Diary, 1786-1799

[16] 1 COLONEL GEORGE TAYLOR of Orange County Virginia. (Father of the Diarist and generally designated as "G.T." or "G.Taylor" in the diaries) Was fifth child, third son of James Taylor "2nd, "and his wife, Martha Thompson; and grandson of James Taylor, who emigrated from Carlisle, England, about 1660 or 1667 and settled in the Southerly part of Caroline County (then New Kent) on the Mattapony River. His grand-mother, the first wife of James Taylor, the emigrant, was named Frances, but her surname is unknown to us. His mother, Martha Thompson, a woman of extraordinary beauty of person, exalted character and remarkable courage, was daughter of Col. William Thompson, an officer in the British Army, who lived in affluence at Blackwell Neck, in Hanover County, Va. and who was a son of Sir Roger Thompson of England.

James Taylor 2nd, the father of Col. George, was also a Colonel and did active duty in the Indian Wars of that early period. He was also a member of the House of Burgesses from King and Queen Co. and was one of the aides of Govenor Spottswood when he made the famous Tramontaine expedition to the Shenandoah and Swift Run Gap in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Col. George Taylor was born in Caroline Co.Va. February 11, 1711. He had three brothers, viz: James 3rd, Zachary and Erasmus; and five sisters, viz: Frances, Martha, Tabitha, Hannah and Mildred, all of whom married, and will be mentioned hereafter. He was married twice, 1st, on February 28th, 1738, to Rachel Gibson (born May 4, 1717,-died Feb.16,1761), daughter of Jonathan Gibson of Orange Co. and his wife, Margaret Catlett, and by her he had eleven children, all boys;- and 2nd, in 1767, to Mrs. Sarah Taliaferro Conway (born Oct. 8, 1727,-died Jan.17,1784), widow of Captain Francis Conway and daughter of Col. John Taliaferro and Sarah Smith, his wife, and by her he had one son, completing his dozen.

Jonathan Gibson, father of Rachel, the first wife of Col. Geo. Taylor, was one of the earliest Clerks of Orange Co. He had lived previously in Caroline Co. and had been its representative in the Va. House of Burgesses. He was said to have been brother of Edmund Gibson, Bishop of London and son of Edmund and Jane Langhorn Gibson, but we are unable to say upon what authority.

Margaret Catlett Gibson, the mother of Rachel, was daughter of John Catlett and grand-daughter of Col. John Catlett of "Greenmount" at Port Royal, Caroline Co. (then Essex Co.), who was killed by the Indians when attacking the fort there in 1670.

The Catlett family emigrated to Va., from Sittenbourne Parish, Kent Co. England.

Col. George Taylor was a Vestryman of the Church of England in Orange Co; a Justice of the Peace; Clerk of Orange Co. 1750-1772, succeeding Jonathan Gibson, and succeeded by his son, James, who in turn was succeeded by his brother George Conway Taylor. He was also a member of the House of Burgesses of Va. representing Orange Co. 1748-1758. Governor Dinwiddie commissioned him July 18, 1755 Colonel of the Orange Co. Militia, and he served in the French and Indian Wars. About the year 1720 his father moved to Orange Co. from Caroline, "took up" 10,000 acres of land and established a home, which he called "Bloomsbury". The house he built is still standing and in good condition. There Col. George Taylor passed his youth and early manhood, until his marriage, which occurred in his 28th year. The writer does not know with certainty where Col. George Taylor lived during the lifetime of his two wives, but, in all probability, it was in the same location where he in 1786 built a new house, the first two story (full) one in that part of Orange Co. viz: about two miles East of Orange C.H., at the Westerly base of Quarles Mountain. 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

[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.

