NATIONAL

QENEALOQICAL SOCIETY
QUARTERLY
Volume 45

DECEMBER 1957

Number 4

JOHN TAYLOR OF MILFORD, KENT COUNTY, DELAWARE,

AND HIS FAMILY
By John Insley Coddington'

John Taylor of Milford, Kent County,

Delaware, was variously called "yeoman"
and "carpenter." He was probably born
about 1752-55, but neither his parentage
nor his birthplace is definitely known.
He may have been a son of John Taylor,
Jr., and a grandson of John Taylor, Sr.
(who had a wife Margaret in Feb. 1745/
6), both of whom were "of Kent Co.,
yeomen." John Taylor, Sr., made a will
dated 25 Oct. 1752, proved 2 Nov. 1752,
in which his wife Margaret was not men

tioned and was therefore presumably

deceased. John Taylor, Sr., named among
his heirs his sons John Jr. and William,
grandsons Halburt & Thomas Taylor,
sons of son John Taylor, Jr., and grand
daughter Rachel Taylor daughter of Wil
liam Taylor (Leon deValinger, Jr., Calen
dar of Kent County, Delaware., Probate
Records, 1680-1800, p. 151). Although
no proof of connection has been found
between "our" John Taylor of Milford
and aforementioned John Taylors, Sr. and
Jr., it is not impossible that "our" John
Taylor may have been a son of John
Taylor, Jr., and born after 25 Oct. 1752,
the date on which John Taylor, Sr.'s will
was drawn.

The village of Milford in Kent County,

Del., was founded in 1778, and at first

lay entirely on the north bank of Mispillion Creek, in what was then Mispillion
Hundred, Kent County. By 1790, the
settlement contained eighty buildings
((ieorge U. llynson, llisforiiwl EichinyH

of Milford and Vicinity, 1899, p. 20).

' Mr. Cuddinirton ia a former Councillor of the
Nntionnl Genealogical Society, a Felow of the

American Society of Genealogists, and a Contribu

ting Editor of The American Genealogist.

Whether our John Taylor lived in Milford

from its foundation in 1778 is not known,

but he was there by 1781, when he owned
a house and lot on the northwest corner
of Main and Church Streets.

John Taylor married, perhaps as early

as the autumn of 1775, and at least by 3
Dec. 1776, Ann or Nancy (Rasin) Cullen,
who was born in Mispillion Hundred,

Kent County, Del., about 1759, daughter

of Benjamin Rasin of Mispillion Hundred
(who was born March-Apr. 1732 and died
between 25 Dec. 1781 and 17 Jan. 1782),

fiy his first wife Keziah

Ann or

Nancy Rasin married, first, at the age of

about 14, shortly before 27 Aug. 1773,
Jonathan Cullen of Mispillion Hundred,
yeoman, who died between 16 June 1775
and 12 July 1775. Jonathan Cullen's will,

dated 16 June 1775, proved 12 July fol

lowing, named wife Nancy, brothers
George & Elias Cullen, nephews John &
Charles Cullen, sons of brother George
Cullen, and Mary Crapper, Jr., daughter
of Zadoc Crapper, Esq. Wife Nancy

(notwithstanding her tender age) and her

father, Benjamin Rasin, were made execu
tors. The will is in Bk. L, fo. 170, Kent
Co. Court House, Dover, Del., and also in
Arch. Vol. A-12, pp. 89-90, Del. State

Archives. A note in Arch. Vol. A-12, p.

90, shows that Nancy (Rasin) Cullen had
married John Taylor, date not specified.
In the Orphans' Court of Kent County,
under date of .'I December 1776, it ia

stated that "Comes John Taylor & Nancy

his wife who by the name of Nancy Cul

len was Ex'x together with Benjamin

Rasin Executor of the Testament & last

will of Jonathan Cullen deceased," They

liiiiHMiiMlkiill

182

NATIONAL GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY QUARTERLY

pray for admission of account of their

executorship. There is a balance of
2()'l-5-4.

At

the

same

session

of

the

Court, John and Nancy Taylor stated that

Jonathan Cullen died seized of a demesne

in fee or tract in Mispillion Hundred,

Kent County, at the junction of the upper
and lower county roads leading: from
Dover to Sussex Co., containing 180 acres.
They petition to sell. Granted (Kent Co.
Orphans' Court, vol. C, fo. 66). On 15
November 1781, there was an Indenture

Tripartitite between Benjamin Rasin of

Kent County, yeoman, & Rachel his wife,

and John Taylor of Kent County, yeoman,

& Ann his wife, only Daughter [by the
first marriage] of said Benjamin Rasin,
and Curtes Crumpton of the said County,
yeoman.

In consideration of the natural

love and affection which the said Benja

min Rasin doth bear to the said John

Taylor and Ann his wife, and also for 5,

the said Benjamin Rasin and Rachel his

wife do grant to the said Curtes Crumpton a tract in Mispillion Hundred, part
of a larger tract called Ivy Hill, for the

use & behoof of said John Taylor & Ann

his wife. Signed by Benjamin Rasin, and
by Rachel "R her mark" Rasin, and re
corded 15 Nov. 1781 (Deed Bk. X, fo.

175, Dover, Del.). This grant by Benja

min Rasin to his daughter Ann or Nancy
(Rasin) (Cullen) Taylor was obviously
in lieu of a bequest, and it is equally
obvious that Benjamin Rasin knew he had

not long to live when he made the grant.

Benjamin Rasin, calling himself "of Kent
County on Delaware, sick and weak of

body," made his will 25 Dec. 1781, and in

it bequeathed all his estate real and per
sonal to his [second] wife Rachel, and to
his children by her, Philip, Mary, George,
Joseph, and the one "my Wife is now
carrying." The will was proved 17 Jan.
1782 (Will Bk. L, fo. 251, Dover, Del.).
It is obvious that Benjamin Rasin felt he

had taken sufficient care of his daughter

Ann or Nancy by the grant of 15 Nov.
1781. On 25 Nov. 1784, John Taylor &
Nancy his wife, formerly Nancy Cullen,
who with Benjamin Rasin deceased was

i i

executrix of the will of Jonathan Cullen

late of Mispillion Hundred, gave bond to
alienate the mansion & plantation of John
Cullen, father of said Jonathan Cullen

(Deed Bk. X-1, p. 197, Dover, Del.). On

13 Jan. 1787, letters of ad mi ni.st ration on

the estate of Wini.am Taylor of Kcmt Co.
(no relationship stated) were gianted to
John Taylor of Milford (Will Bk. M, fo.
129, Dover, Del.). On the list of persons
assessed in Mispillion Hundred in 1785,
were two John Taylors, one of whom was
doubtless ours (J. Thomas Scharf, His
tory of Dekmare, 1888, 2; 1176). On 3
December 1787, Joseph Oliver deeded to
nine residents, of Milford, including John
Taylor, a lot of 14,400 square feet for the
building of a Methodist Church. Francis
Asbury rode into Milford, 22 October
1789, and noted "We have had a great
move and noble shouting."
The early
record.s of Milford Methodist Church have

not survived {ibid., 2: 1198).

John

Taylor

of

Milford

Pai
as

Hu
of ;
ma)
fem

1 fi
vol.
ton

Mis
witl
mal

fem

h 1
ton]
Mis
witl
ovei

may

have

agei

served in the Revolutionary Waj^, but

Slav

since many John Taylors served in the

72, :

Delaware Militia, it is not possibly to

fem.

distingui.sh which record may belong to

our John Taylor. Neither he nor his wife
lived long enough to have a pension. Our
John Taylor was listed as an inhabitant
of Milford in Leon deValinger, Jr., Re
constructed 1790 Census of Delaware, p.
44. This is a most valuable work, pub

may
youi

Ken
tate.

date
esta-

perh

lished 1954 by the National Genealogical

Society. Our John Taylor died, presuma
bly at Milford, shortly before 5 Feb. 1795,

Bk.

on which date letters of administration

Arcl
heirs

on his estate were g^ranted to his widow

Nancy Taylor; John Parsons and Jabez
Fisher were sureties, and the bond was
for 1000 (Will Bk. N, fo. 110, Dover,
Del.).

Ann or Nancy (Rasin) (Cullen) Taylor

married, thirdly, at an unknown date,
Tomlinson Parsons of Mispillion Hundred,
yeoman, as his second wife. Tomlinson
Parsons had previously married, after 4
Apr. 1791, Mary () Hall, widow of
Winlock Hall of Mispillion Hundred,
farmer (Arch. vol. A-21, p. 140, Del. State
Archives). Ann or Nancy (Rasin) (Cul
len) (Taylor) Parsons died after 9 July
.1806, on which date she was bequeutheil

In

were

son"
Jam<

John
John
able
listec

1810,
Nanc
heirs

Co., (
Co.;

Tayb
at th
who

25 cents in the will of her half-brother

lot o

Joseph Rasin (Will Bk. 0, fo. 152, Dover,

Del.). She was probably .still living
when the Census of 1810 was taken, but
died before 22 June 1811, intestate; Tom

villag

linson Parsons was referred to as her

widower

on

the

last

date.

