David Jamison

David Jamison (1660 – July 25, 1739) was a Scottish-American lawyer, judge, and provincial official in the Province of New York and New Jersey.

Early life Jamison was born in Linlithgow, Scotland in 1660, and likely attended college there. Little is known about his parentage or early life.

Career

On April 15, 1691, Jamison was appointed Deputy Secretary and Clerk of the council and began his legal studies. He then served as Clerk of the Court and was part of the group, along with Nicholas Bayard (nephew of Peter Stuyvesant), that tried Jacob Leisler (best known for Leisler's Rebellion following the English Revolution of 1688). In April 1698, when the Earl of Bellomont arrived in New York as Governor, Jamison was dismissed as Clerk. By October 6, 1698, Jamison was admitted to the New York bar and was an active member of the New York Bar Association (which was formed in 1709). As Chief Justice, he gave "an opinion on the application of the Acts of Trade to the Commerce between New York and New Jersey." Jamison served as counsel in many of the most important cases before the courts, The parcel included about along the Hudson River and was wide, extending from the Hudson River to the Connecticut border. On October 14, 1697, he was one of seven patentees of 1,200 acres of land in Deerpark in Orange County, New York.

Personal life On May 7, 1692, he was married to Maria Hardenbrook. Elizabeth Jamison, who in 1717 married John Johnston Jr. (1691–), a son of Dr. John Johnstone (the 32nd mayor of New York City) and brother of Andrew Johnston (a Speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly). His maternal grandfather was George Scot of Pitlochie.

After her death, he married Johanna Meech on January 16, 1703.

After renouncing the Sweet Singers, he joined the Church of England and, once in America, he served as vestryman and warden of Trinity Church in lower Manhattan.

Jamison died in New York on July 25, 1739. David was married to Magdalen Walton, a granddaughter of Dr. Gerardus Beekman, acting Governor of the Province of New York.

Published works Jamison, David A journal of what passed in the expedition of His Excellency Col. Benjamin Fletcher, captain general and governour in chief of the province of New-York, &c. to Albany, to renew the covenant chain with the five canton nations of Indians, the Mohaques, Oneydes, Onondages, C...es and Sinnekes. New York: Printed by William Bradford (1696).