“During the earlier years of the eighteenth century, from 1715 to 1746, Scotland was much agitated by the different attempts of the "Pretenders," James and Charles, to obtain a foothold upon the soil, and recognition as the crowned heads of England and Scotland, in pace of the Elector of Hanover, who, a German, had been crowned as George 1st, King of England.

   “This foreign substitution, for the native born house of Stuart, was revolting to the sensitive sensibilities of many Scottish Chiefs, and they raised the standard of rebellion, hoping, while England was entangled with European wars, consequent upon the accession of a German to the throne, to secure recognition from the powers of Europe and support from the nation for the house of Stuart. After many disastrous encounters with the power of England, supported by the Hollanders, in which they suffered great loss of life, the remainder sought safety from the wrath of the King and fled to foreign soil. Of those who were taken many were executed, others were banished, while those who eluded pursuit were for three years published, both at home and the colonies, as rebels and felons, with large rewards offered for their heads.

   “Isaac WALKER and his brothers Charles and Nathan were thus forced to flee, with five hundred pounds offered for their heads, and found in France temporary secrecy and security. Isaac Walker's wife, a Stuart, was informed of his intention to sail for America and made all her preparations to follow him, but was baffled for four years, least she should betray his hiding place in the forests of Maryland. He was afraid to communicate with her, and intended to return secretly to Scotland and bring back his wife, whom he had not seen for so long. By some kind providence, the day he intended to sail from Alexandria, the vessel he expected to return in brought his wife, and they met at the wharf. It was stated by Grandfather Nathan that, as his mother came up the hill from the wharf, a parrot called out to her, "Scotch;" when she exclaimed, ‘Laird! How did the poor creature know?’

    “The brothers constructed a large white oak log house at the head waters of Bear Garden Branch, in Prince George's County, about nine miles northeast of what was afterwards called Washington, D.C. This house remained standing until about 25 years hence, when some of the logs were used to repair the barn and granary, which are now standing, and a piece of which is the cane this day presented to Jonathan T., Walker by his grandchildren. They named the place "Toaping Castle", after their stronghold in the old country; and after they thought it safe to acknowledge their identity, and danger was over.”

    On this site, Isaac, Charles, and Nathan Walker erected a large white oak house, named for their ancestral stronghold in Scotland which the three brothers had fled after the failure of attempts to unseat George I, King of England, as ruler of Scotland. Isaac permanently settled here and obtained land grants for 188 acres. He and his three sons served in the Revolutionary War. The graves of Isaac and his son Nathan are north of here.

    Toaping Castle was the birthplace of Samuel Hamilton Walker (Feb. 24, 1817 - Oct. 9.1847), Lt. Colonel of the Texas Rangers and Captain of the U.S. Cavalry. He left home at the age of 19 to fight Indians and later he became a leader and hero of the Rangers. His suggested changes to Samuel Colt's revolver resulted in Colt's success as an arms manufacturer. 1000 Colt-Walker pistols -- the first, heaviest, and longest revolvers ever issued to American forces -- were purchased for the Texas Rangers during the Mexican War. Walker was killed in that war at the battle of Hua Mantla, Mexico.

    The family cemetery is all that remains of the Toaping Castle estate.