Freeborn G. Jewett
Encyclopedia
Freeborn Garrettson Jewett (August 4, 1791 Sharon
, Litchfield County, Connecticut
- January 27, 1858 Skaneateles
, Onondaga County, New York
) 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
.
in 1817. He studied law, was admitted to the bar
in 1818 and commenced practice in Skaneateles.
From 1824 to 1831 he was Surrogate
of Onondaga County.
He was as member from Onondaga County of the New York State Assembly
in 1826. Jewett was elected as a Jacksonian to the 22nd United States Congress
and served 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 State Supreme Court on March 5, 1845.
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 reelected in 1849 to an eight-year term, but resigned in June 1853 on account of ill health.
He was buried at the Lake View Cemetery in Skaneateles.
Sharon, Connecticut
Sharon is a town located in Litchfield County, Connecticut, in the northwest corner of the state. It is bounded on the north by Salisbury, on the east by the Housatonic River, on the south by Kent, and on the west by Dutchess County, New York...
, Litchfield County, Connecticut
Litchfield County, Connecticut
Litchfield County is a county located in the northwestern corner of the U.S. state of Connecticut. Litchfield County has the lowest population density of any county in Connecticut but is geographically the state's largest county. As of 2010 the population was 189,927...
- January 27, 1858 Skaneateles
Skaneateles, New York
Skaneateles, New York may refer to:*Skaneateles, New York *Skaneateles, New York...
, Onondaga County, New York
Onondaga County, New York
Onondaga County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 467,026. The county seat is Syracuse.Onondaga County is part of the Syracuse, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area....
) was an American lawyer and politician who served as a U.S. Representative
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and was the first Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals
New York Court of Appeals
The New York Court of Appeals is the highest court in the U.S. state of New York. The Court of Appeals consists of seven judges: the Chief Judge and six associate judges who are appointed by the Governor to 14-year terms...
.
Life
He moved to Skaneateles in 1815, and was appointed a Justice of the PeaceJustice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
in 1817. He studied law, was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
in 1818 and commenced practice in Skaneateles.
From 1824 to 1831 he was Surrogate
Surrogate Court
A probate court is a specialized court that deals with matters of probate and the administration of estates....
of Onondaga County.
He was as member from Onondaga County of the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
in 1826. Jewett was elected as a Jacksonian to the 22nd United States Congress
22nd United States Congress
-House of Representatives:-Leadership:- Senate :* President:** John C. Calhoun , resigned December 28, 1832, thereafter vacant.* President pro tempore:** Samuel Smith , first elected December 5, 1831** Littleton W...
and served from March 4, 1831 to March 3, 1833.
He was Inspector of Auburn Prison
Auburn Prison
Auburn Correctional Facility is a state prison located on State Street in Auburn, New York, built on land that was once a Cayuga Indian Village. It is classified as a maximum security facility....
in 1838 and 1839, and District Attorney of Onondaga County in 1839. He was appointed an associate justice of the New York State Supreme Court on March 5, 1845.
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 reelected in 1849 to an eight-year term, but resigned in June 1853 on account of ill health.
He was buried at the Lake View Cemetery in Skaneateles.
Source
- http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/jewett.html Political Graveyard
- The New York Civil List compiled by Franklin Benjamin Hough (pages 284, 348 and 415; Weed, Parsons and Co., 1858)
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9F05E1D9143CEE34BC4850DFB7668383649FDE Obit in NYT on January 30, 1858 (giving wrong middle initial "J.", and almost all years given are wrong)