Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1890-01-14
Judge Thomas 9. oreen.

GFrom the CulpePer (ya-) Exponent
wehaye gathered together for preservation,
some of the many newspaper paragraphs, ana
nouncing the death Of this distinguished jurist,
who was q native Of this county. We publish
them bellows i
It is butntting and appropriate that ayoice
from Culpeper, the home of his birth, child
hood, boyhOod and fun manhood, should add
9 word in communication OF a son who; never
did nught to sully the honor of his county or
4Stats. claiborne Green as he was most famil-
iarly known hero, was born at Greenwood, tho
residence of his father, Judge John w. GresG,
of the Court of Appeals of Yirgini4, His
mother waA Alillian Cooke who was the eldest
daughter of Mary 7. Mason, eldest daughter
of George Mason, Of Gunsten Hall. She mar
ried John Cooke, of West Farm, in Stafford
County, Virginia. Judge JOhu w. Green, his
father, was an only son of Capt William
Green, of the navy, lost ut sea on the brig Dc
fauce, who was one of the six sons of Robert
Green, who came to Culpeper county from Eng
land two hundred aud thirty years ago. a,ssl
Robert Green's descendants are scattered
now through the, West aud South, among
which descendants, we fnd men of note, talent
and enterprise. Such as NOrvin Green, of the
Western Union, Gen. Duff Green. of Kentucky
I,the grandfather Of Jno. Z. and Pat Calhoun,
of New York and Atlanta, besides many OtherH
too numerous to mention,
Claiborne Green left Culpcper at the advice
of his mothers cousin. Col. James NJ. Mason,
of Winchester, Virginia, to practice his pro-
| fesston ia Ch6rlestowu, jefferson county, w.
Va After remaining there year he accepted
q partnership in law, which was rendered him
by Col. Angus Mcdonald, at Romney, Hamp-
shire county, Virginia, to whom he had been
introduced with high testimonials, by Col.
James NJ. Mason who afterward became
our Confederate ambassador to the court OF
James.
At Romney he remaiucd for several years
and there he married the oldest daughter OF
Col. Mcdonald, Mary Naylor, thence soon 0f-
1 ter removing to Jefferson county again to re-
sumo his law pructice. AT the breaking ont of
the States war, he was mayor of Charlestown,
and IN that capacity he was prominent aud
distinguished as one whose duties required
him to meet responsibilities and prompt meas
ures. When John Brown made his attack
upon Hnrpcr's Ferry. and was captured aud
incarcerated in the Chhrlestown jail, this was
the beginning aud Quart act of the Confederate
war.
AS an evidence Of his sterling traits of ms
tice and humanity, John Brown selected him
Il as his friend and chosen counsellor to tako
charge OF his trial with the Hon, Andrew Hum
ter, OF that place also But the friends of
Brown made other arrangements nnd Judge
Green withdrew from the prominence of his
position, with his conspicuous characteristic
lmodesty aud unseiishness: although he acted
as advisory private counsel with Mr.. Voorhees,
and other foreign lawyers whom Brownie
friends employed. But John Brown looked to
him for justice aud protection IN manner to
prove his confidence in tho high judicial pur-
ity and justice of his reputation.
When the became fully underway he
with quiet patriotism enlisted as a private 10
Company Is, (the Bolts Greys) a company
commanded by lawson Bolts, formerly of
Fredericksburg, Virginia. In this company
he served through many hard fought battles
beginning from the fret battle of Manassas,
down to the capture of Newburn. North Caro-
lima, having served through both campaigns
in Maryland and Pennsylvania.
Claiborne Green remained thus In the ranks
until near the close of the war, when Col Mu-
son, our minister to England. had his alton
tiOn called to this fact. OF which he was in
formed by his daughter, Mrs. John b. I. Dor
soy. who theu resided in Richmond.
Mr.. Mason Immediately wrote TO Jefferson
Davis, our President, Of this oversight and ne
gf5Ct. NJ. ifs.iififiI
from North Carolina by letter OF 0fappointment,
, TO PLACE him at the head of the tax collector
ship Of the State of Virginin where he served
until the surrender, leaving Richmond when
the other officials left on the 3rd Of April,
1865. At the close of tho war taking his fnfn-
a lily, he again returned to jefferson county
Virginia, to re-Occupy his old home, and help
to build upthe waste, desolate places that he
there found.- In few years he was placed
upon the bench of the Court of Appeals of
death.
/ Gov. Jacobs. of West Virginia In ,yritino,
of him says: Judge Green's friendship for me
was constant and sincere. I never hesitated
TO unbosom myself to him, for knew his high
sense of honor"
/ Judge Okcy johnson who Is one of the West
Virginia judges. writes; 1.-The long expected
blow has fullen at last, and one of the grandest,
ablest, Purest and best OF men is lost to his
.
The Hon. Randolph Tucker, to whom he
was allied by the closest and tendeFest ties OF
association and friendship from carly man-
hood. writes of him to his wife from Lexing-
ton. Virginia, saying; 81 had been speaking
of him but yesterday to some of my young
lsigidenta West Hirginias Of bis learning,
ability and high character, he was nn Israellte
indeed ih whom there WasnO guile"
! Daniel b. Lucas who was appointed by
Governor Wilson to Ill Judge Green's unex-
lPired term, says: Everybody who knOws mo
knows the exalted esteem which ] placed
in Judge Green's ability. aud IN my opinion no
man in the state could I'LL his place"
Claiborne Green was baptized In infancy at
St. Stephens Episcopal church, In this town.
his life bore evidence of the efficacy of an
early dedication IN God by an exemplary
mother. Beyond this he made no open pro-
fession of his faith. accept an assufanee given
his devoted and tender wife when IL eztrenlis,
In answer to her agonized and tender solicfta-
ton, that he would reach her on resurrection
morn his response was clear and comforting,
10 distinct voice he answered, Il will" Thus
has closed the life Of man whose example is
worthy of record and following, and Il is alone
in this spirit aud for this purpose that these
"reminiscences are recorded as q few truths of
his life aud work. containing as they do, les
sons In wisdom aud virtue worthy TO be emu
lated.