Tomlinson

an

adjoi
Fron

Sudle

JOHN TAYLOR OF MILFORD, KENT COUNTY, DELAWARE

Parsons was listed in the Census of 1800

as living on Mispillion Neck, Mispillion

Hundred, Kent County, with a household

of 1 male under 10, 1 male aged 10-16, 1
male aged 16-26, 1 male aged 26-45, 1
female aged 10-16, 2 females aged 16-26,
1 female aged 26-45 (Del. Census of 1800,
vol. 1, p. 66, National Archives, Washing
ton). Tomlinson Parsons was listed in
Mispillion Hundred in the Census of 1810
with a family of 1 male under 10, 1 male
male aged 26-45, 1 female aged 16-26, 1
female over 45 (Del. Census of 1810, vol.
1, p. 102, National Archives, Washing
ton), "Tomilson" Parsons was listed in
Mispillion Hundred in the Census of 1820
with a family of 1 mala under 10, 1 male
over 45, 3 females under 10, 1 female
aged 16-18, 1 female aged 18-26, and 2
slaves. (Del. Census of 1820, vol. 1, p.
72, National Archives, Washington). The
female aged 18-26 in the Cen-^us of 1820

183

his heirs, etc." Signed by Benjamin Tay

lor, John Taylor, Nancy Quigley. Wit
nessed by Jacob Furbee, James G. Mc
Dowell. Acknowledged 26 June 1810,
recorded 4 July 1810 (Deed Bk. L-2, p.
245, Dover, Del.). On 22 June 1811, ac
counts of the estate of John Taylor of
Milford, deceased, were drawn up. Tom
linson

Parsons

w'ho

intermarried with

Nancy Taylor (now deceased), in her life

time administratrix of the estate of John

Taylor dec'd, presents the following

balance of the said John Taylor's estate,
as passed by the said Nancy on 9 Feb.
1796 for distribution among his heirs, to
wit: for all the heirs, $436.18; to Nancy
Quigley wife of James Quigley, on 25
October 1800, $48.22; to Mary Masten
wife of John Masten, on 27 Oct. 1800,
$48.22; to Benjamin Taylor, on 19 June
1811, $48.22; to Elizabeth Taylor (no

Like so many dwellers in

date), $48.22; to John Taylor on 19 June

1811, $48.22; to Keziah Taylor on 21 June
1811, $48.22. This account approved &

Kent Co., Tomlinson Parsons died intes

tate, shortly before 28 Nov. 1831, on which

settled 22 June 1819 by James Harper,

Register (Arch. vol. A-49, p. 201, Del.

date

State Archives).

may liave been a housokeepcr or a now

young wife.

letters

of

administration

on

his

estate were granted to Benjamin Parsons,

perhaps a son of his first marriage (Will
Bk. Q, fo. 101, Dover, Del.).

On 18 August 1820, application was

madp to the Orphans' Court of Kent Coun

ty by James T. Rasin [son of Philip

In Arch. vol. A-49, p. 201, Del. State
Archives, there is an undated list of the
heirs of John Taylor of Milford. These
were: Nancy Parsons, wife of "Tumlinson" Parsons; Nancy Quigley, wife of
James Quigley; Mary Masten, wife of
John Masten, and Benjamin, Elizabeth,
John and Keziah Taylor. It is reason
able to suppose that the children were
liisted in their order of birth.

On 26 June

1810, Benjamin Taylor, John Taylor, and

Nancy Quigley, widow, being some of the

heirs of John Taylor, deceased, all of Kent
Co., conveyed to John Wood, Esq., of Kent
Co.: "Whereas Benjamin Taylor, John

Rasin, who was a half-brother of Ann or

Nancy (Rasin) (Cullen) (Taylor) Par

sons], stating that John Taylor late of the

town of Milford, Kent County, carpenter,
died intestate, owning certain messuages
and a dwelling house in Milford aforesaid,
adjoining the lots of Dr. John Adams and
Dr. Joseph Sudler, containing ^4 acre.
S'aid Taylor left a widow Nancy who has
since died, and six children, Nancy now
wife of Isaac Chippy, Mary now wife of
John Masten, Benjamin Taylor, Elizabeth
now wife of
[name left blank, a.s
if unknown], John Taylor, and Keziah
Taylor. Philip Rasin is stated to have

Taylor, and Nancy Quigley became seized

at the death of their father John Taylor

bought the shares of Nancy, Mary, and

who died intestate in several shares of a

them to a certain John Wood. Joseph

Rasin bought the share of Elizabeth Tay
lor before her marriage [this deed not

lot of ground with improvements in the

village of Milford, said to contain 'A of

an acre, subject to 23s. ground rent,

adjoining the land of Dr. John Adams,
Front Street, the road, and Dr. Joseph
Sudler, for a consideration of $150 they
convey their said .shares to John Wood &

Benjamin, and to have then transferred

recorded], and the said Joseph Rasin

afterwards died, leaving said property to

his nephew, James T. Rasin, the petitioner
(Orphans' Court, vol. H, fo. 241, Dover,
Del.). On 7 August 1821, there was a

184

NATIONAL GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY QUARTERLY

"Return of the freeholders appointed to

divide the Real Estate of John Taylor
deceased, his widow being dead." Spencer

in the Probate or Orphans' Court record.s, and the presumption is that Nancy
d. before Isaac Chippy, without sur

Williams, John Mitchell, Thomas Fisher,

and Peter T. Causey, all of Milford, were

viving issue by him.

the freeholders. The land was at the

northwest corner of Main & Church

Streets, Milford, containing 21 perches,

and was valued at $600. The Taylor
house began at the comer of Dr. John
Adams' house, and extended 3 1/10
perches along Main Street and 6 8/10

perches along Church Street, on the north

Her .son by James

Quigley was not mentioned except in

the Census of 1800, and presumably d.
young.

ii. Mary Taylor, b. in 1779; d. in Mispillion Hundred, Kent Co., Del., 12 Jan.
1827, "aged 47 years, 7 months" (g.s.).
She married about 1799 John Masten,

Church St. It was .surveyed 25 July 1821.

No mention of Taylor heirs (Orphans'
Court, vol. H, fo. 272, Dover, Del.).

farmer, of Mispillion and later of Mil

ford Hundred, Kent Co. (Milford Hun
dred was set off from Mispillion in
1830). He was b. in Mispillion Hun
dred ca. 11 Nov. 1777, was "aged 72"

Children of John and Ann or Nancy

(Rasin) (Cullen) Taylor:

Hundred 7 Sept. 1857, "aged 79-10-26"

according to his gravestone, which is

i. Nancy Taylor, b. about 1776 or 1777;

next to his first wife's on Masten Farm,

near Church Hill, Milford Hundred

side of Main St. and the west side of

in the Consiis of 1850, and d. in Milford

date of death not known.

She married

(1) prob. about 1795-96, and certainly

before 1800, James Quigley.

James

Quigley, aged 16-26, with wife aged

16-26, and 1 son aged under 10, was

living on Mi.spillion Neck, Kent Co.,

next door to .Tohn Masten (see below)
in the Census of 1800 (Del. Comsus of
1800, vol. 1, p. 73, National Archives,
Washington). No Quigloy.s were list<>d
in Kent Co., Del., in the Census of 1810.

James Quigley was not the grantor or

grantee of any recorded deed in Kent

Co. He d. before 26 June 1810, on

which date Nancy was termed "widow"

in the conveyance to John Wood. Quig

ley had no probate in Kent Co., and
there is nothing about him or his child

in the Orphans' Court records. Nancy

(Taylor) Quigley married (2) in Kent

Co., by license dated 11 Aug. 1814,

Isaac Chippy (Kent Co. Marriage Rec
ord, 20:155). ThuinaH Tonilin.son was
hond.sninn dC this li'.ii.so. aixi TItnnms
Tomlinson, Henry Davis, and Rachel

Tomlinson were witnesses. Isaac Chip

py had previously been married in Kent

Co. by license dated 23 July 1800 to

Jane Bray. Isaac Chippy d. in Kent
Co. shortly before 10 Aug. 1827, on
which date letters of administration on

his estate were granted to Jacob Boone,

Sr., with Poster Boone as surety (Will
Bk. Q, fo. 101, Dover, Del.).

There is

no mention of Nancy or of any children

(Walter G. Tunstall, Ms. Tombstone

Records of Kent and Sussex Counties,
Del. State Archives). John Masten
was listed as "John Masten, Jr.," next

door to James Quigley on Mispillion

Neck, Mispillion Hundred, Kent Co., in
the Census of 1800, with a family of 1

^male aged 16-20, 1 female under 10, 1

female aged 10-20 (Del. Census of 1800,
vol. 1, p. 73, National Archives, Wash
ington). On 27 Oct. 1800, Mary wife
of John Masten received her share of

$48.22 in the distribution of her father's

estate. In the Census of 1810, John
"Masden" was listed in Mispillion Hun

dred with a family of 1 male under 10,

1 male 16-26, 1 male 26-45, 2 females
under 10, 1 female 10-16, 1 female 2645 (Del. Census of 1810, vol. 1, p. 103,
National Archives, Washington).
In
the Census of 1820, John Masten was in
Mi.spillion Hundred with a family of 2
males under 10, 1 male 10-18, 2 males
IK 20. 1 nnih^ 2L.ir), I female umh-r 10,

3 females 10-16, 1 female 16-18, 1

female 26-45, 4 slaves (Del. Census of
1820, vol. 1, p. 79, National Archives,

Washington). After the death of his

first wife Mary (Taylor), John Masten
married (2) Mary
, b. ca. 1799, and
with her he appeared in the Census of
1850: John Masten, 72, farmer, real
estate worth $2000, b. Del.; Mary Masten, 51, b. Del.; Henry Masten, 11, b.

