At war's end, Burwell returned to North Carolina and resumed teaching school in Charlotte. He also studied law and became licensed to practice in 1869.[2][3]
He entered law partnerships with Calvin E. Grier and then Zebulon Baird Vance, a former Confederate officer and North Carolina governor during the Confederacy, and future United States senator, in a firm named Vance & Burwell. In 1877, he was appointed as a director of the state-owned North Carolina Railroad.[2][3]
From 1880 to 1900, Burwell was in a law partnership with Platt D. Walker, who also became an Associate Justice (1903–1923[4]) but served after Burwell left the court.[2] This firm was initially Burwell & Walker, then Burwell, Walker & Cansler.[3]
Two days after the November 14, 1892, death of North Carolina Supreme Court Chief JusticeAugustus Merrimon, the court elected James E. Shepherd to be the new Chief Justice and Governor Thomas Holt appointed Burwell to fill Shepard's associate justice seat for the remaining three years of an eight-year term. In the General Election of 1894, Burwell failed to win reelection and left the court on January 1, 1895, returning to his private law practice in Charlotte.[2] Since 1868, the state constitution called for the election of justices by the people.[5]
Personal
Burwell married Ella Maude Jenkins in 1869; they had six known children, three dying in infancy.[citation needed] The others were daughters Ella Maude, Frances Armistead, and son Armistead Burwell, Jr.[3] His wife predeceased him in 1907.[3]
He died at his home in Charlotte on May 13, 1913, and was buried in the Elmwood Cemetery.[1]
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