Reverend Polk Taylor (September 8, 1833 – June 18, 1934) was a formerly enslaved American Methodist minister who was inaccurately reported to have been owned by two former U.S. presidents, James K. Polk and Zachary Taylor.[1] This claim was inaccurate, as he had been the property of Zachary Taylor's daughter Ann Eliza Taylor, and had merely been named after Polk.[2] Ann Eliza later gave Polk Taylor to her niece as a gift.[3] Zachary Taylor had three daughters who survived to adulthood, the oldest was Ann, the youngest was Eliza; it's unclear which one owned Polk Taylor.

Signature of Polk Taylor in 1921, on the occasion of his remarriage

Polk Taylor was born 1833 in Brownsville, Tennessee.[4] His father was Tom Alexander, a native of Tennessee;[4][5] Polk Taylor's mother is recorded in his death certificate as "Phyllis," a native of Africa,[5] and on his second marriage documents she is listed as Phyllis Richard.[6] Polk Taylor was apparently manumitted sometime around 1858 and then studied for the Methodist ministry.[2] A Rev. Polk Taylor of Texas is listed in a directory of contributors to a Baptist missionary fund in 1887.[7] He lived for some time in Colorado, where he seemingly lived and preached in Calhan.[8] His wife and adult son both died in 1913 and services were held for them in Colorado Springs.[9] He moved to Washington state about 1915.[2] On December 30, 1921, at age 83, he remarried to a 42-year-old divorcée named Lizzie Smith Clay.[10] In Washington, he was called "Uncle," tended a vegetable garden at his home, and voted in every election.[11] He died June 18, 1934, of chronic myocarditis at the county home in Yakima, Washington, at age 100.[5][1][12]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Former Slave of 2 Presidents Dies". The Edmonton Bulletin. 1934-06-22. p. 18. Retrieved 2023-04-29.
  2. ^ a b c ""Uncle" Polk Taylor, Born in Slavery, Says It's Easy to Reach 100". The Bellingham Herald. 1933-09-09. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-04-29.
  3. ^ "'Uncle' Is 100". The Billings Gazette. 1933-09-09. p. 2. Retrieved 2023-04-29.
  4. ^ a b "Washington, County Marriages, 1855-2008", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP9M-KJ9Q  : 24 April 2021), Polk Taylor and Lizzie Smith, 1921.
  5. ^ a b c "Washington Deaths and Burials, 1810-1960", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HVH4-67T2  : 30 June 2021), Polk Taylor, 1934.
  6. ^ "Washington, County Marriages, 1855-2008", database with images, FamilySearch(https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP9M-85DK  : 24 April 2021), Polk Taylor and Lizzie Smith Clay, 1921.
  7. ^ The Baptist Home Mission Monthly. American Baptist Home Mission Society. 1887.
  8. ^ "Colorado Springs". The Denver Star. 1914-01-10. p. 2. Retrieved 2023-04-29.
  9. ^ "Colorado Springs". The Denver Star. 1913-11-29. p. 6. Retrieved 2023-04-29.
  10. ^ "Washington, County Marriages, 1855-2008", database with images, FamilySearch(https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPM8-6GFW  : 23 April 2021), Polk Taylor and Lizzie Clay, 1921.
  11. ^ "Negro Once Owned by President's Kin Has 100th Birthday". The Missoulian. 1933-09-09. p. 9. Retrieved 2023-04-29.
  12. ^ "Washington, County Death Registers, 1881-1979", database, FamilySearch(https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6FY7-P752  : 18 July 2022), Polk Taylor, 1934.