Robert James Peaslee (1864 - 1936)
Born at East Weare (NH); died at Boston (MA).
Lawyer, jurist.
Portrait by Leslie P. Thompson, 1938
Presented to the State, date unknown.

Until age 16 Peaslee worked on the family farm and attended only district schools. He had little interest in education. At age 16, however, Peaslee and his brother took a formal two-year lease on the family farm. The reality of that experience persuaded Peaslee to attend Cushing Academy (Ashburnham, MA) during the 1883/4 school year. He did well, and at the end of the school year transferred to Arms Academy at Shelburne Falls (MA), at the suggestion of the headmaster at Cushing. Peaslee graduated from Arms Academy in June 1885.

While at school Peaslee had begun reading Blackstone and Kent, a standard practice for persons interested in the law at that time. He entered Boston University Law School in Fall 1885, and took the entire three-year course load in one year. He graduated with his law degree in June 1886 and was admitted to the New Hampshire Bar on July 30, 1886.

The strain of the preceding few months took a fearsome toll on Peaslee. Peaslee entered the Springfield (MA) law office of Hon. George D. Robinson, Governor of Massachusetts; but, after a few weeks Peaslee's doctor told him he was suffering from exhaustion and that he should live outdoors for a considerable time in order to recuperate. Peaslee went back to the family farm at Weare (NH), and spent some months working there.

In Spring 1887 Peaslee took the Weare town census. That summer he entered the Manchester (NH) law office of Burnham & Brown. Soon thereafter he opened his own law office at Manchester, and then became partners with William H. Drury, formerly of Claremont (NH). [This law firm continued until June 28, 1898, when Peaslee was appointed to the State Supreme Court.]

In April 1892 the City Councils of Manchester passed a resolution authorizing the Mayor of Manchester to revise existing city ordinances, and to publish the same. Peaslee was assigned the task of revision; his work was quickly and ably completed, and the work was approved for publication by the City Councils on June 7, 1892.

During the academic years of 1887/8 and 1888/9 Peaslee lectured on municipal and constitutional law at Dartmouth College. He was also a Democrat, and active in local politics. He gave up these nascent political aspirations when he was appointed to the Supreme Court of New Hampshire a few years later (1898). As a member of the bench Peaslee served as both a trial justice and as a member of the full bench during the law term, until the court system was reorganized in 1901. After reorganization Peaslee became an associate justice of the newly organized Superior (or Trial) Court.

Peaslee served as associate justice of State Superior Court until November 6, 1907, when he was appointed an associate justice of State Supreme Court (filling a vacancy caused by the retirement of William M. Chase).

As an associate justice, Peaslee was asked to lecture on law concerning Domestic Relations at Boston University Law School. He began these lectures in 1911, but liked the challenge of the classroom so much that he gave this course for the next twenty-five years (1911 - 1936)!

In the early 1920s the State Legislature became interested in revising, codifying and amending the State of New Hampshire's public laws. An act appointing a committee of three to do this work took effect April 20, 1923, with Peaslee as chairman of the commission. The completed assignment was presented to the Legislature at the Spring 1925 legislative session, where the work was approved as the Public Laws of New Hampshire.

September 23, 1924 Peaslee was named Chief Justice of the State Supreme Court upon the retirement of Chief Justice Frank N. Parsons. Peaslee continued as Chief Justice until he too had to retire, at the mandatory age of seventy years, on September 23, 1934.

Reference: Oliver W. Branch, "Robert James Peaslee: Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New Hampshire". Proceedings of the Bar Association of New Hampshire, 1936 - 1937 (1937), pp. 99 - 106.