David Jamison 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. He was a member of the religious organization known as the "Sweet Singers", which defied Anglican orthodoxy and the restored Stuart monarchy. Jamison was arrested for burning a bible, then tried and sentenced to be hanged, however, on August 7, 1685, the King's Privy Council ordered the sentence commuted to exile. Jamison was required to serve an indenture of four years in America to cover the cost of his transportation. He was bound to George Lockhart who assigned him to Rev. Clarke, the chaplain of Fort James, which was under the control of Thomas Dongan, 2nd Earl of Limerick, the royal governor of New York. Due to Jamison's education, the citizens arranged to purchase his time and set him up to teach a Latin school in the city.
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, that tried Jacob Leisler. 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. A favorite of Gov. Robert Hunter, Jamison was appointed Chief Justice of New Jersey in 1711. As Chief Justice, he gave "an opinion on the application of the Acts of Trade to the Commerce between New York and New Jersey." While serving as Chief Justice, he replaced May Bickley to become acting Attorney General of New York on June 10, 1712. Bickley, who was removed from office following the prosecutions in the New York Slave Revolt of 1712, held the office of Attorney General pending the return of John Rayner, as did Jamison. Rayner died before returning to the Province, and thereafter Jamison formally received his commission on January 22, 1720. During this time, Jamison was a member of the Governor's Council and served as Recorder of New York City. Jamison was removed from his post as Chief Justice upon the request of the New Jersey General Assembly by Gov. William Burnet of a resident Chief Justice. In 1721, he returned to private practice after James Alexander was appointed Attorney General of the Province. Jamison served as counsel in many of the most important cases before the courts, and "was particularly noted for his bravery and character in defending those prosecuted on religious grounds."
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. His step daughter-in-law was Mary Campbell, whom he left £400 and all his furniture and household stuff.
