Micah Taul memoir

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9 Knit, and walk about the house & yard without a guide. She was peculiarly fortunate however in having a Negro woman to wait upon her, who was every way worthy of the office. No child could have been more devoted to a mother, than was this African slave to her Mistress: The White family consisted of my father & mother alone, & such were his active & industrous habits, that he could not be confined to the house: The Negro woman was house keeper & had the charge of everything about it. I never heard of any complaint against her. Her name was Amie. In the division of the family slaves, she fell to brother Benj'n & her children (I think) to brother Levi. It is generally believed that the loss of one family, strengthens those which remain, there is no doubt, I expect, that after the loss of one others which remain are necessarily brought into action to supply its place, and by that means are improved. I remember when my youngest child by my first wife was an infant, probably four or five months old, we visited my father & mother. Shortly after we arrived, the child (Louisiana, now Mrs Bradford), was taken to its grand mother who after kissing it, very affectionately, ran her fingers over it's face with great rapidity, & much apparent interest and immediately said "God bless this dear child it has its father's features" which was literally true. My brother Benjamin, as before remarked was married in 1795 or 6. He shortly afterwards removed to and settled on land (given to him by our father), on the Water of Stoner, in Clarke County. When he first settled there, the whole county was a "Cane brake" & is now, I presume, all enclosed, & in a high state of cultivation. He resided on the same place, occupying the first house he built, until his death which happened in the year 184 . I have said something about his character at page 2. He was early appointed a Justice of the Peace, at that time in Kentucky an office of importance, the Justices held, as they

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10 still do, in Kenty. The County Court; the Governor having the appointment under the old Constitution & the County Courts under the new, it rarely happened that any person was appointed, who did not deserve it. He was not only a good Mathematician, but a first rate practical surveyor. He done business with great neatness & accuracy - wrote a plain beautiful hand (see his Letters). The Land tables being very generally disputed & litigated, he was appointed by the courts, of several counties to survey the lands in dispute, & make out connected platts thereof, to be used on the trial. This duty was so well performed, that he was generally appointed in cases of difficulty & importance, & it was quite profitable. He was often appointed a Commissioner to settle accounts in chancery cases - & almost uniformly to settle with Executors, Administrators & Guardians, and he was almost a standing umpire in arbitration cases. He was a particularly & eminently useful in keeping down strife & litigation in his neighborhood. He was emphatically a man of peace. I feel very confident, that he never had a personal difficulty with any one. He was always lively & cheerful, posessing the finest temper in the world. I am certain, I never saw him excited by anything like anger but once. He was Sheriff of Clarke County but did not attend to the active duties of the office, this being confided to his deputies. In the winter of 1819-20, during a very cold spell of weather, a special term of the Circuit Court, had been ordered for the trial of some Negro slaves charged with Burglary. He resided ten miles from the Court house; knew nothing of the Court having been ordered, but happened to come to town on the day the Court commenced its session, but some time after the Judge had taken his seat on the bench. The day being cold, & the court house uncomfortable, the deputies had great difficulty to get a jury & the Judge (James Clark) afterwards Governor of the state) being out of temper when my brother came into court, said to him in an angry

