He was born in Hampshire, England in 1829 and came to Ancaster Township in Upper Canada with his family in 1836. He articled in law with William Notman and was called to the bar in 1855. He began practice in Newmarket, but later joined Thomas McCulloch Fairbairn in a practice in Peterborough. After the death of Fairbairn in 1874, he moved his practice to Toronto. In 1857, he married Caroline Augusta, the daughter of George Hamilton. He served as reeve for Newmarket for a number of years. With others, Boultbee established the North York Sentinel and served as its editor for several years. He helped organize the local Freemason lodge and held an office in the Grand Lodge of Canada.
