Trotter James

James Monroe Trotter, Frederick Douglass's Successor as Washington, D.C. Recorder of Deeds

A land deed signed by James Monroe Trotter (1842-1892), in his capacity as the District of Columbia's Recorder of Land Deeds, as "Jas M Trotter" on the docket. Signed in Washington, D.C. on November 29, 1887. The land deed unfolds to reveal the primary document measuring 8.5" x 14". The deed also includes two appended documents relating to the State of Vermont. Bearing several embossed seals and signatures of relevant parties. Expected folds and minor isolated closed tears, else very good to near fine.

The partly printed and partly handwritten document records details of a land transfer from Brainard H. Warner and Charles E. Prentiss to Mary J.C. Clandy, the grantee of Charles W. Seaton and his wife.

As federal jobs went, the position of Washington, D.C. Recorder of Land Deeds was prestigious and lucrative. Probably its most famous officeholder was ex-slave and activist author Frederick Douglass (1817[?]-1895), who served in the position between May 1881-August 1886.

Douglass's next to immediate successor in this post was James Monroe Trotter, who had been appointed in March 1887 by President Grover Cleveland (Douglass's immediate successor was a black lawyer and judge named James Matthew Campbell, who served for eight months.) Trotter served as Recorder until his resignation in February 1890.

Like his predecessor Frederick Douglass, James M. Trotter held the distinction of many firsts. Trotter was born into slavery on a Mississippi plantation of mixed race ancestry, but grew up in freedom in Ohio. During the Civil War, Trotter enlisted in the 55th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, and was later promoted to the rank of second lieutenant, becoming only the second person of color to do so. Later, Trotter became the first black man employed by the United States Postal Service; he worked there for 18 years until moving to Washington, D.C.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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