NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT ANTIQUE APPOINTMENT DOCUMENT CERTIFICATE 1884-85

Description

Type:
Police Appointment
Police Appointment:
John W. Taylor
Autographs:
W.H. Kipp
[William Halstead Kipp (1839-1918)] and
S.B. French
[Stephen Bull French (1829-1896)]
Location:
New York City, New York
Date:
17 April 1884 (appointment) and 20 October 1885 (signed)
Printer:
M.B. Brown. 19 & 51 Park Place
Size:
14 1/8 x 9 1/4 inches
Content:
State of New York. City of New York. Municipal Government. Police Department of the City of New York. To all to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting: Know Ye, That the Board of Police of the Police Department of the City of New York, by virtue of powers conferred by Law, did on the 17th day of April 1884 appoint John W. Taylor to be a Patrolman of the Police Force of the City of New York., In Witnessof, I have hereunto set my hand this Twentieth day of October 1885 By order of the Board.
Countersigned Wm. H. Kipp Chief Clerk. S.B. French President.
History:
Stephen Bull French (b. 16 January 1829 in Riverhead, New York – d. 3 February 1896 in Sag Harbor, New York) was President of the New York City Police Board (1880-1889) and a close friend and political ally of U.S. President Chester A. Arthur. He also served as Appraiser of the Port of New York (1876-1879) and Suffolk County Treasurer (1868-1874). Before and after his political career in New York City, French was prominent in the maritime and whaling industry in Sag Harbor.
He was the son of Peter French (1793–1845) and Sally Smith French (1799–1875). French was the husband of Mary Ann Hand
1837–1865 (m. 1855) and Julia Prentis (1849–1913).
William Halstead Kipp (b. 22 August 1839 in Manhattan, New York – d. 9 September 1918 in Manhattan, New York) was a New York National Guard officer and was chief clerk of the New York City police. He was the son of Quinby Kipp (1801–1887) and Cornelia Ann Halstead Kipp (1807–1883).
Kipp was the husband of Emily Augusta Hyatt Kipp (1843–1931) (m. 1865).
I have found little on patrolman John W. Taylor, however, he does appear in a New York Supreme Court Case in called
In re Taylor
. It appears Taylor was dismissed from the New York Police Dept. for failing to take an oath on the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors. He was on a leave of absence when the law passed that demanded the oath be taken with 30 days. Taylor was not informed about the law while on leave and due to some confusion once he return was not allowed to take the oath in time. The court ruled in his favor.
Condition:
The document has significant discoloration and chipping along the top edge; the document also has stains, soiling, waviness, edge wear, and the document appears to have been trimmed along the other three sides at some point. The document was found in an old damaged frame that was falling apart. See pictures.
References:
“Uncovering the Truth Behind a President’s Sag Harbor ‘Summer Retreat’”
by Brian Cudzilo. Dan’s Papers. 8 April 2018
Stephen Bull French
. Long Island Surnames.
William Halstead Kipp
. Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, Kings County (Brooklyn), New York. Find a Grave.
New York Supplement. Volume 11
. 1891 (pg. 189-191)
Item Number:
G1501