Freeborn G. Jewett Explained

Freeborn Jewett
Office1:President of the Village of Skaneatles, New York
Term Start1:1835
Term End1:1836
Predecessor1:Daniel Kellogg
Successor1:Phares Gould
Term Start2:1834
Term End2:1835
Predecessor2:None (position created)
Successor2:Daniel Kellogg
State3:New York
Term Start3:March 4, 1831
Term End3:March 3, 1833
Predecessor3:Jonas Earll Jr.
Successor3:William K. Fuller
Birth Name:Freeborn Garrettson Jewett
Birth Place:Sharon, Litchfield County, Connecticut, U.S.
Death Place:Skaneateles, Onondaga County, New York, U.S.
Resting Place:Lake View Cemetery, Skaneateles, New York
Spouse:Fannie Warner (m. 1814)
Children:1
Profession:Attorney

Freeborn Garrettson Jewett (August 4, 1791  - January 27, 1858) was an American lawyer and politician who served as a U.S. Representative from New York and was the first Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals.

Life

Jewett was born in Sharon, Connecticut on August 4, 1791, a son of Abigail Sears Jewett and Alpheus Jewett. He moved to Skaneateles in 1815, and was appointed a Justice of the Peace in 1817. He studied law, first with Henry Swift of Dutchess County, then with Samuel Young of Ballston Spa. He was admitted to the bar in 1818 and commenced practice in Skaneateles as the partner of James Porter. From 1824 to 1831 he was Surrogate of Onondaga County.

Political career

He was a member of Onondaga County of the New York State Assembly in 1826. He was a presidential elector in 1828.

Congress

Jewett was elected as a Jacksonian to the 22nd United States Congress, holding office from March 4, 1831 to March 3, 1833.

He was Inspector of Auburn Prison in 1838 and 1839, and District Attorney of Onondaga County in 1839. He was appointed an associate justice of the New York Supreme Court on March 5, 1845.

Judge

On June 7, 1847, Jewett was elected one of the first judges of the New York State Court of Appeals. On June 22, he drew the shortest term (2 years and a half), and when the judges took office on July 5, he became the first Chief Judge.

He was re-elected in 1849 to an eight-year term, but resigned in June 1853 on account of ill health.

Death

He was buried at Lake View Cemetery in Skaneateles.

Legacy

Justice Jewett is the namesake of Jewett, New York.[1]

Notes and references

Notes and References

  1. Book: The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States . Govt. Print. Off. . Gannett, Henry . 1905 . 169.