Judge Sitgreaves, was like his predecessor, a soldier of the revolution.
It is a remarkable historical fact that after a war, whether foreign or domestic, that the popular feeling centers on those "who have done the state some service" in the field. The remark of Lord Bacon is verified by facts. "In the youth of a nation, the profession of arms flourish; in its middle age, the useful arts; and in its old age, the fine arts." See America, England, and Italy to prove the truth of this dictum.
Judge Sitgreaves was appointed by the Provincial Congress in 1776, an officer in Captain Cassell's company, and was in the battle of Camden, August, 1780.
He was a member of the Continental Congress in 1784, and a member of the House of commons (1786 to 1789) from the borough of New Berne.
Mr. Jefferson's diary contains the following:
"1789, Hawkins recommended John Sitgreaves, as a very clever gentlemen, of good deportment, well skilled in the law for a man of his age, and if he lives long enough, will be an ornament to his profession. Spaight and Blount concurring, he was nominated."
He died at Halifax, March 4th, 1802, where he lies buried.
John Herritage Bryan, born 1798, died May 19th, 1870, was a native of New Berne.
In the Provincial Congress of November, 1776, at Halifax, three of this name were members. His early education was conducted by the Reverend T. P. Irving, and he graduated at the university in 1815, in the same class with Isaac Croom, Edward Hall, Francis L. Hawks, Willie P. Mangum, Richard Dobbs Spaight, and others. He read law and attained high rank in his profession.
He was elected to the state senate in 1823 and '24, and in the next year also, and at the same time he was elected a member of the Nineteenth Congress, from 1825 to 1827; an unprecedented event, and the more so as he was away from home when elected to both of these popular positions. He accepted the seat in congress, and he was elected to the Twentieth Congress. He declined a re-election, the care of a young and increasing family demanding his services. He removed to Raleigh, where he lived many years, loved and respected by all who knew him, and where he died, universally regretted, in 1870.
He married the daughter of William Shepard, of New Berne, and leaves a large and interesting family. One of his sons, Francis, graduated at West Point, and was distinguished in battles in Mexico.
Edward Graham, born 1765, died 1833, son of Edward Graham, (who came from Argyleshire, Scotland,) was born in New York city, graduated at Princeton 1785, read law with Chief Justice Jay, and settled in New Berne.
He was a member in the legislature from New Berne, in 1797--his only public service. He was the second of Mr. Stanly in his fatal duel with Governor Spaight. He died in New Berne, March 22d, 1838.
He married Elizabeth, the daughter of Edward Batchelor, and had two children:
I. Elizabeth, born 1804, who married John P. Daves.
II. Jane Frances, married to William H. Haywood, late United States senator.
Francis Lister Hawks, born 1705, died 1866, the son of John Hawks, was a native of New Berne, and distinguished as a writer and pulpit orator.
One of his ancestors was the architect and superintended the building of the governor's residence at New Berne in 1771. Among the Colonial Records in London, I find that in June 29th, 1771, at a meeting of the council, he submitted his accounts of expenses for building the palace.
He graduated at the university in 1815, in the same class with Mr. Bryan, and others, as
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