Biography

1755 - 10/27/1805

Doctor Absalom Baird (Democratic-Republican11) Allegheny and Washington Counties 1794-1796

Early Life:

Doctor Absalom Baird, born 1755, Chester County, Pennsylvania, British Colonial America; son of Thomas Baird and Catherine McClean; educated, mother, studied under Doctor Robert Smith, Pequa Academy, Lancaster County, Neshamony Log College; surgeon, Continental Line, Colonel Loammi Baldwin Regiment of Artificers, American Revolution; established, medical office, Kennett Square; married, Susan Harlan Brown, 1783 children, John, George, Thomas Harlan, William, Sarah, Susan; moved, Washington County, 1786, continued practice of medicine; justice of the peace, judge, 1789; trustee, Washington Academy; county lieutenant and brigade inspector, 1792; elected, Democratic-Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1794-1796; elected, Democratic-Republican, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1798; sheriff, Washington County, 1799; married, second, Margaret Darrah, 1803; died, October 27, 1805, (aged 49–50), said to have died from an injury received when he fell from a horse, Washington, Washington County, Pennsylvania; interment, Washington Cemetery, Washington, Washington County, Pennsylvania. 

Pennsylvania Politics:

Justice of the peace, judge, 1789.

Elected, Democratic-Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 11th district, Allegheny and Washington Counties, 1794-1796; January 2, 1795, a Committee of Investigation reported to the Senate that, in their opinion, “the elections of Senators held in the counties of Washington, Allegheny, Westmoreland, and Fayette counties, during the late insurrection, [The so called “Whiskey Rebellion”] were not constitutional, and therefore not valid. The following day, the Senate voted on a strict party line vote to expel John Moore, William Todd, Thomas Stokely, and Absalom Baird from Senate and called for new elections to be held. The newly certified Senators took their seats in mid- February. Todd, Stokley, and Baird were returned to the seats previously vacated. Moore was replaced by Presly Carr Lane.

Elected, Democratic-Republican, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1797-1799; David Acheson (Washington) was challenged on the grounds of non-citizenship and resigned in a letter received by the House on 12 January 1798. He was replaced by Absalom Baird, effective 7 March 1798.

Sheriff, Washington County, 1799.

Legacy:

Son, Thomas Harlan Baird, Pennsylvania State Senator, Allegheny, Beaver and Butler Counties, 1811-1815. 

Thomas Harlan Baird  - Pennsylvania Senate Library (pasen.gov)

Grandson, Absalom Baird, Civil War Union Brigadier General, Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient, Inspector General of the United States Army, 1885-1888.

Cited:

Cox, Harold. "Senate Members B". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

A New Nation Votes (tufts.edu)

Dr Absalom Baird (1755-1805) - Find a Grave Memorial