charles Smith was elected in his stead in Louisa...
Thomas Walker picks Hampshire to represent
Tuesday, the 19th of September, 32 Geo II, 1758
M' Thomas Walker; who is returned to ferve in this prefent General Affembly, as a Burgefs for the two Counties of Hampfhire and Louifa, this Day made his Eledlion of the County of Hampfhire, and thereupon. Ordered, That an Addrefs be made to the Governor to order a new Writ to iffue for the eledling a Burgefs to ferve in this prefent General Affembly for the Coimty of Louifa in the Room of the said Thomas Walker;, and that M"' Thomas Johnfon do wait on him with the said Addrefs.
.
Militia costs when marched to Winchester
Thursday, the 21st of September, 32 Geo II, 1758
Upon a Motion made, Ordered, That a Committee be appointed to examine, ftate and fettle the feveral Accounts of the Militia drafted and fent out into the adtual Service of the Colony, and alfo the Accounts of the refpe(5live Officers who conducted the said Militia to Winchefter, purfuant to a former Adl of Affembly in that Cafe made and provided, and that it con- fift of M' Bland, W Pendleton, M'' Waller, M' George Johnfton, M"' Green, M"" Henry Lee M' Lemuel Riddick, M"' Carrington, M"" Thomas Johnfton, M' Walker;, W Lewis, W Martin, M' Fleming, W Cary, M"^ Burwell and M' Ruffin. Ordered, That any five of the said Committee be a fufficient Number to make a Committee.
Petition of Obadiah Woodson,
Wednesday, the 27th of September, 32 Geo II, 1758
Upon a Motion made, Ordered, That the Petition of Obadiah Woodfon, which at a Seffion of Affembly on the eighteenth Day of May laft was referred to the Confideration of the next Seffion of Affembly, together with the feveral Depofitions of Witneffes taken and lodged with the Clerk of this House, in Purfuance of an Order of the House, touching the said Petition, be referred to M'' Cary, M"' Nicholas, M'' Benjamin Waller, M"' Lewis, M'' William Waller, M"' Gabriel Jones, M"' Read, and M'' Walker;; That they do examine into the Allegations of the said Petition, and report the fame, with their Opinions thereupon, to the House.
Petition of Doctor Henry Heath,
Saturday, the 30th of September, 32 Geo II, 1758
A Petition of Doctor Henry Heath, fetting forth, That he attended the drafted Sol- diers at Winchefter in their Sicknefs, by Order of the Commanding Officer 50 Days, for which and his Medicines and Advice, he charges ;^2 5, and that he has only received ;£io. los. and praying to be paid the Balance by the Publick, was prefented to the House and read. Ordered End of page
#59 (p.33) Ordered, That the said Petition be referred to M' Charles Carter, Junior, M' Walker, and M' Baylor, that they do examine into the Allegations thereof, and report the fame, with their Opinions thereupon, to the House.
Friday, the 23rd of February, 32 Geo II, 1759
Ordered, That a Committee of public Claims be appointed of the following Perfons, viz. M' Bland, M"" Harwaod, M' Wilfon, W Cave, M"' Richard Booker, W Walker;, M"" William Thornton, M"' Richard Lee, M"' Thomas Johnfton, W Ruffin, M-- Howard, M^ Waring, M^ Upfhaw, M"' Wade, M'' Simmons, and M'' Hartwell Cocke
And they are to meet and adjourn from Day to Day, and to take into their Confid- eration all public Claims which fhall be prefented to the House during this Seffion, and to report their Proceedings, with their Opinions thereupon to the House, when they have gone through the said Claims ; And all Perfons who have any Claims are to deliver them to the Clerk, and he is to deliver them to the said Committee of Courfe ; and they are to have Power to fend for Perfons, Papers, and Records for their Information.