Kr

1::

185

JOHN TAYLOR OP MILFORD, KENT COUNTY, DELAWARE

n<'l.: ChnrU'S Miisten, 7, b. DfiL; Sina

Wright, 15, b. Del.; Jame.s R. Norris,
lU, farm hand, b. Del. (Del. Census of

1850, vol. 1, p. 281", household 495, Na

tional Archives, WashinR:ton).
Masten's will, dated 25 Apr.

John
1857,

named his (second) wife Mary; chil

dren Ann Hamilton, widow, William T.
Masten, Barbara wife of John Wil
liams, David R. Masten, James T. Masten, Sarah Ann wife of Peter Ellis, and

Charles P. Masten (the last a minor),

also granddaughter Maria wife of John
M. Lofland. The will was proved 29
Sept. 1857 by William T. Masten, eldest
son and executor (Will Bk. S, p. 412,
Dover, Del.). His widow Mary Masten
petitioned the Orphans' Court on 29

Sept. 1857 regarding her dower and the

share of her son Charles P. Masten, a

minor. On 29 Sept. 1858, Charles P.

Masten, a minor over 14, asked that
William H. Powell be appointed his
guardian (Orphans' Court, vol. U, pp.
45, 107, 166, Dover, Del.).

Mary A., b. 20 Oct. 1847, m. John

Davis; Catherine, b. 31 March
1849, m. Samuel Harrington; John
M., Jr., b. 22 Sept. 1850, m. Eliza
beth Ackerman; Julia W., b. 1853,
m. 23 Dec. 1883 Thomas Franklin

Wheatley; Sarah Elizabeth, b. 18

May 1856, m. James Goodman of
Rahway, N. J.; Collins T., b. 14
March 1859, m. Jennie Marvel
{Biographical & Genealogical His
tory of the State of DeUwmre, 1899,
2:1070). In the Census of 1850, the
family of John M. Lofland was in
Milford Hundred, Del., and was
listed as follows: John M. Lofland,
38, farmer, b. Del.; Mariah Lofland,
25, b. Del.; Joseph B. Lofland, 5, b.
Del.; Mary A. Lofland, 3, b. Del.;
Catherine Lofland, 1, b. Del.; James
P. Lofland, 32, farm hand, b. Del.;
Edward Hamilton, 16, farm hand,
b. Del.; Jane Layton, 16 (black),
servant, b. Del.
(Del. Census of
1850, vol. 1, p. 232, household 498,
National Archives, Washington).

Known children of John and Mary (Tay

lor) Masten;

1. Ann Masten, b. late in 1799 or early

in 1800, d. after 1857.

She m. (1)
Hamilton.

Martin, and (2)

As "Ann Hamil

ton, widow," she was a legatee in

her father's will in 1857.

She had

at least one daughter, Maria Mar

tin, and one son, Edward Hamilton,
who was b. ca. 1834 and was "aged
16" in the Census of 1850, when he
was living with the Loflands.
Maria Martin, b. ca. 1825, was
aged 25 in the Census of 1850, hav
ing married, 24 May 1844, John M.
Lofland of Milford, farmer and
later tailor, who was b. there 24
May 1812, son of John Lofland (b.
1780). Maria wife of John M. Lof
land was a legatee in the will of
her grandfather John Masten in
1857.

John M. Lofland d. at Mil-

ford in Nov. 1886, and his wife

Maria d. there in Dec. 1886; both

bur. in Oddfellows' Cemetery, Milford, Del. They had eight children

(surname Lofland): Sarah Eliza
beth, b. 12 Oct. 1844, d. 1846;
Joseph B., b. 3 Jan. 1846, d. 1867;

2. William T(aylor ?) Masten, b. ca.

Jan. 1802, aged 48 in the Census of
1850, d. 16 March 1880, aged 78-221 (g.s.); bur. with his parents on
Mnston

Farm,

Milford

Hundrod,

Kent Co. In the Census of 1850,

he was listed with a wife Ellin G.,
aged 44, and sons William, 20, and
Clement, 17, all farmers and b. in
Del.

William T. Masten had real

estate worth $5500. Nearby was

Reuben Masten, 27, farmer, b. Del.,
who was probably William T. Masten's

eldest

son.

Reuben

had

wife Sarah, 24, and children Mary

A., 5, Sarah E., 3, and Rachel, 2
months (Del. Census of 1850, vol.
1, p. 210, households 347 and 350,
National Archives, Washington).

3. Barbara Masten, b. , m. John Wil

liams. She was a legatee in her
father's will in 1857.

4. David R. Masten, b. ca. 1811, aged 39

in the Census of 1850, a legatee in
his father's will in 1857. He was a
farmer in Milford Hundred, and in

1850 had a wife "Latitia, aged 54,

b. Del." and with them lived Mar-

186

NATIONAL GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY QUARTERLY

garet A. Davis, aged 14, b. Del.,

perhaps the wife's daughter by a
previous marriage (Del. Census of

1850, vol. 1, p. 221, household 425,

National Archives, Washington).

5. James T (aylor ?) Hasten, b.

, a
legatee in his father's will in 1857,
but not found in Kent Co., Del. in
6. Sarah Ann Hasten, b.
, m. Peter
Ellis. She was a legatee in her
father's will in 1857.

Children of John Hasten by his second

wife (not Taylor):
7. Henry Hasten, b. ca. 2 Oct. 1838,
aged 11 in the Census of 1850, d. 25
Aug. 1865. "aged 10-10-23," and
with

his

father

slaves (Del. Census of 1820, vol. 1, p.

73, National Archives, Washington).
Strangely enough, our Benjamin Taylor
does not appear as grantor or grantee
of any recorded deeds in Kent Co. after

the Census of 1850.

bur.

listed in Hispillion Hundred with a

family of 3 males under 10, 1 male 1626, 1 male 26-45, 1 female under 10, 1
female 10-16, 1 female 18-26, and 2

on

Hasten

Farm, Milford Hundred, Del.

8. Charles P. Hasten, b. ca. 1843, aged

7 in the Census of 1850, named in
his father's will in 1857, and was a
minor over 14 on 29 Sept. 1858
when he chose William H. Powell as

his guardian.

ill. Benjamin Taylor, b. ca. 1781-82, was

apparently the elder son of his parents.

He was too young to have been the

Benjamin Taylor who married in Kent
Co., Del., by license ditted 1(5 Jan. 171)4,
Sarah Taylor, who was b. 11 Oct. 1770,
daughter of Joseph and Hary (Smith)
Taylor of Dover Hundred, Kent Co.
Our Benjamin may well, however, have
been the Benjamin Taylor who married
by bond dated 10 Jan. 1804 Nancy Hall

(Kent Co. Hnrriuge Record, 16:233),

A Benjamin Taylor, probably our Ben
jamin, was listed in Mispillion Hundred,
Kent Co., in the Census of 1810 with a

family of 2 males under 10, 1 male aged

16-26, 1 male aged 26-45,1 female under
10, 2 females aged 10-16, 1 female aged
26-45 (Del. Census of 1810, vol. 1, p.
105, National Archives, Washington).
On 26 June 1810, Benjamin Taylor with

his brother John and sister Nancy

Quigley conveyed to John Wood their
share of their father's land in Hilford.

On 19 June 1811, Benjamin Taylor re

ceived his share of $48.22 from the dis
tribution of his father's estate.

In the

Census of 1820, Benjamin Taylor was

1810.

The

only

Benjamin

Taylor

named in later deeds in Kent Co. was

a brushmaker of Philadelphia, who

bought land in Hispillion Hundred on
21 July 1819, and sold it in 1821. Ben
jamin Taylor of Philadelphia, brushmaker, a member of the Society of
Friends, wa,s a son of Samuel and Cath
erine Taylor of Trenton, N. J., the hus
band of Jane Coc of Burlingt(m, N. J.,
and d. in Philadelphia in 1866 without
ever having actually settled in Kent Co.,
Del. He was an entirely different man
from our Benjamin Taylor, son of John
Taylor of Hilford. On 26 Oct. 1825,
letters of administration on the estate

of Benjamin Taylor, deceased, were

granted to Samuel Herring, and we
suppo.so that this mcan.s that our Benja
min Taylor d. shortly before 26 Oct.
1825, intestate (unless the rec()rd per
tains to some other Benjamin Taylor).
Just ten years later, on 26 Oct. 1835,
lett(>rs of ndmini.stratitin were granted
to Samuel Herring on the estate of John

Taylor, minor, son of Benjamin Taylor

deceased (Will Bk. R, fo. 49, Dover,
Del.).

There

are

no

documents

on

these estates in the Orphans' Court rec

ords, and there was no Benjamin Tay
lor listed in Kent Co. in the Census of
1830.

iv. Elizabeth Taylor, b. ca. 1785-87.

