John Taylor Descendantsnbsp; 

Descendants of John Taylor
This particular report was prepared by Martha Mewborn Marble based on research on the early lines by Gloria Taylor and myself. The later lines are based on the work of Mrs. Robert Taylor of Lenoir County, NC with some additional information based on my own research. The Alabama lines have been deleted and will be found in the excellent additional Alabama Families Report by Robert Taylor Sr. and Jr. The exception is the line of Winifred Cauley and her husband, Bartholomew Cauley. Scott Smith has graciously allowed us to use one generation from his excellent book on the Cauley family. He is currently preparing book two for publication and will notify us when it is ready. In addition, the information on Catherine Taylor, daughter of Edwin Taylor, and her husband Thomas Whaley has been eliminated from this report as it can be found in the additional Whaley ˆ Taylor Report by Keith Whaley.

This is a true Joint Project by many people and we thank all of those who have contributed their research.

Generation One

1. JOHN1 TAYLOR was born circa 1746. He married Catherine Davis, daughter of James Davis and Catherine Blythers, in Lenoir or Duplin County, North Carolina, circa 1771. John died before 1820 in Lenoir County, North Carolina.

It has been thought that this Taylor family was seated in Duplin County and moved into Lenoir County and the same was true for the James Davis family. This was based on the records found in Duplin County which lists the heirs of Rachel Davis, daughter of James and Catherine Davis including the children of Catherine Taylor. A study of all available information proves both families never lived in Duplin County, but were seated in Lenoir County on South West Creek near Woodington. It appears that some of the families moved on north on South West Creek over the years.

For years it has been written that Catherine Davis' husband was Richard but there is no evidence of a Richard in the area. Information from the Alabama cousins indicated there was an old Journal that stated the husband was William and it gave dates of birth that fit. In Edwin Taylor's Will, he mentions land adj to William Taylor's old patent and without question there was a William of the right time to have been married to Catherine; however, efforts to locate the Journal have failed. For several years I went with William as the husband but as a result of this study and the circumstantial evidence found, I now feel that John was the husband. John may have been John Taylor Jr and he possibly had a brother William and one by the name of Edward or Edwin.
Because Taylor is such a common name and the lack of records in Lenoir County would make proving anything impossible, I put off any work on this family for years. In the meantime, a young cousin of the Alabama branch, Robert Taylor Jr., contacted me and then started an in-depth study of the Alabama branch. The information that Robert has turned up is incredible and he has left no stone unturned - and he wanted it taken back further.

Persistent is his middle name so this study is more for Robert. Then Gloria and I combined forces and although we could not prove a lot, some enlightening information was uncovered.

A number of years ago, Mrs. Robert Taylor of Lenoir County compiled a booklet on the Edwin Taylor family which is fairly complete. She did the legwork on the later family mostly by talking with all the branches of the family and we are indebted to her. I have a copy of this record and there is one at Heritage Place, LCC. I have back tracked a little on the family but not up to the present. One thing that is consistent in this family is the use of the name Windal in every branch - it is a dead give away of a connection to this family.

It appears there were two families on South West Creek - the Abraham Taylor family of Maryland, and the John Taylor family. Again, there are indications our John may have been a Junior. John was not a son of Abraham although it is possible he could have been a grandson but probably only the two oldest sons of Abraham, Jacob and Robert, could have been his father and there is no indication this was the case. These two families were neighbors and appear to have had numerous land dealings but we can't connect them although I think there was a connection. The names are not the same but they appeared about the same time along with the Richard Caswell Sr family and possibly other families from Baltimore County, Maryland where they were all neighbors near Joppa and attended the same church.

Abraham Taylor's father was Abraham Sr. and in Abraham Sr.'s Will, he left land to a son John. Within a year or two of Abraham Jr. moving to Craven Co, his brother John sold his inheritance in Maryland. Unfortunately, there were several John's in the church and land records and I can't sort them without a full study of the Taylors in Baltimore County. I have seen in various histories of this family, the contention that the brother John stayed in Maryland but I am not so sure he stayed given the number of John's in the area as well as other Abrahams. I am inclined to think the brother John moved to South West Creek and is our ancestor, being the John Sr.
Abraham first lived maybe in New Bern and then on Core Creek and then moved to SW Creek where he died with a Will.

There is more information available on the family of Abraham but even so, there is not enough to put them together. That will be covered in another section.

There is more family tradition down the Alabama lines than the Lenoir County lines - some of it can't be proven but there is some circumstantial to indicate some of it is correct. One of the traditions is that Catherine died, John remarried and the youngest daughter was reared by her siblings and then moved with them to Alabama.

There is a John Taylor on the 1790 Dobbs Census that is a perfect fit with the Davis records with the exception of the daughter, Elizabeth, born after 1790. Neighbors were the Millers, Harpers, and Herrings. In 1800 John does not appear on the Census but his son Wendal does. In 1810 a John appears next to Wendal and James, his sons. There is a small girl in the household but it is not known if this was the daughter Elizabeth or some other child. Family tradition states that Catherine died ca 1801 but that is not proven. John does not appear after this and it is assumed he died. It is possible that Elizabeth, on the 1820 Census was his widow but there appears to be more slaves that John would have had. It is about this time that all of his children, except for Edwin moved to Alabama.

In Book 17 CA 1796 - 1798 of the Cross Indices there are two conveyances - one from John to Wendal and one from John to Edwin who was still a minor at the time.
In Book 23 - 1805-1810 there is a conveyance from John to W and E Taylor on page 410 - assumed to be Windal and Edwin. On page 414 there is a conveyance between Elizabeth Taylor to Bartholomew Cauley a known son in law of John and Catherine.
It is possible that deed book dates are incorrect and these deeds were registered after John's death.
In Book 24 Aug 1810 - Aug 1819 there is a conveyance between James and Edwin the two assumed brothers. This would indicate that John was dec and James had inherited something and was probably selling to Edwin at which point he left for Alabama. In the same book is a conveyance between Isaac Taylor to Elizabeth and W. Taylor. Isaac may have been the administrator of John's estate which is another indication of the close relationship between the Abraham and John families. Everyone of John and Catherine's children had a son named John - not one had a son William.

