Waller, Benjamin, 1716-1786.

Benajmin Waller (1716-1786) was a respected and influential lawyer, civil servant, community leader, and land developer. Born in King William County, Virginia, Waller was a student at the College of William and Mary and later studied law using Sir John Randolph's law library.

From the guide to the Benjamin Waller Letter to William Byrd, 1772 March 15, (John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation)

From the guide to the Clerk's Chit, 1774, (John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation)

Benjamin Waller (1 October 1716 - 1 May 1786) was born in King William County and was trained as a lawyer utilizing the legal library of Sir John Randolph. He was a clerk of the general court for a number of years and, in 1777, he was named presiding judge of the court of admiralty in Williamsburg, Virginia. Consequently, he was a judge on the first Court of Appeals where he remained until 1785 when the court moved to Richmond, Virginia. As clerk of courts, it fell to Benjamin Waller to read the United States Declaration of Independence from the Williamsburg courthouse steps on July 25, 1776

From the guide to the Benjamin Waller Letter, 1780 February 21, (John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation)