Lawrence Taliaferro

February 28, 179 (age 1691)

King George County, Virginia, United States

He enlisted, on August 5, 1812, in a volunteer company of light infantry. He served on several fronts and was promoted to a first lieutenancy. At the end of the War of 1812 he retained his rank and served with the 3rd Regiment at many frontier posts. In 1819 he was appointed by President Monroe to be Indian agent at the fort, now called Fort Snelling, that was about to be constructed at the mouth of the St. Peter's (now the Minnesota) River. At first he had charge of both Sioux and Chippewa Indians, but in 1827 the Chippewa of the Upper Mississippi were ordered by the war department to place themselves under the Sault Sainte Marie agency. The age-long feud between the Sioux and the Chippewa, and the enmity of the Sioux and the Sauk, Foxes, and Winnebago, made his position anything but a sinecure. His endeavors to keep peace between the tribes were earnest and often successful, for the Indians came to believe that the "Iron Cutter, " as the agent was called, was their friend and protector. His efforts in the Indians' behalf produced almost constant strife between himself and the traders, all of whose efforts to bribe or oust him failed. The American Fur Company contracted against him an especial dislike and distrust, but even this great monopoly's efforts to have him removed from office were unsuccessful, and in 1839 he was appointed for the sixth time. In 1839 he resigned his post and left the Indian country. Most of his time after 1840 was spent at Bedford, where mineral waters had attracted him early in life. On March 14, 1857, he reentered military service in the quartermaster department and served at San Antonio, Fort Leavenworth, Pittsburgh, and Bedford. In 1863 his name was put on the retired list. Taliaferro was the owner of a slave named Harriet Robinson, whom he permitted to marry Dred Scott. Robinson worked as a servant to Taliaferro's wife. As Justice of the Peace in the territories, Taliaferro officiated the marriage of Scott and Robinson, which many historians believe gave additional credence to the Scotts' claim to freedom. Taliaferro gave Harriet to Scott's master so that the couple could live together as husband and wife. He died at Bedford in 1871.

Lawrence Taliaferro

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Background

Taliaferro was born at "Whitehall, " King George County, Va. , the fourth son in the large family of James Garnett and Wilhelmina (Wishart) Taliaferro of "Oakland, " King George County.

Education

He was educated under tutors.

Career

He enlisted, on August 5, 1812, in a volunteer company of light infantry. He served on several fronts and was promoted to a first lieutenancy. At the end of the War of 1812 he retained his rank and served with the 3rd Regiment at many frontier posts.

In 1819 he was appointed by President Monroe to be Indian agent at the fort, now called Fort Snelling, that was about to be constructed at the mouth of the St. Peter's (now the Minnesota) River. At first he had charge of both Sioux and Chippewa Indians, but in 1827 the Chippewa of the Upper Mississippi were ordered by the war department to place themselves under the Sault Sainte Marie agency. The age-long feud between the Sioux and the Chippewa, and the enmity of the Sioux and the Sauk, Foxes, and Winnebago, made his position anything but a sinecure. His endeavors to keep peace between the tribes were earnest and often successful, for the Indians came to believe that the "Iron Cutter, " as the agent was called, was their friend and protector.

His efforts in the Indians' behalf produced almost constant strife between himself and the traders, all of whose efforts to bribe or oust him failed. The American Fur Company contracted against him an especial dislike and distrust, but even this great monopoly's efforts to have him removed from office were unsuccessful, and in 1839 he was appointed for the sixth time.

In 1839 he resigned his post and left the Indian country.

Most of his time after 1840 was spent at Bedford, where mineral waters had attracted him early in life. On March 14, 1857, he reentered military service in the quartermaster department and served at San Antonio, Fort Leavenworth, Pittsburgh, and Bedford. In 1863 his name was put on the retired list.

Taliaferro was the owner of a slave named Harriet Robinson, whom he permitted to marry Dred Scott. Robinson worked as a servant to Taliaferro's wife. As Justice of the Peace in the territories, Taliaferro officiated the marriage of Scott and Robinson, which many historians believe gave additional credence to the Scotts' claim to freedom. Taliaferro gave Harriet to Scott's master so that the couple could live together as husband and wife.

He died at Bedford in 1871.

Achievements

He is best known for his service as an Indian agent at Fort Snelling, Minnesota, from 1820 through 1839 and also as an individual who played a part in the saga of the famous African American slave Dred Scott.

Works

Auto-Biography of Maj. Lawrence Taliaferro: Written in 1864, pp. 190-255 Auto-Biography of Maj. Lawrence Taliaferro: Written in 1864, pp. 190-255

book
- Auto-Biography of Maj. Lawrence Taliaferro: Written in 1864, pp. 190-255
  ( About the Book Legal history is the study of how law ha...)

Religion

He was a deacon in the Presbyterian Church at Bedford.

Politics

In the Civil War he was an ardent Unionist, though earlier in life he had been a slaveholder.

Membership

He was a member of the Masonic Order.

Connections

By his wife, Eliza Dillon, who was the daughter of a hotel-keeper of Bedford, Pa. , and who accompanied him to the St. Peter's agency after their marriage in the summer of 1828, he had no issue.

Father:: James Garnett Taliaferro
Mother:: Wilhelmina (Wishart) Taliaferro
Spouse:: Eliza Dillon

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