The records found in Duplin County for Catherine Davis Taylor's sisters prove her children but of course, if John had another child by another wife, that child would not be listed. It has been written there was another girl in this family but if that was the case, she was not a child of Catherines. Rachel Davis' heirs were among others - Catey Taylor and her heirs were - Serena, James, Windal, Edwin, Winnie, Betsey. The additional report by Robert Taylor reflects the additional children in the family tradition in Ala. But they are not proven.

Nothing is known about Serena. Betsy was Elizabeth and she married Absolem Wall in Alabama. Winifred married Bartholomew Cauley and moved to Alabama with her brothers James and Windal. Only Edwin remained in Lenoir County where he has many descendants. In a letter written by a son of Elizabeth Wall many years ago, he states his mother told him she was reared by her siblings- probably Windal after her mother died and her father remarried.

One has to be careful is working with Southwest Creek as it cuts all across Lenoir Co from Duplin to Jones. There was a William Taylor of Wayne County, and another one who was the son of Robert Taylor a little further north of Deep Run and NS River close to the Wayne border.

Of all the land grants this one is the most promising
HOFFMAN'S LAND PATETS
1. Edward Taylor - 1770 - 30 A Dobbs - SS Neuse Graddy's Branch - adj Windal Blyde and John Irwin
I don't know where Graddy's Branch was but my hunch is Windal Blyde/Bliters and other spellings was the father of Catherine wife of James Davis. Catherine had a son Edwin which could have been a shortened version of Edward although I have never seen Edwin's name written as anything other than Edwin.

HOFFMAN - Land Patents - 1735 - 1764
NOTE: Includes both Lenoir and Duplin County Patents
1. #4714 - William Taylor - 28 Sept 1754 - 100 Ac in Duplin county NS Goshen Swamp adj John Rogers
2. #5329 - William Alphin - 3 March 1759 - 500 Ac Johnston County adj James Coliot, Wm Kinchin, Wm Taylor, Spanns line and a Branch
3. #5107 - William Taylor - 7 Oct 1756 - 200 A in Johnston Co SS Norhunty on Cow Branch adj Branch and Flowers Corner
4 #6214 - p 430 - William Taylor - 22 Oct 1762 - 560 A Duplin NS Goshan adj Denis Foley, William Rodgers, marsh, Jonathan Taylor, and Swamp
5. #6800 - p 310 - William Taylor - 1 Sept 1759 - 200 Ac Duplin NS Goshan Swamp
6. #7610 - James Taylor - 23 Nov 1764 - 100 Ac Craven - SS Trent adj where Abraham Busset lived, Crooked Run and Batchors plantation
7. John Taylor, Jr. - 23 Dec 1763 - 72 A Craven Co - SS SW Creek on Clarks Branch
8. #5794 - Henry Roberts - 10 April 1761 - 350 A Craven Co - SS of SW Creek - adj John Taylor and Roberts line
9. #5336 - John Taylor - 3 March 1759 -130 Ac Craven - ES of West Creek adj Hays Branch below Taylors Plantation, Henry Roberts and Hay Branch
10. #5054 - John Taylor - 29 Sept 1756 - 300 Ac ES of SW Creek joining ES Clarks Branch, and a Savannah
11. #5053 - Abraham Taylor - 29 Sept 1756 - 81 Ac in Craven on ES of SW Creek adj great Swamp, Meadow near Creek, Creek mouth and side of Great Branch

NOTE: Abraham had additional grants from 1748 to 1764 on SW Creek

MURPHY'S DOBBS CO ENTRIES
1. #653 - James Taylor - 5 April 1779 - 640 A - Dobbs both sides SW Creek joining Lewis Sowers and William Taylor
2. #669 - 1780 - William Taylor - 60 A - SS Bear Creek - adj Thomas Uzzel
3. #673 - 1780 - James Davis - 200 A WS Deep Run - adj William Taylor
4. #695 - 1780 - William Taylor - 100 A Butlow ? Branch adj Micajar Pacher and William faircloth
5. #965 - 1789 - William Taylor - 50 A NS Vine Swamp adj Chiney and Machland line
6. #272 - 1778 - Joshua Herring - ES Bear Creek - adj John Lawson, William Taylor, Daniel Taylor
7. #62 - 1778 - William Taylor - 125 A - SS Button Branch adj Isom Lane (NOTE: on Wayne-Greene Border)

THE FIFTY - TWO HEIRS OF RACHEL DAVIS OF DUPLIN 1849
Abstracted from the original at the NC Archives.
The following record is from Duplin County, N.C. Equity Minute and Execution Docket, stack file number C. R. 035.314, page 87, N.C. State Archives
"At a Court of Equity held for the County of Duplin on the fourth Monday in March 1849 the Honorable William H. Battle Presiding the following Rules and orders were made Zachariah Davis and others Ex Parte Petition for Sale of Real Estate.
Heirs of Rachel Davis dec
Janet Davis
Zach Davis - Christian, James H., Sarget, Malachi, John, Zachariah, Polly, Thomas, Charity, Benjamin, Betsy
Windal Davis - Samuel, John, James, Windal, Polly, Sally, Nancy, Betsey
Malachi Davis - Malichi, Katey, Alsey, Betsey
Alsey Albertson - Polly, Kitty
Nancy Lawson - Christopher, David, Betsey, James
Civil Leary - Job, Suckey, Stanley
Betsy Dobson - James, John, Perry, Sally, Alcey
Catey Taylor - Serena, James, Windal, Edwin, Winnie, Betsey

