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 ==