James Tallmadge

John W. Taylor: A Moderate Anti-Slavery Activist

February 18, 2019 by Lawrence P. Gooley 1 Comment

It’s hard to believe that the nation’s fourth-most-populous state (New York — nearly always number one, and in the top five since 1790) has only one native who served in the position of Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Well, technically, there are two, but one of them served 99.82 percent of the pair’s total time in office — to be explained later. The man of the House is John W. Taylor, born in the town of Ballston in 1784. [Read more…] about John W. Taylor: A Moderate Anti-Slavery Activist

Culper Spies: Curse of the Black Letter

August 7, 2018 by Michael DeBonis 8 Comments

I was researching the biography of Dutchess County Revolutionary War Militia Colonel Jacob Griffin. I was having a hard time of it. By sheer accident I came upon an old historical text entitled New York in the Revolution, as Colony and State: Supplement.

The book was compiled and written during the years 1895-1901, by a former New York State comptroller Erastus C. Knight (and others). It’s an incredibly detailed account of the New York State Assembly’s and Militia’s legal, financial and military policies, procedures and activities from the outset of the American Revolution in 1774 through its conclusion in late 1783. [Read more…] about Culper Spies: Curse of the Black Letter

James Tallmadge

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