Died May 14, 1852.
The father of Walter Hancock was James Hancock, a timber merchant and cabinet maker. Walter received a common school education, and then was apprenticed to a watchmaker and jeweler in London. The bent of his inclination, however, was toward engineering, and he turned his attention to experimenting along the lines that were at that time absorbing the thoughts and efforts of those men of England interested in mechanical and scientific subjects.
He was foremost among those who in the early part of the nineteenth century were engaged in trying to solve the problem of steam carriage locomotion on the common highways. The story of his work in this direction is fully told by himself in his Narrative of Twelve Years' Experiments, 1824-36, Demonstrative of the Practicability and Advantage of Employing Steam Carriages on Common Roads, a book published in London, in 1838. This volume contains a full account of his labors, and descriptions of all the carriages that he built and ran. The following extract from the introduction of the book shows in what esteem Hancock regarded himself and what estimate he placed upon the value of his work:

A summary of the members of the Hancock family from Marlborough, Wiltshire
James Hancock (1753-1821) Marr: Betty Coleman
|--- Mary (1780-1794)
|--- James Hancock (1787-1859) Marr: Elizabeth Lyne
|---|--- Elizabeth Lyne Hancock (1812-1814)
|---|--- James Lyne Hancock (c1815-1884) Marr(1): Mary Marr(2): Sarah
|--- Thomas Hancock (1786-1865) Gutta Percha manuf. Partner in Charles Macintosh and Co.
|--- John Hancock (1788-1835). Early partner with Thomas as a coach builder in Hancock and Co. His 11 children looked after by Thomas
|---|--- Frances
|---|--- Harriett
|---|--- Catherine
|---|--- Thomas Hancock
|---|--- Frances W.
|--- William Hancock (1789-1848) Marr: Hannah. Bookseller in Malmsbury.
|---|--- Emma (also grandson Frederick Peters).
|--- George Hancock (1791- ) Believed to have emigrated to USA
|--- Elizabeth (1793-1812) Died age 17
|--- Mary Ann (1795-1795) Died infant
|--- Mary (1796-1800) Died age 4
|--- Henry Hancock (1797- ) Believed to have emigrated to USA
|--- Walter Hancock (1799-1852) Steam coach business in London. Walter Hancock and Co