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studied law with Gen. Martin Field of Newfane, and commenced practice at Rocking ham, where he continued to reside until 1854. He then removed to Brattleboro. He was a successful advocate and an excellent lawyer; he was for a few years State attorney, judge of probate in the Westminster dis trict, and secretary of the Governor and Council during the administrations of Van Ness and Butler. He was United States .district attorney during the administrations of Jackson and Van Buren; member of both houses of the Legislature, and of the Con stitutional Convention of 1843. He was elected judge of the Supreme Court in 1843, but declined the position; he was again elected in 1845 an^ accepted it; at both of these elections he belonged to the minority party. He took great pride in his published opinions, and it is said annually read them until his death. In 1850, when the court was reorganized, he was elected one of the judges with Ste phen Royce and Isaac Redfield. His re putation was that of a discreet, learned and able lawyer. He was a member of the Court under both systems, when the judges per formed services in the county court as well as in the Supreme Court, and served one year when the Supreme Court judges were not required to preside in the county court; but in whatever judicial position he was placed, he was adequate to all its respon sibilities and requirements. His lawyership was broad, accurate, practical and sensible, the result of faithful study and extensive practice, and large conversancy with current business affairs in all departments; his social culture and bearing was excellent. His personal character was blameless and with out suggestion of impropriety in any re spect. Hiland Hall. — The emigrant ancestors ofJudge Hall came from England about 1635, and after remaining at Boston and Hartford until 1650, became the first settlers and

large land owners in Middletown, Conn. His father was a farmer and came to Bennington in 1779. Hiland remained with his father on the farm, reading all the books he could find or borrow in the vicinity, inclining par ticularly to those of history and biography. He obtained his education wholly in the common schools, except three months at an academy in Granville, N.Y. The only sick ness of his youth was during this quarter at school. During his minority he was a member of the Sons of Liberty, organized " for a vigor ous prosecution of the war." He was a Federalist in politics, and became a Whig upon -the organization of that party; was admitted to the Bar in Bennington, in 18 19, and began practice in his native town. He was clerk of the courts in that county, a position which was afterwards long held by a son until his death, and since that time by his grandson. He was several years State's attorney for the county, and in 1833 was chosen repre sentative in Congress. This service termi nated in March, 1843, when he declined further candidacy. He performed valuable work in the national legislature, was a mem ber of the committee on post offices and post roads, and on Revolutionary claims, and was active and prominent in framing and procuring the important act passed in July, 1836, relating to the postal department. His most important service, however, in Congress was in reference to the numerous claims founded on the alleged promises of the Legislature of Virginia, or of the Con tinental Congress, to Virginia officers of the Revolutionary army. Millions of dollars had been paid in satisfaction of such claims, and millions more were still pending. The ex posure of these claims by Mr. Hall, followed by a full history of them by a select com mittee, ended them forever. Ex-President John Q. Adams was a member of the House at the time, and in his diary of June 16, 1842, writes, with reference to these Virginia