hiː wʌz ɐdmˈɪɾᵻd tə ðə bˈɑːɹ ænd kəmˈɛnst pɹˈæktɪs ɪn hˈʌdsən, nˈuː jˈɔːɹk, wˌɛɹ hiː wʌz sˈɪɾi klˈɜːk fɹʌm wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd sˈɛvənhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi sˈɪks ʌntˈɪl wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd sˈɛvənhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti θɹˈiː.
He was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Hudson, New York, where he was city clerk from 1786 until 1793.