February 10, 2011 Walden Family/Tips

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For several weeks now I have been posting gravemarkers on the Thursday edition.  However, due to inclement weather, I have not been able to get out and take pictures.   We have had seven snow storms here in Nashville, Tn and they haven't been terrible like some of the states, but they still make traveling inconvenient.

The map of Virginia shows the location of Caroline County, Virginia

Walden Family Information
According to my blog dated February 8, 2011, I found in Campbell Chronicles and Family Sketches that  the Waldens traced their roots to Leyton, Essex County, Virginia, but in 1715 moved to Caroline County, where they built a house called Walden Towers which was about nine miles from Bowling Green, Virginia.  I began my search with Essex County and as I yet I have found nothing referring to Richard Walden.
My search led me to Carolina County and the book Elisha Wallen The Longhunter by Carolyn D. Wallin.  I found only a few references to Richard Walden, however, the book is packed with information and may help find facts for how long the Walden family has been in the country.  Plus, she has provided a smorgasborg of reference material for later reading.

Plus, the searcher will have to be aware of the spelling of Walden which apparently has taken many forms- Walling, Wallin, Waldron, Waldren.

I searched on the internet for further information and found this small excerpt from the book, Makers of America by Prominent Historical and Biographical Writers.
page 342

The family of Walden in England is one of the oldest and most prominent in the United Kingdom, and is descended from ancestors who were conspicuous in the early Italian wars and men who fought with the Black Prince at Cressy.  Bishop Walden, one of the best known divines of the established church, was a nephew of the last Lord Walden.
The last lord holding the title was John.  His eldest son, also John, came to America in the latter part of the last century, and settled at a beautiful seat known as Walden Towers, eight miles from Bowling Green, in Caroline County, Virginia.  This John Walden was one of the most prominent men in the Revolutionary period, and was intimate with all the great spirits of the day.  When his father in the old country died he took no steps to claim the title or property saying that nothing could induce him to cross the ocean again. 
He was the father of ten children, four boys and six girls.
The boys were John, William, Thomas, Ambrose, and the girls Elizabeth, Sally, Lucy, Polly, Nancy and Rachel. John Walden of Virginia, was one of the largest landholders of early days, and held vast tracts of ground in the Old Dominion, as well as in Kentucky.
The will of the last Lord Walden is now on file in England and it left a vast estate to his two sons.  The younger son got his portion, no doubt, but that of John Walden, of Virginia, has never been claimed.
The property was left in the care of trustees, so has not been outlawed by want of claimants or confiscated by the crown.

I have read in other books where the family tried to regain this title, but that it had reverted to the crown.

History of Caroline County, Virginia (A Heritage classic)
Colonial Caroline; a History of Caroline County Virginia
Bible Records of Caroline County, Virginia FamiliesA HISTORY OF CAROLINE COUNTY VIRGINIA, from Its Formation in 1727 to 1924. To Which is Appended "A Discourse of Virginia"
Marriages of Caroline County, Virginia, 1777-1853
Caroline County, Virginia, Bureau of Vital Statistics Death Records, 1853-1896