Tuesday, the 3rd of April. 32 Geo II, 1759
M"' Attorney, from the Committee of Privileges and Elecftions, reported, That the Committee had had under their Confideration the Information againft M'' Thomas John- fon, to them refen-ed; examined into the Matter thereof, agreed upon a Report, and come to a Refolution thereupon, which he read in his Place, and then delivered in at the Table, where the fame was again twice read, and with an Amendment made and agreed to by the House, is as follow :
It appears to this Committee, by the Evidence of feveral Witneffes, who were folemn- ly examined upon Oath,
That M"' Johnfon, at his own House, on the Evening of Louifa Court Day, in the Month of November last, introduced a Discourfe concerning M'' Wal- ker's Conduct as a Contractor for Provisions, and concerning the Proceedings of the Houde of Burgesses in the Seffion held the September before ; in which Difcourfe, among other Things, he said,
"That M'' Walker had cheated the Country out of eleven n Hundred Pounds ;, and being afked how it was poffible for M'' Walker to impofe upon fo many Gentlemen as the House of Burgesses confifted of, and yet not only continue in Office, but be courted fo to do; anfwered, "You know little of the Plots, Schemes, and Contrivances that are carried on there; in fhort, one holds the Lamb while the other fkins; many of the Members are in Places of Truft and Profit, and others want to get in, and they are wilHng to affift one another in paffing their Accounts; and it would furprize any Man to fee how the Country's Money is fquandered away, which he had ufed his Endeavours to prevent, and could never fucceed but once, and that to a trifling Amoimt. That when the Clerk's Salary was propofed, he walked through the Burgesses, and nodded to his Creatures or Partizans on each Side, who followed him out of the House : That he, M'' Johnfon, alfo received a Nod, which he difregarded, but being after- wards particularly beckoned to went out, and was follicited by M"' Randolph, the Clerk, and many of the Members, to be for the largeft Sum which was propofed for the Clerk's Salary, which he refufed, but moft of the other Members went in and voted for the largeft Sum, which was carried."
Resolved,
That the aforementioned words, fpoken by M"' Johnfo^i, are faKe, fcanda- lous, and malicious, and refledl highly on the Honor of the House.
And a Debate thereon arifmg, and the Queftion being put that the House do agree to the said Refolution, the House divided,
Yeas, 37,
Noes, 32,
Resolved in the Afhrmative.
And thereupon, a Motion was made, and it was accordingly
Ordered, That the Speaker be direcled to reprimand the said M' Johnfon, in his Place, for his Offence, mentioned in the said Refolution.
M'' Johnfon was accordingly called in, and M"' Speaker, from the Chair, did repri- mand him, in his Place, accordingly.
Upon a Motion made,
Ordered,
That it be an Instruction to the Committee of Privileges and Elections to regulate and settle the Costs and Charges accruing on the information against the said M' Johnfon.
1759 Thomas Walker's other activities
A Bill To enable the Inhabitants of the Coimty of Loudoun to pay their public Dues and Officers Fees in Money, was read a fecond Time, and committed to M'' Francis Light- foot Lee, M'' Hambleton, and M"' Walker.
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc2.ark:/13960/t8rb7b88h&view=1up&seq=119&skin=2021&q1=Walker
#143 (p. 117) - 1 matching term
...Ordered, That it be an Inftrucftion to the Committee of Claims to allow the feveral Quantities of Tobacco and Money above mentioned to the Persons thereto refpedlively entitled, and in the Counties wherein they feverally refide, in the Book of Claims; and that they levy the Tobacco due to the above named Brown, Hawkins, and Ragland, and twenty Shillings, Part of the Money Charges, on M"^ Johnfon, and the Refidue of the said Tobacco and Money on M' Thomas Walker;. Ordered, That the further Confideration of the Book of Claims be put off till To- morrow.
#145 (p. 119) - 1 matching term
...Ordered, That M"' Bland do wait on the Governor with the said Book, and defire his Affent thereto. Ordered, That a Committee be appointed to proportion the public Levy, of the fol- lowing Perfons, viz. W Bland, W Benjamin Waller, M'' Eyre, M.' Walker;,
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