Daniel Peaslee

Daniel Peaslee was born in Plaistow, New Hampshire on February 28, 1773,[1] one of several children born to Reuben Peaslee and Judith (Noyes) Peaslee.[2] He was raised and educated in New Hampshire, and moved to Washington, Vermont in 1795.[1] He became a successful merchant and tavern keeper, and was active in the town's Methodist society.[1]

Besides keeping a tavern and store, Peaslee was active in politics and government.[1] A member of the Democratic-Republican Party,[3][4] he represented Washington in the Vermont House of Representatives from 1802 to 1807, 1813 to 1816, and in 1826.[1][5]

Peaslee served as sheriff of Orange County from 1807 to 1812.[1][6] From 1812 to 1816 he served as chief judge of the Orange County Court.[1][7] In 1814, Peaslee was a delegate to the Vermont constitutional convention.[8] From 1816 to 1819, Peaslee was a member of the Vermont Governor's Council.[8]

Peaslee died in Washington on December 3, 1827.[1] He was buried in Washington's North Cemetery (now called Maple Hill).[9]

In 1795, Peaslee married Elizabeth Hall, with whom he had two children. In 1822, daughter Judith (1796-1865) married Stephen Burton (1796-1886).[10] Son James Peaslee (1799-1822) attended the University of Vermont and died at age 22.[1]

Following his first wife's death, in 1822, Peaslee married Lucy Pepper (1805-1833), who at age 17 was 32 years younger than him.[11] They were the parents of three children: Lucy (1824-1900), the wife of Benjamin Franklin Dickinson (1819-1887), who served as deputy sheriff and sheriff of Orange County;[1] Daniel (1827-1854), who attended Norwich University, married Lucia Tappan (1826-1906) of Newbury, Vermont, and served as Newbury's postmaster;[12][13] and Laura (1825-1885), the wife of Reverend Alonzo Webster (1818-1887).[1] In 1829, Lucy Pepper Peaslee married George W. West of Washington.[14]