Immediately after the war, in September, 1783, he came to Fort Western
in Hallowell and opened a store in connection with William Burley of Beverly,
on the east side of the river near the foundry, and continued about five
years in that business, when he went to New York, and on the 15th of August,
1788, opened and office at number five Water street for the purpose of
buying and selling public securities, which accumulated and so rapidly
depreciated in his hands that he failed. He then returned to Hallowell
and was chosen town clerk, which office he held in that town and Augusta
for thirty-five years, during which time he was for several years one
of the selectmen. He was appointed by his kinsman, Judge David Sewall,
clerk of the District Court of Maine at its organization in 1789, and
held that office for twenty-nine years, until he resigned in 1919 with
the judge who appinted him. At the organization of Kennebec county in
1799, he was chosen register of deeds, and held that office for seventeen
years, until he was succeeded in 1816 by John Hovey.
Hel held in succession the commissions of Division Inspector, Brigadier
and Major-General of the Eighth Division of the militia, comprising the
counties of Lincoln, Kennebec and Somerset for thirty years, and resigned
his military office to William King, the first governor of Maine, upon
a new organization of the militia. “He was one of the church formed
at Hallowell--south parish--over which the Rev. Mr. Gillet was ordained
in August 1795, and was appointed a deacon in September following, and
continued a member and officer therein--an advocate of the doctrine of
free and sovereign grace.”1
Gen. Sewall was of large frame and strong features expressive of firmness,
decision and will, and of military bearing, particularly when mounted
on horseback. John O. Page of Hallowell, who was one of his aids, presented
him with a noble white charger upon which the general made an impoing
and spirited figure, but as he had short bow-legs he did not appear to
good advantage on foot. He was faithful and diligent in the performance
of the duties of the offices which he held. As a clerical officer he was
seldom excelled. He wrote a round uniform and plain hand which gave his
records the appearance of great neatness and accuracy. He was upright,
conscientious, pious and rigidly orthodox in his