She

was twice named as fourth child in

lists of her parents' children. She re

ceived her share of $48.22 in the distri
bution of her father's estate at an un
specified date. On 18 Aug. 1820, Eliza

beth's half-first-cousin, James T. Rasin,

applied to the Orphans' Court of Kent
Co. for final adjudication of title to
the dwelling house of John Taylor in
Hilford. Rasin then stated that Eliza

beth was the wife of

, showing

that she was married, but that the fam

ily in Hilford did not know her hus-

mum

187

JOHN TAYLOR OF MILFORl), KENT COUNTY, DELAWARE

band's name, which suggests either that

she was living away from Kent Co., or
that her husband's name sounded

strange to

Delaware ears, or

both.

Rasin further stated that Elizabeth had

.sold her share of her father's dwelling
house before her marriage, the grantee

having been her half-uncle Joseph

Rasin (who was James T. Rasin's full
uncle). This deed, unfortunately, was
not recorded. Joseph Rasin died, leav
ing a will dated 9 July 1806, proved 15
Apr. 1810, in which he bequeathed 25
cents each to his half-sister Ann or

Nancy (Rasin) (Cullen) (Taylor) Par

sons and to his full sister Mary (Rasin)
Truitt, and all the residue of his estate
real and personal to his nephew James
T. Rasin, son of his brother Philip
Rasin (Will Bk. 0, fo. 152, Dover,
Del.).

The rest is conjecture. I think, but

cannot prove, that this Elizabeth Tay
lor (who appear.s no more in Kent Co.
records) left Milford and moved to
Philadelphia, perhaps soon after her
mother's death, which took place before
22 June 1811, as was shown above.

further think that she was the Elizabeth

Taylor who was married to Denis

O'Driscoll at St. Paul's P. E. Church,
Philadelphia, on 18 Feb. 1812, by Rev.
Joseph Pilmore, D.D., the Rector. The
original Registers of St. Paul's Church
merely state in Dr. Pilmore's hand
writing that on 18 Feb. 1812 he married
"Dennis Droskel" to Elizabeth Taylor;
no information was given about ages,
places of residence, parentage, or wit
nesses.

Denis

O'Driscoll

was

native

of

Clonakilty, co. Cork, Ireland, where he

was b. about 1785, son of Cornelius and
Honora O'Driscoll of that place. He
came to Amei-ica before 1809, and set

tled in Philadelphia, where he set up

shop as a shoemaker and cordwainer.
He was naturalized

as an

American

citizen in the Mayor's Court of Phila

delphia on 11 Feb. 1811, and was then
said to be 25 years old (original certifi
cate of naturalization now belonging to
the contributor). Denis O'Driscoll was
a Roman Catholic, and his wife Eliza
beth was converted to that faith. She

was baptized at S't. Joseph's Church,

Willing's Alley, Philadelphia, 7 Apr.
1813, and the original Register of St.
Joseph's .states that on that date "Elizabetha O'Driscoll, nata Taylor, baptizata
fult." There is no indication of age,

birthplace, parentage, residence, or

previous religious affiliation. Baptism
was administered by Rt. Rev. Michael
Egan, first R. C. Bishop of Philadel
phia, and the Bishop's sister and house

keeper, Miss'Mary Egan, acted as god

mother. On 28 May 1813, Bishop Egan
ratified the marriage of Denis O'Dris
coll and Elizabeth Taylor "who had

previously been married by a Protestant

minister," and Mary Egan was the sole
witness to this ceremony.

Neither of

these weddings was mentioned in any

Philadelphia newspaper now extant.
It is quite po.s.sible that the Delaware
relatives of Elizabeth (Taylor) O'Dris

coll would not have approved of her

marriage to an Irishman or of her con
version to Catholicism, which may ac
count for the statement made by James
T. Rasin in 1820 that Elizabeth was
married to

Denis O'Driscoll was listed in the

Philadelphia City Directories as "shoe

maker" and "cordwainer" at several
addresses: from 1813 to 1815 he was

living in Drinker's Court; from 1816 to

1820 at 142 South 4th St.; from 1821 to
1827 at 154 South 4th St.; from 1828

to 1833 at 16 Strawberry St. He and

his wife Elizabeth (Taylor) had seven
children, all born in Philadelphia. In
or about 1834, Denis O'Driscoll and his
family moved from Philadelphia to
"Washington, D. C., where Denis no
longer made shoes, but was called
"gentleman" in the City Directories.
He had obviously come into some money
(the source of which has not yet been
found), for his three younger daughters
attended

the

"Visitation

Convent

in

Georgetown, and his youngest son was

enrolled as a student at Georgetown
Preparatory School. Neither he nor
his wife ever owned any real estate in
Philadelphia or Washington, and their
names appear on no deeds in those
cities.

Both

O'Driscoll

died

Denis

and

intestate,

Elizabeth

and

their

iii

itiiiiliMiiM
t'

NATIONAL genealogical SOCIETY QUAIITBRLY

188

estates were evidently settled privately

1813, later took the additional name of

by agreement among the children, for

"Francis" at confirmation, and became

Cornelius Francis O'Driscoll; he be
came a printer and stereotyper in

there is no record of administration of

their estates in Washington or in Phila

delphia. Denis O'Driscoll died "at his
residence" (evidently rented premises)
on the south side of I Street between

21st and 22nd Streets, N. W., Washing

ton, D. C., on 6 June 1849, "aged 64
years." His widow Elizabeth (Taylor)
O'Driscoll spent the summer of 1850
with her daughters Elizabeth and Mar
garet, who were then teaching at St.
Aloysius' Parochial School, Leonardtown, St. Mary's Co., Md., and in the
Census of 1850 for St. Mary's Co. Mrs.
Elizabeth O'Driscoll appears as "aged
63, born in Delaware."

She later re

turned to Washington, and died "at her

house on 10th Street between G and H,
N. W." (also rented premises), on 16
Apr. 1853, "in the 68th year of her
age." Notices of both deaths appeared
in the Washington National Intelligen
cer and in the Philjodelphia Public Led

Washington, but returned to Philadel

phia, his birthplace, by 1843, and m.

there, 30 Jan. 1844, Eliza Mary Eddowes, who was b. at Poxchase, Phila
delphia Co., Pa., 16 Oct. 1824, daughter
of Ralph and Louisa (Thornton) Eddowes, and granddaughter of Ralph and
Sarah (Kenrick) Eddowes (for whom
see New England Historical & Gene

alogical Register, 90:83-85 and 92-94;

The American Genealogist, 16:128;
24:220-221; 25:165-167, 31:89, 32:9-23,
and additional sources cited in these

articles); Cornelius Francis and Eliza

Mary (Eddowes) O'Driscoll moved
from Philadelphia to Cincinnati, Ohio,

E
c:

L
U

ir
S
A

bi
M
cc
ai

O
gf
ui

th
V. J
P
ar

lis

ger; in the latter because the two older

sons, Cornelius and John, had returned
to Philadelphia about 1843 and were

in the fall of 1853, and he d. of pneu

monia at 144 Clark St., Cincinnati, 11
Dec. 1863; his widow d. at 127 Dane
Avenue, Cincinnati, 21 Dec. 1893; they
had eight children; (2) Honora, b. 26
March 1815, bapt. at St. Joseph's 15
Apr. 1815, entered the Order of the
Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de

WJ

living there when their parents died in

Washington. No Vital Records were

Paul (Mother Seton Sisters) at Emmitsburg, Md., and received the name

sa

kept in the District of Columbia until

1855, and no record has been found of
the burial of Denis or Elizabeth O'Dris

in religion of Sister Polycarp; she d. at

the Roman Catholic Orphan Asylum,
San Francisco, California, 9 Feb. 1896,
aged 80-10-14; (3) John, b. 4 Aug.
1817, bapt. at St. Joseph's 21 Sept.
1817, became a printer, and was last
heard of working for the Indianapolis
Sentinel in 1874, after which all trace
of him is lost; he m. ca. 1845 Margaret
, and had at least four children;
(4) Mary, b. 27 Dec. 1819, bapt. at St.

coll in any extant

ington. It seems
were buried in a
which no longer

cemetery in Wash
probable that they
Catholic graveyard
exists. Graveyards

were formerly attached to both St. Pat

rick's and St. Matthew's Churches in

Washington, but when the city expand

ed and land became valuable the grave
yards were sold and the remains moved
to Mt. Olivet Cemetery. No records
whatever now exist of any burials in
the former churchyards.

In the Census of 1880, the four

daughters of Denis and Elizabeth (Tay

lor) O'Driscoll all stated that they
themselves were born in Pennsylvania,

Joseph's 23 Jan. 1820, entered the Order

of the Visitation and received the name

in religion of Sister Gonzaga; she d. at

the Convent of the Visitation, Brooklyn,

N. Y., 6 June 1890; (5) Elizabeth, b.

ca. 1822; (6) Margaret, b. ca. 1824;

(7) Daniel C., b. ca. 1827; the baptisms

of the last three children did not take

The children of Denis and Elizabeth

place at St. Joseph's Church, but almost

certainly at St. Mary's Church, 4th St.
above Spruce, Philadelphia. The priests
claim that the old Registers of St.

