William Pinkney Maulsby (July 10, 1815 – October 3, 1894) was an American politician, lawyer and judge from Maryland. He served in the Maryland Senate from 1838 to 1843, and as a justice of the Maryland Court of Appeals from 1870 to 1871.[1][2]

William P. Maulsby
Member of the Maryland Senate
from the Carroll County district
In office
1838–1843
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byWilliam Roberts
Personal details
Born
William Pinkney Maulsby

(1815-07-10)July 10, 1815
Bel Air, Maryland, U.S.
DiedOctober 3, 1894(1894-10-03) (aged 79)
Westminster, Maryland, U.S.
Resting placeMount Olivet Cemetery
Frederick, Maryland, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)
Emily Nelson
(m. 1835; died 1867)

Annie Fisher
Children8
Parent
RelativesRichard Dallam (nephew)
John I. Yellott (nephew)
Emily Nelson Ritchie McLean (granddaughter)
Alma materUnion College
Occupation
  • Politician
  • lawyer
  • judge

Early life

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William Pinkney Maulsby[3] was born on July 10, 1815, in Bel Air, Maryland, to Jane (née Hall) and Israel D. Maulsby.[1] He attended Bel Air Academy and graduated from Union College in 1832. He studied law under his father and John Nelson of Baltimore. He was admitted to the bar in Carroll County in 1837.[1][4][5]

Career

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Maulsby practiced law in Frederick and Westminster.[1] He was a Democrat.[5] He served as the first member of the Maryland Senate from Carroll County; serving from 1838 to 1843.[1][6] He was the first state's attorney from Carroll County; serving from 1844 to 1846.[1][4]

Maulsby was president of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal from 1857 to 1859.[1] He was a presidential elector for Stephen A. Douglas in 1860. He served as colonel of the United States Army's 1st Maryland Infantry Regiment, Potomac Home Brigade during the Civil War. He participated in the battles of Charlestown, Harper's Ferry, Martinsburg, Monacy and Gettysburg.[1] He was a delegate from Frederick County for the Maryland Constitution of 1867.[1]

Maulsby was appointed chief judge of the 6th judicial circuit court by Governor Oden Bowie in 1870. He was judge of the Maryland Court of Appeals, then the highest court in the state, from January 20, 1870, to November 7, 1871. He was succeeded by Richard Bowie.[1] In 1873, he defended Joseph W. Davis, who was accused of murdering his wife. After defending Davis and later learning of his guilt after Davis's confession, he sent his legal fees to the wife of the murder victim and stopped practicing criminal law.[4]

Personal life

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Grave of Maulsby at Mount Olivet Cemetery

Maulsby married Emily Catherine Contee Tylor (or Tyler) Nelson, sister of judge Madison Nelson, of Frederick on November 30, 1835. They had eight children, including William Jr., Emily and Bettie.[1][4] After his first wife's death, he married Annie (née Monthland) Fisher, widow of John Fisher.[4] His nephews were politicians John I. Yellott and Richard Dallam.[3]

Maulsby lived in Baltimore for several years and lived in Frederick from 1851 to 1872.[1] After his first wife died in 1867, he moved to Westminster shortly after and remained there the rest of his life.[4][5] He died on October 3, 1894, at his home in Westminster. He was buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Frederick.[1][4]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "William P. Maulsby". Archives of Maryland. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  2. ^ "Maryland Court of Appeals Judges, 1778–". Archives of Maryland. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  3. ^ a b Barnard, Ella Kent (1909). Early Maltby. pp. 117–120. Retrieved March 3, 2024 – via Archive.org.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g "Death of ex-Judge William P. Maulsby, of Carroll County". The Baltimore Sun. October 4, 1894. p. 6. Retrieved March 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. 
  5. ^ a b c "Death of Ex-Judge Maulsby". The Aegis and Intelligencer. October 5, 1894. p. 3. Retrieved March 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. 
  6. ^ "Historical List, Senate, Carroll County (1838-1966)". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. September 30, 1999. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
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Political offices
Preceded by Judge of the Maryland Court of Appeals
1870–1871
Succeeded by