Theophilus Parsons (1750-1813) like Timothy Pickering and George Cabot, was born in Essex County, Massachusetts. Parsons, the son of a Congregational minister, graduated from Harvard College in 1769. While he studied law he taught school in what is now Maine. Like other members of the Essex Junto, he opposed popular democracy and favored protection of private property. He attended the convention to adopt a new state constitution for Massachusetts in 1778. Later, he favored the ratification of the federal constitution, as a delegate to the Massachusetts convention.[1]
Parsons and John Hancock promoted three amendments to the Constitution that were incorporated into the Bill of Rights. The Fifth Amendment required a grand jury to indict a defendant for a capital crime, the Seventh Amendment guaranteed the right to a trial by jury for common law cases; the Tenth Amendment gave states the powers not expressly given to the federal government by the Constitution.[2]
Parsons had a keen legal mind, and became chief justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts in 1806. His decisions in his state’s Supreme Judicial Court laid the groundwork for Massachusetts to experience economic expansion, with commercial laws that were stable, uniform and predictable.[3]
With the exception of Fisher Ames the four leaders of the Essex Junto were not well known outside of New England. Timothy Pickering was active in politics outside the state, George Cabot was known for his sagacity, Fisher Ames was the spokesman for the Junto, and Theophilus Parson had the most agile intellect. He was most comfortable wielding influence behind the scenes.[4]
Next: How the Federalist Party Evolved in Massachusetts
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