Member Biography

Biography

William A. Crabb (Whig1) Philadelphia City 1843-1854 (Whig1) Philadelphia (old city) 1855-1857

Early Life:

William A. Crabb, born 1812, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania; elected, Whig, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, Philadelphia County, 1837-1842; elected, Whig, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1843-1856; married, Sarah F. Todd, daughter, Mary A. Crabb Walton; married, Sarah F. Todd, daughter, Mary A. Crabb Walton; died, invalid, November 9, 1861, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania; interment, Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, , Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania Politics:

Elected, Whig, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, Philadelphia County, 1837-1842; elected, January 5, 1841, 66th Speaker of the Pennsylvania House. 

Elected, Whig, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1st district, Philadelphia City, 1843-1854; 1st district, Philadelphia (old city), 1855-1857; This legislation, Act 372 of 1848, safeguarded that the property owned by a single woman would remain hers after marriage, that she could acquire additional property while married, and that her property could not be sold without her consent to pay her spouse’s debts. Advocated, repeal, sixth section, “Anti-Kidnapping Act” of 1847, which made it illegal to use local jails to detain suspected fugitive slaves, 1852. 

Pennsylvania Speaker of House of Representatives Biography:

William A. Crabb - PA House of Representatives - PA House of Representatives (state.pa.us)

Legacy:

Election, Speaker occurred after two early votes which put Ner Middleswarth against Richard Brodhead, and then Ner Middleswarth against Robert Flenniken, which resulted in ties. A third ballot resulted in Crabb having a majority over Middleswarth by a vote of 53 to 44.

Cited:

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

William A Crabb (1812-1861) - Find a Grave Memorial