Nicholas Baylies

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Nicholas Baylies (April 9, 1768 – April 14, 1847) was a Vermont lawyer, politician, and judge. He served as a Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court from 1831 to 1833.

Biography[]

Nicholas Baylies was born in Uxbridge, Massachusetts on April 9, 1768,[1] the son of Deacon Nicholas Baylies (1739-1831) and Abigail Wood Baylies (1742-1788), and the grandson of Thomas Baylies, a well known New England ironmaster.[2] He was educated in Uxbridge, and graduated from Dartmouth College in 1794.[2]

Baylies moved to Woodstock, Vermont after finishing college, and studied law with Charles Marsh.[2] After attaining admission to the bar, Baylies practiced law in Woodstock as Marsh's partner until 1809, when he relocated to Montpelier.[2] In 1813, Baylies served on the state Council of Censors, which met every seven years to review actions of Vermont's government and ensure their constitutionality.[3] He served as state's attorney of Washington County from 1813 to 1815.[2][3] From 1814 to 1815 he served on Vermont's executive council.[3] He was state's attorney again from 1825 to 1826.[2][3] In 1831, Baylies was appointed an Associate Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court, succeeding Ephraim Paddock.[4] He served until 1833, when he was succeeded by Jacob Collamer.[4]

As an attorney, Baylies was recognized for his legal acumen and technical expertise; among his written works was a three volume reference work on British and U.S. common law, 1814's A Digested Index to the Modern Reports of the Courts of Common Law in England and the United States.[2]

In 1835, Baylies moved to Lyndon, Vermont to live with his daughter Mary and son-in-law, George Cahoon.[2] He continued to practice law almost until his death, and argued a case to the Vermont Supreme Court a few months before he died.[2]

Death and burial[]

Baylies died in Lyndon on April 17, 1847.[2] He was buried at Elm Street Cemetery in Montpelier.[5]

Family[]

In 1798, Baylies married Mary Ripley (1778-1830),[2] the daughter of Dartmouth College Professor Sylvanus Ripley,[2] and granddaughter of Dartmouth's founding president, Eleazar Wheelock.[2] Eleazer Wheelock Ripley was her brother.[2]

The children of Nicholas and Mary Baylies included:

References[]

  1. ^ Vermont Legislative Directory, p. 219.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Men of Vermont Illustrated, p. 181.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c d The History of the Town of Montpelier, p. 273.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b History of Vermont, Natural, Civil and Statistical, p. 124.
  5. ^ "Memorial page, Nicholas Baylies (1768-1847)".
  6. ^ "Death notice, Horatio N. Baylies", p. 158.
  7. ^ Successful Vermonters, pp. 230–231.
  8. ^ A Brief History of the Pioneer Law-Makers Association of Iowa, p. 139.

Sources[]

Books[]

  • Fleetwood, Frederick G. (1902). Vermont Legislative Directory. Montpelier, VT: Vermont Watchman Co.
  • Hemenway, Abby M. (1882). The History of the Town of Montpelier, Including that of the Town of East Montpelier. Montpelier, VT: A. M. Hemenway.
  • Jeffrey, William Hartley (1904). Successful Vermonters: A Modern Gazetteer of Caledonia, Essex, and Orleans Counties. East Burke, VT: Historical Publishing Company.
  • Pioneer Law-Makers Association of Iowa (1890). A Brief History of the Organization and Proceedings of the Reunions of 1886 and 1890.
  • Thompson, Zadock (1842). History of Vermont, Natural, Civil and Statistical. I. Burlington, VT: Chauncey Goodrich.
  • Ullery, Jacob G. (1894). Men of Vermont Illustrated. Brattleboro, VT: Transcript Publishing Company.

Magazines[]

Internet[]

Works by[]

Political offices
Preceded by
Ephraim Paddock 		Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court
1831–1833 		Succeeded by
Jacob Collamer
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