Born in New Milford, Connecticut, Sanford's early opportunities for education were limited and he was self-made.
His father was a country merchant, with only a common school education, with which Sanford assisted.
[1] He subsequently completed his three years of study at the law school of Judge Asa Chapman at Newtown, and was admitted to the bar in Fairfield county in August, 1820, at the age of twenty-two.
Their connection continued until Beers accepted the office of Commissioner of the School Fund and left the business entirely to Sanford, who practiced in Litchfield until 1832, when he moved to Norwalk for a year, thereafter returning to New Milford.
During that session, Sanford was elected a Judge of the Superior and Supreme Courts to fill a vacancy caused by the death of Chief Justice Samuel Church and the promotion of judge Waite to the office of chief justice.