Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1833-10-03

duStry and perseverance.
| was born on September 9, 1921:
my father died some time before. In
February, l734-5, was bound ap.
prentice to Col. Benjamin Robinson,
clerk of Caroline court. In 1887. |
was made clerk of the vestry Of St.
Mary's Parish in Caroline; with the
profits | purchased a few books and
read them very diligently. In l74O |
was made clerk Of Caroline court mar
tIal. In April, 174l, with my mas
ter's consent, / was licensed TO prac.
tlce law as attorney, being strictly ex.
amlned by Mr.. Barradall. January
II, 174l, | was married to Betty, the
daughter of Mr.. Roy, against my
trends consent, as also my masters,
who nevertheless still continued his az
lection to me. My wife died Novem.
Der II, 1742. was married a second
time, the Goth January, 1745, to Sa-
rah the daughter of Mr.. Joseph Pol.
lard, who was born the 4th of Nav,
l725. practised my profession with
great appreciation and success, more
from my own good fortune and kind
direction of Providence, than my own
merit; and in October, 1745, my repu-
tation at the county courts prompted
me to make an effort at the general
court, in which continued till l774,
when the dispute with Great Britain
commenced. In November, 1851,
was sworn a Justice of the peace for
Caroline, and continued until Novem.
Der, III. In January, 1852, was
elected "a burgess for ditto. Twas con-
tinued one Of the representatives of
Caroline without interruption till l774,
at which time | presided in Caroline
court, and was county lieutenant. In
June of that year news arrived Of the
inimical designs of parliament against
the town of Boston; on which account
the assembly voted fast, and were
dissolved by government. A number
of members stayed in Williamsburg to
keep the fast. When news arrived of
the Boston port bill they collected, and
recommended to the people to choose
members for convention, to meet in
August. was chosen a member to
that convention, who voted the utility
of a general congress of States, to meet
in Philadelphia the 1st of September.
was chosen, and attended that con-
gress, and second in May, ITS. In
August, IT'S, | was appointed presi-
dent of the committee Of safety, ard in
December following, president of the
convention on the death of Mr.. RAN
dolph, and re-chosen president of the
new one in May, 1776. In October,
1776, | was elected to the chair Of the
house of delegates, who sat under the
new constitution. In March, 1777, by
a fall from my horse, | had my hip dis
located, and have been unableto walk
ever since, except on crutches; how
ever, the good people Of Caroline the
next month chose me a delegate in
hopes of my recovery; but ! could not
attend in May session, and another
speaker was appointed, in which how
ever | was highly honored by all the
candidates, having promised to resign
the chair when | should come. at
tended on crutches, in October session,
but meant then to take leave of all pub
/ lie business and return; but the gene
raj court and court of chancery being
established, | was prevailed onby some
worthy members to be nominated as
chancery Judge, in which was elected
/ to the presidency; and the whole three
by an unanimous vote. In 1779, when
the court of appeals was organized,
and made to consist of the general
court, chancery and admiralty, the
chancellors were to have the first rank,
and of course presided in that court.
In 1888, when a new arrangement was
| made of the superior courts and that
ofappeals, to consist of separate judges,
/ | retained my rank in that court, and
so may be considered as having now
/ been fifteen years at the head of the
judiciary department. In 1888, when
a state convention was to meet to con-
slider of new proposed plan Of federal
government, and all the officers of the
state made eligible, my good old friends
in Caroline again called me to their re-
presentation in convention, and that
respectable body to preside over them,
induIging me with sitting in all my Of
fetal duties, usually performed stand
ing. Thus, without any classical edu-
cation, without patrimony, without
what is called the influence of family
connexion, and without solicitation,
have attained the highest offices of my
country.
| have often contemplated it as q
rare and extraordinary instance, ant
pathetically exclaimed, "Not unto me