Walpole Nockolds, the son of Samuel Riches and Lydia Coleman Nockolds, was born in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk County, England. He immigrated to the United States in 1888, naturalized in Pennsylvania. He was in Pennsylvania and Michigan before he came to Texas.

Walpole married Abigail Jane Priest on May 2, 1893 in Bexar County, Texas. On the 1900 US Census Walpole, Abigail and 2 children, Stephen Richard and Nancy Althea, and were living on Delgato Street in San Antonio. The census stated: married 7 years, 3 children born, 2 living.

Walpole and his family moved to Oakley, Texas where Walpole applied for and was granted the position of the first Postmaster of Oakley, Texas on February 25, 1901.

W. R. Priest, Abigail's father, deeded 5 acres of land in Oakley, Bexar County, Texas, to Walpole Nockolds on November 23, 1901, consideration of $100.

Family members have said that Walpole had a small store along with a post office and farm. It was probably on this land.

The 1910 U S Census for Oakley, Bexar County, Texas enumerates Walpole and Abigail with a family of 8 children. Two more children were born after the 1910 census. On April 15, 1910, Walpole was the Enumerator for that census at Oakley, Texas. He stated that he was a truck farmer.

In 1917, a tragedy occurred in this family. Both Walpole and Abigail died leaving their children orphaned. Abigail died on January 16, 1917 and Walpole died 17 days later on February 2, 1917. Their oldest son, Stephen Richard, took over the responsibility for keeping the family together. The eldest daughter

Walpole died in San Antonio, Texas at a hospital. His death certificate states that he was buried 2-3-17 in Leming, Texas. (Possibly at St Joseph Catholic Cemetery?)

Family Search Death Record:

Name: Walpole Nockolds
Death date: 02 Feb 1917
Death place: San Antonio, Bexar, Texas
Gender: Male
Race or color (on document): white
Age at death: 47 years 11 months 3 days
Estimated birth year:
Birth date: 08 Feb 1869
Birthplace: Yarmouth, Eng.
Marital status: Married
Spouse's name:
Father's name: Samuel Nockolds
Father's birthplace: Eng.
Mother's name:
Mother's birthplace: Eng.
Occupation: Truck Farmer
Residence: Michigan
Cemetery name:
Burial place: ..., Tex. (Leming, Texas)?
Burial date: 03 Feb 1917
Additional relatives: X
Film number: 2051761
Digital GS number: 4166228
Image number: 2335
Reference number: 3499
Collection: Texas Deaths, 1890-1976