(Taylor) O'Driscoll were: (1) Cor

nelius, b. 3 July 1813, bapt. at St.

Mary's are lost, so the dates of birth

and baptism of Elizabeth, Margaret and

Joseph's Church, Philadelphia, 1 Aug.

Daniel cannot be fixed with accuracy.

their father in Ireland, and their moth

er in Delaware.

hi

Ju
su

ce

fa

Jo
Cc
in
of

U
ch.

lis'

iiiii

JOHN TAYLOR OF MILFORD, KENT COUNTY, DELAWARE

189

Elizabeth and Margaret O'Driscoll be

came school-teachers, successively at
Leonardtown, Md.,. Philadelphia, and

in the Census of 1820, with a family of

1 male aged 26-45, 1 female under 10,
2 females 16-18, and 1 slave (Del. Cen

Mobile, Ala.; they retired from teaching

garet, and Daniel C. O'Driscoll were

sus of 1820, vol. 1 p. 67, National Ar

chives, Washington), but we do not
know if this was the right John Taylor.
On 12 May 1846, letters of administra
tion on the estate of John Taylor of
Mispillion Hundred, deceased, intestate,
were granted to David Taylor of the
same Hundred (Will Bk. R, fo. 388,
Dover, Del.; Arch. vol. A-49, p. 204,
Del. State Archives), but again we do

unmarried. Like their parents, none of

the O'Driscoll children made any wills.

tain to John Taylor, son of John Tay

in

1881

and

went

to

Green

Cove

Springs, Fla., where Margaret d. in

Aug. 1883; Elizabeth returned to Mo
bile and d. at the Providence Infirmary,

Mobile, 22 July 1884. Daniel C. O'Dris

coll became a printer like his brothers,
and d.

at 144 Clark St., Cincinnati,

Ohio, 23 Jan. 1864.

Elizabeth, Mar

not know whether these records per

lor of Milford.

V. John Taylor, b. ca. 1788-89, was ap

parently the younger son of his parents,

and was twice named as fifth child in

lists of his parents' children. He, with

his brother Benjamin and sister Nancy
Quigley, conveyed to John Wood on 26
June 1810, so John Taylor was pre
sumably of age by that date. He re
ceived his share of $48.22 from hi.s
father's

estate

on

19 June

1811.

John Taylor married Elizabeth Ed

wards by bond dated 6 Nov. 1819 (Kent
Co. Marriage Record, 19:302), and the
same or another John Taylor married
in Kent Co. Elizabeth Gullett, daughter
of John Gullett, before 12 Aug. 1822

vi. Keziah Taylor, b.

ca. 1790-91, was

apparently the youngest child of her

parents, and was twice named sixth and
last in lists of their children.

evidently

named

for

grandmother, Keziah

her

She was

maternal

, first wife

of Benjamin Rasin and mother of Ann

or Nancy (Rasin) (Cullen)

Parsons.

(Taylor)

She received her share of

$48.22 from her father's estate on 21

June 1811.

She was seemingly unmar

ried on 18 Aug. 1820, when her cousin

James T. Rasin referred to her merely

as "Keziah Taylor," though he indi

(Arch. vol. A-12, p. 50, Del. State Ar

cated that all her older sisters were

chives). There was a John Taylor

listed in Mispillion Hundred, Kent Co.,

married. Nothing more whatever has

been found about Keziah Taylor.

|Death of WrsT^
I

Earl Taylor Dies

In California

iVlorgan

fc Mrs. Murgan. Tay-lor; who'tad

.Earl. Taylor, well-known pianist

and song-writer died Saturday,
December 24, at the Santa Monica
Calif., hospital of an acute intes
tinal obstruction. Stricken on Mpnday, Mr. Taylor was rushed to the
hospital, but failed to rally.
He was born in Springfield, Ohio
49 years ago and had lived in
Southern California for ten years.

loiMc'betrii idtiattfied with "'Wayn^

^lle bat who, for,, a number ot

ftfeara had livod.-tt .^met iife. with

|-htts parised" from oar midst and "we

Iwill aee her no more.

Mrs Taylor's tuueral was largely

t .ttoudcd Sunday afternoon at her

^aXe home, the religious servioes b^ing oondncted by Rev. Philip Trout,

followed by a brief but eloquent

addresli by Rev. J. F. Oadwallader,
a ohoir sang several ppropriate se-^
lections.

He had collaborated with Irving

Berlin and for years was a head-

. ^

liner in vaudeville.

Mary Jane Taylor, the daughter

His wife, Mrs. Ethel Taylor, who

survives him, was his partner in a

of Jaines and Surah Lloyd vvaS;

born near Winchester, Frederick-

! vaudeville team known as Taylor

County, Virginiaon June 32, 1827,

and departed this lifeMarch ly. ]u8,

!and "Arnold.
Funeral

Kt the ripe age ut bb years, 9 mouths,

and 3 days. Id her eighteenth year:

services

were

held

Tfresday afternoon, December 27.

Interment in Forest Lawn Memor

lihe was married m her native sta^e

ial Park.

Co William Morgan i'aylor, Decein

uer 23, 38i5, to them were born six>

Earl Taylor was the son of the

late
A. S., better, known as

They moved to Oliio with their,

wick Taylor, fromer residents of

Waynesville.

.ihildren, lour sous and two duugh

Sam

family in July, 1856, and settled

Warren County near Morrow, ancl^
:ioou alter moved to Waynesville.;,
Jihe and her husb.md united with-;!
he Waynesviiie.M-thodi>t ISpiacD,-;nil church on August1, I869,uurin^
'he pasioratu of Rev. LdwiuC^

Taylor,, and

Carrie

^ f-51?

vlohugii, and for nearly forty yoar,-|

-he has been an honored and luveii,^
member.

: der husband died Pebruary 23;1

1900 So for eight years hers liu^

been the I'le or a .lonely widowj

Two of her sons also had. preoeedetm

tier to the homo beyond

Dnriug h-r active life she

faithful iu her atteudance at churcl^

a kind aud helpful neighbor aud^

luost ..loving and imlnigeut ujothe^

For several years she has beMffl

I "shut in" by the iufirmit.es of ul

age but duriug those years of hi^

lecUne and during her lastsickuo^

..^Uh has had the K-iud-and tOVViM

,aie
dl her (ibildien They no^
will greatly mias iiHf.
She leaves to moarii her loss, Cw||
urolhers,one sisltr, tohr hlnidreOT
two sous and twu daughterH, hlte^

.'rand chlldreu and muuv friend*

pjiilip 'I'riiut. Pasti-M

de>5ir<^ to i-xpr,.-,h Du^- heartfi^f

"^anks-tor-the i-^ympatliy f.huw.n t|s

lo ouf bHt'euvothi-'Ul in the death Of

(hulv bL-luvell luoiher

Jam-i ruylor; hUd tti the Rev .sy

Trout 'aiitl. Utidwulbulcf for their

"on.soling words, the clioir vylio fur.

'^;i>he(l "approin-iate music and the '

.Jrrdorttr.fceT, Mr. McCluro for thy ;
rvicesr If ndeied.

l\'teudb. Ilom a dislaiiee wlio

"Mtci'iUa Mia. iSiylor's funeral

Ih iovi:ig rciiieinhraiice of .u
leai .iiux.ii'-r,. Mrs. Viar.Y J"ne F^B ere. A C Taylor and wife, of

Willie Fo^lcsouf^ and

lor, vvh ,di*d March 19, I9.c8
JH
Mother is goiu', but n-jX furgott^^ @1tfe,.an^ Miss Annie Owens, ol
jlarry Fogrsong. <ij
Never shall hei memory ta^

^adisoiivillc; Joe Priii-Z an-j

N.-blest ihoiighfs shrill ever

AVnuiid the grave whore

Malay, of .Dayton a |

Frnm her loving daughters a'M

sons

ipeS.^ J. W, i.Harrisdn, of Lov-: g

War

I'ga-v'y^

e^iotrlei, we

1^ ini^cesi the
miaeneo

icli^iqs, whose
maferiad a

arifl^wliieli

4ots.'at|i,7d." ^Good-

$4,^ '(duaryld<@cfijpifiblk xOradl^laifiE^;

', r~i' .
iii.grmd,.. - ,,
^

la'eic^edld^jjf didl> %
we bavo only oecds^alr^ah^tdillil^^ <
c^lvsk heard of s ng'was-:^Sq!fr^f

been ,_a.<^a}red

Sehtiyiy. Irbis

;5!?T?

J\l. J- flormeU^
oflthe m eiieapnc#w=
d enterprise, is -ti issued
traedv^, esligl ^
geaee of 3^a^ne tovniflhip. Warren
ddo-sc&da.^:^ acaiaPt
the DW
aiad ek:ls of Jaines fciW3*

IS to themselves.

.DafedTtHisllSlh day of June, A. . ISSO. ' | 4 It has eviiwifetiia sfe

icates*

Is, like church

sir- paper," were

FBMATiB 8(^OOIb
abundant ieatini^iay is i
SARAH
TAYLOR
proposes
dpemng*
a
Fe
. , HI. W^^wi
male i?chooi in Waynesvillet corner of 4tli This impr6ifiliB|]^^ ^

torial certificate and north Sts.

ibe for another,

s developements
jrtify that A. B.
the editor refu-

As for a person-

Will comnience Julj^ 15th,

Teims of Tuition |br Thrae Hloutlis:

Orthography^ Reading, Penabtani^p.

