The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-04-08
LOCAL DEPARTMENT.

|
,ncetipg Of the Oldest Inhabitants Associn-
lion OF the District was held In the court
room yesterday afternoon; the president (Dr.
John b. Blake) In the chair, aud j. Carroll
Brent esq, secretary.
Messrs. Fltzhugh Coyle and Jchu W. FL
lott were elected as members Of the associa-
tlon.
Mr.. J. +. Callan was appointed by the
president treasurer pro tenn, and Tor rev
minutes did lively business in collecting
dues from the members.
DIR. Blake nominated as a candidate Tor
membership DR.. John W. Clark
Mr.. d. Milburn proposed Zadoc Williams
and John Thompson.
The secretary presented to the association
from Bladeu Forrest, esq., f9 note, cur,
rent money Of the colony Of Virginia, issued |
according to act Of Assembly, March 4, l773, |
bearing the signature Of Peyton Randolph |
and John Blair, and endorsed by Robert |
Carter Nicholas, treasurer. On the coat OF
arms was "En Dat. Virginia Quartum," the |
motto Of the old coat-of-arms Of the colony |
Of Virginia, meaning that Virginia gave
fourth part to the then British Dominions. |
The motto was changed after the Revolution |
TO oslo Semper Tyrannis' ever with |
Tyrants."
Also an old note issued as currency In the
carly days Of the District Of Columbia. He |
also read q letter from an anonymous source, |
asking for information in regard to a locality |
known as "Llttle Chapel" IL was generally
believed by the members present that "Bar-
rvs Chapel" which formerly existed near |
"Buzzard Point" Is the locality referred to. |
Mr.. Michael Nash made some interesting |
remarks In regard to the chapel, and also |
OTHER points at which relics have been found
When Mr.. Nash had concluded, Mr.. Brent
read an interesting paper giving history Of
the old courts Of the District. 1t Is as fol-
lows
wAsHISornS, April 7, 1850.
Gentlemen Of he Oldest Inhabitants dssoeid-
tom Always keeping in view one OF the
prominent objects Of our association-the
collection and preservation of local history,
"reminiscences and tradtlon-I have carefully
compiled, from the Official minutes, the ac-
companying paper on the personnel of our
old courts, now extinct, but not forgotten or
unregretted.
II 1t be matter Of p-'dc and advantage for
free and civilized people to be the possess
sors and bene lclarles OF free and honest
judiciary, nowncre and In no age can any
more free and honest be discovered and pro-
duced than that whose officers aud some
fragmentary portions Of whose hi-tory this
paper is intended to furnish and preserve.
with many If not all Of these judges and
officers most of you were personally ac-
quainted. That they were faithful to their
trusts, capable, honest, independent and i'm
partial, no one will be bold enough to ques-
ton or deny. For slxty-two years the original
Judiciary Of this District was an honor and
blessing TO the community, and the merits
and services Of those who discharged the
high, delicate and responsible duties Of their
station to the general satisfaction of all whom
1t concerned are familiar to the old resit ents
as household words.
OF all those many worthy judges and on
GERS the only survivors are, of the former,
Judges James Dunlop and James 5. Morsen,
(honorary members Of our bOdy,) and Judge
VIM. NJ. Merrick, now a resident of Mary
land. Ofthe others, so long attached to our
courts during the period covered by this
paper, are surviving Ex-Marshals Richard
Wallach, "a member of our association,)
Jonah d. Hooper, VIM. Selden and Ward II.
Lamon. OF the clerks the only survivor now
living Is Z. J. Middleton.
There are, however, five citizens of honor
able repute and standing long connected with
the marshaps and clerks offices who yet re-
main as connecting links with the old courts Of
the District. As deputy marshal and clerk in
that Office we have George W. Phillips and
Philip ii. Minor; and as attached to the
clerks office Erasmus j. Middleton and Col.
Henry Saylor, both members of our society,
and Charles McNamce.
Mr.. Middleton, as You are aware, Is now
the efficient clerk Of the new Criminal Court,
and Mr.. McSamee Is at his old desk in the
Office which he has occupied so long and
well.
