Samuel and William Vernon bill of exchange (RLC.Ms.534)

Biographical note

Samuel (1711-1792) and William (1719-1806) Vernon were both born in Newport, Rhode Island, the sons of silversmith, Samuel (1683-1737) and Elizabeth (Fleet) Vernon. The two entered business together and created the mercantile firm, Samuel and William Vernon, and established themselves as prominent Newport merchants prior the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783). Their business was active in all parts of the triangular trade, which involved purchasing slaves in Africa with rum from the colonies, selling the slaves in the West Indies for molasses, and selling the molasses in the colonies in order to buy more rum and to continue the trading cycle. The Vernon brothers were also known as the first Newport merchants to sell African slaves directly to the southern colonies, making their first sale in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1755. They were also involved in privateering during King George’s War (1744-1748). Samuel and William Vernon were in business together until Samuel’s death on July 6, 1792. Both Samuel and William were among the original forty six proprietors of the Redwood Library and William served as president of the Library from 1797 to 1801. William Vernon died on December 22, 1806.