William M. Pingry (May 28, 1806 – May 1, 1885) was a Vermont attorney and politician who served as State Auditor.

William M. Pingry
Vermont Auditor of Accounts
In office
1853–1860
GovernorJohn S. Robinson
Stephen Royce
Ryland Fletcher
Hiland Hall
Preceded byFrederick E. Woodbridge
Succeeded byJeptha Bradley
Personal details
Born(1806-05-28)May 28, 1806
Salisbury, New Hampshire
DiedMay 1, 1885 May 1, 1885(1885-05-01) (aged 78)
Perkinsville, Vermont
Spouse(s)Lucy G. Brown (m. 1836-1865, her death)
Lucy C. Richardson (m. 1868-1885, his death)
RelationsSamuel E. Pingree (nephew)
Children2
OccupationAttorney
Signature

Early years

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William Morrill Pingry was born in Salisbury, New Hampshire on May 28, 1806.[1] He was educated at the local schools and Salisbury Academy, and worked on his family's farm until age 22.[1] He served in the New Hampshire militia, and attained the rank of major.[1] Pingry studied law with Samuel I. Wells of Salisbury and the firm of Shaw & Chandler in Danville, Vermont.[1] He attained admission to the bar in Caledonia County, Vermont in 1832, and began to practice in Waitsfield.[2] Pingry also served as Waitsfield's town clerk.[3]

In 1841 Pingry moved to Windsor County, living first in Springfield and later in Perkinsville.[1] While residing in Perkinsville Pingry served in local offices including justice of the peace, master in chancery and assistant town clerk.[4]

Career

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He served as Assistant Judge in both Washington and Windsor Counties.[1] Pingry also served terms in the Vermont House of Representatives and Vermont Senate.[5][6][7]

Interested in education, Pingry was a founder and board of trustees member of the Vermont Academy in Saxtons River.[8] A devout Baptist, he served for decades as a church deacon, Sunday school teacher, and Sunday school superintendent.[9]

In 1850 Pingry was a delegate to the Vermont constitutional convention.[10]

From 1853 to 1860 Pingry served as Vermont's Auditor of Accounts.[11][12]

In 1854 Pingry became Cashier of Bethel's White River Bank, serving until 1857.[13]

Dartmouth College conferred an honorary Master of Arts degree on Pingry in 1860.[14]

Pingry also researched and wrote a family history, 1881's A Genealogical Record of the Descendants of Moses Pengry, of Ipswich, Mass.[15][16]

Death

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He died in Perkinsville on May 1, 1885, after contracting pneumonia.[17][18]

Family

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In 1836, Pingry married Lucy G. Brown of Springfield.[1] She died in 1865, and in 1868 Pingry married Lucy C. Richardson of Waitsfield.[1] With his first wife, Pingry was the father of two children, Mary H. Pingry and Gratia M. Pingry.[1] Mary Pingry was the wife of Dr. O. F. Bigelow of Amherst, Massachusetts.[1] Gratia Pingry married C. C. Boynton of Lebanon, New Hampshire.[1]

Samuel E. Pingree, who received the Medal of Honor during the American Civil War and served as Governor of Vermont, was his nephew.[19]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Rugg, W. H. (May 16, 1885). "Biographical Sketch, William M. Pingry". Vermont Journal. Windsor, VT. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ Gazetteer of Washington County, Vt., 1783-1889 edited by William Adams, compiled and published by Hamilton Child, 1889, pages 85 to 86
  3. ^ Walton's Register and Farmer's Almanac, published by E.P. Walton & Son, Montpelier, 1835, page 90
  4. ^ Gazetteer and Business Directory of Windsor County, Vt., for 1883-84, by Hamilton Child, 1884, page 249
  5. ^ Appleton's Cyclopædia of American Biography, edited by James Grant Wilson, published by D. Appleton and Company, New York, Volume 7, 1901, page 217
  6. ^ Journal of the House of the State of Vermont, published by Vermont General Assembly, 1869, page 8
  7. ^ Vermont Year Book, Formerly Walton's Register, published by Claremont (N.H.) Manufacturing Company, 1871, page 110
  8. ^ Circulars of Information of the Bureau of Education, published by United States Office of Education, Number 27, 1900, pages 107 to 108
  9. ^ History of the Baptists in Vermont, by Henry Crocker, Vermont Historical Society, 1913, page 600
  10. ^ Journal of the Constitutional Convention, published by Vermont Constitutional Convention, 1850
  11. ^ Early History of Vermont, by LaFayette Wilbur, Volume 3, 1902, page 381
  12. ^ Vermont Legislative Directory, published by Vermont Secretary of State, 1910, page 291
  13. ^ History of Windsor County, Vermont edited by Lewis Cass Aldrich and Frank R. Holmes, 1891, pages 885 to 886
  14. ^ General Catalogue of Dartmouth College, published by the college, 1880, page 140
  15. ^ A Genealogical Record of the Descendants of Moses Pengry, of Ipswich, Mass., by William Morrill Pingry, 1881, pages 46 to 47
  16. ^ Herringshaw's National Library of American Biography, edited by Thomas William Herringshaw, Volume 4, 1914, page 467
  17. ^ General Catalogue of Dartmouth College and the Associated Schools 1769-1900, prepared by Marvin Davis Bisbee, published by the college, 1900, page 405
  18. ^ Newspaper article, Perkinsville 5/1/1885, published in (Ludlow) Vermont Tribune, May 1, 1885
  19. ^ "Death of Judge Pingry". Rutland Herald. Rutland, VT. May 7, 1885. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
Political offices
Preceded by Vermont Auditor of Accounts
1853–1860
Succeeded by