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Alderman's Short Staff
Alderman's Short Staff
Alderman's Short Staff

Alderman's Short Staff

Periodca. 1834
MediumWalnut, leather, linen, and brass
Dimensions25.5 × 1.5 in. (64.8 × 3.8 cm)
ClassificationsPolitical Memorabilia
Credit LineGift of Katherine Taylor Clark (Mrs. William F.), 1932
Object number2001.515
DescriptionA short staff capped with a realistic carved and gilded flame finial. The shaft is turned, with a slight bulbous swelling above the central hand grip. The end is capped with a small brass nailhead. The grip was originally covered with leather over a linen lining, held in place by a row of wide-headed brass tacks top and bottom which remain in place.
Curatorial RemarksThe two Alderman's staffs plus the portrait of Edward Taylor descended to his daughter Mary Holmes Taylor II (1814 - 1897), then to her daughter Mary Holmes Taylor III, and then to her second cousin and principal heir, Katherine Louise Taylor Clark (1866 - 1942). Mrs. Clark presented the portrait and staffs to the Association on 1 November 1932 for display in its new museum in Freehold. On 1 June 1936, these three items were transferred to Marlpit Hall in Middletown, which opened to the public as a historic house museum five days later under the auspices of the Association. They have remained on view there since. Marlpit Hall and the farm on which it sat had been purchased in 1771 by Taylor's grandfather. When his father John Taylor died in 1818, he left Edward a 1/6 interest in the property, later expanded to a 2/6 interest after he purchased a share from his sister, Sarah Manning. Taylor resided at Marlpit Hall after he retired from business in New York in 1843. He died there two years later.NotesThis Alderman's short staff, accompanied by a long staff (accession number 2001.514), belonged to Edward Taylor (1779 - 1845), a successful New York merchant who was a native of Middletown, Monmouth County. Taylor was elected an Alderman for the Second Ward of New York City in 1834, which earned him a seat on the Common Council. He served until 1839. For further information about the life and career of Edward Taylor, see the entry for his portrait (accession number 2001.512).
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