Geo^phy and Arithmeticf - * - i 2,00

losophy and Botany

- -

- :$3,(K)

edy that good

have advanced In
2;, The
3. A

ncemed nobody Plain ana OrnamenwTjd^le-iWbtfc - $4,00 loathe

Lhat C. D. refu- Embroidery, Drawing

editor did not
in Waynesville
e of a relative

Palhilnj^ - $5,00 alityj

i^bm

A-

a few* wee^sv pre- te^' l^i^,:SviH

'^fJTECf
nared
to
perform
alt opei^rioim ,b^ "Tub
I,, but whicli he
iottidng to Viis profession as he h5 uo^
nqunci^ by
some of his ex-

rare literary sW na##

ify that E. F.
sbenes
'onage to anoth- are warrant ?V^s =5^^ to give saUsfeeiibni:
touching sentiment.
takeu this paper AM persons wishing his services can be accom'^

icentihs-'feit m-

seht to him by

df .that G. H.

modated by cadling soiaii at tho Bellin'

Eadies visited at their residenci^ ^
MST

f.. fromgoneoii
.

Remaining in^e Post 0ffioe^fa;^\Yayneay

July 1, iSSOif^and if "ml <?wfeS jter m miie

rtAnatel^ difler- months, will be sent to

as ^ad Deltas*
is regarded
D. ^ Joy
br hisolSce. We Henry ifaam^n

pped his paper

temerity to exPA metter with-

Sheppard Buckhonaii

6. ASran
and Bketch^
AaTs.

Jones

John Blake
S^saii E; Brown

Wm. Gtuni

tained idie opio' Abigail Gieater

John Curbey

iok Gafrotl

shin M
BJCUv fuorrii

G^Naigc:!^

for .^citizpiubip. Why not flirst

caiiie 'ovor wi^ the circna.-

thb syiieiD on our Jttdiciaiy?

S&lem, Bfau.,

;sunday guests of MrT

WUson.

LDU
Mr and Mrs. Claret

Gem City visitors, Tfit

Mr. Clyde What
thittshing in this ndi

y/f/ .

new ontnt, last Weel

The girls cleared a ^

fimtk ^
63m at th Miami made by one of the parties was very social Saturday eve
CseHte, 43 Yr Age).
peculiar and notteeable; the instep ideal night for ice
never touched the mud. showing that

the man may have been lame with a

BmtA Taylor

Ve antfecrtaiu)

the legal ef

fect of aeailgf SarMi Taylor to the

Mr. and Mrs. Hi

last week with Mr.

^oe made .to suit, or pmhaps pis ehoe Foulks,
near Wayne
Was <iaite nehr with yhry soff sole.
Mr. Md Mrs. Freuiki
btoglaa toiih aibw pilr of socks
took a chair mid g new grain sack ed the Berean Clam:
op^ and chgnged w|tr socks, leaving church, Saturday

cayltna is not to tfisehaxge her from

JorisdietioB of the Court of ComHn. lha hongac
fSOB-l'lessi.of thie com^. The ver- ttieir old mtes at le front of the
spendug this .w^ .
of guilty on the Ihaietment for store.
Mr. and Mrs. Stephe&l
Hw hur^sry of Jfir. BondaB's house.
WlUiam Bergdall 'I
etmds in full force. If at any
Other Note*
D. Benkle survey the^
time titereafter the woman should
Miss

TriUie

EdwardS'^visited

in

MM propertg^orto^i

dfiiwm

from the asi^ium. as

last week.
been insane, or as hmng Bidmville
Ous. B. H. Hayes and Miss Flora' Sunday dmner.gue8ts^
guf^ of Inffanityt she could then he Woolley
visited m Ldmaon on. lakt Sylvester Thackaray,
bmn^t haefc to court for sentence on ThtunBday.

tfie

Mrs. Joel Evans has been visiting nesville, went several j

the eoimnuiw seem to be fuBy relatives in New jjUchmond, Ohio.
with Mr. and Mrs. S.
' as the mister now stands.
Miss Suide Mayen^ of
was

never

of guilty.

Mrs. Mary Hawe^i.

The interests

family.

the guest tai 1^ eohsin.

TrBUe and Mrs. Eli Bussell
hetoreelinf Sorvioeo
EdWmrds. ygst weelu ;
neral of Mr. Albet.
ftth the amviens at the ' Mrs. Pho^ Cadwallader and Miss David's church, on tfiji

M. B.

a wca ef ah tmueual^ Maiy Lwh

impiUfafvtf ehanietmr. bim, vldted rela^jyea

#)ed with

^evt^

ut^wvoys^ Monday iaftemoon;

Friday.

MrV and Mi& W.

William-Jones has eohiineiieed work Mary Carmony and

on the rbahnhent of hM nhw house attended the Carmom

the ffl^.taatc^ en
the eQinitt lot adjoining Ihe home Triangle Park, Daytohi
fie Bom to Cmrkwrn
As Mr.
htdmatra

Jonea* stabbs was on tite eomor lot,

!, yxacttcal Hn Gaiiso hod to buSd one, and is
most hn nowready to commence life in town.
Mr; A1 Steele has iaold out and
was
dosed the Cornell House. Be mo\^
..-Sftflit ofi hm fatheris farm pear Eenta^-la^
'
^ Keysi Thursday. . .
Miss Elisa Hunting has had a beau
Rhoda.
tiful
monument
erected
to the mem
fiid^f Bnuaa Fetter
~awke; Messrs. Jiohii Col- ory of her mother in Mtami ceme
n

Mr. and Mrs. GuyJ

daughter, attended a l
at me home of Mr. a

RoutBahn, near Centeifi

evening, of last week.;

A iiuraber of memt

dies Aid enjoyed the

and basket dinner,

the home of Mr. and _
ering, near CenteniOdi

Mrs. Morris Milier|

ieit^ Wwaee and WUbur Sides. Or- tery. It is an exqnidite piece of are winding a couplii

nm Mwutt James Waterhousei John

l^^^^^rge
Larriek CliFoH

workmanship and was deshmed and Catawba Islwd, in con|

executed by Mr. A; E. MeSaeriy/ o| brotber-in-law and sf'
Gremiviue.

Douglass Benyhill, who has bemi

fhiy
. Sobbed a Storo at Clio
winter, h^ left st
PWrineiiiaii
work
on
the
farm,
' The grocery and notion stotu of
. tL-Smitb. at Clip, some four miies ed himself well aj
' nomwest of this fuace. in the com- have n odoubt be
jer of Greene county, was broken iur ful farmer;.

attending,the Big]

bed on Wday lilght bf

Admittance was wdned^

Mr. John OoUctt,

nght a fsnn ne^

Mrs. W. G. PickreU ol
Mr. and Mrs. St

and Mrs. Geopra Gi

Day were Sunday _

^e cwnby home ofp
Mack-Pickering, near'l
Mr. and Mrs. Guy.}

dati^ter. Geneva I
fBm% gartering of

home of Mr^

JeoK <y4n

arimr* near
'

wiwa lence
in and
tm

."WfiucaySm
4^' t-afSf

The funeral

fey Wll

SHB, vrim was bora smd kaised

|hi al ,1^
8

3'Uitnffamr

Mariatt

im-

at

(J?age^6 iiF^ayj^Januai^ 30^ 19!^ Tni

j

By: Dennis E. Dalton

One of the most coioifdlly rience some rather str^ge rob

eccentric citizens ever to grace the beries. Silk and cashmere dresses,
fair village ,of Waynesville lived in carpenter's tools, carpets, revolvers,
the house on the northeast cOmer of bricks, lumber, porch furniture, jew
North and Fourth Streets.
elry, and hunting glasses were
An intriguing Kleptomaniac, among the numerous items she pil
she was Miss Sarah Taylor who fered and carefully hid away in her
taught Miss Sarah Taylor's School apartment. Sometimes items were
for Young Ladies in the building -organized and carefully arranged in
beginning after its construction in

the attic.

1852.

Sarah's mad inventory also

included for instance furniture,
crockery, "bundles of lath", "car
riage aprons" and "cases of wax

Sarah was a fine seamstress and

taught many genteel young women

of the village and area art, literature
and needlework. Her schoolhouse
was also her honie.

jfruit".

Talented, cultured and refined,

Sarah Taylor was a gentle soul from
all historical reports. However,
something frazzled her mind during

Waynesville police found a trove of

When the jig was up in 1881,

loot hidden in Sarah's second floor

apartments and attic. Sometimes

articles were hidden inside large

Area newspapers including the

local Miami Gazette, Western Star

and Cincinnati Enquirer carried the

story of Miss Taylor's arrest.
The Cincinnati Enquirer headed

"Robbery-Midnight

Maraudings of a Maiden Lady - The

Mystery of Years at Last

that she would not return them to

their owners.

Explained".

