Jonathan M. Sewall

Jonathan Mitchell Sewall (1748–1808) was a lawyer and poet who achieved some notability, published as Jonathan M. Sewall.

He was born in Salem, Massachusetts, (or according to other sources, York in 1749) and adopted by his uncle, chief Justice Stephen S. Sewell, studied law and in 1774 became register of probate in Grafton County, New Hampshire. His ode, War and Washington was celebrated and sung in the revolutionary war. A volume of his poems was published in 1801. He died in Portsmouth, New Hampshire on March 29, 1808.

'On the 29th of March, at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Jonathan Mitchell Sewall, Esq., counsellor at law, in the sixty-first year of his age. The subject of this tribute to genius and eloquence was born in Salem, Massachusetts, A. D. 1748. His parents died in the early part of his life; and his excellent uncle, the honourable Stephen Sewall, at that time chief justice of the supreme court of Massachusetts, adopted and patronized the young orphan; and from his invaluable counsels he imbibed that firmness of moral principle, honour, and integrity, for which he was so eminently distinguished; and a love for the belles lettres and elegant literature, which afforded him the most rational, refined, and sublime pleasures. Mr. Sewall was apprenticed to mercantile business, but, some years before his time expired, he was attacked by a fever of the most malignant type, which reduced him so extremely low, that a voyage to a milder clime was recommended by his physicians, as the only means of recovering his health. He accordingly embarked for Spain; but although this salubrious climate produced a favourable effect on his system in general, yet the violence of the fever, and the necessary use of extremely powerful medicines, rendered him the future subject of exquisite nervous affections, and at times a prey to the keenest sufferings, which deprived his friends of the pleasure of his company, and the delight his fascinating and instructive conversation afforded. These discouragements, however did not preclude his attention to the study of the law. Soon after his return from abroad, he commenced his legal studies with his kinsman, Jonathan Sewall, Esq., an eminent lawyer in Boston; and finally completed them with the late learned and worthy John Pickering, Esq., of Portsmouth. By him he was introduced to the bar, where for many years, and till his declining health obliged him to retire, he was equally celebrated as a pleader of distinguished merit, and a gentleman of the strictest honour and integrity.

Elevated by ennobling and generous principles above the love of popular applause, he never courted office at the hands of the public; but that venerable body who framed the constitution of the state persuaded him to accept the office of secretary; and he discharged the duties of his station in such a manner as to merit and receive their entire approbation.

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