Daniel Walton immigrated around 1682 or 1683 with his three brothers from Bibury, Gloucestershire, and settled in Byberry, where he eventually owned 500 acres of land.1 In 1688, he married Mary Lamb in 1688 under the auspices of Abington Meeting.2  “Throughout his long life he was much respected, and was considered among the faithful Friends of that day…”3 Daniel served as a minister in Byberry Meeting for many years, represented the meeting at the Quarterly Meeting in Philadelphia many times, and served on many committees. In 1711 he was approved as a traveling minister with his brother William.4

He died in 1719 and left a will, describing himself as a husbandman of “Bibery”.5 In it he named his wife Mary and six sons.6 He essentially disinherited his eldest son Samuel, for “disobedience and undutifulness to me and to his mother and also his extravagant life whereby I have been forced to pay several sums of money to discharge his debts which doth amount to such a sum or to so great a part of my estate as I doo think fitt to be his portion.” He gave tracts of land to his sons Daniel and Joshua, and the home plantation to the three younger sons to share when they reached the age of 21; they were to be diligent around the plantation under their mother until then. The daughter Mary, youngest of the children, was to receive a cow and £15 when she came of age.7

The date of Mary’s death was apparently not recorded. “Nearly all the Waltons at present residing in the vicinity of Byberry are descendants of the ancient Daniel.”8

Children of Daniel Walton and Mary Lamb:

Samuel, b. ab. 1689, d. about 1758 in Bucks County, married Marcy Waterman in 1709 at Abington. She was the daughter of Humphrey and Margaret. In 1716 Abington Meeting testified against Samuel for his “gross actions” and “vicious practices” and ordered that the condemnation should be read and posted at Byberry.9 Samuel died in 1758 in Bucks County; he did not leave a will, but Marcy survived him and renounced as administrator.10 The list of children is uncertain.

Daniel, b. ab. 1691, d. 1757, m. about 10^th month 1714 Elizabeth Cliffton, daughter of Henry, at Philadelphia MM.11 In 1715 Daniel was “overcome with strong liquor” and had to condemn his behavior before the meeting.12 They lived in Byberry, where Daniel died in 1757, leaving in his will a wife Elizabeth, and three children. Other sources add two more children. Probable children: Daniel, Jane, Joseph, Benjamin, Mercy.13

Joshua, b. ab. 1693, d. 1759, m. Cassandra “Case” Albertson. In 1757 he was on a list of members of Byberry Meeting, although he apparently did not contribute to the collection for the yearly meeting.14 His house in Byberry was supposedly haunted. “Joshua committed suicide by hanging himself to a tree in front of his house and was buried in one of his back fields.  For many years after the death of Joshua the premises were believed by the superstitious to be haunted, and ‘marvelous tales were told of sights, sounds, and presentations, terrific in their nature.’ Men were actually frightened from the  ‘Timber Swamp’ in the daytime, but the ghosts have since departed.”15  Joshua left a will.16 He described himself as a yeoman of Byberry, aged and “somewhat infirm in body”. He named seven children, but not his wife, who must have died before him. The will was proved in July 1759. Children: Elizabeth,  Cassandra, Jonathan, Albertson, Hannah, Joshua, Ann.

Joseph, b. ab. 1698, d. 1727,  m. Esther Carver, daughter of William & Mary.17 Joseph and Esther were cleared to marry by Abington Meeting on 11^th month 1722. They had only two children, Richard and Rachel, before Joseph’s death at a young age. He died in Byberry.18 Letters of administration were granted to Esther and her father William in April 1727. In 1747 Richard and Rachel (by then married to William Groom) filed a paper, releasing all claim on the estate, in favor of their mother Esther, by then married to Daniel Knight.19 The inventory, taken on 18 April 1727, was rather sparse, with some household goods and farm tools, three horses, some cattle and sheep, for a total of £48. Esther later married Daniel Knight, son of Giles and Mary. Daniel’s first wife Elizabeth Walker, while Daniel was at the meeting, left her children alone in the house and hung herself in the stable.20 Daniel and Esther had six children together: William, David, Martha, Joseph, Ann, Thomas. In addition Daniel had children from his marriage to Elizabeth: Mary, Joseph, Jonathan.21 After Esther’s death he married Mary Wilson. Daniel died in 1782.

Benjamin, b. 1701, d. 1753, m. Rebecca Homer in 1724. Abington Meeting reported in 1724 that Benjamin Walton of Byberry “having been Educated Amongst friends” had married his wife by a justice.22 They lived in Byberry and raised their nine children there. Years later their daughter Elizabeth married Benjamin Gilbert and was captured by Indians in a famous incident.23 Children: Elizabeth, Mary, Daniel, Hannah, Rebecca and Sarah (twins), Benjamin, Esther, and William.

Nathan, b. ab. 1703, died unmarried before 1724.

Mary, b. ab. 1708, m. William Homer. He was the widower of Mary’s first cousin, also named Mary Walton, the daughter of William Walton and Sarah Howell.24 Mary (the second Mary) and William had eight children: Daniel, Thomas, David, Esther, Nathan, Joseph, Mary, and Jacob. The three youngest sons were known as “Taff”, Joe and Jake. They lounged at home and drank much whiskey, and were called the Young Homers, since they were by the second wife.25