How or why, he became a cartographer and farmer is unknown but maybe farming was not so profitable and judging from his colourful maps he had artistic ambitions. In 1688 he was commissioned by Jacob Des Bouverie ancestor of the Earls of Radnor to survey and draw up plans of his estates in the East part of Kent. (Folkestone area).

Abraham Walters Farm.  Drawn by him for the Twysden Estate.

Inside the back cover of our book of maps, is a cartouche on which writes, he began work on our book on the 13th of April 1698, originally drawing up large copies (now hanging in Longford Castle) finished these on 17^th March 1699 and delivered them on 5^th May 1699. He then reduced the large plans into our small volume and completed this on 15^th December1699.

Conservation work on the pages of the book, revealed he obtained it “off the shelf” and painted straight onto the pages. This resulted in some of the maps covering two pages. This method no doubt saved precious parchment space and allowed room for possible further additions.

For all this work, he was paid on 20^th December 1699, the sum of £21.00. (£2500 today). We know this because his signed receipt is recorded in a  receipt book from the Longford Estate records held in the Wiltshire & Swinden History Centre.

Courtesy: Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre.,

How sums of money that large were transferred is an interesting thought.

The Book of Maps

After over 300 years of use, the colours on the pages of Abraham’s maps are still vivid, having been enclosed in the book with hook and latch metal clasps.   These are, unusually, still in place and complete. (See Conservation Report) The volume would have been carried around by the bailiff, or maybe by Jacob Des Bouverie himself when collecting rents and inspecting the properties.

The indexes inscribed on each map, detailing who owned the property, the acreage, what was grown, tenants, are still readable.

Abraham loved to embellish his maps with animals and patterns.  On No 7 map depicting the Warren as it was then, are 7 rabbits and two fishponds.

To give his maps a bit more jazz, Abraham apparently scattered glitter wherever there was water.  We learned this from the conservation work. What is still there can just about be seen in the right light and has been identified by the technical staff at Wiltshire History Centre as powdered glass.  A bit of bling on his maps must have been a popular request in the 17^th Century, as Abraham is known to have drawn up over 30 maps during his lifetime.

Every map page has a compass and Abraham spared none of his talents in making each one stand out. They are all different, multi-coloured, large or small depending on the space he had left on the page, and just in case you got confused some had east and west depicted on them, instead of north and south.

Abraham loved to gild some of his artistic efforts and so must Jacob des Bouverie because there are little bits scattered throughout the volume, notably, the coat of arms.

His Will

We have his will and do wonder if he was as good with his accounts as he was with his maps as he died owing money to

• His Brother, Edward Baldock – Aylesford
• William Tomlin, His Cousin
• Robert Spencer – Dorking
• Mr Honeywood – Middlesex
• William Faulsett Dordafod Esq or his heirs.
• John Allin – Gravesend

Information for the last four is all a bit vague and we could wonder if they ever received what was owed to them unless they were well known to the executor and had good solicitors.

As Abraham is known to have drawn up to over 30 maps during his cartographic career and was presumably paid well for them, there must be an interesting story in there somewhere.  Also, Abraham refers to his brother as Edward Baldock.

In the Name of God, Amen. I Abraham Walter of the Parish of East Malling in the County of Kent. Gent.

Being sick of body but of sound & perfect memory praised be God for the same, being desirous to settle things in order, do make this, my last Will and Testament (That is to say) I commend my soul to God Almighty my creator Assured  by believing I shall receive full pardon and remission of my sins and be saved by the Meritts and precious Death of my  blessed Saviour and redeemer Jesus Christ and my body to the earth from whence it was taken to be buried in decent and Christian manner, As Touching such Worldly  goods as the Lord in Mercy hath lent me my will and meaning is, that some shall be imployed and bestowed as hereafter by this my will is expressed.  First I do revoke and make void all former wills by me made, And Appoint this my Last Will and Testament.

Imprimis. I will all those Debts and Duties that in Right and conscience I owe to any manner or person to be well and truly paid in convenient time after my decease as far as my lands & tenements, Goods and Chattels will amount unto as hereafter is directed by my executor hereafter mentioned,

Item.

I order & appoint those three tenements lying in the Parish of Goudhurst in the county of Kent in the occupation of John Rumeington, John Austine and John Farleigh, & also that tenement lying at Nowhith/north? Brook in the parish of East Malling in the county aforesaid in the occupation Richard Jenn? with the appurtenances thereunto belonging, to be sold in convenient time by my executor for and towards the payment of a debt which I owe to William Faulsett Dordafod esq or his heirs.

Item

I order and appoint The Kings Head at Holburrough with the appurtenances thereunto belonging, now in the occupation of Widow Divors to be sold in convenient time, (for and towards the paying of a debt which I owe to John Allin of Gravesend) by my executor.

Item

I order and appoint give & devise all that messuages now divided into two dwellings, one wherein my beloved wife now dwelleth in and the other in the occupation  of Jones & all that piece of land called Chalk Croft with the appurtenances there unto belonging lying in the parish of East Malling in the county aforesaid to be sold after the death of my beloved wife by my executor or his heirs assigns for and towards the payment of a debt due to my brother Edward Baldock of Aylesford and my cousin William Tomlin of West Malling and also for paying of a debt due to Rob’t Spencer Gent in Dorking in the county of Surrey also for paying of a debt due to Mr Honeywood in the County of Middlesex.  And all the overplus that is left out of all my lands & tenements when those debts aforementioned are paid & satisfied my will & meaning  is that my executor shall have and receive it  for and towards the paying of what money I owe to him and also I will & bequeath all of my personal estate as goods and chattels to my executor for and towards the payment of the debt that I owe to him, and after all my debts are paid I order and appoint that the overplus shall be equally divided between my three daughters, Anne, the wife of Fran: Fairman of West Peckham & Mary Walter, my second daughter, and Avice the wife of Thomas Thornton of Sevenoaks, to be paid by my executor.

Item

I make & ordain Francis Fairman of West Peckham in the county of Kent to be my whole and sole executor of this my last will and testament & I give to him and his heirs forever all my right title interest in all my goods & chattels Lands & tenements & to have full power& authority to make  sale of any of my estate according to true intent of this my last will as is before expressed.

In witness where of I have hereunto set my Hand & Seal.

This 15^th day of January anno Dom: 1714/15

Signed Sealed and Delivered

by the within named Abraham Walter & Declareth it is his will and testament in the presence of 

Richard Fairman

Two others.

FAMILY HISTORY

Abraham was born in Goudhurst and baptised on 15^th August 1647.

In 1676 aged 29, he married Avice Tomlin. In his will, Abraham refers to his cousin, a William Tomlin.

They had three daughters.

Anne
baptised 4^th October 1677.

In 1698 aged 21, she married Francis Fairman.

They had a daughter named Mary Lee Fairman and a son Richard Fairman.

Mary Lee Fairman married into the Carnell family of The Stair & Correnden. 

Mary
Baptised 30^th May 1681, never married. (She is mentioned as a beneficiary in Abraham’s will by her maiden name.)

Avice
Baptised 12^th September 1686, married a Thomas Thornton of Sevenoaks.

Abraham
Died in January 1715 aged 67, at East Malling and is buried in West Peckham.