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.

Freeborn Jewett
President of the Village of Skaneatles, New York
In office
1835–1836
Preceded byDaniel Kellogg
Succeeded byPhares Gould
In office
1834–1835
Preceded byNone (position created)
Succeeded byDaniel Kellogg
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 23rd district
In office
March 4, 1831 – March 3, 1833
Preceded byJonas Earll Jr.
Succeeded byWilliam K. Fuller
Personal details
Born
Freeborn Garrettson Jewett

August 4, 1791 (1791-08-04)
Sharon, Litchfield County, Connecticut, U.S.
DiedJanuary 27, 1858(1858-01-27) (aged 66)
Skaneateles, Onondaga County, New York, U.S.
Resting placeLake View Cemetery, Skaneateles, New York
SpouseFannie Warner (m. 1814)
Children1
ProfessionAttorney

Life

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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

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

Congress

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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

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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

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He was buried at Lake View Cemetery in Skaneateles.

Legacy

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

Notes and references

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  1. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 169.
  • [1] Political Graveyard
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 23rd congressional district

1831–1833
Succeeded by
Legal offices
Preceded by
Reuben H. Walworth
as Chancellor of New York
Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals
1847–1849
Succeeded by