To John Jay from James Creighton, 2 September 1791
From James Creighton
Halifax Septr. 2d. 1791.
Dear Sir,
It will be great consolation to me to know, that length of time, and the various occurrences which have intervened since I last had the pleasure of seeing you, have not deprived me of your friendly concern, and that I shall not have to lament, among other calamities, the misfortune of having forfieted your favor and esteem.—1 I have heard with much satisfaction, of the many distinguishing stations to which you have been called, and of the very dignified one you at present so honorably fill; while at the same time your domestic felicity has been increased by a promissing offspring. These public and private blessings I sincerely hope you may long enjoy.— In regard to my own concerns, perhaps it may not be unsatisfactory to you to be informed, altho from myself, that however abortive almost all my schemes of Life have proved by the most untoward circumstances; yet no measure that a mind of conscious rectitude can condemn, has in any manner marked my humble pursuits.— I feel great pleasure in giving you this assurance, when I reflect on the partiality with which you favored me, and which I trust I still may claim.— Of domestic comforts I also can boast a portion, in a beloved Wife and four dear Children;— but in the deprivation of other good things of this World, misfortune has in a great degree marked me for her own.—
My situation in the West Indies where I remained nearly six years, answered my purposes tolerably well, until the ill health of my Family oblidged me to seek a more favorable climate; and I was flattered that this place was equal to that description, and would afford me some professional employ. Neither of these expectations have been accomplished— for my Wife and Children have been very unhealthy— we have buried one dear Infant,—another now lies without hope of recovery, and the profession of the Law is at the lowest ebb, not affording business sufficient for one half the Practitioners. In addition to these I have been deprived of the little patrimony I had a right to Expect, and am left with my Family in circumstances the most distressing to a feeling mind— I would willingly return to my Country, but there I am fearful I have little to look for.— Will you my dear Sir, have the goodness to hold out some favorable prospect for me?— Is there any situation in any of the American States to which you would remove me, and to which you may think my poor abilities & Integrity equal? Let me owe you the double obligation of bringing me forward into Life, and then sustaining me in it.— I shall have occasion for all your wonted benevolence to pardon the freedom I make use of.— I however trust I shall still find a place in your affection, and I hope for the comfort of being assured of it from yourself. I am with sincere attachment & respect Dear Sir, your faithful & obedt. Servt.
J: Creighton
The Honble J. Jay.
ALS, NNC (EJ: 05535). Endorsed: “… ansd. 26 Octr 1791”.
1. James Creighton (1751–1822), a member of a New York mercantile family, received a BA from Kings College in 1770 and an MA in 1773, and became a practicing attorney. The Creightons became Loyalists and left New York for Halifax at the peace. After living in the West Indies Creighton had apparently joined his family at Halifax but as indicated above found his situation untenable. In his reply of 26 Oct., JJ offered advice and assistance, and later agreed to finance his passage to New York and to assist in locating a suitable house for his family. In JJ’s absence on circuit, SLJ, uninformed of JJ’s intentions, declined payment to the ship’s captain on Creighton’s arrival, but this situation was probably rectified by Robert Troup, who reported that Creighton’s situation appeared desperate and that Mrs. Creighton’s patriotism during the war entitled the family to assistance. Creighton returned to his career as an attorney and notary and resided in New York until his death. A report in the Republican Watch Tower of 19 June 1807 regarding his appointment as a justice for the Eighth Ward still listed his party affiliation as “an old Tory.” See Creighton to JJ, 10 Dec. 1791, ALS, NNC (EJ: 05536); 16 Apr. 1792, ALS, NNC (EJ: 05537); 18 May 1792, ALS, NNC (EJ: 05538); 12 June 1792, ALS, NNC (EJ: 05539); JJ to Creighton, 3 Jan. 1792, Dft., NNC (EJ: 08885); SLJ to JJ, 17 May 1792, below; PJM to JJ, 21 May 1792, ALS, NNC (EJ: 09370); Dft, NNMus (EJ: 00420); and Robert Troup to JJ, 27 May 1792, below; Leonard Felix Fuld, King’s College Alumni (New York, 1913), 44; Rivington’s New-York Gazetteer, 20 May 1773; Roll of Attornies of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, New-York Directory, and Register, for the Year 1792 (New York, 1793; , no. 25422), 227; American Almanack, New-York Register, and City Directory, for the twenty-first year of American independence (New York, 1796; , no. 30701), 89; lists of public notaries, in Gaine’s New-York Pocket Almanack for the year 1804 (New York, 1803; , no. 50364); and Ming’s United States Register and New-York Pocket Almanac for 1808 (New York, 1807; , no. 13093).
One of his sons may have been John Orde Creighton (c. 1785–1838), a prominent U.S. naval officer known for his harsh discipline. See Christopher McGee, A Gentlemanly and Honorable Profession, The Creation of the U.S. Naval Officer Corps, 1794–1815 (Annapolis, Md., 1991), 230–32. Creighton petitioned on behalf of another son, James Creighton Jr., regarding a drawback on duties on goods shipped to Havana in 1809. See , 2: 336. On Mrs. Creighton, see Troup to JJ, 27 May 1792, below.