WILL of Rachel Davis - 27 Nov 1828 - to my brother Windal Davis, Sr.; Zachariah Davis; sisters Elizabeth Dobson, Jane Davis; brother Windal's oldest son Samuel; grandchildren of Susannah Stanley - all get l/6 part of money from sale of my property; also to Mary Williams, Ann Circy Leary and her heirs; heirs of Catherine Taylor; Alcy Albertson's heirs; Nancy Lawson's heirs; heirs of Malachi Davis; and to Susannah Stanly's adopted children - all get 50 cents each for rest of estate that went to the Taylor's see Taylor infor

1835 JULY TERM DUPLIN CO COURT RECORDS - abstracted by Martha Marble
James Taylor vs Zacheriah Davis and others
James Taylor
Catherine Davis
Nimrod W. Long and Catherine his wife
Barney Ivy and Elsey his wife - she suppose to be daughter of Malachi Davis
Batholemew Cauley and Winifred his wife
Elizabeth Taylor
Windal Taylor
none lived in N. C. have to advertise for all to return and claim inheritance continued in Oct Term but I could not find it

BOOK 3B p 245
6 March 1830 - Rachel Davis - Deed of Gift and Negros - love and affection to beloved sisters and brothers - Catherine Taylor, Ann Civil Leary, Nancy Lawson, Elizabeth Dobson, Alcy Alberson, Zach Davis, Malachi Davis and Richard Prescott - 7 Negroes - Doll,
Ann, Robard, Welly, Jack, Phillis, Will and all my land including my wearing apparel
WIT James T. Davis, Zachariah Davis
NOTE: Her will was written in 1828.

CATHERINE DAVIS was born in Lenoir or Duplin County, North Carolina, circa 1750. Catherine died circa 1801 in Lenoir County, North Carolina.
The six known children of John1 Taylor and Catherine Davis were as follows:

2.    i. SERENA2 TAYLOR. No further information.

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3.    ii. JAMES DAVIS TAYLOR, born circa 1774 in Dobbs County, North Carolina; married Unknown (--?--).

NOTE: FOR INFORMATION SEE THE ADDITIONAL ALABAMA REPORT


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4.    iii. WENDELL TAYLOR, born circa 1781 in Dobbs County, North Carolina; married Rebecca Arnett.

NOTE: FOR INFORMATION SEE THE ADDITIONAL ALABAMA REPORT

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5.    iv. WINIFRED TAYLOR, born circa 1782 in Dobbs County, North Carolina; married Bartholomew Cauley.

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6.    v. EDWIN TAYLOR, born circa 1785 in Lenoir County, North Carolina; married Penelope Smith.

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7.    vi. ELIZABETH TAYLOR, born after 1790; married Absolom Wall.


NOTE: FOR INFORMATION SEE THE ADDITIONAL ALABAMA REPORT.

Generation Two


5.

WINIFRED2 TAYLOR (John1) was born circa 1782 in Dobbs County, North Carolina (Will and Estate Records of Rachel Davis, Duplin Co. 1828 - 1835 Will written 27 November 1828.). She married Bartholomew Cauley, son of Roger Cauley, circa 1805 in Lenoir County, North Carolina. She died on 23 December 1875 in Camden, Ouachita County, Arkansas (Tombstone.). She was buried in Cauley Family Cemetery,, Ouachita County, Arkansas.

BARTHOLOMEW CAULEY was born circa 1780 in Dobbs County, North Carolina. He died on 11 December 1859 in Camden, Ouachita County, Arkansas (Ibid.). He was buried in Cauley Family Cemetery,, Ouachita County, Arkansas. The information on the Cauley family came from the excellent book on the Cauley family by Scott Smith of Alabama.

Notes for BARTHOLOMEW CAULEY:
Bartholomew, the patriarch of the Southeast Alabama Cauley's was born in 1780 according to Census records in Dobbs County (now Lenoir) North Carolina or 1781 according to his tombstone. He was buried near a white oak tree close to his home, as he requested.
This site became the Cauley Family Cemetery in Ouachita County, Camden, Arkansas.
He married Winneford "Winnie" Taylor, sister to James and Windell Taylor, probably in Lenoir County, North Carolina in c. 1805-1808.
He was a veteran of the War of 1812. when he served as a sergeant, appointed 17 November 1814, in Captain Joshua Mosely's Company of Drafted Militia, Second Regiment of Detached Militia. This company was designated at various times as Captain Joshua Moseley and Captain John Myer's Company. He enlisted on 29 September 1814 and was assigned to barracks at New Bern, North Carolina then the trading center for Lenoir County and served at Beacon Island, North Carolina from October 1814 through January 1815 and then again in New Bern, North Carolina until his discharge on 22 March 1815.

He and his family came to Alabama in late 1815 or early 1816. There were in Alabama for the birth of their first son David S. Cauley in 1816 according to census and family Bible records.
In order to reach their new home in Alabama, the Cauley's had to travel over the Federal Road, which was really nothing more than a rude trail that had been hacked out of the wilderness on the orders of President Jefferson after the purchase of the Louisiana territory.
The purpose of this road originally was to provide a faster postal route to New Orleans. But the road soon became a route for white settlers moving into the Mississippi Territories. Much of it was deep gullies because of the erosion of the sandy soil. There were few bridges along the way and streams were forded or the settles paid exorbitant tolls to Indians who operated ferries.

At the time the Cauley's came into Alabama, Milledgeville, Georgia was the point of departure and the last outpost of civilization before crossing into the Creek Indian Nation.

Settlers and others crossing into this frontier were required to first obtain a passport from the governor of Georgia. The office selling public lands was also in Milledgeville, Georgia. When the Cauley's came into the Mississippi Territory in 1815/1816, they were coming into a dangerous place. The various Indian tribes greatly resented the white settlers; the Fort Mims massacre of 247 white settlers: men, women and children; had occurred on 30 August 1813. This hostility lead to the building of Fort Crawford at what is now Brewton, Alabama.

By 1817 Bartholomew Cauley had established himself as a leader in this frontier community that grew up around Fort Crawford and was chosen to undertake the dangerous job of traveling to New Orleans to by stores of corn for the community. These stores were then shipped by boat to Pensacola before being hauled by wagon to the settlement. They could not be shipped on the rivers because the river were in the control of hostile Indians. The next year General Andrew Jackson and his army defeated the Indians and won a pledge from them not to harm the white settlers.

