Jeremiah Walton was born in 1694, the son of William Walton and Sarah Howell. His father was an eminent preacher for Byberry Meeting and a traveling friend. In 1712 William bought a tract of 555 acres in Moreland from William Allen, and four years later divided the land between his sons Isaac and Jeremiah. Pennypack Creek flowed through the tract.1

In 1719 Jeremiah married Elizabeth Walmsley, a daughter of Thomas Walmsley and Mary Paxson.  Jeremiah and Elizabeth lived on the Byberry Road in Moreland Township.  Years later, the Comly family recalled Jeremiah. “Jeremiah Walton married one of Isaac Comly’s aunts — Father of the chunky Waltons.  Lived at Horsham — his wife Betty Walmsley — children well ah! – William the oldest, Tommy, Jacob, Jeremy, three girls – one married.  Mary married. Sarah married Jeans, afterwards James Tyson, another Phebe remained unmarried.”2 He had Mary and Sarah mixed up, but had most of the names right.

Jeremiah died in 1740 and was buried at Horsham.3 Elizabeth lived on until 1787. She wrote her will, leaving her tract in Moreland to four children: Thomas, Jeremiah, Jacob and Sarah, to be shared. She left to her daughter Rachel Duncan £40 “if it shall be by her lawfully demanded as she now dwells at a great distance”; Rachel was probably living in Maryland. She also left a legacy to the three children of her son William deceased, and to the three children of her daughter Mary Tyson.4

Children of Jeremiah Walton and Elizabeth Walmsley:5

William, b. 12^th month 1719, d. 1770, m. Phebe Atkinson in 1741 at Abington meeting. They lived in Moreland, Philadelphia County, where William died in 1770. He left a will, naming his wife Phebe and three children. Phebe died in 1773. Children: Rebecca, Phebe, Hannah, William, Elizabeth, William, Seneca, Phebe, John. Only the second Phebe, Hannah and John lived past childhood.6

Thomas, b. 8^th month 1721, d. 1796, m. Mary Titus in 1754. They were married at Westbury Meeting, Long Island. They settled in Moreland, Montgomery County, where he died in 1796. He left a will, naming Mary and their living children. She died in 1799. Children: Sarah, Elizabeth, Mary, Silas, Phebe, Martha, Amy, Thomas, Jeremiah.7

Rachel, b. 1^st month 1724, m. Joseph Duncan in 1744 at Abington MM, had a daughter Phebe Drinker.8 The Duncan family were Quakers of Byberry, descended from John Duncan, an elder of Byberry meeting, and his wife Margaret Crighton or Creighton. They were living “at a great distance” when Rachel’s mother Elizabeth wrote her will in 1775. Joseph was probably the son of George Duncan, who took a certificate in 1715 from Abington to Cecil Monthly Meeting in Kent County, Maryland.9 It is probable that Joseph moved his family there along with his father.

Jeremiah, b. 3^rd month 1726, d. 1792, m. Mary Kirk in 1761 at Horsham Meeting, the daughter of Thomas Kirk and Mary Shaw.10 He was apparently a short, fleshy man, called Chunky Jerry.11 They lived in Moreland. He died there and left a will naming Mary and nine children.12 Children: Thomas, Susanna, Amos, Elizabeth, Joseph, Jeremiah, Jonathan, Jesse, Isaac.13

Jacob, b. 6^th month 1728, d. 1799, m. Mary Conard in 1762 at Horsham Meeting. She was the daughter of Cornelius and Priscilla. He was taxed in Moreland in 1769 for 133 acres.  Jacob left a will, named his wife Mary and seven children. Mary died in 1814. Children: Enoch, Anna, Priscilla, Elizabeth, Isaiah, Charles, Martha, Jacob.14

James, b. 12^th month 1730, died young.

Mary, b. 9^th month 1732, m.1) in 1753 Isaac Jeanes, son of William and Esther, 2) 1761 James Tyson, son of  Henry and Ann. Isaac was first married to Abigail Sands and had a daughter Mary with her.15 After Abigail died, he married Mary Walton and they had two sons, William and Levi.16 Then in 1757 Isaac died, leaving Mary with the three children. In 1761 she married James Tyson, son of Henry Tyson and Ann Harker.17 James was born in 1738, six years younger than Mary. James and Mary had a daughter Elizabeth, born in 1762.

Sarah, b. 10^th month 1734, m. James Spencer in 1761 at Horsham Meeting.18 They lived in Upper Dublin, where Sarah died in 1787. James married the widow Elizabeth Marple, but they had no children together. Children of James and Sarah: Josiah, Enos, William, Seneca, Ezra, Elizabeth, James, Abner.

Elizabeth, b. 5^th month 1737, died young.

Phebe, b. 5^th month 1740, died 1756 unmarried.