Surratt Courier

[L Verge]

I believe the basis for stating that Peanuts was white is the fact that all other "colored" people who testified are noted as such in the transcripts. Also, there is mention that Peanuts sometimes went with some of the men for drinks at nearby saloons. In 1864 (and until 1964!) that was very unlikely to happen.

I don't know my D.C. geography of that day very well, but I believe that the address Jill gave would have been in the poor section of town that was called The Island.

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(08-31-2014 11:22 AM)Jill Mitchell Wrote:  I was browsing through a downloaded copy of Boyd's 1864 directory of Washington, D.C. for the names of people connected to the Lincoln assassination. There is a listing for "Fitzpatrick, Honora, Mrs.; living at "h [house] 5th east, n [near] A south" or, in today's parlance, 5th and A SE. There is no other Fitzpatrick, Honora listed. There is also listed a Thomas Fitzpatrick, laborer, living at the same address. Is it possible that this is "Honora Fitzpatrick" connected with the Lincoln assassination? If it is, I was not aware that she was married. I seem to recall that she was always referenced as "Miss." To be a "Mrs." she would have had to be married at a relatively young age, if she was close in age to Anna. I suppose it possible that she could have lived at the address given in the directory, since in her testimony at the trial of John Surratt, she stated that did not come to board at the Surratt boardinghouse until October 6, 1864. Do we know the name of her father, the date of her mother's death and where she was residing prior to the time she came to the Surratt boardinghouse? ... Guess I'll have to await Susan's article for clarification.

And, with respect to "Peanuts" whose last name is thought possibly to be Burroughs: there is a listing for "Burroughs, John, col'd [colored], laborer, living in SW D.C. at "h [house] 1st west near O south."

I shall let Susan make the decision of when she wants to spill the beans on a tiny piece of Honora's history. Just remember that Mrs. Surratt did not establish her boardinghouse until the late fall of 1864. Those city directories were probably compiled in late-1863.