Joshua Waddington
Joshua Waddington | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date England |
| Died | March 6, 1844 (aged 88) |
| Occupation(s) | Businessman, banker |
| Known for | Co-founder of the Bank of New York; defendant in Rutgers v. Waddington case |
Joshua Waddington (20 May 1755 – 6 March 1844) was a British-American businessman, recognized as a co-founder of both the Saint George's Society and the Bank of New York, and is historically significant as the defendant in the Rutgers v. Waddington case adjudicated by New York City's Mayor's Court.
Early life
Joshua was born to Reverend Joshua Waddington of Harworth and Walkeringham and Ann Ferrand of Messingham, belonging to a distinguished family noted for their academic achievements and clerical roles. His father, an alumnus of Trinity College, Cambridge, held the position of Vicar in Walkeringham, Harworth, and Mattersey.
Among eight brothers—Thomas, John, Benjamin, William, George, Samuel Ferrand, and Henry—Joshua was part of a family with influential ties: his brother William was the grandfather of William Henry Waddington, who served as French Prime Minister in 1879 and later as Ambassador to the United Kingdom from 1883 to 1893. Additionally, his sister Sarah married Charles Monk and gave birth to James Henry Monk, who became Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol.
Career
In 1776, Joshua emigrated from England to New York City, joining his siblings William and Henry in Colonial America and acquiring U.S. citizenship.
Together with Henry, he managed a linen enterprise operating under Henry Waddington & Co. in London and Joshua Waddington & Co. in New York. This business partnership ended on December 31, 1812, as a consequence of the War of 1812, which prompted legal disputes overseen by Judge Cornelius P. Van Ness.
In 1784, he was among the founders of the Bank of New York, collaborating with prominent individuals including Isaac Roosevelt and Alexander Hamilton. Elected as a director during the bank’s inaugural assembly, Waddington remained active until his retirement in 1843.
He contributed to the creation of the Tontine Coffee House in 1792 and had involvement with the Ogden Land Company, an enterprise managed through his wife's family connections.
Rutgers v. Waddington
The New York legislature passed the Trespass Act in 1783, which confiscated Loyalist properties and permitted patriots to initiate lawsuits against those occupying abandoned residences during wartime.
On June 29, 1784, Chief Justice James Duane presided over Rutgers v. Waddington. The plaintiff Elizabeth Rutgers, represented by Egbert Benson, claimed £8,000 in rent from Waddington for operating her brewery after she evacuated British-controlled New York City. Defending Waddington were Alexander Hamilton, Brockholst Livingston, and Morgan Lewis, who contended that the Trespass Act conflicted with provisions established in the 1783 Treaty of Paris. Duane ruled that Rutgers was entitled only to rent accrued before British occupation; ultimately both parties agreed on a settlement amounting to £800.
Personal life
On November 6, 1804, Joshua married Gertrude Gouverneur Ogden, daughter of Abraham Ogden and Sarah Frances Ludlow. The couple had ten children—eight daughters and two sons—with only one son reaching adulthood:
- Thomas Waddington (1805–1805), died in infancy
- Anne Ferrand Waddington (1806–1894), wed Dr. Jeremiah Van Rensselaer in 1835
- Sarah F. Waddington (1810–1903), married her cousin Samuel Cornell Ogden in 1843
- William David Waddington (1811–1886), married cousin Mary Elizabeth Ogden; founder and president of Gebbard Insurance Company
- Catharine H. Waddington (1812–1813), died young
- Gertrude D. Waddington (1813–1821), died young
- Frances L. Waddington (1815–1834)
- Martha S. Waddington (1816–1877)
- Rebecca E. Waddington (1818–1845)
- Catharine B. Waddington (1820–1821), died young
Joshua Waddington passed away on February 29, 1844.
Legacy
The community of Waddington, New York located in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States, carries his name as a tribute.
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