William Brayton (Vermont judge)

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William Brayton (August 27, 1787 – August 5, 1828) was a Vermont attorney, politician, and judge. He served as a Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court from 1817 to 1821.

Biography[]

William Brayton was born in Lansingburgh, New York[1] (now part of the city of Troy) on August 22, 1787.[1] His family was residing in Greenfield, New York[2] when Brayton attended Williams College from 1800 to 1801.[3] He left college before graduating, studied law, and attained admission to the bar of Franklin County, Vermont in 1807.[4] Brayton settled in Swanton, where he established a successful practice and became active in politics and government as a member of the Democratic-Republican Party.[4] In addition, he served as Swanton's postmaster from 1809 to 1815.[5] Those who studied law under Brayton with the intention of becoming attorneys included David M. Camp.[6] In 1815, Brayton was named presiding judge of the Franklin County Court.[4] In 1816, he was chosen as one of Vermont's presidential electors, and he cast his ballot for James Monroe and Daniel D. Tompkins for president and vice president.[1] In 1817, he represented Swanton in the Vermont House of Representatives.[4]

In 1817, Brayton was appointed a Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court, succeeding William A. Palmer,[7] and relocated to St. Albans.[4] He served until 1821, and was succeeded by Charles K. Williams.[7] After leaving the bench he moved to Burlington, where he practiced law until his death.[8]

Death and burial[]

Brayton died in Burlington on August 5, 1828;[8] he was buried at Elmwood Cemetery in Burlington.[9]

Family[]

In 1812, Brayton married Hortensia Penniman (1795-1827), the daughter of Frances Montresor (Ethan Allen's widow) and Jabez Penniman.[10] Their children included: Frances Margaret (1814-1854); Agnes Abigail (1816-1902); Cornelia (1817-1855); William Henry (1820-1854); and Hannibal (1823-1825).[10]

Frances was the wife of Henry Norton, and died in Fayetteville, a now defunct community near Elkhorn, Wisconsin.[10] Agnes married John Adam Brinegar, and died in Granby, Missouri.[10] Cornelia was the wife of Valentine Seman Ferris (1809-1879) of Vergennes.[10] William Henry died in California.[10]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c Vermont Legislative Directory, p. 219.
  2. ^ "Catalogue of Students in Williams' College, November 1800", p. 4.
  3. ^ General Catalogue of the Non-graduates of Williams College, 1796-1920, p. 6.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e "The Supreme Court of Vermont, Part III: William Brayton", pp. 83–83.
  5. ^ The History of Swanton, Vermont, p. 42.
  6. ^ Biography of the Bar of Orleans County, Vermont, pp. 59–60.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b History of Vermont, Natural, Civil and Statistical, p. 124.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b "Ruminations: The Trial of Jesse and Stephen Boorn", p. 16.
  9. ^ Elmwood Cemetery.
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f The Allen Memorial: Descendants of Samuel Allen of Windsor, Conn., 1604-1907, pp. 259–260.

Sources[]

Books[]

  • General Catalogue of the Non-graduates of Williams College, 1796-1920. Williamstown, MA: Williams College. 1920.
  • Allen, Orrin Peer (1907). The Allen Memorial: Descendants of Samuel Allen of Windsor, Conn., 1604-1907. II. Palmer, MA: C. B. Fiske & Company.
  • Baldwin, Frederick W. (1886). Biography of the Bar of Orleans County, Vermont. Montpelier, VT: Vermont Watchman and State Journal. p. 59.
  • Fleetwood, Frederick G.; Vermont Secretary of State (1902). Vermont Legislative Directory. Montpelier, VT: Vermont Watchman Co.
  • Ledoux, Rodney R. (1988). The History of Swanton, Vermont. Swanton, VT: Swanton Historical Society.
  • Thompson, Zadock (1842). History of Vermont, Natural, Civil and Statistical. I. Burlington, VT: Chauncey Goodrich.

Internet[]

Magazines[]

Political offices
Preceded by
William A. Palmer 		Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court
1817–1821 		Succeeded by
Charles K. Williams
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