Reuben H. Walworth
Encyclopedia
Reuben Hyde Walworth was an American lawyer and politician. He was the last Chancellor of New York
, in office from 1828 to 1847, at the time the highest judicial officer in the State.
, when Reuben was still a child. He studied law at Troy
, was admitted to the bar in 1809, and commenced practice in Plattsburgh
. On January 16, 1812, he married Maria Ketchum Averill (1795–1847).
Walworth was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the 17th United States Congress
, holding office from December 3, 1821, to March 3, 1823. In April 1823, Walworth was appointed as Judge of the Fourth Circuit Court
, and in October removed to Saratoga Springs. In 1828, Walworth was appointed Chancellor of New York
, and remained in office until July 1847 when the office was abolished by the State Constitution of 1846.
Walworth gained President John Tyler
's attention because of his widely respected opinions on evidence
, pleadings, civil procedure
, and arbitration
. Tyler nominated him to the Supreme Court of the United States
three times in 1844, but the nomination was always postponed due to Tyler's lack of support from both Whigs
and the Democrats
.
In 1848, Walworth was the Hunkers
' candidate for Governor of New York
, but was defeated in a three-way race by Whig Hamilton Fish
. In 1850, Walworth was asked by the Supreme Court to serve as a special master
in the case of Pennsylvania v. Wheeling and Belmont Bridge Company. In 1851, he married Sarah Ellen (Smith) Hardin, widow of Congressman John J. Hardin
(1810–1847).
Walworth was a Freemason, and served as Grand Master in the Grand Lodge of New York
in 1853.
He was for a long period president of the American Temperance Union
. He was also vice-president of the Bible Society
and the Tract Society. The University of Princeton gave him the degree of LL.D. in 1835. He was the author of Rules and Orders of the New York Court of Chancery (Albany, 1829; several revised eds.), and Hyde Genealogy (2 vols., 1864).
Walworth was buried at Greenridge Cemetery in Saratoga Springs.
His son Clarence A. Walworth
(1820–1900) converted to Catholicism
and was a founding member of the Paulist Fathers
.
His other son Mansfield Tracy Walworth (1830–1873) married Ellen Hardin
(the daughter of his stepmother), and was shot dead by their son Francis Hardin "Frank" Walworth (b. 1853).
Walworth County, Wisconsin
was named for him.
New York Court of Chancery
The New York Court of Chancery was established during the colonial administration on August 28, 1701, the colonial governor acting as Chancellor. The New York State Constitution of 1777 continued the court but required a lawyer to be appointed Chancellor. It was the court with jurisdiction on cases...
, in office from 1828 to 1847, at the time the highest judicial officer in the State.
Life
Walworth was the son of Benjamin Walworth and Apphia (Hyde Cardell) Walworth. The family removed to Hoosick, New YorkHoosick, New York
Hoosick is a town in Rensselaer County, New York, United States. The population was 6,759 at the 2000 census.The Town of Hoosick is in the northeast corner of the county.- History :...
, when Reuben was still a child. He studied law at Troy
Troy, New York
Troy is a city in the US State of New York and the seat of Rensselaer County. Troy is located on the western edge of Rensselaer County and on the eastern bank of the Hudson River. Troy has close ties to the nearby cities of Albany and Schenectady, forming a region popularly called the Capital...
, was admitted to the bar in 1809, and commenced practice in Plattsburgh
Plattsburgh (city), New York
Plattsburgh is a city in and county seat of Clinton County, New York, United States. The population was 19,989 at the 2010 census. The population of the unincorporated areas within the Town of Plattsburgh was 11,870 as of the 2010 census; making the population for the immediate, urban Plattsburgh,...
. On January 16, 1812, he married Maria Ketchum Averill (1795–1847).
Walworth was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the 17th United States Congress
17th United States Congress
The Seventeenth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1821 to March 3, 1823, during the fifth and sixth...
, holding office from December 3, 1821, to March 3, 1823. In April 1823, Walworth was appointed as Judge of the Fourth Circuit Court
New York State Circuit Courts
The New York State Circuit Courts were circuit courts created by the New York State Constitution of 1821, and abolished by the Constitution of 1846.-History:...
, and in October removed to Saratoga Springs. In 1828, Walworth was appointed Chancellor of New York
New York Court of Chancery
The New York Court of Chancery was established during the colonial administration on August 28, 1701, the colonial governor acting as Chancellor. The New York State Constitution of 1777 continued the court but required a lawyer to be appointed Chancellor. It was the court with jurisdiction on cases...
, and remained in office until July 1847 when the office was abolished by the State Constitution of 1846.
Walworth gained President John Tyler
John Tyler
John Tyler was the tenth President of the United States . A native of Virginia, Tyler served as a state legislator, governor, U.S. representative, and U.S. senator before being elected Vice President . He was the first to succeed to the office of President following the death of a predecessor...
's attention because of his widely respected opinions on evidence
Evidence
Evidence in its broadest sense includes everything that is used to determine or demonstrate the truth of an assertion. Giving or procuring evidence is the process of using those things that are either presumed to be true, or were themselves proven via evidence, to demonstrate an assertion's truth...
