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Here are some Walcott stories and accounts over the years:

Walcott Origins

The surname Walcott occurred in many early spelling forms isuch as Walcot, Walcott, Wolcott, Woolcot and Woollacot.  In each case the name is locational and is either from the west country - originating from such places as Woolcot near Dulverton in Somerset or possibly Woolcott near Bristol - or from the various places called Walcot or Walcott which are to be found in several counties including those as far apart as Lincolnshire and Wiltshire.

The place names have the generalised meaning of 'the cottage of the Wealisc," a reference to the Old English who had been dispossessed of their lands by the invading Anglo-Saxons of the 7th century.  More specific meanings in some known cases are 'the cottage by the well' from the Middle English wul which later transposed to wool or "Wulfrige's cottage," the latter being a personal name of some popularity in olden times.

Walcot Hall in Shropshire

Walcot as a place-name here is thought to be Saxon in origin, derived from wald, a forest, and cote, a dwelling place.  This aptly describes the property which is surrounded by a vast amphitheater of hills and is set on the edge of the Clun forest in Shropshire.

In the 12th century the Walcot estate was acquired by the Walcot family from which they took their name. Walcot Hall itself dates back to Tudor times, the original Elizabethan facade being gabled.  The property remained in their hands until 1763 when the estate was sold to Lord Clive of India.  Charles Walcot was apparently persuaded into this sale by his extravagant uncle, Sir Francis Dashwood of Hellfire Club fame. 

To Take the King's Shilling

Louisa Walcot ran the London Tavern in Portsmouth where the expression "to take the King's shilling" may have originated.  She is said to have dropped a shilling into the drink of an unwary customer.  When he drank he had thus taken the King's shilling and was enlisted into the Royal Navy.

John Woolcot and His Indian Adventures

In his The History of East Brookfield, Massachusetts 1686-1970, Louis E. Roy wrote:

"Early on the morning of October 13, 1708 John Woolcot, a lad of 12 to 14 years, was riding in search of the cows when the Indians fired at him, killed his horse, and took him prisoner.  He was carried to Canada where he remained for six or seven years, during which time, by conversing wholly with the Indians, he not only entirely lost his native language but became so naturalized to the savages as to be unwilling for a while to return to his native country."

He lived with the Indians, it seems, until 1718 when he returned to Brookfield and was given a grant of land.  The Rev. Nathan Fiske, pastor of the Third Church at Brookfield and writing in 1775, took up the story:

"Some years afterwards, in March 1728 in a time of peace, Woolcot and another man had been hunting and, coming down the Connecticut river with a freight of skins and fur, they were hailed by some Indians; but, not being willing to go to them, they steered for another shore.  The Indians landed at a little distance from them, several shots were exchanged, and at length Woolcot was killed."

However, this may not have been the truth.  Woolcot is believed instead to have deserted his family and to have returned to live among the Indians at Wilcott island on the Connecticut river.

Early Walcott Marriages in Barbados

1716	Christ Church	Eyare Walcott	Constance Butcher
1735	St. Joseph	John Walcott	Dorothy Palsworth
1736	St. Joseph	Thomas Walcott	Ann Hill
1742	St. John	Thomas Walcott	Mary Adam
1743	St. John	Richard Walcott	Abigail Combs
1761	St. Joseph	John Walcott	Catherine McNackin
1765	St. Joseph	Thomas Walcott	Selvina Clements
1766	St. John	Thomas Walcott	Ann Pile
1771	St. John	John Walcott	Mary Ann Culpepper
1788	St. Joseph	Milward Walcott	Dorothy Baker
1789	St. John	Edward Walcott	Susannah Melvin

 

"The Bigger They Are The Harder They Fall"

It was Joe Walcott, the Barbados Demon, the welterweight champion of the world from 1901 to 1904, who actually coined the phrase "the harder they come the harder they fall."  Walcott, despite his short stature, was extremely successful against much larger and heavier opponents.  He had fantastic stamina and durability as well as a proven punch.  A natural welterweight, he was one of the greatest "pound for pound" fighters in boxing history and fought men weighing from lightweight to heavyweight during his career.

Walcott was widely recognized as the best welterweight in the world before he won the title.  This was what The Police Gazette said in its January 11, 1902 issue:


Walcott won the championship on a fifth round stoppage of Rube Farm in Toronto.  The Gazette reported that Walcott "turned Fern into jelly in five rounds."

Such was Walcott's reputation as a fierce puncher that he claimed in newspaper reports: "Since no welterweight or middleweight will fight me I am compelled to go to the next class.  Will any heavyweights fight me?"  Walcott issued challenges to Tom Sharkey, Gus Ruhlin, and even champion Jim Jeffries, but they all declined to meet him in the ring.

Elaine Walcott from Glace Bay, Nova Scotia

The Atlantic School Of Theology (AST) made history in 2002 when Elaine Walcott became the first indigenous black to graduate with a Masters of Divinity from the school.  Elaine was the wife of Joseph Walcott from Glace Bay and the mother of their two sons, Preston and Christopher.  

Elaine was quoted as saying: "AST has just granted my entire indigenous African Nova Scotian community a M. Div. Praise God."

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