Papers of David Sewall, 1753-1756

Three letters written to David Sewall (Harvard AB 1755). The first letter, written on September 21, 1753 by Samuel Sewall in York, to his brother at Harvard sends general news, asks after a hat sent to David, and requests he have a wig made for him. The second letter, written by Harvard student David Wyer on August 28, 1756, enthusiastically thanks Sewall for his past advice. The third letter, also sent from his brother Samuel in York on December 9, 1766, offers David advice on love. The two later letters were sent to Sewall while he was a schoolmaster in Wells, Maine.

David Sewall was born on October 27, 1735 in York, Maine. He graduated from Harvard in the class of 1755 and received his M.A. in 1758. Sewall practiced law in Maine, and was appointed the Register of Probate in 1766 and a Justice of the Peace in 1767. Judicial appointments of increasing prominence culminated with his appointment as a Judge of the United States District Court for Maine in 1789. He resigned from the Court in 1818 and died on October 22, 1825. He was a founding member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the first resident member to the Massachusetts Historical Society.

Samuel Sewall was born on September 14, 1724 in York, Maine. He was a well-known and accomplished architect and carpenter in York. He died in York on July 23, 1815.

David Wyer (Harvard AB 1758) was born on July 23, 1741 in Charlestown, Massachsuetts. He attended Harvard College and kept a school in Charlestown his senior year. He graduated in 1758 and became a schoolmaster in Weymouth before beginning to study law. In 1772 he was appointed a Justice of the Peace in Falmouth, Maine. He died on February 29, 1776.