Notizen zu dieser Person
findagrave record
The following words were taken from "A Brief History of our Family" by Ralph Alton Taylor 1984
"The information herein is on file in theSouth Carolina Archives and the Laurens County Courthouse. In the early days records were very incomplete so much desirable information is not known.
Records indicate that my generations great, great, great, great, great grandfather,William Taylor, Sr. arrived in Charleston from Ireland December 12, 1767 on thepassenger ship Earl of Denegal along with 265 other passengers. It is acceptedthey came to this country seeking religious freedoms as so many were in those days. It is said that the King of England owed William Taylor a debt in that William Taylor had fought for him in the religious wars of Ireland. Therefore on September 12, 1768, William Taylor was given a land grant of 350 acres in Laurens County, South Carolina. The Land Grant document as well as a platt is included inthis history. Accompaning William, Sr. were his wife, Janet along with his son,William, Jr. and his wife Martha. The son also received a grant from the King ofEngland for 150 acres. A copy of this grant and platt are also included in these pages. All of the above were born in Ireland.
The "Land Grant" is located directly across the road from where Rocky Springs Church now stands. It is myunderstanding the land for the church was donated by William Taylor, Sr. One ofthe conditions of this gift was that any decendant of his may be buried in thechurch graveyard regardless of his religious beliefs or denomination. William and his family are buried in the graveyard. The church was organized about 1780.
It appears William Taylor prospered and became quite wealthy, as the records indicate he owned many slaves and conducted much business with the Miltia, particularly the Calvary during the late 1770s and 1780s. Such business included the sale to the calvary of beef, pork, salt and other items on his plantation. Healso rented horses and wagons for their use, as this was during the Revolutionary War/ William also served with the calvary. It appears he would serve for a while and then return to his plantation as did most of the servicemen of his time.Records indicate he served as a private, 1st Leutenant and captain during theseyears. Copies of receipts for payment for his services are included in this paper. As near as I have determined at this time the Taylor family prospered through the 1800s. Most lived to a ripe old age. Example: Martha, wife of William, Jr.lived to the age of 106. Enclosed is a news clipping indicating she was 101.
Records indicate that the family did very well for almost a hundred years.All owned their own property including the land and slaves who worked for them.All could read and write, which was an accomplishment in those days. But as happened to most of the people in the South this all seemed to be lost due to the Civil War during the 1860s. It was then that our direct ancestors became scatteredthroughout the state as well as some going to other states-very little propertywas owned and most were unable to send the children to school. Our great-great-grandfather, John Henry died in his forties just prior to the Civil War leavingour great, great grandmother, Nancy with several children. One of these was ourgreat grandfaterh, Ralph who is buried at Unity Chruch. He was in his twenty's when the war began. Records indicate that in 1860 he and his wife Nancy lived inEdgefield County, aloing with 2 children. They were William Taylor, age 3 and George Taylor, age 1. At this time he owned real estate valued at $625. His personal property was valued at $50. I assume that due to the hard times he either lost or sold his property in Edgefiled and moved to Pickens Co. By 1870 his familyhad grown to 5 children, including my grandfather James who was six years old. In 1880 the family was living in Easley and the children totaled 8. During this 10 - 15 year period they were share croppers as they farmed but owned no property.
No census was taken in 1890 but I assume they continued to live in thePickens-Oconee County area. At some point during this time Robert moved his family to Reidville where they were living in 1900. There they farmed 346 acres. Most of the children had grown up and left home by this time. Living with Robert atthis time was daughter Lula, sons Thomas and Luther and a servant named WilliamBallard, age 16.
During the 1880s Grandfather James married our Grandmother Margaret. In 1888 Uncle Walte was born and by 1910 they had 10 living children. At this time they lived at what most of us know as the old home place on H'way 146 just east of Woodruff. There they rented this farm with the entire familyparticipating and living in the same small house. The number totaled 14 as Walter and wife, Marie and son James were there also.
By 1910 also, great-grandfather Robert and wife Nancy aloing with daughter Lula were living in Woodruff. Great Grandmother Nancy died in 1912 and was buried at Unity Church. Great grandfather Robert came to live with Grandfather James and died in 1914. He is alsoburied at Unity Church.
Much work is yet needed to learn more details about our ancestors. I find it very interesting that we all grew up within a few miles of the original land grand given by the King of England and never knew about it. Also, that some of the family which is fairly close of kin has never beenknown about until now. I am referring to Alice Taylor Hargett who is the Granddaughter of John Henery Taylor, Jr. This makes her the 1st cousin of my father, uncle & aunts.
John Henry Taylor, Jr. moved with his family to Russellville,Franklin county, AL in 1883. His wife was Rebecca Sloan, related to the Sloansof Woodruff we all know. John Henry Jr. died in 1927. My father Ralph was age 25 at that time but was not aware of these relatives so far as I know."
Also information received from Ralph Taylor:
This is the line of namesthrough which our came. An illegitimate child started the Taylors of Scotland. He was first named Donald McEwen Bhig. He was the son fo the Chieftain of Clan Cameron, Ewen Bhig. His mother was daughter of the McDougall clan Chieftain. The name Bhig means small (or short) in Gaelic (Scottish)
Seán
Sloane Johnson
