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. He was a member of the religious organization known as the "Sweet Singers" (or Covenanters), 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