The
Cincinnati , Enquirer
reporter who held back the story for
some time felt some compassion for
the woman. In his story he encour

its

story:

The Enquirer stated in part:

"What nobody pretends to explain is
what object Miss T. had in appropri
ating all these things. As far as is
known, she made no use of most of

them. She merely stored them away

in all sorts of improbably places,
where-they could be of no probably
benefit to herself or any body else."
It seems that when Waynesville
citizens mentioned missing items to

bundles of assorted trash. One of the

her in conversation, Sarah would

wounded mind eventually caused

her downfall in the community.
During the final years of her life.
Miss Sarah turned to prowling
through folks homes and helping
herself to anything she fancied to
eventually tum her house into a true
curiosity shop.

polices niost interesting discovery's

cry out "Stop Thief and put the

blame on a neighboring family
shifting a suspicion from herself.
A couple by the last name of
Dallas fingered Miss Sarah since

Following the Civil War,

Waynesville citizens began to expe-

floor inside a box with a sliding

cover. The box contained "a beauti

ful full set of plated dining forks and

ivory handled knives".
Among the dresses, was found

she had a key to the room the man

Mrs.

Miss Katherine Prendergast

could remember he^ng her parents
and other Waynesville people talk

Jacob

Randall's

entire

wardrobe of clothing which had

been stolen in 1870.

onfreshly vamishediloprs.
Poor/Sarah cbuidn't resist the
unpulsiveness of Kleptomania and
w^ so obsessed with her treasures

the onset of the Civil War. Her

was under some loose boards in the

about misring iteihs from their

homes and the bare footprints found

and wife rented in her house.

aged readers to have charitable

hears and to "deal gently with the

erring, especially one so old and
lonely."
Hiere was no charity in dealing
with Sarah Taylor. In 1881, female
criminals were a rarity and until that
time no provisions were made for
females in prisons.
There being no female prison,
Sarah Taylor was thrown into the
"Da5^on Asylum" and there a year
or so later died a lonely, raving
lunatic.

lit

to

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m>\l t0

ibi^ eoald detili^; Qd

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l^bp^;Ofil^
.

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OibltM

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lm<t 01 i

go(Hl I^IEOKpt md 9tfISel

ei^ 0t d&e. eigp^^U there ie etir|

^C|r^de|l|^r^^ le Mpeet l^ight tpoi- i ttoi
^part of mr teaatlfal village.

JB^'Bwmtn r^-'

10004

' " I* e;

OTO0BNABiAKe'-*^QQae oiiqoiriee
*.

Si

ftit to (be names of the twelve per-

S^BB-feeidiiig in WaynesvUle who

19^ oF '^lhliy
i^vi> tiiem, as Fi^ws:'

98

IS

ii;m jPennlsgti^i sister of ko. Anb How l^anr Wsais

Bf^tten, 1^.
lipCjiBa,Jr. Beo&ifftljr
^^Liaaheth Sattertiiwaite, 86.
besatifoUy hsoiid.
^Les9i Wright, 85.
eftmaishi aiswu sa

UMAJm
197 Weft SftwHi

ah

m^m

m.

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/n/^RjUA
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268

^VDM /AaJAJ
FRIEISDS' mTELLIGENCEE AND JODENAD

Friends' Intelligencer and Journal.

ticular use, and has made use of adjoining dwelling,

FRIENDS' INTELLIGENCER ASSOCIATION, Limited :

as well as possible, arranged. The time has now fully

houses, in which class-rooms and study-rooms have been

Howard M. Jenkins, Lydia H. Hall, Rachel W. Hillborn,

Robert M. Jannev, Charles F. Jenkins.

come when the structures should be replaced with a plain

but modern-style building, adapted to the use of the
EDITORS:
School and enabling it to offer its earnest scholars and faith
Howard M. Jenkins.
Rachel W. Hillborn.
ful teachers light, pleasant, well-arranged, and well-venti
Lydia H. Hall.
Alice L. Darlington.
lated rooms. The undertaking is being earnestly pressed
PHILADELPHIA,
I^NTH 27, 189^
forward by the friends of the School, and they have met
' with much encouragement. While it is true that the
A VERY interesting article appears in the New Eng
times are dull, it is also true that the cost of building is
land Magazine for the current month, describing the now comparatively low, and that the erection now will call
Indian School at Carlisle. It not only gives an excellent for a smaller subscription than in more prosperous times.
description of the institution, but has besides a number We give the work our most sincere good wishes, and
of illustrations showing the School buildings, the pupils hope it will go successfully forward.
at their studies, and at work in the industrial depart
ments, etc. Two of the pictures which strike us as most
interesting and impressive are those of a group of Indians
just arrived, and the same Indians after a few months'
stay. No doubt many of our readers are familiar with
the contrast-picture of this kind, which has been sent

out from the School, showing the group of Apache child

ren, who arrived there several years ago; but the picture
in the present article is a new and different one, though

BIRTHS.

HEACOCK.At Alliaoce, Ohio, Second month 25, 1895, to

Nathan . and Nancy L. Heacock, a daughter, who is named
Elizabeth Ann.

MARRIAGES.

BROWNCUTLER.At Coldstream, Ontario, in Friends' meet

ing-house, Fourth month 10, 1895, under the care of Lobo Monthly
Meeting, Samuel P. Brown,of Bow Park Farm, Brantford, Ontario,to

having precisely the same character and value. Nothing,

Annie L. Cutler, of Coldstream.

we think, can more clearly show,except intimate ac

of their life,the great influence upon them produced

strelh, Germantown, Fourth month 16, 1895, under the care of the
Monthly Meetingheld at Green street, Philadelphia, of which ibey are
members, Walter S. Cook, son of Julia Ann and the late William Cook,
and Helen L., daughter of the late Thomas P. and.Lydia Longstreth

by their instruction under such conditions as those at

Rowlett.

quaintance with the children themselves and observation

Carlisle.

COOKROWLETT.At, the residence of Samuel N. Long-

Looking upon the two pictures which we now

refer to, in the magazine, the contrast is striking. The

children as they arrive are not only unkempt, and illclad, but the expression of their faces is totally different
from that which appears after a time spent at Carlisle.
In the new picture the soul shines through the face j in
the old one it is repressed. In the first one the expres
sion is stolid j in the other, bright and intelligent. In
fact the change made so evident in these pictures is that
from semi-barbarism to civilization.

Captain Pratt informs us that he has secured several

hundred copies of the Magazine.

They can be had by

writing him, (price, 25 cents). We suggest to our readers

who are interested in Carlisle that they will be pleased,
we are sure, in reading the article, and looking at the
illustrations. However difficult the great Indian problem
may be, and however much may remain to be disposed
of, the work done at Carlisle has been among the most
effective, and we feel the duty always of saying a word
for it, when opportunity offers.

DEATHS.

ANDERSON.At the home of her son, in Waynesvillc, Warren

county, Ohio, Third month 24, 1895, Martha Anderson, formerly
Smith, of Bucks county. Pa., in her 90tb year; for many years a mem
ber of Miami Monthly Meeting.

DU'lTON.At the residence of her soo-ln-Iaw, J. Hibberd

Bariram, Westtown, Chester county. Pa., on the i6th of Fourth
month, 1895, Tacy M. Dutton, an elder of Goshen Monthly Meeting,
in the ninety-third year of her age.

GRISCOM.In West Philadelphia, Fourth month 15, 1895,Jane

Whitelock, widow of David J. Griscom, late of Woodbury, N. J-r
end daughter of the late Isaac Whitelock, of Frankford, Philadelphia,

Aged 75 years; a member of the Monthly Meeting of Friends of

Philadelphia.
PURDY.At her residence in Yorktown, N. Y., Fourth njonlh .

14, 1895, Juliette Hallock, wife of Theodore Purdy, and daughter of '
Aaron and the late Esther Hallock, aged 44 years; a member of
Amawalk Monthly Meeting,

She wasone who was ever most steadfast for the right, and having
oncedetermined upon which was the " straight and narrow way," she
followed it imdeviatiogly, no matter what the obstacles she must sur

mount. Her life of quiet self-denial and of firm purpose to walk in

the path of duty was, indeed, an example to all who knew her. *
SATTERTHWAIT.On the 21st of Third month, 1895, Ellen
D. Satterthwait, wife of Benjamin Satterthwait, in her Szd year; n "1
member of Chesterfield Monthly Meeting of Friends.
7

SLOAN.At the residence of his son, in Clyde, Wayne county |

N. Y., Third month 22, 1895, Norman Sloan, aged 82 years ; a

A CONTRIBUTION, last wcck, under the Educational

ber of Farminglon Executive-Meeting of Friends.

STOKES.Fonrth month 17, 1895, Mary Ann, daughter of

hea4ing,.deserved a more prominent place, in order that it

tnight receive the full attention it deserved. It presented

late Joshua Stokes, aged 8l; a member of the Monthly Meeting

briefly the character and claims of the movement now on

month 9, 1895, Lydia Ann Taylor, aged 74 years, 10months, 25days,a

a mem^r of Miami Monthly Meeting.

foot to rebuild and reconstruct the annex building of the

Friends' Central School, at 15th and Race streets in this
city. The School, as many of our readers no doubt
know, Ion/ sii ce outgrew the building put up for its par

held at Green street, Fbiladelphia.

