Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 2.djvu/419

 of North Carolina and graduated at eighteen years of age. He then became a member of the famous law school of Judge Lomax at Fredericksburg. Virginia. He practiced law, and acquired the largest practice in his part of the state. In 1848-49 he served in the Virginia legislature, and was made one of the revisors of the Virginia Code of Laws. Judge R. C. L. Moncure. Judge Robert E. Scott and Hon. John M. Patton were asso- ciated with him in the work. He married (first) Sally Tanner Jones, of Nottoway county. Virginia, and several years after her death and burial at '* Doth well," Dinwid- die county, Virginia, he married Henrietta Chauncey, of Philadelphia, and went there to reside. True to his .southern sympathies, he spent much money in the relief of Con- federate soldiers confined in Northern prison houses. He was the author of a volume of personal reminiscences. He died in Phila- delphia, in 1886, and was interred in the Chauncey burying ground at Burlington, New Jersey, by the side of his second wife, where a handsome sarcophagus rests over husband and wife.

Parker, John A., was born in Westmore- land county. February 20. 1804. In 1836 he was sent on a mission to Texas by President Jackson, and in 185 1 he was librarian of Con- gress. He was removed in 1853 ^Y John V. Forney, clerk of the house of representa- tives, in whom at that time was vested the appointment of librarian. The action of Mr. Forney caused indignation, and a reso- lution to deprive the clerk of his power to appoint the librarian was lost by only four votes. In 1856 he was appointed register ot the land office for Nebraska. About this time he was appointed one of the agents of the states to procure a settlement of the accounts between the commonwealth and the United States.

Meredith, John Alexander, son of Rot)ert Meredith and Mary Anderson, his wife, was born in New Kent county, March 4. 1814. He was an able lawyer and held the office of judge. He married Sarah Anne Bernard, daughter of William Bernard and Sarah Dykes, his wife, and had three brilliant sons : William Bernard Meredith, who was adjutant on the staff of Gen. Pendleton. C. S. A., and died in 1862: Charles Vivian Meredith (born September 12. 1850). formerly city attorney of Richmond, and Wyndham R. Meredith (born .April 6, 1859) — the last two still living in Richmond.

Taylor, Tazewell, born in Norfolk. Virginia, January 30, 1810, son of James Taylor and Sarah Newton, his wife. He was educated at Georgetown College and the University of 'irginia. receiving from the latter institution the Bachelor of Law degree. He was a distinguished lawyer for forty years, and for a long time was bursar of William and Mary College.

Davison, John Smith Bull, born July 2. 1802, eldest son of Major William Davison and Martha Maria Smith, his wife. He was a student at Winchester Academy, and en- tered William and Mary College, but in his second year there his father died and he was obliged to return home. He attended the law school of Judges Tucker and Holmes, at Winchester, and was admitted u the bar. He was made justice of the peace in 1829. and. with the exception of the civil war period, served as such until his death. From 1849 to 1851 he was high