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(11 tone of voice. "It seems we can't get a jury, sir" I am sorry to hear it, replied, my brother. I have just arrived in town, knew nothing of this special term of the court, & understand that the deputies are out in search of jurors - but owing to the inclemency of the weather, those persons who are qualified keep out of their way". "You did not know of the court" rejoined the Judge apparently much excited. "Sir, it was your business to know that the court was in session. I know said he, that you reside several miles from town, but you ought to keep an office here - Mr. Clerk (said the Judge) enter a fine of ten pounds against Benjn J. Taul, Sheriff for a contempt of this court in failing to be here in person, at the sitting of the Court this morning & in failing to have a jury summoned to try the Prisoners at the bar. During the delivery of the lecture from the bench, & the order inflicting the fine, my brother was on his feet, within the bar, looking earnestly at the Judge, (who was a great personal friend), but complacently - at the conclusion he seemed to be overwhelmed with astonishment - involuntarily sunk down on a chair, & for several minutes seemed to be almost insensible of what had transpired. Such was the effect of the sudden outbreak of this honorable Judge. The members of the bar & officers of the court & others who were present were all his friends, & for a moment enjoyed this occurrences as an excellent joke for a cold day. Altho' a mild & placid man, he had a "heavy brow" & for once, they saw them, & only once "gathering storms" - his lips quivered - & his whole frame shook with anger. He rose to his feet, as if he intended to address the Judge, but he was unable to speak - tears flowed freely down his manly face & he abruptly left the Court house, & went to my residence. When the Court adjourned, the Judge called to see him, invited

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12 to his house, to spend this evening with him. The invitation was accepted, & the next morning the Judge apologised to him for the rudeness of his conduct. They remained, as they always have been intimate personal friends. I have been thus particular in describing this scene in court, for the reason before stated, & as it is characteristic of the very best man I ever knew - a man, who was always to me "a Brother" indeed. It was through him, that I was placed in a clerks office, when only thirteen years of age, and to whom, I am indebted for any success I may have met with in life. He raised five children, two sons (Pentecost & Samuel) and three daughters (Mary-Ann, Elizabeth & Sarah). Pentecost, Mary-Ann & Elizabeth, died in the life time of their father & Mother. The other two when I last heard from them were living in Scott County, Kentucky.

Jonathan Taul was married in March 1802 to Susannah Jones, daughter of John Jones a respectable farmer of our neighborhood, and shortly afterwards settled in Montgomery County, Kenky, near to his brother Benjamin's where he continued to reside until his death. He was a very pious, moral man. He & his wife were members of the Methodist Church. He was accidently killed in the year 18 by falling from a tree on the end of an axe handle. During a spell of cold weather, & a deep snow he was informed that a large number of his hogs had been suffocated in a hollow sycamore tree on the plantation (the sycamore tree in the rich lands of Kenty grew to a great size). He took a servant boy & went to the place, for the purpose of having them burnt up; upon his arrival he found a shelk bark had fallen against the sycamore; he took the axe & went up it for the purpose of knocking off some of the bark to kindle a fire & in doing so fell with his side

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13 upon the end of the axe handle, giving to him a severe wound, of which he died, some forty days afterwards suffering all the time with great agony which he bore with Christian fortitude. There is a great deal said in the world about "destiny" It seemed to be his "destiny" to be killed by "accident". He had been subject to them all his life. When a very small boy, his left hand was nearly cut off by "accident". A few years afterwards while assisting in prizing rocks, the prize gave way, and the end struck him, under one of his jaws, and was near killing him. He met with many other accidents, by which his arms & ribs had been broken. He was a man of uncommon industry - had a good tract of land & was a successful farmer; tho' not rich, he was in easy independent circumstances & raised a large family, in credit. His education was about upon a par, with that of the youth of Kentucky, who were his contemporaries. He was a good practical surveyor, & performed a great deal of surveying particularly in Wayne County in 1801. His children, I expect reside mostly in Montgomery County Ky. His eldest daughter married a Mr. Tatman & died young. His eldest son bears my name. I don't remember the names of his other children, except one son (Andrew Jackson) an enterprising trading man; at the last account of him he resided in Clarke County, Ky.

Levi Taul, was married in 1798 or 1799 to Nancy Copher, daughter of Jessee Copher of Clarke County, Ky, who was one of the pioneers of the country. His wife (Mrs. Copher) was a daughter of George Boone, brother of Col. Daniel Boone. He also settled in Clarke near to brother Benj. & lived there until he died in 183 . At an early age (a year or two, after he was married) he was attacked with a hemorage of the lungs, which terminated in consumption, but he lived many years

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