A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Walford, William
WALFORD. (Lieut., 1810. f-p., 13; h-p., 32.)
William Walford entered the Navy, 14 Dec. 1802, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Calcutta 50, armée en flûte, Capt. Dan. Woodriff. On his return from a voyage to New South Wales, he removed as Midshipman, in Oct. 1804, to the Bellerophon 74, Capts. John Loring, John Cooke, and Edw. Rotherham; under the second-named of whom, after cruizing in the Channel, he fought at Trafalgar 21 Oct. 1805. He continued employed in the Bellerophon in the Mediterranean until Aug. 1807; and on then joining the Bedford 74, Capts. Jas. Walker and Adam Mackenzie, he sailed in escort of the Royal Family of Portugal for the Brazils, where he was received, in Aug. 1809, on board the Foudroyant 80, flag-ship of Hon. Michael de Courcy. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant 1 June, 1810 and was subsequently appointed – 19 Dec. following, to the Hyacinth 18, Capt. John Carter, also on the South American station – 26 Aug. 1811, to the Skylark 16, Capt. Jas. Boxer – 11 Aug. 1812, to the Forester sloop, Capt. Alex. Kennedy, off Gottenborg – and 5 June, 1813, 5 Dec. 1814, and 6 April, 1815, to the Goliath 74, Boyne 98, and Bellerophon 74, employed (they were each commanded by Capt. Fred. Lewis Maitland) on the coast of North America, at Cork, and in the Bay of Biscay. While serving in the Skylark (in which vessel he was wrecked near Boulogne 3 May, 1812) he assisted, in company with the Locust gun-brig, at the capture of one, carrying 4 guns and 60 men, and the destruction of another, of a flotilla of 12 gun-vessels, under a heavy fire of four hours from the enemy’s batteries and musketry near Calais 10 Nov. 1811. The Forester he left from ill health in March, 1813. He was Senior of the Bellerophon when Napoleon Buonaparte surrendered to that ship off Rochefort 15 July, 1815. He was placed on half-pay in Sept. of the same year, and has not been since afloat.
Lieut. Walford married Margaret Catherine, eldest daughter of Geo. Fred. Meadows, Esq., and niece of the present Daniel Chas. Meadows, Esq., of Witnesham Hall and Great Bealings, co. Suffolk. Agent – J. Hinxman.