by Gayle Hix
This is the first of a series of short reports on Joseph Taylor. Several Joseph Taylors have been identified by this new study, so there will be a new report for each of these Joseph Taylors. It seems prudent to start with the Joseph taylor discussed in the 1978 ARC, Inc. research report. This is a new report on the Joseph Taylor who lived in Norfolk County, Virginia during the period 1750 – 1754.
The Joseph Taylor we are talking about was definitely the son of of Richard and Dinah Taylor. This Richard Taylor died without a will in 1734 and Dinah Taylor was the administrator of his meager estate. This Dinah Taylor died without a will in 1752 and Joseph Taylor was the administrator of her even more meager estate.
This Richard Taylor was a Cooper (barrelmaker) as evidenced by the tools inventoried after his death. He had a few cattle and some household furnishings. His entire estate was valued at less than 30 pounds sterling. Richard, Dinah, and Joseph Taylor did not live on Julian’s Creek on the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River among the descendants of Richard Taylor II. Thay lived instead on the Western Branch of Elizabeth River in the midst of descendants of Andrew Taylor I, and two of the sons of John Taylor I, Jonas and Peter.
The Joseph Taylor in Norfolk County 1750 – 1754 was reported out in 1750 by his mother, Dinah, in the Norfolk County tithables of those families living along the Western Branch. Since this Joseph Taylor was age sixteen or over in 1750 when he was reported out by his mother, he was age eighteen or over in 1752 when he administered his mother’s estate.
This Joseph Taylor was listed as head of a household in the Norfolk tithables along the Western Branch in 1751. His Taylor neighbors on the Western Branch in 1751 were James Taylor, Peter Taylor, and Jonas Taylor.
This Joseph Taylor was listed as head of a household in the Norfolk tithables along the Western Branch in 1752. James Taylor was living next door. Interesting non-Taylor neighbors in 1752 included Thomas Best, Bethiah Davis for David Davis, Frances Lewelling for John Lewelling, and Margaret Brown for Jonas Brown.
This Joseph Taylor was listed as head of a household in the Norfolk tithables along the Western Branch in 1753. His Taylor neighbors on the Western Branch in 1753 were Dorcas, widow of Peter Taylor, James and James Jr., and James and Richard, sons of Thomas Taylor.
This Joseph Taylor was listed in the same household with David Davis in the Norfolk tithables along the Western Branch in 1754. Their closest neighbors included Dorcas Taylor, Margaret Brown, James Taylor, John Lewelling, Frances Lewelling, Margaret Lewelling, Thomas Grimes, John Wallace, William Wallace, John Manning, Sr., John Manning, Jr., Markum Manning, and Solomon Cherry.
The next survey of the Western Branch Precinct was made in 1757. Joseph Taylor was gone! Thomas Grimes, James Taylor, Sr., William Wallace, John Lewelling, Frances Lewelling, were still there.
Questions to be answered include:
1. Where did this Richard Taylor come from?
2. Was James Taylor the older brother of Joseph Taylor?
3. Who was David Davis?
4. Why were Joseph Taylor and David Davis living in the same household?
5. Where did this Joseph Taylor go?
