Lutwidge. Falmouth Packet to New York.

[Tomhutton]

This starts in Cumberland and then goes to Falmouth and New York. Can anyone help to join it up please?

First there is a Walter or even two , son/s of Walter and Elizabeth Langton, who die in 1720 and / or 1728 or did they? One problem is I can't find baptisms for any of Walter and Elizabeth's children because they were followers of the Presbyterian Church in Whitehaven.

Then there is a Walter, son of Thomas and Lucy, born late 1733. I'd like him to be the Walter Lutwidge, Captain of the 'General Wall', Falmouth Packet, killed in 1761 as a result of an attack by a French privateer. I have a feeling he is the same, but my main problem is his age - mid-twenties, which is quite young to be in captain of a Packet boat. On the other hand he had probably been around boats all his life, and given Thomas Lutwidge's finances followed by death in 1747 he probably had to get on with life. I've attached some quick notes including two possible daughters in New York, but what happened to them or their mother?

1760 Nov 13* General Wall Lutwidge sailed from Falmouth and arrived New London 1760 Dec 29. 1761 Jan 8 sailed from New London and arrived at New York 1761 Jan 10.  1761 Mar 3 Left New York. The General Wall packet, Capt. Walter Lutwidge, which sailed from New York, March 3, 1761, was attacked on March 20 “150 Leagues to the Westward of the Lizard” by the Biscayen privateer, Capt. LaFargue, Privateer of twenty four 9 & 6 pounders & 228 men, belonging to Bayonne After a “stout Engagement of three Hours and an Half” during which Lutwidge was mortally wounded, the General Wall threw her mail overboard and struck her colors. After paying a ransom of £600, she was allowed to sail for Falmouth, Lutwidge died of wounds March 21, arrived at Falmouth 1761 Mar 25.
Burial at Falmouth.
Name   Walter Lutwidge
Event Type   Burial
Event Date   27 Mar 1761
Event Place   Falmouth, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom

Will of Walter Lutwidge.
1761. PROB 11/864/299 Will of Walter Lutwidge, Commander of the General Wall Packet of Falmouth, Cornwall. In this he wills everything to John Thornton Esq., merchant of Clapham, Surrey as sole executor. Witnessed by Charles Lutwidge and James Concanen. The connection to John Thornton was that Lucy Lutwidge (nee Houghton) was sister of John Thornton’s mother-in-law. John Thornton had the reputation of being second richest man in Europe, so hardly needed Walter’s mite, but perhaps he had been briefed what to do with it – wife and children or Lucy his mother?

(Perhaps a coincidence, but two weeks later there is this baptism?    
John Lutwidge. Christening 10 Apr 1761 at Falmouth, Cornwall, England. He is described in the record as  “a Negro from America”. Was he brought over on the Packet by Walter? What happened to him?)

Possible children?
 Note names are family. Timings seem to fit in with voyages of Packet.
Name   Lucy Lutwidge      (Lucy was his mother’s name)
Birth Date. 26 Dec 1759
Christening Date. 7 Jan 1760  At First and Second Church, New York, New York, New York, United States
Father's Name   Walter Lutwidge     Mother's Name   Mary
…..
Name   Mary Cordelia Lutwidge     (Mary and Cordelia were both names used by the Lutwidge family).
Birth Date   31 March 1761
Christening Date  6 May 1761  At First and Second Church, New York, New York, New York, United States
Father's Name   Waltar Lutwidge        Mother's Name   Mary

[AlanBoyd]

Another piece for your puzzle:

Aris's Birmingham Gazette - Monday 09 November 1747

Last Tuesday the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Right Hon. the Lord Chancellor, Duke of Dorset, Lord President, Lord Privy Seal, Duke of Montagu, Master of the Ordnance, Earl of Pembroke, Groom of the Stole, the Hon.–– Finch Esq; the Hon. George Dodington, Esq; the Judges, &c. met in the Exchequer Chamber, Westminster-Hall, and named the following three Gentlemen for each of the several Counties in England, as proper Persons for his Majesty to pick one to serve for each County for the Office of Sheriff for the ensuing Year, viz. 

(edited)

Cumberland, Henry Richmond Brougham of High-head, Walter Lutwidge of Whitehaven, and John Langton, of Cockermouth, Esqrs,

(edited)

[AlanBoyd]

According to Benjamin Franklin's account of his voyage to England in 1757 on the packet General Wall, Walter Lutwidge was the Captain at that time too.

 
 source: Franklin on Franklin. Paul M Zall, University of Kentucky. (2000) p 214 (available at the Internet Archive)
 

[Tomhutton]

Thank you Alan. The 'Walter Lutwidge' named for selection of Sheriff of Cumberland is either uncle or father to the Walter I am looking at - I hope uncle and brother to Thomas.

You are quite correct that Benjamin Franklin travelled with Walter on the General Wall, on a voyage that almost ended in disaster, when they nearly ran aground during poor weather. On three other voyages the General Wall had skirmishes with French privateers, the third resulting in the death of Walter.