186 Chronicles of the Cape Fear River

was razed to the ground only a few years since to give place to
the dwellings on the east side of Front Street, between Orange
and Ann, was the “Old ’76.” It was a large two-story brick
building, stuccoed white, with wide piazzas above and below
running all the way around. It sat right upon the run of Tan
Yard Branch, and its first floor was several feet lower than the
present level of Front Street. It was a sailor boarding house
but was utilized by the politicians of the early days as a rallyin !
place for their forces on the eve of exciting elections. ae

SENEX, JR.

VI.

Attention has been called to the fact that in enumeratin
buildings of great age or of peculiar construction the eal
of the late John Walker, Esq., is worthy of being considered
This building stood near the center of the square bounded Lay
F ront, Princess, Second, and Chestnut Streets, fronting -
Princess. Set back well from the street, it had apeon spacious
yard in front. The house was built of brick, had a double piazza
—such is the recollection of the writer—and was covered with
Dutch tiles in corrugated form. There is reason to believe it
was built in 1781. It had been tenantless for a long time pre-
vious to its destruction, which was several years ago. :

It may as well be confessed here that
the list of boys
classical school of Mr. Robert Lindsay—which list ate ns

recently—was sadly defective in omitting the names of Osc
oy ee — S. Cowan, those truly good boys .
in the early forties the judges of the Superi |

Dick, Manly, Settle, Battle, Bailey, Nash, a ets Soca
of these afterwards attained eminence in the Sunes oart.
The Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, commonly known “
the County Court, had a session each spring summer, fall, and
winter. Attorneys were licensed first to practice here aial later
very soon after ordinarily, received license to nineties in the
Superior Courts. The last County Court held in New Hanove
in the name of the King was held on January 2, 1776, and oa
next court was on January 7, 1777. The justices eciaeiet were
George Moore, William Purviance, John Robinson, Timoth

Bloodworth, Sampson Moseley, John Lillington, Deine! gaia
John Ancrum, William Wilkinson, William Jones, and J dae
DuBois. They were commissioned by the Governor, and after

Early Years 187

duly organizing they elected two inspectors for Wilmington and
a sheriff for the Gounty. Jonathan Dunbibin was elected regis-
ter in place of Adam Boyd, who held the position under the old
regime. We digress here to say that this Adam Boyd formerly

edited the Cape Fear Mercury, which appeared in Wilmington

October 13, 1769, and was discontinued in 1775.
The county justices seem to have undergone little or no change

throughout their entire existence of nearly a century. In ordi-
nary trial sessions, one magistrate presided, having on the bench

with him two or three other magistrates. The position of chair-
man, or chief magistrate, required considerable legal knowledge

and invested one with a good deal of power. Col. James T.

Miller and Mr. William A. Wright held the post and performed

Not one of the resident lawyers of 1840 is now living. Mr.
M. London, who died quite recently, had been engaged in mer-
chandizing for several years before he entered upon the practice
of law. He was licensed to practice about January 1, 1840, and

was one of the ablest lawyers who ever practiced at the bar in
New Hanover County. Owen Holmes died suddenly in June,
1840. Messrs. William A. Wright, Joshua G. Wright, T. C.
Miller and Daniel B. Baker lived and practiced throughout the
forties. Mr. George Davis was admitted to practice very early
in 1841; afterwards John London, who died soon after licen-
sure; and Griffith J. McRee still later; Thomas D. Meares,
James A. Peden, John A. Lillington, T. Burr, jr., Hill Bur-
ewyn, Thomas D. Walker, David Fulton, William Hill, John L.
Holmes, and others whose names are not at hand. Mr. William
B. Meares, one of the strongest members of the bar, had retired
before 1840 to give attention to other interests. He died Octo-
ber 11, 1842. Messrs. David Reid and Hardy Lucian Holmes
came to Wilmington from other counties. They stood high on

the roll of attorneys.
In those days the whipping post was an instrument or an in-

stitution or a means for punishment of offenders—a most effi-
cient one, too. It savored of barbarity undoubtedly and was ter-
ribly degrading, still there are crimes for which the whipping
post is and ever will be the only befitting punishment. As to
barbarity, it does not approach in that respect the public stran-

gling to death of human beings. ‘This was universal in those
days, and even now is tolerated in North Carolina where the

county commissioners find a public demand for it. Happily the