^
TAYLOR.At the home of her brother, Sidwell Taylor, Thk*! a

Correction.A. M. S., Richmond, Indiana, writes us tn corr^a

6,that she learns that Catharine Braley united with the Swedcnb^a
tion of an obituarynoticefurnishedby her, and published Fourth

gian church in 1856, so that she was amember with Friends foiv^
years, instead of sixty, asstated in the notice.

.9

September 28, 1982

K |Q04 Riverton B.(L
Moorestown, N. j .
08057

Mr Deimis E, Dalton

The Mary L. Cook Public Library

Wajmesville, Ohio 45068
Dear Deimis,

Here is something that you can add to your Lytle/Raysville collection.

As you can see we had a very successful and enjoyable trip. We had a very pleas
ant visit with EvaRoutzahn and learned much from her; we also got a copy of the
Methodist Church history from her. She was a Wharton which is from one of the
very most prominent Philadelphia early families.
Had a very interstiug and nice stay at the Guest Haus and also had a great lunch
in Lebanon at the Golden Lamb. We accomplished much in our short stay.
Continued success in your work. Thanks for your help.
Sincerely,

V
>y'ohnwm Taylor, Jr.

-J ... .-A

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1850 OHIO CENSUS

WARREN COUNTY WAYNE TWP

District 150

City ofLiAYSviLUS- (now called Lytle )

about 3 iiiiles northwest

F amily/dwelling
541

542
543

Age
Wharton, Daniel
Mitchel, Daniel B.
Mills,
Susan

of Waynesville
Born

61

Blacksmith

PA.

55

none

PA.

52

Ohio

544

Slade, Fletcher

20

545

Brelsford ^ Elizabeth

60

546

Ivens

60

547

Taylor, Da\id
"
, William H.

24

carpenter

548

49

merchant

549

James, Richard

36

cooper

p.A.

550

Goodill, Thorn, as
"
Mar3"

61

tailor

England

59

551

Githeus

552

"

, Brazilla

John P.

farmer

KY.

N.J.

N.J.

farmer

N.J.

tt

28

cooper

N.J.

1aborer

Ohio

553

Smith, George

23

554

Huston, James
Hay, Wm

37

wagon maker

N.J.

58

huckster

N.J.

37

wagon maker

Ohio

555
556

557
558
559
560

561
coo

Clark, Rheu.
Crispin, George
Mills, Mahlon
Clark, JohnW.
Taylor, Isaac
Cox, Edward
Montgomery, Samuel

27

cooper

N.J.

31

m.er chant

Ohio

27

cooper

Ohio

27
29
49

carpenter
carpenter

N.J.
Ohio
N.J.

f aimer

560 and 561 are likely brother-in-laws as Isaac Taylor married Sarah Cox.

Edward and Sarah Cox were likely children of familj'^ 529 Elizabeth (age60) and
Aaron (age 69) Cox ,a farmer, both born in N.J,

Sons of William H. and Amy Taylor who

married in Warren Co., Ohio

7/18/1842 Isaac to Sarah Ann Cocks ( Cox )
11/13/1845 Da^dd to Amelia Ann Smith

8/21/1851

William R. to Marj^ P. Robbins

John Wm. Taylor, Jr

1982

TAYLOR' S IN RAYSVILLE, OHIO

William Heniy Taylor along with his wife Amelia and sons moved from Washington
Township, Montgomery County, Ohio in about 1846 to Raysville in Wayne Township,
Warren County, Ohio. Since these are adjacent townships the move may have been
less than five miles. According to the 1850 census Wm Henry Taylor and his son
William R. were merchants in Raysville and sons Isaac and David were carpenters.
Following are their land transactions while residents of Raysville.
Isaac and wife Sarah Ann ( Cox) Taylor

On March 22, 1845 ( Deed Book 27 page 220 ) Isaac ,then living in Washington Township,
Montgomery County, bought five lots from Isaac and Lydia Jones for $300. Since Isaac
was a carpenter he likely planned to build houses on these lots. However, on February
15, 1848 he sold these same five lots to Jacob Clark for $300 ( Deed Book 28 page 589 ).
The owners of the neighboring properties remained the same from 1845 to 1848.
These lots were:

#1 70 square poles
Bordered by the north line of Joel Ward, the southeast comer of Jacob Clark and
William Hays.

#2 One acre in the northwest quarter of section 14

Bordered by the west line of Nehemiah Wharton and by the south line of Daniel Wharton.
#3 One acre in the northwest quarter of section 14
Bordered by Nehemiah Wharton.
#4 1/3 acre part of land of Alex Ray, deceased.
#5 85 poles

Lot was comer to John Brelsford in line with Charles Montgomery.

On February 15 1848 per Deed Book 28 page 588 (the same day they sold Ihe above to
Jacob Clark )Isaac and Sarah Ann Taylor bought from Jacob and Patience Clark for the
like sum of $300 the following properties: this was likely a swap of properties.

The premises and 11/100 acres in the southwest quarter of section 14

Located on the southwest comer to a 1/2 lot formerly sold by Jesse D. Jones to
Thomas Hall on the Lebanon Road.

A 1/2 acre lot also in the southwest quarter of section 14

Located on the west side of the Pinkney Road and along the road between Vanderer's
Mill and Waynesville.
On October 10, 1851 per Deed Book 33 Page 194 they sold to Lewis Mills these same

premises and 11/100 acre and 1/2 acre lot for $260 , $40 less than they paid in 1848,
William Henry and wife Amelia (Lewallen) Taylor

A - On March 29, 1847 per Deed Book 28, page 111 Wm and Amy Taylor living then
in Raysville purchased from Wm J. and Mary Carman for $400 the premises on
111 .3 poles of land located at the northeast comer of the Methodist Episcopal
graveyard, in the Village of Raysville, along Wm Hay's line, to the northeast com
er of Rheu Clark's lot, to the corner of a lot formerly owned by Thomas Holloway
( deceased by 1847 ) and to the Lebanon Road. This was the same property that
Harrison Eulass and his wife sold to the Carman's on March 20, 1843.

A - continued

On April 2, 1851 per Deed Book 32 page 203 the Taylor's sold this same premises
and lot to Presley and Anna Corron for $500. The bordering properties had the
same owners as in 1847. Presley and Anna resold these same premises and lot

on April 13, 1852 to Mahlon Mills for $500 ( Deed Book 32 page 202 ).
B - On April 16, 1846 ( Deed Book 27 pages 206 & 207 ) Wm and Amy Taylor, by then
living in Warren County, purchased considerable property from Samuel and Charity
Montgomery in section 15 township 3 range 5 adjoining Raysville for $1,700.
These properties were previously obtained by Montgomery on 12/22/1834 from
Sheriff Wm Russel, on 7/14/1831 from Curtis Mills, on 3/11/1839 from Abel Janney
and on 1/20/1845 from Joseph Davis. The purchase contained four parcels:
#1

16 acres and 64 pole by Wm Laws northwest comer

ir2

30 1/4 acres along east boundary of the northwest quarter of section 15, by lands
of Curtis and David Mills, along David Mills line and Abraham Buckels south
line.

#3

#4

10 acres in the northwest quarter of section 15 comer to Stokes

10 acres in the northwest quarter of section 15 along Samuel Montgomery's line,

with Githeus' line and in line of Smith.

On April 2, 1851 Wm and Amy Taylor sold all four properties for a combined total
of $2,050.

#1

was divided into three properties. About 7 acres were sold to Josiah Hough for
$200 ( in 1854 he resold to Isaac Sellers ), about 8 acres were sold to Thompson
Evan for $300 and 1 1/4 acres sold to John Barnes for $50 ( Deed Book 31 Pages
194, 432, 433 ).

#2, 3 and 4 properties ( Deed Book 31 page 433 ) were sold to Jacob Lamb for $1500.
This property is detailed on the enclosed 1867 Wayne Township plat map. Jacob
Lamb and his wife on 4/5/1855 (Deed Book 36 page 465 ) sold this same 50 1/4
acres to Mahlon Mills for $1900. As of 1982 much of the town of Lytle sits on
this property.
David and wife Amelia Aim ( Smith ) Taylor

On March 23, 1849 David and Amelia purchased section 14 land in Raysville ( Deed Book

31 Page 149 ) from James and Mary Clutch for $75. It was located in James Clifeh's west
line, comer to Joshua Watkin's containing one acre and 34 poles. This property was the
dower of Elizabeth Brelsford. David's brother Wm R. Taylor was a witness to this sale.
David buRt a house on this property; on March 31, 1851 they sold the premises and land
to John Brelsford for $300 ( Deed Book 31 page 150 ).

In 1851 all of these Taylors moved to Wells County, Indiana where they
operated their own saw mill, did carpentry work , made barrels etc.
compiled in 1982

John Wm Taylor, Jr.

WAYNE TOWNSHIP

186

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LYTLE ( fcrmerh- RAYSVTLLE )

in Wayne Tw^:)., Wari^cii Co.,
Ohio
United Methodist. Church in the
1300'5 it vvas a

Methodist

Episcopal Church

Photos 1982

Main portion of the church with

bell tower was built in 1860= A
smaller church on the same site
was in use from

Li

1847 - 1860 =

>V
Z2r

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r V-

This church is located op

posite the groceTw store

and is at the intersection
of the main crossroads in
TI jy
+1
i-xC .