Whatever the hardness of life on the frontier, the Cauley family seemed able to adjust and to thrive. The 1820 Federal Census of Alabama, The first since Alabama Territory was granted statehood in 1819, shows Bartholomew Cauley and in the enumeration of Conecuh County, Alabama, from which Covington County and the other counties were later formed. He and his family moved from the Fort Crawford north upstream to near the headwaters of the Conech River and settled into northern Covington County now known as Rose Hill, Alabama.

For a couple of decades the Cauley's and their in-laws seemed to dominate the new settlement. In fact , this part of the county was called Cauleyville in the early years of the counties history. A post office at Cauleyville opened on 5 December 1839 and continued in operation until it was discontinued in 1845 after the opening of the post office in Andalusia, Alabama. In December 1855 Andrew Feagin opened another post office which he called Rose Hill, Alabama and the community has had that name ever since.

In the mid 1820's, Bartholomew Cauley continued to be a public figure as well as a family man and farmer. He owned a store in Cauleyville. Its customers included almost all the early settlers, as the account books attest. The store was later operated by his son-in-law James M. Parker. On 28 February 1825, Bartholomew Cauley was appointed sheriff of Covington County, Alabama. He then served as vice- sheriff under James Finklea until 3 August 1829. On 1 February 1830 he served a term as Justice Of The Peace. During the 1830's Bartholomew Cauley bought several tracts of land in Southeast Alabama. At some point in the mid 1850's, probably in 1853 or 1854, Bartholomew Cauley, his wife Winneford, their grandson James Talton Drake, their granddaughter and grandson-in-law Adaline and James Harmon Bozeman and Bartholomew six living children left Alabama for Ouachita County, Arkansas.

Bartholomew's younger son John B. Parker, his daughter and son-in-law Elizabeth and James B. Parker along with grandchildren James Talton Drake, Adaline Cauley Bozeman, husband James Harmon Bozeman stayed a short time in Arkansas before they returned to Covington County, Alabama where they lived out the rest of their lives. David Cauley and his family stayed in Arkansas until 1862 when they too return to Covington County, Alabama to live out their lives. Bartholomew and Winneford stayed in Arkansas where they died and are buried.

The seven known children of Winifred2 Taylor and Bartholomew Cauley were as follows:

21.    i. HEPSABETH3 CAULEY was born circa 1806 in Lenoir County, North Carolina. She married Castilian Jefferson Drake circa 1831. She died circa 1847 in New Orleans,, Louisiana. They had one son before they separated. She left him and lived the last years of her days in New Orleans, LA, where she expired in 1847, and where she is buried. Through her daughter Adaline Cauley Bozeman and her son James Talton Drake, she has numerous descendants.

22.    ii. REBECCA CAULEY was born circa 1810 in Lenoir County, North Carolina. She died on 3 August 1882 in Ouachita County, Arkansas. She was buried in Cauley Family Cemetery,, Ouachita County, Arkansas.

23.    iii. ELIZABETH ANN CAULEY was born circa 1815 in Lenoir County, North Carolina. She married James B. Parker circa 1835. She died circa 1875 in Covington County, Alabama. She was buried in Parker Graveyard,, Covington County, Alabama. They had three children and have a number of descendants.

24.    iv. DAVID S. CAULEY was born on 30 September 1816 in Fort Crawford,, Alabama. He married Gincey Butler. He died in June 1892 in Covington County, Alabama, at age 75. He was buried in Veasey Chapel Cemetery,, Covington County, Alabama. They had eight children. Many descendants.

25.    v. NANCY CAULEY was born circa 1823 in Covington County, Alabama. She married John J. Turberville circa 1850. She died on 7 June 1877 in Ouachita County, Arkansas. She was buried in Cauley Family Cemetery,, Ouachita County, Arkansas. No issue.

26.    vi. WINNEFORD CAULEY was born circa 1826 in Covington County, Alabama. She married Matthew Strickland. She died on 20 March 1907 in Ouachita County, Arkansas. She was buried in Buena Vista Cemetery,, Ouachita County, Arkansas.

27.    vii. JOHN RICHARD CAULEY, born 1836 in Covington County, Alabama; married Elizabeth Marie Dannelley.



6.

EDWIN2 TAYLOR (John1) was born in Lenoir County, North Carolina, circa 1785. He married Penelope Smith. Edwin died By September 1886 in Lenoir County, North Carolina (Will of Edwin Taylor, written 5 September 1874 probated 25 September 1876 Lenoir County, NC.).
On the 1870 Census was a Nancy Taylor in his household. Did he remarry after Penelope died?

