To James Madison from Anthony Salaignac (Abstract), 1 May 1805
§ From Anthony Salaignac1
1 May 1805, “South Second Street No. 196,” Philadelphia. Has lived in the United States for eleven years. Received Maryland citizenship in 1794 and U.S. citizenship near the end of 1803 at Philadelphia. Has planned for some time to go to St. Thomas with his wife and daughter to establish a commercial house. Asks JM to send a passport for himself and his family as U.S. citizens. Since his family will not be able to leave at the same time as he, asks to receive the passport in duplicate so that he and his family may each have a copy.
RC (DNA: RG 59, Letters Requesting Passports). 1 p.; in French; docketed by Wagner.
1. After the revolution at Saint-Domingue, Anthony Salaignac came to the United States and settled in Trenton, New Jersey, in 1795, with his family and several slaves. In 1802 he decided to return to Saint-Domingue, and because he could not sell his slaves in New Jersey, he planned to take them back with him. The women had “absconded” with the children before they all could sail from New Castle, leaving in Salaignac’s custody only the husband of one of them, who was so upset by the turn of events that he cut his own throat rather than be sent back alone (Philadelphia Gazette, 15 Nov. 1802; New York Commercial Advertiser, 17 Nov. 1802).