William Vernon

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.

Family 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. Vernon's family was directly descended from one of Rhode Island's first pioneers, Anne Hutchinson. 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. William Vernon married Judith Harwood, who was a direct descendant of Jeremy Clarke and John Cranston. William and Judith had two sons, Samuel and William. left

Smuggler and slave trader 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.

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.

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

Slave voyages of the Vernon family

Jonas Redwood,

Jonas Redwood,

William Redwood Jr.,

William Redwood Jr.,

William Vernon,

Thomas TaylorThomas T. TaylorAnomabuSt. Croix1351121760Sh. Cassada GardensWilliam VernonThomas T. Taylor431762NewportSch. Little SallySamuel Vernon,

William Vernon,

William Vernon,

Thomas T. TaylorWilliam TaylorAnomabuRhode Island70611762NewportBr. ReynardSamuel Vernon,

Samuel Vernon,

Thomas TaylorWilliam Taylor, William PinnegarAnomabuSt. Croix105951768NewportBr. OthelloWilliam Vernon,

Samuel VernonJohn Duncan,

William VernonJohn Duncan,

William Vernon,

Samuel Vernon,

Constant Tabor,

William Vernon,

Samuel BrownDaniel GardnerSt. Eustatius1571401791Newport and SalemBr. Don GalvezJames Brown, Gardner

William Vernon,

Peleg Clarke,

William VernonGreyMozambiqueSt. Estatius2712511793Newport and SalemSh. AscensionWilliam Vernon, Caleb

Gardner,

Peleg Clarke,

Gardner,

William Vernon,

Peleg Clarke,

William VernonWilliam LangstonSouth Carolina9477

Contributions to the American Revolution 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. 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.

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

Post-Revolution 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. William Vernon was an early benefactor of the College of New Jersey (now known as Princeton University). 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.