WILL OF EDWIN TAYLOR
Original at the Lenoir County Courthouse, Will Book A, p 118
Transcribed by Martha Mewborn Marble
September 5th, 1874
In the name of God, Amen. I, EDWIN TAYLOR, Senr of the County of Lenoir and State of North Carolina being of sound mind and memory but considering the uncertainty of Earthly Existence do make this and publish this my last will and testament in manner and for me following that is to say,
First that my Executor hereinafter named sall provide for my body a decent buriel suitable to the wishes of my relation and friends pay all funeral expenses together with my just debts howsoever and to whomsoever owing out of the moneys that may first come into his hands as a part of parcel of my estate
Second I give and bequeath to my Eldest Daughter CATHERINE WHALEY fifty dollars in money to her and her heirs in fee simple forever to have and to holde
Thirdly I give and bequeath unto my son JOHN TAYLORS lawful children a certain piece or parcel of land being and lying in the County of Lenoir and on the north side of the Southwest Creeke and East side of the Grate horse branch to them to have and to hold to them and their heires in fee simple forever
Fourthly I give and bequeath to my sone EDWIN TAYLOR, Junr a certain piece or parcel of land on the west side of the Grate Horse branch and North side of the saide Southwest Creeke adjoining ZECHARIAH DAVISES lands. Beginning at the mouth of the Great Horse Branch containing 149 ¾ Acres more or less to him and his heires to have and to holde in fee simple for Ever
Fifthly I give and bequeath unto my sone JAMES TAYLOR a certain piece or parcel of land being and lying on the South side of the Southwest Creeke and east side of Gum Branch Adjoining NATHAN HILLS lands and being the place he now lives. Beginning at the mouth of a ditch at the Southwest Creek and runs up said ditch S 3 wt 34 po to crook of Ditch. Then up said ditch So 72 wt 56 po to head of ditch to a cross fence thence along the cross fence S. 53 wt 17 poles then along the lane So 40 Et 22 poles to end of lane then So 40 Et 46 poles to a stake in the path then So 20 wt 85 poles to a pine in the head of Gum branch then down the Gum branch to the Southwest Creeke and down the Southwest to the beginning Containing 88 acres more or less to have and to hold his live Time and at his death to his sone WINDOL TAYLOR and daughter PERSY SUSAN HILL to them and their heires in fee simple forever.
Sixly I give and bequeath unto my youngest Daughter SUPHRONA SMITH a certain piece or parcel of land adjoining the above named Eighty Eight Acre track and on the westside of the Great Swamp and on the south side of the South west Creeke Beginning at a Hickory on the side of the Great Swamp and runs So 63 wt 150 po to a pine then So. 26 wt 35 po to a stake in the path then no 40 wt 46 poles to the end of the lane then along the land No 56 Ex 17 poles then No 30 wt 4 poles to Cross fence then along cross fence No 53 Et 52 pol to head of a ditch then along the ditch No 72 Et 56 po to crook of ditch then along the ditch No 3 Et 34 poles to the Southwest Creeke then down the Southwest Creeke to the mouth of the Great Swamp then up the Greate Swamp to the Beginning Containing 73 acres more or less to her her life known as the plase that she was borned on Raised and now live and if she dies leaving no lawful children to be divided between her Brothers and sisters children equally to shear and shere alike each and every of them
Lastly my will and desire is that the residue of my property (if any) after taking out the divises and legacies above mentioned shall be solde and the debts owing to me collected if any and should be any surplus ove and above the payments of debts expenses and legacies that such surplus shall be equally divided and paide over to all my children in equal proportion shear and shear alike to each and every of them there Executors administrators and assigns absolutely forever and lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint my Trusty sone EDWIN TAYLOR Junr my lawful Executor to all intents and purposes to execute this my last will and testament according to the intents and meaning of same and every parte and clause thereof hereby revoking declaring utterly voide all other wills and testaments by me heretofore made.
In witness whereof I the saide EDWIN TAYLOR Senior do hereunto set my hand and seale this 5th day of September, A. D. 1874 signed sealed published and declared by the saide EDWIN TAYLOR, senr to be his last will and testament in the presence of us who at his Request and in his preasants do subscribe our names as witnesses.
SIGNED      EDWIN (X) TAYLOR
JAMES DAVIS
WM ELMORE
Recorded in the office of the Superior Court Clerk and Probate Judge of Lenoir County in Kinston, NC the 25th day of September 1876
WM W. N. HUNTER, Clerk & Judge
Lenoir County - In the Probate Court ;              Before Wm. W. N. HUNTER
In the matter of the will of ;              Judge of Probate
EDWIN TAYLOR
EDWIN TAYLOR, JR being sworn , doth say:
That EDWIN TAYLOR, late of said County, is dead having first made and published his last will and testament and that EDWIN TAYLOR, Jun is the executor named therein. Further, that the property of the said EDWIN TAYLOR, consisting of money, land and some household furniture is worth about $1200.00 so are as can be ascertained at the date of this application; and that CATHERINE WHALEY, JOHN TAYLOR'S lawful children, EDWIN TAYLOR, Jun, JAMES TAYLOR & SUPHRONA SMITH are the parties entitled under said will to the said property.
SIGNED EDWIN TAYLOR, JR
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 25th day of September 1876
WM. W. N. HUNTER
Probate Judge
State of North Carolina, Lenoir County
In the Probate Court
A Paper purporting to be the last will and testament of EDWIN TAYLOR, deceased, is exhibited before me, the undersigned, Judge of Probate for said county by EDWIN TAYLOR, Jun, the executor therein named, and the due execution thereof by the said EDWIN TAYLOR is proved by the oath and examination of JAMES DAVIS and WM ELMORE, the subscribing witness thereto; who being duly sworn, doth depose and say, and each for himself deposeth and saith, that he is a subscribing witness to the paper writing now shown him, purporting to be the last will and testament of EDWIN TAYLOR; that the said EDWIN TAYLOR, in the presence of this deponent subscribed his name at the end of said paper writing, which is now shown him as aforesaid, and which bears date of the 5th day of Sept. 1874.
And the deponent further saith, That the said EDWIN TAYLOR, the testator aforesaid, did at the time of subscribing his name as aforesaid declare the said paper writing so subscribed by him, and exhibited, to be his last will and testament, and this deponent did thereunpon subscribe his name at the end of said will, as an attesting witness thereto, and at the request and in the presence of the said testator. And this deponent further saith that t the said time when the said testator subscribing his name to the last will as aforesaid, and at the time of the deponents subscribing his names as an attesting witness thereto, as aforesaid, the said EDWIN TAYLOR was of sound mind and memory, of full age to execute a will and was not under any restraint, to the knowledge, information or belief of this deponent. And further these deponents say not.
JAMES DAVIS
WM. ELMORE
Lenoir County Probate Court Sept 25, 1876 On reading and considering the application of EDWIN TAYLOR, Jun to admit a paper writing purporting to be the last will and testament of EDWIN TAYLOR, Sr., dec'd, to probate, and to be qualified as Executor thereof according to the appointment thereby made, and having examined on oath JAMES DAVIS and WM. ELMORE, the two subscribing witnesses thereto, as to the execution thereof. It is adjudged that the said paper writing and every part thereof, is the last will and testament of the said EDWIN TAYLOR, Sr, deceased, and the same as such is ordered to be recorded and filed; and thereupon the said EDWIN TAYLOR, Jun, the Executor as aforesaid, and takes and subscribed the following oath:
State of North Carolina, Lenoir County
I, EDWIN TAYLOR, Jr., do solemnly swear that I believe this writing to be and contain the last will and testament of EDWIN TAYLOR, Sr., deceased, and that I will well and truly execute to the same by first paying his debts and then his legacies, as far as the said estate shall extend or the Law will charge me and that I will well and faithfully execute the office of an Executor, agreeable to the trust and confidence reposed in me, and according to law, so help me God.
SIGNED EDIN TAYLOR, JR
Sworn and subscribed before me this 25th day of September 1876
WM. W. N. HUNTER, Probate Judge.

