Person:Benjamin Waller (5)

the text in this section is copied from an article in Wikipedia

Benjamin Waller (1 October 1716 – 1 May 1786) was descended from a Virginia family established in the state since the 17th century. He was born in King William County, Virginia, the son of Col. John and Dorothy (King) Waller, and was trained as a lawyer utilizing the legal library of Sir John Randolph. Benjamin Waller was a clerk of the general court for a number of years and, in 1777, he was named presiding judge of the court of admiralty in Williamsburg, Virginia. Subsequently, he served as a judge on the first Court of Appeals where he remained until 1785 when the court moved to Richmond, Virginia.

He was an eminent lawyer of Colonial times and held many important offices under the crown. His name is on the list of the Committee of Safety for the city of Williamsburg Dec. 1774 (Forces Archives.) He was Judge of the Court of Admiralty and in a list of the Judges of the Supreme court of Virginia 1778 (WMQ July 1898). Also: King's attorney of Gloucester (1738); Clerk of James City county (1739; 1742); clerk of "The Court of Oyer and Terminer" (1739); Clerk of the "Committees of Propositions and Grievances, and Privileges, and Elections" (1743); all under George II of Great Britain. He served on the Supreme Court of Virginia 1779–1785.

As clerk of courts, it fell to Benjamin Waller to read the United States Declaration of Independence from the Williamsburg courthouse steps on July 25, 1776. Waller also served as mentor and teacher of law to George Wythe.

His grandson, Littleton Waller Tazewell, was a U.S. Representative, U.S. Senator from and governor of Virginia. Benjamin Waller's family had emigrated from Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire, England, the branch of a family long seated at Beaconsfield and previously at Groombridge Place, Kent, England. John Waller Esquire was one of the signators to the Second Charter of Virginia in 1609. Author Alex Haley sketched out the family's English origins in his book . Williamsburg's Waller Street is named for Benjamin Waller and his family.

Records of Benjamin Waller in Augusta County, VA

From Chalkley's Augusta County Records:

• Page 78.--27th June, 1761. Zachary Lewis, of Spottsylvania, to John Buchanan and Wm. Thompson, release of all rights in an order of Council for 100.000 on the waters of James River and Roanoke, granted to Zachary Lewis, Wm. Waller. Benj. Waller and Robert Green, 3d November, 1740. renewed, May, 1745, for 50,000 acres and since renewed for 30,000 acres in which grant James Patton was a partner.

• Vol. 1 - NOVEMBER, 1770 (A). - John Smith vs. Patton's Executors.--Bill filed May, 1767. In 1741, John Smith, orator, being joint partner with Zachariah Lewis, William Waller, Benjamin Waller, Robert Green, James Patton, in an order of Council for 100,000 acres on James River and Roanoke. The whole direction of the affair was committed to James Patton, by whom orator was appointed to see the land surveyed, in which service orator was employed until 1751, and was entitled to a large sum of money therefor. Patton purchased the parts of the other partners and got the whole grant in his hands, except orator's and the part of Zachariah Lewis. (James was a member of General Assembly, 1763-4.) Orator was also engaged in protection of frontiers, and was captured by the French and Indians in 1756 and remained a prisoner until 1758.

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Benjamin Waller, in Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia.