He represented Saint John County in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick from 1804 to 1809.
He was born in Stamford, Connecticut, the son of Samuel Jarvis and Martha Seymour, and was employed as a silversmiths at the start of the American Revolution.
He was a loyalist, Jarvis fled to Long Island where he recruited for the British, later setting up business in New York City.
Following the end of the war, he moved to New Brunswick, settling in Parrtown (later Saint John).
He operated a hardware store and also was involved in trade with England, the United States and the West Indies.