Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1880-09-07
tFrem the Richmond Dispatch July soth.)
DE MORTUIS,
Full of Years ard Full of Honors.

the DecedSed-IHe Funeral de-
William Green, LII. D., one of the most
distinguished members of the bar of the
State of Virginia, died yesterday morning a.
. O'Clock after brief illness. The deceased
had been indisposed since last Tuesday. but
1t was only since Wednesday evening that
his symptoms had been alarming
The news of the sad event, although not
unlocked for by his intimate friends, Gre
ated widespread feeling of sorrow; for
wherever the deceased was known he was
loved and honored, not more for his brill
liant attainments than for the purity of his
character and the unobtrusive gentleness of
his manner
William Green was sprung from an ances-
try soted in the annals of Virginia history
as msn without fear and without reproach.
both in the military and the civil walks of
life.
Robert Green. the first of the family who
settled in the New World, was the son of
William Green. an officer in the body guard
Of William, Prince of Orange. He oamo to
this country about the year 17l2 and settled
with his uncle, William Duff, a Quaker, in
King George county. lie was born In the
year 1896
Colonel John Green, one Of seven sons,
married Susanna Blackwell. Their son
William married Mary Williams. Their
son, Judge John William Green, married
Mary Brown. The subject of this sketch
was one of the issues of this marriage.
COlcnel John Green, the grandfather of
William Green, served throughout the whole
Revolutionary war in different grades OF
military rank, aud distinguished himself at
Brandywinc, Monmoth, and at Guilford
Court House, under Gen. Nathaniel Grcono
John William Green, tho father of tho
deceased jurist, was gallant soldier in the
war OF 1872. lie afterwards rose tn great
eminencc ms a lawyer, and at an curly aga
was made one of the judges of the Court of
Appeals af Virginia. DR.. Dapiel s. Green.
OF the United States navy, was another son
by this marriage. His second wife was Miss
Cooke, granddaughter of George Mason, the
snthor of the immortal Bill OF Rights. Bv
this marriage Judge Green had several chiI>
dreD, among them j ohm G. Green, Common
wsalth's Attorney of Culpeper county; Judge
Thomas q. Green, of West Virginia, and
James W. Green, an able lswer Of CuI.
pepper.
The subject of this sketch was born in
Fredericksburg in 1904, and at the time
of his death was seventy-four Years OF nre
He studied law under his father, and after
obtaining his license to practice settled in
Culpcper county. In that county he sncut
many years, and just before the commence
ment OF tho late war lie removed to Rich
mond as one of the first practitioners in tho
Supreme Court of Appeals
During the days of reconstruction he was
appointed one of the Judges Of the court OF
Cancellation for this city, his colleagues
being Judge Henry W. Thomas and the late
Judge William II. Lyon. The duties of
this arduous and responsible position he
filed with signal ability and fidelity.
With the late Judge FIaIyburton, TIE de>
ceased Sad charge of the first law class es-
tablishsd at Richmond college. 1t was not
only successful practitioner Of law that the
deceased was noted, but he was widely
known in this country and abroad as an able
writer and authority on all legal questions.
At the time of his death he had 10 prepara-
tion new edition OF Bntlors Nisi Priue.
Many years since he mcditated new edition
of Wythe's Chnncery Reports. but being
anticipated by the late i. Il. Minor,
who printed a new edition in 1852. Mr..
Green gave the latter the benefit of his Ia
bors, and added as an appendix to the work
Differences to Gases Pari Maizena," and an
Essay on Cases, Join. Tenants in Common.
&c. For some years past he had had in
preparation History of the Practice of Law
in America, more particularly in Virgins. as
derived from English forms and precedcnts.
He also contemplated at one time a History
of Virginia, as exhibited in the social life Of
its people, and the bearing which their bab.
its had In forming public sentiment and con.
trolling political and national progress.
AS a lawyer ho was devoted to his pro-
fession, and bis name is irdissoIubIy connoc>
ted With some of the greatest civil cause.
ceibre in the history of Virginia jurispru-
dence No man ever occupied higher
position at the bar. both for learning and
research IN all the departments of law. 1t
was not alone in that mrs'y fcieuce, but
alike in the charmed realms of history, the
classics, and general literature that he ex-
celIed. His mind was one great garner
house of golden information, which made
him the constant resort aud COMPANION of
tho learned professions and of the Iitarary
world, to all of whom, in the nagnapimity
of his nature, he freely impaired every in
formation in his power. Mr. Green married
NJ iss Columbia f Slaughter. OF this uoioa
daughter, Elizabeth, married Mr.. -
Hayes, of Fredericksburg; an only son. Jno.
William Green, fsll galIantIy in a cavalry
charge near Liberty Mills, September 22.
1858, IN the twenty-sxth year Of his age.
Mr.. Green was a vice>president Of the
Virginia Historical Society. No man took
deeper Interest in prss.rGing the ancient
traditions Of The old G M nouweslth. He was
an etfectionate husband loving father. A
good citizen, and faithful friend.
In writing of such a life as that inst SO
peacefully closed, the writer can we'll afford
to avoid the hackEeyed aud we'll beaten path
OF common cusgy; it is unHeeded. 10
truly 6peaping OF him as his many virtues
deserve, ''One feels but lacks the power to
paint"
1t we view him as man, he was that no.
biest work of nature. an honest one as a
sch2lar, he was ripe. fluent. and versatile as
a lawyer, he stood in the front rank of bar
noted Inr itr L..