John W. Green

John Williams Green (November 9, 1781 – February 4, 1834) was a Virginia lawyer, soldier, plantation owner, politician and judge. He fought in the War of 1812, was elected to the Virginia State Senate, and served for more than ten years as a judge on the Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals.

John W. Green
Judge on the Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals
In office
October 11, 1822 - February 5, 1834
In office
December 4, 1815  1819
Member of the Virginia State Senate representing Spotsylvania, Orange, Culpeper and Madison Counties
Preceded byRobert Taylor
Succeeded byRobert Mallory
Personal details
Born(1781-11-09)November 9, 1781
Culpeper County, Virginia, United States
DiedFebruary 4, 1834(1834-02-04) (aged 52)
Resting placeFairview Cemetery
Spouse(s)Mary Brown, Million Cooke
ProfessionLaw
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
RankLieutenant
Battles/warsWar of 1812

Early life and family

Born in Culpeper County, Virginia, Green was the only son of William Green and Lucy Williams. His grandfather Colonel John Green fought in the American Revolutionary War. John W. Green was educated as a lawyer. Although he was 31 years old, Green volunteered to fight in the War of 1812, serving as a lieutenant in that conflict.

He married twice, first to Mary Brown in 1805 and second to Million Cooke (1785–1842, granddaughter of George Mason) in 1817.[1]

Political and judicial career

Green served in the Virginia State Senate from 1815 to 1819, representing Culpeper County and neighboring Spotsylvania, Orange and Madison Counties.[2] He also served as a delegate to the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1829-1830.[3] In 1830, Judge Green's household consisted of seven white males (four of them boys), three white females (one a girl) and 42 slaves (28 males and 14 females).[4]

Green resigned his part-time senate seat in 1819 upon being elected to the Court of Chancery.[5] Three years later, the legislature elected Green as a judge of the Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals.[1] Green held that position for over ten years, but poor health prevented him from attending sessions of the court during the last two years of his life. As a result, the Virginia General Assembly began considering removing Judge Green from office, before his death on February 4, 1834, made those considerations moot.[6]

Death and legacy

Green died at his plantation, Greenwood, survived by his widow. Both are buried at Culpeper's Fairview Cemetery.[7]

References

  1. Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography; Volume 2 (Lyon Gardiner Tyler ed.). Lewis Historical Publishing Company. 1915. p. 63. ISBN 9781154336733. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
  2. Cynthia Miller Leonard, The General Assembly of Virginia: 1619-1978 (Richmond: Virginia State Library 1978) pp. 284, 288, 292, 296
  3. "To James Madison from John W. Green, 10 January 1818". United States National Archives. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  4. 1830 U.S. Federal Census for Culpeper County, Virginia
  5. Leonard p. 296 note
  6. Acts Passed at a General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Virginia. General Assembly. 1834. pp. 320–321. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  7. findagrave.com no. 50809271
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