, pleadings, civil procedure
Civil procedure
Civil procedure is the body of law that sets out the rules and standards that courts follow when adjudicating civil lawsuits...
, and arbitration
Arbitration
Arbitration, a form of alternative dispute resolution , is a legal technique for the resolution of disputes outside the courts, where the parties to a dispute refer it to one or more persons , by whose decision they agree to be bound...
. Tyler nominated him to the Supreme Court of the United States
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
three times in 1844, but the nomination was always postponed due to Tyler's lack of support from both Whigs
Whig Party (United States)
The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic...
and the Democrats
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
.
In 1848, Walworth was the Hunkers
Barnburners and Hunkers
The Barnburners were the more radical faction of the New York state Democratic Party in the mid 19th century. The term barnburner was derived from the idea of someone who would burn down his own barn to get rid of a rat infestation, in this case those who would destroy all banks and corporations,...
' candidate for Governor of New York
Governor of New York
The Governor of the State of New York is the chief executive of the State of New York. The governor is the head of the executive branch of New York's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military and naval forces. The officeholder is afforded the courtesy title of His/Her...
, but was defeated in a three-way race by Whig Hamilton Fish
Hamilton Fish
Hamilton Fish was an American statesman and politician who served as the 16th Governor of New York, United States Senator and United States Secretary of State. Fish has been considered one of the best Secretary of States in the United States history; known for his judiciousness and reform efforts...
. In 1850, Walworth was asked by the Supreme Court to serve as a special master
Special master
In law, a special master is an authority appointed by a judge to make sure that judicial orders are actually followed.In England, at common law, there were "Masters in Chancery," who acted in aid of the Equity Courts. There were also "Masters in Lunacy," who conducted inquiries of the same nature...
in the case of Pennsylvania v. Wheeling and Belmont Bridge Company. In 1851, he married Sarah Ellen (Smith) Hardin, widow of Congressman John J. Hardin
John J. Hardin
John J. Hardin was a U.S. Representative and militia general from Illinois.Born in Frankfort, Kentucky, Hardin pursued classical studies and was graduated from Transylvania University, Lexington, Kentucky, where he studied law. He was admitted to the bar in Kentucky in 1831 and commenced practice...
(1810–1847).
Walworth was a Freemason, and served as Grand Master in the Grand Lodge of New York
Grand Lodge of New York
The Grand Lodge of New York is one of 29 independent organizations of Freemasons in the U.S. state of New York. It was at one time the largest grand lodge in the world in terms of membership....
in 1853.
He was for a long period president of the American Temperance Union
American Temperance Union
A national temperance union was formed in the United States 1826. Shortly thereafter, a second national temperance union was organized and the two groups merged in 1833 to form the American Temperance Union...
. He was also vice-president of the Bible Society
Bible society
A Bible society is a non-profit organization devoted to translating, publishing, distributing the Bible at affordable costs and advocating its credibility and trustworthiness in contemporary cultural life...
and the Tract Society. The University of Princeton gave him the degree of LL.D. in 1835. He was the author of Rules and Orders of the New York Court of Chancery (Albany, 1829; several revised eds.), and Hyde Genealogy (2 vols., 1864).
Walworth was buried at Greenridge Cemetery in Saratoga Springs.
His son Clarence A. Walworth
Clarence A. Walworth
Clarence Augustus Walworth was an American attorney, writer, ordained Roman Catholic priest, and missionary. Walworth was a well regarded writer who published numerous works related to the Roman Catholic Church.-Life:...
(1820–1900) converted to Catholicism
Catholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
and was a founding member of the Paulist Fathers
Paulist Fathers
The Missionary Society of Saint Paul the Apostle, better known as the Paulist Fathers, is a Roman Catholic religious society for men founded in New York City in 1858 by Servant of God Fr. Isaac Thomas Hecker in collaboration with Fr. George Deshon, Fr. Augustine Hewit, and Fr. Francis A. Baker....
.
His other son Mansfield Tracy Walworth (1830–1873) married Ellen Hardin
Ellen Hardin Walworth
Ellen Hardin Walworth was an American author, lawyer, and activist who was a passionate advocate for the importance of studying history and historic preservation. Walworth was one of the founders of the Daughters of the American Revolution and was the organization's first secretary general...
(the daughter of his stepmother), and was shot dead by their son Francis Hardin "Frank" Walworth (b. 1853).
Walworth County, Wisconsin
Walworth County, Wisconsin
Walworth County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2010, the population was 102,228. Its county seat is Elkhorn.-Geography:According to the U.S...
was named for him.
Sources
- http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/walworth-warburton.html#R9M0JGKNG Political Graveyard
- http://www.courts.state.ny.us/history/elecbook/sullivan/pg7.htm Court History
- The New York Civil List compiled by Franklin Benjamin Hough (pages 71, 353, 356; Weed, Parsons and Co., 1858)
- Hyde Genealogy by Reuben Hyde Walworth (published by Joel Munsell, Albany, 1863; pages 533ff)