Cumberland County NcArchives Obituaries.....Stokes, John October 12, 1790
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"The North-Carolina Chronicle; or, Fayetteville Gazette" - 18 October 1790
Fayetteville
On Tuesday last died in this town, the honourable John Stokes, esquire judge of
the district court of the United States, for the state of North-Carolina, of a
fever, with which he was attacked on his way from Newbern, to this place, where
he had been to hold the first federal court.
The life of this gentleman, from a very early period, has been devoted to the
service of his country; and so conspicuous have been his merits, in every
station which he filled, that in estimating them, it is difficult to decide
whether as a Soldier, a Judge, a Legislator, or a Lawyer, he was most worthy of
admiration. As the first, he distinguished himself by his bravery and humanity
in several engagements during the late war. At Blewfort's defeat, in
South-Carolina, he lost his right hand, and his whole body was so covered with
wounds, that his recovery was for a long time despaired of. He was animated with
the love of liberty - he fought to avenge the wrongs of his country - and many
of his fellow soldiers, who fought by his side, are now alive to testify, that
the warmth of his benevolence softened many of the horrors of war. As a judge,
he possessed the most unblemished integrity - his decisions were wise and
impartial. His exertions, as a legislator, are well known to have been directed
to the good of his country, in preserving inviolate the constitution, and
treating with justifiable asperity, any attempt made to infringe it. In his
profession, he was prompt to vindicate the rights of the poor and oppressed, in
doing which his firmness and perseverance were no less remarkable than his
ability. The death of such a man, it is natural to suppose, produced the most
heart-felt sympathy among his fellow citizens. All seemed to lament his loss -
all appeared to vie with each other in paying respect to the memory of a man
whose life had been employed in their service.
His remains were attended to the grave, on Wednesday evening by the Phoenix
Lodge of ancient Free Masons, and interred with the usual solemnities.

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