[18] 3 JAMES TAYLOR, eldest son of Col.Geo.Taylor and his wife, Rachel Gibson, was born December 16, 1738. From 1772 to 1798 he was Clerk of Orange Co.Va., succeeding his father, who held the same office 1750-1772, and having been succeeded by his youngest (1/2) brother, George Conway Taylor, on Oct. 22, 1798. He served during the Revolution as Sergeant-Major of the Continental Line and received after the war 200 acres of land in recognition of his services. He married his 3rd, cousin, Ann Pendleton, daughter of Col.James Pendleton and grand-daughter of Henry Pendleton and Mary Taylor, and by her had seven children. He lived at "Greenfield," the former home of his grand-father, James Taylor 2nd, mention of which is made under Col.George Taylor's history. In 1799 he moved to Jefferson County, Ky. and died there, leaving a large number of descendants. His children were: 1, Mary, married Mch. 22,1787, Thomas Barbour, son of Col.James Barbour. 2, Elizabeth, married 1785, or earlier, John Pendleton. 3, Ann Pendleton, married January 8, Thomas Crutchfield. 4, James F., married Dec.22, 1795, Frances Catlett Moore, daughter of Maj. William Moore. 5, John Gibson, married Elizabeth Lee Taylor, daughter of Col Richard Taylor and sister of Gen'l. Zachary Taylor, Pres't. U.S.A. 6, Nathaniel Pendleton, married, 1st, Elizabeth C.Martin, 2nd, Ellen Hart Clay, 3rd Mrs Matilda Christy Walker. 7, Harry, born Apl.10, 1786, died Jan.9,1792. ---------Jonathan Taylor, named for his maternal grandfather, Jonathan Gibson, 3rd, son of Col. George Taylor, was born December 3, 1742: was Lieutenant of a company in the Virginia Convention Guards. He married Ann Berry and they had 13 children. They lived in Bottetourt Co.Va. In the summer of 1790 (probably July-see entry in diary under date of August 4, 1790) they moved to Kentucky and settled in Clark Co., where he died 1804. Their children:1, William, commonly called "Big Foot Billy, "[Because it was said of him that he owned every piece of property he put his foot on-PFT.] married Nov.26, 1795 Susan, or Susannah, Gibson, daughter of John Gibson and gr-grand-daughter of Jonathan Gibson, his great-Grandfather. 2, Rachel, married Oct. 1787, John Finney, in Bottetourt Co. 3, Mary Berry, married her first cousin, George Gibson Taylor, son of Edmund Taylor. 4, Jonathan Jr., married July 3, 1799, Mary Ashby. 5, Ann, married June 1792, John W. Berry. 6, Susannah, married March 1798, Thomas Arnold. 7, George, married Sarah Fishback, 8, Francis, married Elizabeth Taylor, his 1st cousin, dau. of Maj. William Taylor. 9. Samuel Mitchell, married Mildred E.Martin. 10. Sarah, married James Anderson. 11. Edmund M., married Lavinia Peasson. 12. Gibson B., married: 1st, Emily Taylor, m. 2nd Mary Rives. 13. Elizabeth, married Dr. Samuel Martin. Note-William Taylor, above, continued to live in Bottetourt Co.Va. until 1796 and then moved to Ky. , Dec. 23, 1796, he bought of his uncle, Col. Frank, 1,000 acres land on Floyd's Fork, Shelby Co.Ky. for £400, equal then to $1,333.33 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.

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CAPTAIN EDMUND TAYLOR,

fourth son of Col. George Taylor, was born October 21, 1744: was Captain of Company in Va. State Line during the Revolution: moved to Kentucky soon after the close of the War and died there July 1, 1786. He married Sarah Stubbs and had by her ten children. After his death she married a second time a man named Eastin, in Ky. She died Apl.12, 1796 (see Note made by diarist at end of 1796 Volume). Their children:1, George Gibson, married 1st, Mary B. Taylor, his first cousin, daughter of Jonathan Taylor, 2nd, Elizabeth Pearson. 2, Edmund H., married Eloisa C. Thruston, of Fredericksburg, March 3, 1797. 3. Martha Thompson (Patsy) married June 1792, William Christy. 4. Hannah, married July 1791, Reuben Eastin. 5. Sarah, married John Eastin. 6. Mary married Richard Taylor 2nd, son of Commodore Richard. 7. William, married Lucy Thom. 8. Thruston M., married Mary Clark. 9. Francis Stubbs, married Oct. 5, 1797, Sarah Lindsay, of Norfolk, Va. 10. Frances, married John Wallace.

Note- Sarah Lindsay, wife of Francis Stubbs Taylor, was daughter of Major W. Lindsay, Naval Officer at Norfolk, who died at Newport R.I. Sept. 2, 1797. Francis Stubbs Taylor was employed in the Naval Office at Norfolk three years, beginning August 1791, at £30: per year. -----------------COLONEL FRANCIS TAYLOR, (Author of the Diaries) fifth son of Col. George Taylor, was born March 20, 1747. He was commissioned May 8, 1776, a Captain in the 2nd, Virginia Regiment; on March 20, 1778 (his 31st, birthday) he was commissioned Major in the 15th, Virginia Regiment; on Dec. 24, 1778, was commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel of the Virginia Convention Guards and March 5, 1779, Colonel of same Regiment. He served gallantly through the war of the Revolution. He never married. After the Revolution, he was for a number of years Deputy Clerk of Orange Co., under his brother, James, with whom he lived at "Greenfield."

