The painting in the parlor. The portrait of Stephen Mather’s mother.

Often, visitors to the Homestead parlor are told that the painting of Bertha Jemima Walker was originally much larger and included her sisters as well.  According to legend, the painting was divided to give each sister her own portrait. Although a story on the Homestead website suggests there could have been as many as five sisters in the painting, the common belief is that there were three.    

Research into both English and American records reveals that, when the canvas was painted, Bertha had only two living sisters, Elizabeth Mary and Sophia Ann.  Further research points to Bertha having had four other sisters and five brothers—12 children born to Edward Walker and his wife, Sophia Shedel.  All 12 children were born within a twenty-year period, nine within the first eleven years of the Walker’s marriage!  Two sons and three daughters lived to adulthood.  Bertha was the youngest of the twelve.

In fact, there were two Sophia Anns.  The first, born in England in 1832 most likely died of whooping cough in 1835, shortly after the Walker’s arrival in the United States.  The second Sophia Ann was born in October 1842, married, and died in 1918.  Elizabeth Mary was born in 1835 and died in September 1922.  At least two of her daughters were guests at the Homestead.

Walker Children - Photograph from late 1850s-early 1860s - Seated L-R: Joseph, Elizabeth Mary, James Edward, Standing L-R: Sophia Ann, Bertha Jemima