Elijah Paine
Encyclopedia
Elijah Paine was a United States Senator from Vermont
, serving as a Federalist
from 1795 to 1801, and thereafter a long-serving United States federal judge
.
Born in Brooklyn, Connecticut
, Paine attended the public schools. He served in Continental Army
during the Revolutionary War, from 1776 to 1777, and then received an A.B.
from Harvard College
in 1781 before reading law
to be admitted to the bar in 1784. He commenced a private practice in Windsor, Vermont
, practicing law from 1784 to 1787 while cultivating a farm. He also began a settlement at Williamstown
, Orange County, Vermont, and established a cloth factory and a saw and grist mill
in Northfield, Vermont
.
Paine served as secretary of the State constitutional convention in 1786, and as a member of the Vermont House of Representatives
from 1787 to 1790, also serving as a Vermont probate judge for the Randolph District from 1788 to 1791. He was a Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court
from 1791 until he resigned in 1795, having been elected to the United States Senate in 1794 and taking office on March 4, 1795. He was reelected as a Federalist
in 1800, but only served until September 1, 1801, when he resigned after having taken a federal judicial position.
On February 24, 1801, Paine was nominated by President John Adams
to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Vermont
vacated by Samuel Hitchcock
. Paine was confirmed by the United States Senate
on February 25, 1801, and received his commission on March 4, 1801. From 1815 to 1842, he was also the postmaster of Williamstown. Paine's judicial service was terminated on April 1, 1842, due to resignation brought on by infirmity. Paine died within a month of resigning, in Williamstown. He was interred in West Hill Cemetery in Williamstown.
His son, Charles Paine
, was Governor of Vermont
from 1841 to 1843.
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
, serving as a Federalist
Federalist Party (United States)
The Federalist Party was the first American political party, from the early 1790s to 1816, the era of the First Party System, with remnants lasting into the 1820s. The Federalists controlled the federal government until 1801...
from 1795 to 1801, and thereafter a long-serving United States federal judge
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
.
Born in Brooklyn, Connecticut
Brooklyn, Connecticut
Brooklyn is a town in Windham County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 7,173 at the 2000 census. The town center village is listed by the U.S. Census Bureau as a census-designated place...
, Paine attended the public schools. He served in Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
during the Revolutionary War, from 1776 to 1777, and then received an A.B.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from Harvard College
Harvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
in 1781 before reading law
Reading law
Reading law is the method by which persons in common law countries, particularly the United States, entered the legal profession before the advent of law schools. This usage specifically refers to a means of entering the profession . A small number of U.S...
to be admitted to the bar in 1784. He commenced a private practice in Windsor, Vermont
Windsor, Vermont
Windsor is a town in Windsor County, Vermont, United States. The population was 3,756 at the 2000 census.-History:One of the New Hampshire grants, Windsor was chartered as a town on July 6, 1761 by Colonial Governor Benning Wentworth. It was first settled in August 1764 by Captain Steele Smith and...
, practicing law from 1784 to 1787 while cultivating a farm. He also began a settlement at Williamstown
Williamstown, Vermont
Williamstown is a town in Orange County, Vermont, United States. The population was 3,225 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 40.3 square miles , of which 40.2 square miles is land and 0.2 square mile is...
, Orange County, Vermont, and established a cloth factory and a saw and grist mill
Gristmill
The terms gristmill or grist mill can refer either to a building in which grain is ground into flour, or to the grinding mechanism itself.- Early history :...
in Northfield, Vermont
Northfield, Vermont
Northfield is a town in Washington County, Vermont, United States. It lies in a valley within the Green Mountains, and has been the home of Norwich University since 1866. The town contains the village of Northfield, where over half of its population lives. The population was 6,207 at the 2010...
.
Paine served as secretary of the State constitutional convention in 1786, and as a member of the Vermont House of Representatives
Vermont House of Representatives
The Vermont House of Representatives is the lower house of the Vermont General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Vermont. The House comprises 150 members. Vermont legislative districting divides representing districts into 66 single-member districts and 42 two-member...
from 1787 to 1790, also serving as a Vermont probate judge for the Randolph District from 1788 to 1791. He was a Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court
Vermont Supreme Court
The Vermont Supreme Court is the highest judicial authority of the U.S. state of Vermont and is one of seven state courts of Vermont.The Court consists of a chief justice and four associate justices; the Court mostly hears appeals of cases that have been decided by other courts...
from 1791 until he resigned in 1795, having been elected to the United States Senate in 1794 and taking office on March 4, 1795. He was reelected as a Federalist
Federalist Party (United States)
The Federalist Party was the first American political party, from the early 1790s to 1816, the era of the First Party System, with remnants lasting into the 1820s. The Federalists controlled the federal government until 1801...
in 1800, but only served until September 1, 1801, when he resigned after having taken a federal judicial position.
On February 24, 1801, Paine was nominated by President John Adams
John Adams
John Adams was an American lawyer, statesman, diplomat and political theorist. A leading champion of independence in 1776, he was the second President of the United States...
to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Vermont
United States District Court for the District of Vermont
The United States District Court for the District of Vermont is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction is the federal district of Vermont. The court has locations in Brattleboro, Burlington, and Rutland. The Court was created under the Judiciary Act of 1791 under the jurisdiction of the...
vacated by Samuel Hitchcock
Samuel Hitchcock
Samuel Hitchcock was an attorney and judge in Vermont.Hitchcock was born in Brimfield, Massachusetts and attended Harvard College in 1777. He engaged in private practice in Burlington, Vermont, from 1786-87, and was then the state's attorney for Chittenden County, Vermont until 1790, when he...
. Paine was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on February 25, 1801, and received his commission on March 4, 1801. From 1815 to 1842, he was also the postmaster of Williamstown. Paine's judicial service was terminated on April 1, 1842, due to resignation brought on by infirmity. Paine died within a month of resigning, in Williamstown. He was interred in West Hill Cemetery in Williamstown.
His son, Charles Paine
Charles Paine
Charles Paine was an American Whig politician.Paine was the son of U.S. Senator Elijah Paine. He was a Harvard graduate , and woolen mill owner. He moved to Northfield, Vermont in the early part of the nineteenth century to run the family woolen mill. He opearted this business until it was...
, was Governor of Vermont
Governor of Vermont
The Governor of Vermont is the governor of the U.S. state of Vermont. The governor is elected in even numbered years by direct voting for a term of two years; Vermont and bordering New Hampshire are the only states to hold gubernatorial elections every two years, instead of every four...
from 1841 to 1843.