George Burrington, with Thomas Pollock, Francis Forster, John Lovick and others; when he was at the same time chief justice of the colony. In 1729, with Colonel John Lovick, Edward Mosely, and William Little, he was appointed one of the commissioners to run the line between North Carolina and Virginia; Colonel William Byrd, Richard Fitzwilliam and William Dandridge, being the commissioners for Virginia. The journal of these commissioners has been preserved and printed.*

        * See Westover Mss.

        William Little, chief justice, married a daughter of Judge Gale. He was active in resisting the attacks of the Tuscaroras, and went to South Carolina for aid, which was promptly furnished, and Colonel Moore was despatched with a sufficient force to subdue them.

        Christopher Gale died in Edenton, where he lies buried, and left a name that was never mentioned but with respect.*

        * Records from Board of Trade; University Magazine, volume V., 221.)

        Abram Rencher resides in Chatham County, but was born in Wake about 1804. He finished his education at the university where he graduated in 1822. In the same class was Bishop Davis, Washington Morrison, and others. He studied law with Judge Nash, at Hillsboro.

        He early engaged in political life. In 1829, he was a candidate for the state senate, and was defeated; but in the same year, a vacancy occuring in congress from this district, he became a candidate, with Judge Pearson and Burton Craige as opponents. This was a strife involving much intellectual power, and the great question as to the power of the government, and the rights of the state, and other topics, were argued by Pearson on the one side and Craige on the other, while Rencher circulated quietly among the people, and gained the votes. He was elected a member of the Twenty-first, Twenty-second, Twenty-third, Twenty-fourth and Twenty-fifth Congress, (1829 to 1839.) He was again elected to the Twenty-seventh Congress, (1841 to 1843.) This was a stormy period of our political history. Harrison died after being in the presidential chair one month, and Tyler succeeded. The friends of the party calculated on Tyler pursuing a course different from the line he had marked out. Mr. Clay and other leaders often assailed him with great bitterness. This was a fierce and violent contest. A very few of the old whigs stood firm, and so they were called "the corporal's guard." One of these was Mr. Rencher. After his term in congress had expired he was appointed, in 1843, charge de affaires to Portugal, where he remained four years.

        On his return home he took an active part in the election of Franklin Pierce, and was one of the electors of the state.

        He was made governor of the territory of New Mexico, by President Buchanan.

        John M. Mooring, speaker of the present house of representatives of the North Carolina legislature, (1879,) is a native of Chatham County, born March 11th, 1841. He was educated at Graham, and at the university, and would have graduated in the class of 1863 had not the civil war prevented. He joined the army as a private in company G, seventh regiment, and was sergeant-major at the surrender of Johnson at Greensboro, 1865. He studied law, and in 1872 elected member of the legislature, and re-elected in 1874, 1876 and 1878, when he was chosen speaker. He is a good speaker, and a laborious member. His even temper, genial disposition, and quick perception of points of order, render him an admirable presiding officer.

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