PENELOPE SMITH. Penelope died before 1870 in Lenoir County, North Carolina.
I have nothing at this point to prove she was a Smith other than family tradition. Her surname came from Malcolm Grady, a well known genealogist who said she was from Wayne County where the name Penelope is found in my other Smith Family.

The six known children of Edwin2 Taylor and Penelope Smith were as follows:


28.    i. REBECCA3 TAYLOR was born CA 1815-1820 (The Taylor Family by Mrs. Richard Taylor.). She married Thomas Haynes (Ibid.). The Taylor Book gives Rebecca but I am not sure what the proof is as she is not listed in her father's will. I don't think she was a child of Edwin Taylor, but of Charles Holland and therefore a sister to Edwin Jr's wife Matha Holland. She is mentioned in the Will of Charles Holland.

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29.    ii. CATHERINE ELVA TAYLOR, born 7 March 1818 in Lenoir County, North Carolina; married Thomas Evans Whaley.


NOTE: FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION SEE THE WHALEY ˆTAYLOR REPORT


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30.    iii. JOHN TAYLOR, born circa 1820 in Lenoir County, North Carolina; married Mary E. Bryant.

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31.   iv. EDWIN TAYLOR JR, born 29 August 1821 in Lenoir County, North Carolina; married Martha Holland.

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32.   v. JAMES TAYLOR, born circa 1825 in Lenoir County, North Carolina; married Eliza (Taylor).

33.    vi. SUPHRONIA E. TAYLOR was born on 9 June 1831 in Lenoir County, North Carolina (Will of Edwin Taylor, written 5 September 1874 probated 25 September 1876 Lenoir County, NC.) ( Tombstone, Lenoir County, NC.). She married Ira Smith on 4 December 1873 in Lenoir County, North Carolina (The Taylor Family by Mrs. Richard Taylor.). She died on 23 July 1914 at age 83 (Ibid.) (Tombstone.). She was buried in James Williams Cemetery,, Lenoir County, North Carolina. Mrs. Taylor states she was the 2nd wife and had no issue. She lived between the Mark Smith home place and Deep Run owned later by Brown Wiliams.

Generation Three


30. JOHN3 TAYLOR (Edwin2, John1) was born in Lenoir County, North Carolina, circa 1820. He married Mary E. Bryant, daughter of Blake Duwain Bryant and Hannah Holland, in Lenoir County, North Carolina, circa 1845 ( Collection of Sybil Hyatt, original Collection at the Kinston, NC Public Library.). John died circa 1863 in Lenoir County, North Carolina.
According to the Taylor Book, John was in the Civil War and family tradition says he died in New Bern probably of the yellow fever that went around in 1863. There is no existing stone for either John or Mary in Lenoir County and if John died of yellow fever, he was probably buried in the mass grave. There is a John Taylor on the list of dead.
I can't find him on the printed 1850 Census but he is on the 1860 Census. The Taylor Book lists an Emmeline and a Nancy as children, but the 1860 lists Nancy E. and I am inclined to think that was one daughter, not two.
1860 - from microfilm
John 40, Mary 36, Nancy E. 14, Rebecca 13, William 12, Eliza 10, John 7, Council 5, Mary 2
Woodington District
1870 Census Mary 45, William 21, Sally 19, Eliza 17, John 15, Council 13, Mary 11, Richard 6
Mary not found on the 1880 printed census although she was suppose to be alive.

MARY E. BRYANT was born circa 1824. Mary died.
SYBIL HYATT COLLECTION - Found in the Taylor Folder - Collection located at the Lenoir County Public Library, Kinston, NC.
No date, but would have been written no later than 1945.
John Taylor was the son of Edwin Taylor and Mary Bryant. Mary's parents were not known until reading this letter.
My dear Miss Hyatt, I was so sorry I did not have another visit with you before I left Kinston. After we had our discussion on the Taylor family the morning I was in your room, I did a great deal of traveling. I finally located a Mrs. Speight Sutton, who was a niece of my great grandmother, Mary Bryant Taylor, and she wrote a statement to the effect that she knew the names of my great grandmother and great grandfather to be Mary Bryant Taylor and John Taylor, respectively. My great grandmother was the daughter of Blake Bryan and Hannah Holland Bryant.
I wrote all this information down for her and had her sign it for me.
Perhaps, Miss Hyatt, you could refer me to some other genealogist who would take on this job for me. I know your health has been poor and I can't impose of your anymore. I did tell you the day I was there however, that I'd let you now how successful I have been.
If we can't get anymore on we could see how the Bryant family stood; there is on my great grandmother's side.
Thanking you in advance for any help you can offer.
I am
Very Sincerely
Ruth Hudson Carwirth
Mrs. Foster H. Carwith
101 Taylesome Lane
Southampton, New York.

The eight known children of John3 Taylor and Mary E. Bryant all born in Lenoir County, North Carolina, were as follows:

126.    i. NANCY EMMELINE4 TAYLOR was born circa 1846 (1860 Lenoir Co NC Census.) (Tombstone.).
She married Windal Harper, son of Blackledge Harper and Sally Tyndall. She died on 16 January 1927 in Lenoir County, North Carolina (Ibid.). She was buried in Windal Harper Cemetery,, Lenoir County, North Carolina.
Her stone gives the birthdate as 1843.
There is additional information on this family in the Taylor Book and in the Heritage Book.