OF the district attorneys two only survive
Messrs. Robert Ould and Edward c. Caring
ton, the present incumbent.
The act of Congress establishing thcsI
courts was passed on the eth of February
1901.
The Circuit Court of the District of Column
bia held Its first session for the county Of
Washington, on the fourth Monday of June,
In the year 1901, when there were present:
Hoh VIM. Kitty, Chief Judge Hon. James
Marshall, and Hon. VIM. CranCh, assistant
Judges. Daniel Carroll Brent, esq, marshal;
Urlah Forrest, clerk.
Fourth Monday Of December, 1903, pres
ent: Hons. VIM. Kitty, chief judge; William
Cranch, and Nicholas Fitzhugh, assistant
Judges. Daniel Carroll Brent, esq, marshal;
Uriah Forrest, clerk.
In June, 1906, Uriah Forrest died, and
VIM. Brent, ESQ.,, was appointed clerk.
June Term, 1906: Hon. William Crunch,
chief judge Hon. Nicholas Fitzhugh, Hon.
Allen b. bucket, assistant judges William
Brent, CLERK.
Judge Cranch's commission as chief Judge,
dated the 18th February, 1906, was sworn In
as such chief Judge on the I'd Of June, 1906.
Allan b. Ducke:t sworn In as assistant Judge
same day. Was ingtoI Boyd was appointed
marshal on the Goth of January, 1905.
December term, 1909, fourth Monday, pres
ent: Hon. VIM. Cranch, chief Judge Hon.
Nicholas Fltzhugh, Hon. Buckner Thurston,
assistant judges.
December term, 1914, to wit: 10th January
1915, the Hon. James $. Morseu produced
his commission from the President as assist
ant Judge, and same day was sworn in anC
took his seat. His commission was dated
the 18th of January, 1915.
Al the June term, 1918, to wit: list of June
Tench Rings old, esq, appeared as marshal
No evidence of when he was appointed.
AT May term, 1881, to wit: I'd Of May
Henry Ashton, esq, appears as marshal
No evidence Of when he was appointed.
At March term, 1854, Alexander Hunter
appears as marshal. No evidence of wher
he was appointed. lie continued until thu
23d Of June, ls4S.
Hon. Buckner ThUr,ton died in August
1915.
At October term, 1915, Hon. James Dun
lop produced commission from the Pres
dent appointing him assistant Judge, and
took Ills seat on the bench.
Robert Wallace, esd, was appointed mar
shall on the 23d OfJunc, 1873, IN the place Of
Alexander Hunter, who had resigned.
Col. VIM Brent, the late clerk, died on the
18th of December, 1913.
John A. Smith was appointed clerk, on the
18th of December, 1913, by the Judges Of the
court In vacation, until their next session.
~ 49, ihS 0th VI Duuudl " IotJ, when the
appointment was made permanent.
Richard Wallach, esd, was appointed
marshal on the 2Sth Of June, 1919.
Jonah d. Hoover, esq, WINS APPOINTED
MARSHAL gu the 3lst Of May, 1858.
monday, October -, 1855, present Hon.
Shlel Judge, Hon. james 5. Morscll, Hon.
james Dunlop, assistant.
me death Of Judge Cranch announced.
He died October |, lS55.
Friday, December "A, lsjj: present Hon.
James Dunlop, Chief Julg, Jane, 5. Nor.
sell, assistant judge, The Hon. jane. Dun.
lop produced his Commission from the Pres.
dated 7th December, 1850 49,
The Hon. William NJ. Mcrrlrk quallNcl
before the Hon. James s. Morsell, as,i.,nni
Judge, as assistant Judge, December Il. 1851,
MS commission dated 18th December, 1853.
Monday, May Q, 1858. William selIcn.
sI2 produced his commission as marshal
da,n , s sa,,. PRESIDENT Of the United States,
ua.su oOta March, 1858.
na an ~ iS'l, Ward H. Llmon esq,
vas appointed by the President of The United
ElaIps ms mnrEhuI SO - '''N hlbNh