David Sewall
Encyclopedia
David Sewall was a Massachusetts attorney and judge.
Born in York, Maine
(then part of Massachusetts
), son of Samuel Sewall and Sarah Batchelder, Sewall received an A.B. from Harvard University
in 1755 and read law to enter the Bar in 1760. He had a private practice in York 1760, and became register of probates for York County in 1766, and a justice of the peace
for the Massachusetts Colony in 1767. He was a member of the York Committee of Correspondence, and of the Legislative Council of Massachusetts from 1776-1777. From 1777-1789, he was a Justice of the Superior Court of Massachusetts, during which time he also served as a Delegate to the Massachusetts Constitutional Convention in 1779-1780.
Sewall was nominated by President George Washington
on September 24, 1789, to be the first judge of the United States District Court for the District of Maine
, a seat which had been created by 1 Stat. 73. Confirmed by the United States Senate
on September 26, 1789, he received his commission the same day and held that office until his resignation on January 9, 1818. He then returned to private practice in York until 1825.
Born in York, Maine
York, Maine
York is a town in York County, Maine, United States at the southwest corner of the state. The population in the 2000 census was 12,854. Situated beside the Atlantic Ocean on the Gulf of Maine, York is a well-known summer resort. It is home to three 18-hole golf clubs, three sandy beaches, and...
(then part of Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
), son of Samuel Sewall and Sarah Batchelder, Sewall received an A.B. from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1755 and read law to enter the Bar in 1760. He had a private practice in York 1760, and became register of probates for York County in 1766, and a justice of the peace
Justice 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...
for the Massachusetts Colony in 1767. He was a member of the York Committee of Correspondence, and of the Legislative Council of Massachusetts from 1776-1777. From 1777-1789, he was a Justice of the Superior Court of Massachusetts, during which time he also served as a Delegate to the Massachusetts Constitutional Convention in 1779-1780.
Sewall was nominated by President George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
on September 24, 1789, to be the first judge of the United States District Court for the District of Maine
United States District Court for the District of Maine
The U.S. District Court for the District of Maine is the U.S. district court for the state of Maine. The District of Maine was one of the original thirteen district courts established by the Judiciary Act of 1789, even though Maine was not a separate state from Massachusetts until 1820...
, a seat which had been created by 1 Stat. 73. Confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on September 26, 1789, he received his commission the same day and held that office until his resignation on January 9, 1818. He then returned to private practice in York until 1825.