the Seventh Congress of the United States in 1801; he died in congress in 1802. His son, Charles E. Johnson, represented this county frequently in the senate, 1817,-'19,-20, whose son, Dr. Charles Johnson, was surgeon-general of the state in the civil war, and who lived and died in Raleigh.
Thomas Benbury an early and active friend to the cause of the people--one of the Committee of Safety in 1775, was also a citizen of Chowan. He often represented the county in the legislature as early as 1774, and continued till 1781. He was speaker of the house in 1778,-'79,-'80,-'82. At one time Chowan County had her sons speakers of both houses of the assembly. One of his descendants represented Chowan County in the legislature in 1862,-'64, with George M. L. Eure as colleague in the senate.
James Iredell, born 1750, died 1799, one of the associate justices of the supreme court of the United States, resided in Edenton. He was a native of England.
His father was a prosperous merchant at Bristol, eldest son of Francis Iredell, born at Lewes, in Sussex County, on October 5th, 1751.
He came to North Carolina in the fall of 1768, when only seventeen years old, and held the office of deputy of the port of Edenton under his relative Henry Eustace McCullock. He was afterwards appointed collector, February 17th, 1774, by the Crown. He studied law, under Governor Samuel Johnston, whose sister, Hannah, he married July 10th, 1773.
He was licensed December 14th, 1770, and soon rose to eminence in his profession. In 1777, he was elected one of the judges of the superior courts, which he resigned in 1777. In July following he was made attorney general by Governor Caswell. In 1788, he was a member of the convention that met at Hillsboro to deliberate on the Constitution of the United States, and was the able, but unsuccessful, advocate of its adoption.
In February, 1790, he was appointed by General Washington, one of the justices of the supreme court of the United States.
Full of years and honors he died at Edenton, October 20th, 1799.
His name has been indelibly written on the history of the state, by calling after his name one of the most lovely counties of the state.
Judge Iredell was, as expressed by Chief Justice Marshall in a letter to Judge Murphy, (October, 1827,) a man of talents, and of great professional worth.
He left two daughters and one son: his death was hastened by his severe labors in riding the southern circuit.
"Repeatedly," says McCree in his biography, "did this devoted public servant, in his stick gig, traverse the wide and weary distances between Philadelphia and Savannah." "The life and correspondence of Judge Iredell, by Griffith J. McCree," gives a full and accurate account of his character and services. This is the best work extract on North Carolina biography.
James Iredell, junior, born 1788 died 1853, son of Judge Iredell, was born, lived and died in Edenton. He was liberally educated, a graduate of Princeton in 1806, and studied law. Both in his legal pursuits and in political life he attained great eminence.
In the war of 1812, he raised a company of volunteers and became its captain. His associate and life long friend, Gavin Hogg, was one of the lieutenants. He marched with his company to Craney Island, near Norfolk, and aided in its defense against the British. After the war he returned to his profession, of which he was a distinguished member. He entered public life in 1816 as a member from the town of Edenton; (in 1817 and 1818 he was speaker.) He was returned to the legislature for many years. In March, 1819, he was appointed a judge of the superior courts of law and equity, which, in the May following, he resigned. In
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