William Vernon (January 17, 1719 – December 22, 1806), of Newport, Rhode Island, was a merchant in the Atlantic slave trade who played a leading role in the Continental Congress' maritime activities during the American Revolution. In 1774, Vernon was member of the committee of correspondence between Newport and Boston. As president of the Eastern Navy Board during the Revolution, he was responsible for building and outfitting the ships of the Continental Navy. William Vernon was one of the charter members of the Artillery Company of Newport, and is the namesake of the Vernon House.

William Vernon
William Vernon's Home, Newport, Rhode Island
Born(1719-01-17)January 17, 1719
DiedDecember 22, 1806(1806-12-22) (aged 87)
Burial placeVernon Cemetery
Newport, Rhode Island
Occupation(s)Merchant and slave trader
Parents

Family

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William Vernon was born in Newport, Rhode Island in 1719 to a local silversmith, Samuel Vernon (December 6, 1683 - December 5, 1737) and his wife Elizabeth Fleet.[1] Vernon's family was directly descended from one of Rhode Island's first pioneers, Anne Hutchinson.[2][3] William's older brother Thomas became royal postmaster in Newport, a position he held for thirty years. He was also senior warden of Trinity Church, and Secretary of the Redwood Library. A Loyalist, Thomas fled Newport in 1776. Unlike their loyalist brother, who was an Anglican, William and his older brother Samuel (September 6, 1711 - 1792) were both members of Newport's Second Congregational Church, which was pastored by Ezra Stiles.[4] William Vernon married Judith Harwood, who was a direct descendant of Jeremy Clarke and John Cranston.[5] William and Judith had two sons, Samuel and William.[6]

 
Vernon Slave Advertisement, Newport Mercury, Newport, RI, 1763

Smuggler and slave trader

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William and his brother Samuel entered into business together, eventually establishing themselves as prominent merchants. Thomas did not enter into trade with his other siblings. William and Samuel, made a name for themselves successfully by first utilizing the bilateral trade between New England and the West Indies. The Vernons traded regularly between Halifax, Boston, Philadelphia and Georgia, supplying rum, molasses, flour and leather.[7]

In 1737, the Vernons expanded to the triangle trade, otherwise known as the Atlantic slave trade, eventually becoming the most prolific slave traders of Newport. In that year they financed their first ship, the Olive Branch, captained by John Godfrey.[8] Incredible profits were made by purchasing slaves in Africa with rum from the colonies, selling those slaves in the West Indies, and in North America, including Rhode Island. The Vernons then used those profits to purchase molasses from those ports before buying more rum in the colonies, continuing the triangular cycle of trade.

Over the course of sixty years, the Vernons financed well over forty slave voyages to the coasts of West Africa.[8] Beginning in the 1750s, the Vernons became one of the first Newport merchants to sell African slaves directly to the southern colonies, instead of exclusively in the West Indies. Their ships returning from the West Indies offloaded slaves in South Carolina in exchange for barrels of rice destined for markets in New England. However, the Vernons also sold enslaved people to Rhode Island directly from West Africa. Their first sale to the southern colonies was made in Charleston in 1755. The Vernons serve as a perfect example of the pivotal role Rhode Island played in the American slave trade—they had at one time as many as eight vessels engaged in the trade.[7]