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127.    ii. REBECCA TAYLOR, born circa 1847; married Thomas Henry Hardison.

128.    iii. WILLIAM BLAKE TAYLOR was born circa 1849 (1860 and 1870 Lenoir Co NC Census.). He married Sallie Benton, daughter of Chelly (Bender) (The Taylor Family by Mrs. Richard Taylor.). He died circa 1927 (Ibid.).

129.    iv. HARRIET ELIZA TAYLOR was born on 22 August 1852 (Tombstone.). She married William Kenyon Baker, son of Ann Jane Baker, on 1 January 1873 in Lenoir County, North Carolina (The Taylor Family by Mrs. Richard Taylor.). She died on 17 November 1926 in Lenoir County, North Carolina, at age 74 (Tombstone.). She was buried in W. Kenyon Baker Cemetery,, Lenoir County, North Carolina.

He was in the Civil War and there is a nice article in the family in the Heritage Book.

130.    v. COUNCIL B. TAYLOR was born circa 1855; His Marriage Record gives his birthdate as 1861, his stone gives 1853 and the 1860 Census gives 1855. He married Nannie Holland on 30 March 1882 (The Taylor Family by Mrs. Richard Taylor.) (Tombstone.). He died on 12 June 1943 in Lenoir County, North Carolina. He was buried in Council B. Taylor Cemetery,, Lenoir County, North Carolina.

131.    vi. JOHN EDWARD TAYLOR was born on 19 September 1857 (The Taylor Family by Mrs. Richard Taylor.); In one place Mrs. Taylor has the birthdate as 1853 and in a nother 1857. I don't see a stone for him. The article in the Jones County Heritage Book gives 1857. He married Sarah Doris Harrison on 14 December 1882 (Ibid.). He died on 15 January 1925 at age 67 (Ibid.). Nine children - article in Jones County Heritage Book.

132.    vii. MARY PENELOPE TAYLOR was born on 20 August 1859 (Ibid.). She married Guilford Johnson on 23 October 1879 (Ibid.). She died on 12 November 1939 in Lenoir County, North Carolina, at age 80 (Ibid.).

133.    viii. RICHARD TAYLOR was born circa 1864 (1870 Lenoir Co NC Census.).

31.

EDWIN3 TAYLOR JR. (Edwin2, John1) was born on 29 August 1821 in Lenoir County, North Carolina (Will of Edwin Taylor, written 5 September 1874 probated 25 September 1876 Lenoir County, NC.) (Tombstone.). He married Martha Holland on 6 July 1844 ( Marriage Bond.). He died on 15 December 1892 in Lenoir County, North Carolina, at age 71 (The Taylor Family by Mrs. Richard Taylor.) (Tombstone.). He was buried in Patterson Cemetery,, Lenoir County, North Carolina. The information for the exact dates came from Lura Tully of Jacksonville, Florida through Robert Taylor.

MARTHA HOLLAND was born on 8 June 1829 in Lenoir County, North Carolina (Ibid.). She died on 30 December 1898 in Lenoir County, North Carolina, at age 69 (Ibid.). She was buried in Patterson Cemetery,, Lenoir County, North Carolina.

The 12 known children of Edwin3 Taylor Jr. and Martha Holland were as follows:

134.    i. NANCY ELIZABETH4 TAYLOR was born on 9 October 1846 in Lenoir County, North Carolina (Ibid.). She married Unknown Sheppard (The Taylor Family by Mrs. Richard Taylor.). She married Unknown Davenport (Ibid.). She married William Elmore. She died on 8 April 914 in Lenoir County, North Carolina (Tombstone.). She was buried in Patterson Cemetery,, Lenoir County, North Carolina.

135.    ii. LUCY I. TAYLOR was born on 25 December 1846 in Lenoir County, North Carolina. She married Elza B. Reese on 28 May 1865 (The Taylor Family by Mrs. Richard Taylor.).

136.    iii. CHARITY TAYLOR was born circa 1850 in Lenoir County, North Carolina.

137.    iv. SARAH TAYLOR was born circa 1856 in Lenoir County, North Carolina. She married Asa Waller.

138.    v. SOPHRONA TAYLOR was born circa 1857 in Lenoir County, North Carolina. She married Frank Harper

The Taylor Book says they moved to Florida and had 14 children.

139.    vi. CHARLES E. TAYLOR was born on 24 November 1858 in Lenoir County, North Carolina (Tombstone.). He married Albina Holland on 28 August 1884 (The Taylor Family by Mrs. Richard Taylor.). He died on 27 September 1927 in Lenoir County, North Carolina, at age 68 (Tombstone.).
He was buried in Charles E. Taylor Cemetery,, Lenoir County, North Carolina.

140.    vii. MARTHA L. TAYLOR was born circa 1859 in Lenoir County, North Carolina. She married Lee Hill on 13 December 1906.

141.    viii. ELIZA PENELOPE TAYLOR was born on 25 May 1862 in Lenoir County, North Carolina (Ibid.). She married James Williams on 4 December 1884 in Lenoir County, North Carolina. She died on 10 March 1943 in Lenoir County, North Carolina, at age 80 (Ibid.). She was buried in James Williams Cemetery,, Lenoir County, North Carolina.

142.    ix. JAMES B. TAYLOR was born circa 1868 in Lenoir County, North Carolina. He married Lizzie Benton on 3 October 1894 (The Taylor Family by Mrs. Richard Taylor.).

143.   x. EDWIN G. TAYLOR was born on 6 December 1869 in Lenoir County, North Carolina (Tombstone.). He died on 27 July 1892 in Lenoir County, North Carolina, at age 22 (Ibid.). He was buried in Patterson Cemetery,, Lenoir County, North Carolina.

