Asa Aikens Middlebury College Alumnus Class of 1808

Asa Aikens (January 13, 1788 – July 12, 1863) was an attorney, politician, and judge in Vermont and

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

. A veteran of the War of 1812, Aikens served as a justice of the

Vermont Supreme Court The Vermont Supreme Court is the highest judicial authority of the U.S. state of Vermont. Unlike most other states, the Vermont Supreme Court hears appeals directly from the trial courts, as Vermont has no intermediate appeals court. The Court ...

from 1823 to 1824.

Biography

Asa Aikens (sometimes spelled "Aiken"), was born in Barnard, Vermont on January 13, 1788, the son of Solomon and Betsey (Smith) Aikens. He was educated in

Windsor County Windsor County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. As of the 2020 census, the population was 57,753. The shire town (county seat) is the town of Woodstock. The county's largest municipality is the town of Hartford. History Wind ...

, and attended

Middlebury College Middlebury College is a private liberal arts college in Middlebury, Vermont. Founded in 1800 by Congregationalists, Middlebury was the first operating college or university in Vermont. The college currently enrolls 2,858 undergraduates from all ...

from 1804 to 1807. After attending the United States Military Academy for a year, Aikens returned to Middlebury and graduated in 1808. He then studied law with

Joel Doolittle Joel Doolittle (April, 1773/1774 – March 9, 1841) was a Vermont attorney, judge and politician. He served as a member of the Vermont House of Representatives, a member of the state executive council, president of the state Council of Censors, ...

, attained admission to the bar, and commenced practice in Windsor, Vermont. During the War of 1812, Aikens was commissioned as a

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

and served with the 31st Infantry Regiment. After the war, Aikens resumed practicing law in Windsor. In 1818 and 1821 he served as Windsor's member of the

Vermont House of Representatives The Vermont House of Representatives is the lower house of the Vermont General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Vermont. The House comprises 150 members, with each member representing around 4,100 citizens. Representatives ar ...

. From 1818 to 1820 he served as

State's Attorney In the United States, a district attorney (DA), county attorney, state's attorney, prosecuting attorney, commonwealth's attorney, or state attorney is the chief prosecutor and/or chief law enforcement officer representing a U.S. state in a loc ...

for

. Aikens served as a justice of the

from 1823 to 1825. In 1827 he was president of the state Council of Censors, the body which met every seven years to review the actions of the governor and legislature and ensure their constitutionality. In 1836, he was a delegate to the state constitutional convention. In 1843, Aikens relocated to Westport, New York, where he continued to practice law. Aikens was also active in local politics and government, and terms served as both

town supervisor The administrative divisions of New York are the various units of government that provide local services in the State of New York. The state is divided into boroughs, counties, cities, townships called "towns", and villages. (The only borou ...

of Westport and a

town justice In the New York State Unified Court System, a justice court is a local court that handles traffic tickets, criminal matters, small claims, and local code violations such as zoning. Constitutionally, justice courts are part of the state legal system ...

Career as author

In 1836, Aikens published ''Practical Forms'', a reference work used by attorneys in the preparation of legal documents. In 1846, he authored ''Tables of Interest and Discount'', a reference work which enabled users to calculate interest, depreciation, and amortization on annuities, mortgages, pensions, rents, and estates.

Death and burial

Aikens died in

Hackensack, New Jersey Hackensack is a city in and the county seat of Bergen County, New Jersey, United States.New Jers ...

on July 12, 1863, while there to visit his son-in law Frederick Jacobson. He was buried at Trinity Church Cemetery in New York City.

Family

In 1809, Aikens married Nancy Ann Spencer; they were the parents of Emma Jeromine and Julienne Gertrude. With his second wife, Sarah Hunter (m. 1814), he was the father of: Villeroy Spencer; Mary Elizabeth; Helen St. Johns; Augusta; William Hunter; Edwin Edgerton; Charles Eugene; Sarah Hunter; Guy Hunter; and Franklin Hunter. Aikens' daughter Sarah was the wife of Frederick Jacobson, with whom Aikens was visiting when he died.

References

Sources

* * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Aikens, Asa 1788 births 1863 deaths Middlebury College alumni American people of the War of 1812 Vermont lawyers State's attorneys in Vermont Members of the Vermont House of Representatives Justices of the Vermont Supreme Court Town supervisors in New York (state) New York (state) state court judges American male writers Burials at Trinity Church Cemetery 19th-century American judges