17

[17]2

Full details of the cost etc. of this house are given in Col. Frank Taylor's diary of that year. It is still there owned and occupied by an Englishman, named Farrer. Col.Taylor first called the place "Collina," which the writer thinks may have been its former name. During the construction of the house, he seems to have designated it as "Middleburn," but finally settled on the name "Midland," which it continued to hold so long as the Taylors owned and occupied it. Many years afterwards a Mr.Lewis B. Williams bought it and rechristened it "Yattin," and that name still adheres to it.

Upon the completion of the house at "Midland," March 12, 1787, Col. Geo. Taylor and his son Francis (the diarist) moved there-widower and bachelor, respectively- and continued to live there the remainder of their lives.

Col. George Taylor's other sons, with the exception of George Conway Taylor, were all married and living elsewhere. The latter was home during his vacations.

Col. George Taylor died at "Midland" November 4, 1792, aged nearly 81
years, and 9 months. He was buried at "Greenfield," in the Taylor burying-ground, between the graves of his mother and his grand-mother Taylor (see diary, under date Nov.6, 1792).

"Greenfield" was the name of the homestead of his father, James Taylor 2nd, in late life, he having given "Bloomsbury" to James Taylor 3rd, eldest brother of Col. George.

"Bloomsbury," "Greenfield" and "Midland" are all in sight of each other, "Greenfield" is now owned by a man named Booten but the old Taylor house there has long since been replaced by a new brick one.

The grave-yard was in a very neglected and dilapidated state when the writer saw it, but has recently, through the efforts of Dr. A.G. Grinnan, of Madison Mills, Va. a descendant, and the generosity of others of the "tribe" been re-inclosed and protected.

Col. George Taylor's children.
1, James :
2, George, :
3, Jonathan, :
4, Edmund, :
5, Francis, :
6, Richard, : By first wife (Rachel Gibson),
7, John, :
8, William, :
9, Charles, :
10, Reuben, :
11, Benjamin, :
12, George Conway- by 2nd, wife, (Sarah Taliaferro Conway).

Their histories will be given under the respective names. All of these, except George and George Conway served in the American Revolution. George died Janurary 2, 1761, fourteen years before, and George Conway was only six years old when the war began.

From the TAYLOR DIARY #1907-z in the Southern Historical Collection, University of North Carolina Library, Chapel Hill. FOR REFERENCE ONLY: PERMISSION TO PUBLISH MUST BE REQUESTED. WARNING: MOST MANUSCRIPTS ARE PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT.