William Brayton | |
---|---|
Associate Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court | |
In office 1817–1821 | |
Preceded by | William A. Palmer |
Succeeded by | Charles K. Williams |
Member of the Vermont House of Representatives from Swanton | |
In office 1817–1817 | |
Preceded by | James Brown |
Succeeded by | James Brown |
Judge of the Franklin County, Vermont Court | |
In office 1815–1816 | |
Preceded by | Joseph D. Farnsworth |
Succeeded by | Joseph D. Farnsworth |
Personal details | |
Born | Lansingburgh, New York, U.S. | August 27, 1787
Died | August 5, 1828 Burlington, Vermont | (aged 40)
Resting place | Elmwood Cemetery, Burlington, Vermont |
Political party | Democratic–Republican |
Spouse | Hortensia Penniman (m. 1812–1827, her death) |
Children | 5 |
Education | Williams College (attended) |
Profession | Attorney |
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.
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]
Brayton died in Burlington on August 5, 1828; [8] he was buried at Elmwood Cemetery in Burlington. [9]
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]