William's father Jesse Taylor received a 200 acre land grant from the Commonwealth of Kentucky on 13 July 1842. This grant was located on Brownies Creek waters of the Cumberland River. William Riley Taylor eldest son of Jesse and Nancy purchased most of this land on 25 Aug 1849.
Wm. R. Taylor paid his father $15.00 for the land but as often occurred in those days to avoid the expense and travel to the Court House Jesse Taylor gave his son a "Title Bond" which said he would make a deed when called upon to do so. Jesse died on 12 Mar 1862 without making a deed. William R. purchased each of his siblings one ninth interest in the remaining part of the 200 acre survey and paid all the purchase money by 1865, but again he failed to require a deed.
William R., with less than a sudden interest, filed suit to perfect his title on 11 Jun 1901 in Harlan County Circuit Court. This required that each heir of Jesse and Nancy Taylor be named as defendants and served with a summons or Warning order, therefore we now have a sworn list of their decedents.
The Petition in part----"Jesse Taylor departed this life----intestate leaving this plaintiff W.R. Taylor, Elijah Taylor, Jesse Taylor, Andy Taylor , Nancy Lee a daughter who intermarried with her codeft. David Lee, Mary Taylor, Noah Taylor, Wesley Taylor, and Grief Taylor his children and only heirs at law.--------------------That said Elijah Taylor who was a son and heir of said Jesse Taylor Sr. died intestate ----- William Taylor, Ellis Taylor, and Martha Taylor are his children and only heirs at law.-------- Jesse Taylor Jr. who was a son and heir of said Jesse Taylor Sr. died intestate leaving as children and only heirs at law----- Nancy Davis who intermarried with Frank Davis, Elizabeth Taylor, Roseau Taylor, Franklin Taylor, Daniel Taylor, James Taylor, Wesley Taylor each and all are non residents of Ky. ------- That Andy Taylor who was a son and heir of said Jesse Taylor Sr. died intestate ----and left as his children and only heirs at law Elizabeth Weaver a daughter who intermarried with Lee Weaver ---they reside---at Weavers Ford Ashe county North Carolina and Nancy Farley who intermarried with Frank Farley. That Mary Taylor who was a daughter an heir of said Jesse Taylor Sr. died intestate leaving as her children and only heirs at law John Taylor, Noah Taylor, Nancy Taylor, and Sarah Taylor. That Defendant Noah Taylor is a son and heir of said Jesse Taylor Sr. and resides at Mulberry Gap Hancock county Tennessee. ----- That Wesley who was a son and heir of said Jesse Taylor died intestate-----leaving his children and only heirs at law Leroy Taylor, and Newt Taylor. That Grief Taylor who was a son and heir of said Jesse Taylor Sr. departed this life intestate---leaving as his children and only heirs at law, Andy Taylor, Berry Taylor, Josh Taylor, Noah Taylor, Wesley Taylor, Frank Taylor, Enoch Taylor, Charley Taylor, Prissella Cheek who intermarried with Joseph, Tilda Mink who intermarried with Edward Mink, and Rachel Eldridge who intermarried with William Eldridge."
This list should be complete for all children and grand children of Jesse Taylor and Nancy Green except for a possible person who died young and without issue, plus the children of William R. Taylor and Noah Taylor. This case file is in the State Archives at Frankfort Harlan Circuit Court files box 101.
From the deposition of William R Taylor " I am 81 years old I live on Brownies Creek in Harlan county Ky.---I have been living here where I now live for nearly 50 years. My father Jesse Taylor surveyed and patented the boundary of land I claim. William R. Taylor was born in May of 1820 and married at least three times, first to Celia Tinsley 13 Feb 1836, second Nancy Lundy 7 Mar 1843, third 1861 Sarah Vaughn.
"Harlan Connections" says Riley's wife was Nancy Lundy, md. 1843, Harlan.
But Harlan County Marriages says Nancy Suray, 7 Mar 1843, and second wife Sally Vaughan, 19 Apr 1861
William Riley, Wife and some of his children are found in the 16 June 1880 Harlan Co., Kentucky census.
Household 304
Age Place of Birth Father's Birth Mother's Birth
Riley Taylor 60 Virginia Virginia Virginia
Annie 16 Kentucky Virginia Virginia
Louisa 13 Kentucky Virginia Virginia
Thomas 10 Kentucky Virginia Virginia
Margaret 8 Kentucky Virginia Virginia
Archie 6 Kentucky Virginia Virginia
As can be seen there is no William Taylor b. 1864 or James J. Taylor b. 1867 had they moved away ? If so where to ? Also some of William Rileys youngest children are recorded for being born in Bell County, Virginia that is probably due to part of Brownies Creek area in Harlan County, Kentucky became part of Bell County.