[108] Resigned in 1810. He had held judicial office under the Spanish government, and was an excellent man, but not a lawyer. Claiborne, p. 161., _note_, has a good sketch, with other references on pp. 152, 172, 209, 223, 283. [109] He was the only lawyer on the first bench of Judges. He early resigned.--Claiborne, p. 209. [110] His appointment changed public sentiment toward the Court which had hitherto been hostile. For sketches of, _see_ Claiborne, p. 108, note, also p. 223. Gov. W. C. C. Claiborne speaks of him as "a learned lawyer." [111] He was highly esteemed and his appointment increased the respect of the people for the Court. Claiborne, pp. 231, note, and 141, 238. See Goodspeed, vol. i, p. 1073, for sketch. He died 1805, and not in 1810 as stated by Claiborne. [112] Claiborne, pp. 242, 258, 283. He presided, with Judge Bruin, at the trial of Burr. [113] He was probably appointed for the Washington District, but evidently never served. He was one of the Land Commissioners for the District East of Pearl river, appointed under Act of Congress, of March 3, 1803--Pickett's _Alabama_, vol. ii, p. 196. [114] Judge for Washington District, now in Ala. Born in Taunton, England. He was the most prominent and the strongest of the early public men in Alabama, and died in 1824. An excellent account of his life is in Claiborne, p. 309, note. _See also_ Brewer's _Alabama_ (1872), p. 575; Lynch, p. 21-2; and Pickett's _Alabama_, vol. ii, pp. 204-5. [115] Evidently never accepted appointment, as on Mar. 7, 1809, still a resident of Ga., he was appointed a Judge in Illinois. The latter place he also appears not to have accepted, as in 1810 he became Judge for Madison Co., M. T. [116] Martin's _Louisiana_ (1882), p. xxiii. Never received a permanent commission, but on Jan. 19, 1806, became a Judge in Orleans Territory. Son of Gov. George Matthews, of Ga. _See also_ Gilmer's _Georgians_. [117] Claiborne, p. 356; and Lynch, pp. 135-7. [118] Resigned and became a Judge in Orleans Territory, March 21, 1810. For excellent memoir, by Judge W. W. Howse, _see_ Martin's _Louisiana_ (1882). [119] _See_ note _supra_. He accepted this appointment, and presided in the courts of Madison county, and later of other counties in the Northern part of Alabama territory until 1818. [120] Grandfather of James Harris Fitts, Tuscaloosa, Ala.--_Memorial Record of Alabama_ (1893), vol ii, p. 1090. He has sometimes been confounded with Gideon Fitz, of Va., who was a brother-in-law of Gov. Robert Williams. Mrs. Sallie B. Morgan Green, so well known in Miss. as a writer, but now of Calusa, Cal., is a grand daughter of Gideon Fitz, _See_ Claiborne, pp. 161 _note_, 352; and Goodspeed, vol. i, p. 109. [121] Goodspeed, vol ii, p. 109. [122] Claiborne, p. 352.