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All my childhood I was told about John Samuel Malin Walker, born in 1841 in Duffield. According to legend he was a rich squire of Heanor whose copious riches went to his 2nd wife, Bertha, on his death. I have looked at this and I think it's fairytales as there is no evidence. Does it ring a bell with anyone?

When you say you have looked at this - what have you looked at? Have you found him in various census being a rich squire? Have you found his marriage and got the certificate?

Is this him in 1901 with a young "housekeeper" called Bertha and a servant called Bertha? Im sure she isnt 9, but the enumerator has put a line right through her age. He is a widower, commercial traveller, selling pottery? She is shown as single born Hastings, Sussex. I wonder if the 19 year old is their daughter?

1901 England Census
about John Malin Walker
Name: John Malin Walker
Age: 60
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1841
Relation: Head
Gender: Male
Where born: Belper Bethie Pottery, Derbyshire, England

Civil parish: Kilburn
Ecclesiastical parish: Horsley St Clement
Town: Kilburn
County/Island: Derbyshire
Country: England




Registration district: Belper
Sub-registration district: Horsley
ED, institution, or vessel: 4
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 102
Household Members:
Name Age
John Malin Walker 60
Bertha R Hildred 9
Bertha Yeomans 19


In 1891 Bertha is at home with mum and dad in Skegness and this would show that she would be 37 in 1901

Name: Bertha R Hildred
Age: 27
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1864
Relation: Daughter
Father's Name: Charles
Mother's Name: Eliza
Gender: Female
Where born: Harding, Sussex, England

Civil parish: Skegness
Ecclesiastical parish: Skegness
Town: Skegness
County/Island: Lincolnshire


Registration district: Spilsby
Sub-registration district: Burgh
ED, institution, or vessel: 10
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Charles Hildred 66
Eliza Hildred 66
Kate Hildred 30
Bertha R Hildred 27
Jane M Hildred 23
Kate Smith 23


Name: John Malin Walker
Year of Registration: 1841
Quarter of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar
District: Belper
County: Derbyshire
Volume: 19
Page: 403

Is this the first marriage?

Margaret Sarah Holmes 1870 Belper Derbyshire

John Malin Walker 1870 Belper Derbyshire

I wonder why he married Bertha in Lewisham, London?

Name: John Malin Walker
Year of Registration: 1901
Quarter of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec
District: Lewisham
County: Greater London, Kent, London
Volume: 1d
Page: 1963


Bertha Rebecca Hildred 1901 Lewisham Greater London, Kent, London

John Malin Walker 1901 Lewisham Greater London, Kent, London

So buy the certificate for £7 from GRO online.

Is this his death?

Name: John M Walker
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1843
Year of Registration: 1913
Quarter of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec
Age at Death: 70
District: Kings Norton (1913-1924)
County: Staffordshire, Warwickshire
Volume: 6d
Page: 79

Bertha telling porkies re her age:

me: Bertha Rebecca Hildred
Year of Registration: 1860
Quarter of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar
District: Hastings (1837-1977)
County: Sussex
Volume: 2b
Page: 21

Final census...

HOUSEHOLD WALKER JOHN MALIN M 1841 70 Belper Derbyshire
HOUSEHOLD WALKER BERTHA REBECCA F 1860 51 Belper Derbyshire

Looks like it was a family myth then :)