His name was Notley Anderson - not Nodley

[Jim Woodall]

'Tis just a small point, but since his name is being used in some of the books (Larson and Kauffman) and now a wiki page, I thought I would pipe up and correct the record. I tend to believe that if a person is to be remembered, their rightful name should be used - might rest their soul just a wee bit easier.

The current use of Nodley (maybe initial usage) by Michael W. Kauffman in "American Brutus" seems to be the baseline being referenced. Kauffman cites from the affidavit of George Cottingham for the Committee of Claims in his chapter notes for Chapter 12, note 10.

Kauffman's usage was Nodley Anderson as the Innkeeper in Piscataway who fingered John Lloyd.

If anyone has further information on Notley D. Anderson and what he told the authorities or soldiers, I would appreciate it.

Kate Clifford Larson, in "The Assassin's Accomplice" uses Nodley Anderson and references Kauffman in her notes. The Wiki page on John Lloyd then references Larson for Nodley Anderson's name.

Please, understand I am not calling anyone out (we don't need be visiting Bladensburg or the Good Hope Tavern) but I just wish to correct its usage going forward. I presume, since I have not chased down the affidavit of Cottingham, that the error lies within that rather than perhaps in editing/typesetting.

Notley D. Anderson, of Piscataway, born about 1825 in Maryland, for several years was a constable in the area. Along with that he had the tobacco warehouse (or at least one of them, and by reference in the deeds, sounds like the only one in Piscataway). Notley was listed as a trader in the 1860 census where he went by his initials only. For many items, he went by N. D. Anderson rather than Notley D. Anderson. However, when signing his name in the Libers, (e.g. constable bonds, land sales) he used "Notley D. Anderson" in full as his signature. His signature is pretty clear being his signature and seal and not a mark.

By 1870, he is in Baltimore with his new wife working as a clerk at the port. His first wife passed away in the early 1860s. Perhaps because of that, Notley incurred debt to several individuals. In 1863/4, he put his 5 acres of land on the outskirts of Piscataway in trust to be sold to satisfy those debts. He remarried in July of 1864 to a local woman. Perhaps Notley was acting as innkeeper in 1865 since he had sold/put in trust his lands in the area and still had to take care of his new wife, any new children in that marriage, and at least one child from his first marriage. Plus, I would presume, perhaps his family stayed at the inn.

When in Baltimore, there were several news accounts of his duties as clerk at the port. Even the Germans in their newspapers mention him on occasion, usually around Octoberfest when he apparently took on a certain importance concerning the beer.

Whether he is a relative of mine, I am not sure. He would be the correct age to be a brother to my 3rd great grandfather, Thomas Anderson, who would name one of his sons, Notley Anderson. Alas, I have nothing that makes a clear linkage.

Of note, while perusing the Libers, in one of the years showing Notley D. Anderson's constable bond, I found beneath his bond the bond of one John Z. Jenkins as constable. John's bond, that year (I think it was 1857 or 1859) was backed by himself, John H. Surratt, and a David Barry. I also found a constable bond for John Z. Jenkins for 1861, also, backed by John H. Surratt. I did not locate a later bond, however.