Maryland Phase
The purpose of this section is to summarize what we know about the main subject of investigation,
the elder Abraham Taylor (~1660-1719) and what we don't know.
The Abraham Taylor family of Craven County, North Carolina came out of
Baltimore County, Maryland. This page and the ones linked from it will
explore that phase, especially, that of his father, Abraham Taylor (~1660-1719).
Due to the proliferation of the Abraham name in this Taylor family, we have chosen
to identify each by the years of birth and death. We do not use junior and
senior or a numbering system, because
we do not know who number 1 (the most senior) was; numbers could be subject
to revision with each generation found.
We will also, therefore explore the beginning, Maryland phase of this
younger man's life.
Abraham Taylor (1685-1751)
We will here explore the Maryland phase of this man's life. We have
previously explored his life in Craven and adjoining counties in
east-central North Carolina.
He was, apparently, not born in Baltimore County, but elsewhere. His parents did not
arrive there until he was about 9 years of age (1694). He may have been born in
Kent County (where his father was said to be from) or elsewhere. To determine
his actual place of birth will require tracing his parents' movements.
He did, however, come to maturity in Baltimore County and appears in many records
there. He was involved in land transactions, some of which may have
occurred after his relocation to Craven Co., North Carolina.
Land
Land (and other court-recorded) transactions by an Abraham Taylor are not necessarily by our
Abraham Taylor. Lawrence Taylor of Goodspeed Plantation also had a son
Abraham of about the same age.
Our Guy
These transactions appear to be by our subject:
- 1719 -- Gives release of 100 acres of
"Heirs Addition" {sic, Ayres Addition} to John Taylor. {We think this is
Abraham releasing any claim to his brother in accordance with his father's will.}
- 1719 -- Buys 100 acres of part of Howards Forrest
from William Burney.
- 1720 -- With his wife, buys 100
acres (half) of Howards Forest from John Webster.
- 1722 -- Gives a release to John
Downey and wife. (This may be the son of Lawrence Taylor, rather than our
man.)
- 1722 -- Sells to George Buchanan at
least parts of Pitchcraft (196 acres), Wansworth (100 acres) & Polecat Ridge
(75 acres). {It is the Wansworth part of this transaction that causes us to
assign it to him rather than the other Abraham Taylor.}
- 1723 -- Buys 300 acres of Edwards Lot from Elizabeth
York. {Recall that his sister Lettice married Edward York.}
- 1725 -- Gives release of 100 acres
of "Heirs Addition" {sic} to John Taylor. A second release of his claim
to this tract.
- 1726 -- Sells 200 acres of
Wansworth to James Maxwell.
- 1728 -- Sells 100 acres of an
tract {not identified in index} to William Burney.
- 1732 -- Gives, sells or assigns
"Indenture" to William Cook. (Specifics to be found in the document?)
- 1732 -- Sells parts of Polecat
Ridge and Pitchcraft (total 170 acres) to John Fling.
- 1733 -- Sells parts of Polecat
Ridge and Pitchcraft (total 170 acres) to William Burney
Clearly, some of the sales occur after the move to Craven, North Carolina.
Perhaps, land was not always easy to sell.
Not our guy
We have assigned the following transactions to the Abraham Taylor
who was the son of Lawrence, based mostly on nature of transaction and date of occurrence::
- 1732 -- Buys Polecat Ridge from
James Gallion.
- 1742 -- Leases 2010 acres of the French plantation Peters Addition, Cord Purchase
from Abraham Cord.
- 1746 -- Makes agreement with Sarah
Kimble.
- 1748 -- Buys 100 acres of Woods
Choice and 50 acres of Hobsons Choice from Joshua Wood.
- 1754 -- Buys (with
James Taylor) Hazard Enlarged from Amos Garrett.
Notes on Early Maryland Genealogy
The most important date to remember is 1634, the year the two ships Ark and Dove arrive to
settle the new Maryland colony. There were no Taylors aboard either ship and we may conclude
there were then few to no Taylors in Maryland.
They would arrive shortly, an average of about four (4) each year until 1690,
186 men and 70 women. About two-thirds
came as convicts or indentured servants; the rest transported themselves or were transported by
members of their family. The peak years of this immigration were 1660 to 1674, when the rate doubled.
