William M. Pingrey was born on May 28, 1806. He read law with Samuel I. Wells and Shaw & Chandler at Danville and was admitted to the bar in June, 1832. The following month he opened an office at Weathersfield. While there he held the office of town clerk, treasurer, selectman and county surveyor. He was also a member of the Constitutional Convention in 1850, a county commissioner and State auditor from 1853 to 1860, a member of the Legislature in 1860, '61, '68, a member of the Senate in 1869, '70, '71, and later assistant judge of Windsor County Court, and for forty-five years deacon of the Baptist Church. He died May 1,1885.