From James Madison to Robert Taylor, 7 December 1827
To Robert Taylor
Montpellier Decr. 7. 1827
Dear Sir
I have recd. yours without date, postmarked Novr. 30. It would give me pleasure to assist in elucidating the claim of Col. Grayson’s heirs in the case stated: But neither my memory nor papers on my files enable me to do so. My personal intercourse with him was for the most part subsequent to the war, and no correspondence by letter appears to have an earlier date than the year 1785. when he was appointed a Delegate to Congress. If there be no better source of information on the subject, it might be well to look for the Obituary notices of him in the Gazettes. The time of his death1 I do not remember, but it can doubtless be ascertained by the claimants. It is not improbable that the Epochs of his Official life may be found in those notices and of course, the termination of his military career. With great esteem & friendly respects
James Madison
Partial FC (DLC); partial FC (DLC: Galloway-Maxey-Markoe Papers); partial Tr of bottom half (DLC); draft (DLC). Top half of first partial FC docketed by JM: “Taylor Robert.” Bottom half of second partial FC docketed: “Presented to me by Mrs. Madison. R. S. Chilton”; dateline at bottom in Dolley Madison’s hand. Partial Tr of bottom half in an unidentified hand; with header, added at a later date, “Cut off for W. W Chilton, No. 263 Broadway N.Y. on the 29th. July 41.”; docketed by JM: “Taylor Rob Dec. 7. 1827.”
1. First partial FC ends here.