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 The Supreme Court of North Carolina. "The golden prime of good Haroun al Raschid" is to Eastern story. On Jan. 1, 1822, Judge Daniel married Miss Maria B. Stith. He left surviving him one son, William A. Daniel, Esq., of Weldon, and two daughters, through whom he has many descendants; among them Jacob Battle, Esq., of Rocky Mount, one of the ablest young lawyers of eastern North Carolina;

the wife of Dr. R, H. Lewis, of Raleigh; and Armistead C. Gordon, of Staunton, Va., au thor of the beautiful idyl " My boy Kree." Judge Daniel was succeeded on the bench by Hon. W. H. Battle. The name of Gas ton is one upon which North Carolinians love to linger. A county and two towns, Gastonia and Gaston, bear his name. Chief-Jus tice Henderson is the only other judge whose popularity has receiveda like testimony. William Gaston was born in Newbern, N. C, Sept. 19, 1778. His JOSEPH J. father, Dr. Alexander Gaston, was a native of the North of Ireland, but of Huguenot descent, and a graduate of Edinburgh Medical College. He had been a surgeon in the English army, but resigned and settled in Newbern. During the Revolution he was an ardent patriot, serving both as captain of volunteers, and as surgeon in the army. In August, 178 1, when Major Craig advanced towards Newbern, the emboldened tories captured the town. Dr. Gaston, in attempt ing to escape, pushed hurriedly off in a boat with a companion, the river being close by his house. The tories fired over the heads

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of his wife and children, who were on the wharf; and he fell mortally wounded. He left a young widow almost without means, and two children, — a son then three years old, the subject of this sketch, and a daughter who in after years became the wife of Chief-Justice John Louis Taylor. An early anecdote will illustrate the train ing he received at the hands of his mother. "William," said one of his playmates, " what is the reason you are always head, and / am always foot of my class?" "If I tell you the reason," replied the seven -year -old boy, "you must keep it a secret, and promise to do as I do. When I take my book to study, I always say a prayer my mother has taught me, that I may be able to learn my lessons." His com panion could not re member the words of the prayer; and that evening William was found by his mother behind the door, writ ing out the prayer for DANIEL. his friend tocommit to memory. His mother was a devoted Catholic, and such her dis tinguished son remained through life. At thirteen years of age he was sent to Georgetown Catholic College, D. C, whence the Rev. Mr. Plunkett wrote his mother that he was " the best scholar and the most ex emplary youth we have in the college." His health suffering from too close applica tion, he was wisely called home for some months of rest. After some months' study under the Rev. Mr. Irving, he was sent to Princeton, where he entered the junior class, and graduated there in 1796 with the highest