Major Thomas Walker of Gloucester County was the first generation of Walkers at Locust Grove. It is thought that he came from Staffordshire, England in the mid-17th Century. He was a member of the House of Burgess from GloucesterCo. in 1663 and 1666. By 1683 held the rank of lieutenant-colonel in the militia. His name is frequently mentioned in references to Gloucester and KIng and Queen Counties.

In 1665 the Office of the Secretary of the Colony granted his petition to take over 2350 acres of a patent granted in 1653 to Edward Diggs who had deserted it. The land was called Fort Mattapony and was located on the north side of the Mattaponi River in New Kent County, which later became King & Queen County. There is also a subsequent record of the patent being resurveyed in 1687 for Lt. Col. Thomas Walker and 300 acres added for a total of 2650. This land was originally referred to as “Rye Field” and was later changed to “Locust Grove”.

Thomas Walker was one of the two members of the colonial Burgess from 1660 to 1676, representing Gloucester County. At this time New Kent County, where the Walker patent was located, had been formed from Gloucester County. Most likely Walker had not moved to the patent during this time, although he must have met the requirements to “seat” the land. As a member of the Burgess, he participated on committees that examined the election results in some counties, investigated the business of the King of Potomack, reviewed grievance cases of several counties, consulted on a treaty with the Colony of Maryland, and evaluated the financing and management of the building of a fort at Point Comfort.

There are other court records mentioning Thomas Walker. Evidently the widow of Thomas Perry of Gloucester felt the estate was being mismanaged and asked Walker to take over administration. The court agreed and assets that were being sent to England were returned payment for a medical cure for the widow was reduced from 40 pounds to 10 pounds sterling. In addition, a petition by Walker to receive compensation for planting mulberry trees prescribed by an Act of Assembly was granted; 20,000 lbs of tobacco, 10,000 in 1668 and 10,000 in 1669.