William Brayton (Vermont judge)

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]