The Brig Royal Charlotte, Captain Taylor, arrived here last Thursday from Annamaboa, on the Coast of Africa, after a Passage of 11 Days; by whom we have the affecting Intelligence of the tragical Death of Capt. George Frost, and Mr. Wiliam Grant, his Mate, both of this Town, which was perpetrated by the Slaves on board his Sloop, as she lay at Anchor in the River Gaboone, in the month of November last. Capt. Frost having Occasion either for some Wood or Water, sent two Men and a Negro on Shore for that Purpose, himself, the Mate, and a Negro who belonged to the Vessel, remaining on board,; and in the Men's Absence he unfortunately permitted the Slaves, to the Number of about 60, to come upon Deck, who immediately seized him, with the Negro Man, and threw them both overboard. Mr. Grant, at this Time, last sick in the Cabin, unable to rise. Capt. Frost swam up to the Vessel, in order to get on board again; upon which the Slaves threw a Lance at him, which penetrated his Body, where it remained, and with which he attempted to the gain the Shore, but swimming about half the Way, he sunk, and was seen no more. The Negro, who was thrown over with him, had the good Fortune to get safe ashore.-- The Slaves having now the command of the Vessel, they brought the Small Arms, with several Barrels of Powder, upon Deck; and on some Blacks coming off in Canoes to retake the Vessel, the Slaves on board began firing with their Small Arms, but through Ignorance soon set the Powder on Fire, and in the Explosion about 30 of them where destroyed. The Sloop was retaken three Days afterwards, with the most affecting Part this Affair was disclosed, for on entering the Cabin, the Corpse of Mr. Grant was immediately discovered, with his Throat cut in a very shocking Manner, which was supposed to have been done as soon as Capt. Frost and the Negro were thrown over.

Newport Mercury, June 6, 1763

Royal Charlotte

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One of the more famous vessels of the Vernons was the brig Royal Charlotte. The Royal Charlotte was used in at least two slave voyages to West Africa. Once in 1762, and again in 1767. A report from the Newport Mercury on June 6, 1763, reveals an uprising of enslaved people that happened aboard the 1762 voyage. Following this uprising, Captain Taylor brought the remaining enslaved African peoples to Rhode Island for sale. An advertisement for the cargo describes them as a "Parcel of extreme fine, healthy and well limbed Gold Coast Slaves; Men, Women, Boys and Girls." Clients were encourage to view the cargo on the Royal Charlotte, docked at Taylor's Wharf.[9]

In 1776, the Royal Charlotte was seized by the British in Newport harbor, taken to Boston, and confiscated along with its cargo.[6][10]

Slave voyages of the Vernon family

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Slave Voyages of the Vernon Family[8][11][12]
Year Vessel Registered Rig /Vessel Name Vessel Owner(s) Captain's Name Place of Purchase Place of Landing Estimated

Embarked

Estimated

Disembarked

1737 Newport Olive Branch William Vernon,

Samuel Vernon

John Godfrey 149 126
1754 Newport Sl. Prince Sherboro Jacob Rivera,

William Vernon

William Brown Suriname 83 69
1754 Newport Sl. Hare Samuel Vernon,

William Vernon

Caleb Godfrey Sierra Leone Barbados 72 61
1755 Newport Sl. Hare William Vernon,

Samuel Vernon

Caleb Godfrey Sierra Leone Charleston 80 71
1756 Newport Sh. Cassada Gardens William Vernon,

Jonas Redwood,

William Redwood, Jr.

Thomas T. Taylor Anomabu French Caribbean 205 175
1756 Newport Snauw Venus William Vernon,

Robert Stevens

William Pinnegar Cape Mount Kingston 121 114
1756 Newport Sl. Titt Bitt William Vernon,

Jonas Redwood,

William Redwood, Jr.

Thomas Rogers Gold Coast 83 69
1757 Newport Sh. Othello Jonas Redwood,

William Redwood, Jr.,

William Vernon

Francis Malbone Gold Coast Barbados 286 244
1758 Newport Snauw Venus Jonas Redwood,

William Redwood, Jr.,

William Vernon

Samuel Johnson Windward, Ivory, Gold, & Benin Martinique 150 150
1759 Newport Br. Marygold Samuel Vernon,

William Vernon,

Thomas Taylor

Thomas T. Taylor Anomabu St. Croix 135 112
1760 Sh. Cassada Gardens William Vernon Thomas T. Taylor 4 3
1762 Newport Sch. Little Sally Samuel Vernon,

William Vernon,

Thomas Taylor

William Taylor Anomabu Rhode Island 67 62
1762 Newport Br. Royal Charlotte Samuel Vernon,

William Vernon,

Thomas T. Taylor

William Taylor Anomabu Rhode Island 70 61
1762 Newport Br. Reynard Samuel Vernon,

William Vernon

Peter Dordin Anomabu Barbados 182 177
1763 Newport Sl. Whydah William Vernon Thomas

Rogers

Cape Coast Castle Barbados 60 31
1764 Newport Br. Othello Samuel Vernon,

William Vernon

Thomas Rogers Iles de Los Antigua 66 42
1766 Newport Br. Othello Samuel Vernon,

William Vernon

John Duncan Virginia 97 87
1767 Newport Br. Royal Charlotte William Vernon,

Samuel Vernon,

Thomas Taylor

William Taylor,

William Pinnegar

Anomabu St. Croix 105 95
1768 Newport Br. Othello William Vernon,

Samuel Vernon

John Duncan,

Goodman Halvorson

Anomabu James River 85 79
1770 Newport Br. Othello Samuel Vernon,

William Vernon

John Duncan,

John Stanton

Anomabu Rappahannock 90 87
1771 Newport Sch. Active Samuel Vernon,

William Vernon,

Benjamin Mason

Robert Elliot Gambia Barbados 105 82
1772 Newport Br. Othello Samuel Vernon,

William Vernon

John Duncan 118 103
1772 Newport Br. Othello Samuel Vernon,

William Vernon

John Duncan Anomabu Rappahannock 83 63
1774 Newport Br. Othello Samuel Vernon,

William Vernon

George Dunbar Sweet Gambia Montego Bay 80 75
1784 Newport Br. Don Galvez Samuel Brown,

William Vernon

Gardner Anomabu Charleston 133 127
1785 Newport Br. Peggy William Vernon John Duncan Trinidad 130 106
1786 Newport and Salem Br. Don Galvez Samuel Brown,

William Vernon

Grey Martinique 136 136
1788 Newport Br. Washington Constant Tabor,

Samuel Vernon,

Christopher Ellery

William Gardner Gold Coast Martinique 202 165
1788 Newport and Salem Sh. Pacific Daniel Gardner,

Constant Tabor,

William Vernon,

Samuel Brown

Daniel Gardner St. Eustatius 157 140
1791 Newport and Salem Br. Don Galvez James Brown,

William Vernon

Daniel Gray Anomabu 120 89
1791 Newport and Salem Sch. Ascension Caleb

Gardner

William Vernon,

Peleg Clarke,

Samuel Brown

John Stanton Mozambique Havana 276 214
1792 Newport and Salem Br. Don Galvez James Brown,

William Vernon

Grey Mozambique St. Estatius 271 251
1793 Newport and Salem Sh. Ascension William Vernon,

Caleb

Gardner,

Peleg Clarke,

Samuel Brown

Samuel Chace Mozambique Havanna 221 197
1795 Newport and Salem Sh. Ascension Caleb

Gardner,

William Vernon,

Peleg Clarke,

Sam Brown

Samuel Chace Mozambique Montevideo 283 250
1799 Boston Sch. Charlotte Samuel Brown,

William Vernon

William Langston South Carolina 94 77

Contributions to the American Revolution

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William's success in Newport meant he was well known to the British. Samuel and William were both early supporters of the revolution; Samuel was even one of the ringleaders responsible for the Stamp Act Riots of 1765. Their other sibling, Thomas was a Loyalist or Tory sent into a brief exile in Glocester, Rhode Island, but Thomas remained friendly with the brothers throughout the war.[13] As a result of his well-known political beliefs, William was forced to flee Newport prior to the British occupation of Newport in 1776. Vernon fled to Rehoboth, Massachusetts, hoping to protect his family. His nephew remained at the Vernon House to protect it during this time.[10] The Vernon House, located on Clarke Street in Newport, was the headquarters of the Comte de Rochambeau during the revolution, General George Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette both were guests at the Vernon House.

