Freeborn G. Jewett

Freeborn G. Jewett, New York Congressman and Judge

Freeborn Garrettson Jewett (August 4, 1791 in Sharon, Litchfield County, Connecticut – January 27, 1858 in 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.

Life

He moved to Skaneateles in 1815, and was appointed a Justice of the Peace 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 a member from Onondaga County of the New York State Assembly in 1826. He was a presidential elector in 1828.

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.

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.

He was buried at the Lake View Cemetery in Skaneateles.

Justice Jewett is the namesake of Jewett, New York.

Notes and references

• [1] Political Graveyard
• United States Congress. "Freeborn G. Jewett (id: J000104)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• The New York Civil List compiled by Franklin Benjamin Hough (pages 284, 348 and 415; Weed, Parsons and Co., 1858)
• [2] Obit in NYT on January 30, 1858 (giving wrong middle initial "J.", and almost all years given are wrong)