144.    xi. OLIVIA C. TAYLOR was born circa 1871 in Lenoir County, North Carolina.

145.    xii. LIB TAYLOR.

32.

JAMES3 TAYLOR (Edwin2, John1) was born circa 1825 in Lenoir County, North Carolina (The Taylor Family by Mrs. Richard Taylor.) (Will of Edwin Taylor, written 5 September 1874 probated 25 September 1876 Lenoir County, NC.). He married Eliza (Taylor) circa 1843. He died By November 1882 in Lenoir County, North Carolina.
Did he have another wife before Eliza? The 1850 Census does not support his having other children other than Windal and Pearcy Susan. If he had additional children, their mother would have been someone else. The Taylor Book gives Harry, Marsha Hope and Thomas Neill Taylor, but on the 1860 Census in the household was Henry Hill 16, Thomas Hill 14 and Martha Hope 16. Windal and Susan appear to be the only children.
According to the Taylor Book, James and Eliza were buried on the Ed Stanley farm near Deep Run in Moody Cemetery that used to be the Taylor Cemetery. If that is the case, they probably had wooden markers, long gone.
On the 1880 Census he had several mulatto children living with him, could they have been his children?
He had a Will written 31 July 1882 and probated 7 November 1882. Friend Ira Smith was the Exec. Wife Martha W. Taylor, son Windal and daughter Pearcy Susan Hill. WIT were James Herring and Thomas Davis. I don't have a copy of the Will.

ELIZA (TAYLOR) was born circa 1831.

The two known children of James3 Taylor and Eliza (Taylor) both born in Lenoir County, North Carolina, were as follows:

146.    i. WINDAL4 TAYLOR was born on 8 July 1848 (Tombstone.). He married Nancy Hill daughter of Nathan Hill and Eleanor (Laney) Cunningham, on 18 February 1873 in Lenoir County, North Carolina (Ibid.) ( Marriage License.). He died on 28 January 1926 in Lenoir County, North Carolina, at age 77 (Tombstone.). He was buried in Windal Taylor Cemetery,, Lenoir County, North Carolina.

147.    ii. PERSIS SUSAN TAYLOR was born on 8 September 1852 (Ibid.). She married James Hill, son of Nathan Hill and Eleanor (Laney) Cunningham, on 10 May 1874 in Lenoir County, North Carolina (Ibid.). She died on 24 March 1905 in Lenoir County, North Carolina, at age 52 (Ibid.). She was buried in James Hill Cemetery,, Lenoir County, North Carolina.

Generation Four



127.

REBECCA4 TAYLOR (John3, Edwin2, John1) was born in Lenoir County, North Carolina, circa 1847. She married Thomas Henry Hardison, son of Thomas Henry Hardison and Margaret Dail, in Duplin County, North Carolina, circa 1865. Rebecca died before 1891 in Lenoir County, North Carolina. Her body was interred in Lenoir County, North Carolina, in Taylor Cemetery. THOMAS HENRY HARDISON was born in Duplin County, North Carolina, circa 1847. He married Julia West Pilar circa 1892. Thomas died circa 1896 in Lenoir County, North Carolina. His body was interred in Lenoir County, North Carolina, in Taylor Cemetery. This family lived in the Woodington District in 1880. According to Kate White, Thomas' only living child in 1985, Tom was buried in the Johnston Family Cemetery between Southwood and Woodington. His tombstone was wooden and is long gone. It is assumed that Rebecca was also buried there but his 2nd wife, Julia, was buried at Maplewood. Rebecca Hardison Vause took me to the cemetery many years ago and showed me the exact place he was buried and descendants obtained a Civil War headstone for the spot. Obtaining a Civil War Stone was in error as it was his father who served in the Civil War not Thomas Jr. It is not clear to me if Thomas owned land or not but he is on the Cross Indices several times so he probably did. He had no Will and there are no pictures of him that anyone is aware of.

Not much is known about Thomas or Rebecca.

The six known children of Rebecca4 Taylor and Thomas Henry Hardison were as follows:

148.     i. JOHN FRANKLIN5 HARDISON was born; The old family picture of this family consists of John and Emma and her mother, Sallie Simmons Barwick. The children: Hardy was out working in the fields, Marcellus (to the left), Adel in his father's lap, Marion (standing up), Felix (standing up) Becky who was about 11 at the time.
The family moved across the river ca 1914 - I am not sure which side. He was born in Lenoir County, North Carolina, in December 1867. He married Martha Emma Barwick, daughter of Richard Barwick and Sarah (Sallie) H. Simmons, in Lenoir County, North Carolina, on 4 February 1891. John died before 12 May 1928 in Lenoir County, North Carolina.

149.    ii. ADA HARDISON was born on 25 December 1867 in Lenoir County, North Carolina. She married Basil MacGruder Sparrow, son of Isaac E. Sparrow and Ann Jane Baker. She died on 13 January 1938 in Lenoir County, North Carolina, at age 70.
The information on this line came from Keats Sparrow.

150.    iii. NORA HARDISON was born circa 1874 in Lenoir County, North Carolina. She married Harvey Franklin Davis on 25 October 1894.

151.    iv. JAMES HARDISON was born on 24 January 1877 in Lenoir County, North Carolina. He married Nannie Susan Lewis, daughter of William Oliver Lewis and Henrietta (Lewis). He died on 23 September 1933 in Lenoir County, North Carolina, at age 56.
Jim was well known in Lenoir County as he owned the store at Lakeside Mill.
The information on this line was provided by James William Hardison who has since passed away.

152.    v. CLAUDE HARDISON was born circa 1879 in Lenoir County, North Carolina. He died circa 1900.
Never married.

153.    vi. EDWARD HENRY HARDISON was born on 15 March 1882 in Lenoir County, North Carolina. He married Addie Bertha Koonce in December 1902. He died on 25 June 1951 in Norfolk,, Virginia, at age 69. Ed moved to Norfolk and efforts to obtain information about him and his family were not successful. Ruby Parker Harper supplied the names of his children.

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