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Samuel
was the third in a succession of four generations of maritime artists,
and the first to make his living as a full time professional. Reared
in a workshop redolent of paint, canvas, pigments, framing and gilding,
and apprenticed to his artist father Miles Walters (1773-1855) a
former seafarer, he experienced an unusually productive working
life which lasted well over half a century.
The Walters family is thought to have originated in Pembrokeshire,
South Wales, crossing the Bristol Channel to North Devon by the
early 18th century (see map). It was here at Ilfracombe that the
artist's grandfather John Walters, was born in 1748. A builder and
carpenter by trade, he married Mary de Versaille on 5th April 1773;
(of Huguenot origin the name is usually pronounced and sometimes
written, Devershall). Apart from his carpentry, John built up a
local reputation as an artist. Characteristically vernacular in
style, the surviving drawings are mostly topographical in nature,
with a strong maritime flavour. Selling then for half a guinea,
they must have provided a welcome addition to a tradesman's wages. |
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There
were four children from the marriage. The two daughters, Myra (born
1771) and Henrietta (born 1789), emigrated to North America after
marriage. Miles the elder son, (baptised 22 May 1774), and Samuel,
(born June 10th 1778) were both apprenticed as shipwrights; possibly
at Ilfracombe where small boats were built, or more likely at one
of the nearby shipbuilding ports of Bideford or Barnstaple. The
younger one, Samuel after a voyage as carpenter's mate in an East
Indiaman joined the Royal Navy as Able Seaman, eventually gaining
promotion and being confirmed in the rank of Lieutenant in 1805.
According to his trade label,
the older brother Miles also went to sea for a spell, although no
details are known. After settling ashore and marrying, Miles named
his eldest son (the subject of this article) after his younger brother.
(Next)
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