Josiah Ogden Hoffman
| Josiah Ogden Hoffman | |
|---|---|
 Josiah Ogden Hoffman and his wife | |
| New York Attorney General | |
|
In office 1795–1802 | |
| Preceded by | Nathaniel Lawrence |
| Succeeded by | Ambrose Spencer |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
April 14, 1766 Newark, New Jersey |
| Died |
January 24, 1837 (aged 70) New York City |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Colden |
| Children | 7, including Ogden Hoffman and Charles Fenno Hoffman |
| Parents |
Nicholas Hoffman Sarah Ogden |
| Occupation | American politician |
Josiah Ogden Hoffman (April 14, 1766 – January 24, 1837 in New York City) was an American lawyer and politician.
Early life
Josiah Ogden Hoffman was born on April 14, 1766, in Newark, New Jersey, the son of Nicholas Hoffman (1736–1800) and Sarah Ogden Hoffman (1742–1821). He studied law, was admitted to the bar, and practiced in New York City, and entered politics as a Federalist.
Career
Hoffman was a member of the New York State Assembly (New York Co.) in 1791, 1792, 1792–93, 1794, 1795. He was New York Attorney General from 1795 to 1802, and was also a member of the State Assembly in 1796–97.
From 1810 to 1811, he was Recorder of New York City; again a member of the State Assembly in 1812–13; and again Recorder of New York City from 1813 to 1815.
In 1828, he was appointed as one of the first justices (with Samuel Jones and Thomas J. Oakley) of the then established New York City Superior Court, and remained on the bench until his death in 1837.[1]
Personal life
On February 16, 1789, he married Mary Colden (1770–1797), and they had four children, including:
- Alice Anna Hoffman (b. 1790)[2]
- Sarah Matilda Hoffman (1791–1809), who was engaged to Washington Irving (1783–1859), who studied law at Hoffman's office, but did not wed because of her death before the marriage took place.
- Ogden Hoffman (1794–1856), a Congressman,[3] who married Emily Burrall and later Virginia Southard.
- Mary Colden Hoffman (b. 1796)[2]
On August 7, 1802, he married Maria Fenno (1781–1823), daughter of John Fenno (1751–1798). Maria's sister, Mary Eliza Fenmo (d. 1817) married Gulian C. Verplanck. Together, HOffman and Maria had three children, including:
- Charles Fenno Hoffman (1806–1884), the poet
Hoffman died on January 24, 1837, in New York City.
Descendants
His grandson was Ogden Hoffman, Jr. (1822–1891), was a United States federal judge.
Sources
- ↑ History of the City Superior Court, in the New York Times on August 13, 1890
- 1 2 "Josiah Ogden Hoffman" (PDF). auburnhistoricproperties.org. Auburn Historic Properties. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
- ↑ "HOFFMAN, Josiah Ogden - Biographical Information". bioguide.congress.gov. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
- Genealogy of the Hoffman Family by Eugene Augustus Hoffman (Dodd, Mead & Co., NYC; pg. 204ff)
| Legal offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Nathaniel Lawrence |
New York Attorney General 1795–1802 |
Succeeded by Ambrose Spencer |
| Preceded by Pierre C. Van Wyck |
Recorder of New York City 1810–1811 |
Succeeded by Pierre C. Van Wyck |
| Preceded by Pierre C. Van Wyck |
Recorder of New York City 1813–1815 |
Succeeded by Richard Riker |