Shadrach Walton facts for kids

Shadrach Walton (1658 – October 3, 1741) was an important British colonial leader and soldier. He lived in the area that is now New Hampshire, part of British America. He played a key role in the government and military of the region.

Early Life and Unusual Events

Shadrach Walton was born in 1658 in New Castle, New Hampshire. In 1682, something very strange happened at his family's home. People reported a "stone-throwing devil" causing trouble at his property and his father's inn. These events were like a poltergeist, where objects move on their own. A book about this strange case, called Lithobolia, was published in London in 1698.

In 1685, Shadrach's father gave him two houses, a brewery, farm animals, and 200 acres of land. This gift showed that Shadrach came from a well-established family.

A Leader in New Hampshire

Shadrach Walton had a long career serving the people of New Hampshire. He was a soldier and also held important government jobs.

Military Service

Walton was in charge of Fort William and Mary twice. He commanded the fort before 1684 and again from 1697 to 1708. In 1690, when New Hampshire and Massachusetts were joined together, he became an ensign. This was a junior officer rank in the army.

He led New Hampshire troops during the siege of Port Royal in 1710. This was a major battle where British forces captured a French fort in what is now Nova Scotia, Canada. In 1711, he commanded soldiers from both New Hampshire and Rhode Island during the Quebec Expedition. This was another important military effort against the French.

Protecting the Frontier

During King William's War, Walton led a group of soldiers in 1690. They tried to help Fort Loyal in Maine, which was under attack by French and Wabanaki forces. Sadly, they arrived too late to prevent a tragic event at Falmouth.

In 1710, after the British took Port Royal, Walton led a mission along the coast of Maine. His goal was to find and stop hostile groups. In 1711, he led two companies of soldiers on a similar mission in what is now Vermont. This time, they were looking for the Western Abenaki people, but they did not find them.

During Dummer's War, Walton commanded 200 men. They were sent to the frontier in Maine to protect the settlements.

Government and Judicial Roles

Walton was a selectman for the town of Portsmouth from 1688 to 1692. A selectman is a local official who helps manage town affairs. He also served as a judge in the Court of Common Pleas. He held this important position from 1695 to 1698, and again from 1716 to 1733.

In 1716, he was appointed to the provincial council. This was a group of important advisors to the governor of the province. He served on this council until 1733.

Peace Efforts

In 1697, Walton traveled to London to speak with the Board of Trade. He argued that New Hampshire was better at defending itself than Massachusetts. He believed New Hampshire men were better at fighting in the forests. Because of this, he felt New Hampshire should not be joined with Massachusetts.

After his military service, Walton also helped with peace talks. He participated in the 1726 peace negotiations with the Penobscot people and their allies. These talks aimed to bring an end to conflicts on the frontier.