Annie Louisa Walker spent a portion of her life in Canada where she published her first books, before returning to England where she joined the household of her cousin, writer Margaret Oliphant, and published another five novels.
This author's life has been researched earlier for inclusion in the
Entry revised by Linnea McNally
Born in England, Ann Louisa Walker, who also went by "Anna" or "Annie," was the youngest child of land agent Robert Walker (c1788-1864) and his third wife, Anne Hay (c1793-1865). Following several years of unstable finances, Robert and Anne left England for Canada West in 1852 and 1853, respectively, accompanied by some of their children, including Annie.
While the men in the family held contracts working with the Grand Trunk Railway project, Annie and her two sisters, Isabella and Sarah Frances, opened a private school for young ladies in 1858 in Sarnia, Canada West.
Accounts differ regarding when Annie began to publish her poetry, although she began to write in her teens. During her stay in Canada, her work appeared in local newspapers. Her most lasting literary impact in Canada has likely been through writing the words to the hymn,
The Walker sisters’ school seems to have closed upon the deaths of Isabella and Sarah Frances in 1862. Two years later, Annie returned with her parents to England, where both her father and her mother died within the year. Annie then joined the Paris household of her second cousin, the well-known Victorian writer,
Annie published her final works as "Mrs. Harry Coghill" or simply "Mrs. H. Coghill." Her last project was to edit and compile
Widowed in 1897, Annie died ten years later, in 1907. For a more detailed biography, see her entry in the
Robert Walker was born in about 1788 in Scotland, to Andrew Walker (1738-1820) and Isabel Aitken (1746-1819).
Robert seems to have been married three times (details of his first marriage are not available). In 1822, he married his second wife, Susan Hay, and in 1827, twice widowed and the father of five, he wed Susan's sister, Anne Hay (c1793-1865). In England, Robert was a steward and land agent to wealthy landowner, Thomas William Giffard of Chillington Hall. In Brewood, he also held various positions on church and town committees. He was Overseer of the Poor, and also produced a surveying map book.
In the late 1840s, the family's finances took a downturn. In 1852, after regaining some stability, Robert and his sons sailed for British North America, to take up employment with the Grand Trunk Railway project. Anne and three daughters followed in 1853, settling with Robert in Sarnia, Canada West. After enduring the deaths of his two eldest daughters and his sons’ bankruptcy, Robert returned to England in 1864 with his wife and his two youngest children, Charles and Annie. He died later that year in Smethwick.
Anne was born in about 1793 in Shropshire, England, to Thomas Hay and Susannah Woodall. In 1822, she married her sister’s widower, Robert Walker (c1788-1864). The couple moved to Canada West in the early 1850s, where Robert took up employment with The Grand Trunk Railway project in an attempt to alleviate his family's financial concerns. Anne returned to England with Robert in 1864 and died a year later at the home of her son, Thomas Andrew Walker (1828-1889), in Kensington, London.
Isabella operated a private school in Brewood, Staffordshire, England, and later taught at the school she and her sisters opened in Sarnia, Canada West.
Sarah Frances taught at the school she and her sisters opened in Sarnia, Canada West.
Jessie assisted sister Isabella at Brewood private school.
Robert took over his father's position as Giffards' land agent.
In Brewood, Susan assisted Isabella at a private school; later, she was a "Daily Governess."
Thomas was a civil engineer and railway contractor; he died of Bright's disease prior to completing the Manchester Ship Canal.
Charles was a bookkeeper at Trimming Warehouse.
Harry Coghill was born in about 1824 in Wick, Caithness, Scotland. In 1850, he married Mary Jane Fuller (1829-1870), with whom he had ten children. Harry was a wealthy manufacturer of chemicals. As a widower, he married Annie Louisa Walker (1836-1907) in 1887. He died in 1897 in Ilfracombe, Devonshire, England.
Schoolteacher
Publication of
Her first book,