After moving closer to the heart of revolutionary activity, Vernon was appointed by the Continental Congress as the president of the Continental Naval Board on May 6, 1777. This position was effectively the precursor to the Department of the Navy (effectively making Vernon the first Secretary of the Navy, before the position was officially established in the 1790s). In this position, Vernon was responsible for building and outfitting the ships of the Continental Navy for the duration of the American Revolution.[10]

Vernon was extremely dedicated to his duties; on several occasions, he actually contributed some of his own personal wealth to the cause with little chance of collecting interest or even repayment. After the Revolution, Vernon became involved in the Board of the Admiralty before returning to Newport.[14]

Cato Vernon

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On March 17, 1778, one of the African men William Vernon had enslaved, known as Cato Vernon, enlisted in the Rhode Island First Regiment.[15][16]

Post-Revolution

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Following the Revolution, William Vernon continued to expand his activities and influence within the Newport community. He was a president of the Redwood Library, founding member of the Newport Artillery Company in 1741 and a key figure in establishing the Newport Bank in 1803.[10] In 1990, the remaining assets of this bank were purchased by Citizens Bank.[17] William Vernon was an early benefactor of the College of New Jersey (now known as Princeton University).[10] William Vernon and his family continued his Atlantic slave trade activities after the revolution and following his brother Samuel's death in 1792, until at least 1799.[8]

Death

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William Vernon is buried in the Vernon Cemetery on Warner Street in Newport, Rhode Island. His house, Vernon House, is a National Historic Landmark.

Children

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  • Samuel Vernon Jr. (May 29, 1757 – 1834)
  • William H. Vernon Jr. (March 6, 1759 – 1833)
    • Graduated from Princeton in 1776. Was for many years the Secretary of the Redwood Library. A Francophile, Vernon frequented the court of Louis XVI in Paris (where he was an aide to Benjamin Franklin) and on the death of his father spent his entire eighty-thousand-dollar inheritance on a collection of fifty-two Old Master paintings, thereby forming one of the first important collections of such works in this country. They hung for many years at Vernon House (which still stands on the corner of Clarke and Mary Streets) and undoubtedly enticed other Newport residents to collect within the same parameters.[18]
    • At one time during the French Revolution, Vernon was recognized as a courtier by the mob, dragged to a lamp-post, and was only rescued from being hanged by a Frenchman who knew him and assured the mob that he was an American citizen.[10]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Rootsweb.com
  2. ^ Rhodeisland-philatelic.com
  3. ^ Rootsweb.com
  4. ^ "Newport Notables". www.redwoodlibrary.org. Archived from the original on 2001-06-22.
  5. ^ Browning, Charles Henry (1891). Americans of Royal Descent: A Collection of Genealogies of American Families Whose Lineage is Traced to the Legitimate Issue of Kings. Porter & Costes.
  6. ^ a b Stevens, Maud Lyman (1915). A History of the Vernon House in Newport, R.I. Charity Organization Society.
  7. ^ a b Deutsch, Sarah (1982). "The Elusive Guineamen: Newport Slavers, 1735-1774". The New England Quarterly. 55 (2): 229–253. doi:10.2307/365360. ISSN 0028-4866. JSTOR 365360.
  8. ^ a b c d Coughtry, Jay Alan (1978). The Notorious Triangle: Rhode Island and the African Slave Trade, 1700-1807. University of Wisconsin--Madison.
  9. ^ "NEWPORT, June 6". The Newport Mercury. 1763.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g Rider, Sidney Smith (1877). Rhode Island historical tracts. Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center. Providence : Sidney S. Rider.
  11. ^ Donnan, Elizabeth; Carnegie Institution of Washington (1930–1935). Documents illustrative of the history of the slave trade to America. Carnegie Institution of Washington publication ;no. 409. Washington, D.C.: Carnegie Institution of Washington.
  12. ^ "Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade - Database". www.slavevoyages.org. Retrieved 2022-01-18.
  13. ^ Google Books Search
  14. ^ Redwoodlibrary.org
  15. ^ Popek, Daniel M. (2015-11-05). They "... Fought Bravely, but Were Unfortunate:": The True Story of Rhode Island's "Black Regiment" and the Failure of Segregation in Rhode Island's Continental Line, 1777-1783. AuthorHouse. ISBN 978-1-4969-0898-8.
  16. ^ Rider, Sidney Smith (1877). Rhode Island historical tracts. Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center. Providence : Sidney S. Rider.
  17. ^ "Newport Bank | RICurrency.com". Retrieved 2022-01-18.
  18. ^ Mason, George Champlin (1884). Reminiscences of Newport. Hammett.