Early Taylor Marylanders
See, also the Maryland Historical
Timeline.
Abraham Taylor (1660-1719)
We will here explore the life of the father of the man above.
Conclusions & Questions
While there is much we don't know, there is a surprising amount we have learned
about Abraham Taylor (~1660-1719).
Known facts
We know this much about him
- He first appears in Baltimore County in 1694.
- His name was on the
1695 Baltimore Co. tax list; but not on 1692 or 1694.
- In that year, deeds show him buying parts of tracts known as Ayres Addition
and Wainsworth.
- The 1695 tax list shows a Robert Taylor and a Mark Swift in his household as
"taxables", i.e., 16 or older. These associates are worth further exploration.
Abraham had a long association with Swift, becoming guardian of the son also named Mark Swift.
We know very little about Robert Taylor.
- He may have come to Baltimore County from Kent County
- He was a
blacksmith, a valuable craft.
- From 1694 until his 1719 death, he owned at least parts of tracts called Ayres' Addition (where he lived)and Wainsworth. (see "Land Records".
- These lands were in Gunpowder Hundred, on the north (?) side of the Gunpowder River, on the
west (mainland) side of the upper Chesapeake Bay. Since 1773, the area has
been in Harford County.
Note: Barnes has this
land on the "south" side of the river/estuary. Also, note that the river appears to run
mostly north to south.
- These tracts are near Joppa.
- See map.
- From 1695, he was one of six vestrymen of St. John's (Anglican) Parish.
- This parish included Gunpowder Hundred, boith the north and south sides of the river.
- He married Jane Courkin, though the date and place are undetermined.
- His wife's name was Jane and he gave land to a John Courkin.
- See ___
- He and Jane had three children:
- John, b.1687
- Abraham, b.1685
- Lettice (Leticia?) b.1689, m1 William Doddridge, m2 Edward York.
The birthdates indicate Abraham had a full family (wife and
three children ages 5 to 9) when he moved to
Baltimore County.
- He made a will in 1717, leaving bequests to wife and children; the will was proved 1719.
- He was a different man from, and not apparently related to, Lawrence Taylor, who
- Was in Baltimore County from 1678;
- Owned (at least part of) God Speed (or Goodspeed) Plantation in Spesutia Hundred on
the north side of the Bush River
- Was a vestryman in St. George's Parish;
- Married Dorothy and had children
These facts establish the separate identity of the two men.
- He (Abraham) died between 1717, when he made his will, and 6 Aug 1719 when the will was proved
in Baltimore County Court.
- He was too young (age 5) to have been the Abraham Taylor claiming headrights for
himself and William Wattson in 1665. This man may have been his father.
We have unknowns we are still actively exploring:
- What is his history in Kent?
- When and how did he arrive in Kent County?
- Born?
- Transported by others? If so, from where?
- Immigrated from elsewhere in colonies? If so, from where?
- What were the circumstances and motivation for his leaving Kent?
- Who were his parents?
- Was his father the Abraham Taylor who applied for
headrights in 1665?
- Did he have siblings?
- The location of Ayres Addition needs to be more precisely defined.
Speculations
- He apparently had financial resources; he bought considerable land on arrival
in Baltimore Co.
- He may have been in Kent County only a short time.
- Or, he may not have owned land. Thus, not a "freeholder" and not on tax
lists.
- Or, he may have been an indentured servant. Thus, not a "freeholder" and
not on tax lists.
- Tentative hypothesis 1: He, or his parents, immigrated to the Tidewater region (Maryland,
Delaware or Vriginia).
- Tentative hypothesis 2: He, or his parents, emigrated from the southwestern region of England
(the counties of
Abraham Taylor (1660-1719) Timeline
In Reverse Chronological Order
By reversing the order of events, we are going from the known facts to the unknown about
this man.
Sources
Maryland History Timeline
Baltimore County Families
Geographic Features
Grantee and Grantor Index
Old Dobbers Baltimore information page See the
original at Old Dobbers site.
Tax Lists
Miscellaneous Sources
Contact Author