William Walton (merchant)
The family of William Walton acquired its fortune in part through an advantageous contract to furnish provisions and supplies to the Spaniards at St. Augustine, Florida.
Captain William Walton brought 457 Africans to New York, more than any other slave trader; in 1717 and 1721 he transported 217 people from coastal Africa in voyages organized with his London partners.
In April, 1734, an advertisement of the removal of the printer of the New York Gazette shows "Captain Walton" to have resided at that period in Hanover Square.
Historical consensus states that the origin of the fortunes of this enterprising family was the trade preference given, early in the 18th century, to Captain Walton by the Spaniards of St. Augustine and the West Indies.
Governor Clarke to the Duke of Newcastle, dated New York, June 2, 1738, in which he announces the receipt of news that a Spanish land and naval force was arrived at St. Augustine from Cuba in order to make a descent upon Georgia, occurs this passage: The Council were of opinion that there was sufficient cause to embargo Kip and Griffith sloops—both owned by one William Walton, of this town, who, as I am informed, has supplied that place for many years by contract.
Captain Walton thought it hard that his vessels entering and clearing for Carolina (as they always do for some English port) should be embargoed, while other vessells that enter for the same place should be suffered to depart; but I can not think it either hard or unjust, Walton being the only person in this place whom the Spaniards permit to trade at Augustine, where he has a Factor who has resided there many years.The factor, or agent, was the notorious land dealer and smuggler, Jesse Fish.
On May 25, 1747, The New-York Gazette, Revived in The Weekly Post Boy, contained a notice of the death of the old seaman and entrepreneur at age 82: "Saturday last, departed this life, Capt.
Hugh Gaine's New York Mercury of September 12, 1768, among the obituaries, announces, "The 3rd instant, Madam Walton, of this city in the 90th year of her age."
After their father's death, the two brothers formed a partnership; on May 26, 1747, Jacob and William Walton appear as merchants and owners of the ship Mary Magdalen.
They continued the profitable business established by their enterprising father, and enjoyed the "preferences" which had been granted to him by the Spaniards of South America and Cuba.
As appears by the records of the Dutch Reformed Church, Jacob Walton married on May 14, 1726, Maria, daughter of Gerard Beekman and Magdalen Abeel, and William Walton, on January 27, 1731, married Cornelia, daughter of Dr. William Beekman and Catharine Peters de la Noy.
The surviving brother, still among the leading merchants of the city, continued to carry on the business of the family in partnership with some of his nephews, as the firm of William Walton & Company.
On the 17th December, 1757, Walton applied for a commission as Captain of the ship William and Mary, 10 guns; and on the March 24, 1762, the firm made the same request for Capt.
[9] On the election of June, 1751, "for a member to serve in the General Assembly, for the City and County of New York, in the room of David Clarkson, Esq., deceased, Captain William Walton was unanimously chosen."
A new summons being issued the next season, he was again re-elected on February 24, 1752, together with Captain Paul Richard, Henry Cruger, and Major Cornelius Von Hoorn, and continued to serve until 1759.
On December 3, 1756, Governor Hardy recommended to the Board of Trade, "John Watts, William Walton, and Robert R. Livingston, to supply vacancies which may happen in the Council; these gentlemen are possessed of considerable estate in the Province and .
About the time of his first entrance into political life, William Walton, who had been living in the heart of the city at Hanover Square,[10] resolved to change his residence.
Fluted columns, surmounted with armorial bearings, richly carved and ornamented, upheld its broad portico; and the heads of lions, cut from the freestone, looked down from between the windows.
The superb staircase in its ample hall, with mahogany handrails and bannisters, by age as dark as ebony, would not disgrace a nobleman's palace.
It is the only relic of the kind, that probably at this period remains in the city, the appearance of which affords an air of grandeur not to be seen in the lighter staircases of modern buildings.
In his will, Walton ordered that after his wife's death, his household slaves should receive their freedom papers,[13] and an additional annual stipend of £10 or £14.
