LEE GATEWAY

 

Richard Taylor I

Of Norfolk County, Virginia

 

                     By (the late) Bill R. Linder, to whom we owe a debt of gratitude for his wonderful research

Richard Taylor is claimed to have been a son of John and Dorothy Taylor of Lancashire, England.

He was born 5 Nov 1641 in England. His wife’s name was Margrett. Richard Taylor was in Norfolk County, Virginia, by the mid-1660s.

Richard Taylor left a will in Norfolk County, Virginia, dated 29 Mar 1679. His wife Margrett also made a will in 1679 in Norfolk County. From it, we deduce that she was either a Manning or a Hodges, as she names her brothers Roger Hodges and Thomas Manning.

The will of Richard Taylor was proved 21 May 1679. Margrett Taylor’s will was dated 5 Apr 1679 and proved 15 Aug 1679. It appears that Richard died within several days of making his will, and Margrett then made a will the next month. They died leaving a young family.

    1. John Taylor (of whom more separately), b. c. 1689 [of] Norfolk Co., VA; Thomas Taylor, b. c. 1691, md. Sarah ______, and d. (wd) 29 Dec 1744, codicil 31 Dec 1744 (wp) 6 Feb 1744 Parish of Lyn(n)Haven, Princess Anne Co., VA; Jonas Taylor, b. c. 1693, d. 1786-1790 Hertford or Gates Co., NC?; Peter Taylor, b. c. 1695, md. Dorcas ______, and d. (wd) 1 Nov 1752 (wp) Jan Ct. 1753 Norfolk Co., VA.

    2. Margrett Taylor, b. c. 1670 [of] Norfolk Co., VA. Her mother Margrett Taylor’s will asks for her daughter Margrett to go to her brother Roger Hodges.

    3. Richard Taylor, b. 6 Oct 1672 Julian’s Creek, Norfolk Co., VA, md. Jean(e) (Jan, Jane, Jenet) Owens, and d. (wd) 26 Sep 1729 (wp) 19 Feb 1730/1 Norfolk Co., VA. Children :  Richard Taylor; Thomas Taylor; William Taylor, b. Dec 1702, d. 1771; John Taylor; Edward Taylor; Mary Taylor; Margaret Taylor; and Rachel Taylor, md. ______ Nicholas.

    4. Suzanna Taylor, b. c. 1675 [of] Norfolk Co., VA. Her mother Margrett Taylor’s will asks for her daughter Suzanna to go to her brother Thomas Manning.

    5. Thomas Taylor, b. c. 1678 [of] Norfolk Co., VA. Did this Thomas marry Elizabeth Taylor, daughter of Andrew Taylor I?

 

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Receives Headright in Norfolk County in Apr 1664

    Among the headrights of Norfolk County, there was a certificate of Richard Taylor and Thomas Nash dated 15 Apr 1664, a grant of 100 acres for their own transportation.

 

Named in Headright of Henry Spratt in Oct 1673

    Richard Taylor was named as one of 36 persons transported in the headright of Henry Spratt in Oct 1673.

"23 Oct 1673 (p. 472). HEN: SPRATT. 1800 acres in Lower Norfolk County it being a neck of land in Curratuck Betw: [between] Naners Creeke on the South, a Little Creeke on the North running Wly into the Woods including all the marshes betw: the said Creekes. The said land being due for trans: of 36 psons: Himselfe 6 times, Tho: Rogers, Bridger Millcahy?, Richd: Pledg, Tho: Nash, Cate Greare (Kate Gary?), Jack, Little Jack, Indian Hanna, Moreia & a child, Negroes, Jno: Chamberlin his wife, Eliz: Carver, Rose Carver, fine Nan, Richd: Paine, Richd: Taylor, Edmund Shoulder, Eliz: Garland, Mary Parr, Wm: Smith, Tho: Whittby, W: Jonson, Nich: Nicholson, Hen: Spicer, Herman Maire, Core? Johns, Paule Ramers, Peter Linhall.

(Note. This is a good example showing that the patents were not always dated when the headrights were newly arrived in the Colony. Thos: Nash and Richard Taylor were on former patents together, one in 1665 (Nugent 565) and Thos: Nash was decd in Feb 1672/3 or before, as his Inventory and apprenticeship of his son Thomas is in the Lower Norfolk County Records in Book E, both in Feb 1672/3. Your editor has seen other patents which seem to be dated some years after the head rights arrived. … AGW)."

 

Mentioned in Sep 1678 Letter

    A letter of Jno. Harding, a butcher of Newgate, London, dated Sep 1678 to Richard Taylor on the Southern Branch of the Eliza River in Virginia. "You gave a letter of attorney to one Jo Hurst about 2 or 3 years since to trouble me to noe purpose." It concerned money due to be handled by Rich. Parrett of Rappahannoch. "My selfe and your sister love to you and yours wishing you much health." Signed "Loving Brother."

 

Richard Taylor Made Early Land Agreement

    John Taylor and Richard Nash made an agreement in 1704 apparently to uphold a former agreement made by Richard Taylor and the father of Richard Nash. This agreement indicates that the Taylor family had been on Back Creek, a branch of Julian’s Creek for at least two or more generations.

15 Aug 1704, Norfolk County. "… I John Taylor and Richard Nash both of Norfolk County … are firmly bound … agreemt made betwixt the said parties ffathers … about bounds of Land which the abovesd … parties possess & enjoy now … Land being on the back Creeke a branch of Julyans Creeke wch Devided their Plantations … from Generation to Generation … Acknowledged in Court this 15^th of August 1704 …"

 

Husband and Wife Both Made Wills in 1679

    Richard Taylor made his will in Norfolk County in Mar 1679, leaving a young family.

 

Will of Richard Taylor

29 Mar 1679 – 21 May 1679, Norfolk County. Unto my wife Margrett taylor … my sonne John … plantation I now live one … my daughter Margrett … my sone Richard … my daughter Suzan … my godson Richard Hodges … my god daughter Elizabeth davis … sons to live with wife untill twenty-one … to my sone John two guns, my old gun and ye gun I bought of Jno. fallock and my Son Richard one Muskett wch I bought about of ye Rose. Wit: Rodger Hodges, Ellinor Owens.

    Margrett Taylor made her will in Norfolk County in Apr 1769, proved in Aug 1679.

Will of Margrett Taylor

5 Apr 1679 – 15 Aug 1679, Norfolk County. Unto my foure small Children … my sone John to have his choice … I desire my brother Roger Hodges may have my daughter Margarett and my brother Thomas maning my daughter Suzanna, and Wm Owens my sone Richard … Brothers Roger Hodges and Jno. maning, and Thomas maning and my loving frend Wm Owens to bee my overseers … my sone Thomas, after this years nursing to bee att ye disposition of my overseers … Wit: Rodger Hodges, Richard Harris.

 

END

 

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Bill R. Linder
4615 9th Street South
Arlington, VA 22204-5922

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