In 1786 he went to live with his father at "Midland" in the house built that year and still standing, and there he continued to live until his death (November 1799) managing the plantation and his own and his father's business in a very successful manner. His will is on record in Orange C.H. He accumulated a handsome estate for those times and seems to have been banker for most of the family.

He received from Virginia a bounty of over 6,000 acres land, and also took up and owned many thousands more in Jefferson and Shelby counties, Ky., as well as elsewhere in Ky., and across the Ohio River in Indiana. Some of his Ky.lands lay on Floyd's Fork, others on Blackfords Creek, now the dividing line between Daviess and Hancock counties. He left the bulk of his estate to his nephews.

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. ---------------

[20]5 COMMODORE RICHARD TAYLOR, sixth son of Col.George Taylor, was born January 6, 1749. He was commissioned as Captain in Virginia Navy, February 6, 1776 and served with great gallantry and distinction until disabled by a wound in his knee in an action with a British vessel November 1781. During the war he captured several British merchantmen, and was twice wounded, once in the thigh and once in the knee, the latter being by a grape shot, which went entirely through it. This wound never healed and was at last the cause of his death nearly 44 years afterward, viz:-Aug.30.1825. After the close of the Revolution he was made chief officer of the Virginia Navy and served in that capacity until Nov.1794, when he resigned and removed with his family to Kentucky. He received a pension from the United States and a large grant of land in recognition of his services. The plantation upon which he lived in Ky., and where he died, is about 20 miles East of Louisville and 2 1/2 miles Northeast of the present Village of Goshen, in Oldham, Co., It was then in Jefferson Co. He marriedCatharine Davis (born Nov.20, 1750; died probably about 1805-1808), a niece of Col.William Rowley of King George Co.Va., who died 1774 and from whom she inherited a large estate in negroes and real estate. Commodore Taylor was the father of eleven children, all of whom, except the eldest, having been borne to him by his wife, Catharine Davis. The eldest was a bar sinister, and was named Richard, for his father. One of Catherine Davis's sons also received the same name, the former being called "Dick", the latter "Richard." The former was a devoted and affectionate a son to Catharine Davis as any of her own children and he was always loved and esteemed by all his Taylor relations as much as any of the rest. During the War of 1812 he was Colonel [?] of a Kentucky regiment and received a severe wound in battle, which lamed him for life. He was thereafter called Col."Hopping Dick," to distinguish him from his brother Richard. He was called the bravest of the brave and was a favorite with all who knew him. For a more complete history of Commodore Taylor reference is made to a genealogical work, entitled "Robertson-Taylor," written by the author of these notes and published in 1900, at Detroit, Mich. [Note-"Col.Hopping Dick" Taylor, the eldest son of Commodore Richard, born ___________: died at Frankfort, Ky., July 16, 1830: was Sergeant-at-Arms of the Court of Appeals and an energetic business man, honored and respected by the people of Frankfort and the State. He was for many years the proprietor and manager of the "Mansion House," the prominent hotel of Frankfort. He married Mrs.Mary Ann (Martin) Buckner, born in Albemarle Co.Va., 1778; died in Lexington, Ky. 1853; daughter of Col.John Martin and widow ofJohn Washington Bucknerby whom she had: 1.Elizabeth Buckner, m.Rev.Thomas P.Dudley and 2. John Washington Buckner, m.1st, Catharine G.Crockett, m.2nd, Sarah Margaret Fletcher. She had by her marriage with Col.Hopping Dick Taylor: 1. Lewis Martin Taylor, 2. James Wilkinson Taylor, m. Louisiana Symmes, 3. Catharine B. Taylor, m. Col.Moses B.Morrison, of Lexington, Ky., 4. Natilda, d.y.--P.F.T.] Commodore Richard Taylor's and Catharine Davis' (his wife's) children: 1. William Rowley, born June 11, 1772, Captain of the Schooner "Sally" and lost at sea in October 1793. 2. Thompsonborn Sept.23, 1775; married Anne Oldham, was Major in War of 1812. 3. Richard, born Dec.2,1777, married his first cousin, Mary Taylor, daughter of Edmund Taylor and Sarah Stubbs. 4. Colby, born Jan.8, 1780; married 3 times; 1st Elizabeth McGuire; 2nd, Lucy Taylor; 3rd, Lucy Minor. 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.