Introduction #

The information that follows was retrieved from our Norfolk tithables database of Taylor families. The information in the database was extracted from a three-volume transcription of the originals by Elizabeth B. Wingo. This database should cover all Taylor families in Norfolk County, Virginia during the period 1730 to 1780 with a thirteen-year blank spot between 1736 and 1750. Sons were reported out at age sixteen by their father or by their widowed mother. This database will give us a tremendous amount of family information provided we analyze it very carefully and thoroughly.

A recent query of the database for Jonas Taylor produced only eight hits. The results of this computer study are grouped by primary area where these Taylor families lived. Some comments and questions have been added to this report.

Southern Branch #

The first Jonas Taylor listed in the Norfolk tithables was living on the Southern Branch of Elizabeth River in 1730 (bk. 1, p. 10). He was living in the same household with Edward Lewelling, Jr., John Grant, and negroes Tom and Nancy.

This Jonas Taylor was surely the “Jorge” on the West side of the Southern Branch in 1731 living in the same household with his father, John Taylor (bk. 1, p. 30).

This Jonas Taylor was living on the Head of Deep Creek on the Southern Branch in 1732 in the same household with his father, John Taylor, and his brother, Peter Taylor (bk. 1, p. 64).

This Jonas Taylor was living on the South side of the Southern Branch in 1733 in a household of his own (bk. 1, p. 99).

Western Branch #

There was a Jonas Taylor living on the Western Branch in 1734 in a household of his own (bk. 1, p. 142).

This Jonas Taylor was living on the Western Branch in 1736 in the same household with his brother, Peter Taylor (bk. 1, p. 187).

This Jonas Taylor is probably the “Jonis” living in 1751 in the Western Branch Precinct in the same household with John Bond, Solomon Cherry, Peter Portlock, John Grimes; and negroes Sam, Charles, George, Frank, Bess, and Murreare (bk. 2, p. 23).

This Jonas Taylor was shown in 1752 on the West side of the Southern Branch, but it probably should have said the South side of the Western Branch. He was in the same household with Solomon Cherry, John Grimes, Hillery Taylor; and negroes Sam, George, Frank, and Bess (bk. 2, p. 42).

The last entry for Jonas Taylor in the Norfolk tithables is in 1753 in the Western Branch Precinct in the same household with John Grimes; and negroes Sam, George, Frank, and Bess (bk. 2, p. 63).

Notes #

There was only one Jonas Taylor and he drops out of the Norfolk tithables in 1753. He was clearly the son of John Taylor I and his wife Judith. The will of John Taylor was in reality a land deed dated 17 July 1713 and recorded the same day (see deed bk. 9, p. 261). He names sons John, Thomas, and Jonas, with John being the eldest. Peter had not yet been born in 1713.

Jonas was first reported out in the tithables as son of John in 1731, but he had already turned sixteen somewhat prior to that time. We therefore give him a birth year of 1714 or before. Jonas Taylor bought fifty acres on the Western Branch in 1735 from Peter Portlock (bk. 12, p. 123). Peter Portlock retained the fifty adjoining acres.

Jonas Taylor was paid for a three-day court appearance in Norfolk County in February 1745 (E-2, p. 41) and made another court appearance in 1750 (E-2, p. 43). He witnessed a will in 1749, was appointed road surveyor in 1752, and helped with an appraisal in 1754.

Jonas Taylor was “of North Carolina” in 1759 when he and his wife, Rachel, sold the above fifty acres along with fifty adjoining acres on the Western Branch in Norfolk County. Jonas Taylor was also in Bertie County, North Carolina (bk. F, pp. 451-453, called “ship carpenter” 1751). (See Record of Estates, vol. 2, p. 161.)